Eating Through San Fran - II

I was back at Ame after a while.  It was a Saturday evening but I was able to get a table without too much trouble even without a reservation.  I stayed with the basics and was rewarded by the same satisfaction I got when I dined here last.  The sake menu and the service continues to remain top-notch too.





The Kaisen Sashimi salad with Japanese cucumber, Hijiki, Tobico caviar and Yuzu soy vinaigrette on a bed of fresh sashimi was quite delectable.  The hijiki, a sea vegetable used in Japan and the caviar made the dish taste very exotic.



The broiled sake marinated Alaskan Black Cod with shrimp dumplings in Shiso broth is a house speciality and for good reason.  This has constantly been one of the fish dishes on the top of my fave list.



The Chocolate Almond Cake with sun-dried sour cherry ice-cream within a Cacao nib done brought up the ending quite nicely!



A new place I discovered during my last visit to this city was Blue Stem Brasserie on Market Street (between the 3rd and 4th). With contemporary, chic interiors looking out on busy Market Street, this restaurant was quite a delightful find.  The food hit a some high spots but there were some unremarkable creations too.




I began with the Baby Beet Terrine with goat cheese, hazelnut praline, aged balsamic and watermelon radish.  The starter was interesting but didn't create a memorable moment for me.



The Lamb Loin with garlic and herb smashed potatoes, mint pesto and braised artichoke heart was a winner.  The lamb was cooked just right and very tender and flavourful.



This time, I just didn't have the appetite for any dessert.  Overall, Blue Stem is a good place for an early evening drinks followed by dinner.  The place fills up quickly with business people from conferences in the nearby Moscone Center as well as with visiting tourists.  The service quality is quite good.