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| TOQUE
OF SAN FRANCISCO |
By
Carol and Joe Davis - Dining Detectives |
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Summer 2007
We've
really been enjoying the warm weather this summer! It has been
perfect for outdoor dining which has included leisurely lunches
and dinners all around the San Francisco Bay from Rutherford
to San Francisco, and Oakland to Redwood City.
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Auberge
du Soleil
We recently had a perfect lunch in the Napa Valley
at Auberge du Soleil. We were seated outdoors at a terrace table
with a panoramic view at this truly wonderful world class Napa
Valley Wine Country culinary destination. With over 35 wines
by the glass to choose from and Executive Chef Robert Curry's
California cuisine with Mediterranean influences, it's a food
and wine lovers dream come true. We started out with a refreshing
glass of the Auberge du Soleil Sparkling Wine as we perused
the menu and enjoyed the view. Our first course was a delicious
appetizer which consisted of Asparagus, ruby grapefruit, arugula,
fennel and ricotta. The entrees we enjoyed were the Day Boat
Scallops served with braised celery, ruby grapefruit, rye croutons,
lemon sauce and the over the top... melt in your mouth Short
Rib "Sandwich" with horseradish, shallot marmalade
and fingerling potatoes. Dessert is an art that is taken as
seriously as the cuisine. We loved the Verjus Roasted Apricots,
lemon brioche, pistachio frangipane with noyau ice cream.
Superior
service, excellent cuisine with lovely presentation and a spectacular
view makes Auberge du Soleil a must for dining. The location
on the Silverado Trail makes it a perfect destination while
wine tasting. In fact, we also stopped nearby at a favorite
boutique winery Wm. Harrison www.whwines.com where we tasted
and purchased their fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon.
Auberge
du Soleil
180 Rutherford Hill Rd
Rutherford, Ca.
Reservations 800-348-5406 or 707-967-3111
Open Daily for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Bar with Bar menu 11:00 AM- 11:00 PM
www.aubergedusoleil.com
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Kuleto's
Italian Restaurant
There are few dining experiences more San Franciscan
then dining at Kuleto's just off Union Square. The décor
is upscale and the service is friendly yet crisp. We had a chance
to meet Executive Chef Robert Helstrom who opened the restaurant
twenty years ago. He is so happy to return after working on
other projects for the past five years. He loved being able
to hear first hand from people like us how we enjoyed our dining
experience. We sat at a lovely table and started out by ordering
San Benedetto Italian Sparkling Water and some wine. Our starters
were delicious. We loved the Fresh Baked Breads and the breadsticks
which accompanied the Salami Mista which are House Cured Meats.
We also enjoyed the Carpaccio di Tonno which was tasty thinly
sliced Ahi tuna with horseradish aioli and Sausalito Springs
watercress. Our favorite entrée was the Piccata di Vitello
which is Veal Scaloppini with capers, garlic, spinach, lemon
and white wine. A house signature that we liked was the Agnolotti
di Salmone Affumicato which is smoked salmon filled pasta pillows
with asparagus and lemon cream. We also enjoyed the Tagliata
alla Griglia which is Grilled Creekstone Hanger Steak with curly
spinach, fingerling potatoes and anchovy vinaigrette. Save room
for dessert as the Tiramisu-espresso rum soaked ladyfingers
layered with Mascarpone and a double Espresso will complete
this truly San Franciscan dining experience.
