I'm a travelin' lady....

If anyone is actually reading my silly little blog, you'll notice I havent posted anything new in a few weeks. I have been super busy with work and events, and havent done a very good job of keeping track of new places I have tried!

Here is a brief summmary:

Denver
I enjoyed nothing shy of an awesome piece of meat at this lovely establishment! We enjoyed a four course dinner, which typically puts me in a food coma of sorts, but the portions were just the right size, so I was able to enjoy a little of everything.

We started off with rustic bread and olive oil with balsamic, in addtion to bruscetta and fried calamari with a red pepper cream sauce.

First course was a cesear salad, very nicely presented with shaved parmesan. We also enjoyed a delicious bottle of red wine, which I have no recolection of how it tasted, only that it was good, so unfortunately, I cannot make a recommendation. They have a wonderful wine selection and the wine "cellar" is prominantly displayed in a glass room in the center of the restaurant.

For the main course I enjoyed one of the most tender and delicious steaks of my existance. No lie.... It was perfectly pounded, round and juicy. I ate every bite and I am not ashamed of it. It was accompanied by sauted baby carrots and broccoli.

I never say no to desert and this was no exception. I enjoyed some sort of chocolate crepe. I dont recall the details on this either, because my eyes were closed when I was eating it - it was THAT good!

Rating: 3 stars
Note: great for a large group

For more info, visit www.veniceristorante.com/index.php

Portland
I took the train down to Portland for a one-hour meeting... I would love to tell you that the train had some great eats, but I just cant. My point in writing this is to eat BEFORE you get on the train to Portland.

San Francisco
Where do I start with this trip! I tasted food from about 6 or 7 restaurants, without actually visiting them. Various local restuarants set up shop at the Exploritorium (i.e. junk on display in a huge warehouse) in downtown San Fran for about 200 guests to taste test their specialties.

Taste Test #1
Restaurant: Americano
Dish: Cavatelli with pork Sugo, herbs and pecorino
Marge's Notes: This was the last dish I tried and all I can say is that it was perfectly seasoned and deliscious.

Taste Test #2
Restaurant: Tres Agaves
Dish: Mexican style meatballs with chile and mint and shrimp cocktail.
Marge's Notes: Love the meatballs! They were super spicy but not to the point where you cant see straight. The shrimp cocktail had avocado, cucumber, red onion and a spicy tomato broth. An excellent spin on a classic.

Taste Test #3
Restaurant: Ozumo
Dish: Yellowtail Sushi
Marge's Notes: Sushi as I have never seen it! Beautiful presentation of delicate yellowtail atop daikon sprouts and enoki mushrooms (teeny tiny mushrooms) with warm ponzu dressing. Salty and slightly sweet; I could have eaten about ten of these!

Taste Test #4
Restaurant: Rubicon
Dish: Pancetta wrapped game hen with thyme roasted mushrooms
Marge's Notes: this was hands down my favorite. I love anything with pancetta and this was no exception! The thyme was a perfect complement to the mild game hen and salty pork. Loved it!

Taste Test #5
Restaurant: Boulevard
Dish: Slow cooked maple grilled beef brisket
Marge's Notes: I have never had brisket so I thought I would give it a try, and I am so glad I did! The meat was so tender it melted in my mouth. The maple flavor was delightful!

Taste of the NFL is not a tasting event for concession food, no no no, it is an event which local chefs provide samples of their goods for NFL employees such as myself. The NFL purchased tickets for the entire business summitt and all of the proceeds go to Hunger Relief in San Francisco.

All in all the food was fab but total scensory overload between the atomosphere, the food hopping and speed mingling.

I also had the opportunity to visit with two of my sorority sisters who live in the city. We met a wine bar appropriately named WINE, located in the Embarcadero. I had a glass of the 2007 Sileni Sauvignon Blanc, from Marlborough, New Zealand. I typically reach for the Chardonnay, so it was nice trying something new. I would describe it as a little sweet, a little bitter, and with a flowery aftertaste.

www.winebarsf.com

I followed up the wine with some serious Italian food at Tiramisu, just situated in a tiny alley way, just like you would find in an Italian piatza.

I had a glass of the Chianti Classico Riserva, Terrmia Tuscany. I use to drink Chianti but overdid it while traveling in Italy so havent had any for years. This was a very smooth Chianti and didnt have quite a bite that typical Chianti's would have (in my non wine conesuer opinion).

I started with a tossed salad with vinegrette, goat cheese and candied walnuts. I love soft cheeses, especially goat cheese, but they didnt put enough in the salad.

Next I had the pan roasted salmon over grilled zucchini carpaccio, and
lemon with corn polenta cake. The salmon was perfectly cooked and went very well with the zuchini and light lemony polenta cake.

As always, desert was ordered. My table shared the gelatto, which came in chocolate, vanilla and rasberry. Each scoop was housed in a sugary wafer with mint leaves. Very refreshing and great pallet cleanser after all that garlic.

Rating: 3 stars

For more information, visit www.cafetiramisu.com/pages/Menu1.php?project_id=1

P.S. I did not have all of this food in the same day!

Boston
This one is forthciming and I hope to have lots to share about one of my most favorite places!

See you soon!