POTD: Photo of the Day

Duck with berry compote, wild rice and greens (very good)
Opal Restaurant

Santa Barbara, CA

(09.14.2008)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Beef Carpaccio (simply amazing)

polenta, roquefort crema shaved parmesan, cipollini onions

Olives

(Chef Todd English)

The Bellagio

Las Vegas, NV
(01.10.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Sake, Hamachi, and Maguro Sashimi

Satsuma Sushi

Mountain View, CA

(10.23.2008)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Strawberry Shortcake

Soluna Cafe & Lounge

San Francisco, CA

(05.31.2008)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Shanghai Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

Kingdom of Dumpling
San Francisco, CA

(01.24.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Blackened fresh halibut topped with a fresh avocado shrimp salsa on a pool of lemon white wine cream sauce. Served with risotto and vegetables

Il Postale

Sunnyvale, CA

(05.03.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Duck Fat Fries

Arcadia America Steakhouse (Michael Mina)

San Jose, CA

(06.11.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Ile Flottante (simply amazing!)

Le Restaurant

Musee d'Orsay

Paris, France

(03.26.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

wild duck and foie gras

pate en croute

sweet and sour shallots

Bistrot d'a Cote Flaubert

Paris, France

(03.26.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

delicious bourbon bread pudding

Ruth Chris' Steakhouse

San Franisco, CA

Dine About San Francisco Prix Fixe Menu

(01.22.2009)

Tasting Menu Teaser: James Randall Restaurant, Los Gatos, CA

attributed to the James Randall Restaurant website

June Wine Pairing Dinner
Tuesday June 30, 7pm

"We had to postpone our original plan for June with Her-Vineness Laura Ness and her in-depth dialogue about the Santa Cruz Mtns wines. We will have Laura over for dinner in August which will work out just fine since alot of SCM wineries will be releasing a new vintage in August.

We are planning another "Global Tour" wine pairing dinner for you.We decided to feature some of our new wines that have been introduced to you on our blog."

First Course
2007 Lois Gruner Veltliner, Austria
Risotto Cakes with Fresh PeasSeasonal Seafood

Second Course
2008 Belasco de Baqudano Rosa, Argentina
Green Bean and Salami Saladwith Yellow Squash and Almonds

Third Course
2004 Dom. Assmannshausen Spatburgunder Spatlese Troken, Assmannhauser Hollenberg
Chicken RouladeWith Dijon Pan Sauce

Fourth Course
2007 Dom. Terlato & Chapoutier Shiraz-Viognier, Australia
Pan Seared NY & Foie Graswith Potato Chive Pancakes

Dessert
2007 Essensia Orange Muscat
Peach Shortcakewith Orange Curd Cream

We offer a food and wine pairing dinner at 7pm on the last Tuesday of every month. $85pp, includes 5-6 courses and features wines from regions all over the world

POTD: Photo of the Day

beer sampler

BJ's Brewhouse

Cupertino, CA

(04.25.2009)

Desserts at Emporio Rulli Gran Caffe, San Francisco, CA

Saturday

06.27.2009

CJ and I headed over to the Marina on Chestnut Street to get some dessert after out outing to the beach...we were trying to decide where to go for dessert and ended up at Emporio Rulli Gran Caffe. I was thouroughly disappointed.

The service was utterly horrible: the waiter was extremely rude and did not want to tell me what the various cake slices of the day were why I asked him to clarify the menu. We did not have napkins and had to ask the hostess to get napkins becuase the waiter never came by. We started eating out desserts and were half-way finished before we even got napkins.

The tiramisu was underwhelming - I took a bite of Christina's. I had a very dry and bland cake of the day. It was chocolate cake with whipped cream and berries. It was so very disappointing.I was genuinely very unhappy with the experience.

Needless to say, the ambience was nice but the desserts were underwhleming as well as the service - but at least the company was good.

the main dining room

the dessert menu
cj's steamed milk

unimpressive tiramisu

a very dry and bland cake of the day

chocolate with whipped cream and berries

so very disappointing

Trip to Park Chalet, San Francisco, CA

Saturday
06.27.2009

The weather has been quite hot this past weekend so I ended up in San Francisco in the afternoon and met up with my good from CJ to catch up and to beat the heat. We decided to head to Park Chalet, which is right across from Pacific Beach and on the Edge of Golden Gate Park...it's a usual hang out spot for us - it's a good place for bar food :)

the menu

the bar

the restaurant

my cosmopolitan - it's the best cosmo i've had in a long time

fries - mediocre

beer battered pollack - very good, but disappointed that they don't come with fries anymore :(

pizza di parma

Prosciutto, Caramelized Onions, Arugula & Thyme

(the proscuitto was unfortunately too salty and overpowered the pizza, i'll have to stick to the wild & tamed mushroom with Roasted Garlic, Goat Cheese, Truffle Oil & Thyme next time)

view from China Beach

It was a beautiful day and we were able to enjoy the beach afterwards, although we did drop by both Pacific Beach and China Beach

POTD: Photo of the Day

Les 6 huitres de Normandie

The best fresh oysters on the half-shell that I have ever had

Chez Francis

Paris, France

(03.25.2009)

Martini House (St. Helena, CA) - One Michelin Star: Mushroom Tasting Menu

This post that is just focused on the four course, mushroom tasting menu by Chef Todd Humphries following the post on the Martini House.

