Loved this installment of the pop-up dinners at Vino Carta. It is fantastic to see how these continue to grow.
roasted & fermented vegetables, trout roe, brown rice, charred bread
live scallop crudo, lardo, XO sauce, seaweed oil, preserved citrus
eucalyptus smoked lamb & beef tartare, blackberry, jicama, pine nuts
grilled chicories, pork, calabrian chili, kohlrabi
yakitori quail, wheat berries, green garlic, meyer lemon, wild mustard
Somehow they were out of the first two wines we tried to order but it was only up-hill from there. I could eat these dishes everyday.
La Paz – big eye tuna, cucumber, orange zest, ginger habanero salsa
shrimp aquachile, cucumber, red onion, radish, serrano, cilantro, lime
grilled octopus, green pipian, toasted sesame, radish
Yellowtail – morita & hibiscus coulis, cucumber slaw, seasonal fruit, crispy hibiscus flower
Somehow I have no photos of the menu thus no descriptions. The relatively new Pisco at Liberty Station has excellent food although service and the wine list needs some work.
It was finally time to branch out from Cucina Urbana which has been a go-to for more years than I can remember. As good as expected and the Big Table Farm pinot did not hurt.
pesto & piquillo pepper flatbread – zucchini, pecorino, arugula, ricotta
market chopped salad – kale, fennel, celery root, grape, ricotta salt, cashew, white balsamic
pumpkin & goat cheese & zatar & crudite
grilled sicilian meatballs – amatriciana, guanciale, grana padano
I’m not sure that southern California oceanfront dining views get better than this.
A beautiful space and great cocktails. The menu has evolved since this visit which is a very good thing as sushi rolls in San Diego seem to be tragically uninspired and homogenous.
Clearly I have missed everything Momofuku. Penicillin…kimchi fried rice…enough said.
slow roasted pork shoulder ssam with kimchi fried rice
chinese long beans, chili, garlic, shallot
Atla
Deserted on a frigid and snowy morning but excellent as always and worth making the trek for.
arctic char and farmers cheese tostada
ranchero eggs
Ko
Very belated and a bit sad in retrospect as this was my last visit to the Ko bar before the space was renovated. I will eventually catch up to the new space and menu (which is awesome) but I loved the old one as well.
The first time I tried to visit Flora Bar was unfortunately Super Bowl sunday and it was closed. It obviously took me a long time to make a second attempt but was certainly worth the effort.
snow crab with miso mayonnaise
tuna tartare, sunflower, and hijiki
sea bream crudo with pomelo and chrysanthemum
chicories with pears, hazelnuts and Bayley Hazen Blue
potato and raclette croquettes
Futsu squash and black truffle tart
lobster and crab dumplings in yuzu broth
It is fantastic to see more cool places move into the Nomad area of NYC. Ferris makes the best of below street level location and overdelivers for its modest setting. A definite must visit.
chips & dip – chicharrones, chicken liver mousse
blood sausage – grilled dates, toasted seeds
(I discovered I am missing a page of the menu and consequently descriptions for a few courses.)
octopus – egg custard, confit potato, pedro ximinez
beets – black sesame tahini, young coconut
carrot agnolotti – lamb neck, pickled squash
iwillmakeualist 