Posted on Jan 31, 2014 under Archives, San Francisco |
Chef Michael Chiarello’s Coqueta
Chef Michael Chiarello, owner of Chiarello Family Vineyards, Napa Style and Bottega in Yountville, opened Coqueta, his first Spanish influenced restaurant, last year on Pier 5 in San Francisco.
Working with chef de cuisine Ryan Mcllwrath, Chiarello spent two years in Spain researching recipes for the tapas inspired menu. Lots of work also went into renovating the space. Tables were raised so diners can admire the ocean view, the outdoor terrace was glassed in to create an enclosed al fresco bar area, a huge wood fired oven was added to the open kitchen, and the inside décor was enhanced with long dramatic drapes and cowhide rugs.
“Coqueta” translates to “flirt,” which references the chef’s playful dishes, drinks and experimentation with a new Spanish cuisine.
The 56-seat restaurant offers a variety of plates. Here is what we sampled when I visited last month.
Pintxos at Coqueta
The Pintxos, one-bite skewers, are a fun way to start a meal and include house cured boquerones; chorizo, roasted artichokes and piquillo peppers; Serrano ham, manchego cheese and apricot conserve; baby beets with cana de cabra cheese, and quails egg with pickled mustard seed and ham.
Pintxos at Coqueta
We also sampled the El Plat Cap which was a nice selection of cured meats served with nuts and a pan de cristal con tomato.
El Plat Cap
Our tapas items began with white gazpacho with marcona almonds, grapes and syrah. We loved this.
Next came the red kale ensalada with roasted squash, fuyu persimmons, and warm rancho cordo.
red kale salad
The tapas also included a nice smoked salmon bite with queso fresco and truffle honey. Yum.
smoked salmon
My fave of all the tapas was the chicken and English pea croquetas with cured cara cara orange.
croquetas
We also sampled the sunny side-up egg with shrimp, crispy potato and a chorizo dressing. This is the most popular dish of the tapas.
egg with shrimp and potato
The grilled albondigas, pork and duck meatballs, with a tart cherry and tempranillo puree were also lovely, as was the grilled shortribs served Catalan style.
duck and port meatball
beef shortrib
Larger family style plates include a variety of paellas, we had the classic with bomba rice in a Jamon serrano and shellfish broth with root vegetables, chorizo, gulf prawns, clams and lemon alioli. A must to order.
paella
paella
Other main courses on the menu include a whole grilled branzino, a 32 ounce ribeye and a pork shoulder loin.
lollipops
Dessert includes a strawberry rhubarb gazpacho in liquid nitrogen, churros, caramel lollipos with popcorn and ice cream sandwiches. We sampled the lollipops and the churros, both were a great end to a fabulous meal.
churros
The cocktail menu is equally inventive, with specialty sangria, mojitos, margaritas and traditional porrons – party pitchers of refreshing libations. We had the festive mojito costa brava with mint, white rum, lime and minted cane sugar as well as the J&T, a non-alcoholic juniper, lime and tonic beverage. I also got to sample a special holiday cocktail, don’t remember what it was but it was delicious.
mojito costa brava and J&T
Holiday cocktail
Coqueta is a perfect spot to wind down with a sangria and tapas and travel to Spain while remaining in San Francisco. Located at Pier 5, The Embarcadero, reservations highly recommended at 415.704.8866.
Posted on Feb 24, 2013 under Archives, San Francisco |
Fries
During my trip to Northern California for Dine California month, I visited a fabulous French restaurant in the heart of San Francisco. Garcon has all the elements of a classic bistro – French posters, mirrored walls, cozy tables and a long bar centering the space. My friend Chris and I enjoyed one of our best meals of the trip at Garcon, here is what we sampled.
