Molecular Gastronomy in the Bay Area?

[Steve Pope]

I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area. Winterland is now closed, and
I can't think of anything else.

Is the nearest foam restaurant in Vegas at this point?

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Steve

[axlq]

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area.

What's a "molecular restaurant"? To someone like me with a background
in physics, I suspect it means something other than I'm conditioned to
think it means.

What's next, atomic restaurants? Nuclear restaurants? Colloidal
restaurants?

-A

[Al Eisner]

Post by axlq

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area.

What's a "molecular restaurant"? To someone like me with a background
in physics, I suspect it means something other than I'm conditioned to
think it means.
What's next, atomic restaurants? Nuclear restaurants? Colloidal
restaurants?

Well, would you go to a restaurant named "The Black Hole"?

[Gil Faver]

Post by Al Eisner

Post by axlq

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area.

What's a "molecular restaurant"? To someone like me with a background
in physics, I suspect it means something other than I'm conditioned to
think it means.
What's next, atomic restaurants? Nuclear restaurants? Colloidal
restaurants?

Well, would you go to a restaurant named "The Black Hole"?

That one is in Calcutta, isn't it?

[evergene]

Post by Al Eisner
Well, would you go to a restaurant named "The Black Hole"?

I would, but only for a big event horizon.

[Steve Pope]

Post by evergene

Post by Al Eisner
Well, would you go to a restaurant named "The Black Hole"?

I would, but only for a big event horizon.

It's an emerging cuisine along the Swiss/French border, but
the serving sizes are small.

Steve

[Jed]

Post by Steve Pope

Post by evergene

Post by Al Eisner
Well, would you go to a restaurant named "The Black Hole"?

I would, but only for a big event horizon.

It's an emerging cuisine along the Swiss/French border, but
the serving sizes are small.

Is that Chef Higgs Boson's new place? I hear he may be making a
personal appearance tomorrow.

[Tim May]

Post by Jed

Post by Steve Pope

Post by evergene

Post by Al Eisner
Well, would you go to a restaurant named "The Black Hole"?

I would, but only for a big event horizon.

It's an emerging cuisine along the Swiss/French border, but
the serving sizes are small.

Is that Chef Higgs Boson's new place? I hear he may be making a
personal appearance tomorrow.

That puts a new spin on things.

Perhaps I'll have three quarks down at the Dublin.


Charmed, I'm sure.


--Tim May

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by Tim May

Post by Jed

Post by Steve Pope

Post by evergene

Post by Al Eisner
Well, would you go to a restaurant named "The Black Hole"?

I would, but only for a big event horizon.

It's an emerging cuisine along the Swiss/French border, but
the serving sizes are small.

Is that Chef Higgs Boson's new place? I hear he may be making a
personal appearance tomorrow.

That puts a new spin on things.
Perhaps I'll have three quarks down at the Dublin.
Charmed, I'm sure.

The quark-selling guy shows up every Saturday at the Pleasanton
farmers' market -- handy to both Dublin and LLNL.

[Pete Fraser]

Post by Tim May
That puts a new spin on things.
Perhaps I'll have three quarks down at the Dublin.

I think they're earmarked for Mr Mellin.

[Mark Mellin]

Post by Pete Fraser

Post by Tim May
That puts a new spin on things.
Perhaps I'll have three quarks down at the Dublin.

I think they're earmarked for Mr Mellin.

Presumably for Hjalmar Mellin. I gave up quarks long ago.
Doctor said they led to strangeness.

- Mark

ObFood: The San Mateo County fair features a pupusa vendor this year.
They also offer fried plantains and other Salvadoran treats. Bring
your patience.

[Pete Fraser]

Post by Mark Mellin

Post by Pete Fraser

Post by Tim May
That puts a new spin on things.
Perhaps I'll have three quarks down at the Dublin.

I think they're earmarked for Mr Mellin.

Presumably for Hjalmar Mellin. I gave up quarks long ago.
Doctor said they led to strangeness.

"Three quarks for Muster Mark"

J.J.

[Mark Mellin]

"Mark Mellin" wrote in message ...

Post by Mark Mellin

Post by Pete Fraser

Post by Tim May
That puts a new spin on things.
Perhaps I'll have three quarks down at the Dublin.

I think they're earmarked for Mr Mellin.

Presumably for Hjalmar Mellin. I gave up quarks long ago.
Doctor said they led to strangeness.

"Three quarks for Muster Mark"

You calling me moulty? :-)

"And three points of fishballs for my Bernal Bud."
-Finnegan's Bow Wave. Book 7, Episode 9, Page 666

- Mark

[evergene]

Post by Mark Mellin

"Mark Mellin" wrote in message ...

Post by Mark Mellin

Post by Pete Fraser

Post by Tim May
That puts a new spin on things.
Perhaps I'll have three quarks down at the Dublin.

I think they're earmarked for Mr Mellin.

Presumably for Hjalmar Mellin. I gave up quarks long ago.
Doctor said they led to strangeness.

"Three quarks for Muster Mark"

You calling me moulty? :-)
"And three points of fishballs for my Bernal Bud."
-Finnegan's Bow Wave. Book 7, Episode 9, Page 666

This thread is now thoroughly entangled. I hope you're happy.

-----
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product
of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still
primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No
interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."

-- Albert Einstein: from a Letter to Eric Gutkind, 1954
Translated from the German by Joan Stambaugh

[Jed]

Post by axlq

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area.

