Symphony and Dinner
This weekend is the opening of the Atlanta Symphony season. I went last night to the performance of Mahler's Symphony #2, "Resurrection". Music Director Robert Spano gave opening remarks, dedicating the weekend's performances to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It is ironic that this piece was selected a year ago, and is fitting in that it symbolizes hope in life after death, in this case hope for the resurrection of New Orleans after the devastating catastrophe.
I had never heard this piece before, being relatively new to Mahler's work. I never cared much for it when I was younger, but I have gained a new appreciation for it. This symphony was magnificent, charged with passion and emotion. The final movement included the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, along with two soloists, Nancy Maultsby, mezzo soprano, and Twyla Robinson, soprano. The entry of the chorus gave me goose bumps, as well as other moments during the finale.
Afterward we discovered a new restaurant installed in the ongoing renovation of the Arts Center. Table 1280 has just opened this week, with Chef Shaun Doty moving here from his former restaurant, MidCity Cuisine. The space is very impressive and beautifully designed. In the dining room where we were seated, there is an art installation of rows of colored lighting that to me was reminiscent of a Light-Bright I had as a child.
I started with a squash soup with chestnut foam and pumkin seed oil. It was rich and creamy, getting me excited about the coming of autumn, my favorite season. For the main course I had olive oil poached halibut with white beans, pancetta, cockles, and piquillo peppers. I had never had cockles before, which are like miniature clams with a salty taste. They complimented the succulent halibut, with the whole dish actually coming together nicely. I had a glass of Sancerre from the well-chosen and extensive wine list.
For dessert I opted for the cheese plate, and substituted the blue cheese portion with a buttery manchego. The other two cheeses were a Humbolt Fog, a creamy and pungent goat cheese, and a bright orange cow cheese I forgot the name of (not cheddar!). They were served with quince paste, honeycomb, and fig cake. I had a glass of Yalumba Museum Muscat with this.
This promises to be a wonderful new addition to the Atlanta restaurant scene, although it is not exactly cheap. appetizers are $8-$16, mains are $18-$33, desserts are mostly $8.
I had never heard this piece before, being relatively new to Mahler's work. I never cared much for it when I was younger, but I have gained a new appreciation for it. This symphony was magnificent, charged with passion and emotion. The final movement included the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, along with two soloists, Nancy Maultsby, mezzo soprano, and Twyla Robinson, soprano. The entry of the chorus gave me goose bumps, as well as other moments during the finale.
Afterward we discovered a new restaurant installed in the ongoing renovation of the Arts Center. Table 1280 has just opened this week, with Chef Shaun Doty moving here from his former restaurant, MidCity Cuisine. The space is very impressive and beautifully designed. In the dining room where we were seated, there is an art installation of rows of colored lighting that to me was reminiscent of a Light-Bright I had as a child.
I started with a squash soup with chestnut foam and pumkin seed oil. It was rich and creamy, getting me excited about the coming of autumn, my favorite season. For the main course I had olive oil poached halibut with white beans, pancetta, cockles, and piquillo peppers. I had never had cockles before, which are like miniature clams with a salty taste. They complimented the succulent halibut, with the whole dish actually coming together nicely. I had a glass of Sancerre from the well-chosen and extensive wine list.
For dessert I opted for the cheese plate, and substituted the blue cheese portion with a buttery manchego. The other two cheeses were a Humbolt Fog, a creamy and pungent goat cheese, and a bright orange cow cheese I forgot the name of (not cheddar!). They were served with quince paste, honeycomb, and fig cake. I had a glass of Yalumba Museum Muscat with this.
This promises to be a wonderful new addition to the Atlanta restaurant scene, although it is not exactly cheap. appetizers are $8-$16, mains are $18-$33, desserts are mostly $8.