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Welcome to Savannah, America's Most Beautiful City
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By Cima Star |
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I’ve been indulging in Alligator Soul’s sensuous and imaginative seasonal menus ever since it opened about five years ago. But I hadn’t been there since the death of founding chef/owner, Hillary Craig. I suppose I feared that without that culinary sorcerer at the helm, the place would inevitably lose some of its luster.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. With his handpicked and trained chef, Chris Dinello, now in charge, Craig’s vision of a perfect restaurant with superb food, warm, friendly, efficient service in an enchanting atmosphere soars ever higher. My companion and I began by sharing one of the nightly specials, an appetizer of Foie Gras Pot Stickers. An improbable and wonderful combination of Foie Gras blended into an apricot cognac and fig compote wrapped in wonton skin and pan fried sent frissons of delight dancing in our taste buds. For an entrée, plump Diver Scallops were grilled with a slice of truffle and nestled on a bed of yellow heirloom tomato Georgia grits. Adorned with a leek thyme soubis and garnished with pickled fennel, this proved to be an enchanting choice. This is a dish I could eat forever. Needless to say, I shamelessly sampled my companion’s duck. This succulent duck breast, coupled with duck confit ravioli in a horseradish mushroom buerre Fondue, was served with a roasted white corn and shiitake mushroom soufflé and topped with baby truffled field greens. Garnished with red onion marmalade and a blackberry port demi glace, this duck flew to the highest pinnacle. The menu here changes every season, with nightly specials. Over the years, I’ve eaten most of them, from their lovely House Salad, currently with Blackberry Vinaigrette and Crunchy Warm Parmesan-Grit Croutons, to soups, appetizers and entrees. Some of my favorites have been tenderloin of beef, the best veal in town, lamb, venison, chicken and wild boar. The fish of the day is always superb. Although I’m not much of a steak eater, I can’t help but notice the rapture of many of the restaurant’s regulars over the extensive steak menu, ranging from a giant 32 oz. Rib Steak to a delightful Steak and Frites. Vegetarians find bliss here, too. There’s always a luscious-sounding entrée, plus plenty of appetizers, soups and salads for the veggie-only crowd (of which owner Maureen Craig is one).
For dessert this night, we dug into the Summer Berry Cobbler, a delectable combination of blueberry, blackberry and raspberry compote, topped with a rosemary cinnamon crumble and laden with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries. A perfect decadent delight with which to end another glorious evening at Alligator Soul.
Alligator Soul |
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