Restaurants

Partridge @ Galvin Bistrot de Luxe London, UK

Planning a special trip to London?  Are you in town for a city break and taking advantage of one of the capital’s hostels?  If you are staying in central London and want to treat yourself to an amazing French dinner or lunch, there is only one place I know within walking distance of The Landmark London that knocked my socks off – Galvin Bistrot de Luxe, winner of the prestigious Michelin Bib Gourman.

Rose Prince from The Daily Telegraph writes “Chris and Jeff Galvin have revved up bistrot cuisine” and I couldn’t agree more! We had dinner here recently and the food was superb, these two brothers are excellent chefs! It is no surprise that Galvin Bistrot has received rave write ups in many London restaurant guides, newspapers and Time Out London. You will definitely need to make reservations if you decide to go, but it will be worth it.

The good news for those of us on the dollar side of the exchange rate is that this popular restaurant has two well-priced fixed menus for lunch and dinner. Galvin Bistrot de luxe is open all day for food and wine, with prix fixe menus that include three courses for either £15.50 or £17.50 depending on whether you are there for lunch or dinner. Read More »

Cafe Madeleine San Francisco - Oh La La!

Haven’t we all had those days when we can’t decide what to eat? We are in an unfamiliar city or an area that we don’t normally spend much of our time, so we stand around and hope that we don’t just grab the first familiar fast food we see.

For anyone who has been in that predicament, you are in luck. Cafe Madeleine is a fabulous cafe and bakery in San Francisco with three locations in the heart of the city.

I’ve used to work across the street from one location, and to be honest, would have weeks where I would get the grilled sandwich for lunch every other day. One of my favorites is the Niman Ranch ham, cheddar cheese, sliced apples and honey mustard on ciabbata bread for $8. It is hot and tasty and oh la la good! Read More »

Another Fictional Fable with Food by Sharon the Blogger Queen

“Would you like to sit inside or on the patio, ma’am?” The handsome host asked. “Outside under a heater .. Wait! I mean inside!” and she giggled self-consciously. The waiter didn’t. Read More »

Cherry Banana Chocolate Peasant Pie

Living in a big urban environment, sometimes we need to have that special place that we go to any time we need a dose of happiness.  Peasant Pies is that place for me.  Let’s start with the location. They are perfectly situated on 24th Street near Castro Street in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco.  This is easy to reach by every form of transportation from foot to car. For many city visitors or residents, location plays a big part in the happiness quotient. Next we have the price. Read More »

Basque Cultural Center

We have friends whose family are Basque.  These are wonderful friends but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that they are even dearer since introducing us to the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco.  Not only is this a cool place with its purpose as a meeting place for the Basque community – I love its unique handball court and killer old school bar – but it also has a great restaurant!   This restaurant seriously has some of the best food, and at the most reasonable prices and don’t get me started about the bread. Read More »

Another Fictional Fable with Food … by the Blogger Queen

Portrait of Me

Dear Hungry for Breakfast,

I’m a little embarrassed to answer your personal ad because, as you can see from my portrait, I’m not a skinny treat. I considered using one of my old college pictures that made me look a little “thinner” at least something that didn’t show my melted swiss cheese pouring out. I guess I should have been doing some sit-ups or something.  Please don’t let this orange wedge freak you out. We’re not in a relationship, just friends.  Besides I’m really not into fruits.

This picture was taken at the Basque Boulangerie Cafe in Sonoma, California.  I have some buddies that I hang out with here: Prosciutto & Brie Sandwich is pretty cool. He’s a dry imported ham with French Brie and butter on a baby baguette. He’s $8.35 but totally not full of himself. Pretty down to earth for a French sandwich.

If you come and visit, you might like Nicoise Salad with her little sidekick, fresh bread for $10.45. She does this celery root remoulade thing that will blow your mind.  If you do meet her, don’t mention the fish smell.  It’s her anchovy dressing and she’s a little sensitive about it.

