[Shanghai] Birthday at Nougatine by Jean Georges

Nougatine by Jean Georges | www.threeonthebund.com | Dianping
Address: 中山东一路3号外滩3号4楼(近广东路) – 4F/Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan East No. 1 Rd near Guangdong Rd (黄浦区 Huangpu District)
Date visited: 2013.09.20 Birthday
Total bill: ~RMB¥2,100 for two people (RMB¥668 prix fixe per person + wine, water, extras + 10% service charge)
Will return: Yes

September has come to an end and this was the finale to my wonderful birthday month. But really, everyday is my birthday. The venue was kept a secret from me but when we got into the cab, the driver was given the unmistakable intersection where Bund No. 3 is located. Yeah, I had an idea where we were going.

For dinner, Nougatine offers prix fixe menus only. We both choose the RMB¥668 per person option, which allows you to select three dishes + one dessert from the menu. There are also two other prix fixe options for RMB¥1128 and RMB¥1458 per person (will review those when I inherit USD$2.5 billion from that stranger in Nigeria), which have preset dishes. Between the two of us, we ate six dishes and four desserts. Yes, those numbers are correct. Thank you as always mister.

The view in front of our table.

Warm French and raisin bread (Complimentary)

Amuse-bouche (L-R): carrot soup with ginger spice rim, goat cheese foam with peas, and cantaloupe. Carrot soup was delish.

Scallop sashimi with chipotle emulsion and crispy rice
Recommend: yes
The scallop was delicate with a hint of mint. The crispy rice was warm–a nice surprise.

Foie gras brûlée, dried sour cherries and candied pistachio
Recommend: must get x10000000000000000

If you know me, you know I am an avid cherry hater. I was struggling between my lifelong strike against cherries and the fact that this is literally THE dish to get at Jean Georges in Shanghai, New York, anywhere. Foie gras won. Of course, of course.

This could possibly be one of my favorite dishes to date. To my pleasure, the cherry flavor was barely noticeable if any at all (I really didn’t taste it) and it was in jam form rather than in whole fruit form. Complemented by sweet candied pistachio and a savory gelatinous sauce–that sweet & salty yin & yang gets me every time.

P.S. I am still not going to eat cherries outside of this dish.

Sautéed foie gras, black olive, lychee and brioche
Recommend: yes
Whenever we see foie gras on the menu, it will end up on the table. So here we are, eating another foie gras dish. The sweet lychee gel went really well with the savory foie gras. I also recommend Mr and Mrs Bund‘s seared foie gras.

Steamed cod, spiced jade emulsion and celtuce
Recommend: maybe
The cod was tenderlicious and cut so easily. But the sauce tasted like spicy green sauce they have at Panchero’s. It wasn’t bad but not what I wanted on my cod. Can I get a miso cod please.

Australian wagyu beef sirloin, marble score 6 (additional RMB¥248)
Recommend: no
The beef had a nice crusty outside and fatty inside (backing up the marble score). It was fine but not worth the extra money in my opinion. We both thought the tenderloin was better.

Caramelized beef tenderloin with carrots and miso
Recommend: yes
The tenderloin was… tender (how else can I put it). We liked this more than the wagyu beef sirloin.

And then came four desserts. Yes, four desserts between two people. On top of the two that we ordered with our prix fixe, one was by surprise (for me) and one was by accident.

Chocolate cheesecake (off menu)
This is not on the menu and they bring it out for birthdays. I really like this cheesecake. Soft and simple flavors.

Along with the cheesecake, the servers brought out a bouquet that had been delivered to the restaurant before we arrived (remember these techniques, guys). Thanks mister.

Jean Georges chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream
Recommend: yes
JG’s signature dessert and possibly the only dessert on the menu that does not contain fruit.

Peach sorbet, goat cheese mousse, mix berries
Recommend: no
This dessert was sent to us by accident. I didn’t like it. This looks a lot like a Jason Atherton dessert (The Commune Social and 22 Ships)–lots of dots and pieces. Too fruity for my liking since I tend to like chocolate and dairy based desserts more.

Marshmallows (Complimentary)

Assorted sweets (Complimentary)

Milk chocolate panna cotta, fromage blanc sorbet, passion fruit
Recommend: no
The panna cotta had a rubbery texture. Not a fan.

Out of the four desserts we had, the one I liked best was the birthday cheesecake, which is not on the menu. I like the food here but I don’t think JG and I are on the same page with dessert. Almost all the desserts contain some sort of fruity element, which is not my style.

And when I got home, another surprise chocolate cheesecake from Le Cake. Thank you!

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