First up I had high tea at my friend's Son & Garden at the Secret Bar. I have always wanted to try the high tea here and my friend Deb was the perfect choice for this outing. It was Alice in Wonderland themed in their whimsical space. It's a lot of food so we ended up taking some to go for later.
DRINK ME:
Butterfly Pea Lemon Elixir
Color-Changing Tea with Fresh Lemon Slice
SWEET TREATS:
Opera Cakes
Zesty Lemon Tarts with Fruit
Canelé with Mascarpone Cream
Macaron with Matcha Cream Cheese
Lychee Panna Cotta with Rose Lychee Sauce
SAVORY DELIGHTS:
Tuna with Dill Sandwiches
Egg Salad + Chives
Smoke Honey Turkey, Grain Mustard and Cheese
Artichoke Cheese Beignets
Homemade Samosas
BAKERY DELICACIES:
Fluffy Blueberry Scones
Accompanied by Freshly Whipped Lavender Butter
Some videos from my Instagram.
On my actual birthday, both James Curd and Derrick Carter were playing at Queen at Smartbar in Chicago and I was invited to join them. However, I opted to stay in San Francisco to celebrate with my friends at Ernest instead. Ernest is one of my favorites in SF and I was hoping that they will have a new kakigori flavor in time for my birthday. Luckily for me, it was updated to strawberry shortcake a few days before our meal and I was over the moon! In fact I matched my outfit to it.
If you have not yet been to Ernest, I would urge you to do so. It's a superb hyper seasonal menu. Please don't skip the kakigori as it's on par with what I had in Japan.
Sushi Rice
inure, raw beef, toasted nori
Octopus Tostada
chermoula, daikon
Bluefin Tuna Sashimi
smoked onion, yoga
Parker House Rolls
house cultured butter & its milk
Country Pâté
cauliflower leaf kimchi, scallion pancakes
Brandade Croquettes
basil aioli
Koshihokari Fried Rice
mistake mushroom, yellow chives
Asparagus
red miso sabayon
Grilled Avocado
artichoke, almond & green garlic romesco
Burrata
sprouting broccoli, blood orange sweet & sour
Black Cod Collars
potato & celery velouté, smoked trout roe
Pork Tonkatsu
tonkatsu broth, rays
BBQ Shortrib
morita hoisin, salt & pepper onion rings
Hazelnut Soft Serve Sundae
Strawberry Shortcake Kakigori
While I had James in town from Australia, naturally I had to take him to Four Kings since he has terrible food where he is in Australia. Thanks for my birthday mango sorbet and for feeding me always! It was my favorite dessert I have had at Four Kings.
San Ho Won was next on the list of difficult reservations again since I loved it so much last time and many of my friends had not been. Thankfully my cousin was also able to join as we tried before and was unable to get it and it slipped through the cracks.
First a stroll around the neighborhood as we got there early.
This is one of my favorite homes to walk by in the Mission.
Panda pan!
Ariel clearly impressed.
Naturally, we ordered almost the entire menu again. Apparently I am one of the very few that has ordered that way there multiple times. You guys are missing out if you don't.
While I had James in town from Australia, naturally I had to take him to Four Kings since he has terrible food where he is in Australia. Thanks for my birthday mango sorbet and for feeding me always! It was my favorite dessert I have had at Four Kings.
San Ho Won was next on the list of difficult reservations again since I loved it so much last time and many of my friends had not been. Thankfully my cousin was also able to join as we tried before and was unable to get it and it slipped through the cracks.
First a stroll around the neighborhood as we got there early.
This is one of my favorite homes to walk by in the Mission.
Panda pan!
Ariel clearly impressed.
Naturally, we ordered almost the entire menu again. Apparently I am one of the very few that has ordered that way there multiple times. You guys are missing out if you don't.
We added the Chunjang-Glazed Pork Ribs | 춘장 등갈비구이 and Gungjung Tteokbokki | 궁중 떡볶이 (Soy Sauce Braised Rice Cake and Beef Short Rib) and we loved both of these dishes.
This was me ordering the entire menu and my cousin praying that she will get through the meal.
I was very excited about the Ssuk Bingsu: Pistachio, Red Bean, Sour Cherry.
This was me ordering the entire menu and my cousin praying that she will get through the meal.
I was very excited about the Ssuk Bingsu: Pistachio, Red Bean, Sour Cherry.
Then I went to Nudi Blue in Berkeley on its opening weekend with the girls for high tea, who is the new reigning champion of best high tea in the Bay Area. Brought to you by the team behind Kin Khao and Tanzie, Nudi Blue lives up to its reputation. You will need a reservation for high tea, or you can get à la carte items for walk in. I would highly recommend the high tea as that is the best way to experience Nudi Blue. You will not be disappointed with its food offerings in addition to their selection of organic hand harvested teas from Chiang Mai. While some of the teas like lychee and rose may be more on the bitter spectrum, they are wonderful paired with their house made orange blossom sugar. They will soon be opening for night time as a raw bar with seafood offerings with el fresco access in the back. Do not sleep on this gem. I knew upon my first bite that this is something extra special.
FIRST COURSE
Pastries
Earl Grey NY Roll: Earl Grey Cream, Candied Earl Grey
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