A taste of San Francisco

We had a fabulous trip to San Francisco for Mike's 50th high school reunion. We also managed to fit in some fine West Coast dining. On Sunday night we had dinner at one of our old favorites, Zuni Cafe.

My starter was the avocado and beet "ceviche."

And my entree was the pork chop (see the menu above for the description). It was DELICIOUS!

On Monday night we ate at Gary Danko. We had not been there before, but apparently the economy has affected them to the extent that we were able to get reservations with only a two week lead time. It was fabulous!

Winter Menu

Caviar Service ~ 1 ounce Black River Osetra $95 or Golden Osetra $125 Appetizers Glazed Oysters with Osetra Caviar, Salsify and Lettuce Cream Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado, Nori, Enoki Mushrooms and Lemon Soy Dressing Dungeness Crab Salad with Winter Citrus, Avocado and Meyer Lemon-Chive Vinaigrette Treviso and Romaine Salad with Banyuls Vinaigrette, Anchovies and Parmigiano-Reggiano Lobster Salad with Asparagus, Hearts of Palm, Mango, Lemon-Curry Vinaigrette and Pistachio Espuma Green and White Asparagus Salad with Roasted Red Peppers and Red Onion-Caper Vinaigrette Risotto with Rock Shrimp, Asparagus, Morel Mushrooms, Stinging Nettles and Prosciutto Seared Sonoma Foie Gras with Caramelized Red Onions and Rhubarb Asparagus Soup with Smoked Salmon and Lemon Crème Fraîche Savory Tart of Butternut Squash, Cipollini Onions, Gruyère and Goat Cheese Mousse

Fish and Seafood Pan Steamed Shellfish with Thai Red Curry and Jasmine Rice Branzini with Fennel Purée, Niçoise Olives, Navel Oranges and Saffron Herb Crusted Tuna with Crème Fraîche Spätzle, Toasted Pine Nuts, Belgian Endive and Orange Roast Maine Lobster with Potato Purée, Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Edamame Beans and Tarragon Mushroom Dusted Sea Scallops with English Pea Purée, Shimeji Mushrooms and Meyer Lemon Horseradish Crusted Salmon Medallion with Dilled Cucumbers and Mustard Sauce Pancetta Wrapped Frog Legs with Garlic Purée, Potato, Lentils and Parsley Soy Marinated Tofu Scallops with Daikon Purée, Baby Bok Choy and Shiitake Mushrooms

Meat and Game Birds Rare Moroccan Spiced Squab with Chermoula and Orange-Cumin Carrots Seared Filet of Beef with Braised Celery, Potatoes, Bacon, Leeks and Bordelaise Crust Roasted Loin of Bison with King Trumpet Mushrooms, Glazed Cipollini Onions and Herb Spätzle Quail Stuffed with Onion, Foie Gras, Pine Nuts and Quinoa, Wild Mushroom Risotto Cake and Pomegranate Sauce Guinea Hen Breast with Braised Leg, Stinging Nettle Gnocchi, Brussels Sprouts, Apples and Pancetta Herb Crusted Loin of Lamb with Garbanzo Panisses, Swiss Chard and Roasted Grape Compote Lemon Pepper Duck Breast with Duck Hash, Celery Root-Garlic Purée and Poached Rhubarb

Cheese A Selection of Farmhouse and Artisanal Cheeses Presented Tableside

Dessert Seasonal Sorbet Sampler with Cookies Baked Chocolate Soufflé with Two Sauces French Macaroon Ice Cream Sandwiches with Three Sauces Warm Louisiana Butter Cake with Huckleberry Compote and Vanilla Ice Cream Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding with Caramel Mousse Parfait and Chocolate Sorbet Lemon Soufflé Cake with Crème Fraîche Panna Cotta and Pomegranate Sorbet Non-Cholesterol Grand Marnier Soufflé with Raspberry Sorbet Trio of Crème Brûlée with Assorted Cookies Prepared Tableside Flambéed Cardamom Apples with Chestnut Crepes, Ricotta and Honey Sauce For two or more people, an additional $6 per person 3 Courses $66 :: 4 Courses $83 :: 5 Courses $98

The wine

Seared Sonoma Foie Gras with Caramelized Red Onions and Rhubarb

Pancetta Wrapped Frog Legs with Garlic Purée, Potato, Lentils and Parsley

Guinea Hen Breast with Braised Leg, Stinging Nettle Gnocchi,
Brussels Sprouts, Apples & Pancetta

We didn't order dessert, so they brought us this lovely tray of bite sized sweets.

And what's a visit to San Francisco without an Irish coffee (or 3 or 4) at the Buena Vista?

A day in Berkeley

Thursday we were in Berkeley, on our way back into San Francisco from Davis, where we spent the night and visited with some of Mike's grad school professors. It happened to be the day of the weekly organic farmers' market. Of course we couldn't buy anything, but we had fun looking.





We had hoped to eat at Chez Panisse, but neglected to make reservations early enough, so had to settle for a look at the menu.



Mike's reunion is tonight at the Olympic Club, and we have reservations at Zuni Cafe for tomorrow night and Gary Danko for Monday night, so culinary delights do await us!

Something to look forward to...

Tickets for Outstanding in the Field went on sale this morning, and with the assistance of my dear daughter (I am in San Francisco and was having some internet issues, but that is another story) we scored tickets for the Houston event, which will be held at Jolie Vue Farms, the place from which we get our monthly meat delivery. Last year they featured from cajeta from our friends at Blue Heron Farm. Guess we locavores are all in bed together, but that is part of the beauty of it all.

Just as I promised...

Gosh, I don't know how it got to be the middle of March already...I don't even know what happened to February! We got our latest delivery from Jolie Vue Farms on March 1st. Yes, those are marrow bones! I think I will just roast them for myself...Mike doesn't go crazy over marrow like I do. Somehow, taking pictures of a bunch of frozen meat seems silly, not like the pretty pictures people take of their CSA vegetables.

Of course, I can always liven things up with a cute picture of my cats. Purrkins was checking out the empty cooler that the meat came in. Graycie was probably looking for something to jump up and break.

I do have a produce picture for you, though. I picked this tomato on March 1st as well. I had planted one tomato plant last September. It survived Hurricane Ike and has continued to grow all winter. We never had a hard frost, and somehow it managed to produce this one poor little malformed tomato (which was quite tasty, by the way). It is covered with blossoms now, so maybe my tomato growing luck has changed.

This is my latest quilting project, made from April Cornell charm packs I bought at the Quilt Festival in 2007. It is off to be quilted as we speak. I plan to use it on the foot of our bed, picking up on the brown and aqua theme I have going.

We were in Fort Worth last weekend for the Texas Radiological Society meeting, so of course I had to stop at Cabbage Rose. I did buy some fabric, but it is for a surprise for someone who might read this blog, so I will have to wait to share it with you as well. I am scheduled to have rotator cuff surgery (ugh!) on April 3rd, so I need to get as much done as possible before then. Fortunately, I will still be able to type with my left hand and play Facebook Scrabble!

No, I haven't forgotten you, honest I haven't

I feel like such a blog slacker, but I have all the usual excuses, work, travel, illness, etc. I do have some things to show you, and I promise to do so in the next few days. Honest.