This time, it wasn't a special occasion, and we fared much better.
My sweet potato bisque with tarragon creme fraiche and toasted hazelnuts came in a tiny cup-sized portion (I think eating soup from a wide plate is much more elegant) but it was very rich and not at all sweet. I would have liked to taste some tarragon in the tiny squirt of creme fraiche, however. Mr Minx's shrimp tart, served with baby greens, was quite tasty and fairly substantial. It would make a lovely light lunch.
His sirloin medallions tasted of herbs, rather than the promised white truffle drizzle, and though perfectly cooked, they could have used some salt. Maybe even the missing, also-promised Hawaiian sea salt. The portion of brussels sprouts was ample, and they were nicely cooked - slightly browned on the outside, still crisp within.
I had the flounder served on a polenta cake. It was sauced with melted brie in which floated bits of prosciutto. The topping reminded us of a high-class Imperial sauce, and apart from being very salty (apparently I got my husband's portion of NaCl) it had nice flavor. The broccolini could have been cooked another minute longer so I wouldn't have to pick up the whole stalk to eat it (because I had problems cutting it with a knife).
The roasted pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate bread pudding came in matching miniature cupcake-sized portions; both were excellent, as was the homemade-tasting caramel sauce drizzled on the plates.
We washed it all down with a nice Virginia red from White Hall Vinyards (I think it was a cabernet franc). The service was very attentive and though the food had some rough spots, it mostly pleased. I think we might not wait 10 years before dining at Gertrude's again.
Gertrude's
10 Art Museum Dr
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 889-3399
