Living in NYC, we don’t go to the same restaurant twice unless it is really good. Last time we went to Flex Mussels, we had a wonderful experience, and I have not been able to get the deep fried whoopie pie out of my head since! So when our friends suggested Flex Mussels for dinner this weekend, I couldn’t say no.
The big difference last night, was that we went to the 13th Street location, where Zac Young, the famous pastry chef from Top Chef: Just Desserts, usually works. Well, not only was Zac there, but we actually met him and talked to him for a few minutes! Actually, Matt said hello and introduced us, and I kind of blathered about. I don’t really get excited about actors, but celebrity chefs are my thing and I was completely star-struck. Good thing I have a husband that was able to form complete sentences and ask to take a picture with Zac.
I still can’t get over how cool he was. If you watched Just Desserts, he is exactly like he was on the show. I did manage to ask him if he eats the desserts he makes, and he told me he actually just eats desserts, since they don’t have calories. Can you see why I love him?
Anyway, the food was just as good as last time. Matt and I shared the Goat Cheese Salad (“toasted goat cheese, simple greens, roasted beets, candied walnuts, apples”). The greens were crisp and fresh and there was a good balance of ingredients.
For the table we ordered a few things to share:
2 orders of Truffle Fries
The fries were crispy and flavorful topped with mixed seasonings and parmesan cheese. They were accompanied by an aromatic truffle oil.
Little Neck Mussels: “fresh chopped clams, bacon, red pepper, breadcrumbs, herbs”
These mussels were different from any mussels I’ve had before. I loved the texture that was added from the breadcrumbs.
Maine Mussels: “lobster, smoked bacon, corn, white chowder, parsley”
The Maine variety was extremely flavorful. If you like bacon, I’d highly recommend this version. We had this version last time and I’m glad we ordered it again.
Italiano Mussels (no photo): “calamari, roasted garlic, red wine, tomato sauce”
These were the perfect mussels for bread dipping. The red sauce was chunky and flavorful. The calamari were a little overcooked, but other than that these were great too.
Even though the salad, mussels and fries was more than enough food, we couldn’t leave without ordering dessert. I was so tempted to get donuts or the whoopie pie again, but I wanted to try something new. Everything on the dessert menu sounded amazing, but Zac had said that his favorite was The Flexy Cream Egg.
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I usually shy away from panna cotta, it just isn’t my thing, but the dessert sounded so interesting Matt and I had to try it.
The dessert had a beautiful presentation.
A thin chocolate shell was filled with the panna cotta and topped with the salted chocolate shortbread cookie crumbs. Of course it wouldn’t be a Zac dessert without gold dust painted across the plate.
The panna cotta was creamy and flavorful but I especially liked the cookie crumbs- crunchy, sweet and salty all at the same time.
Thanks Flex Mussels and Zac for another terrific meal. We will definitely be back!
In other news, the Husband started a blog! Check out Matt Eats Food for his review of Flex Mussels and some of his daily eats.
Do you have restaurants that you go to repeatedly or do you always try something new?
This sounds fantastic!! I have really been wanting to check this place out. My husband is a HUGE seafood fan, so it just needs to happen! I do go back to restaurants that I simply adore :)
This is my kind of meal eating out! Everything looks fabulous and how exciting you got to meet Zac. Sounds like the perfect evening to me :o)
How fun! So glad your hubs asked for a picture :) You’d have kicked yourself after if he hadn’t haha.
So mussels are not my thing. My mom told me they resembled something inappropriate once and now I can’t get the image out of my head! However, these look doable mainly because of the bacon. I think I would have to test these puppies out if I lived in NYC…
hahaha i am trying not to get any visuals stuck in my head!
wow, that looks fun! And your dessert looks amazing :)
Flex Mussels sounds like a great restaurant! That dessert looks so good!
Glad to hear of a good panna cotta! I usually don’t like those. The truffle fries look so good! I can smell them :)
Looks like you had a wonderful time! My husband would be all over these mussels, I have never really enjoyed mussels. That dessert on the other hand… ;)
There aren’t many foods I don’t like, but unfortately mussels are one of them! I would totally go to this place JUST for dessert though. Yums. I now want a fried whoopie pie! How exciting you got to meet Zac Young and got a picture to boot! Wow!
That place is definitely worth a visit for the desserts! They actually have a decent amount of options beyond the mussels. Last time our friends tried the chicken and salmon dishes and liked both of them.
BTW, the links for your hubby are not working.
Thanks for letting me know! Don’t know what happened but I just fixed them.
omg – those fries look out of this world!!! my mouth is literally watering!
All of this sounds and looks divine!!!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
Sounds like an awesome dinner! There are so many restaurants in Louisville, we try to visit as many different ones as we can! We have our mainstays though, that never disappoint us!
I am such a Zac fan! Jealous. Of course there was gold dust. God, I love that guy.
Those mussels have me drooling, too!
UMMM truffle fries?!?! Holy moly I’m hungry and that would be perfect – esp with the mussels!!
this looks great! i need to check this place out soon. thanks for sharing this post!
Aww that looks like such an awesome experience!! And suddenly I’m craving mussels :) What a fabulous spot!
yum the food there looks delish, I especially love truffle fries.
oh those fries look incredible! I usually prefer trying something new but once in a while enjoy a known favorite!
Okay so basically I HAVE to try out this restaurant at some point in my life. Everything looks amazing and it’s so cool that you got to meet Zac! I love that he was just as awesome in person as he was on the show.
Not only does everything you ate sound and look delicious, that’s so cool you got to meet a Top Chef star! That kind of stuff does not happen in Texas..haha
The mussels and the truffled fries look to die for. Glad you had a delicious dinner! Thanks for posting :)
I can definitely see why you keep going back, this place looks fantastic! Zac was my favorite on Top Chef Just Desserts – such a great personality and I loved his creative desserts. How fun you got to meet him!
Oh wow! Truffle fries? I have a weakness and it is fries.
I LOVE Flex Mussels!