Flour+Water serves up Italian fare with a focus on a constantly changing menu that follows with what’s available in season. In house made pastas are made fresh daily and their wood-burning oven brings their Neapolitan style pizzas to life. While we were here, we all wanted to sample a little bit of everything. We opted to share everything and it was good to know that Flour+Water made eating family style easy.

Melon Salad with Taggiasca Olives, Fresh Goat Cheese, Pickled Red Onions & Chervil

Funghi Pizza – Roasted Chanterelle & Hen of the Woods Mushrooms, Taleggio, Rapini Leaves & Nepitella

Squid Ink Chitarra with Mussels & Clams, Baby Fennel & Calabrian Chilies

Nepitella Tagliatelle with Lobster Mushrooms & Wild Arugula

Porcini Dusted Halibut with Celery Root Purée, Cipollinis, Chanterelles & Baby Escarole

The dishes look simply prepared at Flour+Water, but don’t let that deceive you. Every dish brought out rich bold flavors, while using basic ingredients. From the burst of sweetness from the cubes watermelon to the finishing spicy taste of chili pepper from the squid ink pasta, each dishes’ components flowed well and altogether made for a wonderful meal.

With plenty of Italian restaurants in the city, Flour+Water has already became a standout. It has already gained the acclaim of becoming a 2010 James Beard Award Finalist for Best New Restaurant. Who knows… Flour+Water might just make it on your personal list of restaurants to try.

Flour+Water
2401 Harrison St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 826-7000
www.flourandwater.com

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Before leaving, I stumbled upon a pleasant surprise. A new restaurant had opened up called Il Cane Rosso.

Il Cane Rosso is a casual Italian rotisserie and sandwich shop that focuses on using the freshest local ingredients possible. After checking their website, we found out that it was created by Daniel Patterson, the chef and owner of Coi, and chef Lauren Kiino. They had just opened about a week ago.

I looked at Il Cane Rosso’s menu and my eyes lit up after I saw that they had a Porchetta sandwich on the menu. Just behind the counter you could see the rotisserie at work, spinning the meats as their juices slowly dripped. Watching the rotisserie was hypnotizing. Suddenly, I just got hungry again. I still needed my pork fix so I gave in and ordered one to go.

The sandwich was piled with a good amount of sliced tender pork, topped with mustard greens. A plum mostarda finishes off the sandwich to give it a slight tart finish. Not only was it a relief knowing that I still had my chance at a Porchetta sandwich today, but it was good to know that this casual Italian spot had opened for when I’m in search of deliciously roasted meats.

Il Cane Rosso is located on the Bay side of the Ferry Building, next to Charles Phan’s Slanted Door. They offer a daily changing menu which you can check on their website, www.canerossosf.com. If you aren’t fiending for a Porchetta sandwich like I was, Il Cane Rosso has a selection of other sandwiches, soups, salads, and rotisserie platters. They are open everyday for breakfast and lunch.

Il Cane Rosso
1 Ferry Building, #41
San Francisco, CA 94111

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A few years back a local food show called Bay Café aired which showed various restaurants throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The show was an excellent way to introduce yourself to Bay Area restaurants. One particular episode highlighted Absinthe, a restaurant in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. This episode showed host, Joey Altman, chow down on a Kobe beef burger. The show made the burger appear to be the most delicious thing on the planet which evoked a “have to try, have to visit” attitude.

Thank you Bay Café for showing me Absinthe. The Kobe beef burger was well worth the trip out to the city…

Jump to today. More than four years have passed since the episode aired. Absinthe remained all but a pleasant memory to me. Whenever I read about Absinthe or heard talks about Absinthe, I would always think about the Kobe beef burger. It was when Season 5 Top Chef aired where I regained interest in Absinthe. Jaime Lauren, one of the contestants on the show, was representing San Francisco and Absinthe restaurant. Following Chef Jaime on the show made me a big fan of her cooking style. Maybe it was time to revisit Absinthe.

Absinthe has evolved, but still focuses on an American take on French and Italian cuisine. With Executive Chef Jaime Lauren behind the food, she added her own flare and personality with each dish. The décor hasn’t changed much since my last trip here. You are still greeted by the large bar area when you first enter and you still have your choice of dining at the bar, the main dining room, or outside.

