The Bay Area Bucket List: Simply the best things to do in and around San Francisco

My friends often call me a de facto representative of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, since I'm always such an advocate for the city and its surroundings. A common refrain from me is that it's "just a better life" out here -- with our amazing culinary culture, our proximity to so many incredible places from mountains to beaches and everything in between, our big city benefits yet small city feel, and our unique ability to welcome diversity of people, thought (not sure about this one anymore -- we may be closed-minded about being open-minded, but that's not the topic for this blog entry), culture, etc.

In writing this Bucket List, I recognize that one of the very things that I appreciate most about the Bay Area is that you can truly stumble upon a magical new place or sensory discovery at almost any moment. However, a "bucket list" is a list of activities or experiences you want to ensure you've had before you die. I audaciously claim that you have not sufficiently enjoyed this place as a resident nor have you really seen what the Bay Area has to offer as a tourist if you've missed any of the following wonders:

In "The City"

• Ferry Plaza Farmers Market -- Go early on a Saturday morning if you can, in order to have access to the best bounty from the local area farmers. Try to find dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes from Dirty Girl Produce, figs of many varieties at Knoll Farms, lettuces from Star Route Farm, goat cheese made fresh that morning from Bodega Goat Cheese. Any day of the week, you can and should enjoy a cheese sampling at Cowgirl Creamery, a fresh marshmallow from Michael Recchiuti Confections, an apricot or plum or cherry tart from Frog Hollow Farms, the biggest mushroom selection I've ever seen at Far West Fungi, olive oils from Stonehouse, coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee Co, oysters and amazing grilled cheese at Hog Island, great Vietnamese food at Slanted Door or Out the Door, one of the best value meals anywhere at Il Cane Rosso, and an incredible Ahi burger at Gott's Roadside. 
• Seeing the San Francisco Ballet or listening to the San Francisco Symphony in the Stern Grove wooded amphitheater -- I'm not sure there's a better setting for music or the arts anywhere. If there is one, it needs to be on my life's Bucket List.
• A Giants game at AT&T Park -- Arguably the most aesthetically impressive stadium in professional sports, it's a downtown park with views of the Bay and absolutely not a single bad seat.
• Walking Land's End trail -- At and around the very tip of the San Francisco Peninsula with gorgeous views through the Golden Gate and across the mouth of the Bay to the Marin Headlands
• "First Tuesdays" at SF MOMA -- The first Tuesday of every month, you can get into SF MOMA for free. It's usually a bit crowded, but it's also usually well worth the visit and the wait.
• Sailing on the Bay -- Find a way to get on the water, move without a motor, and see the city from a completely different angle.
• Bay to Breakers -- I'm not sure there's more of a signature event for the city than this, and it's always one of the best weekends of the year to be in town.
• Golden Gate Park and all its splendors -- The park has so many things to offer, it's definitely undervalued by many. Check out the rose garden, the North American Bison, and the all-white-wearing lawn bowlers.Or just grab a book, find a tree and read.
• San Francisco's best takes on Italian Food -- Delfina and Dopo (in Oakland)
  
• Running through the Presidio -- Find a trail and go.
• The best and most unique Cafes -- Grab the best bread you can get, some baked goodies, or a sandwich at Tartine and grab a coffee from the Japanese siphon bar at Blue Bottle Coffee

Outside "The City"

