• 5
• A 5-Star Evening Studded with Delectables

We were advised to come a bit early, so we could choose our table. But when we entered the small dining room, a young woman directed us to two seats at the four-seat counter. At first disappointed, I soon realized we had the best seats in the house, at least for purposes of observing the impressively choreographed process of serving a 5-course meal to about three dozen diners in a tiny restaurant and getting to ask questions and hurl compliments at sociable chef Colin Patterson and cook Karianne. All in all, this night was an adventure in dining, and not just because of the delectable prix fixe menu and non-alcoholic elixer (for me) and wine (for my husband) pairings we enjoyed with the food. Chef Colin made us all feel like guests at his home by thoughtfully introducing the menu, which was all vegan. Then, from our catbird seats, Jerry and I watched as each course unfolded from a perfectly-arranged pattern of plates, bowls and cups to a cornucopia of garnished foods. It's hard to describe the meal--sublime might do it, and so far beyond what I had expected--both in flavors and combinations of texture, color and taste. It would take too much space to recount all the dishes we ate. One highlight: I was transported by the subtle roasty flavor kicked up by citrusy zing of the Roasted Cauliflower-Preserved Lemon Soup with Tarragon-Garlic Gremolata. As someone with an ever-lurking sweet tooth, I looked forward to dessert, but I couldn't have imagined the Rose-Chocolate-Coconut Mousse with Star Anise Carmel Sauce and Sunflower Cacao Crumble until I tasted it. I found it hard to keep from licking my plate (maybe I did!). This is a place to go for a celebration or just to spike the experience of an ordinary day.