Saturday, December 24, 2022
Vacation day 15 of 30. Slept in a bit. Medium bowl of oatmeal with milk, roasted and unsalted slivered almonds, flax meal, cacao nibs, toasted unsweetened coconut flakes, apple-juice-infused dried cherries; water. Cleaned the bathroom. Cut my hair, showered. Cleaned the bathroom. Lunch at home: half of a half remainder of a sweet mouth-waterin sandwich Patrick ate yesterday from Grubbin, corn chips, water. Rode Muni with Patrick to Powell Street Station. We walked in Union Square visiting some of the same holiday sights I saw yesterday. Dinner at 54 Mint (415-543-5100, 16 Mint Plaza): prix fixe Christmas Eve menu. We opted for the optional wine/alcohol pairing. Sparkling water. Bevenuto: crostino, crème fiaiche, caviar (Beluga Transatlantic Vodka Martini). Antipasto: Tartare di capesante: scallop, avocado, taro chip, sesame citrus emulsion (2021 Filanda Rose Brut Riserva, Bortolomiol). Pasta: Pappardelle frutti di mare: homemade pappardelle, crab, shrimp, crisp zucchini (2020 Schiava, St. Magdalener). Piatto principale (choice of one): Guazzetto: maine lobster, snapper, mussles, clams (2010 Faro, Palari) or Filetto di manzo: filet mignon, truffle mashed potato, assorted mushroom ragu (2012 Sassella Riserva "Stella Retica" Ar.Pe.Pe). We both chose the filetto, mine medium, Patrick's medium rare. Dolce: Panettone: panettone pudding, fior di latte ice cream, pomegranate (Passito delle Lipari "Ben Rye" Donnalugata). All food and drink were excellent. There were some long delays between courses for which our server Antonio was genuinely apologetic, but we were in a festive mood and not in a rush, so it didn't bother us. Afterwards we rode UberX home.