Chez Panisse

I know I keep bringing up this restaurant, but it is pretty special to the Bay Area and is actually listed among the 50 best restaurants in the world. The Dalai Lama has even eaten there! Started by Alice Waters, it is noted as the birthplace of California cuisine. Ingredients are largely local, seasonal, organic and free-range.

 Located in the "Gourmet Ghetto" of Berkeley.

Etched water vessel.

For my first course I got the carrot soup with ginger and yogurt and 

Jon got the hand-made mozzarella with roasted eggplant and mint. 

We both agreed it was the best eggplant we have ever had, 

neither of us being eggplant lovers to begin with.

Main course time! I did something unlike myself and got the grass-fed beef 

short ribs with sweet corn polenta, green beans and tomatillos. 

AHH-MMMMMMAZING. 

I have never been a polenta person and with tomatillos even? 

Oh my god, every prisoner on death row should order this as their last meal. 

It was beyond words. Jon loved his too.  He ordered the Soul Food Farm 

chicken breast with zucchini and Parmesan gratin and cherry tomato salsa. 

The mix of hot and cold temperatures of his dish was a highlight. 

And lastly, we shared the summer berry sherbet with blackberries and 

raspberries. So refreshing. Like I tweeted last night, I think I know where 

I'm eating on my birthday for the rest of my life.