southern girl

Because of the distances involved...I am a platinum flyer...love those perks...including the free Crown Room membership each year to go with the miles!

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I prefer Amex for the Flyer Miles...I give my family and friends tickets for Christmas as between cc and regular Delta miles I earn a load considering I fly at least one trip per week 35-43 weeks a year!

Yessss Deacon! I have been omakased beyond belief at Matsuhisa and Sushisay...(but I have to admit...as horrible as the final bills were...enough sake {read anesthesia} dulled the pain...and the meals were spectacular...but, those memories had faded when the monthly cc bill arrived!)

Figs

Blue Heron, Thank you for the clarification...I knew City Search was, to put it politely...more mainstream...I didn't know of Mamster's qualifications! I am still keeping my fingers crossed for a cancellation at the Herb Farm...but, if not...you are right...decisions, decisions, decisions!

So Mamster...what is the hee hee hee? Do you A) Not like the review B)Not like the style of the reviewer C) Completely Agree with the review D) None of the above. As a nonresident I don't have a clue (not that I'm saying I ever have a clue anyway!?!?!) and I am considering going to Matt's...so please 'splain.

Those are great wines...I understand your trepidation at opening your bottle of Screaming Eagle...that's why I thought you might want to try something that in the Valley has "buzz"(although grantedly relatively unknown), but is not stratospherically priced. The two wines I mentioned are more in the $100 range per bottle. Two other well known cult wines you might want to consider are Colgin and Vineyard 29.

oops double clicked

If you want to try 2 of the newer cult wines....Gemstone (100% cab.No tasting room, mailing list only and always sells out immediately...3rd vintage coming out this year) and CE2V 2000 Cab (not released yet and the tasting room allocation is sold out...2nd vintage... so you will have to bribe your local wine shop to hold them for you). They are both small production wines. CE2V is from the folks at Cosentino Winery...the grapes are from Pope Valley. At the Napa wine auction their barrell lot was the 3rd choice out of all lots...Gemstone is Napa grown and finished in the top 10 in the barrell auction. I drank both with the winemakers at a party over the 4th...both are incredibly smooth for their age already. And other winemakers there were saying how well they should age and what beautiful wines they were. I have seen the Gemstone on winelists in NYC at Aureole, Gotham B & G and Veritas. The CE2V I not seen on lists in NYC yet...I have presumed you are in NYC...?

Okay, now I'm curious about Matt's at the Market...I tried a Google search to find a menu...no luck...anyone have a link? I'd also be interested on more comments about experiences there. Thanks. Also, does one need a reservation to sit at the counter, or is it first come first served?

Along with all the other choices...Boulevard...if you check in the Napa Valley Novice thread I posted a review with menu included (also for Martini House and Bistro Jeanty...if you decide to head for the wine country).

Thank you for the great review. I am going for my first visit in a little over a week. I was already looking forward to the experience...after hearing about the duck and the foie dishes I can't wait!

When I dined at Martini House in Napa a couple of weeks ago I noticed they decant ALL their wines....I asked the sommelier who noted most of their wines on the list are young and they felt benefit from decanting...

Mamster, Unfortunately my daytime hours have to be spent at the golf course, unless we have a rain out...as for the location...I was told it was somewhere near Redmond...it is our first tourney at this site...so it is all new to me. I will know more tomorrow after I talk to the Tournament hq. Although I do love the fresh seafood I would prefer whatever you would consider the better overall "dining experience", including food, atmosphere and wine list...(believe it or not we get live dungeness here in Las Vegas, and I cook them at home relatively frequently). And as a side note I will be in Vancouver for 5 days the following week for the tournament there (and not to insult Seattle, but, I am sure I will consume a lot of seafood there as I have friends who live about 5 blocks from Granville!)...I love all types of food (Thai included) so don't be shy! I hope a little more info helps...and thanks in advance for the advice!

