Dinner and drinks
Tristen loves this place so much, she went three nights in a row. I was there for drinks on night #2 and dinner on night #3. Really yummy (Tristen claims new chef) and great wine and atmosphere. You can sit at the bar for a nice glass of wine and snacks or wonderful sit down dinner.
Rabbit ragu is wonderful, as is their gnocchi. Brussel sprouts are supposed to be signature but unfortunately they had run out.
www.lavandarestaurant.com
185 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 321-3514
Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parents. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Ubuntu
Dinner with eight people
June 2008
Despite the NYT food critic rave, I was a bit skeptical about a vegetarian restaurant/yoga studio. I mean really. But Yell is my best friend and she is both (veg and yoga-y) so I thought it would make her happy to go. We had a group of 8, and they require family style tasting menu for $50 for groups 8+ so we reserved their big table for a post-Napa wine tour dinner.
OMG. Phenomenal. I can't even describe to you how great the meal was. We started with marcona almonds with lavander sugar and sea salt, and carrot top pesto covered olives. Tostones with fennel. Roasted peach salad with burratta (officially my new favorite cheese, a super creamy, tender mozzarella) and homemade croutons. Strawberry margharita thin crust pizza with a strawberry puree that was reduced for hours, super subtle. Creamed cauliflower and couscous in iron skillet with crispy bread. Morels and this lentil-like grain with roasted garlic sauce. The desserts, OMG. Blueberry cheesecake in a jar. Play on breakfast with cereals and ice cream with coconut milk. And not to mention the almond milk shake.
I actually highly recommend taking a large group since alot of the experience was getting to taste to many different dishes, certainly not feasible for a smaller party. And how reasonable is $50 to be stuffed at a really nice restaurant. Love it.
New York Times Review - phenomenal, you should really read this
http://www.ubuntunapa.com/
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA
(707) 251-5656
June 2008
Despite the NYT food critic rave, I was a bit skeptical about a vegetarian restaurant/yoga studio. I mean really. But Yell is my best friend and she is both (veg and yoga-y) so I thought it would make her happy to go. We had a group of 8, and they require family style tasting menu for $50 for groups 8+ so we reserved their big table for a post-Napa wine tour dinner.
OMG. Phenomenal. I can't even describe to you how great the meal was. We started with marcona almonds with lavander sugar and sea salt, and carrot top pesto covered olives. Tostones with fennel. Roasted peach salad with burratta (officially my new favorite cheese, a super creamy, tender mozzarella) and homemade croutons. Strawberry margharita thin crust pizza with a strawberry puree that was reduced for hours, super subtle. Creamed cauliflower and couscous in iron skillet with crispy bread. Morels and this lentil-like grain with roasted garlic sauce. The desserts, OMG. Blueberry cheesecake in a jar. Play on breakfast with cereals and ice cream with coconut milk. And not to mention the almond milk shake.
I actually highly recommend taking a large group since alot of the experience was getting to taste to many different dishes, certainly not feasible for a smaller party. And how reasonable is $50 to be stuffed at a really nice restaurant. Love it.
New York Times Review - phenomenal, you should really read this
http://www.ubuntunapa.com/
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA
(707) 251-5656
Lahaina Grill
Dinner with mom and Jen
June 2008
I had a lovely dinner at the Lahaina Grill in downtown Lahaina (cute little main street with galleries and little shops) in Maui. My mom and I went all out and had the sumptuous tasting menu - the cake walk, a combo of lobster, shrimp and seared ahi cake; I had the meat, mom the seafood sampler. Duck confit was a little disappointing but the rack of lamb and steak were good. Nice place, though I can't describe the decor well -- old 'inn' meets seaside shack.
www.lahainagrill.com
127 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, HI 96761
(808) 667-5117
June 2008
I had a lovely dinner at the Lahaina Grill in downtown Lahaina (cute little main street with galleries and little shops) in Maui. My mom and I went all out and had the sumptuous tasting menu - the cake walk, a combo of lobster, shrimp and seared ahi cake; I had the meat, mom the seafood sampler. Duck confit was a little disappointing but the rack of lamb and steak were good. Nice place, though I can't describe the decor well -- old 'inn' meets seaside shack.