You’d probably need to know more about me before you head on over, so let me assure you, I will satisfy you.  I don’t mean to brag but you probably can’t even handle me because I’m so big. If you’re into it, you can share me with a friend. I’m open to that kind of thing.

Signed,

Hot and Juicy (Ham & Cheese Croissant for $5.50)

Please meet me at:

Basque Boulangerie Cafe

460 First Street East

Sonoma CA  707-935-7687

Open 7am to 6pm, 7 days a week.

Midday Chic Lunches

Finding new and exciting lunch spots downtown can be difficult in San Francisco. Restaurants and cafes open and close regularly.

Recently I celebrated birthdays with a couple of girlfriends at a new restaurant called Midi, which had just opened up next door to the Galleria Park Hotel – in the Financial District and next to the Crocker Galleria shopping center.

This restaurant space was occupied for years by Perry’s San Francisco, a casual lunch spot for city workers and for after-work drinks. Last November, Perry’s moved on to a new location on the Embarcadero in the Hotel Griffon.

This cool downtown spot that Midi resides in, is now completely redesigned, refreshed and nothing like its former resident. Chef Michelle Mah has created a tasty menu with a series of dishes that fit perfectly within the relaxed brasserie atmosphere.

You will find French inspired dishes as well as classics like pomme frites, many perfect choices for a birthday lunch, a business lunch and or even a power lunch. The menu changes regularly but if you get a chance try one of the many sandwiches. I’m definitely going to try the grass-fed beef burger next time!

During our visit we all had the fixed price “midi quartet” and loved each dish. It included a nice asparagus salad, duck confit soup, grilled chicken with a country mustard glaze and a lemon tart. It doesn’t look like much but we were full afterward.

The only complaint was that each of the four square plates got in the way once the food was eaten. Do you stack the empty plate or just keep turning the tray as you eat?

Midi Quartet of Plates

We loved that we were served quickly and the waitress was earnest in her desire to please us. All-in-all the food was delicious and we would return for an early lunch – because the noise level did increase noticeably as the lunch crowd increased.

185 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 835-6400
www.midisanfrancisco.com

Mon-Wed. 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Le Central is San Francisco's First French Bistro

Down the street from Cafe de la Presse, up the street from Cafe Claude and across the street from Roots Restaurant is the final but equally amazing San Francisco restaurant known as the city’s “First French Bistro”.

Le Central is an authentic Parisian restaurant in downtown San Francisco. It is also a long time meeting place for movers and shakers. On any given day expect to see and maybe sit next to former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown as he holds court with the Mayor of Paris — or maybe his long time friend, local clothier to the elite Wilkes Bashford.

The atmosphere of Le Central has all the ingredients you are looking for in an authentic French bistro, starting with a fabulous menu and ending with the sizzle, the spirit and the sparkle of San Francisco’s sister city Paris.

Whenever you have lunch or dinner at Le Central expect to feel as if you just landed in Paris. Their menu offers everything required to transport your taste buds across the Atlantic Ocean with Escargots, Onion Tarte, Rack of Lamb, Haricots Verts and Creme Brulee…ooh-la-la!

If you have never been to Paris this restaurant should not only fill in as a wonderful substitute but convince you to go. The place maintains a cozy and comfortable feeling but with a pleasant hum from the constant flow of customers. I think you will also enjoy that Le Central has not only customers from downtown hotels like the Orchard Garden Hotel but also locals regularly making reservations for a casual lunch or intimate dinner.

453 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 391-2233

Mon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

(le-bernardin.com)

Let’s talk for a minute about one of the best French restaurants in the country. New York City’s Le Bernardin is exquisite, formal, and very high-end. Unless you’ve been to The French Laundry out in Napa Valley, Le Bernardin also will likely be the best French seafood meal you’ll have outside of France. This is one of the rare 3 Michelin star restaurants in the United States. More than just great lunch or dinner in an elegant, fancy setting, a meal here is a memorable event.

