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TOQUE OF SAN FRANCISCO


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

Other Great Toques by the Writers:
Years End
Where to Dine in this Great City
More Where to Dine in San Francisco
Dining Dectives
It has been a “better” year...for the San Francisco Dining Scene.
Le Colonial is certainly the place to "see and be seen.
San Francisco Grand Opening Gala The Onmi Hotel
The Dynamic San Francisco Bay Area Restaurant Scene

Until we eat again…
Joe@DiningDetectives.com
Carol@DiningDetectives.com

See our reviews on the web….
www.DiningDetectives.com

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