A Star Is Born: Sons and Daughters

ESF, volenti, and I had a wonderful dinner at Sons and Daughters during another of of my business trips to San Francisco.

Not long after this meal, the restaurant earned a Michelin star. Well done, Sons and Daughters!

Unfortunately, because Sons and Daughters has garnered such a prestigious accolade, you will now pay more for your meal than we did. We enjoyed a four-course meal for just $58 and wine pairing for $45 -- a total steal for food of this quality!

Brioche and butter.

Warm and fresh! Just one bite of this bread, and I knew we were in for a good night!

Amuse bouche: Red and gold beets, emulsified goat cheese, porcini "soil."

Have you ever seen a prettier little bite? It even tasted pretty!

First Course #1: Summer squash, corn, chanterelles, yellow wax beans, white strawberries.
Wine: Gruner Veltliner. Hiedler "Loss." 2009. Kamptal.

Like eating right out of a garden!

First Course #2: Tomato, scallop, bell pepper, leek, lemon basil.
Wine: Mourvedre Rose. Domaine Bunan. 2009. Bandol.

Beautiful and delicate. The scallop melted in my mouth.

Second Course #1: Abalone, burdock root, celery, salsify, Castelveltrano olives.
Wine: Gros Manseng. Domaine Chiroulet "Fezas Cote d'Heaux." 2009. Gascone.

Tender and earthy.

Second Course #2: Baby carrots, walnuts, egg white, oranges.
Wine: Chenin Blanc. Francois Pinon "Silex Noir." 2008. Vouvray, Touraine.

Who knew that carrots could be so good? Pure natural sweetness!

Second Course #3: Sweetbreads, porcini, farro, scallion, watercress.

Browned just right and fabulously rich.

More bread!

A crusty, warm break in the meal.

Third Course #1: Cornish game hen, foie, red orach, currant, pine nuts.
Wine: Pinot Noir. Evening Land. 2009. Eola-Amity Hills, Williamette Valley.

Succulent and luscious.

Third Course #2: Sea bass, dashi, bulgur, baby bok choy, plum.
Wine: Chardonnay. Lioco "Demuth Vineyard." 2008. Anderson Valley.

Lovely seared skin. Exquisite texture.

Third Course #3: Lamb, agastache, barley, artichoke, king trumpets ($5 supplement).

Juicy and super flavorful. I really wanted to pick up the bone and gnaw.

First intermezzo: Compressed melon and coconut milk.

Cool and refreshing!

Second intermezzo: Sweet potato donuts with powdered sugar.

Piping hot tiny golden balls!

Dessert Option #1: Strawberries, long pepper ice cream, ricotta, olive oil, honey.
Wine: Late Harvest Furmint. Disznoko. 2008. Tokaji.

ESF has told me that she still dreams of this dessert.

Dessert Option #2: Corn cake, bourbon ice cream, chorizo, smoked anglaise, lime.

Do you like the little scoop of corn cake at El Torito? This dessert might just make you die and go to heaven. Imagine that made in a crumbly heavenly fashion and paired with tiny hot Mexican sausage bits and alcoholic ice cream! Sweet! Salty! Smoky! Creamy! Warm! Cold! Crazy good!

Mignardise: Elderberry gelées.

I skipped mine because I'm allergic to some berries, and I didn't know how I'd react to elderberries. volenti and ESF seemed to like this last bite.

I really enjoyed Sons and Daughters. It melded farm-to-table and modern splendidly.