Houston Trip 2012

Here are some pics from my recent trip out to Houston to visit my buddy Mike and his wife Jill. They were gracious enough to let me stay at their place. Thank god I visited in the winter and not the middle of Summer. Had a blast, ate very well, played a round of golf and even checked out a rodeo. Throw in all the drinking going on around us for St. Paddy's day and you get the idea. Good times.

Started off the trip by hitting up this amazing place, Torchy's. I just wish I had them out here in San Fran. I had the Baja Shrimp Taco and another one aptly named 'The Trailer Park' It was fried chicken, with green chiles,pico de gallo poblano sauce done dirty. Amazing, but it made duck fat fries seem like a light dish.

Torchy's, Houston

Suckling Pig @ Liberty Kitchen
A magic and noble animal. It was amazing!

Lunch at this roadside joint, Rudy's for Texas BBQ. The brisket chop sandwich was sublime! Sorry no photos of it.

Rudy's BBQ

The second night there, we tried this new restaurant called Uchi which is run by Top Chef winner Paul Qui. The food was sublime. The service left quite a bit to be desired. Still an amazing meal! They flew in their selection daily from the Tokyo fish market. This quality of food was better than any Japanese spots I've been to in SF.

Baby Yellowtail, ponzu, thai chili, orange supreme @ Uchi

Maguro sashimi and goat cheese
bigeye tuna٠pumpkin seed oil٠
fuji apple

Spicy crunchy tuna bigeye tuna٠
avocado٠jalapeño٠cucumber

Scallops, shishito, cucumber

Spanish Anchovy. AMAZING!

oak-grilled escolar٠candied citrus٠
yuzupon٠myoga

Vegas Baby!

I just got back from another fabulous trip to Vegas where I spent the weekend with my buddy Mike and his girlfriend, Jill. We stayed at the Wynn which was pretty money. I'm sure I gained 5 lbs that trip, but who cares? It was well worth it. We visited Thomas Keller's Bouchon, L'atelier de Joel Robuchon, Wolfgang Puck's Cut steakhouse, and Okada for some sushi. We also got to check out the Cirque du Soleil show- Le Reve which was simply amazing. I suggest anybody interested check it out.



Le Reve theatre



Chilling at the Wynn with Mike (keep him away from the craps tables)

L'atelier de Joel Robuchon is one of my new favorite restaurants. I'm going there every time I go to Vegas from now on.

We all had the Discovery tasting menu at L'atelier de Joel Robuchon:

• L’AMUSE-BOUCHE
  crémeux de foie gras au Porto et son émulsion au parmesan
  Foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam
• Saumon Fumé
  Smoked Salmon in an herb geleé with Wasabi cream
• 
• LES HUITRES
  de Kussi pochées dans leur coquille au beurre salé
  Poached baby Kussi oysters with French « Echiré » butter
• 
• LA SAINT-JACQUES
  la noix cuite au beurre d’algue dans sa coquille
  Scallop cooked with seaweed butter and black truffle
• 
• LE FOIE GRAS
  en ravioles dans un bouillon de poule avec une fleurette pimentée
  Foie gras ravioli in a warm chicken broth with herbs
• 
• LE SAINT-PIERRE
  John Dory filet cooked a la plancha with herbs and potato crisp
• 
• LA CAILLE
  au foie gras, caramélisée avec une pomme purée truffée
  Free-range quail stuffed with foie gras and served with truffled-mashed potatoes
• 
• L’Onglet
  de boeuf à l’échalote
  French-style hanger steak with fried shallots
• 
• L’ANANAS
  à la vanille de Tahiti, crème de cheesecake
  Pineapple infusion, Tahitian cheesecake
• 
• LE PARFAIT ARABICA
  Crème onctueuse au lait de coco et au citron « Corsica »
  Light coffee cream served with coconut milk and lemon from Corsica
• 
• LE CAFE
  Coffee or Espresso

C'est Coi

I went to try the restaurant Coi in SF earlier this month. I heard good things about it and decided to give it a try. The flavors were pretty amazing. I guess you would describe the food as avant garde cooking. While the meal was outstanding, its not the type of food that leaves you feeling full satisfied, like you had a big meal. Since my friend owed me a dinner, I wanted to see him squirm when we ordered the 11 course tasting menu, and he did...

Menu February 6, 2009

Amouse Bouche
milk and honey encapsulated in a thin sugar (Money!)

1. Pink Grapefruit
ginger, tarragon, black pepper

2. Shiny Beets
citrus scented gel, vadouvan


3. Inverted Andante Dairy Goat Cheese and Black Olive Tart
chicories, Green Apple, Mint


4. Parsley Root-Green Garlic Soup
braised Snails, Padron Chile Flakes, Breakfast Radish

5. Crab Melt, California Style
dungeness Crab, Staffan's Lardo, Wheatgrass, Sprouts



6. Earth and Sea
steamed tofu mousseline, yuba, fresh seaweeds, mushroom dashi

7. Sauteed Monterey Bay Abalone
escarole, caper berry-sea lettuce vinaigrette

8. Pastured Beef, Pure Form
prather ranch loin cooked in its fat, Marrow roasted cauliflower



9. Two Year Montgomery's Cheddar (Neal's Yard)
rye bread, arrowhead cabbage, grain mustard

10. Blood Orange Curd
Douglas fir Ice Cream, Black Walnut Crumble



11. Chocolate-Mesquite Cake
smoked pepitas praline, squash sherbet