www.lahainagrill.com
127 Lahainaluna Road, Lahaina, HI 96761
(808) 667-5117
Monday, May 5, 2008
Iberia
May 2008
Dinner
Delicious, authentic Spanish restaurant by the Menlo Park Caltrain station. I had been there for drinks and tapas and also for a paella cooking session (a consulting women's event), but first time for dinner. Lovely place with great ambiance. Totally feels like you are in a restaurant in Spain, and the food is fantastic. Great sangria too, not too fruity like most American. Almond gazpacho, gambas (really garlicky shrimp), a fish dish - all raciones. Then we had paella, which was perfect. They have a few "minimum two orders" rule for a few of their dishes, which is a bit annoying, so is probably better food experience with a larger group. About $50 per person
www.iberiarestaurant.com
1026 Alma St, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 325-8981
Dinner
Delicious, authentic Spanish restaurant by the Menlo Park Caltrain station. I had been there for drinks and tapas and also for a paella cooking session (a consulting women's event), but first time for dinner. Lovely place with great ambiance. Totally feels like you are in a restaurant in Spain, and the food is fantastic. Great sangria too, not too fruity like most American. Almond gazpacho, gambas (really garlicky shrimp), a fish dish - all raciones. Then we had paella, which was perfect. They have a few "minimum two orders" rule for a few of their dishes, which is a bit annoying, so is probably better food experience with a larger group. About $50 per person
www.iberiarestaurant.com
1026 Alma St, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 325-8981
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Longrain
April 2008Dinner with Tristen and Beck
Wonderful Asian restaurant in Surry Hills, Sydney. They don't take reservations so unless you get in at 6:30pm, expect to wait at least an hour at the bar. But they have incredible cocktails and you can be seated (and fed) in the waiting bar area so not a bad deal.
DELICIOUS Thai Bloody Mary, best I have ever had I think -- perfect amount of spicy and vegetable and alcohol. Yummy lychee drink also. Expensive, drinks are about $20 each, though totally worth it.
Definitely get the beetle leaf with shrimp, delicious. As are their speciality egg nets, very light and tasty. Also got a wonderful wagyu beef stir fry.
http://www.longrain.com/
85 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, NSW Australia 2010
+61 2 9280 2888
Cafe Sydney
April 2008Dinner with Tristen
Cafe Sydney is a lovely place in Circular Quay with a patio that overlooks both the Harbor Bridge and Opera House. Food was wonderful, as was the flight of white Australian wines. Had "bugs", which were super oversized crustaceans, and a lamb rack.
Fifth Floor, Customs House, 31 Alfred St, Sydney, Australia
9251-8683
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Totto
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Dinner with Take and dad
Best yakitori in NYC I think. Good selection of shochu also
251 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
(212) 245-4555
Dinner with Take and dad
Best yakitori in NYC I think. Good selection of shochu also
251 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
(212) 245-4555
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
McCormick & Kuleto's Seafood Restaurant
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Dinner with Okamoto's
McCormick & Kuleto's is in Fisherman's Wharf on Ghirardelli Square. The restaurant is a pretty big chain, but they have great seafood and with beautiful views overlooking the wharf and water.
We started with an 0yster sampler of West Coast varieties, which tend to be smaller but more rich and creamy. We also had cups of chowder, isn't New England but good. The crab cakes were also quite good.
My favorites were the three grilled sea scallops with a shrimp-stuffed potato croquette and sauteed spinach. Super juicy scallops and the croquettes were great with the sauce. We also shared a halibut, which was surprisingly light. The wild atlantic salmon was a little too complex with a tomato compote and marscapone polenta.