Looks like I will be coming to Seattle for the World Golf Championship at Sahalee...I will only be in town for 2 nights...one will be near the golf course...which I hear is way out in the suburbs...the questions are...1)Any good restaurants out that way...especially sushi? 2) If I get to spend the 2nd night in the city...where to stay...not too far from the airport as I have a 6:15 am flight out...but, would also like to be near good dining...last time I stayed at the Inn at the Market and 3) If I have only one dining experience in Seattle...where should it be? Thanks!

I admit to being lazy....large handfuls of fresh herbs....basil tarragon, chives , thyme an oregano tossed with fresh pasta and good olive oil or plugra with a grate of fresh parmeggiano.

Cabrales...you might want to try Trattoria Acqua or Sushi Rock...both in La Jolla. George's is still a great place to dine...and the view adds to the experience. You will really enjoy Aviara...it is a beautiful property and the spa is outstanding.

Aurora, I just returned from Napa...before I get into the dining experiences...as for Mondavi...I have never done their tour, just gone to the concerts in the vineyards....This was the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (outstanding as usual). The best thing about this event is you can bring your own wine (you do not have to drink Mondavi unless you want to). I was with vintner friends and we had many wonderful wines...no Mondavi. As for food... Martini House: Incredible. This was my first visit and definitely will not be the last. I was dining solo and the hostess made a point of saying we will give you the best table in the house...and followed through. I was seated in the upstairs dining room with full view of the room and kitchen. Everyone was intent that I would enjoy myself...and they thoroughly accomplished their mission. Here is the menu: Soup au pistou, summer vegetables and chicken boullion Baby Roasted Beet Salad Mache and beet vinaigrette White Crane Farms Summer Field Green Salad Fines Herbes Vinaigrette Local King Salmon Carpaccio Marinated Watermelon, Avocado Puree and Lemon Vinaigrette Tempura Fried soft Shell Crab Sorrell Puree, Frisee and sweet cherry tomato Salad Lobster bisque Toasted Croutons, Chervil and Tarragon ***Poached Maine Lobster Roasted Asparagus and Brown Butter Hollandaise....thinly sliced rounds of asparagus tossed in the Hollandaise with roasted asparagus spears laid over and lightly drizzled with more hollandaise...topped with a perfectly poached 1/2 lobster tail and 1 claw...excellent. ***Pan Roasted Veal Sweatbreads Summer truffle and leek vinagrette Sauteed thinly sliced leeks tossed in the truffle vinaigrette with large sweetbreads roasted ina veal jus...succulent and tender. Sauteed Foie Gras Fried Green Tomatoes, Green Tomato CHutney and Mizuna Salad Entrees ***Sauteed Squab Breast and leg confit Sweet Corn Ravioli, Tiny Corn and Truffle Sauce....Possibly the best (and plumpest squab I have ever had) A perfect medium rare and the truffle sauce was filled with bits of summer truffle. The rest of the dish was a bit odd...the raviolis were fried and bathed in what I can best describe as the white vegetable sauce from a chicken pot pie...wya to heavy and white for my tastes. And the baby corn (CHinese type) were an odd addition. Naturally raised Grillrd DOuble Cut Pork Chop Braised Garlic Sauce, Braised Porcinin Mushrooms and Polenta Cake California White Bass Braised cucmbers, sea beans, oyster mushrooms and lemon beurre blanc Seared Local King Salmon Haricot Vert Salad, Curry Veloute and Butter Poached Yellow Finn Potatoes Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut Sauteed Swiss Chard, Spring Onions and Sherry Vinaigrette Grilled Prime Beef Tenderloin Roasted Artichokes, Glazed New Carrots Sauce Brodelaise and Creamed Spinach Sauteed Mahi Mahi Almond Caper Crust and Ragout of Morels and Sweet Peas Dessert ***Almond Apricot Tart Buttermilk Panna Cotta and White Peach Sorbet I was not impressed by this one. The Panna Cotta was very nice But the white peach sorbet had an odd underlying note and the pastry creme on which the roasted apricots were placed was gooey and lumpy Cherry Clafouti Rainer and Bing Cherry Compote Teroldego Ice Cream Lime Parfait Tropical Salad and Mango Coulis Chocolate Napoleon Hazelnut Joconde, Caramel Mousse and Chocolate wafer Passion Fruit Brulee Pineapple confit and coconut tapioca Summer Berry Fricassee Creme Fraiche Ice Cream And the house sent over what they call "Trip to the Moon" 1 oz. pours of Chateau D'Yquem 1988; Von Buhl Trockenbeerenauslese 1998 and Royal Tokaji 'St. Tamas' 1993. I also went to Bistro Jeanty for a late lunch. The menu was the same as the one already posted. I enjoyed the Fried Smelt Special...real smelts lightly fried tossed with parsely and salt. Followed by Croutons be Foie Blond...Duck Foie Gras Pate