10/16/2009 Cafe Juanita

we met up with katrin and paul at Cafe Juanita for a birthdays celebration dinner. that's right, birthdays, plural.

katrins was start of september but matt and i weren't able to get down there for the party. mine's oct 7, paul's oct 10. it was a good night with good company. dinner consisted of a number of favorites.

Seared Foie Gras with Huckleberries, Candied Ginger and Cocoa nib

i will never get tired of this dish!

Fricassea of Veal Sweetbreads with Porcini, Turnip and Sea Urchin

i wanted to try this as well as matt, but when we got there they had a different preperation on the menu. lucky for us they had some good sea urchin that day and were able to make this for us. the sauce is a puree of the turnip, mushroom and sea urchin, so you really couldn't taste the individual items. but at least i can honestly say i've had the stuff!

Alaskan King Crab with Green Apple Sorbetto and Sweet Crab Butter Powder

Chef really is generous with the crab in this appetizer.

Housemade TandT Pork Fricco and Fried Hens Egg with Frisee and Fried Pickled Huckleberries

i don't think i'll ever get used to the idea of pickled cherries or in this case huckleberries, let alone have them deep fried after, but man, they are SO good!

Roasted Grape Risotto with La Tur and Ennis Hazlenuts

and of course topped with parmigiano reggiano. of all Chef's risottos i think this might've been my least favorite. don't get me wrong, it was good, just my least favorite of all i've had there.

Radicchio with Balsamico and Pamigiano Reggiano

Harvest Bread Salad with Apple, Squash and Sage

this salad is new to us. it really is 'all autumn'. there were a couple different grain breads, a couple different squashes... you get the idea.

Zuppa della Sera

the soup for the night was her infamous chicken/parmigiano brodo, tonight she served it with a hunk of fantastic bread.

Fish of the Day - daily preparation

barracuda! yeah, barracuda! the puree also had a little of the sea urchin in it. the fish itself was pan seared, no skin. concord grapes, and a couple other items made up the 'greens'. to me it was firm kind of like swordfish, but still flaky like sablefish...

Rabbit Braised in Arneis with Ligurian Chickpea Crepe, Pancetta and Porcini

CJ's specialty

Saddle of Oregon Lamb with Gnocchi di Semolina, Marinated Italian White Anchovy and Taggia Olive

always a favorite

Guinea Fowl with Umbrian Lentils, Grilled Persimmon and Passito di Pantelleria

lentils aren't my favorite, and well yeah, still hold that opinion. but the rest of it was fantastic!

Chocolate Coffee Millefoglie with Xocopili Cremeaux, Coffee Crema and Burnt Sugar Gelato

OH YEAH! my new favorite dessert here.


Steamed Lemon Cake with Huckleberry Composta, Huckleberry paper and Lemon Thyme Sherbet

i wasn't sure just reading the description. i mean 'steamed cake'. but OMG it was fantastic!

there was of course coffee along with dessert, and as a special birthday gift we were treated to a glass of vin santo. yummy stuff that is!

paul and katrin

the birthday trio, libby, paul, katrin

libby, matt, katrin, paul