CHEZ:PANISSE, Say Fresh!

Berkeley, CA - We celebrate the turn of the decade with Alice Waters...she was actually in the restaurant, in the cafe, and in the kitchen. She came by our table and wished us a Happy New Year and thanked us for being there.

The New Year Eve's menu was a four course prix fix: smoked Bolinas cod salad with salmon caviar and chicory lettuce; Dungeness crab (and uni) consomme with wild mushrooms and green garlic; Roulade of Paine Farm squab breast with black truffles, Pommes Anna, and grilled Chino Ranch veggies; and Chocolate souffle Rothchild. There was an amuse bouche and the additional dessert at the end of the meal. The hearty bread lay on the Prette linen table cloth. A special pear and champagne aperitif was served before the meal.

The wine was a Margaux 2000, nice nose, long legs and really smooth and silky.

The decor was homey and warm. The holiday greens were festive. The fresh whole fruits and flowers in serving platters & vases were placed throughout the restaurant. What was really cool was the custom water carafe and water glasses.

It was a special night. Prior to the strike of midnight, the wait staff passed out the noise makers, hats, and champagne filled flutes. It was a memorable night. The live jazz quartet provided the music all night. The food was fresh, delicious and simple; and the service friendly and unpretentious. A definite special occasion place.

BTW, they passed our napkin test. I left the table, and when I returned, the napkin was folded.

Dining at Bardessono - Yountville, CA

It was the hottest time of the day, 3pm on Vintner Golf Course- Yountville. It was a summer scorcher, 103F, July 2009. I couldn't wait until the end of the round. A refreshing dinner was on my mind. The place? Bardessono.


To get to the restaurant from outside parking, one has to walk through the serene, minimalistic setting. We were greeted with a smile and a good evening once we got to the hostess. We arrived an hour early from our reservation, but we were accommodated after a ten minute wait. We were seated outside section under a heater. It was a pleasant evening so we didn't mind sitting outside. We actually preferred outside in the breezeless night. We were seated at a table with a glass top, the seats dark tan plastic rattan. In my front view, there was a sandstone color block sculpture of a nude woman.


Alfonso, our waiter, recited the specials; an heirloom tomato salad and the second special, a Sockeye salmon. We passed as we ordered the chilled shell fish pistou ($14) - a seafood salad with a mild pesto-like dressing. It was refreshing and cooling to the palate.


My wife ordered the Atlantic Cod ($25) with brandade & deep fried parsley, and creamy risotto drizzled with a lemon sauce & capers. The portion was large, about 8 oz and the fish was nicely done. The skin was crisp and the flesh moist.



I had the lamb two-ways (seared and braised) with spring veggies ($31) atop a coconut basmati rice. The lamb was medium rare and melted in my mouth. The rice was creamy and matched well with the lamb.

The wine of choice was the 2005 Lail Vineyard's Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon ($58/half bottle) (Philippe Melka, wine maker). There are hints of blackberries and cassis with a touch of oak. The cab held it's own with the lamb, and went well with the cod.

For dessert, we shared the Coffee bar ($10), it looked heavy but one bite, it was light and sweet and very chocolaty with chocolate nibs and Chantilly cream. I ordered the Blue Bottle coffee (brown lump sugar & cream) in a french press (equal to two servings, $6). The bottle water, flat or with bubbles, is complimentary.


The venue is very relaxing and the service attentive, and the staff was eager to please. They are friendly and helpful. Bardessono is a go back place. It's hard to believe that it's been open since March 2009 as it seems like it has been serving for years.