MikeySnakes Senior Member Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Staten Island Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 9:48am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
I'm really intrigued, why are they trying to ban Foie Gras? I personally didn't like Foie Gras and only mildly enjoyed the Pâté of Foie Gras that I had at another restaurant, but it seems kind of crazy to ban it. I know it's bad for your health, but is that the only reason?
Also I know of a lot of restaurants in Brooklyn that serve a really good espresso (usually using Counter Culture or Stumptown beans), and I also had a better than average espresso at a french restaurant on Long Island named Mirabelle. I mean probably 99% of restaurants in america will have bad espresso, but there are still some diamonds in the rough.
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 10:20am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
I suspect any ban on Foie gras has little to do with human health concerns. Objections tend to surround the aspect of force feeding geese to the extent that their liver swells due to the over feeding. The swollen engorged liver is the foie gras.
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 10:20am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
They want to ban Foie Gras because of the in human way the goose (geese?) are treated when being force fed. However, keep in mind this law comes from the same wacky Supervisors that want to pass a law banning de-clawing cats. And here is another one (don't get me started) To solve the traffic problem, they closed up part of Market St. (main downtown thorough fare) to autos without planning where the detoured traffic would go.
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 11:30am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
steven_meyer Said:
They want to ban Foie Gras because of the in human way the goose (geese?) are treated when being force fed. However, keep in mind this law comes from the same wacky Supervisors that want to pass a law banning de-clawing cats. And here is another one (don't get me started) To solve the traffic problem, they closed up part of Market St. (main downtown thorough fare) to autos without planning where the detoured traffic would go.
The government in Chicago tried banning foi gras. It didn't take. I'd say its a waste of time and taxpayer money for San Francisco to even bother with trying to ban it.
Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 11:47am Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
Cyrus looks very nice, but if you haven't dined at the French Laundry, I'd recommend saving up for the experience. For me, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and truly memorable.
Shame that the espresso was thin. I can't say I have ever had a great coffee in any restaurant. I think the issue is that they'd need to have a real barista on staff. When there's only a handful of people working in these small upscale restaurants, a dedicated barista is not an option.
It's easier to get coffee right than espresso. I have no problem drinking coffee that's only OK.
I've been going to a lot of not-fancy restaurants lately (some attached to truck stops) and I've been surprised at how good the coffee is. Not exciting, no epiphany moments, but when they brought out a Zojirushi thermal carafe full of South American (maybe Brazil, maybe Colombia) coffee that was fresh and wasn't burned and didn't have any particular flaws (maybe a little light on the roast), I was happy. I'm pretty sure I heard a grinder about 5 minutes before they brought my coffee to the table. Heck, even the cups were pretty nice (thick, heavy, tasteful but not fancy).
If all restaurants served coffee at least that good, I'd be willing to order coffee more often.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 6:39pm Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
Foie gras is not banned in San Francisco. In Chicago, yes. And some chefs -- Wolfgang Puck, for example -- are refusing to serve it. So I boycott Wolfgang Puck . . .
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 7:16pm Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
Aye, an all too familiar tale! I once had a terrific lunch in NYC at Balthazar's French bistro -- a local legend among food worshipers in the Village, with attentive staff in white uniforms -- and a multi-group espresso machine (La Cimbali, I think). I ordered a double espresso, which turned out to be 2 double-shots in a bowl -- and it sucked mightily. At times like that, I wish I could pay them to pull the shot myself!
Posted Sun Sep 13, 2009, 8:38pm Subject: Re: Upscale dinner followed by bad espresso
A year ago I posted about an Illy espresso I had at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville (pull and shot shown in collage). Bouchon is owned by Keller, the owner of the French Laundry. They make fantastic parisian macarons. Bouchon bakes some bread for the French Laundry, and the bakery is only 400 yards from the French Laundry. In 2009 Bouchon doesn't use Illy pots anymore but now uses a superautomatic.
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