Valentine's Day Dessert Preview at Asana

Sometimes it's easy for us to forget why we go out to eat.  Agreed that usually the main reason is because you're hungry, but there is usually so much more to the story. We choose to eat out, particularly at fine dining establishments, because we want to be catered to.  We want to be wowed and surprised.  We want to feel special.  After all, the underlying reason that we're there in first place is usually to celebrate a promotion, anniversary or holiday. Or to laugh over a glass of red and enjoy good food with family and friends.

I had the absolute pleasure of getting an exclusive look at a restaurant that truly understands why people choose to dine out and thrives on making sure that the experience that each guest receives is superior.  Asana, located inside the swanky Mandarin Oriental Hotel in the Back Bay, boasts four star dining at its finest and Elizabeth and I got to see just what their Executive Pastry Chef, Nelson Paz, has cooking up for this upcoming lovey-dovey weekend from the best seat in the house, the restaurant's Chef's Table.

The view from Asana's Chef's Table

Chef Nelson hard at work

Once seated with a warm cup of tea in hand, dessert after dessert appeared in front of us and I think the best way for me to describe the afternoon is not through words, but through pictures...take a look...

Guanaja chocolate and pistachio mousse with pistachio cake

Accompanied with orange in roasted syryp

Topped with Ivore and raspberry ice cream
and a crystallized rose petal

Jivara chocolate and Passion Fruit bar

With coconut dacquoise and Caraibe chocolate and ginger ice cream

Banana mousse surrounding caramel crème brulee and sprayed with milk chocolate

Accompanied with banana tuille, banana powder and banana ice cream

With a caramelized banana on the side and gold leaf on top

Layered Cheesecake Push-up Pop

Truffles, Chcolates and Jelly Candies

Each dessert was so thoughtfully prepared with precision and strong attention to detail and each plate was brilliantly crafted and structured so artistically.  My favorite part was the fact that there were so many elements and layers to each dish, both in flavor and texturally speaking, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the experience of trying all the components of the dish separately and then together.

If you are interested in treating your someone special to something special this weekend, there still are some reservations left at Asana, where they are offering a 5-course tasting menu that is available through Monday, February 14th.  The featured ingredient of each dish is chocolate and the dinner is $75 per person, with wine pairings it's an extra $55.  In addition, the cheesecake push-up pop (um, yum) is available in Bento Box form (in which 5 different kinds are featured..) are available at the restaurant's lounge, M Bar and Lounge.  Want to get in on the fun? Call 617-535-8800.

Special thanks to Elizabeth from Free Food Boston, Chef Nelson and the folks at the Asana for such a lovely afternoon.