A Serene Life: Dinner @ The Lark

I have had the opportunity and the pleasure, several times, to enjoy dinner at one of Michigan's only 5-star restaurants, The Lark. It's an amazing French restaurant set back from a fairly busy intersection, but you would never know it. The exterior is adorned with trees and whimsical landscaping, so that you truly feel like you are stepping into a villa in France.

The restaurant is small (approx 8-10 tables), with only two seatings per night. They fully expect their guests to enjoy the food and company in a relaxed and appreciative manner. While their normal menu and experience is exquisite (granny took me for my birthday for several years), my Dad was in town recently and made reservations for night that happened to be a special theme night. "A Northern Italian Dinner". We were asked our preference of fish or lamb a week before the dinner, and that was our only choosing.

We were seated next to the fireplace adorned with fantastic fresh flowers, with a view of their flower and herb garden outside (well, the place is so small, everyone has that view). We were offered a substantial wine list from their large wine cellar of wines from around the world, which the owners personally travelled to and purchased. We were also given the option of a wine bouquet, which was a small glass of wine specially selected and served with each course. 3 of the 4 of us chose this option. The 6-course dinner is as follows:

Primo Antipasti

Grilled figs wrapped in San Daniele prosciutto with black pepper fett'una, mussels "alla Tarantina" steamed with limoncello, shallots, and Italian parsley, and spring vegetable fritto misto. These figs were the most amazing thing I've ever tasted!

Seconde antipasto

Roasted quail "scorzonera alla romana" with hazelnut polenta and Saba (sauce similar to balsamic). I was so excited to eat it that I forgot to take a picture ...