Dan and I are currently on the West Coast, and I must say, there’s no shortage of delicious food. Every corner of San Francisco, where we’re currently staying boasts an interesting array of food options, including gourmet food trucks and stands, bakeries, organic salad & sandwich shops, farmers markets, and the like. However, even though there’s plenty of greatness to choose from right in San Fran, we couldn’t resist taking a short train ride over to Berkeley to visit Chez Panisse.
For those of you not familiar with this Bay Area staple, Chez Panisse is the mastermind of food visionary, Alice Waters, who practically invented the farm-to-table movement. Every foodie who’s worth her salt has been, and I just had to see what it’s all about.
Atmosphere:
Located on the pretty Shattuck Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, Chez Panisse is situated in an area the locals call the “gourmet ghetto.” Seeing its quaint exterior, I knew I’d love this place, as it was decked with a raw heads of garlic—a nice foreshadowing of what was to come during our meal.
As soon as we stepped inside, I was even more glad we came. The interior was beautiful and inviting, with cherrywood paneling on the walls, warm lighting and the most amazing smell that emanated throughout the dining room. Since we ate in the café area, we headed upstairs and were welcomed by a friendly maitre-d who sat us at a temporary table while we waited. This turned out to be a big highlight of our experience, as the table next to us hosted some major talent such as Sir Ian McKellen (yes…that would be Gandolfe the Grey), Patrick Stewart and Billy Crudup.
Food:
Since we chose the café as our first Chez Panisse experience, we were able to order a la carte, instead of from the elaborate tasting menu that’s offered downstairs in the more formal setting. I loved this approach, as it allowed us to be flexible and share an appetizer and dessert, which was the perfect amount of food.
Endive Salad – We couldn’t dine at Chez Panisse without getting a taste of their famous salads – simple, yet expertly composed veggie plates that Alice Waters is known for. Choosing the endive salad with chopped scallions, smoky bacon and crumbled farm fresh eggs was a perfect way to start, as each ingredient had delicate flavor and was thoughtfully composed into an earthy medley.
Steak with Shoestring Potatoes – Spotting this Monday night special on the menu, we both decided to go for it and weren’t sorry. The portion was modest, but ended up being just enough, as the grass-fed steak produced a melt-in-your-mouth bite and the herb butter on top melted into each delicious crevice. Devouring the shoestrings, they were super crunchy, almost reminding me of gourmet potato stix that were nice to pair with the peppery leafy greens.
Plum Galette – Dessert was an absolute must, and once again we went with an earthy, rustic option, which was this beautiful plum galette. I loved that it wasn’t overly sweet and the crust was the perfect amount of crumbly and buttery. The pretty pink scoop of ice cream you see was raspberry in flavor, which added a nice touch of tartness to this otherwise mild dessert.
Service and Cost:
Besides the food, the service is a big highlight here, as all the waiters are experienced and bring a touch of old world charm to the entire experience. I love that they have an opinion about what’s good, and it was refreshing to see that some of the waiters are closely acquainted with the patrons.
Costs are very fair and quite surprising for the quality of the overall experience you get. I really appreciate that Chez Panisse takes exceptional care of its customers and that they don’t exploit their popularity, as some restaurants of their caliber do. The entire meal set us back about $95, which included drinks, tax and tip.
3 locally grown Mmmms
Chez Panisse - 1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94709
510.548.5525
BART to Downtown Berkeley
www.chezpanisse.com
Tartine Bakery – 600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco, CA
415.
415.487.2600
BART to 16th and Mission
www.tartinebakery.com
When travelling to a new city, it’s best to seek food advice from locals, and they never usually steer me wrong. This was totally the case this week in San Fran, as my awesome co-workers Danny, Diane and Dina (the 3 D’s) told me about some pretty amazing eats in my Mission District neighborhood. One such not-to-be-missed place is Tartine Bakery, which turns out to be quite the popular spot, as folks from all over San Francisco go there to enjoy their freshly baked sweet and savory treats. However, there’s one item it’s most famous for, which I was dying to try – the almighty Breakfast Bun!
