La Torre

Table with a view!

May 2015
Beautiful location, fresh seafood and the photos speak for themselves

seafood pasta

raw fish appetizer

the amazing view looking to the  north-west side of our table

the terrazzo of La Torre

nice plants

more raw fish

grilled tuna 

the amazing view looking to the south-east side of our table

grapefruit & blood orange sorbet

il caffè del mare

a complimentary desert,
like we needed more!

the view below our table

 
here's the link http://www.latorrenumana.it

PART I Sushi... in a land locked region

IL VIZIO, June 2015
Being a native Californian, I find myself continually craving good raw fish...and believe me it's hard to find in this land locked region.  Thank god after almost 16 years in Italy, Sushi has really taken off in Umbria in the last 2 years. Recently there are more and more sushi restaurants popping up, some near, some far, and all worth the effort, and money in my opinion.
One of my favorites is Il Vizio, located on the outskirts of Perugia.  I know, a Best Western Hotel restaurant, near Perugia is already a big turn off, but believe me the sushi will turn you on!  After you get over the location, and breeze through the indoor/outdoor smoking zone that reeks, you will start to let all that go.  The crowd is usually people on business.  The decor very modern.  The wine list good and the sushi really good.  There is an open kitchen and almost all Italian staff.  The name Il Vizio means vice, or bad habit.

ILVIZIO, vino, a Trento DOC that pairs really well with sushi

IL VIZIO, mise en place, modern clean and unique

IL VIZIO, a little complimentary appetizer 

IL VIZIO, a little complimentary appetizer,
great presentation and delicious too! 

IL VIZIO, vino-back label 

IL VIZIO, wake, seaweed salad

IL VIZIO, gambero  rosso

IL VIZIO, uramaki, special rolls

IL VIZIO, uramaki rainbow roll

IL VIZIO, Anguilla Nigiri

just chillin'

here's the link

http://www.hotelquattrotorriperugia.com/it/ristorante-hotel/menù-ristorante-il-vizio.aspx

San Francisco, February 2015

always a fun place, Pier 23

outside the Cliff House

the Cliff House

outside the Cliff House

desert, Stones Throw

they give you the check with 

a little stone, cute, Stones Throw

view of the spectacular Pacific Coast 

from the Cliff House

Graziano, Pier 23

the deck, Pier 23

crab salad, Pier 23

sweet potato fries, Pier 23

Shrimp Louie, Pier 23

a perfect salad wine, Pier 23

this is my dream wine cellar but I didn't even look at the wine list because 

I was so impressed by the cocktails, Hakkasan

Cliff House bar bottles

I never miss a visit to 

Café Claude in SF

The Niscose salad is always my favorite, Café Claude

excellent cocktails, Graziano had the simple martini while I experimented with 

the Chinese Mule (Purity vodka, Junnila sake lime) at Hakkasan

organic cucumber vodka sakatini, Hakkasan

yummy vegatable pot stickers, Hakkasan

the bar with a waiter in action, Hakkasan

we went to the W for an aperitivo and I sent the first sparkling rosé back because it had been opened for I don't know how long, apart from that the place just sucked.  Not what I remembered it to be in the late 90's when it WAS hip and happening, not any more!

Cliff House bar

night cap at The Scarlet Huntington Hotel Piano Bar, 

this my friends is a Vesper (Casino Royal) 1953 

Nolets Gin,  Ketel One Vodka Lillet, lovely way to finish off the evening

classic old school furnishings at 
The Scarlet Huntington Hotel Piano Bar

because my iPhone photos just don't do it justice, check it out

http://www.thescarlethotels.com/huntington-hotel-san-francisco/my-restaurant-and-bar/

this was really really tasty, oysters with 

avocado champagne  sauce! presented on a bed of sea salt and pepper corns

out of this world delicious! Stones Throw

appetizer, Stones Throw

a nice Pinot, Stones Throw

flank steak, 

Stones Throw

grilled scallops, Stones Throw

Stones Throw restaurant

mis en place & 

the Harris' Martini, great with steak

this is an American dinner,  

The Harris' Steak 

no white meat here at 

Harris' Steak House

fresh oysters at Union Larder

some paprika almonds went great with

the wine at Union Larder

Union Larder

window bar seats for people and 

cable car watching

Menu at Union Larder, great place 

great neighborhood

details at Union Larder