News You Can Bruise for 2004 April 23

Permalink [Comments] (8) Fri Apr 23 2004 13:28 There's A Reason Why They Call It That:

Last night Sumana and I threw caution to the winds and went to Greens, a ritzy vegetarian restaurant in the Fort Mason center (where little corporations are housed in big boxy Army surplus buildings). Unlike our similar adventure at Millennium, it was great! It was hearty and rustic where Millennium was trendy and urban, open and sunny and Californian where Millennium was a dark, crowded bistro. Millennium was obsessed with meat substitutes, Greens with vegetables and grains. Both used the weird leafy vegetables you've never heard of--I don't remember what they were and I could just make up random-sounding vegetables like "erdile" and you'd believe me.

We shared two great appetizers; southwestern bean cakes and a "spring sampler" with walnut bread, bleu goat cheese, walnuts, and dates. I had a great polenta-in-soupy-stuff entree, and Sumana had shish kebobs which she didn't like as much. I ordered a chocolate mousse torte for dessert, which I haven't eaten yet. (I couldn't eat it yesterday due to my new "jam every other day" diet.)

Total cost of meal was $60, which I think is pretty good for an upscale dinner in San Francisco. That $60 does not include the enormously expensive cookbook I bought. I'm going to end up one of those people with a bookcase full of cookbooks. A cookbookcase.

food people/Sumana Harihareswara

Comments:

Posted by Kristen at Fri Apr 23 2004 16:47

Sounds like fun. I love splurging on nice restaurants.

Posted by Susie at Fri Apr 23 2004 17:54

I want a cookbookcase!

Posted by rachel at Fri Apr 23 2004 23:57

i bought a cook book! (it hasn't come yet)

Posted by Kristofer Straub at Sat Apr 24 2004 04:42

I had an erdile salad with steamed faris and fresh kolfi sprigs. Afterwards, I enjoyed a big bowl of chowder made with... blanched... flu... flaff. Boners. Goddammit, I should have stopped at the first sentence.

Posted by Alyson at Sat Apr 24 2004 09:54

Leonard--I am so thrilled that you went to Greens. I bow at the feet of Deborah Madison, the founding chef of Greens. Tell me, which cookbook did you buy?

Posted by Leonard at Sat Apr 24 2004 11:47

Alyson, I bought "Everyday Greens". If you ever come to San Francisco we can go there.

Posted by Alyson at Sat Apr 24 2004 12:59

That is one that I do not have. Do you remember my Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone cookbook you looked through when you were visiting? That is one of Deb's, too (I consider myself to be on a first name basis with Ms. Madison).

Posted by Alyson at Sat Apr 24 2004 13:00

And, Leonard, I would love to go to Greens when I visit. Someday.

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