Atmosphere:
Even though they warned me I’d have to wait in line, I wasn’t expecting this to be the case on a weekday after morning rush hour. But they were spot on, as I walked up to Tartine, only to find a line snaking outside the building. Honestly, I was contemplating walking away, as I was in a hurry, but once I got a peek and a whiff of what lay inside, I just physically couldn’t walk way.
When I finally got inside, I understood the intense crowds. The display case literally said it all, as it was filled with the most immaculate sweets including chunky hazelnut tarts, fluffy meringues with perfectly browned shells, chunky and buttery chocolate chip cookies, humongous fluffy croissants, and of course the famous breakfast buns. I inched my way very slowly to the front of the line, which took about 18 long minutes to get through, but I can wholeheartedly say that the wait and effort were worth it.
Breakfast Bun – Though I expected the bun to be bigger, after I tasted it I was thankful for its size, since it was so stinkin’ rich. One bite and I was a total convert – loving the flaky, croissant-like dough, dotted with lots of butter and a lemon glaze that gives it a fresh, zingy bite. The outside is beautifully crunchy and sticky while the inside is soft, fluffy and contains a delicate filling of cinnamon that just warms every inch of your body. Not being able to resist eating the whole thing, I was worried it’d heavily settle into the bottom of my belly but not at all, and I was surprisingly feeling light (this was probably just in my head, as there was nothing light about it) :)
Service and Cost:
Although it took forever to get to the front of the line, and I do understand that it’s a part of the Tartine experience, when I did get approached by Tartine’s staff, they were nice and pretty quick with my order. However, I got the sense that they were incredibly swamped and not in the most relaxed spirits.
Costs are expensive but totally worth it for all you sweet tooth hounds. My bun was a whopping $3.95 for a pretty small portion. Cakes and tartes range from about $38-$64 for the whole thing and about $5-$7 per slice.
3 Sticky Mmmms
Mission Chinese (at Lung Shan Restaurant) – 2234 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94110
415.863.2800
Closed Wednesdays
www.missionchinesefood.com
As I mentioned that I was working out of San Francisco this week, I of course took advantage of all their interesting eats, especially in the trendy Mission area, in which I lived last week. I loved being surrounded by countless gourmet food options along Valencia, Mission and Guerrero Streets, one of which was this amazing pop-up restaurants I found out about through my co-worker Danny as well as Jessica Alba at the Tech:Crunch Disrupt conference.
Atmosphere:
Located in the heart of the Mission District, directly on Mission Street and 18th Street, Mission Chinese stands out amongst a sea of not so nice surroundings, which are very much characteristic of a developing neighborhood. And because of this, it’s really easy to spot, as it’s the place with the biggest crowds of hipsters out front. I immediately spotted these Williamsburgesque peeps and knew I was in the right place, right in front of Lung Shan Chinese restaurant.
And while the interior is nothing fancy and looks very much like any Chinese family-style restaurant, it’s packed with a young, hip crowd and percolates with energy and excitement. I like the little fairy lights hung on the walls and the paper lanters on the ceiling, giving it a more festive vibe than I think originally existed with its previous owners.
While the wait for a table is enormous and unfortunately because they don’t take reservations, I decide to get take-out, which takes about 15 minutes. I think this was a good choice though, as I head back to my apartment to gobble up my goodies.
Food:
The interesting menu is designed by Chef Danny Bowien, who also has this pop-up in NYC (Lower East Side) and it’s no doubt filled with really interesting and innovative takes on traditional Chinese cuisine. Since I’m pretty hungry, I choose both an appetizer and an entrée, happy to see that a portion of each entrée goes to the San Francisco Food Bank. Here’s a recap of my feast:
Smashed Cucumbers in Garlic Sauce – While I saw that this app had a little fiery sign, meaning that it was spicy, I went for it, as I thought it’d be refreshing too – after all, it’s cucumbers! And yes…the spice factor delivered but the freshness and the cooling nature of the cucumbers were a superb way to start dinner. Drenched in a garlic chili sauce, they weren’t for sensitive palates, and definitely gave your tastebuds a run for their money.
