The Salt Exchange

What can I say?  ... First Friday Art Walk in Portland, always a good night out!

...but now Kate and I are feeling famished! 

We decide to try the new winter menu at The Salt Exchange, one of our favorite places to eat, especially at the kitchen bar seats that are available upon request.  We've really come to love siting here as we can enjoy watching the chefs preparing and working their creations to perfection.  The conversation can also be fun  as the chefs have no qualms about explaining what the are preparing, the methods they are implementing or the basic thoughts that went in to creating any specific dish.  The proprietor Charlie was busy entertaining guests (as usual) as we walked in for our reservation, but he made it a point to come over and say hi to us as well.

The Sous Chef (first name "Kimmo") is from Finland and tonight we were joined at the bar seats by his wife and her sister who was visiting from Houston, TX.  Needless to say, the conversation was light and fun this evening.  It reminded me a bit of when I was living in Germany and would go out to eat.  "European" style seating prevails there, unlike here in the US.  Which means, you sit wherever there is room available for your party. You might be paired with another couple at at table for 4.  Or you might be joined by a party of 5 or 6 people with whom you have absolutely no connection.  It's almost like going to a bar here and taking whatever stools are available, except at the Salt Exchange you are getting the full dining experience, complete with wait service, an extraordinary menu a small but remarkable wine list and lots of toys at the full bar.

Tonight's wine choice: the 2004 Colle Dei Venti Borolo, a wine that scored 95 points by the Wine Spectator and didn't disappoint.  At the risk of sounding cliche', this is truly a food wine!

We started off diner with the Charcuterie plate.  The plate was prepared with chicken liver pate, salami and prosciutto and served with course ground mustard.

For entrees tonight, I chose the Rabbit leg, Rabbit Ragout and foraged mushrooms dish.  Kate chose the poached Maine Lobster with Apple-wood smoked bacon and diced carrot and leeks.  The Rabbit was tender, moist, succulent and very satisfying especially with the foraged mushrooms.  What a great combination!  Kate's lobster was equally delicious; light, savory and was served with a spoon as all the juice on the plate was worth consuming.  OK, the bread helped to soak up some of that deliciousness, but it was SO worth not wasting a drop of it!

Dessert was terrific.  Home made cheesecake served with lemon curd and graham cracker.  The time and presentation that this crew puts into it's dishes is amazing.  If you don't believe me, all you need to do is come sit here at the bar one evening and experience it for yourself!

Another terrific culinary delight was had at The Salt Exchange!  Keep up the good work Charlie!  Kate and I both gave this experience a solid 4.5 stars.

Cheers!

~ Joe