Pairings Bistro fashions food into art

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Alyssa Kraus

Pairings Bistro has many popular appetizers like this cup of cream of crab soup with a dinner roll on the side.

Soft blues music drifts through the front door, welcoming me with its jazzy tone into Pairings Bistro, a small restaurant in Bel Air that serves American food with Mediterranean influences. A rush of warm air fans my face as my eyes adjust to the candle-lit room.

To my left, the walls are decorated from the ceiling to the shiny hardwood floor with hundreds of intricate wine bottles. Couples are perched at small tables, participating in a wine-tasting experience, but I am quickly distracted by the smell of seasoned food that comes from the open kitchen.

I was seated immediately at a comfortable, yet small booth in the main dining area which was close to the other customers’ tables. Several feet in front of me was a silver table-top bar that jutted out from the far wall in an elegant semi-circle. The chatter that drifted from the bar was a calming hum that didn’t distract from my table’s conversation as much as I had thought.

When it was time to order, the waitress was personable and included some recommendations for my main course. She was well-informed about the food being served and returned to refill drinks rather quickly. Within minutes of ordering, my appetizer was prepared and brought to me.

The waitress carefully placed a cup of cream of crab soup in front of me, paired with a small dinner roll and a lump of crab meat on the spoon. For a nine-dollar appetizer, it was well worth my money and extremely light compared to the usual heavy cream of crab soup I’ve experienced elsewhere. The smell of crab, seasoned with Old Bay, was enticing and the soup was just the right temperature.

I waited over a half-hour for my main course, but the time went quickly due to the elegant decor of the room. The walls were enhanced with paintings created by local artists, which could be bought at the front counter.

The waitress returned with my main dish which was presented beautifully, and she explained the contents of my entree. It was a seven-ounce bistro steak topped with truffle frites, a red wine reduction, and a vegetable sauté. This $24 meal was cooked just as I had asked, and the vegetables were crisp. The thin, peppered fries brought a salty taste to the rich sauce. Every element of the dish complemented the others.

This main dish consists of a 7 ounce bistro steak and frites.
Alyssa Kraus
This main dish consists of a 7 ounce bistro steak and frites.

Near the end of the night, the waitress recommended a small dessert which came almost instantly. A $9 flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate sauce, poached apples, and apple ice cream was served on a long white plate.

One of Pairings Bistro's many desserts includes a flourless chocolate cake.
Alyssa Kraus
One of Pairings Bistro’s many desserts includes a flourless chocolate cake.

It was a seasonal special made with fruit from local farms. The cake was rich and perfect for eating small portions, while the fruit was fresh and cold.

Pairings Bistro is a perfect example of why the preparation of good food can be considered art. Although expensive, the restaurant served artistic and mouth-watering food that never disappointed.

The classy, warm ambiance went hand in hand with the food, and the waiters and staff were amiable. Pairings Bistro leaves customers eagerly awaiting their next their visit.

Alyssa Kraus is a reporter for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.