celebratory weekend

Yesterday was my birthday. To celebrate, this past weekend my husband and I went into Manhattan to see the Metropolitan Opera House’s production of Romèo et Juliette. What a beautiful opera. We all read Romeo and Juliet in high school, and this presentation just brings it to a whole other level. Vittorio Grigolo brought such a richness and emotional feeling to his role of Romèo. Diana Damrau as Juliette played with both drama and tenderness. Her voice was magnificent as was Vittorio Grigolo. At the end of the opera bouquets of flowers were tossed on stage to the two stars, it was magnificent. 

Following the opera, we made our way to midtown for an early dinner at Oceana. Chef Bill Telepan joined the Oceana staff just months after closing his upper Westside restaurant. My husband and I had this on our list of places to visit, but unfortunately, we never made it there. Luckily for us, he’s now at Oceana.
 
Our dinner started out with an amuse bouche of smoked fish spread on an everything bagel chip…yum. For an appetizer my husband chose the Crab Cakes with spicy slaw and green goddess dressing ($22) and I had the Fluke Ceviche  with spicy sunchoke and cara cara orange ($17). Both were divine. The crab cakes were almost all crab, with very little filler,  and the ceviche had a nice tartness to it from the dressing.
 
For an entrée my husband had the Smoked Brussels Sprouts & Egg Pasta "poached egg, pecorino ($21/$31). Who would have thought of smoke Brussels sprouts with pasta, delicious."  I asked our server if the chef recently had the staff taste any of the entrées. He said they recently tried the Lobster Bolognese, which was "spaghetti, light herbs, shallot garlic tomato broth ($30/$40)". I must agree it was wonderful. The pasta had just enough sauce and the sole lobster tail on the pasta made for a pretty presentation.
 
Following dinner we managed to squeeze in two decaf cappuccinos and two decadent desserts. My husband had the "warm apple cake with apple butter, roasted lemon salted caramel apples, apple cider gelato ($14)". Since I was getting full, I opted for the blood orange sorbet and apple cider gelato ($9). I loved the blood orange sorbet, it was tart, yet creamy. The apple cider gelato was creamy and rich. To end our meal, the kitchen sent out miniature cinnamon meringue kisses and raspberry jell cubes. I also most say, they offer a wonderful bread service too. Saturday night’s breads were a spinach and potato bread along with a sour dough.  
 
We were not rushed during our meal and had very attentive service. I want to extend our thanks Chef Telepan and the staff entire staff at Oceana for yet another memorable meal. Also, thank to the young woman sommelier for her recommendation of Le Monde 2013 Friulano wine.