The Providores

Went to this great place while in London a couple weeks ago called The Providores. It's a New Zealand restaurant specializing in fish. I went with my Dell client who hails from New Zealand and was planning to see the All Blacks play England the next day... so he was in a patriotic mood. I especially liked the tuna appetizer. The food scene in London sure has really changed for the better over the past twenty years.

Silverman's

This has been a busy week so my post is actually from last Sunday night. We had dinner at our friends, the Silverman's, home. It was an amazingly clear night and we enjoyed a Matanzas Creek chardonnay on their deck... which has astonishing sunset views from the city across the bay to Mt. Tam. Victoria made her famous creole shrimp with Louisiana hot sauce and homemade ice cream with fresh fruit. Lots of laughs accompanied by great food and wine is the ideal way to end a weekend!

Anchor & Hope

The girls wanted to come into the city Friday night for dinner. It was a beautiful evening so I walked down to meet them at the ferry. We then walked along Market street and eventually went to Anchor & Hope for dinner. It's a place I go to for lunch fairly frequently. They recognize me but don't yet know my name... It has a cool vibe and good seafood. I must say that it seems like the same menu and same portion size as lunch but for more money. That said the appetizers are what I like most. We had the calamari with a spicy honey sauce and oysters wrapped in bacon. Mmmmmm.

Boulevard

Annika had another game yesterday... which has nothing to do with our dinner at Boulevard but it gives me an excuse to throw up a photo of her in action. Dinner was with the Caplan's who were in Sonoma for a wedding. They live in Ridgewood New Jersey now and were commenting that half the stores seem to have closed in the past few months. Anyway, they wanted to go somewhere special so I chose Boulevard. We had a wonderful time and the food was, once again, excellent. I had the heirloom tomato salad, rack of lamb and one bon bon. The rack of lamb was perfectly cooked and made me feel like it really is Fall here.

Ravenous

Annika had a game at Ukiah yesterday. A long ride after lots of travel. Ukiah is about 45 miles north of Healdsburg. On our way home we stopped to see an old friend of Carol's, Bill Rosensweig, who she had helped publish and market a book about his company, The Republic of Tea. He suggested we head over to a locals place called Revenous. It's in a charming old house just off the square. Aside from service that was pretty slow and inattentive the food was great. I especially liked the crab cake. It was crunchy and had a sauce with a hint of curry. The portions were huge... so I have nothing to report on their dessert.

Frantoio

At cooking school, last weekend, one of the other students recommended to Carol an Italian place in Mill Valley called Frantoio. I must say that because the restaurant is attached to a Holiday Inn I was more than a little skeptical. Cool place though. They make there own olive oil there in a giant press which gives some justification for the cavernous feeling. I ordered the rigatoni with lamb sauce but our waiter said that the rabbit ragout was outstanding so I switched. He was right. Annika was home with two other girls for a sleep-over so I was relieved to find the house in one piece when we returned.

Noto

Annika had a game in Windsor today. A 5-1 victory in which she scored a goal by the way! Carol was a cooking school so I ventured, by myself, into the town for a coffee during warm-ups. I found a cool place called Noto... that sits across from the village green. Nothing like good cap and a paper before the big game. Annika played the best game of her life yet and I was very well caffeinated for it!!

Fish.

Annika had a baby sitting gig next door last night so we decided to head for a restaurant that sits directly across the bay from us. On the harbor in Sausalito, Fish. is quite a different experience. First, you stand in a line (which last night was about 30 minutes). You then order your food, pay with cash and get a number. Drinks, silverware and the like you take out side with you and search for an open bench or picnic table. Fortunately Carol was able to score a bench before we got to the front of the line. We had a crab dip with homemade potato chips that was really good. I had grilled marinated tuna over pasta that was fresh and surprisingly light. At Fish. they make quite a big deal about sustainability which adds authenticity to a place dripping with it. Last night was a perfect evening... about 70 degrees at sunset.

The Fish Hopper

We went to the Monterey Aquarium and spent a spectacular couple of hours. We didn't see the new White Shark who is apparently still quite shy. We did see lots of other incredible things. Afterward we did the touristy thing and went to The Fish Hopper which is along Cannery Row. I normally wouldn't mention a place like this here but I had an amazing grilled fish platter caught all in Monterey Bay. The sardines were the highlight.

Olita

We went to Santa Cruz for a walk along the boardwalk and some dinner. I was searching for cool place to go an found a recommendation for Olita in an article about Santa Cruz being one of the best places to live. The restaurant is most of the way out on the pier and has amazing views. Our waiter recommended the prawn and crab enchiladas insisting that he would not steer us wrong. He didn't. My margarita's weren't too bad either.

