The Color Purple

My vision of heaven might literally be Purple. In a gorgeous, cavernous space on 4th Ave. across from the Fairmont, lies the premier Seattle wine bar. While I am all for cute, smallish wine bars with a limited, hand-picked selection, Purple is the opposite: grand, elegant; like a wine cellar on steroids with three-story picture windows to the most stylish block in town. A giant cylinder of wine spirals floor to ceiling with hundreds, if not thousands, of bottles only accessible from the staircase that winds inside it. Brushed metal and rich wood combine to extend the feeling of being in a cellar, though there’s a warmth to the space, likely contributed to by the candle-shaped chandeliers.

I first enjoyed Purple as a much-loved after work spot for a flight of reds with some pulled duck tapas. In the same over-the-top fashion of its design, Purple offers more varieties of tasting flights than you can shake a stick at. “Lush & Juicy” is one flight, another is “Off the Radar” for the more adventurous. Needless to say, it makes discovery fun and rather tasty!

My first foray into their tasting menu was with my foodie friend who encouraged me to order fun things like the white gaspacho made from mostly garlic and I think some grapes. On other visits, I stuck to the cheese menu, laid out just like the wine list with categories of cheeses like “Rich and Creamy” or “Aged and Musty.” This is where I discovered the most amazing cheese of all: Fromage d’Affinois Pepper. Basically, my favorite chesse rolled in green and black peppercorn, probably the most delectable thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.

On my most recent visit to Seattle, I insisted we head to Purple to savor the deliciousness of the d’Affinois, and tried some gorgonzola-stuffed dates as well, drizzled in balsamic reduction. Highly, highly recommended for dinner, tasting, and flights of wine!

Tribute to Jeanty at Jack's

Sad news from Sacramento. Street, that is. Jeanty at Jack's has closed after nearly 150 years! I will miss the gorgeous French cuisine, the semi-private feel of the rooms harking back to when it was a bordello, the daily specials written on never-ending mirrors, and the puff-pastry tomato bisque more than I can say! According to our waitor/historian, Jeanty at Jack's was the oldest restaurant in San Francisco that had stayed in the same location since opening, and was the fourth oldest restaurant in the city (after Tadich Grill and a couple others - Sam's?) Also, the Jack's in the restaurant's name was given for the fields that surrounded it when it opened, abounding with Jack rabbits!

Aslam’s Kitchen

Indian fare is my comfort food. Not because I ate it growing up, but perhaps because I discovered it in Seattle where you turn to anything you can for comfort from the cold! Since coming to SF, we’ve explored a few restaurants and take-out Indian options, but nothing close by has been stellar (Ashoka on Chesnut is just ok, India Palace on Polk less ok). Last night we discovered Aslam’s Rasoi on Valencia as we walked north from happy hour at the Dovre. Delicious Vindaloo and Tikka Masala (not too inventive but it’s been so long, I was eager for my favorites!) We also ordered the garlic basil naan and onion kulcha, great options for soaking up the super spicy and flavorful chicken dishes.

I must note that the chicken was perfectly cooked—tandoori in the Tikka Masala and simmered dark meat in the Vindaloo—and really tasty. Also, the atmosphere was nicely done with high ceilings, mosaics and candlelight.

Hot Fuss

Over a year ago at a photo shoot in Tribeca, I tasted my first Gibraltar. The photographer fancied himself a barista, and told of no better coffee than Blue Bottle in the Bay Area, where the Gibraltar was made famous. Three days and three severe caffeine overdoses later, I promised myself I'd get to Blue Bottle immediately when I got back to SF. Today, I finally made it to the Hayes Valley kiosk! The Gibralter is a must, but the individually brewed drip coffee is equally worth searching out. Next stop: Blue Bottle at the Ferry Building with oatmeal.

Ristorante Milano

On an unassuming side street off Hyde in Russian Hill is a little gem Ristorante Milano. I walked by the tiny bistro a dozen times before Yelping it to discover its huge fan base—even a gnocchi fan club! So we had to try it.

