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(Santa Barbara, CA) November 10, 2008 – I love food. Enough said. So, how is it possible to stop eating when each bite brings with it so much joy that for those few seconds where my mouth is full of exciting flavors and blissful deliciousness, my stomach is emptied of any trace of culinary substance? This was the dilemma (difficult, I know!) my boyfriend, Ryan, and I faced at
Bistro Eleven Eleven, the elegant, yet casual ocean-view restaurant within
Hotel Mar Monte
(to read my review on
Hotel Mar Monte, click here) in
Santa Barbara.
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Bistro Eleven Eleven's gorgeous ocean view
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With culinary direction by
Chef Martin Valdez,
Bistro Eleven Eleven restaurant specializes in
American cuisine with Californian flair and is particularly known for its exquisite seafood entrees and decadent, homemade desserts.
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Chef Martin Valdez and me
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As soon as Ryan and I were seated,
Chef Valdez introduced himself and spoke to us about our taste preferences and to see if there was anything in specific we wanted to try on the menu. Not only did
Grilled Pecan Encrusted Halibut catch my eye immediately, but it is also
Bistro Eleven Eleven’s signature dish, so of course, I requested this from
Chef Valdez and then said the rest is up to him.
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Bistro Eleven Eleven's signature dish: Grilled Pecan Encrusted Halibut and grilled vegetables
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He then turned toward the open kitchen opposite the ocean, and I noticed the chef exchange excited smiles with our waitress, Jennifer, as she approached Ryan and me for our drink orders.
Because Ryan and I had already spent the day touring local wineries (to read my review on
Wine Edventures, click here), we sadly returned the impressive wine list that consisted of both
Santa Barbara labels, such as
Sunstone Merlot (a fruity deep red wine with a hint of oak which I highly recommend), as well as champagnes.
Ryan and I were not at all disappointed, though, because the
Might Leaf Tropical Green and
Citrus Chamomile teas we sipped throughout the night were quite possibly the best teas we’ve ever had. Before Jennifer even had time to check on everything,
Chef Valdez personally brought out
Butternut Squash Soup for each of us as the first of nine food tastings of the night. To be completely honest, Ryan and I were not very hungry that night, though you would not have guessed since we practically licked every plate clean, so if the soup had been our only dish, we would have been 100% satisfied. It was thick enough to handle the rich flavors and spicy aromas, yet its silky texture enveloped each taste bud as it slid down my throat and happily filled my belly.
Before I continue with my gushing, here was the complete list of tastings for the evening:
1. Butternut Squash Soup
2. Tuscan Tomato Olive Salad
3. Bistro Jumbo Lump Crabcakes
4. Grilled Pecan Encrusted Halibut
5. Sea Bass and Mushroom Risotto
6. Shrimp Skewers
7. Petit Filet Mignon
8. Chocolate Brownie
9. Crème Brulee
All three appetizers, four entrees and two desserts were scrumptious beyond belief, so it’s tough to pick favorites, but just thinking about the following three dishes makes my mouth water uncontrollably: crabcakes, sea bass risotto and shrimp skewers.
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Crabcakes drizzled with lemongrass white wine sauce and papaya salsa
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The
Bistro Jumbo Lump Crabcakes were prepared with
lemongrass white wine butter sauce and accompanied by
papaya salsa. The white wine butter sauce enhanced the rich, meaty flavors of the fresh crab, but the lemongrass added a zest that I’ve never experienced before. It subdued the initial buttery taste, while simultaneously enhancing the sweetness of the papaya salsa.
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Pan-seared sea bass atop oyster and mushroom risotto
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Ryan is a seafood enthusiast, so his favorite was, hands-down, the
Sea Bass and Mushroom Risotto. This dish consisted of
pan-seared sea bass, Portobello Oysters and
Button Mushrooms mixed into a thick risotto. I am usually not a fan of oysters, but these were cooked to perfection, leaving only rich meat without a trace of the salty juices. What I loved most about this risotto was that each scoop of my fork contained all the delicious components, unlike many other less substantial risottos where you have to dig around to finally find a sliver of sea bass or remnant of mushroom.
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Lemon-marinated shrimp and grilled vegetable skewers
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After thinking it couldn’t get any better, Jennifer presented us with the
Shrimp Skewers, and after one bite, I thought I died and went to heaven! The
lemon-marinated shrimp with savory chunks of
grilled bell peppers and
onions were so full of flavor that this dish didn’t need any additional sauce or spice. Instead, I let the juices of the skewers seep into the brown rice and relished in the tangy party in my mouth.
Needless to say, Ryan and I were stuffed to the max by the time we finished the last three dishes that followed, but were in pure bliss the entire time! Whether you are a guest looking for romantic getaway or family-fun experience or a
Santa Barbara local desiring something new, I recommend
Bistro Eleven Eleven and your taste buds will thank you forever.
For more information, visit the “
Dining” section on
Hotel Mar Monte’s website or click here.
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Bistro Eleven Eleven is located within Hotel Mar Monte
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Bistro Eleven Eleven in Hotel Mar Monte
1111 East Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 879-0744
Daily
Happy Hour specials (4-7pm) and weekend live entertainment
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