By Carol and Joe Davis - Dining Detectives
Le
Colonial (www.LeColonial.com)
is certainly the place to "see and be seen." Great tropical
setting and classic Southeast Asian/ French décor. Upstairs
at the bar, we loved the "Passion Martini" with Guava
Juice, Citrus Vodka and a Splash of Soda and their famous Mojito
with Cruzen Premium Light Rum. Downstairs in the dining room,
we enjoyed the beautiful presentation of the French/ Vietnamese
cuisine. New Executive Chef Kellie Nguyen-Brabant’s signature
dish Goi Hoa Chuoi, a fantastic crisp salad of Julienne of banana
blossoms, herbs, prawns, toasted peanuts, and spicy ginger vinaigrette,
was worth the trip. Also fantastic was the Bo Luc Lac, wok seared
beef tenderloin with watercress, red onions, baby heirloom tomatoes
and crispy julienne potatoes. Dessert is a must; try the Warm
Coconut Tapioca with Chilled Passionfruit & Papaya Bavarois
created by Pastry Chef David Chesarek. New to San Francisco and
quite a welcome addition is Chez Papa, a charming
French Bistrot on Potrero Hill. Quite the popular spot! Chez Papa
features superior French inspired Cuisine, fantastic presentation,
and fun bistro atmosphere. Executive Chef Ola Fendert, who was
previously at Remillards and Plouf, prepares fantastic cuisine,
and veteran owners Marc- Henri Sempere and Jocelyn Bulow know
how to please the discerning S.F. clientele.We loved the Seared
Day Boat Scallops with fava beans and pistou, Pastis Prawns with
herbes de Provence butter on a cherry basil tomato salad and Warm
Chocolate, Caramel soufflé cake with Crème Fraiche.
A weekend trip gave us the pleasure to enjoy Chez Felix in Carmel.
Great French Cuisine, especially the Escargot prepared and served
by husband and wife team Jean Louis et Madeline Tourel. Newly
open in the North Bay is Brasserie de la Mer (www.vineyardcreek.com)
adjacent to the new Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa in Santa Rosa. Executive Chef Liz Ozanich, protégé
of Philippe Boulet, prepares a variety of bountiful dishes, featuring
Sonoma locally grown ingredients, including great Liberty Duck
Leg Confit and Oven-Braised C.K. Leg of Lamb. Fleur de
Lyses (www.FleurdeLyssf.com)
reopened in San Francisco after almost a year’s absence
due to a fire. We peaked in to see the fabulous renovation and
look forward to an elegant dinner there soon. Chef/Owner Hubert
Keller know that his clientele has great expectations and we are
confident that they will again be pleased. We hear that The Vegetarian
Feast is fantastic. We also can’t help but mention Fifth
Floor with Chef Laurent Gras, who continues to get accolades for
fantastic contemporary French Cuisine. Trio Bistro has been open
on Lake Merritt in Oakland for many years and features delicious
French Cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere. For breakfast try La
Note in Berkeley. For Upscale French inspired Take –Out
Try Gregoire (www.gregoirerestaurant.com)
in North Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto.
Views
and Dining; what a combination in The Bay Area and we’ve
had superior experiences when the two come together. Restaurants
and their chefs have to "Kick it up a Notch" as diners
in the Bay Area are too savvy to let poor cuisine endure even
when a "great view" is involved. We had a wonderful
dining experience at Jordan’s Restaurant in
the Claremont Hotel & Spa, where we enjoyed the fabulous Bay
View from high in the Berkeley Hills. Executive Chef, Laurence
Jackson, has been there 5 years and serves some excellent cuisine,
including a delightful Asparagus Purée with Smoked Salmon
Soup, Sansho Pepper & Wasabi Crusted Tuna with Saba Noodles,
Grated Daikon & Ginger, New Zealand Sea bass with Black Rice,
Spicy Lemongrass and Coconut Emulsion Sauce, and for dessert a
Lemon Tartlette.
The
Valhalla Restaurant in Sausalito has reopened with flamboyant
Manager/ Partner Rick Jones. Right on the water, it has perhaps
the best view in all the Bay Area. We are glad to see this classic
location with new life, but look for changes here as well. You’ll
love the Heirloom Tomato Salad, Grilled Hoisin St. Louis Ribs
with Chive Oil and mashed potatoes, Pizza with wild mushrooms,
roasted garlic, leeks and baby arugula and the desserts by Pastry
Chef Paul Conte, which included an unbelievable Lemon Cheese Cake
and Butterscotch Crème Brulee.
The
Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant (www.BeachChalet.com)
on the Great Highway at the western edge of Golden Gate Park in
San Francisco has a spectacular view of The Pacific Ocean. The
new Chef Bradley Ogden’s protégé, Chef Jack
Mitchell, brings a wealth of experience from his previous employers The Lark Creek Inn and Yankee Pier.
We enjoyed one of Brewer Steve Ryan’s seasonal beers, the
Ocean Beach Oktoberfest, an amber well balanced offering. We look
forward to coming back for dinner and tasting the Pan-Roasted
Maine Lobster with Bourbon – Butter Sauce and Roasted Fennel,
Potato and Celery Root and the Beer Battered Fish & Chips.
We
can recommend just about everything that we tried at the Acme
Chophouse adjacent to Pac Bell Park. Keith Reese, the
General Manager, was as ever the consummate host telling us about
their socially conscious philosophy, which included the use of
fresh local ingredients and Grass Fed Beef when available. We
loved the Steak Tartare which was fresher than we’ve had,
the Braised Short Ribs where the meat fell off the bone, the Hanger/
Baseball Cut Steak and the Grass Fed New York Steak. Managing
Chef Traci Des Jardins and Chef de Cuisine Thom Fox pleased us
with the presentation and preparation. We are glad we saved room
for the Apricot Cheesecake and Butterscotch Pudding desserts prepared
by Pastry Chef Galen Chesarek.
The
legendary "Washbag" Washington Square
Bar & Grill was reopened by Guy & Rose Ferri to cheers
from the drinking class of San Francisco. Was that the Ghost of
Herb Caen we saw? Café Riggio (www.CafeRiggio.com)
on Geary & 5th Ave features classic Italian Cuisine with a
contemporary flair, compliments of the new Executive Chef Michael
Baker, formerly at The Waterfront. The neighborhood
atmosphere is quite charming and they can accommodate both large
and small parties. We loved the Maine Lobster Ravioli with Saffron
Butter Sauce and Santa Barbara Asparagus, the Saltimbocca alla
Romana; Escalopes of Veal Sautéed with Fresh Sage, Prosciutto
& Mozzarella and the Gamberoni con Aglio e Burro, Jumbo Prawns
sautéed with a light Brandy Garlic Butter and Lemon.
Tommaso’s
just off Broadway in San Francisco is a more casual place for
classic Italian Cuisine as well. We enjoyed a luncheon and found
out about their Wine Club (www.Tommasos.com)
which offers special dining and wine education events. Martin
Yan has a new restaurant Yan Can in Pleasant
Hill. Mimika & Gerry Georgopoulos have owned Tonelli’s
Dinner House on Hwy 29 in American Canyon on the way to Napa for
21 years. Try the tasty Prime Rib Dinner for Two ($29.95). We
had a big party there and they treated us like family. Always
fabulous is Bix featuring Bruce Hill as Executive Chef