i like to eat.

The Big Day

Remember a few months ago I went to a dinner tasting at Ondine? The big wedding day for Jason's older brother finally came and we got to compare what we had at the tasting to the real thing.

I missed the hor d'oeuvres since I was taking pictures all across San Francisco (I was a bridesmaid), but they had the lobster BLT, crab cakes, springs rolls and a foie gras tartlet. I was sad that I missed the lobster BLT, since that one was my favorite.

For starters, we had a lettuce and radicchio salad with pear and walnut. The dressing was a light, olive oil based vinagrette. Pretty good.

For entrée, Jason and I strategically ordered different things so we could try both. I got the salmon that was similar to the one we tasted. It was a pan seared organic salmon with an almond basil(?) sauce served with leek fondue and roasted potatoes. Previously, the fish was undercooked, but this time, Ondine nailed it.

At the tasting, the filet mignon entrée came with a fluffly, delicious potato cake and I was looking forward to having it again. When Jason's plate came, I was so disappointed to not see it. They served regular mashed potatoes instead and some broccolini.

The wedding "cake" was from Cheesecake Factory with a few different flavors - oreo, snickerdoodle and original. I had to have a piece of the oreo cheesecake since that one's my favorite. :)

The reception continued with an open bar (woo hoo) and dancing. I was so tired from all the activities, I was ready to plop into bed, and I did just that when I got home.

It was a beautiful wedding on one of the most gorgeous days of San Francisco. Thank you Aki and Ray - congratulations!

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The_Big_Day_tag_ondine_sausali.zip (700 KB)

Filed under // american dinner food ondine sausalito

So This is What it Feels Like to be a Food Judge

After the offsite bonanza (see post) with my colleagues and being judged on my food, it was time for ME to judge other people's food.

I had to go to Ondine in Sausalito for a dinner tasting. My boyfriend's brother lives in Japan and is getting married in September, so he needed us to go to the venue and taste the food. I obviously, was more than ecstatic to complete this task. Free food? I'm there!

We sat at a round table with two other couples and tasted a wide variety of dishes. We started off with a trio of appetizers - lobster "BLT," crab cake and garlic crostini with tomato raisin chutney. My favorite was the lobster BLT with its cherry tomatoes, frisee and candied bacon on a wafer-like cracker. It was a nice modern twist to a classic. Plus, an easy to eat hor devours - an always must.

First course included two salads - Caesar and baby field greens. Caesar's a Caesar, nothing that unique. The baby field greens was bright, full of color, but slightly over dressed with its basil-buttermilk dressing. If it was better dressed, it would have been a clear winner.

Main course started with grilled organic salmon with a citrus reduction, leek fondue and roasted new potatoes. The dish, as listed on the menu, was suppose to come with couscous, salted almonds and swiss chard, so not sure what exactly happened in the kitchen. The fish was slightly undercooked, otherwise, not bad.

Second option was grilled chicken breast in a mushroom Marsala sauce with potato gnocchi and brussel sprouts. The chicken was moist, but it would have easily won extra points if it came de-boned (I hate eating off the bone). The sauce was good, not too heavy and had the right consistency.

Next came the filet mignon with cheese potato cake, broccolini and red wine shallots. I loved the potato cake (basically, mashed potatoes with cheese, grilled). It was so soft and fluffy, I could eat that all day. The filet mignon was extra tender, maybe too tender where it seemed unnatural. I know, I know, that sounds crazy, you want your meat to be tender, but I would have enjoyed a little bit more chewiness.

We were lucky and had a vegetarian option that was not planned. The dish was a large, grilled portobello with micro-salad and couscous. Hmm, so this is where the couscous from the salmon dish went... The portobello mushroom was drenched in balsamic vinegar and complimented the light couscous very well. This would have been my favorite dish if it was not for the potato cake earlier.

Needless to say, we were stuffed and couldn't finish every dish. The dishes were satisfying and had a good variety of flavors to choose from.

After all the savory flavors, my taste buds needed something sweet. We headed to an ice cream shop down the street and I ordered a scoop of guava sorbet. I love guava and was excited to try it - not bad. I don't think I'd get it again, but it quickly fulfilled my sweet tooth.

Ondine and Sausalito were gorgeous, right on the ocean with views of beautiful San Francisco. It is definitely an excellent venue to have a wedding. Congratulations again to Ray and Aki! Thank you for letting us taste for you.