• An oyster picnic at Hog Island in Marshall (Point Reyes) -- Bring your own oyster shucking knife, and be sure to enjoy some Kumamotos and Sweetwaters (I prefer the extra small variety, but they'll give you several size choices).
• Weekend trip to Tahoe -- In sun or snow, Lake Tahoe is a destination for outdoor fun. North shore, for sure.
• A day in Healdsburg -- Perhaps the "cutest" town in California about 1 hour North of The City, you can eat well, shop the square, and enjoy local Russian River Valley wineries without the hype and touristy madness of its sister valley over the hill, Napa. Make a picnic for yourself from Oakville Grocery, enjoy a burger at Healdsburg Bar and Grill, or step it up a notch (or three) and dine at Cyrus. Favorite wineries nearby: Dutton-Goldfield, Williams-Selyem, Gary Farrell, Copain and Rochioli.
• Eating in Yountville -- Tuna tartare and fish tacos at the Bar at Redd; cream of tomato soup en croute at Bistro Jeanty; fried chicken at Ad Hoc; oysters and croque madame late-night at Bouchon
• Hiking Mount Tamalpais -- Through the trees, across the streams and down to Stinson Beach from the Pan Toll station, you can take a zillion different routes; they're all worthwhile. Do it in the sun, and also, do it in the fog and in the rain. They're each distinct experiences that bring such different colors, sounds and smells. Just be prepared for the weather, and enjoy!
• A summer concert, at sunset, at the Greek Theater in Berkeley -- You'll have the incredible backdrop of a colorful sunset over the Bay while enjoying the tunes.
• A visit to Chez Panisse -- This is what started it all (whether it's San Francisco's foodie culture, or California Cuisine, or being a "locavore", or enjoying sustainable or organic farming processes). Go see for yourself what Alice Waters did to revolutionize food.
• Whitewater river rafting on the Tuolomne River -- You can do one day or an overnight trip. While there are loads of terrific river rafting experiences available in California, this one tops the rest with exciting adventure combined with over-the-top natural beauty and seclusion.
• Touring Steinbeck country in Salinas and Monterey -- While you're at it, check out the 17-mile drive in Pebble Beach, but focus on some of Steinbeck's old haunts and landscapes.
• An overnight trip to Mendocino -- Great coastal village with local farms, beautiful walks along the sea, and a real old-time California feel. 
• A beer on the lawn at The Pelican Inn -- Preferably after a hike along the coast to Muir Beach on a sunny day, go inside to this traditional English pub and have them do a real "pull" of a draught English stout or ale, then bring it outside and sit down on the front lawn with friends and enjoy.
• Views, vines and vino in Rutherford and Calistoga -- Favorite wineries for both good settings and great tastings include Quintessa, Joseph Phelps, and Ridge.

Do you love one of our great museums, have a favorite overlook in Half Moon Bay, enjoy going to the Chabot Center, swear by a particular yoga class, or eagerly await some annual event every year? Surely, I've missed some experiences that I may have forgotten or should be added to my own personal Bay Area Bucket List, so please nominate your favorites!

Ten Best Expense Account Restaurants in San Francisco

Normally, my blogs rank the best places to eat per dollar and thus are skewed towards more casual options. Those are still my first choices, because I skew towards more casual options as a rule, and quite frankly, value matters to me. But when money's no object, you've got a visitor or special occasion to celebrate, or someone else is footing the bill, here are the ten best places in the San Francisco Bay Area (noted in parentheses if not in the city of San Francisco) to dine out:

1. Gary Danko -- It's not news to anyone to suggest it on the top of any list, but Gary Danko is the site of many a perfect meal, and the three course tasting menu is actually a pretty good deal.
2. Ritz Carlton Dining Room -- Ron Siegel is San Francisco's most artistic chef. Do the Chef's Tasting Menu to see the full spectrum of talent on display, assuming you have the time (and you should try to make time for it). 
3. Boulevard -- Nancy Oakes is still making some of San Francisco's finest cuisine. You can never, ever go wrong eating at Boulevard.
4. Delfina -- Craig and Annie Stoll are the envy of chefs everywhere for how they can make simple food taste this good, day after day, at a price even other chefs can afford. You want to see where famous chefs dine in San Francisco, this is is usually the first choice, and you will know why when you visit.
5. Chez Panisse (Berkeley) -- Alice Waters is still in the kitchen here, and if you know anything about food, you must know about her. This is the origin of California Cuisine, and they're still teaching people about how to eat fresh, locally, sustainably, and beautifully.
6. Redd (Yountville) -- One of those places where I prefer both the atmosphere and the menu at the bar -- which is at or near the top of my overall list -- the restaurant itself has more than its share of merit for your, or someone else's, wallet. They simply do everything perfectly; the food is a great reflection of the bounty of the environs.
7. Dopo (Oakland) -- Always one of my top ten on my overall rankings because it's just the best value around, the menu is the perfect size and so is the restaurant, and the staff is as welcoming as you'll find anywhere. It's still "the neighborhood restaurant every neighborhood wishes it had" but this is a place to go regardless of your budget because you can't do better for an authentic, fresh, Italian meal made with love.
8. Harris' -- The best place for beef in SF, period. Their dry-aged beef and old-school steakhouse charm will please anyone looking for a great steak dinner. I'd put this place up there with the best of New York and Chicago any day.
9. Zuni Cafe -- You'll hear this place described as the "quintessential San Francisco restaurant" and that characterization is well-deserved. Judy Rodgers is still going strong. Have the roast chicken and enjoy that amazing bread salad.
10. Spruce -- If you're on your own dime or want a more casual option, enjoy the burger in the bar area, not to mention their fantastic cocktails. But when you want to step it up a notch, eat at the restaurant and enjoy one of the finest dining experiences you can have anywhere.

