Nisei Restaurant 二世 | Modern Japanese fine dining

Nisei Restaurant 二世 | Modern Japanese fine dining

Michelin Star San Francisco Bay Area

When you first walked into Nisei you can feel the ambiance was elegant & sleek with modern Japanese touches. We ordered the tasting menu which features 13 courses plus an add-on caviar & banana dorayaki and a final round of wagashi. Service was warm and well-intentioned and the food was well thought out and prepared. Very enjoyable meal.

Appetizer

The "appetizer" rounds we got were in courses 1-4, which were nori cotton candy, tako sunomono, Shingiku/ pea shoots in shiro dashi, and dry aged shima aji.

Entree

The "entree" rounds followed in courses 5-10, which were a lobster in paitan broth,  cold chawanmushi, kobujime hirame/strawberry three ways/micro shiso, abalone tempura, squash blossom, and grilled unagi.

caviar at Nisei
caviar at Nisei
Paitan broth, lobster, grilled baby corn, marigold at Nisei
Cold chawanmushi, cherry tomato, seaweed, trout roe at Nisei

As each dish arrived at our table, we were explained clearly and in detail what each was and contained.

Kobujime hirame, strawberry three ways, micro shiso at Nisei
Kobujime hirame, strawberry three ways, micro shiso at Nisei
Sweet corn takoyaki, C&S corn, black truffle at Nisei
Squash blossom, tsukune, summer squash, tamago at Nisei

Diners have a glimpse of the kitchen.

Nisei restaurant
Unagi, eggplant, wasabi, kinome at Nisei

Dessert

Macha. shiitake. honey
White chocolate. dashi. caviar
Amazake. blueberry. bee pollen
Sweet corn "takoyaki". C&S corn. black truffle
Assorted wagashi

Matcha, shiitake, honey at Nisei
White chocolate, dashi, caviar at Nisei
Amazake, blueberry, bee pollen at Nisei
Sweet corn takoyaki, C&S corn, black truffle at Nisei
Assorted wagashi at Nisei San Francisco
MANRESA

MANRESA

Michelin Star San Francisco Bay Area

Manresa

320 Village Ln, Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 354-4330
www.manresarestaurant.com
American

Chef’s Menu – 2013

After enjoying a fabulous meal in 2009, we returned with a party of five for a winter menu. Menus change with the seasons. I must say the service continues to excel. Food comprised of nine dishes plus desserts. Each course was a work of art, visually and in its preparation and taste.

Amuse Bouche

red pepper and black olive madeleines
manresa_amusebouche_2013

manresa_amuse_bouche

Bread

house-baked bread
manresa_bread_2013

First Course

local milk panna cotta with abalone
manresa_1st_course

Second Course

manresa_sashimi

Third Course

locally grown greens, flowers and herbs and “soil”
manresa_veggie

manresa_veggies

Fourth Course

manresa_fish

Fifth Course

manresa_popcorn

Sixth Course

manresa_soup

Seventh Course

manresa_duck

Eigth Course

manresa_steak

manresa_smith_apple

Ninth Course

manresa_dessert2013

Petit Fours

manresa_petit_fours_2013

January Menu

manresa_menu_2013

LA FOLIE

LA FOLIE

San Francisco Bay Area

La Folie

2316 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 776-5577
www.lafolie.com
French

CHEF’S FIVE COURSE MENU

We ordered the 5 course piggy menu and were STUFFED. You don’t want to ruin your expensive meal by overeating! Presentation is beautiful. The dessert course was probably the least outstanding.

Bread

french baguette
la-folie_bread

Amuse Bouche

la-folie_amuse_bouche

egg yolk with leek cream soup
la-folie_egg_york

Osetra Caviar

la-folie_caviar

Brentwood Farms Sweet Corn Soup

lobster, truffle, crispy sweetbreads
la-folie_truffle_soup

la-folie_truffle-soup

Seared Day Boat Scallop & Crispy Sweetbreads

on nantais carrot puree, truffle vinaigrette
la-folie_scallop

Quail and Squab

stuffed with mushrooms, wrapped in crispy potato strings, truffled jus
la-folie_quail

Seasonal Sorbets

mixed berries sorbet and yuzu granite, passion fruit sorbet cannoli
la_folie_dessert

Petit Fours

chocolate plantain, canele de bourdeaux, madeleines with brandied cherries, apricot pate de fruit
la-folie_petit_fours

Brenda’s French Soul Food

Brenda’s French Soul Food

San Francisco Bay Area

Brenda’s French Soul Food

652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 345-8100
frenchsoulfood.com
Cajun

Sunday Brunch

A taste of Lousiana! We were excited to try it out based on the reviews and always seeing the line formed outside, which is usually a good sign. They have good beignets, big and fluffy. The cheddar grits was a bit too cheesy and heavy for me. Overall atmosphere is very open and bright. Portions are really big so make sure to share!

