sarahmichelef

While we were in DC, M's parents took us to Equinox for a three-anniversary dinner (all of us have anniversaries within three weeks of each other - ours on the 18th of June, Fran & Harry's on the 21st, and Josh & Jacy's on the 4th). It was delectable - they serve a tastings menu, but with some choices. We all opted for the four-course dinner - F&H had done the six course previously and said that it was way too much.

While we were deciding on our orders, they brought out some samples... of things that weren't on the menu for the night.

Cauliflower soup. I think it was Harry who said that was his favorite thing of the entire evening; I'm NOT a fan of cauliflower but this soup was fantastic... creamy, but not too rich, and the cauliflower flavor wasn't overpowering.
Risotto fritter with a sauce whose contents I can't remember.

That was just a hint of what was to come... (I'm cribbing some of this from the menu online, which has some overlap with the menu on Monday night)

First course: Le Bocage Arugula and Sweet Melon Salad -- Shaved Pecorino, Fresh Lemon and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A lovely light salad... the contrast of sweet and savory was fantastic - it was best with greens, melon, and cheese all in one bite.
Pasta course: Orechiette with basil and fresh mozzarella in a red sauce. (Sadly, I had to try this because I first heard of orechiette on Iron Chef.) The pasta were perfectly soft and ... buttery in texture. The sauce didn't add any appreciable weight, just flavor, and the cheese was nicely melted (and I'm not usually a fan of fresh mozzarella). It was served in a little skillet and topped with a crisped basil leaf.
Fish course: Equinox Barbecue Glazed King Salmon -- Roasted Corn, Peppadew Peppers and Garden Basil. This was possibly the best thing I've ever eaten in my life. When they put it in front of me, I just sat and inhaled for a couple of minutes - I smelled it that good. I can't even begin to describe it. I wouldn't think that hot BBQ sauce would be a good accompaniment for salmon, but it was. And it had a subtle heat that really crept up on you as you ate. The salmon was, of course, cooked perfectly... just flaky.
Cheese course: Aged and Slightly Intense -- Ibores Goat, Shelburne Cheddar and Crater Lake Blue. None of them were all THAT intense (and Jacy said that the blue on the "young and creamy" menu was much more intense than the hard blue was), but the cheddar was lovely. I liked the blue quite a bit, too.
With coffee, they brought out a tray of candied peach squares, Bailey's truffles, and a third cakey thing that nobody could remember what it was. I ate three of the truffles (oy).

And of course none of this could have been done without wine. We had two bottles - a white for the first half of dinner, and a red for the second half (when most folks had moved on to a meat or the salmon, although Josh was busily eating cheese at that point, since he had both a cheese course and a sweet course). Having glanced at the wine list I think the white MAY have been the Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc, but I don't remember anything other than that it was from New Zealand. The red was the Andrew Rich Cabernet Franc, Columbia Valley 2003. I had never ever had a Cab Franc before, and it was AMAZING. Probably the most complex wine I've ever drunk. Not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.

In short, Equinox is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you want to dine a block from the White House and spend a fair bit of money. And there's free parking on Connecticut after 6:30 pm.