Planning a romantic evening, we grabbed a bottle of Prevail and walked the 15 blocks or so to Russian Hill. A reservation was required since the restaurant has no more than 10 tables. The service was some of the best I’ve ever experienced in San Francisco: three different (what seemed like family member) servers greeted us separately and with offerings of bread, water, and a wine opener. We kicked off with a delicious heirloom tomato Caprese salad drizzled in fragrant olive oil and fresh basil.

For our main courses, John couldn’t resist the gnocchi (it has a fan club, how could it not be fantastic?) and I went for the cioppino. In a novel presentation format, the cioppino was served over soft polenta. I can’t describe how mouth-wateringly delicious the garlic and tomato broth mixed with the polenta. It was like a texture odyssey combining flakey and barely cooked white fish, perfectly steamed mussels and clams, strings of fresh crab meat, broth and soft polenta. If I ever attempt to cook my own cioppino, I will only serve it over polenta! We finished the meal with an almond-chocolate flourless tarte, an indulgence barely necessary after the entrée and ultra-rich Prevail.

Nearly Street-Greek

No fewer than twice a week, I visit Ayola on Kearny for Greek fare. It might not be roadside souvlaki, but it’s the closest, most appetizing alternative I’ve found stateside. Lamb or chicken gyros are delish with fries, and the gyro platter is my favorite go to. Slathered in hummus and tzatziki, lamb gyros top a fresh-chopped salad of feta, kalamata olives, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. Last week I tried out the tabouleh salad and was pleasantly surprised by its lemony freshness. On Kearny between Pine and Bush.

Barbara's Fish Trap

Yesterday’s icy cold San Francisco take on late May lead us to consider pretty much any activity that would get us out of the city. Looking out into the fog, John came up with the idea for a drive down to Half Moon Bay to Barbara’s Fish Trap, a pleasure I had not yet experienced. The dreariness really didn’t let up as we drove south (often just getting outside of San Francisco proper yields blue skies) but it’s almost how I appreciate Half Moon Bay most. Memories of driving over 92 with the dog or just to escape to the water were always overcast but in that pleasant, cozy way.

Barbara’s Fish Trap is a whole experience. The first sign that greets hungry customers among painted fish and nets hanging from the ceiling reads: if you have a reservation, you’re in the wrong place. Barbara’s daughter, happily informing us her mother was enjoying a Tuscan vacation, promised us the best table in the house if we could hang on a few minutes. Sure enough, we sat inside up against the window, looking out at the gray sea, fishing boats bobbing in the harbor.

While the entire menu had our mouths watering, we decided it wouldn’t be right to order anything else but the cioppino. A favorite on the menus at numerous restaurants, I’ve eaten some pretty fabulous cioppinos. We started out with tempura fried calamari with some excellent, spicy horseradish cocktail sauce. Before the cioppino came out, our waitress dutifully tied plastic bibs around our necks, which still didn’t prepare me for the feast to come: a bowl overflowing with crab legs, mussels, steamer clams, and white fish in a thick, tomato stew with half a loaf of garlic bread balanced on top. Starving, there was probably a period of about 15 minutes of silence that ensued as we both dove into it, concentrating on crab picking and carefully combining elements onto our spoon to savor.

Three Doors Down

3 years ago when I was flying to SF to visit John, an obscure Japanese restaurant called Yoshida-Ya was one of our top destinations. And it was literally across the street! We savored sukiyaki, fresh sushi rolls, and more than our share of sake. It was quiet, didn’t require a reservation, easy to walk to in the rain and comfy. Then it closed.

Less than 2 months later, a chi chi new Japanese restaurant called Umami opened in its place. While we harbored serious grudges against the owners who could close our Yoshida-Ya, we decided to give it a try within the first few weeks it was open. I can’t determine if it was the crazy-busy atmosphere (like everyone is racing to be loudest or get the most text messages about where to meet up next) or the annoyed waitress who seated us without reservations, but I didn’t have a favorable experience. Can’t remember the food, I think we split a few things given the exorbitant prices on the menu.

