Fahrenheit’s spring menu + amazing skyline view = Blow me away
I was invited by Chef Rocco Whalen of Fahrenheit to try out his new spring menu. Just as predicted, he blew me away.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect so I made sure to come hungry; starving in fact. When we arrived, we were greeted with the Very Berry Sangria. Not a bad way to start a lunch. Cheers, Charlotte!
The lunch was cozy. I was able to catch up with a lot of familiar faces while Chef Rocco started us off with a Wood Grilled Halloumi cheese that was amazing. I had to refrain and keep from going back for seconds.
With lake and beach season around the corner, I am all about salads (hence no seconds on the cheese), but the same ol’ lettuce salads can get boring. Chef Rocco put a twist on his salads and presented me with the a Shaved Brussel Sprout salad: shaved brussel sprouts, granny smith apples, pancetta, pine nuts and an apple vinaigrette dressing.
I honestly don’t think I would have known it was brussel sprouts had I not been told. It was perfect – light and filling. I could eat this again today.
The next course was NC Pot stickers and an avocado and cucumber salad. The pot stickers were paired with mango mustard and the salad tossed with chilies, cilantro, basil, toasted cashews and a Gochujang vinaigrette. I went back for seconds. Okay, maybe even thirds. I lost count.
This course was served with your choice of the Mango Mule (Tito’s vodka, Jasmine tea, mango puree, Ginger beer and a lime) or the Fahrenheit 75 (Topo Gin (NC), Blackberry Coulis, lemon juice and Prosecco). I sampled both….for research purposes, obviously.
I also tasted the Wood Grilled Rack of Lamb served with a polenta cake (think your Grandma’s cornbread) and a pea puree. Yum, yum and YUM.
My favorite thing on the new menu has to be the Pad Thai. I’m a huge fan and Rocco did it to perfection, with an egg placed right on top. It was filling with HUGE NC shrimp.
It was all so good, I may or may not have taken a nap that afternoon.
Fahrenheit is at 222 South Caldwell St. 980-237-6718.
Photos by Jenna Gribble
This story was originally published April 8, 2015 at 4:09 PM with the headline "Fahrenheit’s spring menu + amazing skyline view = Blow me away."