Still good, and reasonable back-ups if you can't get a table at one of the above, here are the "close but no cigar," "not-quite-top-ten-worthy" restaurants for this expense account category:

• Morimoto (Napa)
• Slanted Door
• Sushi Ran (Sausalito)
• Quince
• Town Hall
• Waterbar
• Range
• Yank Sing
• Coi
• Ame
• La Toque (Napa)
• Camino (Oakland)
• Chapeau!

Some that I haven't yet had the opportunity to sufficiently evaluate but are likely to compete for a spot on one of the above lists include Tyler Florence's new opening, Wayfare Tavern, Melissa Perello's Frances, ex-French Laundry chef Corey Lee's Benu, and Nancy Oakes' Prospect. I will update this entry as soon as I've been to each of these a few times and can comment with sufficient experience.

Notably missing from this list are French Laundry and Cyrus, the two places most critics would say compete for best restaurant on the planet, forget the Bay Area. They're just so pricey, I can't recommend them to anyone. You can't ask a company to pay for this nor a friend. However, if you're a foodie, they're experiences you simply must have at some point in your life, so plan it as an event, and don't ever even think about the bill.

And just in case you've read the Michelin guide, are an avid Zagat fan, or received advice from an unqualified foodie, let me give you a list of places NOT to go that often pop up in these other recommendation venues:

• A16 -- I don't get it. People cram into this place, but they can't serve a pizza without a soggy middle to save their lives, and no Italian restaurant should screw up pizzas. If you want to stay within their family, go to sister restaurant SPQR; the pastas there are great, the atmosphere a little more toned-down, and the emphasis on doing a few things really nicely serves them well. 
• Bouchon -- Unless you're just going for oysters or for a late night snack (as there are no other options in Napa), this place will disappoint you.
• Michael Mina -- I don't care whose expense account you're on, this place is just way too pricey. It's good, but it isn't that good.
• RN74 -- Sorry, Michael, but maybe you're spread too thinly. This place has a great vibe, terrific service and a fantastic menu, but the execution on the actual food has fallen short every single time.
• Bottega Restaurante -- Some of the stuff on the menu here really does go above and beyond expectations in a good way, but it's just not sufficiently consistent across the menu or across visits to be worthy of its price or a recommendation.
• La Folie -- Are you kidding me? Do you want uber-over-sauced food, a stuffy atmosphere, and a ridiculous bill? OK, if that's what you're hoping to find, go for it.
• Commis -- On most folks' best new restaurants lists all over the world, I don't share the enthusiasm. While I love the menu and the creativity, I can't endorse the end result. And I think the atmosphere feels sterile and just a little strange.

San Francisco Bay Area's Ten Best Restaurants - 2010 Edition

Again, it's time to update the Top Ten list for the SF Bay Area restaurant scene. As always, I do not claim to have eaten everywhere possible, nor to even have a totally open mind. I know and love food, so here's my take on the best places to eat in the Bay Area. Again, the defining criterion is food quality per dollar, but I also incorporate qualities like service, atmosphere, ingredients, lack of overcomplication or over-gourmet-izing, etc. I'm a Californian, and I like "California Cuisine" -- fresh, local ingredients you don't spoil with too much effort, fat or sauce, you don't mix with other things that might sound good or trendy but just simply don't match, and you don't overpower with unnecessary complication. In short, I ask a restaurant to give me what nature gives it, just to make it harmonize in a way that most people can't.

At the end of the day, I tried to compile the list with the following new decision rule: I'm going out tonight, and I can eat anywhere - where do I want to go?

Some interesting results, including some major moves (down more than up), and some new leaders. Zuni drops out of the top ten, primarily because of some inconsistency I've experience recently, although I still love the place and it's still the "quintessential San Francisco restaurant" with great oysters and ambience. Zushi Puzzle drops way down from #3 to #10, also because of inconsistency, and both Hog Island and Pizzeria Delfina dropped out of the top ten in order to make room for some new leaders. There are also some notable new "honorable mentions" and they're listed with some "bests" in terms of cuisine.

As always, comments and controversy welcome and encouraged.