2 years later, we decided to give Umami another chance. Our friends raved about it, it is literally across the street from us and we were in desperate need of a good sushi spot. Late one Saturday night, we ducked in for a drink at the bar. After ordering an elderflower champagne for me, Old Fashioned for John, we sipped quietly and surveyed the space. A giant, gnarly hunk of wood defines the bar, polished to a shine. I can’t remember if it was there when Yoshida-Ya owned the space, but I like it anyway. After a comment to me about the sweetness of his whisky drink, John accidentally got the bartender’s attention. It turned out that as the bar was clearing out close to midnight, the bartender was interested in sharing some of his interesting infused concoctions. While I usually get excited about a good infused vodka, this guy was infusing whiskey with maple flavor and, still hard to believe…bacon. He gave us small glasses of each to sample the flavors and I still can’t get over the bacon-infused bourbon. Supposedly, a frequent customer was fond of bacon bourbon Manhattans! All in all, we had an excellent evening chatting up the bartender and learning to appreciate the new (well, newish) restaurant.

A few weeks later, my parents were coming into the city and wanted to meet for dinner. Since it was going to be a late night, I suggested we try Umami so I could get home quickly afterwards. We were led upstairs, a part of the restaurant I’d never been, and I immediately brightened upon seeing a true sushi bar counter! (the Yoshida-Ya sushi bar had been downstairs and visible from the street; when I couldn’t see one any longer I had assumed they didn’t have one.) Between the 3 of us, we ordered 3 rolls and 2 salads. The rolls were incredibly fresh and flavorful. I typically prefer simplicity in my sushi—the greater to appreciate the freshness and flavor of the fish—however I was tempted by the interesting flavor combinations in the house rolls. There were so many flavors mixing, but all were fabulous combinations, all in all delectable.

We’ve been back multiple times since then, including last night. Loving the mix of spicy scallop, wild salmon, lemon and black tobiko roll on a previous visit, I went for another random mix of butter fish, soft shell crab, cucumber and citrusy greens in a sizzling oil sauce. I loved the sunomono salad I had on my first visit but the menu’s been updated with a salad of three kinds of seaweed that isn’t nearly as good. I’m also looking forward to trying out the tempura fritters the table next to us ordered.

Tribute to Random Indian Food

On a trip to Manhattan in 2003 I dropped off my friend and host at class in the Tisch school and walked a few blocks to discover a magical street lined with Indian restaurants. I was lured in by the promoter outside a spot with live sitar music and sat down to more food than should ever be allowed one person. Coconut naan, butter chicken…if only I could find this mystical street again!

Basil Pasta Bake

Garlic cloves, Kalamata olives, capers and tomato sauce pureed and added to a pot of olive oil-softened onions. Stir in basic tomato sauce and simmer. Pour over al dente whole wheat penne. Top with coarsely chopped olives, whole capers, basil chiffonade and mozzarella. Yep, I said chiffonade.

Summer Pancakes

Yesterday morning I woke up far too early (especially given the events of the previous evening) and whipped up some blueberry pancakes. In honor of the ridiculously gorgeous weather in the city, we opened all the windows and enjoyed the mostly blueberry cakes basking in the sun. What better way to kick off the weekend? I add about 1.5 cups of blueberries to 2 cups flour, 4 T sugar, 2 t salt, 2 eggs, 1 T baking soda and enough water to make 'em spread out in the pan—just a little. Success is if your fork, when slicing into the pancake, squirts at least 3 blueberries on your shirt!

Pershing Hall

On a side street off Rue Georges V is Pershing Hall, an ultra-trendy indoor restaurant with an outdoor feel. Low tables and loveseats line the walls of what feels like a courtyard, open shutters on higher floors further adding to the illusion. One entire wall is lined with plants from ground level up to the darkly lit roof, illuminated by spotlights in bright red, green, and blue. The super chic waitresses glide around the room, and the entryway was like watching a runway show as couple after couple strutted in.

As much as the experience was about the environment and the glamorous Parisians surrounding us, the meal was unforgettable. I started with a dish that makes my mouth water every time I describe it: smooth pumpkin soup garnished with a swizzle of truffle oil and a thinly sliced roasted garlic clove. But the pièce de résistance on the slate serving platter that brought out the soup, was a tasting cup filled with bacon-flavored whipped cream with chives…amazing when stirred into the soup!

