restaurants San Francisco
Cafe Zuni
29/05/2007 20:49 Filed in: Reviews
Welcome back to me I say. I've been absent for a while as I had lots going on. I am back though with a whole lot of new information. First port of call in my travels is San Francisco. An absolutely amazing place and truly the culinary capital of America. In terms of food it has a lot to offer. I mean, for example, when you think of sourdough you think San Francisco. It's the best tasting bread and no one does it better. Apart from food, San Francisco has a great cultural scene and a lot of political and social history attatched to it. When I was there recently I heard someone say "San Francisco is the birth place of counter culture". I'll be posting a number of entries in the future about this place and its many gourmet eating establishments.
The one place on my to do list was Cafe Zuni. A restaurant with its own history and its very famous roast chicken signature dish. I had heard so much about this dish. I did not want to miss out. My colleague Louise had smartly made a reservation and asked me to join her. So we made our way over to Market St on a windy Sunday evening. (when isn't it windy there??!!!). The restaurant has huge glass windows facing the street, lots of exposed brick and a labyrinth of mini dining rooms in the upstairs area. My initial impression is "homey industrial" .
We started with fresh sourdough bread and butter. Delicious, scrumptious and very tasty. Louise ordered crostini with a fava bean puree and split peas and I ordered the salad made with frisee lettuce, avocado and grapefruit. It was the best sweet and sour experience I'd had in a long time.
As this medley of photos prove we indulged in the famous Cafe Zuni Roast Chicken. I hate to use cliches but yes, succulent and moist definetly come to mind. The chicken comes to our table all chopped. It sits on pieces of wood fired baked sourdough, tossed with pine nuts and baby red mustard greens. The dressing on the base salad ingredients is a champagne vinigarette. Its almost a salad but not. Its a meal in itself and its highly recommended that two people enjoy it. I cannot begin to describe what an amzing time my taste buds are having. Our very friendly and knowledgeable waitress explains the Zuni chicken secret. The chickens are sourced form a place north of San Francisco called Fulton. They are free range and are fed an organic diet. In the preparation process for this dish, the chickens are tenderised through a salt curing process, for approximately 24 hours (they are covered in saran wrap during this time). Apparently this is what makes them so tender. Hmmm...must try this at home. We finished our meal with some aniseed biscotti and a double espresso.
You must visit Cafe Zuni when you head to San Francisco. All those things you hear about it are true. Great value, good service and fantastic delicious food. Will certainly head back again.
The one place on my to do list was Cafe Zuni. A restaurant with its own history and its very famous roast chicken signature dish. I had heard so much about this dish. I did not want to miss out. My colleague Louise had smartly made a reservation and asked me to join her. So we made our way over to Market St on a windy Sunday evening. (when isn't it windy there??!!!). The restaurant has huge glass windows facing the street, lots of exposed brick and a labyrinth of mini dining rooms in the upstairs area. My initial impression is "homey industrial" .
We started with fresh sourdough bread and butter. Delicious, scrumptious and very tasty. Louise ordered crostini with a fava bean puree and split peas and I ordered the salad made with frisee lettuce, avocado and grapefruit. It was the best sweet and sour experience I'd had in a long time.
As this medley of photos prove we indulged in the famous Cafe Zuni Roast Chicken. I hate to use cliches but yes, succulent and moist definetly come to mind. The chicken comes to our table all chopped. It sits on pieces of wood fired baked sourdough, tossed with pine nuts and baby red mustard greens. The dressing on the base salad ingredients is a champagne vinigarette. Its almost a salad but not. Its a meal in itself and its highly recommended that two people enjoy it. I cannot begin to describe what an amzing time my taste buds are having. Our very friendly and knowledgeable waitress explains the Zuni chicken secret. The chickens are sourced form a place north of San Francisco called Fulton. They are free range and are fed an organic diet. In the preparation process for this dish, the chickens are tenderised through a salt curing process, for approximately 24 hours (they are covered in saran wrap during this time). Apparently this is what makes them so tender. Hmmm...must try this at home. We finished our meal with some aniseed biscotti and a double espresso.
You must visit Cafe Zuni when you head to San Francisco. All those things you hear about it are true. Great value, good service and fantastic delicious food. Will certainly head back again.
CAFE ZUNI
1658 MARKET ST
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102
PH: (415) 552 2522