with port poached pears...light and airy mousse pate on the croutons placed over half a poached pear. And then steak tartare with Pommes Fritte. Best Pomme Frite around and excellent, tender tartare. Unless you plan on dining on the bar menu during the off hours at Martini House...make a reservation. Jeanty serves the same menu all day and they serve at the 6 seat bar and a community table. Same scenario...make a reservation! In San Francisco a friend and I dined at Boulevard. My favorite in the Bay area. Menu follows: ***Crispy Maryland Soft Shell Crab Green Tomato, Cucumber and Jalapeno Confiture, Fire Roasted Green Tomato Aioli...We shared this while we perused the menu. Perfectly fried crab...still juicy and the aioli gave a nice smoky tomato flavor ***Maine Lobster & Lobster Claw Ravioli Fresh Morels, English Peas & Lobster Butter Sauce....Soft lobster stuffed pasta pillows with tossed in a mildly flavored butter sauce with touches of lobster roe, plump morels peas and (another) perfectly cooked lobster claw. ***Rabbit Loin with Proscuitto & Rack of Rabbit Lucedio Carnaroli Risotto with Wild Mushroom Jus, Shaved summer truffle...This dish was a bit on the salty side from the jus and the proscuitto, but, still perfectly meat and covered in sliced truffle oil Soup of the day Caviar Servie (1 oz) Potato Pancakes, Toast Point, Creme Fraiche California Sterling Osetra Spicy AHi Hand Roll & Char-Rare Ahi Tuna with Chili Crust Enoki Mushroom and Daikon Radish Salad, Wasabi Tobiko Sauce Sauteed Fresh hudson Valley Foie Gras Dark red plum Toast, Mariposa Plums & Pluots, Lemon Verbena, Opal Basil Chile Glazed Fried Fresh Calamari Vietnamese Salad of Green Papaya, Grapefruit, Radicchio Fragrant herb, Toasted Shallots, Peanuts and Garlic Roasted Fresh Porcini Mushrooms Fresh Sweet White Corn Crema, Roasted Dark Porcini and Chicken Jus Jumbo Sea of Cortez Scallop Lobster and Porcini Mushroom "Bolognese" with Potato Gnocchi Salads ***Bruleed Goat Cheese & Fig Marmalade Black Mission Figs, Arugula, Walnut Crouton Fraise Du Bois, Port Vinaigrette...Copious amount of arugula tossed with a mild port vinaigrette placed over the walnut crouton. A medium sized wedge of aged goat cheese sliced horizontally and stuffed with fig marmalade and then bruleed....mmmmm good...also 3 large halved fresh figs ***Heirloom Tomatoes with Frsh Mozzarella Basil, Garlic, Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil... simple, fresh and lots of wonderful tomatoes (almost as good as jersey tomatoes). Parmesan Squash Blossom Fritter Stuffed with Ricottta & Herbs Summer Truffle & Arugual Salad, Truffle Vinaigrette Butter Lettuce Salad with Fresh Hearts of Palm Shallot Champagne Vinaigrette with Tarragon Hearts of Romaine & Little Gem Lettuce Roquefort Cheese, Spicy Pecans Croutons Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing Assorted baby Beets, Roasted Rhubarb & Oranges Mixed Organic Lettuces, Shaved Artisinal Pecorino Cheese Mains ***Sherry Glazed Veal Loin & Sweetbread Summer Truffle Relish with Fava Beans, Parmesan and baby Zucchini, Gratinee of Yukon GOld Potato and Mushroom Jus. This was the best veal dish I have had in ages. The heady odor of truffle oil napped in the mushroom jus and the perfectly cooked veal loin and sweetbread. Many fresh favas...outstanding...the Gratinee was a bit disappointed as it was strangely sweet. ***Wood Oven Roasted Rack of Lamd Fondant Butterball Potatoes with morel mushrooms & Fresh English Peas Natural Lamb Jus & Mint Vinaigrette...3 Large med. rare chops...unbelievably tender...very simple and thoroughly enjoyable...especially since they were very generous with the morels! Pan Roasted Alaskan Halibut Tabbouleh Salad with Faro, Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Parsley Fresh vine ripened tomato vinaigrette Provencal Black Olive Oil Chilled Shrimp Salad with Watercress California White Sea Bass with Crabcake Crust Sauteed Savoy Spinach, Lemon Beurre Blanc, Tomato Caper Relish Grilled WIld King Salmon Sweet white corn & Spring Vegetables, Corn Nage, Asparagus & PEa Tendril Salad Chateaubriand for 2 Centercut Filet with Carmelized Onions & Beef Jus A Bundle of Jumbo Asparagus with BEarnaise Suace Pommes Frites Wood Oven Roasted Creekstone Farms Angus NY Strip Fingerling Potatoes Roasted with Herbs & Garlic Cloves in their Jackets Various GArden Beans with Golden Chanterelle Mushrooms Beef infused Mushrooms Wood Oven Roasted Organic CHicken Boneless & Stuffed with Artichokes Hearts & Porcini Mushrooms Crushed Yukno Gold Potatoes with Arugula, Roquefort cheese & Roasted Walnuts Frsh Porcini Mushroom Natural Jus. As for dessert we wimped out and had a trio of fresh sorbets...peach, rapsberry and coconut.... Wonderful meals and atmospheres...I'm hungry now...gotta head for the kitchen. hope these help. It looks like I will be going back in August so I'll give you another update then