*****
Saturday
11.08.2008

Four Course Chef's Mushroom Tasting Menu
Martini House
St. Helena, CA

mushroom tasting menu

“Pleurotus eryngii”

King Trumpet Mushroom Salad and Fried Chips

Shaved Celery, Radish and Ricotta SalataMeyer Lemon Dressing

“Sparassis crispa”
Ginger Braised Cauliflower Mushroom
Sake Mirin Broth, Scallions, and Daikon Sprouts
Butternut Squash Won Tons “Grifola frondosa”
Pan Roasted Hen of the Woods Mushroom
Barley Risotto with Roasted Root Vegetables and Parmesan Sauce
“Lactarius rubidus”
Candy Cap Bread Pudding
Currants and Golden Raisins Maple Sugar Anglaise

Martini House (St. Helena, CA) - One Michelin Star

This is a post from a dinner after the "silverado trail weekend pass" wine tasting event in Napa from last fall. I was fortunate enough to be with friends who had the "insider" connections in Napa to have this amazing experience. I'll definitely be posting a few of my Michelin star restaurants that I was fortunate enough to document. :)

*****
Saturday
11.08.2008

Martini House
St. Helena, CA

i was sooo excited to go to martini house for dinner and that paul was able to get reservations, apparently he had to call in a few favors to get us a table - we were orginally going to have dinner downstairs by the bar for more ambience but ended up being seated upstairs for dinner - the restaurant was very beautiful and had a "lodge" feel and i enjoyed being able to look into the open kitchen :) the service was impeccable and i was surprised to learn that paul helped open the restaurant...and he ran into so many people he knew in the area while we were in the restaurant - we even saw todd white who runs napa valley farms, who i met and visited when i did tastings in may with christina and eddy in may :)

so, i was so excited to learn that the restaurant only recently got awarded a michelin star :) and was really looking forward to the experience and got even more spoiled due to paul's connections

aaron taking a pic
the railings are made from the drill bits of the wine presses
the open kitchen
the ambience
the downstairs bar

the martini house menu

dinner menu

the chef's mushroom tasting menu

ciroc cocktail - aaron's

gin + tonic - paul's

beautiful bellini - mine

dirty martini - canadian dave's

2006 antica cabernet sauvignon

it was very good :)

the best cab i had all day, next to the 1998 barrels at montecello & conn creek

Amuse Bouche

Mushroom Mousse on Puff Pastry

Puff Pastry with Polenta, Salami on Puff Pastry

Amuse Bouche - Butternut Squash Panna Cotta

Amuse Bouche - “Pleurotus eryngii”

King Trumpet Mushroom Salad and

Fried Chips Shaved Celery, Radish and Ricotta Salata

Meyer Lemon Dressing

Country Style Duck Terrine Leg Confit,

Smoked Duck Breast and Foie gras Celery Root and

Apple Salad with Creamy Hazelnut Vinaigrette

(paul's appetizer)

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Toasted Croutons and Chives

(Canadian Dave & Aaron both ordered the soup)

House Cured Charcuterie Plate

Duck Chorizo

Wine Country Smoked Beef Summer Sausage

Squab Salami

Pan Roasted Mahi Mahi

with Crispy Potatoes Swiss Chard,

Confit Chestnuts and Butternut Squash

Chanterelle Mushroom Stroganoff

(Aaron's entree)

Roasted Liberty Farms Duck Breast

with Cherry Sauce Braised Endive,

Macerated Figs and

Candied Garlic with Creamy Polenta Cake

(Paul's entree)

Squab and Seared Foie Gras “Pasta Fagioli”

Rigatoni Stuffed with Leg Confit,

Hobbs Smoked Bacon and Braised Butter Beans Squab Jus

(canadian dave's entree)

2005 Ethos Sweet Riesling

french press - ily coffee

Coconut Tapioca Pudding

Vanilla Bean Beignets

(paul's dessert)

Sierra Betty Apple Tart

Sweet and Sour Huckleberries

and Cinnamon Streusel Ice Cream
(aaron's dessert)

Chocolate Custard Cake

Espresso Mascarpone and Salted Caramel Ganache
(canadian dave's dessert)

Pear Sorbet in Wafer Cones and Snickerdodles

(this is my favorite photo in the whole set)

aaron & paul

cheers!

i was very fortunate that aaron and canadian dave were willing to share their dishes with me :) so i got to taste their appetizers, entrees, and desserts :) paul brought very good wines to accompany our meal - i really enjoyed the experience