THIS PLACE IS NOT CLOSED. IT JUST MOVED UPSTAIRS…read more
I hope you're ready to read a dissertation, cuz I have a lot to write. lol. This past weekend we got to enjoy a really delicious and fun evening at the East End Market for our friend's birthday.
La Femme du Fromage Upstairs is a private dining experience on the second floor of the popular East End Market, just above Domu. Dining here is by reservation only, so make sure to plan ahead. We had a group of 12 people, which was the max capacity this place can hold. This is a personalized dinner and wine pairing curated by the owner of La Femme, Tonda. She and her team took great care of feeding and entertaining us for a little over the 3 hours that we were there. The food was excellently prepared by Chef Dale and our table service was handled by Rob, who made sure our wines and drinks were always filled throughout the evening.
Tonda is an expert in wines and cheeses, with over 30 years in the industry, traveling the world to learn the intricacies of both. Every course she brought out, she explained the history of the wine that was paired with it. Every cheese we tried, she explained what animal it was from and how it's prepared. She's such a burst of energy as well. You can really tell she loves what she does.
Our first course (which I sadly forgot to take a picture of because I immediately inhaled it all) was a Brie fondue that was infused with champagne, shallots, garlic, and was topped with crab meat. Served with sides of roasted cauliflower, roasted carrots, apple slices, and a tasty crusty bread. (I cant for the life of me, remember what type it was) This dish was paired with a glass of Simonet Blanc de Blancs, a sparkling white wine. Every time I emptied my glass, Rob was nearby to immediately refill it. It was awesome!
Our second course was a charcuterie plate of 3 cheeses, fresh blueberries and grapes, and wagyu beef salami. The first cheese presented was a soft spreadable sheep's cheese that was infused with truffle. It was earthy and nutty, and I was blown away by how velvety it was. The second cheese (and my personal favorite) was a coffee infused cow's cheese. I loved it so much that I also purchased a small block of it from Tonda at the end of the evening! The third cheese, if I remember correctly, was a hard goat cheese that was nutty and had a really cool texture when eating. The wagyu beef salami was amazing and paired really well with every cheese. All this was paired with a glass of Mommessin Beaujolais Villages, a fruity red wine. And of course, Rob was always ready to swing by and refill my glass when needed!
The third course was a beef tenderloin, served with a side of asparagus and aligot, all topped with a delicious gravy. The beef was super tender, the asparagus still had a nice bite to it, and this was also my first time trying aligot. If you don't know what it is, it's a VERY cheesy mashed potato, and it's AWESOME! lol. This dish was paired with a glass of El Enemigo Malbec, a darker red wine from Mendoza. And yet again, my boy Rob was on deck to keep it coming! (I'm gonna shout out every chance I get)
Finally for dessert, we had little vanilla and lemon shortcakes, topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. The cakes were moist and buttery and the strawberries were bright and lightly tart. The dessert was paired with a glass of Vietti Moscato d'Asti, a sweet sparkling white wine. This sweet wine was PERFECT for the sweet spongey cake. It was an absolutely delicious pairing. (And you already know Rob was getting the refill in)
For anyone crazy enough to actually read all this. I hope you have the chance to go out and enjoy this place sometime. Tonda has a really special little spot here, and it deserves all the praise it gets. Chef Dale is a master of his craft, the food was amazing. And Rob is a damn good server who made sure we were always well taken care of.
We will definitely be back soon, Tonda. Thank you for an awesome evening!