Artisanal

Overall CID rating 3 out of 5

Thumbs Up: cheese selection

Thumbs Down: extremely crowded and loud as the night progresses, value for the dollar

Recommendations: Go early or prepare to wait!

“CID Highlight” – The Fromagerie: CID rating 5 out of 5

I’m no expert when it comes to cheese and would love to take a class one day to teach me how to enjoy an ingredient that seems to plague (with its scent) and impress a mark (with the texture and flavors) deep in the hearts of many fellow cids. Even with my lack of knowledge, I know any shop that supplies such an array and variety of international cheeses must deserve a 5 out of 5 rating.

Assiette de Charcuterie et Fromages: CID rating 3.5 out of 5

Assorted Cured Meats & Seasonal Cheeses, Fresh and Dried Fruit. For $36, this dish just didn’t hit the value for the dollar mark.

Fondue: CID rating 3 out of 5

I’ve had a delicious mini fondue experience (using gruyere cheese) thanks to NINJA and their Clam Bombshell appetizer. The cheese blend in the fondue pot at Artisanal didn’t leave me the same experience. The cheese blend tasted bitter. Though the cheese may have been imported and of very good quality. The dish itself including the bread, apples and kielbasa did not blow me away. The bread was flavorless and the apples were powdery. The kielbasa was the highlight of the dish.

Roast Casco Bay Cod with Manilla Clams, Cranberry Beans & Fennel: CID rating 2.75 out of 5

Since they ran out of my original choice, the skate, I opted for the cod. Big mistake! The cod was flaky and light but extremely bland in seasoning. There was an outer crust of what tasted like crushed broccoli which lead to an extreme disconnect with the fish. The clams were small and flavorless along with the beans and light tomatoe sauce.

7 – hour Lamb Shank with Soft Goat Cheese Polenta & Parsley Pistou: CID rating 3.75 out of 5

Some found the goat cheese polenta a little overpowering in this dish. But it was perfect for me, because lamb meat can be a bit gamey sometimes. The goat cheese polenta balanced off this dish. The lamb meat was soft mostly in the parts nears the bone as in every type of meat. It wasn’t slow cooked to perfection but was worth the dollar value.

Passion Fruit Panna Cotta with Exotic Fruit Soup & Coconut Tapioca: CID rating 3 out of 5

The exotic fruit soup overpowered the dish in many ways both with its texture and flavor. The panna cotta and coconut tapioca were light in flavor and refreshing. But they were both drowning in the bowl. The soup may have done well as a thick syrup or sauce instead. And maybe served in cup instead of a bowl where you can get a spoonful of all ingredients and flavors without too much effort tracing the plate for it.

Creme Brulee with Orange Zest & Cinnamon Wafers: CID rating 3 out of 5

The zest made a huge difference in the creme brulee. It was creamy, crunchy, and refreshing all in the same bite.