Today was a great day: I was finally going to eat at Café Chez Panisse in Berkeley!
I got there early so it was quiet for the first 20 minutes. then the true lunch crowd started to arrive. The people sitting next to me were clearly regulars. They sat down, ordered champagne and anchovies and commented on every item on the menu with great delight. Sitting next to joyful, bon vivant people like that makes dinning solo more enjoyable. Or maybe I'm just a foodie snoop.
As in many restaurant in San Francisco, Chez Panisse offers its own filtered water, available in sparkling or regular. It's a good idea, as the nice carafes they use are much greener than bottled water.
Sparkling water
Bread
Earthy, with a crunchy crust.
Bionade, a gingery fizzy drink
Bellwether Farm ricotta with spring vegetables and basil
Sweet and creamy, the ricotta was a perfect match for the crunchy veggies and delicate dressing.
Sonoma County duck confit leg with grilled endives and breadcrumb salsa
Simple, fresh, delicious. The salsa was made with toasted breadcrumbs and fresh herbs, a recipe I will certainly try at home.
Meyer lemon cream puffs with strawberries and kirsch cream
Anything made with lemon curd has my name written all over it. This is the kind of dessert that other customers watch you eat with envy. Mega yum.
Lunch at Café Chez Panisse was $58 including a 17% service charge that is added to the bill automatically.
Later, before going on my Alcatraz tour, I got the muchies.
Bite of cold burrito.
In the eternal words of Gossip Girl: OMG.
Pretzel, Coke and chips (eaten later with dinner) on the Alcatraz tour boat - $6
Burrito leftovers, chips, Diet Coke
Double OMG.
Money spent on food today: $64