1. Dopo (2) Oakland -- It gets better and better, and the wonderful people and service stay just as good. I have had the opportunity to enjoy lunches there more this year, and I'm grateful for it. Their paninis are amazing. For dinner, the lasagne remains the best I've ever had, the pesce crudos are melt-in-your-mouth good with tons of flavor and complexity, and Jon's salumi platters are second-to-none. I also contend the pizza there is as good as anywhere, and certainly better than any place that isn't explicitly a pizzeria. Plus, Jon, Kayta, David, Pete and the whole crew there are just so great - everyone's family. 
2. Delfina (NR) SF - Mission -- Delfina defines the San Francisco restaurant scene for me. It so perfectly illustrates precisely why this is, bar none, the best eating city in the world -- if you, like I, use the criterion of food quality per dollar. One story tells it all with this place. I was taking a cooking class from famous chef Ron Siegel (now at Ritz Carlton, first non-Japanese to win a unanimous decision over the Japanese in the original Iron Chef), and someone asked what the meal he was teaching would cost as his then-restaurant, Masa's. Siegel, ever the irreverent and food-obsessed, said he didn't know, but someone in the class quickly stepped in, correctly asserting "Probably about $250 per person." Siegel retorted, "But you can just go down the street to Craig and Annie Stoll's place [Delfina] and get the same quality ingredients and even perhaps better preparation for $40!" 
3. Camino (5) Oakland -- A new favorite, this place has a very small, daily-changing menu, and it's just a fantastic example of California cuisine. The chef/owner opened it after 20 years at the foundational Chez Panisse, and Camino surpasses Chez Panisse Cafe in all ways other than tradition.
4. The Bar at Redd (1) Yountville -- I make the distinction from the main dining room this year, as I think the bar menu is just such an incredible value. I also think the food is more appealing, and most of you know I'd rather wear a t-shirt than a button-down and blazer, so the atmosphere of the bar is more appealing as well.
5. Range (4) SF - Mission -- One of my good friends finds this place to over-season the food, specifically that almost all dishes are too salty. I love salt, so perhaps I am not as sensitive to it, but I don't find the place to be anything but fantastic and consistently so. The pastas are fantastic here, as are the salads, and the daily-changing mains always entice.  
6. NOPA (6) SF - North Panhandle -- This place shows its founders Zuni heritage and even bests it in many ways, illustrated a higher ranking than its inspiration. Be sure to go for a cocktail before the meal, as their "mixology" is definitely one of their strengths. I love the vibrant atmosphere, but it doesn't mean more of a focus on fun than on the food. They nail both.
7. SPQR (NR) SF - Pacific Heights -- The chef who put A16 on the map, and subsequently this place, Nate Appelman, has left to take advantage of his new fame, and this restaurant has benefited significantly. They revamped the menu, started taking reservations (on OpenTable only), and simply improved all the offerings. It's a great neighborhood Italian, slightly fancier than Dopo, commensurate with the neighborhood this one has around it. All the pasta is "fatta en casa" (made in house), and they do a great job keeping it simple but ensuring enormous flavor and smart, traditional Roman combinations.
   
8. The Bar at Spruce (7) SF - Presidio Heights -- Again, I'm making the distinction between the bar and the restaurant. Frankly, I haven't even eaten at the restaurant, but I do know the bar has the best burger in the city, and anywhere that has the best burger in the city should be on this top ten list. The salumi and cheese platters are also great, as are the other small plates. Plus, like NOPA, they know how to make some drinks and create a comfortable, fun atmosphere without sacrificing on food quality.
9. Beretta (NR) SF - Mission -- The closest thing to Dopo in the city San Francisco itself, this place is a great, casual Italian spot with top-notch, crispy thin-crust pizzas, great pasta dishes, an affordable and attractive wine list, and fantastic cocktails, too.
   
10. Zushi Puzzle (3) SF - Marina -- Be sure to sit at the bar. It's an unfortunate reality, but sitting in the restaurant really means you don't get the same fish quality. Be sure to enjoy the variety of fresh options posted on the dry erase board, and you may want to beg Roger for the "Scott Special" -- he doesn't love to make it, as it's time consuming, and it's not on the menu. It is still the best sushi in the Bay Area, bar none, but it's not as consistent as it was a few years ago.

