TOQUE June 2020

By Carol & Joe Davis
Dining Detectives

Cadillac Bar & Grill

Authentic Mexican Cuisine's Triumphant Return to San Francisco

Cadillac Bar Classic Hat	Restaurateur Michael Rodriguez	Mesquite Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Fajitas

The Cadillac Bar & Grill is back in San Francisco. Most of the new Mid-Market crowd would be perplexed since they never knew it was gone. Now located on 9th Street in the Twitter Building, the roots go back to the Cadillac Bar which started in 1926 in Nuevo Loredo , Mexico but we knew it for the nearly two decade run pre Y2K in San Francisco. The Cadillac opened in 1982 South of Market with a classic Mexican look that made us feel that we were South of the Border.

It won Best Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco multiple times for their Authentic Mexican Cuisine. It was famous for their Tequila Poppers https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Tequila-Popper and Hand Shaken “2 ounce pour” Margaritas made with fresh citrus juice served by the glass or pitcher. Today some might call them Scratch Margaritas with a San Francisco pour. We were crushed when The Cadillac Bar closed in 1999 to make way for the Moscone Center expansion.

Dining at the new location prompted us to reminisce about our misspent youth and fun times at the Cadillac. We spent many great Friday nights there unwinding after a long week working in sales for Tech Start-Ups. We also celebrated numerous Birthday Parties “back in the day” there with Bob, Carol, Ted and Alex to name a few mostly drinking and sometimes dancing on the tables!

Baja Fish Tacos	Cadillac Bar Classic Poster	Pre Y2K

Returning to the Cadillac Bar on a busy Friday at lunch time we were warmly greeted by Restaurateur Michael Rodriguez who was one of the original owners. Wearing an original 1990's vintage Cadillac Bar hat made us instant celebrities and a round of Tequila Poppers was sent to our table. The slamming of the Tequila Poppers on the table by the handsomely dressed waiter and subsequent downing of said Poppers got us ready to see if the cuisine still stacked up to our fond memories.

We ordered the Puffy Baja Fish Tacos served with Mexican Rice and Frijoles Charros. These Mahi Mahi tacos were delicious, perfectly prepared with quick fried corn masa tortillas and served in a light cabbage mix. We also ordered The Mesquite Grilled Jumbo Shrimp Fajitas served with guacamole, Pico de Gallo, sour cream and tortillas with Mexican Rice and Frijoles Churros. The Jumbo Shrimp were beautiful and grilled with just the right amount of spice with traditional sides. These were both excellent lunch entrees!

The Cadillac Bar is back and is getting the accolades it deserves including Open Table Diners Choice Awards. You will find delicious Authentic Old Mexican Cuisine which will pair perfectly with Hand Shaken Cadillac Margaritas made with Premium Tequila. As we looked around the large dining room which holds 400 guests we saw many large parties who were probably experiencing The Cadillac for the first time but appeared to show the same joy that we did! Working in San Francisco you'll be pleased to know that Happy Hour is from 3PM -6PM Weekdays. We look forward to returning soon to enjoy more Tequila Poppers and the authentic Mexican cuisine.

Cadillac Bar & Grill
44 9th Street
San Francisco, CA. 94103
415-554-0181
www.CadillacBarandGrill.com
@ CadillacSF

---

Michael Bauer - Too Much Power

 

Michael Bauer leaving the San Francisco Chronicle	The Plant Café Organic Duck Shitake Spring Roll	Bistro Central Parc Galette de Pommes de Terre Brie Chaud

The announcement that Michael Bauer the San Francisco Chronicle's Restaurant Critic, is retired sent cheers and head scratching throughout the Restaurant and Foodie Communities. Those who mortgaged their homes to go to Culinary School to open a restaurant preparing their grandmother's recipes, only to be trashed before they were even able to get in a “groove” cheered! Those that don't read newspapers anymore scratched their heads and said “Who?” Michael Bauer was been both feared and revered during a Golden Age that catapulted the Bay Area into being one of the true Food Capitals of the world. The weekly Restaurant Review was important Breaking News for Food Lovers. Generally, it was the first time anyone had heard of the Restaurant, so the impact was truly important. In fact, Restaurateurs had told us that his Review could make or break you!