900 North Point Street, San Francisco, California 94109
(415) 929-1730
Dinner with Okamoto's
McCormick & Kuleto's is in Fisherman's Wharf on Ghirardelli Square. The restaurant is a pretty big chain, but they have great seafood and with beautiful views overlooking the wharf and water.
We started with an 0yster sampler of West Coast varieties, which tend to be smaller but more rich and creamy. We also had cups of chowder, isn't New England but good. The crab cakes were also quite good.
My favorites were the three grilled sea scallops with a shrimp-stuffed potato croquette and sauteed spinach. Super juicy scallops and the croquettes were great with the sauce. We also shared a halibut, which was surprisingly light. The wild atlantic salmon was a little too complex with a tomato compote and marscapone polenta.
900 North Point Street, San Francisco, California 94109
(415) 929-1730
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sushi Tomi
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Dinner with Eijiro
I am so excited to have found Sushi Tomi, an authentic Japanese restaurant run by Japanese off of Castro in Mountain View. Their appetizers are like what we would get at izakaya in Japan -- hamachi kama (poached yellowtail head), grilled eggplant, ika natto (squid with fermented soybeans), ikura oroshi (salmon roe with grated daikon). Fantastic. Then we got the chef's choice sushi, which was very good. With a few beers, about $50 per person.
635 W. Dana Street, Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 968-3227
Dinner with Eijiro
I am so excited to have found Sushi Tomi, an authentic Japanese restaurant run by Japanese off of Castro in Mountain View. Their appetizers are like what we would get at izakaya in Japan -- hamachi kama (poached yellowtail head), grilled eggplant, ika natto (squid with fermented soybeans), ikura oroshi (salmon roe with grated daikon). Fantastic. Then we got the chef's choice sushi, which was very good. With a few beers, about $50 per person.
635 W. Dana Street, Mountain View, CA 94040
(650) 968-3227
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood
Monday, August 13, 2007
Dinner with my family
We found the Restaurant on Zagat's (wanted seafood above 24-food) and got rave reviews about the food from my brother's co-workers. It is adjacent to a high-end seafood market on an inlet off the LI Sound in a cute little Darien neighborhood. The restaurant is in a house with seating at a bar area, along bay windows and on their patio.
My brother was told that the food was excellent and the crowd your 40-something southern Fairfield County type, and they were on point. The place is 'casual', but think more Greenwich 'cas' with sundresses and salmon khakis. It's cozy and loud, and I thought it was a great place for dinner with the 'rents.
We started with a dozen cherrystone clams and half dozen Blue Points, which were excellent and the waiter won points by bringing extra horse radish and Tabasco without asking. My brother and I split a wedge and a yummy rock lobster tail appetizer. For my main dish, I got sea scallops with a yuzu sauce, which was just excellent. My dad's sole was very light and moist, and my brother's swordfish was very good. My mother's salmon had a sweet BBQ sauce that was unfortunately too much for her though the rest of us liked it. We had a ridiculously rich chocolate cake with ice cream.
Their wine menu is ok, but we took advantage of the $25 cork fee to drink one of the Elyse Chardonneys from Napa (really rich heavy buttery Chardonney). They do have a full bar (the bar area is actually separate with a TV playing Yankees and everything), and we took advantage of that for some great apperitifs.
Total bill was around $360 with tax for the 4 of us.
Valet parking.
89 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton, CT 06853
203-866-4488
Dinner with my family
We found the Restaurant on Zagat's (wanted seafood above 24-food) and got rave reviews about the food from my brother's co-workers. It is adjacent to a high-end seafood market on an inlet off the LI Sound in a cute little Darien neighborhood. The restaurant is in a house with seating at a bar area, along bay windows and on their patio.
My brother was told that the food was excellent and the crowd your 40-something southern Fairfield County type, and they were on point. The place is 'casual', but think more Greenwich 'cas' with sundresses and salmon khakis. It's cozy and loud, and I thought it was a great place for dinner with the 'rents.
