Daniel Boulud dishes up the best duck confit I have ever had ...

db Bistro Moderne Miami
JW Marriott Marquis / 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami, FL

When it came time to make dinner reservations for Miami, I knew one thing - that I was going to eat at Daniel Boulud's db Bistro Moderne even if I had to go it alone. Thankfully our foodie friends were onboard with the decision, so we commanded a table for six.

The bar area of db Bistro Moderne

Almost immediately, bread arrived - warm hunks of sourdough and cool cheese puffs that blended croissant flakiness with Gruyere and pepper, offering up a peppery bite that lingered well after swallowing.

We started with the Grand Plateau de Fruits de Mer ($85), a silver tiered tower of oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels, crab, tuna tartare, ceviche and lobster on ice. It was breathtaking - an orgy of seafood on ice, accompanied by a trio of dipping sauces - cocktail sauce, pesto mayonnaise and a horseradish blend.

While I had been eyeing the $32 Original db Burger - sirloin filled with braised short ribs, foie gras and black truffle, served on a parmesan bun with pommes frites - I decided to go with the Duck Confit ($33). A better decision had never been made.

The Persimmon Room

The duck arrived, glistening and crispy, bedded on green creamed spinach and accompanied by mushroom fricasse with the earthiness of sauce forestiere. Four quarter-sized discs of potato danced around the plate; pan fried in duck fat, these four little potato discs melted in the mouth. Every bite was an ocean of flavor, a rich melding of tongue and duck fat. The duck skin was perfectly crisped, and I had to restrain myself from picking up the leg and sucking the skin off the bone. The meat itself was so tender that I just had to poke it with a fork to have it drop off the bone. Heaven.


The hubs thoroughly enjoyed his Moules a L'Indienne The largest serving of mussels that I have ever seen arrived in an enormous bowl, bathed in a vadouvan curry broth with cilantro and white wine. The dish was accompanied by a garlic naan that the hubs said was only good - not fantastic. But he raved about the mussels, which were all big-bellied and fat.

We didn't order drinks, though our friends had a nice Cabernet that they were pleased with. Overall, the meal was outstanding. The service was excellent. The decor was Miami chic, and we had a great time.