La Mar Cebicheria Peruana Trio de Postres	McCormick and Schmick's Chocolate Molton Cake

Then times changed with websites like Yelp, TripAdvisor and Open Table reviews mitigating the influence. Those “Angry Yelpers” made Michael Bauer's criticism appear mild. Then came Bloggers, followed by Tweeters, Facebookers , Instagramers and more social media. Everyone with a Smart Phone is now taking pictures of food and posting which is really fantastic but sadly it feels like we have lost our true food icons aka villains like Michael Bauer and others throughout the Country.

Osso Steakhouse Dungeness Crab	LB Steak Tomahawk Chop	Sashimi

Where do we go from here? The Chron is searching for the next Michel Bauer. Good luck as they never found the new Herb Caen (Who?). Surely there will be more great writers who will replace the old guard with their precise criticism of cuisine but the days of the Food Critic having too much power is over. Retire in peace Michael Bauer @MichaelBauer1 and rest easier Restaurateurs as the “Big Bad Wolf” in the Bay Area has left the Building.

---

The Grill at Knob Hill

Fine Dining in Sun Valley

Knob Hill Inn	Dining Room	Restaurateur Bob Dunn

We are often asked what time of year is best to visit Sun Valley. Ski season is always lively, Summer time is beautiful as is the Spring and Fall, so our answer is always anytime! This fall we spent a lovely weekend in Ketchum and Sun Valley for the Trailing of the Sheep Festival www.trailingofthesheep.org which included food tastings, fairs with sheep shearing demonstrations and of course the Parade where 1500 sheep were herded thru Main Street in Ketchum from the mountains to the low lands for the winter.

Chef Sarah Janego	Escargot

Friends had told us how lovely the Knob Hill Inn was so we opted to stay there and have dinner at The Grill at Knob Hill. Our accommodations were lovely, as we stayed in one of their nicely appointed luxurious Suites. The Suite with modern décor had a King Bed, lovely bedding and marble bathroom, wet bar, wood burning fireplace and two large flat screen TVs. There were great views of the mountains from the living room and bedroom, as well as the large outdoor balcony.

We find that it is quite pleasant to stay where you can just walk from your room for drinks and dinner. We stopped in at their lively bar before dinner and enjoyed Specialty Craft Cocktails. We particularly enjoyed their take on the Classic True Grit which was made with Hornitos Tequila, Canton Ginger, fresh lime, grapefruit and salt n' pepper rim. The Knob Hill Inn Bar and this cocktail are favorites with both locals as well as guests.

Lamb Lollipops	Scallops	Strawberry Shortcake

The Dining room was packed when we arrived for our 8 PM reservation. We were quickly escorted to our table where we were comfortably seated with room to spare and not too close to other diners. Spacing in restaurants can be an issue but here it was done well. The noise level was quite low so we could talk easily.

Our friendly professional server soon told us about the Specials and we started out with a bottle of San Pellegrino Sparkling Water and a glass of wine. The focused Wine List features both Domestic and International Wines including reasonable and luxury offerings. While sipping the 2016 Morgan Winery Monterey Cote du Crow's Red Blend we perused the focused menu. The cuisine is Rocky Mountain Northwest American with European influences. You can have local Idaho Trout, Steaks, Lamb, Wienerschnitzel, Seafood and Wild Game. We met Chef Sarah Janego who told us how pleased she was to have the flexibility to create seasonal menus.

