Coi

Half the fun was trying to find this place. Located on Broadway, a few blocks east of Columbus, Coi restaurant is a two-star Michelin 2008 restaurant that was highly recommended to me by one of my chef/friends. Street construction equipment was in front of the restaurant. Valet service was provided by a man dressed like he came from the 'hood. I was fine, the car was fine, and the dinner was very fine.



I waited in the lounge and had one of their liquid creations.



I entered into the small dining room with thirty covers. I decided to have their tasting menu. Unfortunately, I don't remember all the details of my dinner courses. Please enjoy the pictures anyways.






After the savory portion of my tasting menu came the desserts.





The dinner was truly worthy of a two-star Michelin restaurant. Whatever concerns I may have had about finding the restaurant, the street construction hassles and the valet service (which was fine), they all disappeared and had no effect on my dining experience at Coi. Definitely go have dinner at Coi, it's worth it!




Coi
373 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 393-9000

http://www.coirestaurant.com/

Ferry Building

Walking around the Ferry Building on a Saturday morning is one of the best culinary experiences in San Francisco. That's when the Farmer's Market takes place. People buy their produce and other food items. Inside the building itself are many retail stores and restaurants. Cheeses, breads, pastries, ice creams, salumi, teas, etc. You name it, it's probably there in the Ferry Building.

Wait a minute! I forgot Scharffen Berger Chocolate ...

Here are a couple of places where I bought some food. Frog Hollow Farm had some morning pastries fresh out of the oven, that I couldn't resist. Across from that place, I bought some prepared food for my lunch. I suppose that by looking at the bag, some can tell where I got these items. I'll tell you later.

My lunch consisted of a gratin with truffles, pork tenderloin slices, a tart with pluot & frangipane (I think), and a savory kugelhopf. Include the view from the first picture and some jazz clarinet music from one of the old-time street musicians wearing a suit and you got yourself a wonderful dining experience.


Here's where I bought my lunch.

Boulettes Larder was recommended to me by a friend. It's not a restaurant, actually. It's a kitchen where they cook and bake all the food items for customers who want to buy some things to take away and eat at home or wherever.

Ferry Building Marketplace
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, California 94111
(415) 983-8000

http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

Dining in "The City" on a Friday

On Friday back in Nov. 2008, I took BART into "The City", San Francisco, and walked to Tartine for a little breakfast.



Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero St. (18th St.)
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.487.2600

http://www.tartinebakery.com



For lunch, I ate at Zuni Cafe, upstairs. Here are a few photos of the place:

The salad was fine, the pork chop was very delicious, and the apple galette was underwhelming.


Zuni Cafe
1658 Market St. (between Franklin and Gough)
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.552.2522

http://www.zunicafe.com/




Dinner was in The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco. Below are two outside pictures, due to the restaurant's no-photography policy:

I had the Salt & Pepper tasting menu:

JAPANESE DEEP OCEAN SALT & WASABI

kindai tuna sashimi, miso gelée, ponzu gelée

YOUNG GINGER SALT & RED SZECHUAN PEPPER

abalone, mango, hearts of palm, cilantro purée

VANILLA SALT & TELLICHERRY PEPPERCORN

foie gras medallion, pickled cherries, pineapple jus

ANISE HYSSOP SEA SALT & ALEPEPO PEPPER

maine lobster, pork belly, heirloom tomatoes, basil oil

LEMON VERBENA SALT & TASMANIAN PEPPERCORN

poussin, stone fruit salad, sweet and sour

BOLIVIAN ROCK SALT & GREEN PEPPERCORN

beef ribeye, english pea purée, green beans, assorted mushrooms

MELON SEA SALT AND WHITE MUNTOCK PEPPERCORN

strawberry sorbet, melon seltzer

SOY SALT & PINK PEPPERCORN

white chocolate pavé, fresh raspberries, milk chocolate cream, coconut foam

The dinner was fine. During the middle of the meal, however, I asked if something could be done regarding the sounds coming from the bar. The group that was in the bar could be heard quite well from where I was sitting. The manager made the arrangements at a convenient break during the tasting menu. I was able to enjoy my dinner afterwords.

The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton
600 Stockton St.
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.773.6168

http://www.ritzcarltondiningroom.com/home.html

Monterey, Millbrae & San Fran .... Cisco

Continuing on my Nov. vacation from Monterey, the pastry chef from L'Auberge Carmel recommended this bakery as I head up north to the Bay Area:

Parker-Lusseau Pastries
731 Munras Ave.
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 643-6300

http://www.parker-lusseaupastries.com

Once I arrived to my hotel near the San Francisco Airport, I decided to have some dim sum at Zen Peninsula.

There were no carts strolling by. I had to order from a list. I only chose a few things, since I had early dinner reservations at 5:30 p.m.




The jellyfish & seaweed salad tasted really good, nice balanced flavor. Overall, my lunch was pretty good. I would go back. If you want to see what I ordered, here's the list:

Don't ask me to translate. I don't read Chinese.

Zen Peninsula
1180 El Camino Real
Millbrae, CA 94030
(650) 616-9388

http://www.zenpeninsula.com/

For dinner, I went to Quince Restaurant. I ordered the tasting menu. Unfortunately, I don't remember what I ate exactly, I didn't ask for a copy of the menu and I was informed of Quince's policy of no photography of the cuisine. Mind you, here are the pictures I was able to take that evening.

The meal was wonderful. The pasta dish was what I remembered most, very delicious. Afterwards, I expressed to the host my appreciation of the tasting menu, as well as my condolences of Quince's current absence of its Michelin star. The host mentioned that it was more of a suspension until the Michelin inspectors can dine at Quince's new location later in 2009 near the Financial District. Nevertheless, I will look forward to dining there as well.

Quince
1701 Octavia
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 775-8500

http://www.quincerestaurant.com