Gastronomie

Ain't That Just the Way?

I've written about Frasca before, but since the last time I wrote about it, I've eaten there four other times, usually on Monday nights.

See, Frasca does a Winemaker's Dinner every Monday night. It's always a prix-fixe menu (usually 3 courses for around $30), and they bring in really amazing producers. I've been to a Terrabianca dinner, a Movia dinner (amazing - Ales' Ribolla is one of C's favorite wines), and this past Monday, Hubert Trimbach graced the restaurant's floor.

So, I was ALL SET to write about M. Tribach and the very special wines we tasted this week.

Until.

I got home last night, and after eating a salmon salad on my flight home from Denver, got excruciatingly, miserably sick. (All you Airplane! fans need not rub it in, thankyouverymuch!)

Yup, Staphylococcus aureous has struck. And just the THOUGHT of writing about my dinner is enough to cause a wave of nausea to wash over me.

So, my friends, as I sit here with my Super-Medicine Dog, sipping Vitamin Water and trying to hold down Saltines, I hope you'll be patient and come back for my Frasca report in the next couple of days.

 

Technorati Tags: Food | Food & Drink | Food Poisoning | Dogs | Colorado | San Francisco

On Snow-Covered Vines

When C and I made plans with Lenn to visit a few wineries, we had no idea that (a) we'd meet an awesome person whom it felt like we'd known for years and (b) that we'd discover a wine region that we're quickly becoming stout evangelists for.

Despite the fact that I grew up on Long Island, I had never tasted a LI wine (other than a sample Macari bottling last year). I was excited, though, because I knew that Cab Franc grows quite well in those parts, and, well, I just love Cab Franc.

Lenn planned a wonderful day for us, and I'm only sorry that we didn't get to spend more time out there; C and I have already agreed that our next trip to New York will include an overnight stay on the G-Island. Lenn took us to Roanoke Vineyards (where we got to the tasting room before the staff was quite awake), Lieb Family Cellars, and Waters Crest Winery (where we probably quite overstayed our welcome).

Saal-eh Now Mobarak!

At 10:25:35 am today, C and I will be drinking small glasses of scalded milk with a bit of sweet pastry to usher in the Persian year 1385.

At this moment, I am sitting here watching Appadana Television on KTSF (Channel 8 on Oakland Comcast), thinking back over the events of the past year.

It's been an odd year.

We were blessed with many new friends (two of whom quickly become life-long friends), a wonderful fostering experience, and  more than a few amazing meals.

We had a few life-changing experiences, from buying my first-ever-brand-new-car and making a wonderful job change to the receiving the devastating news of my dad's illness.

Like I said, an odd year.

Check back in a couple of hours, when I will post pictures of my Haft Sinn, which I put a bit of a modern spin on this year.

Also, I'll post a quick round-up of some Nowruz events in the Bay Area that you can check out if you are so inclined.

Nowruz-etan Pirouz!!

wd-50: The Gastronomie Perspective

When I read Derrick's account of dinner at wd-50, I knew it was a place we needed to try. As I read C the description of the "carrot-coconut sunnyside up" and the "Deep friend mayonnaise cube", his eyes lit up and he asked, "we're going there, right?"

We sort of knew we'd end up doing the tasting menu, but I'd overindulged just a bit the night before, and thought it would be a good idea to share a wine pairing. At first, we encountered a bit of resistance over that, and later, our very sweet server explained that there are people who come in and order a pairing to share, and suck down the wine before they've even taken their first bite of food, and then expect an additional pour. Seriously, people, that's just tacky.

The wine pairing here puts one wine together with every two dishes (except for a couple of the courses) and our first glass was a Cava Rosado Avinyo, NV. A bright, off-dry, slightly deeper rose bubbly, we enjoyed this very much, particularly with the paper-thin sesame flatbread service.

Our first amuse, Oyster "Pearls", pickled cucumber, borage was not my favorite dish -- in fact, I was a bit worried that we might have made a poor decision going with the tasting. Essentially, oysters were pureed and steamed in droplets the size of salmon roe or Dippin' Dots.

Next up, though, was the famed "Carrot-Coconut Sunny-side Up". Texturally and visually accurate, the flavors were sweet and gently spiced and it was fun to scoop up the "yolk" with a bit of bread.

