It’s time to update my eating experiences of the last few months.
(click restaurant name or point of interest)
San Francisco is just the best! The latest delicious treats include a wonderful cheap and genuine dim sum lunch with my sisters on Pacific Street, just up the hill from Stockton on the left. It seems to have no name, but is huge, crowded with Chinese and delicious. i remember lunch for 3 of us and 2 hungry 3 year-olds was about $30. I never go to eat dim sum if there are too many Westerners, white tablecloths and polite waiters. That is a sure sign of revisionism. The Ferry Building market always has something delicious (especially the view). This time I made a dash for the Recchiuti burnt caramel sauce and 4 bottles of wine to bring to my niece’s for dinner.
I also went to Bar Tartine, 561 Valencia St. and ate a wonderful appetizer of roasted marrow-filled bones, arugula and toast. They are an off-shoot of Tartine Bakery which is one of our favorite breakfast spots. No trip to San Francisco should exclude Zuni Cafe and this one didn’t. Their fresh oysters, roast chicken and espresso granita, plus plenty of bread and wine are the perfect menu.
In Berkeley, I got a take-out lunch at Gregoire’s (around the corner from Chez Panisse) which included their magic potato puffs. Later, Fifi and I had a fine dinner on San Pablo at Sea Salt. I think I had a delicious salad among other things.
Before driving down Highway ! to Los Angeles via Santa Barbara, I dashed into the Monterey Market for some provisions. I have been shopping there for at least 45 years, and they still have the finest produce around. (lots of their customers need an Asiatica fix).
The coast is breathtaking, and we stopped at Nepenthe for an outdoor lunch on the terrace. The view was better than the food. In Santa Barbara our room at the Biltmore was $600., but our combined food costs were about $25. since we did a taco survey (dinner and lunch). Dinner at the Superica Taqueria, immortalized by Julia Child; lunch at Lilly Taqueria, which is much more real and cheaper.
Ciudad was delicious in downtown LA on a warm evening sitting outside. Their food instincts are admirable — tasty, fresh and inventive food. We also discovered Bread Bar just around the corner from the Four Seasons — cappuccino with a picture drawn on the foam!
I also just returned from the opening of the new Denver Art Museum wing (don’t ask), and had a fine meal at John Holly’s on 2422 South Downing. Chinese and Japanese food in one place is usually an ominous sign, but this was delicious!!