There’s a very different feel to this high-end French restaurant than the French Laundry, of course; French country (more relaxed) is the California model, where as Le Berardin is pure old-style New York class. You’ll see jeans and shirts at even the fanciest, most high-end restaurants in California; this corresponds with the casual culture. Find an equivalent restaurant in New York City, however, and the diners there will be dressed much more formally. A night out at one of the best French restaurants in the city is an occasion in and of itself, and New Yorkers (and tourists) like to step up for the event. Case in point: Le Bernardin has an actual dress code – with several spare sports coats for guests who forgot to wear theirs.

(le-bernardin.com)

Le Bernardin specializes in seafood, though of course the menu isn’t limited to that. The decor is elegant yet warm, with some light wood paneling – not so much as to make the room feel woodsy – and the service is perfectly crisp and professional. If the waitstaff ever slip up, I’ve yet to see it. Some complain that the entrees here are on the small side, but this is no noisy steakhouse, this is Le Berdardin; every crumb is well thought-out by the chef. The food presentation is almost as important as its taste.

People rave about the chef’s tasting menu. I’ve never had it, so can’t speak for it personally. However, the grilled, salted Bacalao is succulent and amazing, and the Surf and Turf (with Kobe beef) is so delicious it makes the standard fried-fish-and steak at other restaurants seem like another dish entirely. There are a few non-seafood items on the menu, but the Le Bernardin is really renown for its seafood. Try the escolar – that’s a Pacific fish sometimes called white tuna, apparently, and absolutely transcendent. It’s common to see diners at Le Bernardin become completely focused on their meals, to the point of distraction – the seafood is just that good.

The desserts at Le Bernardin are as exquisitely presented as are the main courses, (they are similarly not hugely proportioned). I recommend the fig dessert as something different and special. It is prepared with creamy, sweetened goat cheese and a red wine caramel; it is a new combination of flavors (yes, that’s bacon ice cream on your plate, but it works, believe me). For the more standard desert, try the ice cream or sorbet, all made that day.

One last item of interest: The chef, Eric Ripert, has gone on record to say that he won’t “serve Chilean sea bass, grouper, shark, swordfish or wild bluefin tuna…to help speed the recovery of these endangered species.” I think this is terrific. A chef that truly cares about the quality of his product also cares about its source, and keeping it healthy.

Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St.
New York, NY
(212) 554-1100

Bouley (davidbouley.com)

New York City – that city of dreamers, of high aspirations, of soaring successes and tragic failures – well, it’s the most visited city in the United States for obvious reasons. Many of us trace our family immigration to NYC, and today it remains a polyglot of cultures. Little wonder, then, that New York City has the highest concentration of the best restaurants in the country. After all, us tourists gotta eat, right?

When I lived in NYC, I honestly didn’t think much about these top-rated restaurants. They were there, yeah, but if my family took a vote, they’d want to go to the corner diner where the waitresses knew my kids (this meant extra french fries; I pretended not to notice). Now that I live on the other side of the country, a visit to New York City practically necessitates dinners out at at least a couple of my favorite high-end joints – it helps that my NYC-based family usually picks up the tab! Here, then, are my picks for the best fancy restaurants in New York City.

Best Upscale Restaurants in NYC:

French - Le Bernardin, Per Se, Bouley, Daniel, Cafe Boulud

Italian - Babbo, Felidia Ristorante, Osteria del Circo, Gusto Ristorante e Bar Americano, Esca

Steakhouse - Porter House New York, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Dylan Prime, Peter Luger Steak House, Old Homestead

American - Gramercy Tavern, 21 Club, Blue Water Grill, One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Virgil’s Real Barbecue, Craft

Indian - Dawat, Sapphire Indian Cuisine, Tamarind, Tabla

Japanese - En Japanese Brasserie, Hamachi, Nippon, Sugiyama, Nobu, Masa

This list of the best high-end restaurants in New York City is, of course, subject to change. Let us hear about your favorite places to eat in NYC, and I’ll do my best to try them out next time I visit Manhattan.