eats - piccolo venice

last night, our company as a whole celebrated the onset of the holidays with a six-course feast at piccolo venice. reserving the back room, the intimate affair was highlighted by free flowing drinks (the nero d'avola was exceptionally terrific) and our secret santa gift exchange ($10 limit, so one had to be creative).

our specially-chosen menu consisted of six courses, where for four of the courses we had a choice between a selection of three. it was quite difficult strategizing on what to order, but thankfully erica and i agreed beforehand to section off parts of our plates as an even exchange. thus, my meal broke down as follows:

* cantaloupe, port wine, black caviar (free amuse bouche!)
* homemade duck prosciutto, fresh watercress drizzle
* seared yellowtail, thyme-sicilian oil, mozzarella di bufala, italian ponzu
* acquerello rice, black winter truffle, parmesan
* roasted japanese pumpkin ravioli, delicate anchovies fondue, sage pesto
* natural australian kobe NY steak, lemon-thyme pesto, maldon salt
* profiterole, pineapple, panna cotta (chef's selection dessert)

duck prosciutto

seared yellowtail

black truffle risotto

pumpkin ravioli

kobe steak

dessert selection

and... after dessert the secret santa was in full effect. i was picked by marie and scored a set of beer glasses plus a cupcake lollipop.