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rickhowe
rickhowe
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5 out of 5
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Central Park Boathouse for Thanksgiving

  • November 24, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by rickhowe from Darlington, Maryland
Central Park Boathouse for Thanksgiving

For our 2006 Thanksgiving Dinner we chose The Boathouse at Central Park. We chose wisely. After a long march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (we were once again balloon handlers), we were tired and hungry. Took a taxi to the corner of 5th Avenue and 72nd St. a short walk into the park, along the main drive, took us to the entrance to one of the most beautiful restaurants we've even been to.

It's right on the lake, with views of the surrounding buildings. While we had dinner, a pair of swans were gliding across the water right outside the large windows.

The big city restaurant reviewers tend to look down their collective noses at The Boathouse. They say the food is mediocre, and can't compare to the view.

I'll agree that the view was spectacular, but I'll add that the food was spectacular as well. In fact, The Boathouse may have just replaced Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill as our favorite Thanksgiving Day Dinner place.

With a price fixed menu ($60 per person, on the low side (!!!!) for top echelon New York Thanksgiving Day restaurants, we had a lovely, relaxed and delicious dinner ... and WHAT A VIEW!

OK - it's drool time. Here is the 2006 Thanksgiving Menu. So get out your napkins kids:

APPETIZERS:

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with marinated cucumbers and caper Remoulade sauce (we're from Maryland, and four of us got the crab cakes and pronounced them DELICIOUS!)

Whole Wheat Farfalle and Roasted Butternut Squash Batons; smoked bacon lardoons, shaved Brussels sprouts with cauliflower cream sauce (I got this, and it was AMAZING).

Atlantic Salmon and Long Island Oyster Tartar; sevruga caviar, creme fraiche, first press olive oil and lemon zest, potato gaurfrette.

Hudson Valley Foie Gras Terrine; fig compote and brioche toast points

Boathouse Salad; beefstake tomatoes, imported feta cheese, kalamata olives, shaved shallots and olive vinaigrette.

Baby Red and Green Oak Salad; rye croutons, craisins, smoked almonds, grapefruit segments and citrus dressing.

ENTREES:

Traditional Turkey Dinner (lip-smacking good)

Prime Rib of Beef (I cheated - I got an end cut. Oh My God!), scallion mashed yukon gold potatoes, asparagus and marinated tomatoes

Atlantic Salmon and Crispy Artichoke (so light, said one in our party, that it just melted in her mouth), butter lettuce and pearl onions with carrot dill sauce

Wild Striped Bass with Chive Sour Cream Sauce, fingerling potatoes, endive leaf, crimini mushrooms

Moroccan Spiced Cod Fish

Rare Grilled Yellow Fin Tuna, caponata and escarole with basil oil

Berkshire Pork Loin Medallions, sauerkraut and macintosh apples with caraway

Filet of Beef with Porcini Cream Sauce, potato onion cake

DESSERT

Frozen Meyer Lemon Mousse, seasonal citrus Compote, Tarragon Gelee

Maple Pannacotta, Cranberry-Quince Compote and Brown Sugar Shortbreat

Warm Chocolate Truffle Cake, mixed berry compote and whipped cream (WONDERFUL!)

Pumpkin Pie, spiced pumpkin seeds, whipped cream and caramel sauce (OUTSTANDING!)

Apple Crisp, apple cider reduction, cinnamon ice cream

Caramel-Walnut Cheesecake, chocolate sauce, whipped cream.

And they make a dyno-mite Martini!

From journal Rick's Guide to a New York City Thanksgiving

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