foie gras mousse with onion confit paired with the 2005 Far Niente Dolce, on Far Niente's cabernet release day
a rhubarb napoleon--with strawberry ice cream, zinfandel sauce, homemade rhubarb jam, fried custard, and pickled rhubarbs at Farmhouse Inn in Forestville.
The Sky is Falling! (chocolate on chocolate) and Irish Car Bomb flavors of cupcakes at Sift Cupcakery in Napa.
the red macaroon with green tea mousse in the middle at Kaygetsu
Ahi with sambal aioli, caviar and garlic croutons at Elements in Napa (I just found out that Elements closed! Damn.)
everything we've had off the brunch menu at Redd in Napa: housemade pork steamed buns, shrimp and pork potstickers, buttermilk pancakes with apple compote and maple syrup, and the lobster club with avocado and bacon.
the fabulous homemade bread from Joy of Eating Cafe in Vallejo. It made long workdays in Vallejo almost bearable.
the seared foie gras on toasted brioche with roasted rhubarb and caramelized sauternes at Farmhouse Inn.
Senorita bread from Star Bread, a Filipino bakery in Vallejo. My dear co-workers introduced me to this gem, of which I'm forever grateful.
the pistachio "fistkili" baklava at Real Doner in Petaluma. Best baklava ever. And that's all I have to say about that slice o' heaven.
the so-simple-it-will-blow-your-mind appetizer on Bottega's summer menu: house-cured prosciutto with slivers of melons. I know, I know, the oldest Italian appie in the book, but this one was different: the perfect bite requires not only the prosciutto/melon bit but also a piece of the accompanying savory fritter and chilled melon soup.
fresh raw beef with a raw quail egg on top in a spicy yukke sauce at Gyoza King in Vancouver.
the bbq pork buns with bits of bacon in the filling at Kirin in Richmond, British Columbia--Steve described these as 'the best piece of dim sum I've ever had' which is a big deal in Steve land. I also thought the bbq pork buns we got somewhere on Clement street in SF after Bay to Breakers was pretty rad, especially reheated at 11 pm later that night.
the bbq pork buns with bits of bacon in the filling at Kirin in Richmond, British Columbia--Steve described these as 'the best piece of dim sum I've ever had' which is a big deal in Steve land. I also thought the bbq pork buns we got somewhere on Clement street in SF after Bay to Breakers was pretty rad, especially reheated at 11 pm later that night.
grilled squid legs with spicy mayonnaise at Guu in Vancouver
albacore tuna with tangerines and ponzu sauce at Shelter Restaurant in Tofino
a 'Green Room' smoothie: mint, pineapple, mango, coconut milk and greens at Jupiter Juicery in Tofino
warm chevre salad with bacon and caramelized onions at Shelter Restaurant in Tofino
polpo alla griglia (grilled octopus, made in a wood-burning oven) at Sardinia in Miami Beach. Wow is all I can say.
the perfectly-pressed Cuban sandwich at Havana Sol in Vallejo
smoked arctic char in elephant garlic soup with beurre noisette and hazelnuts (there must have been two pounds of butter in that creaminess but I did not care)--paired with Road 13's 2007 Jackpot chardonnay; served at the winemaker's dinner at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofinoalbacore tuna with tangerines and ponzu sauce at Shelter Restaurant in Tofino
a 'Green Room' smoothie: mint, pineapple, mango, coconut milk and greens at Jupiter Juicery in Tofino
warm chevre salad with bacon and caramelized onions at Shelter Restaurant in Tofino
polpo alla griglia (grilled octopus, made in a wood-burning oven) at Sardinia in Miami Beach. Wow is all I can say.
the perfectly-pressed Cuban sandwich at Havana Sol in Vallejo
sashimi salmon with garlic flakes at Guu in Vancouver
my oroshi japadog with daikon and soy sauce relish in Vancouver
scallop and red sea urchin mousse at Blue Water in Vancouver
still-hot-from-the-oven cranberry muffins made at Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino
the best damn 'cue meal from Smokehouse BBQ in Sebastopol: rack of ribs, cornbread with honey butter, strawberry lemonade.
the foie gras torchon with plums, cashews, and toasted crumpets at Cyrus
corn & black truffle risotto with taleggio cheese at Cyrus
the Cyrus BLT: pork belly with fried green tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, caramelized butter lettuce, and fried pancetta. Sweet Jesus. I can never again be satisfied by a regular ole BLT.
this is going to sound underwhelming but it so wasn't: chocolate cake. watermelon. all fancied up making me tongue-tied and unable to explain how incredible those bites were. The final course at Cyrus.
the TKOs (Thomas Keller Oreo) at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville. Washed down with a glass of cold milk, I can think of nothing better at the moment.
the pig-in-a-blanket at Weikel's Bakery in La Grange, Texas. It was all about the brioche bun blanket.
chicken-fried steak at Andy's in Fredericksburg, Texas. Steve ordered it and I was jealous that it was on his plate instead of mine.
a kolache from Weikel's Bakery in La Grange, Texas. If ever you're in a 100-mile radius of La Grange, do yourself a favor and get yourself a kolache. Good golly miss molly.
the brie mac 'n cheese at Nola's --in N'awlins.
the fried pork chunks at Felix's Place in Vero.
I am now starving. It looks like we're having a quiet night in with deviled eggs, toasted ravioli, and caramel popcorn. Bring it on.
scallop and red sea urchin mousse at Blue Water in Vancouver
still-hot-from-the-oven cranberry muffins made at Middle Beach Lodge in Tofino
the best damn 'cue meal from Smokehouse BBQ in Sebastopol: rack of ribs, cornbread with honey butter, strawberry lemonade.
the foie gras torchon with plums, cashews, and toasted crumpets at Cyrus
corn & black truffle risotto with taleggio cheese at Cyrus
the Cyrus BLT: pork belly with fried green tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, caramelized butter lettuce, and fried pancetta. Sweet Jesus. I can never again be satisfied by a regular ole BLT.
this is going to sound underwhelming but it so wasn't: chocolate cake. watermelon. all fancied up making me tongue-tied and unable to explain how incredible those bites were. The final course at Cyrus.
the TKOs (Thomas Keller Oreo) at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville. Washed down with a glass of cold milk, I can think of nothing better at the moment.
the pig-in-a-blanket at Weikel's Bakery in La Grange, Texas. It was all about the brioche bun blanket.
chicken-fried steak at Andy's in Fredericksburg, Texas. Steve ordered it and I was jealous that it was on his plate instead of mine.
a kolache from Weikel's Bakery in La Grange, Texas. If ever you're in a 100-mile radius of La Grange, do yourself a favor and get yourself a kolache. Good golly miss molly.
the brie mac 'n cheese at Nola's --in N'awlins.
the fried pork chunks at Felix's Place in Vero.
I am now starving. It looks like we're having a quiet night in with deviled eggs, toasted ravioli, and caramel popcorn. Bring it on.
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