Wayfare Tavern 4/28/11

Atmosphere: Large restaurant with two stories of limited seating. Very loud and rambunctious lively crowd even at our 10pm reservation. Lots of suits and dress attire but all are welcomed into Tyler Florence's comfort food palace.

Service: 5 out of 5 spoons
Service was fantastic and never missed a beat. Their cosmopolitans with the bourbon ed cherries added exceptional detail to the perfect aperitif cocktail.

Food: 4 out of 5 forks
Food Comments: Great food executed in harmony with the ingredients that were used. It was a well orchestrated symphony throughout the dinner with some hiccups and experiments gone awry.

Appetizers:


( Mr./Mrs.)
CHILLED MAINE LOBSTER - HALF - 18/WHOLE - 30
lemon garlic butter

Entree:

(Mr.)
STEAK FRITES - Santa Maria tri-tip, truffle butter, watercress and French fried potatoes - 27

( Mrs.)
ORGANIC FRIED CHICKEN - buttermilk brine, roasted garlic, crisp woody herbs, lemon - 22

Dessert:

(Mr./Mrs.)
FINANCIER CAKE
honey thyme ice cream, fresh cherries, candied thyme

Wine Paring: 2008 Leviathan- 95 dollars

Although we drank this bottle way to young. It was a terrific assertive and delicious red. That is spicy wonderfully textured red with a taste of anise, plum, spice, tobacco leaf and cedary/oak finish.



4 out of 5 corks Our recommendation is bring your own bottle and save on the mark-up. The menu demands a red wine. Although many beautiful selection on the menu. It is worthwhile to stop on the way to the restaurant

Favorite dish (of Mr.): ORGANIC FRIED CHICKEN - The exceptional brine on this chicken makes it completely moist on the inside with a great crust on the outside. It is incredible comfort food.

Favorite dish (of Mrs.):ORGANIC FRIED CHICKEN-

Cost: 90 per person with wine and cocktails (Tax and Tip Included)

About: Leviathan

40% Cabernet Franc
30% Cabernet Sauvignon
16% Syrah
14% Merlot

Leviathan is a wonderful red wine from one of the most prominent wine makers in Napa Valley, Andy Erickson. He is the former winemaker at both Harlan estate and Screaming Eagle. Both of these bottles of wine would cost you more for a dozen bottles of his latest venture leviathan. But don't think that he didn't put great time and energy into this great product as well. Although we drank this bottle way to young. It was a terrific assertive and delicious red. That is spicy wonderfully textured red with a taste of anise, plum, spice, tobacco leaf and cedary/oak finish.

Zuni Cafe, San Francisco 4/12/11

Zuni cafe an institution of celebrity chef driven menu with renowned restaurateur and chef Judy Rodgers. She has written several cookbooks and was one of the first to determine that a seasonal menu with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients elevated any dish. We have a special guest this week and it's Mommy Cancino. We enjoyed our lunch on a pretty nice day in San Francisco


Atmosphere: Large restaurant with smaller seating in an oddly shaped corner building. It house a large open kitchen with the primary focal point being the wood burning oven.

Service: 2 out of 5 spoons
Staff was not knowledgeable about the ingredients in each dish. Service was slow even though we were the first sitting and the waiter was not attentive nor was he accommodating when I requested kosher salt for my butter. It seems that the waitstaff is used to getting 20 percent regardless of whatever service they provide. Although not all the waitstaff was like this those that were stood out like a sore thumb and even were helped out by the other waitstaff.

Food: 4 out of 5 forks
Food Comments: Great food with fresh seasonal ingredients with distinct flavors and perfect execution.

Appetizers:

(Mr.)
Mixed chicory salad with Fuyu persimmons, pomegranate seeds, and sherry-shallot vinaigrette 8.75

Entree:

(Mr.)
Pizza with mozzarella, fresh Asiago, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, and walnuts 12.25

(Mommy Cancino.)
Sautéed Petrale sole with house-made red and green sauerkraut, carrots, and Riesling butter sauce 25.00

Wine Paring: N/A Glass:



Favorite dish (of Mr.): My mommy's sauteed Petrale Sole. The fish was perfectly cooked and delicious.

Favorite dish (of Mommy Cancino.): Sauteed Petrale Sole.

Cost: 30 per person without wine (Tax and Tip Included)