We started with a dozen cherrystone clams and half dozen Blue Points, which were excellent and the waiter won points by bringing extra horse radish and Tabasco without asking. My brother and I split a wedge and a yummy rock lobster tail appetizer. For my main dish, I got sea scallops with a yuzu sauce, which was just excellent. My dad's sole was very light and moist, and my brother's swordfish was very good. My mother's salmon had a sweet BBQ sauce that was unfortunately too much for her though the rest of us liked it. We had a ridiculously rich chocolate cake with ice cream.
Their wine menu is ok, but we took advantage of the $25 cork fee to drink one of the Elyse Chardonneys from Napa (really rich heavy buttery Chardonney). They do have a full bar (the bar area is actually separate with a TV playing Yankees and everything), and we took advantage of that for some great apperitifs.
Total bill was around $360 with tax for the 4 of us.
Valet parking.
89 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton, CT 06853
203-866-4488
Monday, July 30, 2007
(The Mercer) Kitchen
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Dinner with Joyce and Eddie
Mercer Kitchen in SoHo is on the ground and basement floor of The Mercer Hotel and one of Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurants. I loved the space. There is a comfortable, bright bar area at the restaurant entrance and lounge area which is also the hotel lobby on the first floor. Stairs lead down to the dining room, which has an open kitchen, brick walls and cool stone floors. Part of the ceiling is frosted glass with metal designs which is actually the sidewalk, so you can see footsteps above you.
Food was amazing. We started with a black truffle oil and cantina cheese pizza, which was wonderful. We also got some oysters from a pretty robust raw bar. I had a pork loin with leeks and beans, which was juicy and tasty. Joyce's salmon just melted in your mouth, and Eddie's chicken was done well also. A little pricey, but totally great experience.
99 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-5454
Dinner with Joyce and Eddie
Mercer Kitchen in SoHo is on the ground and basement floor of The Mercer Hotel and one of Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurants. I loved the space. There is a comfortable, bright bar area at the restaurant entrance and lounge area which is also the hotel lobby on the first floor. Stairs lead down to the dining room, which has an open kitchen, brick walls and cool stone floors. Part of the ceiling is frosted glass with metal designs which is actually the sidewalk, so you can see footsteps above you.
Food was amazing. We started with a black truffle oil and cantina cheese pizza, which was wonderful. We also got some oysters from a pretty robust raw bar. I had a pork loin with leeks and beans, which was juicy and tasty. Joyce's salmon just melted in your mouth, and Eddie's chicken was done well also. A little pricey, but totally great experience.
99 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012
(212) 966-5454
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Oyster Bar
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Pre-dinner with dad
The Oyster Bar in Grand Central is one of my all-time favorites. My dad and I often sit at the bar for a dozen oysters or cherrystone clams and wine before going out to dinner in Midtown. Which is exactly what we did on the way back from getting me at JFK from Spain.
The Oyster Bar sits on the ramp between the main hall and dining area downstairs. Inside there is a dining room on the left, a small bar straight ahead, a bar/quick eating area on the right, and a saloon in the back room.
They have an amazing selection of oysters, though unusually they were out of Belons (very good). We had one each of Blue Point and Fanny Bay, and then filled out the dozen with cherrystone clams. The Oyster Bay consistently has the biggest cherrystone clams I have ever seen, almost can't eat them in one slurp. They also give you vinegar-ginger dip and a cocktail sauce that you can add Tabasco and horse radish to taste.
In general, they have great seafood--simply grilled or cooked fish of every kind and also an amazing New England clam chowder. I used to go for a dinner of the chowder and dozen oysters/clams when I lived in NY :)
Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10017
(212) 490-6650
Pre-dinner with dad
The Oyster Bar in Grand Central is one of my all-time favorites. My dad and I often sit at the bar for a dozen oysters or cherrystone clams and wine before going out to dinner in Midtown. Which is exactly what we did on the way back from getting me at JFK from Spain.
