Dinner, European Style

I've blogged about 58 Degrees before. I love the place. I love the wine selection. I love a couple of the servers, some of whom are extremely knowledgeable. I've never really eaten there besides sampling some appetizers -- which are excellent -- but last night four friends and I sat down for their Prix Fixe menu. It's a four course meal for $25, add $10 for a 3oz wine pairing with each course.

We started with bleu cheese and roasted garlic crostini with green onion oil. The bread was crispy and the combination of the pungent cheese and tangy garlic, paired with the slight sweetness of the oil was fabulous. It was served with Bucci Verdicchio, a nice white Italian wine with hints of honey and apples.

The second course was a salad of roasted red peppers, shaved fennel over mixed greens with a basil dressing. This small salad was served with a cauliflower panna cotta. I'm used to panna cotta as an Italian dessert with a custard-like consistancy. This was a really interesting way to serve my not-so-favorite vegetable. The consensus around the table was that it was pretty tasty -- though no one would have probably ordered it if they saw it on a menu. The wine this time around was a Walden Cotes du Roussillon Rouge from France. It was a yummy blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.

Course Three was a four cheese and arugula cannelloni with lemon cream sauce, caper bread crumbs and gremulata (a fancy way of saying finely chopped parsley, garlic and grated lemon zest). This dish got raves from everyone. The pasta was tender and cheesy; the sauce was creamy without being overbearing, We went back to white wine with a Domaine Reverdy-Ducroux "Beau Roy" Sancerre from France. It's a crisp Sauvignon Blanc that I found neither too sweet or too flowery that cut the richness of the sauce.

And lastly, we had chocolate praline bread pudding with pecans and chocolate cream sauce. Bread pudding is never one of my favorite desserts but I'm always willing to try. I don't think it was a universal hit at our table, but it wasn't bad. However, the Maquis Lien Syrah Red Blend from Chile, was a universal hit. The bold blend of Syrah, Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and a touch of Petit Verdot was absolutely delicious! Fortunately for us our desserts took a long time to come out of the kitchen so our wonderful server Kara brought us a few extra pours. It was rich and fruity -- and for me a much better dessert than the bread pudding.

58 Degrees offers their Prix Fixe menu on Monday and Tuesday nights. The menu changes monthly.

You should also take advantage of No Corkage Sundays at the wine bar. You save $15 per bottle. Plus, once the weather gets nicer I can't think of many ways to enjoy a Sunday evening outside at such a great people-watching location in midtown.