Beignet Flight

plain, chocolate, granny smith apple, crayfish
brendas-french-soul_beignet

Granny Smith Apple

sweetened with cinnamon honey butter
brenda-french-soul_apple

Crayfish

spiced with cayenne, scallions & cheddar
brendas-french-soul_crayfis

Chocolate

molten Ghirardelli chocolate
brendas-french-soul_chocola

Eggs Benedict

two poached eggs on cream biscuits with creole hollandaise and grits
brendas-french-soul_eggs

Shrimp & Grits

sauteed shrimp, cheddar grits, spicy tomato-bacon gravy
brendas-french-soul_grits

BENU

BENU

Michelin Star San Francisco Bay Area

Benu

22 Hawthorne St.,San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 685-4860
www.benusf.com
Asian Fusion

18 Course Tasting Menu

1st Course

Thousand-year old quail egg, potage, ginger
benu_quail_egg

2nd Course

Oyster, pork belly, kimchi
benu_oyster

3rd Course

Potato salad with anchovy
benu_potato_salad_ball

4th Course

Wild salmon roe, eggplant, buckwheat, perlla
benu_salmon_roe

5th Course

Chicken liver steamed in rice wine, caviar, green apple, radish, brioche
benu_chicken_liver

6th Course

eel, feuille de brick, crème fraîche, lime
benu_eel_cream

7th Course

Sesame tofu, black moss, baby corn.
benu_tofu

Tomato and preserved plum
benu_plum

9th Course

Lobster coral xiao long bao
benu_xiaolongbao

10th Course

Salt and pepper squid
benu_squid

11th Course

Sablefish, soft shell clam, black bean, squash
benu_sablefish

12th Course

Abalone blanquette
benu_abalone

13th Course

Duck, cucumber, scallion, Shaoxing wine, black truffle bun
benu_duck

benu_blk_truffle_bun

14th Course

Roast quail, turnip, spicy cabbage, cherry
benu_quail

15th Course

“Shark’s fin” soup, dungeness crab, Jinhua ham, black truffle custard
benu_sharksfin

16th Course

Melon, sake, pine
benu_melon

17th Course

Spice cake, blueberry, yogurt, oatmeal ice cream
benu_spice_cake

18th Course

Chocolates
benu_petite_four

SWAN OYSTER DEPOT

SWAN OYSTER DEPOT

San Francisco Bay Area

Swan Oyster Depot

1517 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 673-1101
Seafood

What to expect

Having lived in San Franciso for several years, I’ve never thought about this place. It was on one of Anthony Bourdain’s shows and since a friend was visiting from LA, we decided to check this place out. It’s a small place (a bar with about 20 stools) so expect to wait in line (hour+).

swan_oyster_depot

Clam Chowder

The clam chowder wasn’t what I’m used to. It had the clam flavor but it was a bit watery.
swan_oyster_depot_soup

Shrimp Cocktail

lots baby shrimp and cocktail sauce
swan_oyster_depot_shrimp

Oysters

mixed dozen oysters
swan_oyster_depot_oyster

Combination Sashimi Sicilian Style

salmon, tuna, capers, olive oil, red onion, black pepper
swan_oyster_depot_sashimi

MASA’S

MASA’S

San Francisco Bay Area

Masa’s

648 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 989-7154
French
closed on 2013

CHEF’S TASTING MENU

I was treated to Masa’s for my birthday dinner. The dining room is quite old-fashioned and very quiet. We went with their 9 Course Tasting Menu. The preparations were complex in flavor, well-plated, and used modern techniques. Overall, a great dining experience for special occasions.

