NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 01:34:39 EDT Organization: Prodigy Internet http://www.prodigy.com X-UserInfo1: SCSYQNONQZTYRV@[@ZOD]_\@VR]^@B@MCPWZKB]MPXH@ETUCCNSKQFCY@TXDX_WHSVB]ZEJLSNY\^J[CUVSA_QLFC^RQHUPH[P[NRWCCMLSNPOD_ESALHUK@TDFUZHBLJ\XGKL^NXA\EVHSP[D_C^B_^JCX^W]CHBAX]POG@SSAZQ\LE[DCNMUPG_VSC@VJM Date: Wed, 29 May 2002 05:34:39 GMT Xref: usenet.INS.cwru.edu ba.food:88738 Ended up at Lisa Hemenway's Bistro on Saturday night. Although its in a strip center and called a 'bistro' its really more of a French country restaurant in style. And style is there in spades - best wait staff we've encountered in our 6 months in the bay area. and the food, simply marvelous. Surprisingly, my wife and I independently choose the same items for 3 out of 4 courses. For starters, we choose the lobster bisque - best I've ever had, and I grew up in New England where its often used as a substitute for mother's milk. Too often today's chef begins with cream of tomato soup and adds pureed lobster bits. Hemenway's starts with large amounts of lobster and a tbls. of tomoato. Followed with a salad of whole romaine hearts with Madeira dressing, Roquefort cheese, praline pecans and apples. Again, a real treat. I need to find the recipe for madeira dressing. Main course for both of us was two double lamb chops, grilled to perfection topped with a wine reduction and served with a leek & potato gratin and grilled winter vegetables. I rarely order lamb, never chops but these were the finest lamb chops I've ever had. Desert for my wife (the brulee, bot not called "creme brulee") was disappointing as she doesn't care much for custardy brulees but mine was a real treat: 3 hand-rolled chocolate truffles with a sprinkling of raspberries and blackberries with a glass of port (called "truffles and port" on the menu). Great way to end a meal. This place is worth a special trip. Sunday night we'd wanted to try the Willow Wood Market Cafe, but it's closed Sundays. We spent the afternoon in Healdsburg at the antique show, then drifted over to Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen (in the hotel Healdsburg). Although the room was only 1/3 full (and stay that way until we left) we were told that they were "all booked" but we could eat at the bar. Since the bar had place mats and silver service set for each stool, this must be a frequent occurance. I had "Caramelized Organic Chicken Breast with Basil - fresh ricotta gnocchi and sautéed spinach" which was very nice, if also fairly predictable. My wife ordered "Pan Roasted Northern Halibut - braised hearts of romaine, roasted fennel and preserved lemon" and had a moment of trepidation when the woman next to her loudly demanded her halibut be taken back as it was still rather chilled in the middle! It turned out OK, however. Nice place, but rather full of itself (like a Napa restaurant dropped down in Sonoma). Monday's lunch was fresh caught king salmon at Lucas Wharf in Bodega Bay - loud, boisterous but good basic food - and its hard to hurt grilled frsh-caught salmon. -dave
California