Thanks Joe...and thanks for the update Aurora...unfortunately I will be working at the GMO...but, will try to have fun in the after hours! Could you tell me which you prefer between the Boulevard Inn and Pieces of Eight?

Rochelle, Best of luck...I have thoroughly enjoyed your amazingly detailed posts...looking forward to the next one!

Try Kool Beanz Cafe...very casual, popular with everyone from college kids to the Governor. The menu is eclectic and changes daily...and it is extremely reasonable (i.e. very cheap by big city standards). You might try a google search as they used to have a website with the menu.

Nesita...I implore you, don't skip Picholine...for restaurants owned by the same chef, they are incredibly different. I dined at both about three weeks ago...Artisinal...service...indifferent...cheese...lots of choices, but, most were not ripe. Perhaps thanks to the retail business and what I presume is a high cover count, they run through their cheese before some of it is ripe. As a sidenote: I have had cheese shipped to Las Vegas...not only was it not even close to being ripe enough to serve properly (after being so requested), it was also shipped overnight with nothing but packing peanuts (i.e. no icepacks)...think about cheese sitting outside on your doorstep in 112 degree heat, not a pretty picture! As for Picholine...please see my reply to Steve Klc under my query for restaurant suggestions in NYC...I wish I knew how to (or if it is possible) to pull it to this answer to save you the trouble. Anyway, Picholine and its food, service, demeanor and especially CHEESES are not to be missed!

I am off to Milwaukee next week for the Greater Milwaukee Open. In the last couple of years I have haunted Hama for sushi and Sanford's for dining...I would appreciate suggestions...especially restaurants near the tournament as I am staying about 5 mins. away. Thanks.

I vote John's version of "lemonade"...My Grandmother used to "prescribe" something similar...bourbon and honey heated (preferably a large portion)...drink it, wrap up in as many blankets as you could stand...and sweat out the cold...