Ok, I am not reviewing this incredible church for the work it does in missions nor for its worship services ... I am reviewing their GOURMET RESTAURANT! Yes, a church with a classic gourmet restaurant whose prix fix meals are extraordinary! Truth it, this restaurant only opens 3 or 4 times a year ... it is called THE MISSIONS RESTAURANT and the profits support mission projects locally, nationally, and internationally. This past Saturday night's funds were used to support two local families dealing with devastating illnesses. So the bonus of the delicious food was the cause ... $40 gave me a place at the table for the evening. The church does a remarkable job of transforming their church hall into a special dining area. Salvatore, the maitre d, greets you as you enter verifying your reservation with warm conversation. As he takes you to your well appointed table you notice the lighting and you hear some remarkable soft jazz being played on the piano in the background. CLASS PURE CLASS. The wait staff has obviously been well trained ... this is not your ordinary church pot luck dinner ... this could get you one of those Michelin's if they came through town ... our young waitress checked our options for the appetizer and entrees of the evening offering to answer any questions. With polite rapidity the glasses were filled and the evening began. The Amuse-Bouche was absolutely incredible (I would want this as an entree)! It was a duck Chateaubriand with a black currant Cumberland sauce. Perfectly prepared ... here it is two days later and that is my mouth drooling at the memory of that succulent meat. There were two appetizer options but those at my table all joined with me for the Trio of the Sea, which offered pan seared tarragon pesto stuffed scallop with beurre blanc, lump crab-cake with a spicy lime mayonnaise, and shrimp Saltimbocca witha Riesling demi glaze. Strong arguments were made for both the melt away scallop and the truly tasty shrimp as the winners with the crab-cake being just as good. Others in the dining room chose a Pappardelle Forestiere for their appetizer with a savory thick pasta perfectly matched with exotic mushrooms, tomatoes, radicchio, and yellow peppers in a sweet herb sauce. The Missions' Salad just might have been the best course of the night of delite. It was built on baby greens with amazing roasted shaved fennel drizzled with a Cara Cara Orange vinaigrette, some candied black pepper bacon, and topped with a warm goat cheese mascarpone puff pastry crouton. Can you say MMMMMM with me? The entrees included: BRAISED SHORT RIBs (my choice) with a hoisin and honey glaze served with wasabi garlic mashed potatoes, and sauteed shanghai bok choy. *A perfectly tasty blend with beef that melted in your mouth! MISSIONS SHRIMP that found the shrimp stuffed with LUMP CRAB meat and perfectly seated in a lemon scampi butter sauce with green beans and jasmine rice. *Those enjoying this entree absolutely loved the shrimp but found the rice rather taste-less, the only complaint of the evening. FREE RANGE CHICKEN POIREAU that had the pan seared chicken breast stuffed with leeks and served with a date, cherry, lemon thyme cous cous, broccoli rabe, and accented with a Sabayon sauce. * No one at our table chose this but there was no mystery about how good it was because we could hear the comments and see the smiles of those who made this their chocie. Ahhh Dessert. Central's pastry chef has created many delicious meal finishers in the past and tonight joined the hall of fame because the Sticky Toffee Pudding with Coffee ice cream and whipped cream were so so good but that added delicious coffee toffee fudge was one of those ... moments ... you know what I mean. Too good to be true. So, I waddled away from a gourmet meal at a church ... the next MISSIONS RESTAURANT night is in June ... call 609-927-4882 for information ... book early ... exercise ahead ... and enjoy! I certainly have each time I have eaten here! And, bring friends .... read more

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