The Loft at Montage - Fine Laguna Beach Dining

The Loft, at the resort, Montage in Laguna Beach was a true slice of culinary heaven.

From the moment we entered the restaurant, we were enveloped in peaceful California calm. The lighting, the decor, the coastal views, the flowers at the end of bar and the music…..all were blended seamlessly to enhance every guests dining experience.

We began our meal with an introduction to Chef Brian Black & Casey, our sommelier. They worked together to allow us the opportunity to sample their fare and wine pairings. Teamwork at its finest.

Our first course was a Wild Strawberry & Arugula Salad with Tahitian Vanilla Bean, Cured Lemon and Burratta . Paired with a light Schramsberg, Blancs de Blanc California sparkling wine. This combination was delightful. The salad really caught our taste buds by surprise. Chef Black did an exceptional job balancing all these flavors. A true highlight of the meal.

A White Asparagus & Pistachio Soup with Sonoma Duck Confit and Aleoppo Pepper was served up so uniquely in a lovely teacup and saucer. The foamy top with a dusting of nuts gave the illusion of a cappuccino almost. A light cream soup that wasn’t overly creamy. This soup was amazing. Mellow flavors with a kick of Aleppo Pepper really made this course pop. The soup was paired with Arietta Semillon- Sauvingnon Blanc Blend, “On the white Keys”.It was lovely how Casey, our sommelier, gave us a little introduction to each wine she brought to the table.

My most favorite course of the evening was the Herimasa & Albacore Napolean with local melons, Shishito peppers and white soy. I am a true lover of fish. Grilled, sautéed, poached, sushi or even sashimi, they all tickle my fancy. This exceptional stacked dish was as colorful and aromatic as it was velvety smooth and delicious. Two exceptional sashimi selections were stacked upon ponzu tossed melon, then a light layer of petite croutons topped with peppers and herbs and sliver of radish for color. This dish was paired with a lovely Riesling by J & Ha Strub from Germany. These flavors are still on my mind a 3 days later.

Ahhh, another fantastic course. An amazingly seared Sea Bass served upon a foaming bed of Lobster Risotto . The firmness of this fish was terrific. It was a perfect blending of flavors and textures. Rich and buttery, decadent and playful. Our wine was delightful as well. We were surprised with a bold red. The Domaine Serene Pinot Noir, Yamhill Cuvee from Oregon complimented the texture of this dish and allowed the essence of both to shine through.

The arrival of Maple-Glazed Sonoma Duck Breast with quince and potato hash, tangerines and plum wine filled our table with a fragrance of warm sweet comfort. This creation was delightful. Paired with HdV Cabernet Sauvingnon, Belle Cousine a robust California red.

A superb cheese selection was brought to our table by the Fromagier. She was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to explain her creation to us. The Trio cheese was served on a mixed fruit and nut bread, then topped with a homemade wild strawberry jam. There is an interactive cheese bar at the far end of the restaurant. What a fun evening that would be. Talking with the Fromagier and sampling some of their 150 international cheeses paired with fantastic wines.

The dessert course….Oh my! The dessert course gave us a blissful ending to our 3 hour tasting of perfection after unique perfection.

Chocolate Banana Pudding – Maple Sugar Panna Cotta – Buttermilk Chocolate Cake

Each dessert hand a lively twist of flavors. Our dessert wine was a rich Felsina Via Sante, Chianti Classico from Italy. Bravissimo!!!!

The enthusiasm and expertise of The Loft’s entire staff was what brought all the elements together for a wonderfully memorable dining experience.

We were fortunate to be able to sample so many wonderful dishes. Chef Black shows creativity and showmanship in every dish he creates. Not every item we sampled was on The Loft’s everyday menu.

Click here for: The Loft’s Dinner Menu

The Loft at Montage is considered a casual dining eatery that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My adventuresome 13 year old daughter, Emily, would totally take pleasure in this dining adventure. There isn’t one thing she wouldn’t have tried or enjoyed. She takes after me!

If you are a local or just visiting our beautiful beach cities…. You must make a point to stop in Laguna Beach’s crowning accomplishment-

The Loft at Montage.

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