Manresa

The final dinner of my November 2008 vacation was at Manresa in Los Gatos. Chef David Kinch gave me a copy of my dinner menu. It was definitely the best meal of this vacation!

The Autumn Garden

Manresa Restaurant

November 10^th, 2008

Petit fours “red pepper-black olive”

Garden beignets

Parmesan churros, anchovy

Pumpkin veloute ‘blue hubbard,” nasturtium ice cream

Arpege farm egg

Foie gras soup, oyster and apple

Japanese sea bream, sashimi style, exotic citrus

Mar y muntanya: root vegetables in wood ash, caviar from Iran

Spot prawns and yuba, heritage chestnuts with kohlrabi

Into the vegetable garden...

A risotto without rice, big fin squid

Autumn tidal pool

Squab, garden carrots with farro, meyer lemon preserve

Beef short ribs cardoons with bread crusts and chanterelles

[The wines of the evening]

[Tea service]

Crepe croustillant, persimmon and bourbon cranberry

Spice cake and coconut caramel, ginger-port pears

Chocolate-banana crème with huckleberries, burnt cinnamon

Petit fours “strawberry-chocolate”

Manresa Restaurant

320 Village Lane

Los Gatos, CA 95030

(408) 354-4330

http://www.manresarestaurant.com

Fook Yuen

On Sunday morning, I ate Chinese dim sum over in Millbrae, several blocks away from Zen Peninsula.

Jellyfish & seaweed salad, Pork dumpling

Fried taro root & Chinese broccoli, Steamed spareribs with black bean sauce, Shrimp on green bell pepper

Shrimp dumpling, Egg custard

Although Fook Yuen wasn't bad, overall Zen Peninsula's dim sum was better.


Fook Yuen
195 El Camino Real
Millbrae, CA 94030
(650) 692-8600

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/