Monday, June 27, 2011

Spruce SF: samedi 25 juin 2011

Date:  samedi 25 juin 2011
Location:  3640 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA  94118
Tel:  +1 415 931 5100
http://www.sprucesf.com/

Spruce SF used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the world.  The wine list still is, no question.  The cocktails - still the best in the world in my opinion.  Spruce uses fresh herbs and flowers in their cocktails, and home brews their own liquers.  I ordered a beautiful 2006 Grand Cru Valmur Chablis that evening.  Stony, right acidity, opened throughout the evening with delicate floral nose. 

The service however, I regrettably share has become abrupt and brisk.  The ambience - ever noisy.  Not sure how they will reach their Michelin 1 Star like this.  It used to be that when I walked into Spruce, the Maitre De would immediately greet me and ensure my seating was arranged (whether for now or wait list).  On this day, neither the hostess nor the maitre de made eye contact with me.  They were both too busy trying to figure out one person's seating arrangement (is that necessary to have two resources applied to one task?).  It took me about three minutes lingering around the hostess table and forcing eye contact with them, to finally get some attention.

The food is still delicious, some of the freshest ingredients procured in the San Franciscan restaurant industry.  The wine and cocktail list, as mentioned above, will always remain one of my favorites. 

My November 2009 review of Spruce SF (when they had only been open over a year+)... which I am disapointed to now have to downgrade as of today's present review. 
http://soledad-bleu-etoile.blogspot.com/2009/11/spruce-sf-san-francisco.html

2006 Grand Cru Valmur Chablis

Greyhound cocktail.

Gruyere mini puffs.
Ricotta ravioli with fresh spring peas.

Foie 2 ways.

Halibut.

La Folie: San Francisco

Date:  vendredi 24 juin 2011
Address:  2316 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA  94109
Tel:  +1 415 776 5577
http://www.lafolie.com/html/about_us.html

A 60hour weekend in San Francisco (wow!).  Nice how just one extra day makes all the difference for my usual 48hour weekend stints.  No question that restaurant eating was in the plan.  I enjoy these weekends catching up with old friends over exquisite wine and good food. 

We headed toward La Folie, known for delicious French cuisine and good wine list.  We did indeed choose some delicious wines that night (thrilled that my friend also has similar palate as mine!).  We erred a bit on the too adventurous side with the red as it did not pair well with our dishes.  Lessons learned.  It's OK to order two different whites and I will do that next time, without getting greedy to taste the reds.

Food fell short of our expectations, the ultra discriminating San Francisco fine palate. 

2005 1er Cru Domaine Vincent Girardin "Les Foliateres" Puligny-Montrachet

Foie Gras Torchon Apricot Compote

La Folie Bar Lounge

Wasabi Ginger Ahi Tuna Tartare with Pickled Beets

Foie Mousse and Foie Jalopy Style (mish mash)

2007 Grand Cru Mazy-Chambertin Burgundy

2007 Grand Cru Mazy-Chambertin Burgundy

Mini Foie Burgers/Sliders.
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Friday, June 24, 2011

The Schoolhouse: Wilton, Connecticut

Date:  mercredi 25 mai 2011
Location:  34 Cannon Road
Wilton, CT
Tel:  +1 203 834 9816

"A special place where we spent a beautiful dinner.  I'm glad you decided to go there that evening.  Not only the wine was great."  <3 The artisan cheese selection avec accoutrements that night - the Italian pairing was my favorite. 

Handsome European boys with beautiful accents.  Sweet international girls with distinguished palates.  Soledad's United Nations' Cities that represented that night, converging from world over.  Madrid.  Milan.  San Francisco.  New York.  Another Soledad adventure;  a dinner with friends for life - the world is small, a closed loop.  We will never miss.  Love you all. 

Beautiful 1er Cru Chassagne-Montrachet, shining star bright.

2007 1er Cru Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeout-Clos Pitois


Seared Foie.

Chicken.

Gnocci.

Manchego, sheep's milk. Spain.

4 years aged Gouda, cow's milk.  Netherlands.

Selles-sur-cheres, goat's milk.  France.

Blue del Monchenisio, cow's milk.  Italy.

Epoisses, cow's milk.  France.

Beautiful cheese display. 

Madrid.

Chocolate souffle.