Kuleto's
Italian Restaurant
221 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA. 94102
415-397-7720
www.Kuletos.com
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B
Restaurant
Historic Old Oakland continues to become a great
downtown Oakland dining destination. B is the latest example
of why you must go there. Chef Saman Javid is creating some
excellent California Cuisine using local seasonal ingredients
that are fresh from the Old Oakland Farmer's market, as well
as from other upscale and organic providers. We started out
with Oysters on the half shell. We enjoyed both the Hama Hama
which is a larger very tasty Washington State Oyster and the
Beau Soleil Prince Edward Island which were fresh, light and
sweeter. You must try the Klein Family Farms Grilled Asparagus
with red Belgian endive, frisse, manchego and gribiche. We loved
this appetizer and would return just to have it alone. The entrees
that we enjoyed were the Skate Wing with Bloomsdale Spinach,
Niman Ranch bacon, sweet potatoes puree and brown butter Hollandaise
and the Coca Cola Braised Short Ribs with spring peas and red
onions. Don't even think about not getting a side of the Truffled
Fries made in white truffle oil with herbs and sea salt. They
were the Best fries we've ever tasted...truly in a league of
their own! They were so delicious and unique, accompanied by
Garlic aioli and tangy catsup. Dessert is also a must as the
Scented Strawberry Shortcake with mint, sherry and hand-whipped
cream was outstanding. B has delicious cuisine, a hip downtown
Old Oakland location, stylish interior, and right sized portions
that are right priced. We'll be back very soon.
B
Restaurant
499 Ninth Street
(Historic Old Oakland)
Oakland, Ca. 94607
510-251-8770
www.b-oakland.com
Open for lunch and dinner — Reservations Recommended
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Nectar
Wine Lounge & Restaurant
Burlingame continues to grow as a Dining destination.
We enjoyed a lovely lunch at Nectar which is a chic comfortable
Restaurant and Wine Bar. You can have Wines by the Flight, Glass
or bottle and you can also buy wine to go. We enjoyed the 2004
Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Special Cuvee Napa, CA. which was
big and bold and the 2006 Wild Rock Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough,
NZ. known as "The Infamous Goose" which was fruity
and light. We enjoyed it so much that we bought four bottles
of "The Infamous Goose" on our way out. We started
our lunch with the velvety Potato and Green Garlic Soup with
crisp parmesan crouton and olive oil. The Smoked Salmon served
with warm potato cakes and caper vinaigrette tossed frisee was
also delicious. The hearty portion of Steak Frites was very
tender. This Grilled hangar steak was topped with herb salsa
verde, a side of crisp frites and fronds of fresh Sausalito
watercress. We saved room for dessert which was called Chocolate
Milk and cookies. It was a Silky smooth milk chocolate Panna
Cotta served with a trio of house-made cookies. It was subtle
and not too sweet...just fabulous! We had Espresso which was
the perfect finish to Executive Chef Jason R. Moniz's global
inspired small plates menu. Nectar is a great place to enjoy
wines and great cuisine.
Nectar
Wine Lounge & Restaurant
270 Lorton Avenue
Burlingame, Ca 94010
650-558-9200
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Mandaloun
It was another lovely summer afternoon when we
took a drive to Redwood City. We hadn't been there in quite
some time and found it to be thriving. There were new specialty
stores and new restaurants. Mandaloun with its lovely décor
and Executive Chef David Mann's California Style Mediterranean
cuisine have really enhanced the downtown dining scene. The
weather was so nice that we opted to sit on their spacious patio.
We enjoyed the flowers and the fountain and felt like we were
on vacation! We started our dining experience with a new favorite
wine. The 2006 Ferrari Carano Sonoma Fume Blanc was refreshing
and paired perfectly with our lunch. Each glass of wine was
served in an individual carafe, allowing the wine to breathe
and providing us the ability to control our pour which we really
liked! The appetizers and small plates were all quite fresh
and tasty. We enjoyed the Little Moroccan Cigars Phyllo stuffed
with chicken and Crispy Flatbread Zattar and roasted garlic
hummus. We also loved the Wood Baked Polenta and Bolognese as
well as the Lamb Skewers, wrapped lavosh, watercress, roasted
pepper cream cheese and charmoula. The Chicken Skewer, paprika,
cumin, lemon, mint and yogurt was tasty too. Dessert was lovely,
a Frog Hollow Farms Peach, local berries, Semifredo and Zabaglione.
Mandaloun is a great place to enjoy wine and Mediterranean cuisine.
Mandaloun
2021 Broadway Street
Redwood City, Ca. 94063
650-367-7974
www.mandaloun.biz
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