Archives for September, 2009

Dinner at Thomas Keller’s ad hoc in Yountville

Posted on Sep 13, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
Thomas Keller's ad hoc restaurant

Thomas Keller's ad hoc restaurant

I had been looking forward to sampling the menu at Thomas Keller’s latest Yountville eatery for months.  Opened in 2006 as a temporary placeholder restaurant for Keller’s burger joint, ad hoc originated as an impromptu concept – a four course prix-fixe dinner that changes daily.  The burger joint never materialized and ad hoc remains a place to sample simple homey food in a historic vintage estate building.  Chef Dave Cruz’s (interview can be heard in previous post) meals feature superbly done comfort foods at a great price – $49 includes appetizer, main course, cheese dish and dessert.  My friend Joan joined me for dinner, below is what we tasted during dinner.

ad hoc interior

ad hoc interior

You can go to ad hoc’s website to find out what is on the menu for that night’s dinner.  We had a fabulous menu, here it is:

Board menu

Board menu

Our dinner started with a lovely gift from Chef Cruz – a nice watermelon appetizer with a balsamic reduction.  A perfect way to start a dinner on a hot evening.

Watermelon appetizer

Watermelon appetizer

We also got a lovely softshell crab appetizer, not on the menu, made especially for us by the chef.  This was so delicious and a great treat.

Softshell crab appetizer, yummy.

Softshell crab appetizer, yummy.

Our appetizer off of the set menu was a lovely Jacobsen Orchard fig salad, with goat cheese, baby red oak lettuce, house cured pancetta, roasted pecans, in a maple vinaigrette.  The fresh goat cheese accented the figs perfectly, with a nice spicy bite from the pancetta and a bit of sweetness from the pecans.

Fig salad

Fig salad

the fig salad was so good it deserved a close up

the fig salad was so good it deserved a close up

Next came the main course, a hickory smoked prime beef ribeye with marinated garden heirloom tomatoes from the French Laundry (down the road) garden and sweet onionsin a red wine cream.  The beef was cooked perfectly.  This was served with a side german butterball potato salad with fresh green beans.

Steak and tomatoes

Steak and tomatoes

This menu still makes my mouth water, here was my plate

This menu still makes my mouth water, here was my plate

Side was a lovely light summer potato salad with fresh beans

Side was a lovely light summer potato salad with fresh beans

Throughout the meal we also sampled many many glasses of superb wines, some are only available at ad hoc and French Laundry.  Next course was the cheese plate, all delicious and served with a vanilla pear compote and toasted brioche.

Cheese course

Cheese course

Joan and I loved this entire menu.  For dessert we had a fresh carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

carrot cake

carrot cake

Joan and me, ad hoc restaurant, yountville

Joan and me, ad hoc restaurant, yountville

It’s worth a drive from SF (about an hour) just to taste the great menu at ad hoc.  You never know what will be featured, but it is a sure bet it will be delicious and very reasonable – $49 for the entire set menu.  Reservations are a must, 6476 Washington Street, Yountville, 707/944-2487.

Interview with ad hoc Chef de Cuisine Dave Cruz

Posted on Sep 13, 2009 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews | No Comment
ad hoc Chef de Cuisine Dave Cruz

ad hoc Chef de Cuisine Dave Cruz

While on assignment for a wine country story, I had to stop in ad hoc, Thomas Keller’s newest Yountville eatery.  Chef de Cuisine Dave Cruz was nice enough to step into the back garden to chat about the menu and his style of cooking.  Chef Cruz graduated from the CIA in New York and worked at various restaurants in New York City before joining the staff at Bouchon.  He was instrumental in ad hoc’s opening in 2006 and now leads and supervises the kitchen.

ad hoc garden

ad hoc garden

   

Lunch at Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, Napa

Posted on Sep 12, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant

Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant

In addition to outstanding wines, pastoral charm and lush green vine-covered rolling hills, California’s wine country is home to Yountville, the most celebrated restaurant town in the world.  The area, a 40-minute drive from the Russian River Valley, boasts more Michelin stars per capita than any place in America.  On the way to Yountville, I stopped by the Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant (2555 Main Street, www.ciachef.com) for a front row seat to watch CIA students create culinary delights.   Formerly the Christian Brothers Greystone Winery, the Culinary Institute of America cooking school, shop and restaurant are housed in this monumental 1889 Gothic stone structure.

The restaurant serves lunch and dinner on the patio and inside.

Entrance to restaurant

Entrance to restaurant

The kitchen is open enabling guests to watch chefs and students prepare meals.

open kitchen

open kitchen

After I talked to a few of the servers (all CIA students), the chef sent out some nice appetizers. The first was a lovely burrata with creamy fresh mozzarella, local heirloom tomatoes and an olive relish.

Burrata appetizer, number 1

Burrata appetizer, number 1

Next the chef sent out a tasty spinach and ricotta gnocchi with baby zucchini, squash, romano beans in a yellow tomato jus.

spinach and ricotta gnocchi

spinach and ricotta gnocchi

Then came my main dish, a beautifully cooked Alaskan Wild Coho Salmon with Yukon gold potato puree, cucumber ribbons, pickled onions, curried heirloom potato chips in a dill puree.  Delicious.  The salmon skin was extra crispy.

Alaskan Wild Coho Salmon

Alaskan Wild Coho Salmon

After thanking the staff and chefs for a lovely meal, I wandered over to the CIA shop.  I spent a while looking at all the marvelous cooking tools and searching for gifts to take back home.  Greystone is a great place to visit for lunch or dinner on a break from winetasting.

Greystone store

Greystone store

Dinner at The Farmhouse Inn

Posted on Sep 12, 2009 under Archives | No Comment
Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

While staying at the Farmhouse Inn, I dined at their celebrated restaurant.  Housed in a Victorian farmhouse structure, the restaurant features 14-foot high ceilings, a hand-painted mural, fireplace, hardwood floors and antique tables.  I sat in the second dining room overlooking the outdoor patio.  Chef Steve Litke creates a different seasonal menu nightly, with most ingredients coming from the Bartolomie Ranch and neighboring farms.  The restaurant earned a Michelin star in 2006.

My meal started with a nice spiced carrot and coconut corn soup.

Carrot and corn soup

Carrot and corn soup

My appetizer was the artisanal burrata cheese with a carpaccio of heirloom tomato, Basque style vegetables, corm and a tempura of basil.  The cheese and tomatoes were very fresh and tasty.

Artisanal Burrata Cheese

Artisanal Burrata Cheese

My main course was the tenderloin of beef which came with a cave aged gruyere potato gratin, local french and wax beans with a chanterelle mushroom butter and red wine reduction.   The beef was cooked perfectly and paired well with the creamy gratin and fresh beans.

prime tenderloin of beef

prime tenderloin of beef

Beef, before I devoured it

Beef, before I devoured it

The chef sent out a sampling of the cheese course, which changes nightly.  It featured a lovely local Minuet goat’s and cow’s milk cheese from Petaluma, a Tomme de Savoie cow’s milk cheese from France and a Toggenburger cow’s milk cheese from Switzerland.  My fave was the local Petaluma cheese, but all were fantastic.

Cheese plate

Cheese plate

Dessert was the chocolate souffle with brandy.

Chocolate souffle

Chocolate souffle

The menu highlights the best and freshest produce of the area and also has an outstanding wine list.  The restaurant is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Sonoma.  Reservations recommended, 707/887-3300, open Thursday – Monday at 5:30 pm.

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