In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, there is only one food taking over fall menus this autumn. And that is pumpkin. Yes, the pumpkin craze started in coffee shops with pumpkin spice lattes, and now is hitting restaurants throughout Boston. And of course, don’t forget about the weird new pumpkin products with the arrival of Pumpkin Spice M&M’s and Pumpkin Spice Whiskey. Things are getting out of hand.
Luckily for me, I found a pumpkin meal at the Boston waterfront restaurant, City Landing, which did not overwhelm me with the typical artificial pumpkin taste. Instead, City Landing’s Curried Mussel-Pumpkin Bisque turned out to be the perfect fall dish. The restaurant’s friendly service and warm atmosphere exudes an elegant ambience—one that would be perfectly fitting for a date setting or even dinner with the parents.
Admittedly at first, I thought the combination of curry, mussels and pumpkin sounded a little weird. Plus, I’m not much of a bisque or soup fan (to be fair). But this Pumpkin Bisque turned these negative thoughts upside down.
The bisque itself is creamy and filled with rich autumn flavors—perfect for a crisp fall day. The pumpkin flavor is very subtle but present, and the curry spice gives the bisque a little kick in your mouth. As for the mussels, I thought this added component made the dish truly unique compared to other pumpkin soups. There were only a few small mussels in the bisque, but just enough to add some texture to an otherwise creamy dish. And to top it off, the bisque had thyme sprinkled on the surface along with crčme fraîche. Are you salivating yet?
This dish makes for a great appetizer or entree, and its richness and thick consistency will surely fill you up (probably more than expected). Honestly, just writing about this bisque is making me want another bowl. Like, now.
The Pumpkin Bisque will be served as a “special” on Chef and Owner Bill Brodsky’s menu this week. And starting on October 10th of next week, Chef Brodsky will debut City Landing’s official fall menu featuring the Curried Mussel-Pumpkin Bisque all fall long. So go ahead and make your reservations now.