Thrice Cooked Bacon Entrée – I wasn’t sure what to expect here, as this entrée included a variety of different ingredients such as rice dumplings, tofu skins, fresh cilantro and of course the mighty bacon. The top of the dish was dressed with additional chili powder, which I carefully took off, since I was already amped up on spice from the cucumbers. The tangy chili sauce still had the spicy seeds interspersed throughout, which added more fuego, but overall, the flavors were really smoky, deep and citrusy as well from the cilantro. The bacon itself was too fatty in my opinion and I would’ve liked it to be thicker, but the rice dumplings were fabulously chewy and reminded me of mochi that I had in Japan.
Service and Cost:
Unfortunately due to the intense crowds, the service certainly suffers and feels disorganized. Even though I was told that my dish would be ready in about 10 minutes and that they’d call my name, after about 15, I had to give them a nudge only to find out that they blatantly forgot about me.
Prices are inexpensive for the quality of food you’re getting and for the above mentioned appetizer and entrée, I paid a total of $16 (no tip required).
3 Mmmms
Currently on a business trip in San Francisco, I can't say that I mind being surrounded by wonderful, locally-grown food. It's quite amazing actually to observe the food-loving culture and the friendly folks who work in these establishments, only too happy to share their enthusiasm for food with you.
Casually strolling into a cute little cafe called Mission Pie in the up-and-coming Mission District, I was immediately surrounded by down-home goodness of buttery pie, but also some really fresh and interesting salad options. And even though I wanted the sweet (and the savory) pies so badly, I held back (just for the time being) and went for the healthy alternative in the form of this beautiful farro salad.
Atmosphere:
The fact that this place was pretty heavily populated on a random late mid-afternoon is testament to its popularity. In fact, even when I passed by later in the evening, it was still buzzing - even more so, I think.
And as soon as you come in and observe the atmosphere, you can understand why. Cozy round tables of all different sizes take up the main dining area, and you'll notice a mix of solo patrons on their laptops as well as couples, families or what have you. I took a seat by the front window in some funky bicycle seat stools that were pretty rad and I smiled at how whimsy and a little silly they were. No matter - I was totally comfortable, happy and ready to dig in.
Food:
Although their specialty is of course pies (both savory and sweet), I went for the beautifully fresh farro salad that seemed just like the perfect, healthy snack in between meals.
Farro Salad - Not only did this salad look incredibly attractive, the price was right too - so much so that I couldn't believe my eyes. But more on that later...first let me tell you about its taste. The farro itself was superbly cooked al dente, having that little toothsome bite that I love, and it was mixed with plenty of fresh herbs and veggies. The most wonderful and fragrant herb that emanated from this mixture was mint - so zingy and lemony, it brought your tastebuds to attention right away. The best part by far was the crimson tomato that tasted sun-ripened and was so juicy - really simple yet so striking. The big hunk of feta cheese that rested on top was lovely too, giving this entire dish some more well-roundedness and stamina.
Service and Cost:
I couldn't believe how friendly the staff was. Well actually...I should believe it, as that's usually the case anywhere outside of NY. Not only did I get asked how my weekend was going, the woman helping me seemed genuinely interested in my answer.
Costs are unbelievably cheap, and I paid a mere $2.50 for a small (although I'd call it medium) sized bowl of farro salad. Unheard of in NY - or anywhere for that matter.
Now I can't wait to taste the pies! I will most certainly be back.