Amuse Bouche

cheese puffs
masas_amuse_bouche

Amuse Bouche

oyster, farm raised osetera caviar
masas_caviar

Bread

brioche roll, sourdough
masas_bread

Violet Artichokes

marble potatoes, fiddlehead ferns, deviled egg sauce
masas_artichokes

Grilled Asparagus

twenty minute quail egg, horse mackerel, pickled hon-shemiji
masas_asparagus

Fruits de Mer

lobster, uni, calamari, daikon, tosaka, aji amarillo, black sesame
masas_fruits_de_mar

Octopus

spring onions, chorizo consomme
masas_octopus

Maine Monkfish

celery root, black trompette mushrooms
masas_monkfish

Hot Foie Gras

baby turnips, vinegar sauce, fried onions
masas_foie_gras

Whole Roasted Paine Farms Squab Breast

baby bok choy, kohlrabi
masas_squab

Cheese Course

masas_cheese

Palate Cleanser

juicy, tart, sweet tangerine granite
masas_palate_cleanser

Birthday Coconut Panna Cotta

key lime, lima dolce, silver lime
masas_birthday

Petit Fours

chocolates, lollipops, macaroon
masas_petit_fours_car

masas_petit_fours

STATION HOUSE CAFE

STATION HOUSE CAFE

San Francisco Bay Area

Station House Cafe

11180 State Rt 1, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
(415) 663-1515
www.stationhousecafe.com
American

Lunch Menu

Plenty of menu choices and breakfast is served all day. Great for a rest stop drink or some eats while walking around town for the day.

Tomales Bay Mussels

steamed with shallots, white wine, butter & garlic

station-house-cafe_mussel

Fettuccine

fettuccine with clams, fresh tomatoes, garlic, butter & white wine
station-house-cafe_noodle

Fish & Chips

true cod fried with lagunitas IPA beer batter & served with hand-cut fries and coleslaw
station-house-cafe_fish

Dessert

bread pudding
station-house-cafe_pudding

CHEZ TJ

CHEZ TJ

San Francisco Bay Area

Chez TJ

938 Villa Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 964-7466
www.cheztj.com
French/American

Gastronomique Menu – 2010

I heard good things about the new chef Scott Nishiyama and it intrigued us to give it another try. Food was prepared and presented in a most excellent way. Overall you will leave happy and full.

Amuse Bouche

chez-tj_amuse_bouche

Soup of Roasted Parsnip and Coconut

chez-tj_soup

Pacific Amberjack “Gravlax”

Hickory, Potato, Persimmon, Yogurt
chez-tj_amberjack

Massachusetts Diver Sea Scallops

Clobe Artichokes, Yukon Gold Potato, Sturgeon Caviar
chez-tj_scallop

Palate Cleanser

chez-tj_lemon

Sonoma Poussin

Carrot, Truffle, Smoking Clove
chez-tj_poussin

Trio of Fromage

Grayson, Meadow Creek Farm, Virginia
Txiki, Barinaga Ranch, California
Crottin, Redwood Hill Farms, California
chez-tj_cheese

Petit Fours

chez-tj_petit_fours

BAUME

BAUME

San Francisco Bay Area

Baumé

201 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-8899
www.baumerestaurant.com
French

DECOUVERTE MENU  |  OCTOBER 2010

The menu lists that evening’s featured ingredients, such as asparagus, vermouth, liquid nitrogen, and pineapple, but holds no clue as to how they will be presented in dishes. You can expect a variety of small plates and interesting food chemistry. It was an unexpected fun hot-and-cold experience.

baume_ingredients

Amuse Bouche

scallop sashimi
baume_amuse-bouche

Amuse Bouche

baume_amuse_bouche

First Course

baume_first_course

baume_first

Bread

tofu parsley whip and balsamic vinaigrette emulsification
baume_bread

Second Course

baume_2nd_course

baume_2ndcourse

Third Course

62 degree egg
baume_62degree_egg

Fourth Course

foie gras
baume_foie

Fifth Course

truffle
baume_truffle

Sixth Course

pork belly
baume_pork-belly

Seventh Course

tofu fried veggies
baume_stirfry_veggie

Eigth Course

cheese
baume_cheese

Ninth Course

Lychee amuse bouche to complement the scallop amuse bouche from the beginning of the meal
baume_scallop_amusebouche

Tenth Course

baume_dessert1

baume_dessert

Special treat from the chef

parfait
baume_dinner

Amuse Bouche

banana bread with raspberry explosion
baume_amuse_bouche