Honorable mention:

• Zuni Cafe (2009 rank: 9) SF - Mission
• Hog Island Oyster Co (2009 rank: 8) SF - Embarcadero
• Taylor's Refresher (2008 rank: 6) SF - Embarcadero
• Ritz Carlton Dining Room (2008 rank: 7) SF - Nob Hill
• Magnolia Pub -- Best Gastropub SF - Haight
• Picante -- Best Mexican Oakland
• La Toque -- Best French Napa
• Bistro Jeanty -- Best French Bistro Yountville
• Dosa -- Best Indian SF - Pac Hts & Mission
• Tartine -- Best Bakery SF - Mission
• Top Dog -- Best Dog Berkeley
• Ton Kiang -- Best Dim Sum SF - Richmond
• R&G Lounge -- Best Chinese SF - Chinatown
• House of Nanking -- Best Chinese SF - North Beach
• Fang -- Best New Chinese SF - SOMA
• Jimmy Bean's -- Best Brunch Berkeley
• Harris' -- Best Steak SF - Russian Hill
• In-N-Out Burger -- Best Fast (tie) SF - Ghirardelli Sq.
• Oasis Grill -- Best Fast (tie) SF - Financial Dist.
• Absinthe -- Best Duck Confit SF - Hayes Valley
• Memphis Minnie's -- Best BBQ SF - Lower Haight
• Bar Tartine -- SF - Mission
• Chapeau! -- SF - Richmond
• Boulevard -- SF - Financial Distict
• Wexler's -- SF - Financial District
• Chez Panisse -- Berkeley
• Chez Panisse Cafe -- Berkeley
• Quince -- SF - Financial Dist.
• Maverick -- SF - Mission
• Ella's -- SF - Laurel Heights
• Town Hall -- SF - SOMA

Ten Perfect Meals

If you've read my other blogs, you'll notice that the defining criteria for my restaurant reviews is always "food quality per dollar." However, there are occasions when you are looking to savor a very special experience that just happens to be based on a meal, and cost is a secondary concern.

Several times, I've been lucky enough to end a meal with a companion or a group and be able to exclaim, "Now that was a truly perfect meal." There are those times, on occasion, when neither the chef nor the servers nor the atmosphere could have been any better. You don't add any seasoning, you send nothing back to the kitchen, you never have an empty glass of water or wine, and you never have to strain to hear your companion(s).  In short, not even a perfectionist would do a single thing differently on any of these occasions. It is as if you witness a professional athlete performing at his peak in a major championship competition, and you're the one of the few beneficiaries.

I concede that both company and circumstance typically determine the experience at least as much as the meal, but I have done my best to disaggregate those elements from the overall evaluations. Furthermore, the restaurants here are highlighted because I recall making the "perfect" characterization as we concluded and departed.

A side note that I find interesting is that, including the honorable mentions, three of these experiences were actually first dates with women I ended up dating with some seriousness, so one might venture two conclusions from that bit of data: (a) the chef -- or someone out there -- was conspiring to take the pressure off and make sure the dinner set us on a good course; or (b) my nostalgia has me doing some revisionist history.

However, if you're searching for a great special-occasion type of meal, I propose to you a good starting point with this list:

La Toque (Napa Valley) -- Unfortunately, you can no longer replicate this experience, because it took place in the restaurant's former location; the restaurant has since moved into the new Westin in downtown Napa, losing quite a bit of the charm and atmosphere, while maintaining the excellence in the kitchen. The setting for this perfect meal was their courtyard garden, around a fireplace, and it was my going-away dinner prior to departing the Bay Area for a stint in London. My girlfriend and I enjoyed a six-course tasting menu, where each of us were provided different dishes for each course. Chef Ken Frank's creativity with all local, fresh ingredients and his passion for subtly infusing a French influence made for an incredible and cohesive arrangement of flavors. We opened the evening with a really nice Gosset Brut Rose, and then we enjoyed a fantastic Chablis on the way to a phenomenal bottle of Chambolle-Musigny. The service was impeccable, noticing and respecting the emotional nature of the experience, successfully balancing the requisite privacy and attentiveness. This is the first time I remember saying, practically in unison with my foodie girlfriend at the time, "That really was the most perfect meal." We also both noted that this experience far surprassed either of our experiences at the more famous French Laundry down the road. Fortunately, due to the occasion, money was no object that night, because the check was not for the faint of heart.


