Just a Taste-10 Arts

My 26^th birthday was sort of depressing. A very stressful day of working in the world of corporate catering was topped off by the friendly phone calls of “Happy Birthday, you’re old.” I know it could be worse.  I could be turning 27, and I could have parents who didn’t love good food as much as I did. All it took was a mention of the Eric Ripert’s new restaurant, 10 Arts, at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia and my father booked "Felix party of 8."

We spent time at the lobby bar in the Rotunda, where the modern light fixtures met old-world marble grandeur.  At first sight, it is a bit overwhelming.  Sort of like my family.  Despite our raucous behavoir, the bartenders handled us like pros handing us one tasty drink after another.  The champagne cocktails fizzed on my tongue and set the precedent for what was to come.  We were seated precisely at 9 along a banquette in the center section of the restaurant, which is located only a few steps from the bar.  I thought the lively bar scene would interfere with dinner conversation, but the large glass partition proved to be enough of a blockade.

Grilled shrimp, heads still intact, laid on zesty quinoa salad. The shrimp was plump and one bite filled my mouth with buttery juices.  Next, I savored every drop and kernel of my smoky corn chowder. The silky broth contrasted texturally with the sweet corn kernels. One note, although not a terrible criticism, was that the soup was salty. I think it comes with the chowder territory. Plus, I tend to like my food with more salt.  

Now, I usually don’t like to order the same dish as anyone at the table. If someone chooses the dish that interests me, I order another. So I try theirs and I get to enjoy more of the menu. But in the case of the Rabbit Paillard, I discarded this theory.  As each of the three orders came to the table my eyes grew wider and wider.  I cut in to the thin but still tender piece of rabbit that was lightly breaded and fried. I gathered the arugula and pea salad on the same bite and quickly gobbled it up.  Ah, warm breading and crisp greens. Then came the pop of a sweet pea and the tang of the vinaigrette.  Luckily, for the rest of the table, my sister and her boyfriend offered up some of their rabbit because mine was quick to disappear. 

I guess, to parents, their kids will always be kids who need cake and candles on their birthday.  At the opposite end of the table, my mother had conspired with our server.  I was borderline mortified when the Chef-de-Cuisine, Jennifer Carroll, strolled into the dining room with a Chocolate Peanut dessert and wished me, “Happy Birthday.”  I swallowed down s bite of dessert along with my embarrassment and talked to Chef Carroll for a few minutes.  I welcomed her back to her hometown and thanked her for a flawless meal.  I didn’t know she left, but I’m glad she’s back and giving us a refined taste of Philly at 10 Arts in the Ritz Carlton.