OK, maybe not with…
I did eat AT Richard Blais’ new Atlanta restaurant, The Spence. God bless cheat day. Chef Blais was the runner-up in season 4 of Top Chef, and then went on to win Top Chef All-Star season 8. He’s famous for his use of molecular gastronomy and ambitious flavor combinations.
His fearless approach to food was evident throughout The Spence’s menu:
Even the Parker rolls were presented with pizzaz (good thing, because I’ve always found their taste to be blah).
Dinner Rolls with a schemer of butter sprinkled with sea salt
For my appetizer, I couldn’t resist the gazpacho. It was listed on the menu as “Canned Soup of Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho.” I’d take this over Campbell’s any day. It was served atop radishes, smoky-toasted croutons, and what I think was a horseradish granita.
The presentation alone was worth the choice:
My friend and dining mate, Kathleen, chose the beet salad. It was a mix of roasted and raw beets, blue cheese, soft-boiled egg, and wasabi. The textures were perfection, though I could have gone for more heat… but you guys know how I am about fire.
On the to main event. I need to preface this by saying there are dishes the menu that were much more ambitious that what we ordered. The menu needs some explanation and – oddly enough – our server wasn’t recommending the more unusual items, even when asked. Did she not trust our pedestrian palates?
If I go back, I’m throwing caution to the wind and ordering the pork belly. It is brought to the table under a glass dome of rich smoke and unleashed for your viewing (and smelling) pleasure. The people next to us were over-the-moon about this dish. It smelled so good I almost jumped into the guy’s lap when they removed his lid.
I selected the Cobia (a mild white fish). It was cooked to perfection – done sous-vide and finished on the grill to give it a nice crust. It was topped with a salsa of kaffir lime, pineapple, capers, and crisp green beans. Even better was the pine nut cream – it was like dinner-appropriate nutty whipped cream.
Kathleen ordered the Spatchcock chicken with asparagus and sea beans. The chicken itself was ho-hum (again, we should have ordered better), but the sea beans and a peanut dust served alongside the chicken were fantastic.
Last but not least: dessert. I had been looking forward to the carrot cake and peas, but it wasn’t available that evening (they change the menu weekly).
No matter, one bite into my selection and I forget the cake. I chose the Burnt Banana Ice Cream served with chocolate mousse mixed with lightly candied peanuts and drizzled with caramel. I could have licked the plate. The ice cream was just as good as it sounds, and the mousse was thick yet not too sweet. The well-balanced dessert that left me feeling satisfied rather than gluttonous.
Kathleen was craving cheesecake. She ordered what was listed on the menu as “Ricotta Cheesecake, Blackberry, and Graham.” This looked NOTHING like a cheesecake, but was impressive, nonetheless. It was incredibly light and was easily the most creative cheesecake interpretation I’ve seen.
The bill was presented with an old-fashioned key resembling the restaurant’s logo. I wonder how long before all of those are stolen?
It was quite pricey, but you will leave with a smile on your face once you eat the gift from the kitchen – a tiny creme-filled spiced cookie sandwich.
You’ll leave with an even bigger smile if you man-up boldly interrupt Chef in the middle of dinner service for a quick photo-op. In all seriousness he was very gracious, stopping to chat with several tables and patiently posing for photographs.
He asked if I was a “good blogger or a bad blogger.”
I think I’m good… I’m certainly not mean. Most of the time.
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I almost forgot the workout recap time! Figure competition training is still ON and I am loving it. It is taking a massive amount of discipline, but I know the reward will be well-worth it. Ever try doing barbell squats with a heinous sunburn on your shoulders? I don’t recommend it.
I think there are a few noticeable changes in muscle-size. Or at lease that what my mom and my BFF tell me.
Workout Recap (7/2- 7/8):
- Monday – Back/Triceps, 2 mile walk
- Tuesday – Shoulders/Glutes (w/ trainer), 3 mile walk
- Wednesday – Chest/Biceps, 3 mile walk, jet-skiing
- Thursday – Legs, 2 mile walk
- Friday – Back/Triceps
- Saturday – Shoulders/Glutes, 2 mi walk
- Sunday – 15 min bike ride, 2 softball games
***
Thanks to everyone for their positive thoughts, comments, messages, and tweets after Friday’s post. It was a tough day, but you all put a smile on my face. 🙂
Have you ever eaten at a “celebrity” chef’s restaurant? Did it live up to expectations?
What was the best thing you ate this weekend?
So exciting!!! Your dinner looks fabulous especially those desserts!!!
Glad to hear t lived up to the hype (mostly) and you even got a photo op. I definitely think you are a GOOD, I mean GREAT blogger! 🙂 But you have to go back to tell me about the carrot cake and peas for dessert!! 🙂
Thanks Janet. 🙂
I will do that for sure! Such a cool idea… but I think he should have called it “Me and Jenny.”
