"Steakcation" Blogger Feast at KO Prime

When you get an email inviting you to a five-course "Steakcation," it's impossible to refuse. Nicole Kanner from All Heart PR asked a group of food bloggers to come downtown to KO Prime to try out Executive Chef Josh Buehler's menu. Although Buehler has been there for a couple years, most people associate KO Prime with Chef/Co-Owner Ken Oringer, but it's Buehler who is mainly responsible for the day-to-day workings of the restaurant.

I met up with Michelle (Fun and Fearless in Beantown) and Megan (Delicious Dishings) at Marliave for a pre-steak cocktail in the awkward time between work and dinner. Stay late at the office? Go home and come right back out? Cocktail? Cocktail! I plan on writing more about Marliave in the future as it's one of my Boston favorites, but here's a quick tip: the cocktails are ridiculously good. And ridiculously strong. All of them.

Perhaps a bit tipsy, we wobbled around the corner, skirts billowing in the eerie dusky pre-storm winds. KO Prime, which is in the Nine Zero Hotel, is located up a flight of glowing stairs (are we at a club?) with an elaborate antler chandelier at the top.

Slowly, our group filtered in: Michele (Foodie Mommy), Fiona (A Boston Food Diary), Aaron (Eat Boston), Robin (Doves and Figs), Will (The Boston Foodie), One Food Guy, who prefers to remain anonymous, and one other guy at the far end of the table whose name/blog I unfortunately didn't get. We had assumed "Steakcation" meant a vacation of steak, but it turned out to be a vacation from steak: since KO Prime is widely known as a steakhouse, Buehler wanted to show us what else he could do. Fair enough...I don't think I'd feel too well after five steak-based courses! As it turned out, it was actually ten courses. Hello food coma.

Due to the sheer number of courses, the rest of this post is just going to be food porn with very minimal discussion.

One ~ Creamy (but not cream cheesy) crab in a lightly battered and fried squash blossom. The accompanying duck sauce had a surprising bit of a kick.

Squash Blossom Crab Rangoon | Duck Sauce

Two ~ Local tomatoes. Nothing better in the world.

Heirloom Tomato Salad | Crispy Manouri Cheese, Tomato-Basil Vinaigrette, Peach and Apricot Aioli

Three ~ Ah, here's the beef.

Roasted Jalapeno Beef Tartare | Smoked Poblano Jam, Crispy Quail Egg

Four ~ I tried, I really did, but snails just aren't my thing. Delicious carrot puree, however.

Fricassee of Escargot | Thumbelina Carrots, Mushrooms, Salsify, Lardons, Brioche

Five ~ Many found this to be their favorite course. I wasn't really into the vegetables or cockles, but the fish was enjoyable and the chorizo was excellent.

Seared Striped Bass | Summer Succotash, Cockles, Homemade Chorizo

Six ~ A unique and tasty palate cleanser.

Apricot Soda | Yuzu-Mint Creme Fraiche Foam

Seven ~ Wait, now we're getting steak knives? But I'm already full!

Pork and Beef Duet | Dry Rubbed Pork Loin, Stewed Olives and Tomatoes, Chanterelle Polenta Cake, Grilled Flat Iron Steak, Pickled Ramps, Harissa

Eight ~ With little pieces of pineapple in it! Yum!

Pineapple Sorbet

Nine ~ Yes, yes, yes.

Dark Chocolate Marquise | Buttery Popcorn Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce

Ten ~ Oops, almost missed the last little assortment of goodies!

These weren't on the menu, but I believe the waitress said that it was raspberry gelatin, chocolate sandwiches with raspberry cream, and coconut cookies. We weren't really into the gelatin, but the others were a nice way to end the evening!

I can't vouch for the service on a normal evening, but our servers were friendly and informative. The presentation, as you can hopefully tell from the above photos, was colorful, clean, and creative, and there were plenty of strong flavors.

Based on this experience, I would definitely return to KO Prime. Even taking into account that we were a large table of food bloggers receiving an elaborate free meal, I assume that what we ate is still a fair representation of KO Prime's usual standards. I'd love to go back and actually get steak next time. (By the time course seven rolled around, I was too full to really enjoy the flat iron steak, but what I had was excellent.) As always, it was very nice to spend time with some other food bloggers from the area.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go take a nice long nap. I'm still in full-on food coma mode.