LOLO SF: San Francisco

Date:  18 aout 2010
Location:  3230 22nd Street (bt Valencia and Mission)
San Francisco, CA  94110
Tel:  +1 415 643 5656
http://www.lolosf.com/

HELLLLLOOOOOO Spanish/Medi/Turkish San Franciscan Mission style TAPAS!  I LUUUV Lolo's!!!

<-- Left:  Tuna wrap...

I've been to this trendy, funky, city hidden gem about a handful of times within the past year.  It's in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco... which means.. yup, come as you are (Nirvana).  Messy artist, high street, grunge, aging hipster, _relaxed_.  LOLO's is one of Soledad's favorite restaurants!  Not pretentious, not too noisy, electic, SAVORY tapas - style small dishes... and a happy wine list to choose from!  Oh, don't forget the cute Mexican boys straight from Mexico City that work there... providing warm, inviting service... with a twinkle in their sparkling dark eyes and dark hair, and that sexy roll of the "rrrrrr" on their tongue!  I truly look forward to Friday unwinds at this place after a long hard 75++hour, 6day work week.  Whhheeeee!!

What WOWS me about Lolo's is their unique and savory spin on Spanish style tapas.  You won't get this anywhere else in the world, literally.  Only in San Francisco, on 22nd Street.  :)  The hot sexy chefs hail from Mexico City and... TURKEY.  Yup.  So now it's so obvious right?  When was the last time you had Panko and spice-dusted shrimp, topped with tropical relish and spicy aioli, served on a thinly sliced JICAMA WRAP instead of a taco wrap?  Served with a creative squeeze of lemon wedge dipped in cayenne pepper?  (RIGHT -->)

This is the kind of "thinking outside the box" clever cooking that absolutely tantalizes my taste buds and makes them want to DANCE!  I love daring chefs who mix cross-cultural cuisine and spices, creating a completely solid dish that really makes you think - mmm what WAS that ingredient?? Where in the world did I last taste that??? 
RIGHT--> Very thinly sliced octopus tiradito: urfa isot flakes, sea salt, and cascabel aioli.

On of my recent visits here last, a dear friend joined me for Friday chillax to celebrate friendship.  He, being a wine collecter, brought from his cellar a Altesino 1997 Brunello di Montalcino...  Tasting notes follow:

Altesino 1997 Brunello di Montalcino:
"absolutely incredible....... heavenly on the palate. massively intoxicating aroma - our server juan carlos asked to try some as he could not resist the nose once he opened the bottle for us!"

-Dark ruby and red color. Blackberry, licorice and grilled meat aromas. Full-bodied, with layers of beautiful tannins and fresh ripe fruit and sliced mushroom. Very, very long. So powerful and rich, yet racy and beautiful. Still needs some time (1997 Italian blind retrospective).
-13 years later - its rightful perfect. patience.... and rewarded grand.

Above:  Pistachio encrusted salmon with wasabi cream sauce.

Above:  Endive served with fried cheese, baby heirloom tomatoes, sherry viniagerette dressing.

Above:  PEPPER STUFFED with herbed rice, pine nuts, YELLOW RAISINS, and CINNAMON. I LOVE THIS DARLING AND CUTE small dish. totally TURKISH. Yummmmmeezzz. i love the hat on this thing. :)

Above:  Bay scallop and chorizo tostada with sandia aioli and roasted tomatillo sauce.

Above:  Arugula and radicchio, dried cherries, pine nuts, goat and sheep feta cheese, with orange muscat vinaigrette.

Above:  Dessert!!  Mascarpone cheese served with fresh strawberries, blueberries and trifle. paired with yummy Velenosi, Visviloe, Sour Cherry, Marche, Italy.

Finalement... !