Hyatt
Regency Eclipse Restaurant
Featured Alcatraz Prison Menu
Dining
Detectives
By Carol & Joe Davis
The
Eclipse Restaurant which is located in the Atrium of
the Hyatt Regency San Francisco is now offering an Alcatraz Prison
Commemorative Dinner Menu for ($28.00) which includes a starter,
entrée with side dishes and dessert. It is an interpretation
by Executive Chef Victor Litkewycz of a modern day version of
what might be served today if Alcatraz was still open using modern
cooking styles, locally sourced mostly organic ingredients and
modern presentation.
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The
new Alcatraz Prison Menu is the perfect complement to the Hyatt
Culture Club's "Alcatraz Life on The Rock"
Exhibit in the lobby near the restaurant which commemorates the
50th Anniversary of the 1963 closing of Alcatraz.
The
Free 3000 square foot exhibit includes an authentic replica of
a prison cell, fascinating history, information on infamous inmates
like Al Capone and the Birdman, as well as Life Magazine's Leigh
Wiener's "Last Day on Alcatraz" pictorial display. We
were fascinated by the exhibit and learned that Alcatraz was known
for the best prison food in the U.S.
Wardens
Johnson and Madigan promoted quality and freshness, as they felt
that most trouble in prison was caused by bad food. Former Inmate
William Baker thought the meals tasted home cooked and that they
were excellent.
After
viewing the exhibit, we started out in the comfortable lounge
and enjoyed a Grey Goose on the rocks and a Kettle One Cosmopolitan
from their full bar. We then went into the adjacent dining room
to taste the "Prison" Cuisine. The new Alcatraz Prison
Menu has a number of choices and since we were with a larger party
we were able to taste most of what was offered. We enjoyed Talbot
Pinot Noir from their extensive wine list with our dinner. We
knew we were going to be pleased when we tried the Mulligatawny
Soup. It was spicy, like we like it and just delicious! Our next
course was the Beet and Onion Salad which was beautiful, fresh
and tasty. The entrees were all true "Comfort Food"
and we could see why the prisoners were not complaining. We really
enjoyed the Stuffed Cabbage with Meat tomato sauce , the Boiled
Short Ribs with Horseradish sauce which melted in your mouth,
the Baked Meat Loaf with Pan Gravy and the prisoners
favorite Spaghetti Italienne. The sides were all terrific and
included Summer Squash Sauté, Fresh Green Beans, Baked
Macaroni and Mashed Potatoes which were especially fabulous! We
ordered espressos and enjoyed the Bread Pudding and Layer Cake
Desserts which was the perfect finish to great dinner!
History
is fascinating and this is a great opportunity to experience "Alcatraz
Life on The Rock" which can be viewed for free through October
25, 2013 in the Atrium Lobby. To complete the Alcatraz experience,
be sure to enjoy the reasonably priced "comfort food"
Dinner from the Alcatraz Prison Cuisine, which was perfectly executed
by Executive Chef Victor Litkewycz in the Eclipse
Restaurant. We felt like we were welcomed tourists at
the Hyatt Regency San Francisco and are looking forward returning
soon for cocktail and dinner and to visiting Alcatraz http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/
in the coming weeks to learn more about its fascinating history.
Eclipse
Restaurant and Lounge
Five Embarcadero Center
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94111
415-788-1234
San
Francisco Regency