Chez Panisse-updated now with less spelling errors

Well good grief! I fell asleep last night while typing all this out, please excuse my spelling errors. When I woke up I simply hit publish and went back to sleep. I think I fixed them and now I'm on my way to Chinatown!!!


A few weeks ago I began planning a pre-BlogHer Food blogger meet up. My friend Susan wanted to go to Chez Panisse, I wanted to go to Chez Panisse too so we planned a blogger dinner at Chez Panisse. I may have died and gone to heaven, the food was amazing, great beer and the company was top notch. I'm very shy and the ladies I was with didn't make it hard to enjoy myself one bit.

I went with Heather of Heather in SF, Amanda (and her hump) of Brilliant Sulk, Susan of Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy, Carol of Uncovering Food, Selena of Flavor Stitch (and Apron Thrift Girl) and Valerie of Small Contraptions. We met at Cezars next door to Chez Panisse for a drink. That place was packed on a Wednesday night which was weird.

Then we headed to Chez Panisse where we lingered, laughed and noshed. The food was spectacular. We all started with something different. I ordered the heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers with olive tapenade, yes there is heaven, I found it in a yellow tomato. Other starters included a fantastic rocket salad, fresh figs, steamed nettle pizza (a tad salty) and a beet avocado salad. We laughed as everyone whipped out their cameras for pictures. The lighting was dim, which is fine except for food bloggers who want precision lighting on their tomatoes.

For a main dish four of us ordered the same thing, pot roast with baby turnips, carrots and baby artichokes. This was hands down the most succulent piece of beef I have had ever. Period. Others enjoyed rabbit, shrimp and a salad. I loved the pot roast, there really wasn't much sharing, we just shut up and ate.

Dessert was pushing it but we had to do it right? I enjoyed a simple chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce and caramelized pecans. There was a pluot tart and a LOT of panna cotta going on, too.

Somewhere in the mix was a goodie exchange. Kale chips, vintage hankies, blueberry lavender chocolate, post cards and chocolates. But Valerie blew our doors off, she made us caramelized bacon? Or bacon brittle? Brittle I think. I actually don't care because IT'S ALL MINE AND I DON'T HAVE TO SHARE. She also made organic caramel sauce AND, AND marmalade from trees in her own yard. This girl has twins y'all and she made us all these fantastic goodies!

All in all a great time with some great bloggers and now friends. Thanks girls, what a spectacular evening, truly awesome!

Oh and when I came back there was chocolate left on my bed by my great hotel, The Mosser.

Peace and Love--