Foodie Failure

A few weeks ago I went to an event at Artifact Coffee, in Hampden.  It was a Biscuit takeover and it was fantastic.  I ate quite a lot of biscuits and enjoyed them all immensely!  Since then, I had heard they were doing another, only this time it was with Bryan Voltaggio.  He's opening yet another restaurant, in Baltimore. But this time around his concept is new for him: Rustic Italian.  I'm a huge fan of his so anything with his name on it, I'll try.  So I made my reservations for this evening, even though there was no menu to speak of, thinking I'm now the adventurous sort.

Seeing as it was a bit pricey for the 4 course meal ($45 a person), I thought I'd see what I could find in the way of a menu this morning online, just in case.  That's being a good customer I told myself. 

Full Menu:
1st Course (choice of):
TUNA pistachio, castelvetrano olive, blood orange sugo, citrus pith, radish
CHIOGGIA BEETS tonnato sauce, charred rosemary, pine nuts, bottarga, arugula
 
2nd Course (choice of):
PRAWNS polenta from buckwheat and yellow corn, sauce fra diavolo
ASPARAGUS fava and pea ragu, wild herbs, smoked pecorino, almond
 
Pasta (choice of, pasta course):
MEATBALLS braised in ragu pomadoro, chittarra, basil, parmesan
KING CRAB spinach tagliatelle, buttered popcorn, our bay
LAMB RAGU whole wheat lumache, oak smoked pecorino, mustard leaf pesto
 
Dolce (choice of):
PISTACHIO IN OLIVES olive oil cake, pistachio cream, cara cara orange sorbet, crispy pomegranate, kumquats
COOKIE PLATE meyer lemon taralli & chocolate almond pistachio biscotti

Well, one could say it was a good thing I did.  As much as I count myself a foodie, the Meatballs and King Crab 3rd courses are the only ones that sound even remotely good to me.  Which quite honestly, ticks me off.  Not because of what Bryan is serving at all.  I know he is a very talented chef and probably everything he puts on a table is delicious.  So why the heck did I just cancel my reservation!?  Because even after all these new things this past year, I'm still a big old chicken!

I've been so good trying new things and new foods and liking a great deal of them. But not being able to go the distance on a Voltaggio menu just makes me feel like a failure now.  I suppose I can at least take solace in the fact that the $45 that I'd be putting out isn't going to go to waste on something I may not like.  But I'd rather make the vow now that I'm going to save the money for when Aggio finally opens and eat everything I decided not to eat this time around.

Take that you finicky taste-buds!