I am so grateful to Rick, Kelly, and Susan for making my long-time wish to eat at Chez Panisse a reality. It was wonderful start to finish. Now, at the risk of sounding greedy, I want to go back at least once every season! The spring menu matched what I have been getting in the Two Small Farms produce box, and what we see currently in the farmers markets, and I am sure the same would hold true in other seasons. It was wonderful to get to taste what the others ordered. I had never eaten an oyster on the half shell but thanks to Kelly now I know they are incomparable. And I probably wouldn't have tried an entire plate of bone marrow bones but the bite from Rick's bone marrow plate was also exquisite. Susan's shoestring potatoes, more like crispy slivers, were marvelous.
My choices were the citrus salad: slim slices of blood orange, tangerines, and larger oranges, dressed lightly with a cilantro pesto and ginger vinaigrette, sprinkled with spicy pistachios; a semolina based soup made with green garlic (which has been in our box for the past few weeks) and fresh peas; a pizza with spring onions, olives, and capers,with a fragrence so heady it permeated the house when I brought the leftovers in; and for dessert a delicate rhubarb tart with an amazingly flavored cream.
The portions were just the right size, not overwhelmingly large, making it possible to enjoy everything we tried.
The restaurant is a perfect Berkeley place, craftsman design with a treehouse feeling in one of the rooms.
Now I am eager to try many of the recipes and techniques in the cookbook, "The Art of Simple Food."
Again, thanks to all for a very very special afternoon!
