June 26th, 2012 
(Photo Credit: Ashley Massis)
Chef Jose Martinez, a Michelin Star winner, James Beard Nominee for Best Chef (South) and proprietor of Maison Blanche, rated by ZAGAT 2012 as the best restaurant on Longboat Key, headed to NYC on Thursday, June 21st, to cook at the prestigious James Beard Foundation. Featuring a memorable menu of French elegance, Chef Jose showed off his expertise and did not disappoint.
One of my favorite parts about a dinner at the James Beard House, is walking through the kitchen to get to your table. Upon arriving, you become acquainted with the honored chef and the team that helps prepares the dinner. During the cocktail hour, guests were able to walk through the kitchen, or sip on cocktails and enjoy delicious appetizers such as Smoked Haddock with Daikon Radishes or the Oyster Kromeskies with Julienned Vegetables.
Chef Jose Martinez (Photo Credit: JamesBeard.Org)
After the cocktail hour, we sat down for dinner and enjoyed courses such as Tomato Confit with brussel sprouts and the Pan-Seared Rouget. My favorite was the Green Asparagus Soup with baby artichokes. It was a delicious and savory soup, and a perfect palette cleanser to begin dinner. The main course was Foie Gras and Duck Pie in a savory wine sauce. The large portion left everyone full and very satisfied. Throughout the courses, we tried wine that complemented each course, and learned about the different types of French wines.
Maison Blanche offers progressive French cuisine, a savory balance of French cookery with modern American influences. With local ingredients, a warm atmosphere, and the expertise of Chef Jose Martinez, any guest that visits Maison Blanche is rewarded with a memorable experience. I highly recommend that if you are around the Longboat, FL area, you should stop by Maison Blanche.
Chef Jose Martinez preparing one of the amazing dishes at the James Beard House, NYC (Photo Credit: Brennan Keeler)