3 Mmmms
Mission Pie - 2901 Mission Street, San Francisco CA 94110
415.282.1500
BART to 24th and Mission
www.missionpie.com
On my last night in London, while travelling on business, I was in the mood for a special treat. When I say this, I’m usually referring to dessert or pasta. In this case, it was the latter, as I was on the hunt to find something yummy in Marylebone’s quaint “restaurant row,” located at St. Christopher’s Place. In fact, this area was so buzzing that night, that I had a hard time choosing my final destination.
Running into a busy restaurant with so much spark and buzz, I looked up to the blue awning that said Carluccio’s. It rang a bell, as my boss, Lauren told me about it just a few hours ago. “Cool…I found it,” I thought as I immediately approached the hostess.
Atmosphere:
As I already hinted, Carluccio’s was full. Being that it was an unseasonably warm night (temperatures in the low 70’s in September – and in London to boot!), swarms of people sat outside, creating this infectious buzz that initially drew me in.
Although I tried to sit outside, these tables were hard to come by and would result in a rather long wait. No matter, I chose to stay and sit inside, catching the warm breeze from the open windows and doors.
Just like the exterior of the restaurant, the inside was also hoppin’. Skillful waiters weaved in and out of busy tables, bringing out delicious looking things by the second. I liked the social, almost communal atmosphere of the interior, as there were a couple of rectangular tables for larger parties, and also more traditional four and two tops, the latter which I occupied.
Additionally to the restaurant portion, Carluccio’s is also a specialty foods shop, selling unique Italian goods such as fresh pasta, truffle butter, olives, sauces, gelato, spices, olive oils and much more. I chose to take advantage of this perk, but more on that later.
Food:
As soon as I got the menu, my eye immediately gravitated to the pasta. Being that it was freshly made, it was hard not to take this route. However, something else caught my eye, which was the 2-course prix-fixe menu for just 9.95 British Pounds (approximately $15). There, you had a choice of several enticing appetizers and even more attractive-sounding entrees, fresh pasta being among them.
Chicken Liver Mousse – Being a total sucker for this dish, I ordered it without hesitation. Part of it is its novelty, as I don’t get to have it often at home (Dan doesn’t care for it, plus it’s pretty fatty). It came out quickly and I was surprised at its presentation – packed into a long white ramekin, topped with fresh rosemary. I had to pierce the top layer of fat (trust me…it’s good) with my knife and then got to the moussey chicken liver spread. Taking a generous chunk of it, I slathered it on top of the nicely toasted crostini, also on my plate. Then, I further topped it with a cute little cornichon. Mmmm…it produced a perfect bite of richness from the chicken liver, crunch from the bread and acid from the cornichons. Although simple, the dish had elegance.
Fresh Ravioli with Spinach and Ricotta Cheese – This is what I really came for, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice. The pasta was utterly delicate, thin and velvety smooth upon contact with your fork (not to mention your tastebuds). The spinach/ricotta stuffing was also delectable, and clearly made from scratch. Despite it being a rather large plate of pasta, it didn’t feel heavy at all, which was testimony to its fine ingredients. Some freshly fried sage on top sealed the deal, solidifying this as the ultimate Italian deliciousness. And who said you can’t get good Italian food in London!? Nonsense!
After finishing my lovely dinner, I also perused Carluccio’s shop and decided on a tiny jar of truffle butter. Already thinking about the ways I’d use it when I got home (on bread, pasta, veggies), I paid for my purchase and walked out completely satiated.
Service and Cost:
Although somewhat gruff, the service was very speedy and efficient, turning tables quickly at this busy hour. For a single diner, it was quite perfect, but maybe if I was with a larger group, I’d want to hang around longer.
Costs are affordable and especially given the fine quality of food. The dinner I just described set me back only 9.95 British Pounds ($15) and the truffle butter was another 3.95 Pounds ($6). After taking a look at Carluccio’s website when I got home, I saw there are many other locations around London, so if you find yourself there, do check any of them out.
3 Mmmms
Carluccio’s – St. Christopher’s Place, London W1U 1AY 020 7935 5927
Tube to Bond Street
www.carluccios.com