Trailing of the Sheep	Knob Hill Inn View

We immediately knew that the Escargot with garlic Herb Butter and Bacon Pernod was a must. We were correct as the Escargot were delicious! The Bacon Pernod sauce was particularly tasty and unique. We were then pleasantly surprised as their warm signature Warm Springs Scones Popovers arrived and tasted quite yummy! Next, we enjoyed the Lamb Lollipops served with mint pesto and crispy onions. They were prepared rare as ordered and had a lovely aroma. The Pan Seared Maine Sea Scallops was a Special which was served with jalapeño, caper, brown butter, avocado mousse, sautéed seasonal vegetables which included mashed potatoes, carrots and snap peas. The Scallops were perfectly seared and beautifully plated. Although we were quite full and satisfied, we were a bit jealous as we saw the Prime Rib on its way to a neighboring table. The 12 oz. 45 day aged Prime Rib was slow roasted and served with pan au jus, horseradish sauce and whipped potatoes. We will definitely have it on our next visit.

We were enjoying the casual, comfortable yet sophisticated atmosphere, so we decided that after dinner drinks and dessert would allow us to linger. The Portuguese Ramos- Pinto Fine Ruby Port and a Decaf Cappuccino were perfect choices to pair with their house made Strawberry Shortcake made with lavender pound cake, macerated strawberries and lemon curd. The dessert was light and just delicious with the fresh lemon curd.

The Grill at Knob Hill features both indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) dining, has lovely garden and mountain views and is a favorite for good reason of both locals and visitors. We chatted with Restaurateur Bob Dunn who should be proud of what he has accomplished in his seven years owning the restaurant with his wife and partner Jolie Dunn.

We loved staying at the Knob Hill Inn and dining at The Grill at Knob Hill. It is a great way to be pampered in Sun Valley and is worthy of its 2018 recognition as one of the top 25 boutique hotels in the U.S. The excellent value is also enhanced as a Signature Breakfast in the Fireplace Room is included in the room charge. We look forward to returning soon.

The Grill at Knob Hill
Knob Hill Inn
960 N. Main Street
Ketchum, ID 83340
208-726-8004
www.KnobHillInn.com
@KnobHillInn

---

Enrique's Mexican Restaurant

1^st Tequila Tasting Dinner with Herradura

Welcome	Enrique and Eric	Herradura

We have had lots of fun dining at both the old and new Enrique's Mexican Restaurant in Kuna over the past 5 years and were pleased to attend Enrique's sold out 1^st Tequila Tasting Dinner with Herradura. Their Casa 1884 Banquet Room features comfortable soft grey suede chairs and tables built by Enrique. It seats 50 and was filled with a happy crowd who wanted to know more about Tequila and enjoy dinner with like-minded old and soon to be new friends. We do enjoy tasting dinners as the restaurant always features their best cuisine paired with a selection of beverages. We've been to Wine, Scotch and Tequila Tasting Dinners over the years and found that Tequila Dinners tend to draw a more fun crowd.

Restaurateurs Enrique Contreras and Ana Paz have been serving traditional Mexican cuisine made with family recipes since 1998. In 2018 they realized one of their dreams when they moved into their new beautiful 12,000 sq. ft. restaurant a few minutes from the original location. We love the modern décor which features a very stylish bar, private Tequila lockers and fantastic photos of Mexican Celebrities on the walls. There are large dining rooms, banquet rooms, an inviting communal table and Patio seating in season overlooking Indian Creek which features a Stone Fire Pit with blue glass. Enrique's is well known having won The Best of the Treasure Valley Mexican Restaurant Award.

Tasting	National Margarita Day!!

The Presentation for the evening was led by the knowledgeable and affable Spirits Aficionado Eric Carr from Young's Market the local Liquor Distributor. He started out by telling us about Tequila and Herradura's storied history while we sipped on tasty Margaritas which were perfect since it was National Margarita Day! Herradura started producing Tequila in 1870 and the Horseshoe on the bottle when poured turns right side up for Good Luck.

We learned that as with other Appellation specific beverages that if it is not from the Jalisco region of Mexico and a few nearby areas it can't be called Tequila. Tequila is aged in old Jack Daniels Barrels and it takes 7-9 years for the Blue Agave plant to mature to make Tequila. A common misconception is that Tequila has a worm in the bottle but that is actually Mezcal that has the worm. A good point about glassware was brought out as it was noted that Riedel Tequila glasses were the preferred glassware for more expensive Tequila drinking.

