Another Dinner at the Pluckemin Inn

In lieu of attending Ward's 30th high school reunion we had another amazing meal at the Pluckemin Inn.

The menu:

Ward: smoked trout salad, creme fraiche, maple & Meyer lemon
Allison: Crispy soft-shell crab with polenta (missed the details on this as it was a special)


W: bacon-wrapped quail, foie de poulet, chestnut puree, crispy cabbage
A: lemongrass steamed shrimp with kaffir & coconut en cocotte



W: golden tilefish, shrimp dumplings, smoked hon-shimeji & citrus-celery nage
A: Barnegat Light diver scallops, grapes, cauliflower, capers & lobster essence

dessert:
A: caramel three ways -gateâu with molassas gelée, cacao & caramel float, pecan sticky bun
W: cheese selections: Leonora, Goat, Semi-Soft, Spain; Ombra, Raw Sheep, Semi-Firm, Spain; Gorrgonzola Piccante, Cow, Bleu, Italy


In summary, the best dish was probably the trout salad. You could smell the smoke as soon as the plate reached the table. Our server asked the chef for us what wood was used for the smoking. The answer: whiskey barrels! The soft-shell crab was probably the best we've eaten. The only disappointment was the shrimp, which were a little chewy and flavorless.