Next up came the foie gras that Derrick was marveling over -- and it IS something to behold. Runners advise you to split open the torchon, allowing the beet consomme to pour out of the center. Served with Sake Tedorigawa "Yamahai Junmai" Silver Mountain, this dish was so insanely rich that neither C nor I was able to finish it. The candied olives that accompanied the dish, though... yea, I'd like a bag of those to snack on, thankyouverymuch.

Airlines Don't Always Suck

People who don't travel for work always think it's a glamorous thing. But the truth is, aside from the occasional trip to New York or Chicago, I usually end up in small towns in states where a "night on the town" is most often at a joint like Runza's.

On the other hand, when you do travel a lot, and have a company who tends to be loyal to one airline, there are most definitely some perks. For us, that airline is United, and I frequently manage to get upgraded, which can be a true blessing when you know you may not have another good meal for several days. Yea, you heard me right -- a good meal.

That up there is a Jumbo Lump Crab Salad with Apple Brioche Quiche -- an odd combination to be sure, but a delicious and refreshing starter. The crab meat was fresh and, as jumbo lump should be, loaded with chunks the size of my thumb. The quiche was not too sweet, and nicely balanced with the accompanying crème fraîche. The tomato was clearly superfluous, but the English cucumbers were a nice, crisp counterpoint to the rest of the plate.

For my entree, I chose a Spiced Breast of Chicken with Thai Barbecue Sauce, which was fine but nothing particularly special. The brown rice accompanying the chicken, on the other hand, was really wonderful -- tender but toothsome with a rich, nutty flavor.

Before dessert, we were offered a Cheese Plate which included a luscious Camembert, sweet, crumby Stilton, and a Black Diamond Cheddar which, meh, didn't do much for me. The strawberry was sweet and juicy (but probably not, you know, organic or small farm-grown) and the grapes were crisp and delicious.

Wine selections were abundant, and freely poured. After dinner, when I asked for my customary Bailey's on the rocks before landing, the flight attendant suggested "spiking" it with a small shot of Starbucks' Espresso liqueur -- a very tasty beverage, indeed.

But wait -- you didn't come hear to hear about airplane food? Well, that's quite all right, since after a short diversion to WBW #19 tomorrow, we'll get back to telling stories about "deconstructed" beef tongue "sandwiches" and a pappardelle so good that C and I have had a discussion about it no fewer than four times in the past 3 days.

Technorati Tags: Food | Food & Drink | Flying | San Francisco | New York

On the road again...

Here I was, trying to be a good food blogger -- took pictures of my meal from SFO to JFK and everything.

And guess what? My camera is sitting in seat 10A of a United Premium Service flight. Damn.

Meanwhile, I can fill you in on the first couple hours of my stay in The City.

I met some colleages at Virgil's Barbecue just off Times Square. And I'll tell you what -- though I may be spoiled by the plethora of excellent 'que in the Bay Area, I got totally hooked on Virgil's BBQ Nachos. They have the perfect balance of fat, savory, spicy and sweet, these were some damn good chips, with huge chunks of BBQ beef, oozy cheese, and crisp, nearly buttery, chips. Mmmm...

Their cornbread is one of the best I've ever had -- lots of chives, lots of butter, and whole kernels of corn (to which I can attest, as I had one stuck in my tooth for 20 minutes!). Really delicious, not too eggy.

After Virgil's, we headed over to Jack's on 40th to end the evening with a few nightcaps. Liam made me two utterly perfect Manhattan's, and some pleasant small talk as well (can I even tell you ho wmuch I love barkeeps who know how to talk up patrons? When you're on the road 10 days out of the month, they're a lifesaver, and a welcome breath of fresh air).

More to come tomorrow - we're headed to wd-50 for dinner (as reco'd by Derrick & Melissa), followed by 'za dinner. Saturday brings us Bouley and dinner, perhaps at Artisanal (if I can't get us last-minute tickets to SpamAlot, about which my colleagues RAVED tonight).

Sunday, Lenn is giving us a tour of the LI Wine Country, after I show C the house where I grew up, then Babbo for C's birthday dinner. Finally, we wrap up with lunch at Gramercy, for which I can hardly wait!

Oh, btw, one of C's best friends is the sous at Pod in Philly, and he ate there tonight. If you're lucky, you might get a guest post from him this week sometime. (Let me tell you how bummed I was not to make it to JFK until it was too late to join them!)

Technorati Tags: Food | Food & Drink | Manhattan | San Francisco | New York