I Just Couldn't Wait

I've passed this cozy little neighborhood bistro on several walks from the Noe N Judah stop to the Castro. Every time I peered inside the windows, be it on a chilly evening illuminated by their candlelight, or a warmer afternoon, I kept telling myself, "I need to try this place." It's just. so. cute.

We had a reservation for 7:30 p.m. this Thursday but today at 3:00 p.m. I decided that I had to go today. Because as everyone that knows me knows, I am impatient and when I want something, I generally like it then and there. Luckily, getting in wasn't a problem on a random Wednesday night, but upon arrival, I was shocked to see the restaurant was absolutely packed (bar too!) For a neighborhood French bistro tucked away in a residential neighborhood, I was pretty impressed. And then I thought, damn, of course I forget to bring my camera to one of the cutest restaurants I've been to in a while. At the end of the meal, my thoughts were, "Damn, of course I forget to bring my camera to one of the most delicious meals I've had in a while!" The lighting was perfect too. Ack. These things always happen. I always miss camera-worthy moments somehow. I never had any prom pictures--my film got lost.

Alas, it wasn't prom and I can go back. Many, many times. We went big. Kir Royale, wine, tuna tartare and the almond-crusted barramundi (for me) and filet mignon (Matt). Did I mention the barramundi? It was the most delicious piece of fish I've tasted in...I don't know, a long time. I'd compare it to dessert because you know a savory dish is good when you're salivating in the same way for it as you do for a chocolate flourless cake. The mushrooms. The lobster reduction. The melt-in-your-mouth meatiness of the white fleshy fish. A-mazing. My bite of the fillet and scalloped potatoes wasn't too bad either.. ;)

Finished off dinner with chocolate fondant and raspberry sauce and vanilla creme brulee with espresso and coffee. Come on, am I really going to eat an amazing meal and skimp by getting 1 dessert? Splitting creme brulee was not an option. I like my chocolate. All in all, amazing. Go there. Eat. Overeat. Tell me about it. Oh, and bring your camera--for me. Please. Good news is--I'm thisclose to getting my iPhone (it's on backorder from AT&T) so hopefully, for future occasions when I forget my camera, I'll remember my iPhone. :)

Reaching for Summer

While it hasn't quite been a balmy summer here in San Francisco, that doesn't mean I can't cook like it is. After all, my market is filled with summer produce like peaches, nectarines, raspberries, watermelon, eggplant and corn. Having now lived in San Francisco for almost exactly 3 years, I'm shocked to find myself accustomed to foggy weather, pea coats in July and a rather pale complexion. In some ways, having these chilly days make everyone appreciate those amazing breakthrough sunny/warm days. Golden Gate Park is filled with walkers, bikers and sunbathers. The line for Bi-Rite Creamery (which I happen to have just hit!) runs around the corner of Dolores. People are generally happy.

While today has been the first sunny day this week (and still a chilly one at that), I've managed to pretend that I'm living through a heatwave on the East Coast by eating some pretty summery meals. The other day, we were at the store and both thought--hey, it's been a while since we've had corn! Matt claims corn is a fall vegetable, but for me, it's all summer. We bought two ears of corn and decided split one ear for corn on the cobb and one for this lovely corn salad from my Barefoot Contessa cookbook, which I updated with some twists. We've also had a bag of organic fresh sweet peas sitting in our fridge that I have been incorporating into everything I've cooked this week, it seems. We've been making them in a myriad of ways--from simple and buttered to tossed with mushrooms and sauteed with baby red potatoes and rosemary. They, along with my mini tomatoes really made this a colorful salad that screamed July to me. We served it alongside an amazingly moist and hearty honey ginger mahi mahi.

Summer Corn Salad--Recipe c/o Barefoot Contessa w/ adaptations by yours truly
1 ear of corn, shucked
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon good olive oil
freshly shelled peas (as many or few as you'd like)
2 small tomatoes
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
julienned fresh basil leaves

1 ear of corn doesn't sound like a lot, but trust me, this serves 2 easily. Boil the corn in a large pot of salted, boiling water for about 5 minutes. When done, rinse under cool water and then cut the kernels off the cobb.

Shell roughly 10-12 pea pods and toss into the kernels. Slice the 2 small tomatoes and add to the salad.

Toss all of the ingredients with the vinegar, olive oil, salt, basil and pepper.

White Night Reflections

Now that I am properly adjusted to PST (hopefully!), I'm able to more accurately reflect on my much-anticipated trip to Russia. My apprehensions about spending 10 full days with my immediate and extended family were not unfounded--it was definitely a lot of family time. But, despite some minor tensions, it ended up being an amazing trip.

One thing that was definitely different this time around was being able to explore Moscow and St.Petersburg with just Matt. Although the famous White Nights were wrapping up, we had many days to wander both cities until late into the night, drenched in a soft, purple-shaded light. The weather was in some ways better and worse than expected. We were prepared for rain and a decent amount of rain we got, but to our relief, the rain would come and go most days.

I revisited a lot of my old sightseeing destinations as Matt has never been (the Kremlin, Red Square, Peterhof, Church of Christ the Savior...) This time, though, I felt like I got to see Russia through different eyes. I had a chance to see the Hermitage (everything it is cracked up to be!). Go out to romantic meals of Georgian kebabs and Armenian dolmas (slightly different from their more common Greek relatives), wander mystical summer gardens filled with statues with titles like "Allegory of Winter," munch on 'potatoes' (chocolate rum logs from my dad's favorite St.Petersburg bakery) in St.Catherine's park and go out on the town to listen to a Russian jazz singer sing American songs at a club called B2.

In many ways, I am still the same tourist I always am, visiting packed art galleries and popping into souvenir shops. But, I'm proud to say that on two separate occasions, I convincingly persuaded local cashiers to sell me Russian citizen tickets (about 1/8th of the price of tourist tickets for popular attractions). I knew which kinds of almond cookies to order at the Sever bakery (Mendalniyi pechenie). I knew that walnut paste-stuffed eggplants, lobbio, basturma and marinated mushrooms and lavash (either flat sheet or round and puffy bread, depending on the region) were the right things to order at Armenian/Azerbaijani/Georgian restaurants. Despite my delayed reading skills and heavy accent, I still know some things. And that feels good.

Food-wise, I indulged. My grandfather managed to get his hands on black beluga caviar, which I didn't hesitate to slather on bread for breakfast. I feasted on pelmeni and blinchiki like I rarely do in the States. And, I walked off about 1/12th of it all.

For anyone planning trips to either city, leave a comment and I'd be happy to provide you recommendations for restaurants, cafes, bakeries and site-seeing destinations.

Something to Think About

While I get bearings back from a 10 day trip to Moscow and St.Petersburg and gather enough brainpower to pull together a proper post about my culinary (and cultural) adventures.

In the meantime, here are some pictures to hold you over.