The Oyster Bar sits on the ramp between the main hall and dining area downstairs. Inside there is a dining room on the left, a small bar straight ahead, a bar/quick eating area on the right, and a saloon in the back room.
They have an amazing selection of oysters, though unusually they were out of Belons (very good). We had one each of Blue Point and Fanny Bay, and then filled out the dozen with cherrystone clams. The Oyster Bay consistently has the biggest cherrystone clams I have ever seen, almost can't eat them in one slurp. They also give you vinegar-ginger dip and a cocktail sauce that you can add Tabasco and horse radish to taste.
In general, they have great seafood--simply grilled or cooked fish of every kind and also an amazing New England clam chowder. I used to go for a dinner of the chowder and dozen oysters/clams when I lived in NY :)
Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10017
(212) 490-6650
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Le Soleil
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Dinner with Lowell
I came across Soleil in a Food & Wine review on Parisian restaurants. Lowell and I went for dinner on our third night in Paris. It is a bit hard to find, partly because the street numbers in Paris don't necessarily match on the left and right side of the street, but it has a dark facade with a picture of the sun. Closest metro stop is La Tour-Maubourg.
We were a bit nervous because there was only one other table and they were in suits browsing a Sotheby's catalog. But the hostess was very
sweet with impeccable English (and had also talked me through directions to the place when we called that we were running late), and we got a cute table in the window alcove.
The waitress brought us great zucchini fries while we purused the menu (though we have decided anything fried is really good...) We had a beet au gratin starter (also anything with cheese is good) and then lamb chops for two with globe artichokes, olives and lots of garlic (another easy win). The lamb was as good as the description in the F&W blurb, including amazing tender artichokes. We had a cheese platter for dinner, yum.
The total was €105, including one bottle of wine, for a pretty good meal in a romantic Parisian restaurant.
153 rue de Grenelle, 7th Arr., Paris, France
+33-1-45-51-54-12
Dinner with Lowell
I came across Soleil in a Food & Wine review on Parisian restaurants. Lowell and I went for dinner on our third night in Paris. It is a bit hard to find, partly because the street numbers in Paris don't necessarily match on the left and right side of the street, but it has a dark facade with a picture of the sun. Closest metro stop is La Tour-Maubourg.
We were a bit nervous because there was only one other table and they were in suits browsing a Sotheby's catalog. But the hostess was very
sweet with impeccable English (and had also talked me through directions to the place when we called that we were running late), and we got a cute table in the window alcove.The waitress brought us great zucchini fries while we purused the menu (though we have decided anything fried is really good...) We had a beet au gratin starter (also anything with cheese is good) and then lamb chops for two with globe artichokes, olives and lots of garlic (another easy win). The lamb was as good as the description in the F&W blurb, including amazing tender artichokes. We had a cheese platter for dinner, yum.
The total was €105, including one bottle of wine, for a pretty good meal in a romantic Parisian restaurant.
153 rue de Grenelle, 7th Arr., Paris, France
+33-1-45-51-54-12
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Angele Restaurant & Bar
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family
Angele is a great Napa restaurant in downtown by the water. They have an amazing French menu (see site) and a nice outdoor patio to enjoy a sumptuous dinner after a long day of winetasting.
The French onion soup was good as was the gazpacho. I had a housemade fettucine with spring vegetables, which was pleasantly light. Aggressively had the macaroni gratin also that put me over normal eating volumes I think. Very good though. The lamb in my dad's stew was incredibly soft, just melted.
Angele has a corkage fee of $20, which they will waive with each bottle of theirs that you buy. Totally worth opening one of your own from the day I think.
540 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-8115
Napa with my family
Angele is a great Napa restaurant in downtown by the water. They have an amazing French menu (see site) and a nice outdoor patio to enjoy a sumptuous dinner after a long day of winetasting.
