I guess I should start by saying none of these pictures do the food at Talde justice. At all. For the first time in what feels like forever I was just too excited to eat such beautiful food. Taking pictures was definitely an afterthought. That being said, let's dive right in...
Choosing just one appetizer off of Talde's one-page menu was never going to happen. Thankfully, my friend Marissa was down to order a feast with me. To start, I opted for the Pretzel Pork & Chive Dumplings, which came about from Dale's time on Top Chef. Although they were good, I was hoping for steamed dumplings instead. For some reason I imagined the pretzel as a filler with the pork and chives rather than the actual wrapper. The filling, however, was so flavorful and delicious. The chives added a nice crunch, while the pork was succulent and extra salty thanks to the pretzels.
When Marissa told me the Kale Salad was one of her favorite things on the menu, I tried not to balk. I love kale, but I hate salads. I promised her I'd try a bite or two, but I didn't think I'd enjoy it much. Thankfully, I was so wrong. The tempura flakes scattered in with the crisp kale made for a textured bite that was anything but boring. Throw in some apples and squash, and you've got yourself a bright mix that had even this salad hater going back for seconds.
When Marissa told me the Kale Salad was one of her favorite things on the menu, I tried not to balk. I love kale, but I hate salads. I promised her I'd try a bite or two, but I didn't think I'd enjoy it much. Thankfully, I was so wrong. The tempura flakes scattered in with the crisp kale made for a textured bite that was anything but boring. Throw in some apples and squash, and you've got yourself a bright mix that had even this salad hater going back for seconds.
The entrees offered at Talde are a nice mix of fish, chicken and hearty meat. I've recently become obsessed with fava beans, so the Long Island Fluke with fava, cilantro and brown butter seemed an appropriate choice. I still have dreams about this dish. I even tried to recreate it at home to no avail. The fluke was flaky and moist, with a richness from the brown butter like nothing I've ever had before. I mixed it with a side of Shrimp Fried Rice that was a fresh, elevated spin on the classic take-out staple. Dare I say it, but the fried rice actually tasted almost healthy.
Marissa ordered the Whole Market Fish with a smattering of tumeric-tomato in banana leaves. It was such a fun dish to share and customize with tortillas on the side. A dab of fish, a spoonful of rice and some greens make a pretty tasty match-up.