Friday, May 14, 2010

Food log: Friday, May 14

PB sandwich, banana, Diet Coke
PB sandwich, banana, Diet Coke
Today was a great day: I was finally going to eat at Café Chez Panisse in Berkeley!
Chez Panisse
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.
The menu at Café Chez Panisse
Menu at Café Chez Panisse
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
The house water at Café Chez Panisse, in sparkling
Bread
Bread at Café Chez Panisse
Earthy, with a crunchy crust.

Bionade, a gingery fizzy drink
Bionade at Café Chez panisse
Bellwether Farm ricotta with spring vegetables and basil
Bellwether Farm ricotta with spring vegetable salad and basil at Café Chez Panisse
Bellwether Farm ricotta with spring vegetable salad and basil at Café Chez Panisse
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
Sonoma County duck leg confit with grilled Belgian endives and breadcrumb salsa at Café Chez Panisse
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
Meyer lemon cream puffs with strawberries and kirsch cream at Café Chez Panisse
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. 
Bite of burrito. YUM
In the eternal words of Gossip Girl: OMG.

Pretzel, Coke and chips (eaten later with dinner) on the Alcatraz tour boat - $6
Coke, soft pretzel, chips (not shown, eaten later) - on the Alcatraz tour boat ($6)
Burrito leftovers, chips, Diet Coke
Burrito leftovers, chips, Diet Coke
Double OMG.

Money spent on food today: $64