What's a "molecular restaurant"? To someone like me with a background
in physics, I suspect it means something other than I'm conditioned to
think it means.
What's next, atomic restaurants? Nuclear restaurants? Colloidal
restaurants?

Do a web search on "el Bulli". It's a restaurant in Spain whose chef
(Ferran Adria) is the godfather of molecuar cuisine. For example:

http://www.elbulli.com/historia/index.php?lang=en&seccion=6&subseccion=2

[Steve Pope]

Post by Jed
Do a web search on "el Bulli". It's a restaurant in Spain whose chef
(Ferran Adria) is the godfather of molecuar cuisine.

Thanks. Yes, I haven't been there, but it's on my list.

Steve

[evergene]

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area. Winterland is now closed, and
I can't think of anything else.
Is the nearest foam restaurant in Vegas at this point?

Coi in San Francisco sounds moderately molecular. At least it's got
Michael Bauer's molecules all a-twitter.

Here are some choice morsels from Bauer's recent review:

"...First he [that's Daniel Patterson] makes a "fluid gel" for the
vinaigrette by mixing agar, vegetable stock and squid ink, and boiling
and cooling it into a dense block."

"...I'll long remember the galaxy of cherry tomatoes suspended in a
gelatinous tomato water..."

Plus, Bauer writes that Coi not only has "explosion of flavors," it
also provides a "...gush of flavor followed by an explosion of
fruit..."

Presumably there are lots of molecules floating around after the
various explosions.

Full review at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/06/FDOU1241SF.DTL

[Steve Pope]

Post by evergene
Coi in San Francisco sounds moderately molecular.

Thanks. We've never been there. The last time I suggested it,
the idea was nixed because of a negative review from a friend.
I'll explore this further.

Steve

[Chester]

Post by evergene

Post by Steve Pope
Is the nearest foam restaurant in Vegas at this point?

Coi in San Francisco sounds moderately molecular. At least it's got
Michael Bauer's molecules all a-twitter.

Coi/Patterson would be my first suggestion too. Patterson, after
leaving Hawthorne Lane, started up Frisson, where his use of foam was
constantly remarked upon. I didn't much like my dinner there, but Coi
has been getting rave reviews. A good friend of mine just had dinner
there a few days ago and was waxing poetic about the experience.

Patterson is also somewhat infamous for a New York Times piece he
wrote, in which he argues that the influence of Alice Waters and Chez
Panisse has limited how people conceive of fine dining:
<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/style/tmagazine/
t_l_2192_2194_talk_tyranny_.html?_r=2&oref=slogin?
pagewanted=all&oref=slogin>

It is, very much, a criticism of being too attached to more
traditional techniques, presentations, etc. and a call for more
innovation in the "molecular gastronomy" vein...

Chester

[Steve Pope]

Post by Chester
Coi/Patterson would be my first suggestion too. Patterson, after
leaving Hawthorne Lane, started up Frisson, where his use of foam was
constantly remarked upon. I didn't much like my dinner there, but Coi
has been getting rave reviews. A good friend of mine just had dinner
there a few days ago and was waxing poetic about the experience.

Thanks.

Post by Chester
Patterson is also somewhat infamous for a New York Times piece he
wrote, in which he argues that the influence of Alice Waters and Chez

Right. Urk. I won't hold it against him. ;)

Steve

[Mark Mellin]

Post by evergene
Presumably there are lots of molecules floating around after the
various explosions.

Honestly, reading these morsels gives me the urge to wash
my hands.

I have to say that we've been more than a little disappointed
with following up on some of Mr Bauer's reviews, in particular
his fondness for coastal eateries.

He had raved about Half Moon Bay's Sam's Chowder House, yet
we left rather less than happy:

<http://groups.google.com/group/ba.food/msg/e1544eaaa02e732c>

On a trip on this summer's solstice to a pal's house in Bodega Bay,
we tried Nick's Cove, just a little north of Marshall, for lunch. Mr.
Bauer had good things to write about this place, too, but all we found
were stale tortillas and way over priced fish and chips.

- Mark

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area. Winterland is now closed, and
I can't think of anything else.
Is the nearest foam restaurant in Vegas at this point?
Any ideas?

Just fly to Chicago and eat at Alinea. The incremental cost of the
flight will be small compared with the meal.

[Steve Pope]

Post by s***@gmail.com
Just fly to Chicago and eat at Alinea. The incremental cost of the
flight will be small compared with the meal.

Suggestion noted.

Steve

[Tim May]

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area. Winterland is now closed, and
I can't think of anything else.
Is the nearest foam restaurant in Vegas at this point?
Any ideas?

Most Gay Area towns are now nuclear-free zones, so food made using
deadly nuclei, let alone even larger and more dangerous molecules, is
banned.

And having seen the molecular gastronomy guy competing on Top Chef
basically choke in the finals with his "truffle sorbets injection-blown
from a dewar of liquid helium" (OK, I'm exaggerating), I 'd put the
kibosh on MG pretensions if I were you.

--Tim May

[evergene]

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area.

So did you go to Coi?

[Steve Pope]

Post by evergene

Post by Steve Pope
I ask my wife where she'd like to go for our 25th wedding
anniversary and she replies asking if there are any molecular
restaurants left in the area.

So did you go to Coi?

It has not happened yet but we did decide against Coi for
this date. (Still on the list, eventually.)

Steve