After being seated, you have a choice of ordering from the bar or lunch/dinner menu. We opted to order something from both of the menus. First, a half dozen Marin Miyagi Oysters from the dinner menu started the meal off. The oysters were served with a Szechuan peppercorn mignonette. The mignonette added just a hint of tart vinegar flavor to the fresh oysters.

Along with Absinthe’s extensive wine and cocktail menu, they had a house special lemonade that was refreshing. It looks like your classic pink lemonade, but with a surprise. The lemonade had a gingery snap to it that you notice after taking a sip.

If you don’t want a full entrée, the bar menu has an assortment of smaller dishes to fill your appetite. The order of the Croque Monsieur from the bar menu was filling. It featured toasted slices of bread layered with Gruyère cheese and black forest ham. A salad dressed with a light vinaigrette was served with the sandwhich.

From the dinner menu, we ordered the slow cooked pork confit. This dish featured a sweet corn sauce, homemade bacon, fava beans, and mint. The sweet corn sauce was bright yellow and the green mint that garnished the top of the pork added vibrant contrast. The colors of the dish were eye catching.

When Absinthe said that this was a slow cooked piece of pork, they truly meant it. When you take your knife to slice a piece of the pork, you will notice that it cuts through so easily leaving you with a soft and juicy piece of meat on the tip of your fork. The chunks of bacon was an added savory touch which completed the dish.

It seems that the days of the Kobe beef burger that first got me interested in Absinthe are long gone, but I’m glad that I’ve returned back to try the rest of their offerings. The dishes that I’ve tried remain as memorable as my first meal here.

It’s a spot for dates because…
Absinthe is perhaps one of Hayes Valley’s top choices for dining. This brasserie features a lunch/dinner menu along with a smaller bar menu. If you don’t feel overly hungry, the bar menu gives you an option to nosh on smaller dishes. Absinthe is also open until midnight on most nights, which gives you a late night dining option if you’re in the area.

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Sitting in the heart of North Beach in San Francisco, CA, is a seafood lovers dream come true. Sotto Mare, an Italian seafood restaurant serves up delightful fresh catches of seafood. If you’re looking for raw oysters, they have it. Fresh homemade clam chowder? They have that too. There is one dish on the menu that stands out above the rest.

The Crab Cioppino here is hands down the best thing on the menu. This thing is huge and perfect for a group of 2-4 people to share. The Cioppino is served in a pot with a lid to keep it from getting cold. Take the lid off and you’re in for a surprise. Lots and lots of seafood here. This thing is loaded with crab, mussels, scallops, fish, clams, shrimp, and penne pasta.

Let’s not forget about the other fresh seafood choices. There are daily specials of various fish and seafood offerings. The last time I’ve dined here, they had Monkfish, Black Cod, and Sea Scallops as their specials. All are served with vegetables.

After hearing that Monkfish was on the menu, I had to order. Quoted as the poor man’s lobster, this fish has a soft and delicate texture. A sweet tomato sauce topped with capers was served with the fish. The combination of the fish and sauce had intense flavors that are quite satisfying.

It’s a spot for dates because…
Sotto Mare’s casual atmosphere combined with its menu of fresh seafood is a perfect combination for any lunch or dinner.

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I love pizza. It’s one of my favorite foods. I remember eating at Amici’s for the first time near AT&T Park with my cousin. The pizza was great. When I found out San Mateo had an Amici’s branch, I had to go back.

If you are a pizza fan, you must check this place out. Pizzas here are East Coast style. We ordered the Calabria pizza which had pancetta, provolone, mozzarella, and tomatoes. The pizza is baked in a brick oven. The crust is thin, so if you like that, then Amici’s is the place to go. We also ordered the lasagna with meat sauce. Both dishes are flavorful.

Atmosphere is very casual with old sports photos decorating the restaurant. It makes for a great conversation starter if your date is into sports. Amici’s has several branches in the Bay Area, so if you can’t make it to the San Mateo location, you might just have one near to you.

It’s a spot for dates because…
If you’re looking for a casual place to dine, Amici’s offers tasty food. Also, if you don’t feel like dining in, you can always have them deliver to you.

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