Saturday, March 7, 2009

Outer Banks Taste Of The Beach At Kelly's Restaurant.

Yesterday afternoon, Glowria, the Xmaskaties, and the Hawthornes piled into the van we'd called to drive us to go to Kelly's Restaurant for a five course meal - Oyster Dinner.
Mr. Xmaskatie particularly liked the homey touch of the hula girl on the dash since he's Hawaiian.
Upon entering Kelly's, we were immediately and warmly greeted by gracious host/owner Mike Kelly, which is always an appreciated, welcoming, personal gesture. He always makes his diners feel special, appreciated, and welcome, too. Every time I've been to Kelly's the service has been prompt, efficient, and pleasant. This restaurant is a well-oiled and well-run machine. The food has always been good and it's always been an enjoyable dining experience. Tonight was no exception. After being seated, we were brought ice water and a plate of warm, assorted rolls with creamy butter.
I asked for lemon. Now, that's lemon.
For the first course, we were offered our choice of raw or steamed oysters. My raw oysters (with little live crabbies in them) came on a nice, iced, attractive serving platter with lemon (!) and a cocktail sauce. Now, I like a cocktail sauce with enough horseradish to make my nose run, but I know a restaurant wouldn't do that since most people don't like their sinuses to ... Oh wait ... this is a food blog. Plump, sweet, juicy, slightly salty, cold oysters.
Xmaskatie ordered hers steamed which came on a warm platter with lemon, cocktail sauce, and melted butter. A Chimay "Trappist" ale was served with the oysters.
2nd course. A buttery, creamy, oyster stew with toast and is that parsley? A Biltmore Estates Sauvignon Blanc was paired with the stew.
The third course was an assortment of topped oysters - Cajun Grilled, Rockefeller, Casino, Remick, and Julienne. They were all good and I love samplers of flavors like this. A Shelton Vineyards Chardonnay went with the oyster assortment.
4th course: I have to tell you, I was concerned about this one beforehand because if you look back at description for this on The Taste of the Beach website right here, you'll see it says, they're serving a "a spinach salad topped with warm oyster vinaigrette," which naturally I would have my doubts about and problems with. But it was not an oyster vinaigrette, thank goodness. It was a warm bacon vinaigrette. The cornmeal fried oysters were just the way I like my oysters- DELICIOUS.
The fifth course - sliced pork tenderloin with a Dijon cream sauce and oyster fritters, served with julienned sauteed veggies and sweet potato hash paired with a Shelton Vineyards Yadkin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. (Note: Yadkin County is in North Carolina, outside of Winston-Salem, and Mr. H. owns some family land there. I do remember going through there on one of our trips and seeing a bunch of signs for vineyards.) I couldn't eat this. I was full. But I tried. I wasn't in the mood for the pork. Plus the taste I had was overdone for me, but I'm sure not for most people. It was on the dry side. Oh ... and oyster fritters. Why why why go to the trouble of chopping oysters? I don't understand that. Just fry the whole oyster and be done with it. Oyster fritters will never equal fried oysters. Period. I wasn't in the mood for winter vegetables either. I'd give it a "meh..." But then, I was NOT in the mood for this type of food. I'm sure, at some other time, I would have liked it. So, don't let this bear any issue on your opinion of this meal, given what I've told you. It was just me.
Because this was what was going on for me. Let me say something right now, which I should have said from the git-go. We are all sitting in a dark corner of the restaurant. Same table we had last year. I can't even read my menu. So, every time I take a picture of a course, the flash comes on, I take the picture, and for that 60th of a second, I kinda might see the dish. BUT ... I never saw any food until I looked at the pictures this morning. I had no idea at the time what I was eating. I could see neither the food nor the menu. I cut off my flash for the rest of these pics.
OMG. This is what I saw.
I don't know what happened to me. But I had to finally go outside and catch some fresh air.
Mr. Xmaskatie joined me. I think he was worried about me. We were just sitting on the front steps waiting for everybody else to finish, when the EMT's showed up. Poor Xmaskatie was inside and saw the flashing lights and asked the waitress, "Please tell me those are the flashing lights of a tow truck, since we have 2 MIA from our table." Waitress told her, "No, that's an Emergency Vehicle." I think they did come up and ask if I was the emergency, or so Mr. Xmaskatie says. It was just all too much for me. I'd had enough.
But enough room for creme brulee.
Creme brulee is always good.

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