Visiting the Iron Chef....

For my birthday meal I decided to try the oh so famous Iron Chef's new flagship restaurant in Napa...Morimoto.  My first impression when I walked in was open/cold (not cozy) and very contemporary (trendy). 

We decided to order a few of his famous appetizers instead of a hot entree and also several nigiri pieces and sushi rolls.  Overall, the appetizers were good but were way overpriced.  As for the sashimi, quality was top notch outstanding...simply melts in your mouth.  If I were to re-do the night, I would have gone with the chef's sashimi special...I guarantee you will not be disappointed with the sashimi.  It was a great experience but I probably will not be back anytime soon.

Toro Tartare - nori paste, wasabi, avocado and sour cream

Morimoto Bone Marrow - teriyaki sauce and five spices

Octopus Carpaccio - hot oil and mitsuba

Wagyu Beef Carpaccio - yuzu soy, ginger, and sweet garlic

Nigiri Combo - Super fresh and high quality sashimi!

Cozy, quaint, romantic neighborhood spot

Street Cafe in Russian Hill is a cute little neighborhood spot for a casual meal. A very small place with a very intimate and romantic feel.  Great selections of simple comfort entrees as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages.

Thick cut super crispy kennebec fries with a homemade ranch sauce...yummyliciou!

Louisana Pan Fried Sole with mashed potatos and buttered green beans

Grilled Hawaiian Ahi with a chipotle-lime sauce, mashed potatoes and blue lake beans

If you're ever in the East Bay...

If you are ever in the East Bay, Va Da Vi in Walnut Creek is the place to be!  A cute and quaint restaurant and wine bar that serves a variety of small plates and great wine flights.  A great place for sharing!

Tuna Tartare with crispy rice chips

Pomme Frites - crispy potatoes with olive oil, garlic and parsley

Butternut squash raviolis - squash, ricotta, mascarpone, and parmesan cheese, sage, nutmeg with a sherry parmesan sauce.

Brussel sprouts sauteed with bacon

Braised boneless short rib - served over mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, natural jus and topped with a lemon gremolata.

The latest contemporary addition to SOMA

Prospect in the SOMA, opened by the Boulevard team, is a new Contemporary American restaurant that mirrors Michael Mina's RN74.  From the decor to the layout to the type of food, it really reminds me of RN74.  We decided to take my MIL here for her birthday dinner.  The service was outstanding and the food was good but the place is not cozy so not the best spot for an intimate quiet dinner.  High ceilings and very noisy so great spot for HH or group dinners.

Sea Urchin Risotto – nantucket bay scallops, razor clams, and crab broth.  This appetizer was outstanding...very flavorful risotto!

Seared Calamari & Octopus – house made chorizo, savory clams, aillade, and confit garlic potatoe.  Very tender and great strong flavor from the chorizo.

Steelhead Trout - roasted cauliflower, tangerine-brown butter hollandaise, capers, parsley, and farro verde.  The fish was cooked to perfection, still slightly pink on the inside and very moist.

Wagyu Zabuton - butterball potatoes, creamed cippolinis, smoked trumpet mushrooms, spinach, and mustard seed jus.  The beef lover of the group said this was one of the best made steak he's had...super tender and juicy, can taste the expensiveness that's for sure!

Braised Pork Cheeks - rye berries & spaetzle, kohlrabi puree, fuji apple, preserved orange, confit turnips.  The pork was so tender...very similar to braised short ribs.

Asian Pear Tartine - butter roasted shinko pears, chèvre ice cream,candied fennel, and viognier reduction.  The dessert was just so so...couldn't really taste that it was asian pear.  The nice thing was that it was on the house for my MILs birthday!

Neighborhood French Bistro

Le P'tit Laurent in Glen Park is a cozy little french bistro frequented by local neighbors.  Decided to take my aunt here for her birthday to contribute to our neighborhood.  A very simple menu with all your typical common french dishes.  Prices and portions are reasonable but service...what service?!  With so many great french bistros options in the city, I will not be returning to this place.

We started off with the frisee salad with bacon and poached egg with a sherry vinaigrette dressing.  This is one of my favorite starters whenever I have French food, but unfortunately it was not up to par at this resto.  You can't label a salad "frisee salad" when there is a lack of frisee!  If you are ever at Bouchon, this salad is a must!

I ordered the beef bourguignon with baby carrorts pearl onions and steamed potatoes.  This dish was quite tasty and portion size was generous.

Other ordered the halibut with risotto. The fish was a bit overcooked, therefore not flaky but instead was too firm.  But the sauce and the risotto was very tasty.

For desserts, we had the profiteroles, another one of my usual favorite items but once again was a disappointment.  The cream puffs were mushy as opposed to firm with a lite crisp. 

We also had the chocolate souffle, which was also another disappointment.  Not at all what a souffle is suppose to be...way too mushy and a bit bitter.  I would say this place needs some work in the dessert dept!