Summer is here (gastronomy 2005 cont)

To mark its arrival, feasted through the Month of June in San Francisco/Bay Area style.
And a banner birthday month, befitting celebrations with dear friends and family.

Birthdays included: 71st for my mother, Evelyn, Betty, Albert, nephew Justin, Marshall, and my late father.

Jeanty at Jacks in the Financial District with Betty. The quenelles and the galette de pomme are worth writing about, telling friends and returning for. Weds eves are quiet, allowing for conversation and reflection. With a range of affordable french wines available, how can you go wrong. We chose a 2001 Bordeux from Chatteau Faizeu St. Emillion, paired nicely with the roast pork and short ribs.

Limon in the Mission --Peruvian Fusion with Albert. Noteworthy: ceviche with cream sauce and the exceptional bottle of Cain blend (Bordeux style of 3 varietals, the wine had sophistication of St Emillion, Chateauneff de Pape) a Napa vineyard -- limited production. Restaurant is newly opened, the chef and crew needs settling in. Suggested to the owner partner and wait staff to suggest to the Chef "a little less in achieving complexity" with the food --the 3 other appetizers were 2 ingredients too many. Ambience reminded me of Pearl in Rockridge. Modernist chic. A highlight is running into a former schoolmate and his mom (Armando/Berkeley, Mom/Oakland), it was an unexpected delight to reconnect at a place were none of us live. I am in regular contact with Teresa, sister to Armando, a classmate from middle school. Of half Peruvian parentage, Armando's expectation and dining reality was tempered by the efforts to suit Norteno palates.

A revisit at Oola in the South Market with a regular food bud Bill. The foie gras was sumptious. The bottle of Hogue Merlot held its own while grazing (Anchovy, Asparagus, and the fois gras). Festive environment. Informed the dining room manager to not accept a reservation for 8pm if one is not seated till 8:30, simple good practice. If the food and the ambience were less, it would be easy to not return. It is a scene. An earlier note, four of us dined there in the fall shortly after it opened. Chef owner came from Chez Papa, at the time one of my favored food destinations.

A return (5th) to Dopo on Piedmont Avenue, consistently high quality (a pizza take out and a sit down with Howard in June alone). A return trip (5th) to Lucas, Howard and I ate a mediterranean repasse of antipasta, salad greens and mussels. Both venues are worth their price and frequent returns. Cote de Sud, is getting a little less rigorous. However, because of location and competetition, it will be there a while. I may go back next year.

You're correct in thinking, Daniel has been saving up his ducats for summer feasting. I'll post yet another gastronomy Bay Area missive again, perhaps at the arrival of fall.