I ordered the pot au feu as my main course, a delectable mix of skinless chicken, al dente vegetables, and fois gras. Finishing off the distraction-filled meal was a dessert of rhubarb crumble with actual lengths of rhubarb, très intéressante.

Dry Creek Passport Weekend 2009

This is the ultimate wine event for me every year: a weekend in Healdsburg tasting some of the best wine in California, plus tasty bites at each spot. All along Dry Creek Road, over 40 wineries participate in the decadent event, offering their usual tasting selection paired with flavor-enhancing food and often library or reserve wines that wouldn’t usually be available.

In my second year of Passport Weekend, I was keen to go back to a few gems discovered in 08 and venture to some new spots. We kicked off the day at Amista, enjoying their famous (among my extended family and friends) Syrah Rosé paired with tapas: almonds, manchego cheese and chickpea salad. Zinfandel and Syrahs were paired with another plate of tapas: braised lamb bite and chilled potato Spanish tortilla. We went home with 2 bottles of their Cabernet, eager to pair with a red-meat dinner at home.

Next stop was Mauritson, where a maze through their barrel warehouse started with Sauvignon Blanc paired with Togaroshi-crusted Tamales Bay oysters on lil buns with “kefir yuzu remoulade and micro arugula.” The fried oysters were sweet. I removed them from the buns and ate them sans fancy-mayonnaise. The Pinot Noir was served with pork loin sandwich bites with a fruity chutney or jam and the Rockpile Zin paired with hearty, super-rare beef sliders.

The highlight of the day (or perhaps weekend) was the next winery, Passalacqua. In 2008, VIP passes scored by my member parents allowed John and my mom access to a special tasting where sips of reserve bottles were accompanied by expertly selected potpourris, bringing specific notes of the wine to the forefront. A sniff of tobacco leaves followed by a sniff of an earthy Cabernet helped them detect the tobacco aromas in it. Similarly, the same wine might have the flavors of chocolate or cigar enhanced, right after smelling those scents. Needless to say, not experiencing this haunted me for the entire year. As I scooped up my VIP pass, this time with my dad, we made our way down to the first of 3 tasting tents. The first—and each time I thought this experience must be the best and yet they kept getting better—was a food pairing with their Radici. Radici is a mix of Sangiovese and Cab grapes, a really nice, spicy, rich, very expensive bottle. At this point, our host announced that 2 full cases of the Radici would get us a helicopter ride to the vineyard alongside the current Passalacqua family vintner. Interesting idea. Wasn’t going to happen on my budget.

The Radici was paired with competing flavors: one an eggplant, cocoa nib and caper “caponata” (chutney) on cracker-thin and salty seminola flatbread. The other was a bite of short-rib “stroganoff” (BBQ) on a cute little taro chip. Both were delicious, but the wine was fantastic.

Next, to the comparative tasting where we sampled 2006 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet from Block 1 and Block 4 of the estate. Already being impressed with the Radici, I couldn’t believe how delicious these wines were. Presented at the table were scorecards filled with different aromatic and taste notes, duplicated in 2 columns so you could compare the wines’ flavors side by side. Notes of cola, blackberry, and black olive produced an aroma for Block 1 that was delectable. I favored Block 1 for its stronger bramble and jammyness, though most of our table preferred Block 4 with its rich earthiness. What a way to discover what you most enjoy in a wine!

The last tent offered a vertical tasting of the same Blocks 18 & 19 from 2004, 2005, and 2006. Apparently Blocks 18 & 19 are the best on the premises, I got the impression that the best barrels from early in the year were redirected to those blocks. The 2004 was amazing, the 2006 similar in so many ways yet so much more fruit, and the 2005 was so smoky I could barely drink it. However, our guide explained that the 2005 was the strongest of the set, making it the best investment.

After Passalacqua, we headed across Dry Creek Road to Teldeschi where BBQ and a rock band tried to contend with my buzzalacqua. A giant bottle, available for $6,000, held the equivalent of 36 bottles of wine and apparently cost $1K just to manufacture.