Your arms look awesome! And that restaurant is on my list of restaurants to try. The best thing I ate this weekend was definitely food at Panita. I already want to go back.
Panita is one I always recommend to people… but preface it with “It looks like a run down shack. Don’t be scared.”
We still need to to The Lawrence!
Look at those triceps! Those are probably my favorite muscles to work on! I love toned arms! I don’t think I’ve ever eaten specifically at a celebrity chef’s restaurant, but Tony and I are good friends with the guys that own Holeman and Finch, so we go there some. Dinner sounds delicious and I’m so glad you enjoyed your cheat day!
I do love H&F. Do they make a gluten-free bun?
The beet salad looks awesome: I love the idea of egg + wasabi! (I’m a heat monster, too: Hot sauce on everything always.)
My squeeze and I eat out about once a week — I cook almost everything else for the most part — and we always look at it as a little treat. This weekend we went for burritos + margaritas, which was awesome. The joint isn’t remotely the best in town, but it’s fun / festive / cheap and the waiter always remembers us and brings us out our first round without us having to order it. But the *best* thing I hate this weekend was probably last night’s dinner: Tofu kebabs with grilled pineapple, peaches, and tomato. Yum!
You are looking great, girl! Go gettem.
Awww… it’s like Cheers! I love those local haunts. 🙂
AH that looks like such a fun dinner!
I haven’t heard of that restaurant. Actually, I don’t think I’ve tried any of Blaise’s eateries yet. Putting it on the list.
Really?! I wouldn’t bother with Flip, but this one is worth a visit.
False advertising there my friend. I thought you were better than that. 😉
Seriously though looks like a great experience.
You have to have a hook, Glut! 😉
Seriously though. You would have died and gone to gluttonous heaven. One dish on the menu was marrow with tuna tartar topped with fried quail eggs.
wow I want to jump on all that food! so delicious.
Ohhh this restaurant is on my list! This reminds me to get to it soon. 🙂
The Spence sounds delicious! And it’s right by Tech campus. 🙂 I ate at Richard Blais’ HD1 last weekend (and Flip last week) and finally had my first Field Roast hot dog, which was delicious. So good that I went out and bought some yesterday so we could grill out last night.
I know1 i told him how much I loved that he chose this location.
Your post actually convinced me to add HD1 to my “try” list. I never thought a hot dog could be worth the hype, but I trust you!
Dinner sounds great – I love places with amazing presentation and creativity (wait until you see Wednesday’s post about Woodfire Grill). I wondered about the lack of drinks to accompany the meal…and then I remembered your amazing self-discipline. You put me to SHAME! 🙂
I can’t wait! Woodfire is my favorite resto in ATL. that and Restaurant Eugene. And Bocado. So many good places!!!
Not drinking is actually getting easier. It’s a habit like anything else, I suppose.
Wow, that all sounds fantastic… especially the desserts! So glad you have cheat days to let you venture off the strict protein packed meals. And I love that you asked for a photo with him!
The cheat days are my saviors. It’s like a light at the end of the tunnel. 🙂
Oh my gosh, that meal looks like SUCH a treat! And yeah, I’d be all over the gazpacho, too. Any soup with tomatoes in it is just my style. I’ve been to PM here in Nashville which is owned by another Top Chef competitor–Arnold Mynt. I wasn’t wildly (or much at all) impressed, but it was also supposed to be his “affordable” restaurant and that he has a more high end one somewhere else, so he wasn’t the one cooking or anything.
I keep forgetting you are up there! Have you tried Margot Cafe? I loved my visit there!
I haven’t, but I’ve heard such amazing things about it! Unfortunately, it’s pretty far from where I live AND really close to two other favorite restaurants, so by the time I drive across town I’ve usually convinced myself to hit up tried and true instead. It’s on the to-do (to-eat?) list, for sure.
Holy triceps you are looking buff girl!!! So proud of you! I’ve never eaten at a famous chef’s restaurant as far as I know, except Woodfire grill once and honestly, I couldn’t tell you the chef’s name… Sadly, I dont know many famous chef’s by name anyways so I probably wouldn’t be aware if I was eating at someone famous’ restaurant anyways.
Can we go on a walk together soon? I know you aren’t doing much cardio but if you’re allowed to walk, I’d love to meet up with you! PS Thanks for putting some scones in the freezer for me. Though your company is why I’d wanna go on a walk, the scones would be a plus 😉 hehe!
It’s Kevin Gillespie. He’s my favorite. 😉
For sure!!! Maybe Wednesday?
How cool you got to meet Blais! He looks like he has lost weight (from when the show aired). Loved the looks of that beet salad!
