La Dolce Vita Lives Up to Its Name

My hubbie and I decided to be a bit adventurous Saturday night. Craving Italian food (maybe it's all the research I'm doing for my new book proposal) we decided to try a new place. We were both in the mood for more traditional Italian cooking, not nouveau/gourmet nonsense. Don't get me wrong, that has its place but I was looking for comfort food and a nice solid glass of wine.

Booking through Open Table (we love getting the points), we came across La Dolce Vita in Lower Queen Anne. There were some lovely reviews and the menu looked right on - lots of pastas, bruschetta, even this amazing pinwheel pork loin stuffed with ricotta and served with green beans and a root beer and stoned ground mustard reduction. Yummers.

Che bella! This place is a true gem. The owner, Chris, waited on us, as it was a slow night. They are a little off the beaten path but so close to Queen Anne Ave, it's ridiculous. The decor is classic Italian bistro, with burgundy banquette seats accented by a simple floral fabric pattern, tasteful Italian landscape art on the walls and just a few faux collonades that stop way short of being cheesy. Chris was friendly, amusing and attentive. We opted for the bruschetta sampler - one of them had roasted garlic galore (My husband made me try some, too, so I couldn't refuse to kiss him for 3 days) - and the Insalta Girasole: mixed greens salad with sunflower seed vinaigrette. Simple. Lovely.

Our mains were tortellini alla'amatriciana and pappardelle alla bolognese. All I can say is "WOW!" This dished were made with love. I'm a huge fan of the pancetta and onion marinara that is Amatriciana, but had never had it with anything but bucatini before. It was lovely with the fluffy, fresh tri-colored tortellini. And Paul's pappardelle was some of the freshest pasta I've ever had, ful of meaty ragu goodness with a little bit of a kick.. I always think it's a good sign when I can see the olive oil residue in the plate after I've had a sauce dish, as it reminds me of my mother's sauce. We cleaned our plates. We both agreed we hadn't had Italian this good since Incanto in SF.

For dessert, we ordered the Dulce de la Torat di Leche: Shortcake soaked in spiced sweet milk, sweet macarpone, raspberries, caramel, and nuts. It was rich, sweet and delicious.

Wines were a Barbera for me (which Chris let me taste first, always a classy move) and a Montepulciano for Paul. I thought the Barbera might be too complex for me, but with my heavy meal, it was perfect.

It was one of those adventurous evenings that works out just perfectly. This is our new neighborhood gem and we're definitelu going back!

A Lunchtime Visit to Provence

I've been here in SF eight years, and just stumbled upon the cutest hidden gem: historic South Park. I always knew the general area, but when a friend invited me to lunch on South Park Street I actually turned left off of 3rd Street to an area that could have been somewhere in Europe.

South Park Street is a crowded loop of a street that encircles a small grassy park and playground, with nestled houses and cafes dotting the entire circle. Our destination? The Butler and the Chef, an homage to every countryside French bistro ever in existence. Old road signs dot the walls, enamel bistro tables out front, vintage French travel posters for menu covers, the whole nine yards. Their motto: Our food is simple, yet epicurean. Where has this place been all my life?!

They have all the classics you want and need. French Onion soup, quiche of the day, crepes, duck confit, croque monsiers...I could go on and on. They even carry a selection of baguette sandwiches, such as the Parisien with Niman Ranch ham, french butter and cornichons (sort of like tiny gherkins). High cholesterol never looked so good.

My friend and I both opted for Croque Mademoiselle - a twist on the old favorite with baked smoked turkey instead of ham, and emmenthal cheese on organic whitebread with crème fraîche and cornichons. We went nuts and said yes to the tomato upgrade, which was a hearty slice of heirloom tomato rested on the sandwich, sprinkled with herbs de provence. The sandwiches are served with a side of mixed green salad dancing in a light vinaigrette and in some cases, a cup of soup.

My sandwich was perfectly toasted to a golden-brown crunchiness, the crème fraîche and cheese melted oh-so-perfectly and the sour crunchiness of the cornichons in between bites broke it all up. It was just......yum.

Adding to the charm, the friendly French chef came out and chatted us up, and even showed us some lovely heirloom tomatoes from the kitchen. They were gorgeous and plump, in shades of red-orange and yellow-white.

TBATC also offers a variety of daily-baked breads and pastries, and most everything in the place is made from 100% organic, all natural ingredients. Even your bill comes with a tasty treat: bite-sized chocolate truffles. To make you feel even better about your future heart attack, the restaurant is very community-minded and eco-friendly. They are a certified San Francisco Green Business (whatever that means) and also support a wide array of charities and causes.

I wish I had more time to check this place out for dinner and I assume the wine list is killer, but that might have to wait for my first visit as an out-of-towner!