Restaurant Show on Saturday, August 8, 2009

This week's PLAYBACK
Part 1:


Part 2:


We were in Frisco for the art and antique fare---and to visit all the restaurants in the area. What a fun thing for summer visitors.

We are putting this up without the Frisco part as we wanted you to enjoy the Scoop-and the podcast before I get home on Sunday. So look for details on Frisco in next week’s Scoop-but hear all about this week’s happenings up to the trip.

We went to Oceanaire for dinner. The bread is great, the wine was nice. The dinners we chose: Caesar, calamari and an unusual blt salad with very bland dressing started the dinner. Some had the $30 dinner (a special 3 course meal with smaller portions which is fine), and some of us ordered a la carte. Entrees were a very disappointing trout as it was burnt and dry (not on the special), cioppino with several unopened mussels (again, a la carte, ono and a pork chop that were on the special. Desserts were a key lime pie (sort of cake) and a very good chocolate mousse. The wine was nice. This is a very high end seafood spot, and all the prices are a la carte.

We went to 240 Union and everyone who has not been lately-get your body out there!!!! It was incredible and fabulous-we started with super wine and the best rolls in town—always were. Then we had the minestrone soup and a “to die for” watermelon salad with chunks of watermelon and gorgonzola cheese and olives and bacon vinaigrette-amazing!!! Then we had the best salmon, chicken fried lobster tail, pork chop and crab Louie---all were fabulous –then we had the chocolate cherry ice cream sandwich with hot fudge sauce=perfect service, great prices and just plain wonderful!!!

We went back to Snooze for break/lunch and it was great again. We had the eggs Benedict and the pancakes and eggs-we loved them both.

The Gabby dinner at miniBAR was incredible!!! Michel put on a dinner that fans will not forget. We were treated royally-the place looked great-both inside and the patio. And the dinner was amazing—he served all the “socials” he serves first-we had spiced nuts-divine-quesidillas of chicken, tomato bruschetta, the amazing deviled eggs and fabulous dates wrapped in bacon with cheese. The caprese salad is the best-not your usual and worth a visit. Then each of us had a shrimp dish, followed by the best ribs and great roasted potatoes. Dessert was kit kat bars with ice cream. Lovely wine was poured all evening as well. Service was great, the evening wonderful---get over there and have a great time-and at a really good price too. They are doing lunch now as well so it is a super spot for lunch as well as happy hour, dinner, and late night.

Dinner at Squeaky Bean was great. The patio is terrific, service great and food is so good. The wines are super-and then the food-we had a duo of tartar-tuna and salmon and divine and the mozzarella and caprese tomato salad the best. Then we had moussaka, the tuna conserva sandwich and the shrimp blt—all were great. And so was the triple chocolate cake with ice cream and coconut. It was so good and such a treat-and they do brunch and breakfast and lunch too.

TV was great with a super job by Bob Sandavol, our great floor director at channel 7-he even made a cameo appearance!!! We had Racines, Breakfast Palace, Sam’s #3, Pete’s Kitchen and Swifts—they were all terrific.

We were lucky enough to go to Highlands Garden Café for dinner-and on the patio on a perfect night-nothing could be better-the place is so gorgeous-then add fabulous food, amazing wines and perfect service is these surroundings and you are in for a special treat. We started with tomatoes, mozzarella and grilled eggplant picked from Pat’s garden. Then we had the spinach salad with dates, pancetta and more and the gazpacho. Both were divine. Then we had salmon, catfish and duck for entrees—and as these were amazing, we passed on dessert-too full and the wine was out of this world—such fun with amazing roses right now—a perfect summer wine-and there is a huge difference in each.

The highlight of the week was the East meets West with Elway’s Cherry Creek and Matushisa doing the most fabulous party at Elway’s. The set up was gorgeous with stations of divine food of both Elway’s and Matsuhisa-all paired with 5 different Shochus at each station. The cocktail party started with drinks made from shochu. It was the most fabulous evening with great seating and so much heavenly food. everyone was delighted for good reason. Sean Gallus will tell all whenever and The WineJester will carry the shochu for all to buy. This truly was a night to remember. And we will!!! What a treat for all.

I will write all about our trip to Frisco and details of the restaurants there and more for next week.

See you all at Argyll Gastropub on Monday—they are doing an amazing 5 course dinner and it will be outstanding.

Summer fun is happening and hope you all are joining us in the fun.
Be sure and go to TV appearance and click on the link to see the TV segment live.

Gabby