Shock to the System

A couple of weeks ago Mr. Cucumber Sammie and I trekked up to Cape May for our menu tasting.  It was an epic food coma inducing evening, whose story should best be told through the use of pictures.  At Congress Hall they do a tasting 'party'.  They invite all the brides and grooms who is getting married during a certain time period and have kind of a mock wedding complete with dj.  There were centerpieces from various local florists and different linens on all the tables.  I must have gained 5 pounds but it was worth it!

It wasn't until about half way through the appetizers that I realized I should probably take pictures.  And at that point pretty much everything that was worth eating was gone.  Ooops!  But I think it just a testament to how delicious everything was.

For our menu we get a total of 5 passed hors' d oeuvres appetizers (who am I kidding, I can't spell that).  Congress Hall provided a tasting of their top 6.  They were: Seared Sesame Tuna, Smoked Salmon Pinwheels, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus on Toasted Pita, French Onion Soup Boule, Garlic Crusted Lamb Chops and Truffled Potato Croquettes.

Yum yum

All gone!

Everyone at the table agreed that the lamb chops and salmon pinwheels were phenomenal.  But that is where the consensus stopped.  I loved the little bowls of french onion soup (so cute, you can still see the bread bowl on Mr. CS's plate... I ate mine of course) but most people thought it was too salty.  Mr. Cucumber Sammie loved the hummus but I thought it was just meh.  Thankfully Congress Hall has about 20 more appetizers on their menu that we can select from.  Now we just have to figure out how to narrow it down!

Along with our apps. we get a 2 stations for the cocktail hour.  Mr. Cucumber Sammie and I are decedents from mice and can't imagine not having CHEESE!!

I just want to bury my head in there

Salad comes next!

Goat cheese, pancetta and dried cherries

Pear, walnut and stilton over baby spinach

Yes I am a terrible blogger and can't remember to take a picture before shoveling food in my face.  There was one more salad but I didn't get a picture.  We are probably going to go with the Mesclun greens with  Crumbled Goat Cheese, Crispy Pancetta and Dried Cherries (and yes it deserves capital letters).  Mmmm goat cheese!

I am feeling full just remembering all this food I ate but don't worry I powered through it.

Grilled Citrus Salmon with Spinach and Wild Rice

Chicken stuffed with spinach roasted peppers and smoked mozzarella

Maple Cured Pork Chop with mashed sweet potatoes

Petite Filet Mignon with Garlic Mashed

Shrimp and Crab Cake with mashed potatoes and spinach

 So good!  The mashed sweet potatoes were A-mazing.  Seriously, I don't know what they did to them but they were so good.  Even better than the garlic mashed potatoes and I didn't think I would ever say something is better than garlic mashed potatoes.  The filet mignon was everyone's hands down favorite.  Everything else was delicious but not blow-me-over amazing so we are still searching for our second option. 

Finally dessert.  I was away taking pictures of centerpieces when the dessert tray came but don't worry they started without me.  So chivalrous. 

We are not having passed desserts since we are having the cookie table.  So don't get too attached to those pictures.

I had to be rolled out of Congress Hall because I ate way too much.  I am not kidding about the food coma and promptly fell asleep on the car ride home.

Anyone else have their tasting yet?  Was it a private tasting or a 'tasting party' where they gave you only a sampler of the menu?  How did you decide on the items you didn't taste?