Location: 1270 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: +1 415 285 1200
http://www.heartsf.com/
So folks, it's been awhile since I blogged. I am extremely behind, I know. Life happens I guess! Thanks to all of your encouragement and feedback regarding support for reading my blog, I'm well motivated once again. Here's to getting back to blogging few x/month! Cheers and to our health!
I "HEART" WINE BARS ~ especially wine bars such as "HEART" in SF... where a short, varied selection of interesting wines allow me the opportunity to taste wines I would never had otherwise thought to taste! Soledad... on her neverending travels, both real and vicarious... through the study of wine and food of the world!
Heart Wine Bar is located in the Mission, my favorite neighborhood in SF at the moment. I like the super laid back culture in this neighborhood. People come as they are, unpurposed, slightly messy, urban chic, high street or aging hipster ville. Someone always has on a pair of cool spectacles. Just plain old confidence in being themselves. None of this hoity toity Marina or Financial District having to get dressed up and feigning perfectly coiffed pretenses, too contrived. That gets tiring and old after awhile. Somehow, showing up to life in a pair of your favorite washed out Saturday jeans, T shirt going braless, hair tied back in messy ponytail, clear skin and no makeup, can be a fabulously sexy and lazy relaxing way to enjoy a Saturday unwind. I still got a nice pair of shoes on (Italian designer or China flipflops?! Whatever suits the mood!). Welcome to the Mission, San Francisco.
Heart Wine Bar is a relatively new establishment in SF. Had been wanting to try it since my Master Sommelier friend recommended it 3 months back, yet I was too jet lagged and already drunk to tag a long! So, it's been on my list of places to try!
Heart has an interesting wine list, mostly from France and Italy - OH and a nice little selection of SHERRIES THANK YOU! What is it with the lack of appreciation of Sherrys? I predict more restaurants will begin expanding their dessert wine lists with at least one Sherry. Anyhoo, obviously I like Sherrys a lot because some (like the Gutiereez Colosia Sangre y Trabajadero Oloroso I had last night) taste like caramel and sweet cherry compote on the tongue and pair FABULOUSLY with dessert cheeses (like the Essex Comte that I had last night OMG!), yet also due to their rarity, makes me feel in the know to appreciate something rare. :)))))
Heart serves their wine in Mason jars. YES read that again. Mason jars and not fussy Riedels or Spieglaus. I was 10% skeptical, yet 90% open and up for the experience! Funny thing is, the Mason jars they use actually have a nice curvature at the top so as to contain the nose of the wine. Somehow also gives the illusion of a larger pour.... and we all like that! http://www.heartsf.com/2010/07/28/heart-and-new-glasses/
The small plates at Heart really aren't that small.... mid size between a small plate and an entree. The food is definitely savory, yet a little heavy on the cream/butter/dressing/sea salt for my taste. Kind of odd to see that, since San Franciscan quintessential cooking is soooo much about fine, clean cooking, and not messing with Mother Nature's local fresh ingredients' pure goodness. Nevertheless, all I needed to do was ask the chefs to prepare my dishes with less salt, less dressing, less butter, et voila! So accomodating and flexible. Love these guys.
What I tasted:
1 - Philippe Bornard Tant Mieux Ploussard Petillant Rose (Sparkling table wine from France, naturally sparkling and very delicious!)
2 - 2008 Pinon Vouvray Brut Non Dose (100% Chenin Blanc from Loire Valley)
3 - 2007 Garey Mercurey Vielilles Vignes (Burgundy)
4 - And my favorite of the eve... a very generous pour of Sherry, Gutiereez Colosia Sangre y Trabajadero Oloroso, served delightfully chilled!!
Right: 2008 Pinon Vouvray Brut Non Dose.
Grilled baby octopus. Lemon, raw onion, roasted potatoes, chermoula.
Right: 2007 Garey Mercurey Vielilles Vignes.
Gutiereez Colosia Sangre y Trabajadero Oloroso Sherry, with Essex Comte Cheese, and Cherry Compote. WOW!!!!! Fabulous pairing and finishing last!
2 comments:
Nice post Soledad! I really like this place also. I have yet to go to heart for dinner but it's the same team as Kitchenette which I love. Need to get back in their for dinner. They do have stems upon request (which might be nice for certain wines) but if it's late and you're there to drink the mason jars get the job done.
Awesome thanks! Didn't know that about Kitchenette, which is in my hood near Potrero Hill! Coolio, I have a new place to check out! :)))) Thanks for reading!
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