Fifth Floor (San Francisco) -- Back when Laurent Gras was working the kitchen at this place and on his way to being named one of the nation's top up-and-coming chefs, I enjoyed an anniversary meal here in a very romantic booth that started with the drinks cart brought to the table for an aperitif. What ensued was a multi-course tasting menu again paired with a white and red bottle of French Burgundy (yes, this will be a theme throughout these entries). Another meal where the cost represented a monthly entertainment budget (and actually was), there was absolutely nothing the restaurant could have done to make the experience more enjoyable.


Boulevard (San Francisco) -- A three-course lunch in 2003, highlighted by cucumber soup with meyer lemon and tiny bacon crunches, a roasted halibut entree, and a very light but tasty meyer lemon and goat cheese soufflee. This was back when Boulevard participated in Restaurant Week/Dine-About-Town, so we paid a whopping $29/person plus a little more for the glasses of wine we each enjoyed alongside.

Gary Danko (San Francisco) -- Another celebration meal, this particular experience was by far the best of my several trips to Gary Danko, which unfortunately have been mixed. However, this time was indeed perfect, and there are absolutely no ways in which the restaurant could have done anything better. We did a three-course tasting menu and wine pairing, and we walked away thinking that the place indeed deserved all its hype. The bananas foster dessert became one of my favorite things to attempt to replicate and surpass at home, and that night has proven a formidable competitor for years.

Dopo (Oakland) -- I've had so many wonderful meals at this place, which really is #1 favorite restaurant in the Bay Area, but one in 2008 with my friends Sandy and Lorena, and Sandy's parents, indeed stands out. Jon's lasagne is still my favorite dish, and Kayta did her part by keeping one for me for dessert since I had to share the first one with the table. We introduced Lorena to Jon's fantastic tuna crudo, and she was changed for life. Lorena previously refused to eat fish altogether; she now seeks out tuna crudo or tartare as an automatic selection on any restaurant menu. We did a salumi selection of house-cured meats and pates, a couple of crispy thin-crust pizzas, and a fresh pasta with chicken sugo, in addition to the lasagne. It was amazing, and it never disappoints. This is one of the few places on this list that makes my other lists (food quality per dollar) and that hasn't lost its luster or its chef.

Oliveto (Oakland) -- Unfortunately, this continues the theme of restaurants enjoyed before their best chefs departed, the meal I'm describing happened was back when Paul Bertolli was still the Executive Chef and my friend Jon Smulewitz (who has since opened two of my favorite places in all the world, Dopo and Adesso) was managing the meats. We had a big table, making it even more difficult for the restaurant to manage successfully, and we ordered nearly everything on the menu and were treated to many things not on the menu.

Matsuhisa (Los Angeles) -- The site of my birthday meal back in 2000 with my great buddies, James and Gareth, the original restaurant that preceded the Nobu chain delivered an incredible experience including both melt-in-your-mouth-fresh sushi and delicate, flavorful, cooked Japanese dishes. The bluefin tuna sashimi still ranks among the best I've ever had (better even than what I had at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo), the famous miso black cod was amazing, the Kuruma shrimp tempura was the tastiest shrimp I've ever had, and it was the first time I enjoyed what has become one of my favorite Japanese dishes, the sumptuous and silken Nasudengaku, a japanese eggplant with a miso glaze.

Loveless Cafe (Outside Nashville) -- I was on a cross-country roadtrip with my good friend James, and we were trying to hit some of the best examples of Southern cuisine as we criss-crossed the southern part of the U.S. After a great day and night enjoying the honky-tonk bars in Nashville, we headed to the famous Loveless Cafe for a late lunch on our way out of Nashville (and on our way to Memphis for some great Barbeque at Rendezvous). Undoubtedly the best fried chicken I've ever had, too much of their famous country ham and some terrific grits, it was the buttermilk biscuits I couldn't stop eating and ultimately gave me the food hangover that lasted at least another 24 hours in the car. We added a BBQ pulled pork sandwich, and I think we might have had food sufficient for five people, not just two. James and I still talk about this meal, and about our excitement for returning. If you're in the area, you must find a way to check this place out, and to take some of their spiced rubs and other accessories with you.

Antico Forno Roscioli (Rome) -- I had two perfect meals at this place, and it may thus be my #1 favorite restaurant of all time. Yes, that is indeed a bold claim, and coming from a guy who ranks everything, it should have some substance. Interestingly, both of my meals there were enjoyed alone when I was working in Rome, so I know the company couldn't have been helping my impression. This place represents everything I value in a restaurant. It is casual, friendly, approachable. The staff is warm and welcoming, attentive and respectful. And the food is all from the heart. The pastas are made in house and perfectly cooked, perfectly dressed. The selection of salumi is also all local artisan-made, and the cheeses are the best I've ever had anywhere. Plus, you can do it all for under $50, including a great bottle of local red wine. I am flying to Rome later this year just to revisit this place, and it wouldn't be crazy to suggest you do the same.

