eating out

I honestly don’t know how some people do it. How they are able to eat out more than once or twice a week. Sure, we all love to eat from somewhere like SOFIA RESTAURANT every now and again, but I cannot make eating out such a regular occurrence. When I come home from vacation, the first thing I crave is a home-cooked meal and the absolute last thing I want for a week or two is to go out to eat. I know of people who dine in restaurants, carry out, or have delivery more than 7 or 8 times a week. 

That said, the three restaurants we dined at in San Francisco were amazing! But I did say “San Francisco”, so what else would you expect… but amazing? I am no restaurant critic. I don’t critique the decor, the location, or even the wait staff. I just know if I am “comfortable” in a space, I’m with people I want to be with, and if I have delicious food – well, then I‘m happy and I’ve had a good dining experience. 

Not that you have to go to a high-end restaurant in San Francisco to have a great dining experience, quite the contrary, there are fabulous places everywhere you look. But we wanted to treat our precious daughter while we were there. After 7 weeks with out of place to call her own and eating like a “3rd grader with a drinking problem” – her words, not mine – she deserved parental pampering. (I guess a diet consisting of PB&J’s, grilled cheese, canned soup, cheese crisps, wine, and beer, does qualify as she describes!)

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
398 Hayes at Gough
absinthe.com

We chose Absinthe our first night because San Francisco Magazine (where Marissa works) had just come out with their “food” issue and the pastry chef was profiled. Marissa spoke with him on numerous occasions during her “fact-checking” and thought he was a cool guy. Well that, and the fact that Absinthe has great reviews brought us there. We had to try the cocktails. With a name like Absinthe, it would be a shame not to.

Wonderlust was the favorite; Bols Genever, Small Hands Food Pineapple Gum, Creme de Violette, lemon juice, & a dash of Absinthe. Shaken & served up with a twist of lemon.

Fame came in a close second; St. Germain elderflower spirit, Aperol Apertif, & lemon juice. Shaken & poured over prosecco with a candied lemon wheel.

Gold Miner was ordered by Marissa but drank by Dave – a bit on the strong side; El Camp de Encanto pisco, figs, Kubler absinthe, lemon juice. Shaken & served over ice.

For dinner, Dave chose to have soup and one of the “shared plates” increased to entree size. Marissa and I went straight to the entrees.

Once again, I gravitated towards the lamb, I’ve been on such a kick for it lately…

Marissa’s fish was my favorite dish of the night.

Of course, we HAD to try the desserts, that’s why we’d come here, after all.

Listed in the order we ranked them.
Buttermilk Panna Cotta; roasted strawberries, basil meringue, pistachio crumble

German Chocolate Cake; milk chocolate mousse, pressed coconut, candied pecans

Beet Cake; fromage blanc, roasted walnut ice cream

A wonderful night out, at a beautiful restaurant, with 2 of my 3 favorite people in the world – we missed you Connor!

Dave flew home 3 days before me, so at the next two spots, it was just Marissa and me. And for Quince, one of the city’s most touted establishments, it was a good thing. A second mortgage on the house may have to be required if there would have been more than two of us! The hype and the expense were deserved, it was a memorable night in a gorgeous place! Chef Michael Tusk was recently named “Best Chef – Pacific” by the James Beard Foundation. Quince is located in a 1907 historically land-marked brick and timber building in the Jackson Square neighborhood. Funny thing is, we didn’t plan on going to Quince, but rather its sister restaurant next door, Cotogna (quince in Italian). Once again we chose it because of the magazine, which featured the wine director, David Lynch. Cotogna is more casual and economically priced. We didn’t have reservations at Cotogna and the wait was an hour and a half, but we could sit at the bar and eat at Quince instead. All I can say is save your pennies, and get here. Outstanding!

Quince
470 Pacific Avenue
quincerestaurant.com

We had the 4-course tasting menu, each choosing a different opener, entree, and dessert; but both opting for the risotto as our second course (a supplement of $18 per person and specifically prepared for the entire table). The pictures are in order of first, second, and third courses with what I had pictured first and Marissa’s plates, second. Let me add, the soup was the best soup I’ve had in my entire life. The cherry tomatoes were peeled, for goodness sake! I could swim in a pool of it and die content.