The French onion soup was good as was the gazpacho. I had a housemade fettucine with spring vegetables, which was pleasantly light. Aggressively had the macaroni gratin also that put me over normal eating volumes I think. Very good though. The lamb in my dad's stew was incredibly soft, just melted.Angele has a corkage fee of $20, which they will waive with each bottle of theirs that you buy. Totally worth opening one of your own from the day I think.
540 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-8115
Vine Cliff Winery
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family
Napa with my family
Vine Cliff is a beautiful winery off of Silverado Trail near Oakville. It has a really exclusive feel, 
as you roll through the black gates and ring in with your appointment. There are beautiful paths and gardens along the vineyards, not to mention the mansion at the top of the hills. Unfortunately the house belongs to the Sweeneys (of the Embassey Suites fortune) and we don't get to go there, but still pretty to look at from afar.
as you roll through the black gates and ring in with your appointment. There are beautiful paths and gardens along the vineyards, not to mention the mansion at the top of the hills. Unfortunately the house belongs to the Sweeneys (of the Embassey Suites fortune) and we don't get to go there, but still pretty to look at from afar.The tasting includes four wines and a tour of this amazing cave where they keep the barrels. Apparently it is available for private events, though I can't imagine the cost for it.
Definitely need an appointment for this one. There is a $25 tasting fee (which gets waived for every $100 of wine you buy). It is a beautiful place and worth taking the parents once (but only once).
(707) 944-2388
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Three Seasons
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Dinner with Tayo
Three Seasons is a trendy Vietnamese place tucked in between Bryant and Ramona off of University Ave. There is outdoor seating and a nice bar, as well as tables upstairs that overlook the bar area.
The food is on the more expensive side, but very good. They have a huge selection of fresh spring rolls and satays to start. We had the Summer Rolls, with Dungeness crab, avocado, cucumber and a ginger soy dipping sauce, quite good. It was cut up into six pieces (probably two bites per piece, so decent size). Their menu also has small and large plates -- we had the Happy Buns, which were four small buns with Peking Duck, cucmber and hoisin sauce, really good.
We were probably aggressive with dinner and got the "Shaking Beef", catfish, and rice. The Shaking Beef is cubes of sauteed (I think) beef with green onions and pepper on a bed of watercress. Catfish comes in a clay pot and is deeply marinated. It's good but pretty strong tasting, I needed some rice with that. Loved the Shaking Beef. Didn't finish it all though. Two appetizers and two large plates with rice was too much.
Three Seasons has a pretty extensive drink and wine list also, glasses in $8-$12 range I think. Dessert menu too, didn't have any but they had Inniskillin ice wine on it which is one of my favorites.
Trendier than your average Palo Alto joint, I think this is a nice date or parent spot.
518 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 93401
(650) 838-0358
Dinner with Tayo
Three Seasons is a trendy Vietnamese place tucked in between Bryant and Ramona off of University Ave. There is outdoor seating and a nice bar, as well as tables upstairs that overlook the bar area.
The food is on the more expensive side, but very good. They have a huge selection of fresh spring rolls and satays to start. We had the Summer Rolls, with Dungeness crab, avocado, cucumber and a ginger soy dipping sauce, quite good. It was cut up into six pieces (probably two bites per piece, so decent size). Their menu also has small and large plates -- we had the Happy Buns, which were four small buns with Peking Duck, cucmber and hoisin sauce, really good.
We were probably aggressive with dinner and got the "Shaking Beef", catfish, and rice. The Shaking Beef is cubes of sauteed (I think) beef with green onions and pepper on a bed of watercress. Catfish comes in a clay pot and is deeply marinated. It's good but pretty strong tasting, I needed some rice with that. Loved the Shaking Beef. Didn't finish it all though. Two appetizers and two large plates with rice was too much.
Three Seasons has a pretty extensive drink and wine list also, glasses in $8-$12 range I think. Dessert menu too, didn't have any but they had Inniskillin ice wine on it which is one of my favorites.
Trendier than your average Palo Alto joint, I think this is a nice date or parent spot.
518 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 93401
(650) 838-0358
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