Scowl, Nu?

A Night of Debauchery

Since we finally moved all of our extra stuff from the apartment to our storage unit thanks to the amazing work from Two Gals With a Truck, we decided to take a break and enjoy the weekend with a night of good food and drink.

We started the night with a Trumer Pils, a Pilsner from Salzburg, Austria’s Trumer Brauerei – but produced in their new Berkeley brewery. It’s a great pilsner if you make sure to pour it into a glass instead of just drinking it out of the bottle. Properly served, it’s a perfect example of a continental pilsner beer.

Finishing the beer, we jumped onto Muni to the Castro to sample Gelateria Naia‘s wares. I had the Fior di Latte and Pistachio, while Janet tested the Mr. Espresso and Pistachio gelato. With time to spare, we decided to walk over to Mecca for cocktails. I had a Flor de Noche , a Sugar Cane Vodka infused with Lavender and a sprig of rosemary, and a Whisky Slip, while Janet stuck with a Spicy Green Apple Martini.
.

As the clock hit 7:30, we left for dinner at Winterland Restaurant, a new eatery on the corner of Sutter and Steiner. We started with cocktails, Janet having a Campari Cooler while I went for a Free Man in Paris, a perfectly mixed whisky drink.

After the Amuse Bouche (a melon soup with lime foam), we ordered a carafe of Grüner Veltiner for our appetizers (Tai Ceviche with jalapeno and watermelon and two bowls of White Corn and Dungeness Crab Soup.
)

Janet stuck with an Austrian Grüner Veltiner with her main course, a bass with roasted peppers
.

However, I moved to a Gösser beer from Austria

with my duo of pork belly and cheek with amaranth grain and edamame.

Dessert started with cappucinos, though I couldn’t pass up a glass of 2003 Lillypilly dessert wine to compliment my carmelized brioche with olive oil ice cream. Janet had cornbread with blackberry chutney.

As the night ended, we both were satisfied, having had a dinner that could have competed with the 1 star Michelin restaurants in the UK.

I promise to edit this better on Sunday, but I’m off to bed…

Tacos with Tomatillo Beef

3/4 lb lean ground beef
1 small can tomatillo salsa
1 diced large yellow onion
3 diced jalapenos
1/2 pint grape tomatos
1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
Splash of beer
Chipotle sauce for taste
Dash of Adobo powder
(Sautee all with a little olive oil until cooked)

Shredded cheese (jack/cheddar is a good blend)
1 avocado, sliced with the juice of a lime poured over it to stop browning)
Cilantro
Shredded lettuce

Corn torillas

Heat tortillas on griddle, melt cheese on tortilla, sprinkle cilantro and put slices of avocado into cheese. Add spoonful of meat mixture and put lettuce on top.

Last night, we met up at The Slanted Door in the Ferry building for a couple of cocktails and a snack before heading to Jeremy’s 29th birthday bash. The cocktails are amazingly good, and the lounge space nice and comfortable. The appetizers were still as good as we remember as well.

Though the new Slanted Door is nice, I still mourn the loss of the small, intimate space at 16th and Valencia

A view of the Transamerica Pyramid in the evening fog

As you have probably seen, I was in New York for the last week for a very intensely packed conference. However, there were a few minutes for relaxation. Here are the highlights:

Tuesday:
Second Avenue Deli – Dinner: The best New York Deli… EVER! Matzoh ball soup with kreplach, a corned beef sandwich and a piece of chocolate rugelach. An absolutely perfect deli night.

d.b.a – Drinks: The scotch. Oh god, the scotch. A 1967 Milton Duff followed by amazing beer and conversation.

Wednesday:
Giorgio’s – Dinner with the team and friends of the company: Amazing orichette and the best Campari Orange I have had in the states.

The Flatiron Lounge – After Dinner Drinks: Wednesday night with the team at possibly the best bar in New York. Amazing cocktails and infused liquors… and a San Francisco trained mixologist as well.

The Collin’s Bar – Before Dinner and After Drinks Drinks: Great beer, darts and an amazing juke box.

Thursday:
Barney Greengrass, The Sturgeon King – My boss and I went out in search of soul food – bialys, bagels, baked salmon and a big plate of lox, eggs and onions.

Heartland Brewery – A stop off for lunch and a quick beer (and respite from the 102 degree heat)

Janet Jewelry – Our favorite silversmith – The team went out in search for gifts for home.

As you can probably tell from the last few weeks, in the effort to show what is going on in our lives, the site is being changed into a photo journal with the occasional entry to tie things together.

Enjoy!