when I grow up can I have your life? this is really a lot of eating at fine restaurants! I see where you get your title. (But Elizabeth hates when her name is spelled incorrectly. It's Falkner.)
Oooo...that's a tough one. At a lot of them (Fish., Coco500...), we didn't get dessert because we were either too full or knew we had more coming later that day.
I love Delfina's desserts, but that's my girl, so it's a no brainer. Their buttermilk panna cotta is really unparralelled, and when they have a crostata rustica, it makes me remember why I like pastry.
Of course, the desserts at Chez Panisse were extraordinary as well. I had the strawberry sherbet with gingersnaps and the best way to describe it is that it tasted like summer. I managed to dig my fork into the other desserts at the table too, and they were all delicious.
I guess the thing about both of these places is that the desserts have pure, simple flavors. Of course, I also like unusual desserts like those at Slanted Door, but I didn't actually eat there last week. If I had, they'd be on this list, too. Mutsumi, the pastry chef there, is a genious.
Now I want dessert for breakfast!
8/19/2005 6:36 AM
Anonymous said...
And the reason you would need a program is what?
... ... ...
I liken this to the Kevin Bacon 12 Degrees of Separation thang. Except in this case, it's, like, everyone in the Bay Area Restaurant Sphere has, say 4 degrees of separation from the Restaurant Whore.
Nice work, if you can get it.
Oh, and I meant to tell you -- you've got LOTS of class. The thank you note? And sending over dessert? Bravo. More people should take a clue from you two.
And one last thing (I promise): I heart G. Ramsay. I know he's a prick. But gosh, I do have a sweet spot for bad boy chefs.
We've established that I have a problem. Sometimes, however, that problem smacks you square in the face.
Here is the evidence; important bits are in bold:
Wednesday, August 10th: In the afternoon, I meet some lovely ladies I know for a glass of wine and bites at Cesar. We are waited on by Kate, who I know because she works at The Slanted Door. Then onto rehearsal that evening for my show, where I find out that my fellow actor, Scott, bartends at both Cesar and Coco500 (whose bar was designed by Thad, our pal at The Slanted Door).
Thursday, August 11th (actual anniversary): Dinner at Delfina, where we see all my favorite people in the culinary world.
Friday, August 12th (observed anniversary): Lunch at Fish. in Sausalito. Dinner at Cyrus, where we meet all kinds of great staff, including super cutie sommelier Jason Alexander (no relation to George Costanza). We also recall that when Chef Doug Keane was at Market, he told us his graham cracker recipe came from Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake.
Saturday, August 13th: Stop by Cyrus with a thank you note (full story to come). Lunch at Barndiva in Healdsburg, Dinner at Taiwan on Clement Street.
Sunday, August 14th: Time for a restaurant breather as today is the food blogger's picnic (see post below).
Monday, August 15th (payday -- woo hoo!): Decide to check out Coco500 and pay Scott a visit. We sit at the bar. Gordon Ramsay is behind us in the dining room. Elizabeth Falkner is at the other end of bar. I say, "hey, we dig your restaurant, we know Bruce (their chef until recently, who we knew when he was the lunch chef at the Slow Club and we worked next door)." She says, "Thanks, come in now that he's gone, too." As we tuck into our squid with black rice, a voice from behind says "Thank you for your nice note." I turn around and almost pass out. It's Jason Alexander, my boyfriend from Cyrus. We send him some dessert.
Tuesday, August 16th: Boss takes a bunch of us to Chez Panisse for lunch as a thank you (nice, right?). After stuffing myself fuller than I have any right to, we head outside. Who walks out of Cesar to grab some boxes of oranges? Scott.
I am living in the incestuous twilight zone of dining. Somebody please stop me before I hurt myself.
xoxo Joy
"To eat is a necessity. To eat intelligently is an art." --La Rochefoucauld
"I Am Two Bites Away From Needing a Twelve Step Program"
11 Comments -
when I grow up can I have your life? this is really a lot of eating at fine restaurants! I see where you get your title.
(But Elizabeth hates when her name is spelled incorrectly. It's Falkner.)
8/16/2005 8:22 PM
Shuna,
Thank you so much -- I'll fix it right now:)...
8/16/2005 8:41 PM
I'm sorry I fail to see the problem. :-)
8/17/2005 8:08 AM
Oh, Jeanne, I knew I liked you!
8/17/2005 8:14 AM
*sigh* I'm living vicariously through you. That is one mouth-watering line up.
8/17/2005 9:12 AM
hey, out of all those restaurant meals, which place had the best desserts and why?
8/18/2005 11:42 PM
Oooo...that's a tough one. At a lot of them (Fish., Coco500...), we didn't get dessert because we were either too full or knew we had more coming later that day.
I love Delfina's desserts, but that's my girl, so it's a no brainer. Their buttermilk panna cotta is really unparralelled, and when they have a crostata rustica, it makes me remember why I like pastry.
Of course, the desserts at Chez Panisse were extraordinary as well. I had the strawberry sherbet with gingersnaps and the best way to describe it is that it tasted like summer. I managed to dig my fork into the other desserts at the table too, and they were all delicious.
I guess the thing about both of these places is that the desserts have pure, simple flavors. Of course, I also like unusual desserts like those at Slanted Door, but I didn't actually eat there last week. If I had, they'd be on this list, too. Mutsumi, the pastry chef there, is a genious.
Now I want dessert for breakfast!
8/19/2005 6:36 AM
And the reason you would need a program is what?
...
...
...
I liken this to the Kevin Bacon 12 Degrees of Separation thang. Except in this case, it's, like, everyone in the Bay Area Restaurant Sphere has, say 4 degrees of separation from the Restaurant Whore.
Nice work, if you can get it.
Oh, and I meant to tell you -- you've got LOTS of class. The thank you note? And sending over dessert? Bravo. More people should take a clue from you two.
And one last thing (I promise): I heart G. Ramsay. I know he's a prick. But gosh, I do have a sweet spot for bad boy chefs.
8/20/2005 11:41 AM
Fatemah, you are the sweetest. Remind me to call you the next time I have a spell of self loathing...hahahahaha.
8/20/2005 3:21 PM
just found this site..
hilarious!
when i come out to cali i'm asking you where to go...
consult mine if you're thinking about coming to the big apple.
8/21/2005 2:26 PM
darling - will you send ME dessert too?
8/22/2005 3:58 PM