Friday, November 17, 2006
"Cooking has been my life...thanks for making it part of yours." Do you know any hack chefs (or critics) who've lost their passion for food?
If you're jaded by ANYTHING (BORAT, franchise food joints, mean-spirited bartenders), come to this lotus flower next to SF MOMA in the Financial District (Bart Montgomery; 14 Muni) at 575 Mission. So you can't fly off to Oahu with its ocean views (that's ok). Let the Hawaaiian Fusion cuisine spirit where East meets West cast its spell! Tropical bliss!
It's obscenely busy but you will be treated like royalty by happy, hardworking staff (reservations are a must: (415)-777-0277) .
Everyone was a great help to me & my chow-pal Dave Sawle (Old English for "soul"), SF movie producer extraordinaire. We were in a rush to attend Will Ferrell's STRANGER THAN FICTION at the Metreo after a talk by Ken Turan, movie critic for the Los Angeles Times at the Commonwealth Club. Just another day in paradise, San Francisco style!
Mr. Turan by the way is a brilliant film critic (he shuns the industry folk & is therefore obligated to no one -- in a word, HONEST).
Do you know that he did NOT jump on the critical bandwagon & shout "very audacious, funny, brilliant" when BORAT stormed the critics. Ever been drunk with a bad hangover? It doesn't feel so good the next day! Same with BORAT... Touche Baron Cohen! Remember a great film is a MIRACLE!
Back to Roy's. Have you ever met an interesting man who does not drink? (I haven't). Pineapple, canteloupe martinis or mai tai (better than Rum Jungle in Las Vegas) whet the palate for what's to follow.
Let's simplify this complicated menu:
Start with Japanese Hamachi Tartare ($12): garlic aioli & capers with won ton points is quite tangy or try the Maui Wowie Salad (shrimp, feta, tomatoes).
Entree: Japanese Misoyaki Charred Butterfish is Alaskan Blackened Cod, panseared with its own sizzling soy vinaigrette. Chefs don't try this at home unless you have mirin, miso, sugar, saki, soy sauce! This makes a truly oxymoronic plate -- can you say Mighty Macrobiotic cod?
Soulman had the grilled wild salmon with cucumber namasu & citrus ponzu: a brilliant combo. He is a frustrated fisherman at heart & a non-stop talker...Mange! Mange!
Dessert was the molten lava cake -- is not chocolate the ultimate aphrodisiac? Yummy vanilla bean ice cream -- perfectissimo! Try sharing this one!
WINE: with all the brouhaha about resveratrol & the "red wine" paradox, why not try the Pinot Noir from Oregon (Williamette Valley, we thank you!) at a "modest" $14.00 per glass. Choosing this wine will be no crapshoot...
Simplify! Simplify! Simplify! That's my job & my motto!
May Roy's thrive as long as our five beautiful oceans !
Aloha!
Happy Blogging!
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