We decide to treat ourselves to Playground 2.0 in Santa Ana for our anniversaries this year. The regular
Playground restaurant has done well by us, and Playground 2.0 is their chef-designed multi-course meal.
Playground 2.0 is done as a counter wrapping two sides of the food preparation area, so everyone gets a
good look at the chefs at work.
In case the wine pairings aren't enough, they give you a welcome drink similar to a pisco sour.
Very strong, neither of us dared finish it.
They time the start of the meal so this bread came out of oven and is immediately placed in front of you.
A starting salad course with very fresh vegatables from the garden, and lovely light dressing.
Shelled soy beans and lentils with a cheese sauce in the middle.
A hamachi appetizer alternated with a cream foam and wilted greens.
A real surprise that they would server this dish by itself, but worth it. Corn and cashew salad.
An charred octopus course served with deep-fried (almost Lyonnaise) potatoes and jalapeno rings.
Here's a shot of the A5 Wagyu beef that would later be grilled over a 1000-degree fire. This will be
the serving for all 18 of us.
Rainbow carrots roasted and almost caramelized and served with chives.
Risotto with pork belly. Oddly, each plate in this fashion is meant to serve three people, so you are
always comparing notes with your neighbors.
Grilled purple and green asparagus with a balsamic sauce.
Creamed spinach, which Wade normally doesn't care for, but it went very well with...
...the sliver of Wagyu beef. It doesn't look like a lot, but imagine if beef was bacon.
Carrot cake soaked in a honey sauce and served with a semifreddo. Divine.
Another dessert. Again, the picture doesn't do it justice, but it was wonderful. This was their take on
making a Rocky Road.