Truly Intimate Dining for Valentines Day

Try something truly unique this Valentine's Day for you and your special someone. Anyone can make a reservation at a neighborhood eatery - this will be something the two of you will always remember. We offer limited seating, so crowds and noise are never an issue. We've been called a "hidden gem" in Alpharetta and gems should be a part of every perfect Valentines celebration.

Our Valentines Dinner offering follows:

Prix Fixe $75 per person, 4 courses

First Course

Oyster Stew with Champagne, Brie, and Caviar Garnish
~
Pastrami Duck Breast with Balsamic Strawberries, Watercress, and Creme Fraiche
~
Salad of Grilled Radicchio and Fresh Endive with Fig, Almond, and Dutch Gouda
with a Madagascar Vanilla-Sherry Vinaigrette

Main Course
Porcini Crusted Grouper with a Madeira Hollandaise, Prosciutto Asparagus,
and Saffron Whipped Potatoes
~
Chicken Ballantine with Tarragon and Smoked Salmon Sauce Supreme with
Sauteed Spinach and Classic Rice Pilaf
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Seared Tenderloin of Beef with a Barolo-Roasted Shallot Demi Glace with French Green Beans and Truffled Duchesse Potatoes

Cheese Course
Selection of Imported French Cheeses with Fruit and Nuts

Dessert
Chocolate Glace with Kirsch and Brandy Cream, Berry Garnish
~
Lavender Creme Brulee with Macerated Blackberries
~
Strawberry Tart with Almond Crust and Grand Marnier

We look forward to serving you and providing the backdrop for an evening you will never forget.

Call today for reservations, seating is limited. (678)-445-6275

You may also contact us by email.

First Specials of 2008

2008 is here and with it cold weather and resolutions. This round of specials will include some selections for each - hearty dishes for the cold weather and more spa like dishes for those who are trying to make up for the parties in December.

1. Beef Braciole with Egg Noodles and Creamed Peas - Beef is stuffed with mushrooms, shallots, and roasted garlic then braised in a red wine brown sauce

2. Crispy Chicken and Potato Pancakes with a Tarragon Cream Sauce and Asparagus en Croute - Asparagus is wrapped in Parmesan and puff pastry

3. Chicken with Mushrooms, Almonds, and a Grand Marnier Glaze with Green Beans in a Dijon-Lemon Vinaigrette

4. Marinated Tilapia in a Creole Tomato Sauce with Baby Peas and Brown Rice

5. Garlic Shrimp in a Lemon Wine Sauce with Sugar Snap Peas and Red Bell Pepper

Go to Order Page...

Enjoy, Bon Appetit, and may 2008 be a wonderful year for you & yours!

Filet Mignon with Madeira and Truffle Essence

This dish is a wonderful way to enjoy the elegant qualities of this most royal of the cuts of beef. The sweetness of the Madeira contrasts with the smoky, earthy attributes of truffles. If you have never tried this combination, I urge you to give this recipe a try. It's relatively simple if you have access to a good demi glace. If not, we will be happy to prepare it and deliver to your home.

Order this dish and many others.

4 servings

4 8oz filet mignon, barrel cut
2 ea garlic clove, split
kosher salt & white pepper, to taste
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 med shallot, minced
1/2 cup Madeira wine
1 cup demi glace
1/2 tsp black truffle oil
1 Tbsp truffle, shaved
kosher salt & white pepper, to taste

Rub each filet mignon with split side of garlic clove. Season liberally with kosher salt and white pepper. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes. Heat olive oil in saute pan and sear steaks. Finish steaks in 500° oven to desired doneness. Remove steaks from pan and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Place pan over heat and add shallots. Saute briefly. Deglaze with Madeira. Add demi glace and any juices from the steaks. Bring to boil and reduce to desired thickness. Adjust seasonings with kosher salt and white pepper. Plate steaks and top with demi glace.

Grocery Store Rant: Tenderloin

Everyone wants to eat well especially for the New Year. Eating moderate amounts of lean protein is one of the best ways to accomplish this without feeling totally deprived which leads to a call to your local pizzeria. Tenderloin, when prepared properly, is an excellent source of relatively lean protein. You can't get around calories in beef of course, but tenderloin is a good alternative to fattier cuts. You'll want to remove all silver skin and side chain. Silver skin is the shiny membrane that becomes extremely tough when exposed to heat. The side chain is a bundle of fat and connective tissue interwoven in scraggly meat that runs along one side of a tenderloin.
If you purchase precut filet mignon from your local grocer, they will undoubtedly leave these two nasty pieces of the tenderloin in place -- which is extremely annoying and in my opinion dishonest. It's much easier to remove them when the tenderloin is whole. After the tenderloin has been cut into steaks it becomes more inconvenient and you are paying for garbage that you have no use for. If you've ever cooked a filet and had that little nugget of fat and gristle hanging onto the side, you've had side chain.
I had a conversation recently with a friend who is a meat manager at a prominent local grocery chain. I asked him why they left this refuse on their steaks. I knew the answer before I asked it, but wanted to confirm my suspicions. Sure enough, they leave it on because they feel it's too expensive to throw away. In addition, most people don't know they are paying for something that should never make it to the register much less their dinner table. They could remove it and grind it into hamburger but wouldn't be able to charge as much for it. It honestly makes me angry that these companies prey on the ignorance of their customers. They are charging an exorbitant amount for a cut of meat to begin with -- $17.99/lb and more in many cases. In good faith they should take better care of their loyal clientèle -- THEY know better.
Don't be surprised when that steak you pay so much for at your local grocer doesn't measure up to what you get from a skilled butcher or chef. Your local grocer is taking advantage of what you don't know.

You heard it here first.


***Note: All of ADAiRE's tenderloin and filet mignon are barrel cut and completely cleaned of silver skin. Additionally we remove fat from the underside which detracts from the quality and can hide bits of silver skin.