Eagerly awaiting the end-of-day visit to Ferrari-Carano, we made a quick stop at Unti for wine pairings with the Girl and the Fig bites. Once at the gorgeous F/C, we wound our way through the cellars tasting Fumé Blanc paired with the most delectable salmon, leek and goat cheese tart. A ham, spinach and parmesan soufflé paired with their Alexander Valley Chardonnay was tasty, but didn’t compare to the honey coriander flank steak paired with the West Face Prevail. We wrapped up with the Eldorado Gold with a nutty apricot rice pudding.

We kicked off day 2 with Seghesio’s Blues, BBQ & Zin, an adventure in richness. Bold wines, pulled pork cooked for 14 hours on a one-of-a-kind BBQ, slow cooked beans, ribs, even family-recipe homemade sausage! I would have been happy to spend the entire day sipping their Omaggio, a blend of Cab and Sangiovese. The San Lorenzo Zin was spectacular and a nice compromise for my budget was the Block 8 version which has younger grapes from the same vines. What better way to wrap up the weekend than bocce ball in the sun with family, friends, and the best wine in California!

Le Tastevin

Along a side street on Ile-St-Louis, practically in the shadow of Notre Dame is le Tastevin, a sweet and quintessentially Parisian restaurant. My mom and I initially discovered it on the most exhausting day of our lives: breakfast on the train to Versailles, late October meandering through the vast gardens, back to the city to Montmartre where we hiked up to the square then walked all the way back to our hotel on the Tuileries! At 10pm, dinner at le Tastevin was a slice of heaven. About 6 tables, we sat in the window with a bottle of wine. Bottles of wine, candles, and grape vines wrapped around a wooden trellis above our heads created the most charming atmosphere. I ordered a three-course meal highlighted by lamb shanks with haricots verts. The best part of the dinner was throughout the meal, the chef and his mother sat at a nearby table discussing the menu for the following evening.

Cozy Deliciousness

Cantinetta Luca on Dolores St. in Carmel-by-the-Sea has become our haven amongst the fog. Luca is kind of what you would imagine Pottery Barn would do with an Italian restaurant—giant vintage posters for Italian apertifs, brick ovens, hanging salamis, even a wall of wine in a cellar right out of a catalog. Don't get me wrong, the feel is super comfortable, the noise level on par with a happening spot, and the atmosphere is hip for an on-the-sleepier-side type of town.

You can go crazy at Luca. I've done it. Fresh artichoke ravioli with lemon pesto in the fall or pumpkin with sage butter in the winter. Tuscan bean soup or savory tomato with crusty croutons. The lamb itself is fall-off-the-bone tender but when paired with the broccolini with raisins and crushed pepper, it's heavenly.

But I'd been hearing how fantastic Luca's antipasti was, specifically their house-cured salumi. So I was eager to check it out Saturday night, prepping myself for meat overload! The salumi platter arrived with 8 selections, including 2 made on the premises. By far, the treat was the Speck from Suditrol, Italy. I enjoyed the housemade Genovese with it's strong fennel flavor as well as the Prosciutto (who doesn't love prosciutto?!)

To stay light following the salumi indulgence, I opted for the arugula salad with beets, orange, and hazelnuts. Recommended for the beet-obsessed like myself. I'm looking forward to my next stop on the Luca menu: pizza.

Raw Talent

Gin martini? Check. Ice cold raw oysters? Check. Corner bar? You know it.

In honor of Mother's Day, which my mom spent in Boston visiting my brother (so really in honor of the East Coast in general...) I sipped a Plymouth Gin martini with anchovy-stuffed olives and slurped Chesapeake oysters at A.W. Shucks. I can't think of a better way to start a night out!

Oysters are a favorite treat, another vehicle that provides for some of the better sauce creations. A.W. Shucks has the best cocktail sauce: you can actually taste the lemon zest and fresh-shaved horseradish. We've been here for oysters a few times now, and once for burgers, though they were seriously overshadowed by the still-sizzling french fries, all the better for salt to stick.

Seated at the bar, you get a great view of the trough of ice that runs down the length of it, filled with fresh oysters. The sampler featured Fanny Bay (BC), Quilcene (WA) and Chesapeake (VA) and while all were delish, the Fanny Bay were fantastic. Some fresh lemon, some cocktail sauce, a little extra horseradish...mmmmm....

