6534 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-8037
www.bouchonbistro.com
French
fresh & smoked salmon rillettes with toasted croutons
french onion soup
served with toasted baguette
sauteed gnocchi with a fricassee of garden vegetables & brown butter sauce
truffle french fries
The Ritz-Carlton
600 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 773-6168
ww.parallel37sf.com
American
caviar
sashimi
black truffle ravioli
lobster
foie gras
pork belly
scallops
The Santa Clara Marriott
2700 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408) 970-6104
www.parcel104.com
American
Use local fresh ingredients. Food is good but Parcel 104 is dessert only for me. I like their caramel flan, it was a taste explosion on a spoon!
dungeness crab, caviar, salmon roe
pan seared Sonoma foie gras
seared tuna with soba
flan with caramel sauce, donut, vanilla milk shake
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I went back to Parcel 104 for dinner and this time the meal was delicious. They also change menu quite often so you get to try different dishes with good seasonal ingredients.
foie gras terrine, orange, blueberry muffin
dayboat scallops, wild mushroom risotto
chocolate muffin, chocolate cake, raspberry sorbet
rich, smooth, & silky
6640 Washington Street
Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-2380
www.frenchlaundry.com
French
The French Laundry has only 16 tables so it’s extremely difficult to get a reservation. They take reservations two months in advance to the day, every morning starting at 10 AM Pacific Time. Luckily, we got a 11:30am spot.
Lunch, like dinner, includes a couple Amuse-bouche items followed by 9 courses and concludes with Mignardises which are bite-size desserts. Each dish was unique and reflected the flavors of summer and featured vegetables from their garden. Every item on the dish was cooked and composed seamlessly and complimented one another. I have no doubt that my next visit here will be just as good, if not better.
Warm Cheese Puffs Piped with Mornay Sauce
The Signature Salmon Cornets.
Bouchon Bakery Rolls and Butter
with Island Creek Oyster Glaze and California Sturgeon Caviar
Santa Rosa Plums, Red Radish, Red Ribbon Sorrel and Hazelnut
Granny Smith Apple, English Walnut “Genoise,” Mizuna and Clove Gastrique
Artichokes, Tomato Confit, Niçoise Olives, Parsley Shoots and Extra -Virgin Olive Oil Emulsion
Yukon Gold Potato, Pickled Pearl Onions, Red Mustard and “Sauce Gribiche”
Sunchokes, Belgian Endive, Navel Orange, Pine Nuts and Watercress
English Peas, Romaine Lettuce, Hobbs’ Bacon and “Sauce Soubise”
Beets, Celery Branch and Royal Blenheim Apricot
Tellicherry Pepper Cream, Garden Lemon Verbena Sherbet and Chilled Silverado Trail Strawberry Consomme
Mango-Chili Relish, Mast Brothers Chocolate Cocoa Nibs, Lime Foam and Coconut Milk Sorbet
House-Made Chocolate Truffles
800 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 749-2060
garydanko.com
French
This is a very popular restaurant in San Francisco. Had to book a few months in advance. We opted for the 5-course dinner and each course was elegantly presented. Every item from beginning to end was extraordinary. I just could not finish everything- it was very rich. The chocolate souffle is a must.
chocolate Soufflé
320 Village Ln, Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-4330
www.manresarestaurant.com
American
red pepper pâtes de fruits, black olive madeleines
arpege farm egg
vegetables in calamari broth
Into the Spring Garden
squash and corgette risotto
wild pacific salmon
beignets
Walt Disney Concert Hall
141 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-3331
www.patinagroup.com/patina
French
A birthday treat. The restaurant is located at Disney Concert Hall and the setting inside is nice and intimate. Patina has a well-curated cheese cart. We love the presentation and each cheese is perfectly ripe.
seared foie gras topped with glazed blueberries
black cod, clams, grilled onion
topped with shaved truffles
chicken breast, matsutake mushroom
soumaintrain (really stinky French cheese), ski queen (the brown cheese), goat cheese, dried apricots, walnuts
300 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 861-5555
www.jardiniere.com
French/California
Service was warm and informative. Jardiniere has classy ambiance and practically next door to the SF Opera House and the Symphony Hall. The tasting menu was great and interesting but not memorable.
Cauliflower polenta, caviar, and cucumber.
California squab, foie gras, spring onion, and wild ramps.
Layers of flaky puff pastry, pillowy vanilla filling, and sliced ripe strawberries.
938 Villa Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 964-7466
www.cheztj.com
French/American
The restaurant is in a charming converted house, and hence there are several cozy dining rooms. Ambiance/mood is more homey. The concept of the food was not bad and the presentation is nice but the 4-course menu just didn’t wow me. For this price range I rather spend it at Manresa.
Kona kampachi with caviar.
Raviolini of cauliflower.
Pan-fried Salmon