Restaurant Bernard Loiseau (Saulieu, Burgundy Region, France) -- Sadly, only a few weeks after this example of culinary perfection, Bernard Loiseau committed suicide, robbing the world of being able to share the experience I'm about to describe.  My girlfriend and I were on a two-week gastronomic adventure in Burgundy, and we knew it would be tough to justify the three-star cost of this place, especially given the incredible country eating we had been doing at far lower prices. However, we sat down for a nine-course experience that can only be described as an "extravaganza." I went vegetarian this night, and my nine-courses minus dessert had truffles as the common theme, and "rich" doesn't even begin to do justice. Her nine-courses were equally elegant, exploring an entire spectrum of the finest in French haute cuisine, and we knew immediately that we'd be on our way to a memory that will endure forever. Paired with local wines, our senses could not have been more overwhelmed. Thankfully, we were staying at the little inn on the same property!


Honorable Mention


Ubon (London) -- My good friend Richard and I frequented this place when I lived in London as I tried to relieve my yearning for San Francisco food, and we became close with the head sushi chef, Yaz, and his entire staff. It turned out that Yaz and I shared a love for a fish London hadn't met yet, Shima Aji, which he then began flying in from Japan and texting me every time it arrived. My going-away meal on my last night prior to returning to the US is the most memorable, and the most perfect, as Yaz really knew what I liked by then. He went nuts giving us an incredible display of his talent, not just for cutting fish, but for preparing truly artistic masterpieces. Yaz has since moved on, continuing the theme of the great chefs achieving perfection and seeking out new challenges, but I'll never forget that perfect meal in 2005.

Ritz Carlton Battery Park (New York) -- Believe it or not, this meal was at a wedding! My friends Dave and Hallee got hitched there, and they treated us to what remains one of my favorite meals ever, and no wedding-related qualification or caveat is necessary. We started out with fantastic sushi at a sushi station, perfect dim sum at the Chinese food station, and incredible cheeses and vegetables, and this was all outside the main banquet hall as a precursor to the real party. Then as we sat at our dinner tables, we were offered a choice of dishes. My girlfriend and I both selected the Filet Mignon for our main course, and we both remarked that it was the best steak we had ever had, hands-down. I've been to nearly every top steakhouse in New York City, and not a single one of them has managed to top that Filet -- and those guys at the Ritz served it to over 200 guests at exactly the same time!

Le Violon d'Ingres (Paris) -- A birthday dinner with family and friends, this meal included the most perfectly seared and seasoned scallops I've ever enjoyed. The restaurant went through a bit of an identity crisis in recent years after it achieved its first Michelin star, but I hear it has since returned to its roots before the star that led to my most memorable meal.

Chez Panisse (Oakland) -- This is the foundational restaurant that must be on every foodie's list. Like Gary Danko, I've had meals that underwhelmed, but I've also had meals that were so close to perfect that any complaint seems overly petty. If you're looking for a special occasion type of restaurant for someone who loves food, there is truly perhaps no better place on earth.

Zuni Cafe (San Francisco) -- While this is one of my local spots I visit regularly, there was a first date at this place that I'll never forget. The food that night, which included the ricotta gnocchi I think is the best I've ever had, the famous roast chicken and its important bread-salad companion-turned-highlight, was impeccable. We had a Drappier champagne and a great bottle of Chambolle-Musigny French Burgundy, and we indulged in a dessert sampling that put us over the top. This place is called "quintessentially San Francisco" for a reason, and it is a great spot for a special occasion or just a burger for a Sunday lunch.

Masa's (San Francisco) -- Back when Ron Siegel was the chef, this was another nearly-perfect birthday meal that involved the seven course tasting menu. 

John Ash & Co. (Santa Rosa) -- Another one of my first-date meals, we enjoyed a proper feast, set in a vineyard, ordering multiple options at every course and ensuring we really sampled the chef's best. I haven't been back in many years, but it should be on anyone's list as they travel through the Sonoma side of California wine country.

Range (San Francisco) -- This was another first-date meal, and my favorite, but this place is always at the top of my list for San Francisco eating, because it is simply so consistent.

Enjoy!