He has! I think I read that he took up running.
That’s so cool!! That’s super awesome that you got to go to his restaurant, delicious and fun! The best thing that we ate this weekend was when we went to the Naked Sprout – a part raw, vegan restaurant. It was SO GOOD.
Helllloooo triceps! 😉
oh man all that food looks amazing!! it is making me hungry, but sadly my dinner will not look like any of that
you look great! wish I could get my arms to look like yours!!
My dinner usually doesn’t look like that! 🙂
Thank you! You totally can – push up and weights are all it takes.
So cool! I would do anything to try Richard Blais’ genius concoctions!! He was def my favorite in that season. I swear, Atl has the best restaurants! I knew I should’ve stayed after college :(.
In Korea, we eat a lot of pork belly because it’s MUCH cheaper than beef. It’s oftentimes eaten with Soju, which is kind of like vodka only much sweeter. I bet the pork belly offered at the restaurant is nothing like the ones I’ve ever eaten! Nom Nom Nom!!
You will just have to come back to visit! Where were in in college?
I am familiar with the soju! There is an awesome Koren BBQ place here that makes it in the back and serves it out of recycled OJ jugs. Danger, my friend. 😉
I went to Emory! Loved it! Ooh so you have been introduced to soju I see ;). The fruit flavored sojus are the best! But yes, they’re quite dangerous :).
What a great dinner!!! Next time I come to Atlanta, you need to tell me all the good places! 🙂
I’d love to – the ATL crew can organize a little blogger dinner!!!
I’ve eaten at a few famous chef’s restaurants, mostly in Vegas. PORK BELLY!!! I’m a pork belly fanatic, and order it almost every single time I see it on a menu. P.S. Your arms are looking fab!
ATL is like pork belly mecca – everyone and their brother has it on the menu! you’d be in heaven. and really, really full. 🙂
This was such an exciting post sweetie! FOOD AND FITNESS!? WHAT!? 😉 Hehehehehe! You are such a good writer. Definitely a good blogger 😉 I loved this! And I would have most definitely ordered what you ordered 😀 Your fish looked great hunnie! I think your friends’ salad looks/sounds incredible! I think I will be remaking that 😉 I can’t believe it was a mix of raw and roasted beets!? Too cool!
Why else would I work out so hard? To eat this deliciousness! 😉 (Kidding, I like to be healthy…. but I do love a treat.)
How fun!!!! The outside sign is so cute and love that you got a photo op with the chef!! Awesome!
The plates look great, I love the different presentations and the fish looks amazing. I’m confused about the soup though – it wasn’t actual canned soup, just served in a can, right? That made me very nervous.
About the figures competition, because I’m curious, is this something where you have to have certain body type to participate in? Like long legs and no hips or a certain bust size or torso shape? Or do they judge based on how you work with what you have? I’ve never heard of it before so I was wondering how it works.
I’ve eaten at Paul Bocuse’s bistro Le Nord in Lyon. It definitely lived up to expectations.
Definitely not canned! The server just brought it out in a can with a label they created and poured it over the accouterments.
Re: the competition. you do’t necessarily have to have a particular body type… you can lift your way to the style they like (small waist, more pronounced hips and shoulders). Of course, this is easier for some than others due to body type.
I’m officially insanely jealous that you ate at Chef Bocuse’s place. *swoon*
My sister and I are DYING to go here! It looks so amazing! 🙂
You HAVE to do it!!! You’ll die of happiness. 🙂
How fun was that meal? It’s like an adventure, for sure! I think the only celebrity chef’s restaurants I’ve dined at are Tom Douglas’ Flying Fish, and Bobby Flay’s Mesa. Both were awesome, even though I stuck to vegetarian options, but they definitely weren’t anywhere near as creative as the one you went to!
Great job on your figure training so far! You are going to be amazing. Do you have a specific competition you are entering? When do you hope to compete? Thanks for representing the real food/plant strong way! 🙂
No specific competition yet. We have to see how long it takes me to build – I have a LOT of muscle to gain! I’ll likely do a small one late fall and/or one that’s a little bigger in March.
I’m trying to keep it plant-based… but the seafood had to happen. 🙂
This is seriously so cool Laura, I loveddd Blaise on Top Chef and absolutely plan to eat at his place someday! That fish dish looks great too, I tend to order seafood when I am out, and have yet to be disappointed.. and that sure would not happen there!
I’m a Richard Blais fan from watching Top Chef. That dude is ridiculously creative. You got good photos of your meal and I’m totally jealous of the experience. Also…looking good in the arm tone arena!
I can’t wait to go back and try something else – he changes the menu all the time!
Thanks!!! 🙂
Ahhh!! I’m so jealous! Richard is one of my faves and I have been dying to try his food! Everything looks fantastic!