I know it's been a long time coming, but here it is. Enjoy!

Kinship DC:
When I was in D.C. I had the distinct honor to dine at the Kinship Restaurant. This experience was certainly in the upper echelons of my many restaurant experiences, as well as my first experience at a Michelin rated restaurant. Usually I like to break my reviews into four categories: ambiance, service, food, and the big takeaway. Enjoy!


Ambiance:

The décor in this restaurant is refreshingly modern and minimalistic. I particularly enjoyed the attention to detail with the lighting - it was just right! I could go on and on about this, but I absolutely detest eating in the dark. Now at my age, I have no problem reading the menu, but some more “advanced” folks I often see with flashlights and magnifying glasses, which completely compromises the vibe of the restaurant. Furthermore, you have to be able to see the food. At the same time, the lighting was not too bright, and contributed to the snug vibe of the establishment. The earthen flatware was reminiscent of a more classical period, but was incorporated nicely into the modern vibe and I feel only benefitted the experience. Overall, the ambiance was properly executed, but not overdone or over accentuated which is also a big no-no.


Service:
The service was undoubtably another smashing success. My server was very thoughtful and kind, furthermore, he had a complete mastery of the menu which is absolutely critical in any fine dining (or otherwise) situation. He was of course able to present and explain to me each element on the plate when each course came out. The service was overall prompt and courteous, and my water glass never went empty.


The Menu:

The menu at Kinship is very interesting. It is not organized like a normal menu going with appetizers, entrées, and desserts. Instead the food is categorized in five  sections: Craft, History, Ingredient, Indulgence, and “For the Table”. Each different section encapsulate the appetizer through dessert range. The point of this menu style is to accentuate a certain feature of each plate - a decision I quite like! Craft honors the cooking style or preparation of the food, the History section circumscribes classic dishes that are worth repeating, Ingredient respects and grooms the plate to feature a single aspect / ingredient of the dish, Indulgence obviously represents richer and / or more expensive foods like caviar, foie gras, and lobster, and “For the Table” encapsulates larger plates that are designed to be shared like a whole roasted chicken.


The Food:

My strategy for the food was to order three courses. I attempted to sample from a different menu section for each course. I was remarkably satisfied and very full at the end of the meal.


Cuttlefish Confit:

For my first course I ordered from the Craft section of the menu the cuttlefish confit. It was nothing short of exemplary in almost every distinction. The meat itself was creamy but maintained a firm texture making it an absolute pleasure in the mouth. The presentation on the fish was simple but well executed with uniformly spaced and deep scoring which also allowed a deeper penetration of the flavor from the sauce. The sauce itself consisted of a turmeric - garlic vinaigrette which added an excellent freshness to the dish. There was a small amount of couscous as well which served well as a break from the fish in conjunction with the grilled watermelon radish and the citrus.


Grilled Quail:
Next I ordered an entrée from the Ingredient section. To start on a low-note, the wait time for the quail was slightly excessive, approaching nearly 30 minutes. Although I understand that the design of the service tempo is purposely slow, this was still unnecessary. The presentation of the quail was again simple yet profound, and the aroma that accompanied it was rich and sonorous. My first impression of the dish was the Espelette (French pepper) broth; it was speckled with color and of a rich brown color. The liver that accompanied the quail happened to be my first bite, one that consisted of a slight crunch on the outside followed by a cacophony of velvet on the inside due to the beautiful temperature that it was cooked to. As for the centerpiece of the dish, the quail was done masterfully. Remember, the ingredient section represents in this case the quail, and each other aspect of the dish is meant really to only feature the quail. The bird itself had a profound crispness on the outside and absolute tenderness on the inside - similar to the liver. For me however, the broth was perhaps the best part of the dish serving as a liaison, a communicator of sorts between the quail and the other aspects of the dish such as the Garganelli pasta. My one qualm with the dish was the overall richness. At the time, it was spring in D.C. and 80 degrees outside. I can’t justify having winter fare during the spring-time - it’s unnecessary. 


The Big Takeaway:
is that I would definitely recommend Kinship DC! I really enjoyed how the menu was presented, and the service and the food were each commendable. A word on price: I was actually able to dine there for less then I was expecting. Quite a few of the menu options are very reasonable indeed, especially if you steer clear from the caviar!


Cheers, Francis

Hi guys,

how is everyone doing? Well, it's offically ramp season in the CLE!! Basically there are these wild onion / garlic plants that grow in the woods. We have them at my grandmas house, or as I refer to it "the estate". I'm happy that I've been able to create a little side business out of it, selling them to some local restaurants. I really enjoy using them for most anything in place of onions. Some pictures below!

Recently, my family and I travelled to the Ginko Restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio. Owned by Dante Boccuzzi, a landmark Cleveland chef, Ginko was no exception to his spate of excellence. Upon walking in, I was greeted by a cozy, chic ambiance that was truly indicative of a modern Japanese restaurant. I was particularly stunned by the "stained glass wall" that is featured on one side (the only kind of wall that I want)! The staff was professional and made good reccomendations throughout the meal. I ordered the ultimate Ginko Omakase Tasting Flight, a six course barage of succulent and profoundly evocative fish, with presentations ranging from mild to completely out-of-the-box, in a good way. I was schocked with the shear volume of food, I thought that it was an excellent value. All of the fish is of the highest quality, and it is reflected in the final product. My critiques are as follows: we were seated right by the door, which opens right into the frigid Cleveland air. Only the fish was supposed to be chilled... Also, it seemed that there was somewhat of a long wait time in between courses to which I am not sure to which side of the operation I can attribute. Overall, Ginko provided an absolutely stellar experience with a knowledgeable waitstaff, excellent décor, music (which is very important to me), and above all, fresh, elegantly presented fish. Thank you, Ginko!

​Cheers, Francis