Dinner	Art

We then began our dinner with starters. Our Aperitivo was a spicy Mexican Shrimp Cocktail which had some kick to it. The Ensalada, a Spinach & Strawberry Salad, was lightly dressed and tasty as well.

Our Plato Principal was served Buffet style. When we returned with our main course we found to our delight another Margarita had been served. Dinner was fresh and delicious. We loved the Carne Asada which was long thinly sliced steak that was spiced and cooked perfectly. The Pollo Poblano was tender, juicy Chicken in Poblano Cream Sauce and the Puerco Mixiote was delicious roasted thick chunks of pork tenderloin cooked in Mixiote leaves. Rice, Beans, Roasted Corn, Chips and Salsa were also included with dinner. The roasted corn was especially tasty. Before we had our Postre which was a quite light delicious Cheesecake we began our tasting. Buzz Buttons were offered as Palate cleansers then we proceeded to our four Herradura Tequila Tastes.

Our first taste was the Herradura Silver which is aged by natural fermentation for only 40 days. It had a clean and crisp taste and a subtle agave aroma. Next, we tasted the Herradura Reposado which is aged for 11 months. To our surprise this was our favorite even though we normally prefer Anejos. It was very smooth and offered dry spice and wood aromas and a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. The Herradura Anejo was next and it is aged for 12 months and offered oak and nut aromas. We finished with Herradura Ultra Anejo which is aged for 25 months offering a very smooth tropical fruit aroma and clean herbaceous slightly sweet finish.

There was an optional taste offered, a very special Herradura Selection Suprema which is aged for 48 months and sells for over $300 per bottle and $40 a pour. Our friends from the Las Vegas Tequila Patrol told us to ask for the 1998 Herradura Blanco 46 which is only sold in Mexico and quite rare here in the U. S. but it was unavailable. We will taste it next time we are in Las Vegas as our pal has a bottle stashed for special occasions. We must also one day travel on The Agave Express which we are told is a great way to visit Tequila Casas in Mexico.

We had a fantastic time at Enrique's Tequila Tasting Dinner and were advised that there would be more Dining and Tasting Events soon. The next would feature Patron Tequila. Enrique's Mexican Restaurant has a new location, fabulous décor, Tequila Lockers, exceptional Tequila Selection and excellent Mexican Cuisine. We look forward to returning soon for Margaritas and the Guacamole which is made table side.

Enrique's Mexican Restaurant
345 N. Avenue E
Kuna, Idaho 83634
208-922-5169
www.enriqueskuna.com

---

Dining and Drinking around Las Vegas

Big Chicken Shaq Crispy Chicken Sandwich	Tiki Cocktail	Rick's Bar

Believe it or not we love Las Vegas and always enjoy our short trips to what used to be known as Sin City. We do appreciate the Celebrity Chef restaurants but try to seek out more reasonable and fun places to eat and drink which is much easier now that the metro area has grown to over 2 million people.

If you are looking for a great lunch just off the strip near the Hard Rock Hotel try the Big Chicken Shaq which is owned by NBA legend Shaquille O'Neil. They serve one of the tastiest Crispy Chicken sandwiches we have ever eaten.

Atomic Liquors	Love the Neon and Sayings	Koi Sake

Craving Jewish Deli you are now challenged as both New York's Carnegie Deli where Chopped Liver and Matzo Ball Soup were fantastic or Los Angeles's Canter's Deli where we loved the Corned Beef and Pastrami have closed since we dined there.

Going out for Dinner is always enjoyable. Koi in Planet Hollywood is a worthy stylish Japanese restaurant where we loved the fresh Sushi and of course the Saki. We also enjoyed the Roasted Shishito Peppers, Sin City Roll and American Wagyu Beef Carpaccio.

