Friday, March 10, 2006
Dinner at Winterland, San Francisco, CA
Winterland is a place we had been hearing about in various food magazines and so we decided to try it out. It was surprisingly easy to get a reservation a few hours before dinner, but that did not deter us, having learned from Myth that just because someplace is hard to get into, doesn't mean it is any good, and vice-versa. This meal was very good, the place was nicely decorated and the waitstaff was attentive and friendly.
Seared Diver Scallop with Octopus in a Savory Broth $14
The scallop was perfectly cooked and very tasty.
Seared Foie Gras with Frisee Salad and Huckleberry Sauce $18
Giao loves foie gras, while Alexis is not so enamoured. However, the tartness of the huckleberry sauce cut straight through the richness of the foie, creating a dish that both could enjoy.
Parsley Root Soup with Braised Pork Belly and Rhubarb $9
The soup itself was nothing to write home about, but when the pork belly was mixed in it was wonderful. The saltiness of the meat was offset by the fairly bland, yet very creamy soup. The rhubard didn't add much more than color, though.
Toasted Chicken Wings and "Gnocchi" with Butternut Squash Puree $15
The "chicken wings" in their black sesame and honey glaze were quite good, as was the puree. However, the "gnocchi", made from foie gras, were just a little weird and too mushy in texture.
Sirloin Strip and Braised Shortribs with Tallegio and Potato Gratin, Honshi Meji Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce $29
Each disparate element of this dish was executed very well. The steak was juicy, the shortribs were falling apart and the gratin was cheesy and tender. The single sauce worked well with each part of the dish.
Carmelized Brioche with Olive Oil Ice Cream and Rhubarb $8
The flavors were great, although the brioche was very wet in the interior. Not totally a bad thing, just a bit unexpected. The rhubarb was a nice, tart, addition to the sweet brioche and ice cream.
Ratings:
Food: 2
Service: 1
Decor: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Amuse Bouche of Cucumber Mousse with Pomegranite Ice
This was a refreshing way to begin the meal
This was a refreshing way to begin the meal
Seared Diver Scallop with Octopus in a Savory Broth $14
The scallop was perfectly cooked and very tasty.
Seared Foie Gras with Frisee Salad and Huckleberry Sauce $18Giao loves foie gras, while Alexis is not so enamoured. However, the tartness of the huckleberry sauce cut straight through the richness of the foie, creating a dish that both could enjoy.
Parsley Root Soup with Braised Pork Belly and Rhubarb $9The soup itself was nothing to write home about, but when the pork belly was mixed in it was wonderful. The saltiness of the meat was offset by the fairly bland, yet very creamy soup. The rhubard didn't add much more than color, though.
Toasted Chicken Wings and "Gnocchi" with Butternut Squash Puree $15The "chicken wings" in their black sesame and honey glaze were quite good, as was the puree. However, the "gnocchi", made from foie gras, were just a little weird and too mushy in texture.
Uni with Cucumber Ice $12
This was a gorgeous preparation and the flavorful ice made the texture of the uni (something Giao adores) more palatable for Alexis.
This was a gorgeous preparation and the flavorful ice made the texture of the uni (something Giao adores) more palatable for Alexis.
Sirloin Strip and Braised Shortribs with Tallegio and Potato Gratin, Honshi Meji Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce $29Each disparate element of this dish was executed very well. The steak was juicy, the shortribs were falling apart and the gratin was cheesy and tender. The single sauce worked well with each part of the dish.
Carmelized Brioche with Olive Oil Ice Cream and Rhubarb $8
The flavors were great, although the brioche was very wet in the interior. Not totally a bad thing, just a bit unexpected. The rhubarb was a nice, tart, addition to the sweet brioche and ice cream.
Ratings:
Food: 2
Service: 1
Decor: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
# posted by Giao and Alexis @ 7:55 PM 
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