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Dinner in Yountville (Napa Valley)

By mlb, on May 3rd, 2010%

Ad Hoc

Hey! We were on vacation last week in California. And, no, no, we didn’t go to The French Laundry (although, I am starting a campaign to do so on our 5th wedding anniversary) but we did go to Ad Hoc, one of Thomas Keller‘s other restaurants. Mmm!

Menu from April 29, 2010:

* TFL Garden Carrot & Butter Lettuce Salad – sugar snap peas, blonde frisee, crisp chickpeas, white cabbage, chive oil, diced jicama, ginger dressing

* Angus Beef New York Strip Steak – grilled scallions, fingerling potatoes, cilantro, fried hen egg, fresno chilies, sauteed baby rainbow chard

* Fresh Leaf-Wrapped Goat Cheese with assorted pickles and olives, maldon flatbread

* Banana Spring Rolls – valhrona chocolate sauce, coconut ice cream

Yeah, it was quite good. See the pictures below. Plus a few assorted images from wandering around Yountville, CA.

Ad Hoc
The menu and wine list comes in a folder. . . . → Read More: Dinner in Yountville (Napa Valley)

3 comments   California, Restaurants

Halibut with Carrot-Shiitake-Miso Broth & Udon Noodles

By mlb, on September 7th, 2009%

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Okay, this is where I try to reverse-engineer a meal from out at a restaurant. How did I do? Pretty well! This is from wonderful meal that we had at the Aquarius restaurant in Santa Cruz last month, with jwa’s parents.

That amazingly tasty dish: California white bass with udon noodles, lychee glaze and miso-truffle broth. So, yeah, mine was similiar, but a little different. Swapped bass for halibut, guava for lychee, no truffles in broth and added veggies! I basically used the flavorings for the broth that I’ve used before making a miso soup (ginger, garlic, soy sauce, mirin). It worked well here.

Oh, I loved this. I want to make it again. I’d say the glaze is probably optional, and when I make it again, I might just skip it, but it was fun to try and come up with a replacement for the lychee glaze. Doesn’t . . . → Read More: Halibut with Carrot-Shiitake-Miso Broth & Udon Noodles

10 comments   Asian, California, Fish & Seafood, Recipes, Vegetables

California: The Week in Pictures

By mlb, on August 16th, 2009%

California

Mostly pictures of our vacation to California last week. Very good as I am way tired. Goodnight. *snore*

Places mentioned –

Benbow Inn
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Boathouse Vacation Rental
Sea Ranch
Trinks
Redwood Grill

California
Mussels with chorizo, tomato and tarragon at the Benbow Inn.

California
Benbow Bridge over the Elk River

California
More Elk River

California
Benbow Inn

California
View from our room

California
Approaching the Golden Gate Bridge from the North

California
On the bridge

California
Sea horses at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

California
Sea dragons at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

California
Deck at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

California
Assorted sea creatures at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

California
Near the aquarium

California
Willow Glen (San Jose) Starbucks at night

California
Deck of our vacation rental in Anchor Bay (The Boat House)

California
The front of the Boat House

. . . → Read More: California: The Week in Pictures

2 comments   California

Curiosity + Black Beans + Waffle Iron = Tasty, Tasty Snacks

By mlb, on February 8th, 2008%

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I came across a recipe by Michael Chiarello for white bean waffles a while ago and was very intrigued. So much so that I completely changed the recipe to be black bean waffles. Recently I had some time, a can of black beans and a waffle maker. Here’s what happened…

Black Bean Waffles
For the beans:
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 dash tabasco
1 handful fresh cilantro
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the waffles:
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 eggs
1 cups milk
3 tbsp olive oil

Preheat your waffle device of choice. In a small pot combine the beans, chili powder, cumin, tabasco, and chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Meanwhile in a . . . → Read More: Curiosity + Black Beans + Waffle Iron = Tasty, Tasty Snacks

3 comments   Beans & Legumes, Breakfast, California, Eggs, Vegetarian

Sushi Experiment #1: Crab, Cucumber & Avocado (Oh and Some Shoes)

By mlb, on October 2nd, 2007%

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At work last Friday, there was a stack of seaweed packages for people to take home if they wanted to and do something seaweed-y with. Grabbing a package, I thought it might be fun for jwa and I to attempt to make sushi. After some contemplation, we decided to start simply, with just rice, cucumber, avocado and crab — a little like California Rolls.

We already had a day planned — breakfast at the Detour Cafe, a walk to OMSI and then I figured we’d hit New Seasons on the walk back home for rice and crab. Everything went perfectly to plan, except New Seasons was out of crab and we had to get that at Zupans. Bastards!

omsi
jwa outside omsi

Once at home and rice, veggies and crab prepped, we timidly began. The sushi mats were a little challenging to get the hang of and these were . . . → Read More: Sushi Experiment #1: Crab, Cucumber & Avocado (Oh and Some Shoes)

9 comments   Asian, California, Fish & Seafood, Wedding
 
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