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NY Foodie Trip

I spent the first half of this week in New York on business and had an incredible run of spectacular meals. 

Cyrus Decadence

We capped off our babymoon (kind of like a honeymoon but typically shorter and in celebration of a looming baby birth) with a dinner at Cyrus Restaurant in Healdsburg. This is our second trip to Cyrus, where you can order al la carte or allow the chef's tasting menu to guide you. 

The Girl and the Fig Brunch

We started the seventy fifth birthday with brunch at a Sonoma restaurant named A Girl and the Fig, located on one of the plaza corners.

I had a so so fig & arugula salad followed by a wonderful croque monsier. I watered it down with a glass of 2006 Hahn Syrah.

Net net - a nice meal but not great due to the uninspiring salad.

El Dorado Kitchen Feast

Friday night dinner at the El Dorado Kitchen on the Sonoma town square. It's my fathers 75th birthday weekend celebration, tonights the kickoff dinner.

edK is what they're branding themselves, with an impressive wine list, a nice assortment of cocktails and a local, organic sustainable menu were off to a great start.

I ordered a mixed greens with black mission fig salad. My main was a bacon rapped pork tenderloin with leeks, greens and an apple glaze on the pork.

After a day of heavy tasting I opted for a Rose Sangria, an amazing concoction made with spritzer & small chunks of strawberries. I'm on my third and can recommend them as a nice warm day refresher :)

Bin 38, San Francisco Wine Bar

My sisters friends put together a birthday party at a Marina District wine bar called Bin 38. The first thing I noticed was the crazy disparity between women & men, a ratio that was close to 90/10 (take a note guys, get your ass to wine bars for happy hour or Saturday afternoon drinks - the game won't be on but you will have plenty of eye candy to entertain you).

The wine list was average, nothing blew me away but they had good diversity and plenty of high quality wines to choose from.

I had a Kingston Family (Chile) "Tobiano" Pinot Noir. Overall if was nice but a bit too acidic for an afternoon drink in Bin 38's back patio.

Boulevard Bistro in Elk Grove

Boulevard's Bistro in Elk Grove CA, located on Elk Grove Blvd., is a gem of a restaurant. We went there last night to celebrate my Nana's birthday (grandmother), and we blown away by the food. From outstanding Shrimp Cakes to wonderful Creamy Polenta & Wild Mushrooms and an indulgent dessert list that included an airy light Creme Brulee. My favorite dessert though was the homemade Cheesecake with fresh berries.

We had a bottle of 2007 Narrowgate Viognier, a small vintner from El Dorado County. It was an apricot induced white versatile enough to handle a Wedge Salad (w/ bacon), the polenta and roasted pork tenderloin.

Net Net: Boulevards Bistro is an underrated restaurant that can stand up to any of the well known culinary greats found 100 miles west in San Francisco. I will come again and again and again.

Boulevard Bistro in Elk Grove

Boulevard's Bistro in Elk Grove CA, located on Elk Grove Blvd., is a gem of a restaurant. We went there last night to celebrate my Nana's birthday (grandmother), and we blown away by the food.

Serpentine - DogPatch is coming of age!

I had a work lunch today in San Francisco's newest micro-neighborhood, the Dogpatch.  It's the area east of Potrero Hill, situated along the newly revived 3rd street corridor.  Based on a colleagues suggestion we decided to check out a new restaurant from the Slow Club (Industrial Mission) creators called Serpentine. 

Anchor & Hope and some serious HEAT!

Another work dinner last night, this one at a new restaurant in San Francisco called Anchor & Hope.  It's from the same folks that opened & run the Salt House & Town Hall.  I love Town Hall but have been disappointed on both occasions that I've visited the Salt House.  To top things off, when I arrived at the restaurant at 6:30, in San Francisco I mind you, it was 92 degrees (according to my car). 

JiRaffe restaurant - Santa Monica

Last night we had a partner dinner in Santa Monica, at a nice French restaurant called JiRaffe.  Located on Santa Monica blvd and 5th street, its not as well known (nor expensive) as Melisse, located nearby, however the food and service were first class.  The wine list was far from extensive but it did offer plenty of gems, and in particular a notable by the glass section.