Katy's Place

Knowing brunch is my favorite meal, John searched out a new spot in Carmel this weekend to temp me with. If a restaurant has homemade corned beef hash on the menu, it's a done deal for me. Katy's had some sweet corned beef hash with carmelized onions and sauteed mushrooms, an interesting texture variation. The menu's main focus was on more versions of Eggs Benedict than I've ever seen. Looking forward to getting back for the crab cake benny and a breezey seat on the redwood deck.

Tribute to GMM

Ever since I can remember, my all-time favorite dessert, you know, the one I used to request (demand) for my birthdays growing up, is chocolate wafer icebox cake. Grandma Marg (GMM) used to make this long before I fell in love with it, or maybe that’s the reason I did. The recipe is literally chocolate wafers and whipping cream (add grand marnier instead of sugar, just as GMM would do!)

Best. Sushi. Ever.

You know that spot that forever affects how you approach all other restaurants of the same cuisine? Sono Sushi is the sushi for which I compare all other sushi. By a stroke of crazy, mad luck, John happened to be raised using the same sushi bar as his sushi measuring stick. So it is quite fortunate that our appreciation for fine sushi comes from the same roots.

On Castro St. in Mountain View, Sono might be operated by a Chinese family, cheaper than city sushi, or even gimmicky with floating boats. Don't be fooled. You'll never have better tempura rolls! And those are certainly my favorite rolls—I highly recommend ordering them directly from the sushi chef so the shrimp are still warm when you take a bite. Please note the lack of actual food in this photo. It disappears that quickly.

Chill Out

On Kearny and Post is the very random Chill Café serving Vietnamese-style sandwiches and an odd assortment of cupcakes, cookies, crepes, shaved ice, frozen custard, homemade sodas and coffee drinks! It’s bizarre when you walk in, but the sandwiches are great. Last week I tried the ham and pate and today devoured the lemongrass chicken. Each come with pickled carrots, jalapenos and cilantro leaves.

Chocolate Chip Soufflés

These adorable mini-Le Creusets were a gift begging for purpose. Cookie soufflés have become our favorite weeknight treat! The recipe is just like Nestle Toll House cookies except I add less flour and 4x the vanilla extract.

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract (plus 1 tablespoon Nielsen-Massey’s Bourbon Vanilla Paste)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Great Latenight Lakeside

Bluwater on Greenlake saved us, serving up fab late-night fare: steamed clams with lemon, parsley and garlic. The accompanying balsamic flatbread with cracked olives, hummus and roasted peppers didn't hurt either! Bonus points for scoring the loveseat right next to the fireplace.

(I also love to come here for brunch - corned beef hash!)

Best of Istanbul

In 2007 to celebrate my brother's graduation from college, the family was off to Turkey. We stayed in the Sultanahmet for the first 5 days, the ‘old town’ of Istanbul among grand mosques, bazaars and palaces. Our culinary adventures were unlimited—spicy meatballs and flaky fish, baba ghannouj and calamari. Everything was fresh, Mediterranean and delicious!

We were taken to the restaurant Set Balik, far north along the Bosphorus, more than halfway between Istanbul and the Black Sea. This meal likely ranks in my top 25 between the spicy raw beef meatballs and cacik (I adore Greek tzatziki, a mixture of yogurt, cucumber, mint and garlic, and the Turks call their similar dish cacik, sometimes adding in spinach.)

The dessert was a fascinating wafer of cheese wrapped in shredded wheat, drizzled with honey and pistachios. An odd combo of both flavors and texture.

The New York Times featured a story on cooking classes in Istanbul, so we spent a day in the kitchen with Cooking Alaturka. While I chopped the tips off green beans and diced beef and lamb so fine it cooked up to look like it had been ground! We made a vegetable dish that involved layering chopped garlic, diced tomatoes, green beans and onions.

The meal kicked off with a lemon yogurt soup with dried mint followed by zucchini-cheese fritters dipped in garlic yogurt sauce. The main dish was lamb and beef stew cooked inside an eggplant.

We topped off the meal with dried figs first soaked in boiling sugar and clove water, then slit open and stuffed with walnuts.

