More H&F debauchery

It was nice to head to H&F for dinner last night. It had been a couple weeks since my last visit. It's definitely nice to be recognized when you go out and I'm happy to have some places I go where they remember me. The valets at H&F said it was nice to see me, and I think the hostess remembered me, too.

Dawn Marie was working the bar tables, and as I was arriving a table was just clearing out so she told me to sit there. Every table and bar seat was occupied so I felt a little guilty taking a table, especially one of the two standalone tables that's a prime location, for myself. But she said she would rather have me there than other people, so there I sat. On her recommendation, I started off with the en particular which has bushmills irish whiskey, aperol, pimms #1, grapefruit, and orange flower water. I've been in a dark liquor kind of mood. Overall, it was lighter than I expected, but there was a lasting taste of the irish whiskey which will probably keep me from ordering it again.

For my first course, I got the skillet mussels which also came with a very high recommendation. They come with bacon, jalapeno, rye whiskey, and a crisp pain au levain. The mussels were tasty. I actually felt the use of bacon was a bit heavy-handed, which is something I don't say very often. The sauce was good and it was delicious eating the sauce-sopped bread.

For my next drink, I was unsure what to get. I was thinking of a manhattan, but Dawn Marie felt it would be too heavy to go with my veal brains. So she recommended either a champagne (which I love the bubbly but just wasn't in the mood) or the blanche de bruxelles. I'm not really a fan of most beers but I've had the blanche at the Porter, so I know that I've liked it before. Dawn Marie was able to get me a half pint, which is just the size for me. I drank only half of it while I was eating the veal brains and then decided that I didn't actually have to finish it.

The veal brains were pan fried. They were creamy, similar to the texture of sweetbreads, with a faint livery minerally taste. They were enjoyable enough, but I don't know that I would order them again. They were served on a delicious herb salad (baby lettuces and parsley) with sauteed shallots and orange zest. That was a great contrast. I left all those toast points untouched.

I joked that eating the veal brains would make me smarter, but I did some really dumb things at work today so I don't think that was the case.

Still, I wanted my manhattan. Two oz Bulleit bourbon, one oz Camparo vermouth, and two dashes of Angostura bitters. And one delicious cherry. Delicious. I didn't need this, but I really wanted one. And it's hard to stop the thought when you have been thinking about it all day. Those cherries are luscious.

To balance out the manhattan, I got the steak tartare. It was more mustardy than usual but still good. It had gotten decently dark in the bar before they turned on the lights. I finished that manhattan and then finished my beer.

I ordered some food to go for Josh -- the White Oak 4 oz strip, rare, and a side of the buttermilk crowder peas. Plus a peach pie. While I was waiting for the food to show up, the bar got really crowded, and my centralized table of one definitely stood out. I got more than a couple dirty looks and people were hovering, coveting my table. Well, I guess I understand the sentiment. When my boxes arrived, I picked up my food, hugged Dawn Marie, and split.