POTD: Photo of the Day

Assorted Cupcakes

(the strawberry & chocolate chip chocolate were delicious)

Santa Barbara Zoo

Santa Barbara, CA

(09.14.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Meat Board (I really enjoyed this - the cape gooseberries were incredible)

house made lomo, sopressata, piment galantina, pork rillons, and pate breton with pickled vegetables and frisee salad

castagna restaurant

Portland, OR

(9.19.2008)

POTD: Photo of the Day

mocha almond ice cream brownie sundae with chocolate and white chocolate fudge sauce (*yum*)

Mother's Bistro & Bar

(09.19.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Moutarde aux Herbes de Provence, Moutarde a l'ancienne Frambroise, Moutarde a la fleur de lavende

Moutarde de Nice, France

(03.31.2009)

POTD: Photo of the Day

Chocolat Ladurée (so divine)
Ladurée - Champs de Elysee
Paris, France
(03.22.2009)

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

Les Macaroons Ladurée

Ladurée - Champs de Elysee
Paris, France
(03.22.2009)

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

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

Michelin Star Restaurants - My Culinary Adventures

Since I've posted about Michelin Star rated restuarants, the I must share my experiences :) I'll slowly be posting the experiences that I've managed to already capture

So, far I've had the pleasure of dining at the following Michelin Rated Restaurants:

• Martini House, St. Helena, CA (One Michelin Star) Chef Todd Humphries - Mushroom Tasting Menu
• Manresa, Los Gatos, CA (Two Michelin Stars) Chef David Kinch - Iron Chef America vs Bobby Flay "Battle Cabbage" tasting menu with wine parin
• Trevese, Los Gatos, CA (One Michelin Star) Chef Michael Miller - Six course tasting menu with wine pairing

I've had the pleasure of dining at the following restaurants owned by chefs that have been awarded Michelin Stars, but the restaurants themselves have not been Michelin rated:

• Bouchon, Las Vegas, NV (the Bouchon in Yountville, CA has One Michelin Star) Chef Thomas Keller - various menu items
• Nobhill Tavern, Las Vegas, NV (Michael Mina in San Francisco, CA has Two Michelin Stars) Chef Michael Mina - various menu items
• Bistrot d'a Cote Flaubert, Paris, France (Michel Rostang, Paris, France has Two Michelin Stars) Chef Michel Rostang - various menu items
• Arcadia Modern American Steakhouse, San Jose, CA (Michael Mina in San Francisco, CA has Two Michelin Stars) Chef Michael Mina - Dine About San Jose Downtown Prix Fixe Menu

And so many more to try ;)