Dinner Divine

by, Chauntel Seminerio

Lured by the romance of Valentine’s Day, and a restaurant that does not offer paper menus, and color crayons, a few friends, the hubs, and I reserved our holiday dinner at Cody’s Bistro and Lounge in San Marcos, tucked alongside the I-35 Corridor in the Centerpoint Plaza.

On special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, chefs of all cuisines tend to get creative and brave with provocative prix fixe menus. When diners are presented with a (set price) prix fixe menu, expectations tend to run high. Last night’s custom menu, crafted specifically for the romantic holiday, achieved such expectations, leaving every guest in the house, including myself, reeling in a barrage of taste memories.

As a restaurant critic, every meal preceding the one you are currently analyzing, comes to the forefront of your memory, as a sort of measuring stick. I have enjoyed meals in every corner of this country, with each geographical location specializing in its own identity; Northwest Dungeness crab, Northeast lobster, Southern California Mexican food, Bay Area Albacore tuna, Chinese food, and so on.

Choosing the best meal, I’ve eaten as a chef and restaurant critic, to me is disputable based on their identity’s, and respect for each of them independently. Having moved to Texas six years ago, I can honestly say I have but one memory of the best meal in Texas, until last night.

What makes a meal the best you’ve ever had? It is all in the memory.  Whether it be a single bite or an entourage of plates, a sensory experience, of the right magnitude, will carve a permanent place in your mind, and palate, inevitably becoming the gold standard among your many quantifications.

Forever branded in my memory will be the cuisinary high I experienced at Cody’s on Valentine’s Day 2016.

The succession of thoughtful plates, and pairings began with an Amouse-Bouche of candied nuts, Calimyrna dried figs, and Manchego cheese, paired with delightful champagne to tease your palate awake.

A frisee salad followed, garnished with exquisitely pickled shallot, crisp bacon, flakey house made croissant and raspberry jam.

The second course of Maple Leaf Farms, 3 week aged, yet moist duck prosciutto, divine house made grain mustard, pickled vegetable and white goat cheddar was artfully presented on a tile canvas, and paired with a smoky and fruit forward Estancia red wine to juxtapose the mustard and duck.

By this point, the evolution of courses had guests conversing across tables, eagerly anticipating what’s next.

An Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc followed, offering a cleansing and citrus bouquet, to accompany the third course of the absolute most perfectly cooked shrimp one could ever hope for. This seemingly simple course was attentively assembled with feathers of dried Skip Jack Bonita tuna, and graced with a luxuriously light béarnaise sauce.

For me, this course has set the highest benchmark for any future shrimp experiences.

A raspberry sorbet, garnished with fresh mint and a touch of Framboise followed, employed with cleansing the palate. The fourth course was considerably sweet for its intention. Cody himself surprised several of us, with an interesting transformation of the dish, upon the addition of a little gin and honey, transforming the frozen dessert into a one of a kind cocktail.

Finally, the piece de résistance, the moment to which I am privileged to call my second, (chronologically speaking) best dining experience in Texas, arrived in the fifth course.  A magnificent, filet of beef tenderloin, so tender, so flavorful, it felt like terminal decadence, as I swooned over each bite. Charred pearl onions and foie gras, and succulent oyster mushrooms were seductive accessories to the perfect plate. A Franciscan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was naturally paired, yet truthfully, I hardly noticed as I was too deep in my love affair with this course.

The feast ended with a modest plate of Antonelli’s creamy goat Gouda, fresh raspberries tossed in tempered chocolate, and a classic chocolate sauce painted across the plate.

When the last plates left the tables, the last glasses poured, and guests in a dreamy state of satisfaction, we were introduced to the remarkable team of chefs who earned several rounds of applause from the house.

Cody’s Bistro and Lounge in San Marcos proved it is the only place worth dining at, if you truly love and appreciate food. Whether you are shopping among the outlets for the day, closing a deal with your business partners, or are in desperate need of a night out for just you and yours, a memory of food awaits.

Cheers!