Our class, enjoying the meal.


The bazaars in Istanbul were incomparable.

Spices

Turkish Delight

Olives

Dried Fruits


Our hotel, like many an Sultanahmet, had the restaurant on the roof to take in the city sights.
Breakfast was filled with yogurt and fruit compotes

And humor

Tribute to Marjorie

Marjorie was one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle on 2nd & Battery. Better mojitos than I've ever tasted and a combination patio-happy-hour to rival all others. I will miss it!

New England in Redwood City

We hit up this insanely good lobster shack (Old Port Lobster Shack) after a meeting in Redwood City. AMAZING!! oplobster.com The Naked Roll is fresh lobster with drawn butter to pour over it. I ordered the Maine Roll with lobster tossed in mayo and green onions.

Getting Tipsy at the Pig

On our third visit to The Tipsy Pig we went for dinner. The atmosphere is so fun: books lining the walls, ancient tables and chairs, and a crowd that would fit in any Marina bar. After 2 visits seated on the deck out back, for dinner we sat in the library between the bar and deck. This time we opted for cocktails over beer: an Old Fashioned for John, House Hound for me (I'm in love with grapefruit juice, and a fresh-squeezed greyhound is like a dream come true.)

I'm a sucker for sweet potato fries, so those were a no-brainer however I couldn't decide between the clams starter and chicken pot pie for my entree (I realize the 2 are opposite sides of the spectrum.) The waitress convinced me to try the pot pie and it was amazing! Al dente beets, potatoes, turnips and peas plus tender chicken were swimming in a delectable cream sauce. It tasted as if it had been made seconds before it was served. And it's pretty cute.

Birthday Surprise

Last year for my birthday, John surprised me with reservations at Aqua. I bought a new dress in anticipation and was glad I did, as we were lead to the table of honor, a romantic corner table where we could snuggle up, chilled champagne awaiting us. Without much thought, we both opted for the tasting menu, a 7-course sampler that had us drooling.

The first course was a perfect scallop with caviar and watercress foam, a very light combination that highlighted the scallop flavor.

The second course was a crisp, cool set of rolls, each a thinly sliced cucumber wrapped around fresh crab meat on a bed of mango coulis and cucumber pearls. A wafer made from black sesame added some smoke to the otherwise very clean-tasting dish.

Course 3 was, as described by the server, a successful attempt at adding immense flavor to an oyster pot au feu without relying on salt and pepper. Fresh herbs, radish stems and spice were at the same time remarkably savory and very earthy-fresh. I think they topped off the brothy stew with a foie gras reduction and the single oyster was a treat.

By far (relatively) course 4 was my favorite. A square plate arrived with multiple mini bites; a copper ramekin held the parmesan black peppercorn soufflé while a tiny soy dish held sea urchin in beurre blanc and grapefruit segments. The server showed us how to break the soufflé by filling a spoon with the beurre blanc and urchin, mashing it to heavenly deliciousness. Tears were literally in my eyes. An amuse bouche accompanied the course, another crab and cucumber tribute, this time just large enough to clear the richness of the dish from our palettes.

The 5th course involved dueling proteins, veal cheek and halibut. Both were generously drizzled in foie gras reduction with a vegetable I can’t now recall. The veal cheek was the most tender beef I’ve eaten, though its richness was almost too much. I finished off the fish!

Round 6 was another fish course, (Hawaiian Walu?) this time with citrusy yuzu salt. This course was followed by a cheese plate with walnut and fig bread. By this point, we were getting pretty stuffed but couldn’t resist!

Finally, a chocolate mousse and white chocolate truffle were presented, though a taste of each was plenty for me. Gold leaf garnished the white chocolate, adding to the over-the-topness that was this meal.

FiDi Mexican

Along Commercial St. in SF's Financial District is Tlaloc, some serious salsa scrumptiousness. Besides the unique painted decor and fast-paced atmosphere is a salsa bar that makes me salivate just thinking about it. There are usually 9-12 different salsa choices for your tacos or burrito, including at least one fruit option (either mango or strawberry or both). You can't go wrong with the spicy avocado!