Gastronome

anne, David and one of anne’s coworkers and I went wine tasting in Sonoma on Saturday. We were lucky to find a corner at the bar at Dry Creek Kitchen where the four of us could sit comfortably. We quickly voted to have the tasting menu (and three of us the matched wine pairing) — Luckily, that didn’t apply to the entire bar!

It was pretty amazing. Dry Creek Kitchen, in Healdsburg, is one of Charlie Palmer’s restaurants. We had eaten there before, and also at Aureole.

Here are pictures of the tasting menu.

P picked First Crush for Friday’s date night. Partly for the huge wine list and partly because it’s two blocks from work.
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P took me to Chenery Park to help ease the pain of a bad day. Once again, the amazing service and delicious dinner has me desperate to go back as soon as possible.
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Katana-ya Ramen
10546 San Pablo Ave (at Moeser Lane), El Cerrito

It’s hard to add anything to what Dan Leone has to say in the link above, but I’d like to throw in my own glowing recommendation for this little Japanese restaurant in an El Cerrito strip mall. I had one of the ramen combos (ramen + gyoza + salad + pickled vegetables + drink, $8) after church on Sunday, and everything was yummilicious. The menu has literally more than a hundred items and combos to choose from, everything from sushi to noodles to teriyaki. It’s not fancy, but the prices are definitely right. By the way, many treasures can be found in El Cerrito strip malls, but more on that later.

Fonda
1501 Solano Ave (at Curtis St), Albany

I actually wrote a little blurb about Fonda a couple years ago on Astrarium, and I figured I was long overdue for a trip back, especially as it seems to have survived quite nicely in a time when many restaurants are closing left and right. I arrived in the middle of the dinner rush on a very-warm evening, and boisterous patrons were spilling out onto the patios out front. I chose a place at the bar and ordered the grilled skirt steak. It arrived perfectly arranged on a bed of cactus and avocado salad and the tiniest cherry tomatos ever with the plate studded with mild cheese. Delicious! There was enough to generously fill 3 warm corn tortillas, and I especially liked the twist of lime flavor.

Wow. Just wow.

Lorca is just such a fantastic restaurant with their regular tasting menu, and I had a feeling their special evenings would be amazing, and having one that was inspired by the works of Salvador Dali definitely promised to be an amazing experience, and I have to say, they exceeded my expectations.
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Miss Millie’s Creative American Cuisine is a wonderful Noe neighborhood secret tucked away at the top of 24th street (between Castro and Diamond). Better known for their breakfast and brunch faire, we discovered this evening that Miss Millie’s also boasts a fantastically well rounded dinner menu: about 10 creative salads and over a dozen delicious entrees (some veggie-friendly!), with a tasty looking wine menu and lots of non-alcoholic alternatives. Homemade breads and biscuits were trotted out to start. For my entree I tucked into a dreamy plate of garlicky Linguine and Manila Clams while Tad sampled a beautiful heirloom tomato salad, followed by the ultimate comfort food: a homey plate of mac and cheese. We were too stuffed for dessert (although everything off the dessert menu sounded incredible). The decor was homey and tasteful, but classy: all in all one of the nicest meals I have had in a long time - and at $38 total it was a great bargain! I think we found a new family haunt.

PS - Three words: Fresh raspberry lemonade. Three more: Minty Meyer lemonade. Yum!

Carrara’s Cafe
2735 Broadway (at 27th St), Oakland

I made a deal with myself: if all the culture I’m doing now is free, I can afford one inexpensive meal out each weekend. And I’m keen on seeking out all the nifty places the East Bay has to offer. I think I hit bullseye with Carrara’s this morning.

I had one of their benedicts: poached egg, slice of heirloom tomato, HUGE chunk of mozzarella, herb scone, hollandaise sauce on top. It made me do the happy counter dance. Beautifully herbed Yukon gold potato chunks on the side with NO ONIONS topped with a dab of sour cream, also a smattering of fruit. Pure bliss.

For some reason, it’s in a car dealership.

I have, it seems, a weakness for baklava and other sticky-sweet middle eastern desserts. Preferably shared with a friend, with strong hot tea to accompany.

Gyro King (25 Grove, at Larkin) is a good cheap middle eastern cafe by Civic Center. No points for decor, but the food is fresh and tasty and the entire menu is under 10$. The men (and one woman) behind the counter are laid back but very friendly in their service, and they have a great selection of little filo- and semolina-based desserts. The tea comes hot and perfectly brewed and is served in little glass cups. It’s the sort of place where the tv is always playing in a language I don’t speak, and older men come to chat and sit and drink tea and eat sweets.

So. The challenge. I’ve flirted with these desserts long enough — it’s really time I got to know them..
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It was everything that the reviews and meriko said it would be. One of the best meals of my life, for the mind-boggling low price of $32. This is definitely going to be a monthly indulgence for me.
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