It looked good.
I mean, it looked really good.
And then my friend said she doesn't mind the $$$ splurge. Oh man. So in a sweater, jeans, and beat-up tennis shoes I went (she was more dressed up than me). The only thing I had going for me was my purse I think. Oh and we had no reservation.
We went by Muni to a JBF-winning restaurant and walked in at 7 PM on a Saturday night. The restaurant was about 70% full. Can you take 2 for dinner?
Yes.
Executive chef Greg Short trained for a long time under Thomas Keller at the French Laundry, and he even sent him to stage at Taillevant.
While the menu listed a 5 course menu and a 9-course tasting menu, it also stated that they can do just 3 courses upon request.
I already knew I'd be late for another friend's party so we asked for the 3 course menu.
To start off, warm gougeres with 6-month-aged cheese.
For the bread I asked for a cheese-coated focaccia.
Canape: Grilled aji, cucumber, paprika.
For my friend they prepared a vegetarian Canape: Potato blinis, banana
Asparagus- Green-Purple
easter egg radishes, pea sprouts, perigord truffles, asparagus jus
For my vegetarian friend:
Composition of Early Spring Vegetables
roasted purple and white cauliflower, fava beans, brussels sprouts, baby spring leeks, rapini, maitake mushroom "cream", pine nut "dust"
My main entree:
Pan Roasted Paine Farms Squab Breast
braised swiss chard, pickled field rhubarb, "confit" leg, grenadine gastrique
The main entree for my vegetarian friend:
Baby Artichokes
russet potato gnocchi, fermented black garlic, roasted vegetable stock, reggiano parmesan
For desserts we just got the two that our server suggested:
Strawberry Hazelnut Shortcake
Chantilly, black pepper ice cream.
Chocolate Macadamia Nut Tart
Cafe au lait ice cream.
We're not done of course. Upon entering the restaurant I had already noticed the mignardise cart sitting on the side.
My friend also really enjoyed her vegetarian menu (fyi: non-meat-eaters).
Oh, we left by taxi instead of Muni. That's classier, right?
Masa's Restaurant
648 Bush St
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 989-7154
www.masasrestaurant.com
I loooooooved Masa's!
ReplyDeleteAnd we got one of everything off the mignardise cart.
Oink.
Oh how nice for you both! That asparagus/radish/pea dish is so very lovely.
ReplyDeleteLL