My birthday celebration continued into the weekend with a tasty brunch at North End Grill. I’ve been a fan of Chef Floyd Cardoz since Top Chef Masters Season 3 — I rooted for him all season and was thrilled that he won! I was excited to finally taste Chef Floyd’s food, particularly the Grilled Clam Pizza, which I’ve had my eye on for quite some time (thanks to SaraDISH’s mouthwatering food photos!) Let me tell you, it was every bit as delicious as I imagined it would be — sensational grilled clams, delicious homemade pizza dough, extra virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a sprinkling of sea salt and red chili flakes (to give it a nice kick). I devoured almost the entire thing by myself! Another highlight of the meal was the Hamachi Sashimi with blood orange. This is quite possibly my favorite combination in the entire world. The dish was so light, flavorful, and refreshing, as well as visually stunning with vibrant shades of pink, orange, and green. I loved it so much, I was tempted to order a few more to go! 😉 The Bouchot mussels in white wine were also fantastic (I’ve really been developing a taste for mussels lately). We washed it all down with glasses of Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir juice, a tasty non-alcoholic option. SaraDISH surprised me with a decadent birthday dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding with roasted pears and vanilla bourbon ice cream. Incredible! And to top it all off, I received a signed birthday card from Chef Floyd himself — how awesome is that! Thank you so much, SaraDISH. This has truly been the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
North End Grill: 140 North End Avenue (between Murray and Vesey)
Hamachi Sashimi with Blood Orange and Pickled Ginger (front)
Hamachi Sashimi with Blood Orange and Pickled Ginger (back)
Grilled Clam Pizza with Chili Flakes
“Moules Frites” Bouchot Mussels, White Wine and Thrice-Fried Fries
Sticky Toffee Pudding with Roasted Pear and Vanilla Bourbon Ice Cream
Pinot Noir Juice (Navarro Vineyards)