.. and I want all of you to know about it

Thanks for everyone for putting up with my whack restaurant picks, the presents (last minute and otherwise), dressing up for the event which was incredibly ridiculous when you think about it, still yall looked good

I've quietly decided that it would be my last birthday celebration cuz 1) I can't stand being the center of attention, 2) I have a real phobia of getting old (leave me alone), 3) life is too full of disappointment


Some pictures
me (flickr), lil gee, jbc's pics

March 2007, dead, to reopen as Restaurant Cassis (French / Italian)
-
Update, to close, Winterland will remain open for private parties and serve dinner Thursdays
-


This is one of the worst birthday meals I've had.. you win some and you lose some

The place definitely has decor and presentation going for it but the creations of chef Vernon Morales were simply too weird (case in point, a poached egg with bacon ice cream... yeah...). Many felt that there was a simple point of putting unconventional items together (one heading would say something and the fine print description would veer off into no man's land)

There were a few ok dish from the spring menu that my large party got to sample but that was hardly redeeming. On appetizers highlights were octopus carpaccio (tasted strangely like meat), buffalo wings with the soft dollop of mashed meat (dumplings?). on Entrees pork belly was so good but it recalled strangely what you can have at a cheap Cantonese house, it was still done very well. Another standout was the steamed halibut which was cooked to perfection. Sweetbreads of a calf was actually really awesome (think seared foie gras meet pork liver but, like really good) however my stomach wasn't doing too hot at that point, maybe it was psychosomatic. The "poussin" (young chicken) was also extra tender

For my birthday treat, they hooked me up with simple vanilla ice cream served on chocolate powdered coffee beans or something, it was definitely novel to the palate but the one foreign taste I did end up appreciating

Service was adequate (we were sat about an hour late, with reservation) though I think our large table made it tough for the kitchen to get the dishes out.. felt like the entrees definitely took too long, the space is very attractive (though the location makes parking semi-bitchy). Came out to over $60 which may seem like a lot but I woulda paid a lot more for good food, this wasn't it (sure I didn't actually pay at all but that just exacerbated my aggravation, sorry friends). Winterland is like the epitome of fussy (the Pierre Gagnaire of California). I'd avoid anything resembling this type of establishment for the rest of my life

Oh yeah I wanna thank (blame) all the glowing reviews I've read that made me pick this restaurant in the first place, yall suck


Winterland is located near Japantown at Sutter and Steiner


Spring Dinner Menu sample

Crudo
Octopus Carpaccio
Smoked paprika, mango, sea beans
9

Salmon Belly Sashimi
Roasted beet, horseradish cream, orange & black walnut dressing
10

Baby Abalone & Sea Urchin
Cucumber miso salad, yuzu granita
14


Appetizers
Artichoke & Green Tomato Soup
Razor clam, tomato confit, black olive puree
9

Organic Arugula Salad
Manchego cheese, extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice
9

Poached Organic Egg
Yukon Gold potato espuma, parsley, American sturgeon caviar
11

Day Boat Scallop
Cuttlefish, crab, coconut lobster broth
15

Dungeness Crab
Mango & avocado salad, mango gelee, yogurt sorbet
16

Toasted Chicken Wings & “Gnocchi”
Sweet potato puree, black sesame, honey glaze
15

Seared Foie Gras with Hazelnut
Jerusalem artichoke puree, mache & frisee salad, huckleberry sauce
18


Entrees
Hawaiian Onaga & Calamari
Squid ink gnocchi, sea beans, saffron mussel sauce
27

California Striped Bass
Sweet pea dumplings, rhubarb, ginger broth
27

Pasta Primavera
Spring vegetables, spinach & arugula puree, parmegiano emulsion
22

Crispy Berkshire Pork Belly & Roasted Monkfish
French lentils, chorizo, Piperade jus
25

Sirloin Strip & Braised Short Ribs
Tallegio cheese & potato gratin, honshi meji mushrooms, red wine sauce
29

Roasted Petaluma Poussin
Spring garlic, potato puree, orange jus
26

Lamb Loin Roasted on the Bone
Chickpea panisse, spinach, jasmine & meyer lemon sauce
32

Links
- pictures - /2006/04 apr 29 winterland sucks
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/gchuang/sets/72057594120199361/

Posted	Saturday, April 29, 2006 @ 7:29:57 AM (936 days ago)
Tags	food / personal / sanfrancisco / suck
Comments	6, last reply by Vicki
Last posts in personal	POTD Wisdom from Six Feet Under I'm a compulsive liar I hated Winterland Angry
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Comments

happy birthday! how old are you now? :)

jason on 4/29/2006 8:03:47 AM, 936 days ago

29 million years

daniel on 4/29/2006 8:28:49 AM, 936 days ago

happy bday kid!

ya that bacon ice cream was whack.

still, had a good time with good friends.

jbc on 4/29/2006 10:20:20 AM, 936 days ago

Happy b-day! when is the actual day? My b-day was on 4/27. Perhaps i'll see u at Editors 2nite!

Phil on 4/29/2006 1:31:25 PM, 936 days ago

thx! think i saw you out front middle~right, couldnt really move, the concert was all kinds of awesome

daniel on 4/30/2006 2:10:03 AM, 935 days ago

happy belated birthday!!! dressing up is always fun ;)

Vicki on 5/2/2006 12:05:35 AM, 933 days ago

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