2007.12.08.
Sea Salt, Berkeley, CA.

Caldo verde
Arctic char with artichokes, bintje potatoes, bloomsdale spinach and romesco
Glass of negroamaro
Affogato with vanilla ice cream
Caol Ila 18-year single-malt scotch

Fewer words, more images. Feeling a bit tired, today.

While I normally order from the raw bar, I abstained, sampling some of the chilled dungeness crab with delightfully garlicky aioli, instead.

I’ve always wanted to try caldo verde, a delicious Portuguese soup with kale, potatoes, and chorizo, more akin to a rich and hearty stew than my connotation for “soup.” It was perfect for the chilly evenings we’ve been experiencing in the Bay.

The arctic char, as expected, was tender and expertly prepared, well-complimented by tangy romesco, creamy potatoes, and fragrant mini artichokes.

If you have a chance to try it, I also highly recommend the foie gras terrine with persimmon, walnut breadcrumbs, and vanilla salt. I was too busy squirming ecstatically over the savory bits to take a photograph.

The tab for me was $75, but I tend to do things like order wine, affogato, and scotch. While reviews of Sea Salt are generally mixed, I adore it. It’s possible that I am extremely lucky in my order selections, I am overly obsessed with seafood, or both.

P.S. – The hangar steak at Wood Tavern is one of the best I’ve ever tasted.