Hecho Margarita	Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas	Matzo Ball Soup

If you are out with a group a fun dinner and show can be found at the authentic German Beer Hall HaufBrauhaus Las Vegas. We loved the huge Steins of German beer, Oompa Music, the duck dinner and Sauerbraten. Ask for the Jägermeister and enjoy a spanking good time!

Nora's Italian Cuisine www.norascuisine.com which is off the Strip is a great choice for classic Cosmos and Italian food. Both the Veal Marsala and Veal Parmesan were to die for. Make sure you save room for their out of this world Tiramisu. You might need a Drink at some point while in Las Vegas. The Best Margarita is made by Bar Manager Cesar Ramirez at Hecho en Vegas at the MGM where they have an over the top selection of Tequilas. The Atomic Lounge and Liquors which is Las Vegas's oldest freestanding bar has a great beer selection. Try the Dead Man's Hand or the Secret Cove Cerveza. The Atomic is best known for the panoramic Roof Top view where many watched the Atomic Bomb blasts back in 1952.

We are big fans of Tiki Bars as we love Flaming Rum drinks. We loved Frankie's Tiki Room and The Golden Tiki as they both served excellent cocktails and had unique decor. Try the Tiki Bandit or the Lava Letch. At Rick's BBQ and Tavern owned by Pawn Star Rick Harrison you'll find excellent cocktails and don't be surprised if you see him as he bartends most Saturday nights. Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen at Caesars Palace has great cocktails too. You will be pleased with the Meet your Maker or Fear and Loathing Signature Cocktails. Their “Go to Hell” T Shirt was going to be one of our Souvenirs but when we asked how much and they said $35 we told them to go to Hell!!

Love or Hate Las Vegas you will surely find some fun places to eat and drink.

---

Mon Ami Gabi

French Bread	Paris Hotel	Paris Hotel

Delicious Classic French Bistro Cuisine in the Heart of Las Vegas

We love to dine at French Bistros and one of our favorites Mon Ami Gabi is in the Paris Hotel on the Strip in the heart of Las Vegas. The vibe is lively and fun with the sounds of clinking glasses and the laughter all around. We opted to dine in the main dining room and experience the pure French atmosphere which includes dark wood walls and tables with crisp white Butcher Block paper which added to the authentic French Style. There also is a bar where you can have drinks as well as their large outdoor patio where you can dine with a view of the Bellagio Fountain's dancing waters.

Wine and Champagne Cart	Escargot

Of Couse we started with cocktails. A Grey Goose on the rocks with two olives and a Cosmopolitan got us primed for what we knew would be a great dining experience. Our perky server soon brought us Sparkling water and a freshly made hot French Baguette served in a bag which would be perfect for tearing apart as needed. We relaxed, took it all in and lingered over our cocktails.

We ordered Marquis De La Tour French Champagne by the glass to pair with our dinner which arrived in one of their Rolling Wine Carts as well as the Mon Ami Gabi Pinot Noir. Our first course was a classic. We loved the aromatic Wild Escargot De Bourgogne which were perfectly prepared tasty oven roasted snails in garlic butter served piping hot in a cast iron skillet. The French bread helped soak up the delicious garlic butter which the escargot were cooked in. Our next course was another classic, French Onion Soup Au Gratin with melted Gruyere cheese which was served hot and tasted fantastic. The portion was right sized and not too rich. We stayed with the classics and our next course was Mussels Mariniere which was prepared in a rich white wine and Herbs broth which again was perfect!

French Onion Soup	Profiteroles

We were now at a crossroads as we had planned on having the Petit Filet, which we had had before and loved. Knowing that Profiteroles were waiting in the wings we did the right thing and opted to just move on to dessert. Since it was a birthday celebration the delicious Profiteroles came complete with lit candles which added to the fun. We loved our classic French Bistro dining experience at Mon Ami Gabi and will surely return on our next visit to Las Vegas to help them celebrate their 21st Anniversary.

Mon Ami Gabi- Paris Hotel
www.monamigabi.com

Until we eat again…..

@DiningDetective

Contact - Copyright 2006 Joe and Carol Davis
Site Design webDAKI