Apple Box

Annika had a game against Petaluma this morning and we dropped her with time to find a place for breakfast. Right on the river is a place called Apple Box. We had a latte and split a breakfast burrito. We sat by the river and saw a bike club assemble and leave for a ride. That whole river area looks like it's probably fun on a Saturday night.

Drazil Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza "FAF"

After a mountain bike ride up around Alpine Lake Carol and I were putting our bikes back on the car and a guy came over an asked us if we liked coffee. He was selling coffee he has roasted that morning. He was very excited by the beans he had just gotten from "FAF", a coffee plantation in Brazil. We bought a bag and waited a day as he instructed. Freshly ground and put through the drip maker the coffee has a naturally sweet aroma. The taste medium and very smooth without even a hint of bitterness. It's both nutty and sweet. I have no idea how to get more of it. We always park there but I have never seen the guy before.

Station House Cafe

Carol and I dragged Annika out to Bear Valley for a ride/hike to Arch Rock. The fog would come and go making the temperature swing all over the map. Afterward we went into Pt. Reyes Station and had lunch on the back patio of the Station House Cafe. Our waitress looked just like the Asian girl from Grey's Anatomy (though she doesn't think so). Our food was good and hearty. I especially liked the fried oysters from nearby Drake's Bay. 

Tahoe House

If you are ever in need of coffee and a bite and you are near Tahoe City I absolutely love Tahoe House. It's a specialty foods grocery that does all its baking on premises. My best breakfast there is to get the house smoked salmon. Fresh cream cheese and bagels made that morning. If you happen to have a heirloom tomato from the Farmer's Market... so much the better. Annika loves the pastries. Fresh fruit, sugar and dough baked into gooey goodness (in any combination) is hard to beat.

Gar Woods

OK, I've been initiated into the Wet Woody fan club. Along with a Southside on the porch at Shinnecock or a Mt. Gay and Tonic on the Brockleman's boat on Lake Waccabuc... The Wet Woody is now one of my favorite summer drinks. Tasty and dangerous. Gar Woods is a fun restaurant sitting on an incredible spot. It's also a boat and I now want a Baby Gar Wood... which would make our dinner really expensive in the long run.

Bridgetender

On out first night in Tahoe we went back to the Bridgetender. The food is fine but what I love is the atmosphere and the crowd. It's a great place for a burger and a beer. I only wish I still had my Harley to drive up on.

La Terrasse

This place was recommended to us by Lloyd Silverman. It has a lovely view of the bay. When we were there for dinner there was a sailboat race going on. The food is simple and delicious, the  place cozy and intimate. You are in San Francisco but you feel miles away. Annika brought a friend and they both had pizza which they loved. Carol especially liked her mushroom soup.

The Pasta Bowl

I took a group from the agency to the 3rd Annual 49er Foundation Pasta Bowl. It was at the Santa Clara Convention Center. We had two rookie linebackers at our table (great guys) who were there to help me serve dinner to the table. It was a very nice night for a really good cause. Every time I hear Mike Singletary speak I want to work even harder and do even more!

Marin Farmer's Market

When I first came to SF I would got to the Farmer's Market at the Ferry terminal on Saturday. I love locally grown food that is organic and really fresh. Really fresh, as in picked within 24 hours or so. Since moving to Tiburon we have found the Farmer's Market by the Civic Center in San Rafael. We go virtually every Sunday morning and hunt for what's in season and really fresh. Carol has made quite a few meals where the perfect ingredient came before the recipe. I tend to make a breakfast of the free samples. I also always get a tamale on the way out. The only other constant is that Carol always buys some flowers for the week ahead. The whole place has a wonderful vibe and energy.

Left Bank

While searching for a parking place on a recent trip to Picco I spotted Left Bank. We decided to give it a try. We sat outside on a beautiful night after a day at the beach. With the exception of a martini, I went for the classic French Bistro fare: oysters (only four to an order) and the steak frites. Both were really good. The steak was tender and moist and the fries were nice and crispy. There is a great big fireplace in the dining room that we will go back for in the winter.

SF Giants Food

Took Carol and Annika to the Giants game today. Beautiful sunshine and a Giants win. Seemed like it was nearly a full house. All the food is pretty basic at the park but the Garlic Fries are something else. Loaded with fresh garlic and sprinkled with parsley they have a sharp flavor. On the heart health scale I wonder if the garlic offsets the frying of the potatoes?

Quince

I took clients to Quince last night. It's the second time I've been there and everything I have had is really special. That said, their pasta steals the show. Last night I had Angolotti dal plin which is traditional Piedmontese filled pasta. It had a light sage butter sauce. I became a fan of any raviolli with a sage butter sause when I used to go to Lupa in New York. The next time I go to Quince I plan to ask if all my four courses, including dessert, can be a pasta dish.