Black and basil
We started with the Black & Basil, a signature cocktail with vodka, black pepper, basil, lime and gin. Tasty and spicy.
duck liver pate
Chef Arthur Wall then sent out a beautiful duck liver pate with poached pear, walnuts, parsley, blackberries, croutons and a riesling pear gelee. This dish was outstanding.
beet salad
Next came the refreshing beet salade with belgium endive, blue cheese fondue, arugula, shallot vinaigrette and mandarin oranges.
Our main dishes were the shellfish bouillabaisse, scallops, mussels, manilla clams, shrimp and fregola pasta and a classic steak frites – marinated grilled hanger steak with truffle butter and crispy fries. The bouillabaisse also came with nice crunchy bread to soak up the sauce.
bread
bouillabaisse
steak frites
fries
Dessert was a rich creme brulee. For unique cocktails, delicious traditional French food and an intimate bistro atmosphere be sure to visit Garcon next time you are in San Francisco. Located at 1101 Valencia Street, reservations recommended at 415/401-8959.
Posted on Feb 21, 2013 under Archives, San Francisco |
Tuna Appetizer, Anzu
Celebrating the best of land and sea, Anzu (Japanese for apricot) is located on the second level of the Hotel Nikko. My friend Chris and I dined at Anzu during San Francisco Dine Week and were surprised that a hotel restaurant delivered such great dishes. Located at the back of the Nikko and up a big marble staircase, Anzu is roomy and comfortable. There is a long 10 seat sushi bar as well as a main dining room with both tables and booths.
We started with a seared ahi tuna salad with frissee, avocado and fennel with a passion fruit vinaigrette and a creamy butternut squash soup. The chef also sent us a nice amuse of tomato and cucumber.
cucumber appetizer
squash soup
Our main courses included the oven roasted king salmon with scallion gnocchi, Japanese eggplant, pickled turnips and kaiyaki sauce and anice grilled hanger steak with mushroom ravioli, garlic broccolini and a port wine reduction.
hanger steak
The chef also sent us a little sample of the kabocha pumpkin risotto with winter vegetables, micro basil and a mushroom broth. We loved this dish.
pumpkin risotto
Desserts came next and included the chocolate indulgent cake with grand marnier creme anglaise sauce and a pomegranate creme brulee with a macaroon cookie.
creme brulee
chocolate cake
Anzu is located in the Nikko Hotel at 222 Mason Street, reservations can be made at 415/394-1100.
Posted on Feb 21, 2013 under Archives, San Francisco |
Mystic Hotel
Located in the heart of San Francisco, The Mystic Hotel offers a modern and comfortable boutique experience in a historic location close to Union Square, Chinatown and the Financial District. Formally the Crescent Hotel, The Mystic houses 81 guest rooms and suites. I stayed in one of the hotel’s studio suite’s recently and was impressed with the large queen bed, luxury linens, open floor plan including a nice lounge space, and flat screen TV.
Mystic Hotel
Above the lobby is the Burritt Tavern and Room, inspired by Burritt Alley from a scene in The Maltese Falcon. Chef Charlie Palmer’s lounge offers handcrafted cocktails and the 100 seat restaurant serves up tasty contemporary American cuisine. I dined there as part of Dine San Francisco week. My friend Chris and I were seated in one of six velvet curtained booths with nice views of the exposed brick wall and chandeliers. Here is what we tasted:
caesar
We started with a nice Caesar salad and a bowl of granny smith apple and fennel soup with dungeness crab and preserved meyer lemon.
apple and fennel soup
Our main courses were a nice grilled marinated skirt steak steak with a roasted wine forest mushroom salad, and pickeled sunchoke puree and the cinnamon dusted sea of cortez scallops with a wine forest chanterelle risotto, duck prosciutto and smoked pistachios.
steak salad
scallops and risotto
Our desserts included a nice bread pudding and a chocolate hazelnut mousse with salted caramel ice cream.
bread pudding
chocolate hazelnut mousse
The Mystic Hotel offers a peaceful, modern and affordable retreat in the heart of San Francisco as well as a great lounge and restaurant. For reservations call 415/400-0500. Located at 417 Stockton Street.
