Eats Week treat: Mid-week Mint!

I had SUCH a great dinner birthday at Mint Bistro in Manchester; I'll have to let you all know about it sometime. This week is Eats Week in Manchester, though you would NEVER know it. There has been no press, I have no idea who organizes it, I even did a Google search and found something from 2008. It's too bad because I have really found a lot of great food here and new, cute, and delicious places seem to be opening all the time. I did see something either on Facebook or Twitter from Mint Bistro about their Eats Week special: 3 courses for $30. Now, I know, that is not a cheap meal and I have no right to take myself out to an expensive dinner mid-week...but really, half price for food at Mint? How can I not go?  I went early hoping to get a table and sure enough it was quiet when I got there but filling up quickly when I left. Just like last time, the service was friendly and not snobby, the wait staff was knowledgeable, I just can't say enough good things about it. Tonight's dinner was among the top 10 restaurant experiences of all time for me.

I started with a Caipirinha (thanks Mila for introducing me to this) to celebrate the warm, sunny evening.

It was refreshing but not quiet sweet enough for me. They also brought me some bread with some olive hummus, oil and balsamic, and olive tapenade spreads. Sorry, I didn't like any of these things...I don't like olives or balsamic on their own, so I don't blame the restaurant and I am aware that most people love these things. I started my meal with an arugula and beet salad.

This was so yummy. The mustard dressing was not too sweet, had lots of nice texture-adding coarse mustard. The nuts were barely candied, the arugula was very very fresh. I ALMOST asked for fresh pepper and the waiter suddenly appeared to offer me some. Hooray! I love pepper on veggies.

Then, the main attraction: apple braised pork shank with buttermilk mashed potatoes, golden leek puree, buttered peas, cranberry jam, and apple cider gastrique.

Yes, this dinner (minus the peas) is probably more fall than spring but that didn't stop me. This was so moist and delicious. The pork practically jumped off the bone it was so tender. The peas had that fresh-pea toothy texture. And the best part, the absolute BEST part was that nothing was too salty. Everything tasted like the food itself, which is the sure sign that it was perfectly seasoned. Hearty, satisfying yummyness is right there in that picture, folks. I ate half and brought half home so I could enjoy my three (yes 3--I didn't plan it) desserts.

There was a little biscotti that came with my coffee.

I had two choices for dessert; a bittersweet chocolate cake or a caramel vanilla flan with rhubarb sauce. I simply cannot choose between chocolate or rhubarb so I let the waiter choose.

He said the chocolate cake was tiny and that is why he picked this (he could tell a tiny dessert would be no good for me). The little pistachio shortbread cookies were light and not too buttery...the flan had a visible crust of vanilla bean flecks over the top. To me this dish was a perfect balance of flavors and textures without being too sweet.

And, with the check, a half-bite of mint chocolate brownie.

This was the cutest little end to such a great meal. Because I was there when the restaurant was pretty empty, I got a good chance to chat with the house manager (who came over to ask why I was taking pictures in a nice, not accusatory, way). 

This was definitely the best meal I've ever had out alone. I can't wait until I can justify the expense of going back!