Several years ago, I acquired an early version of the Palm 5x. One of my first fun things with it was keeping a travel diary. Where I ate was a big part of the travel diary. But now that I'm a member of the species Homo weblogensis, I think I'll move that function here. So these entries will be a combination of travelblog, restaurant review, and memorials to gourmandism.
My first meal on this trip was at La Tasca, a tapas bar and restaurant in the Castro District. On Friday nights, the restaurant hosts singing by students and alumni of the S.F. Academy for the Performing Arts. I don't often do live music, but I'm glad I did: I had cramps in my face by the end of the evening from smiling too much. There's something about having beautiful 20-year-old women, all with beautiful voices and a flair for the theatric, singing torch songs to you while standing 15 feet away. But it wasn't just young'uns singing: alums, parents, and I suspect the occasional drop-in or friend sang also. There were show tunes, opera, popular songs, and a few things you wouldn't hear in just any public venue.
Unfortunately, the huge distraction of the singing kept waitstaff from circulating promptly to tables. It was probably 20 minutes or more before we were able to place an order. We ordered a half-dozen different tapas, which started coming out of the kitchen before the wine or even water had made an appearance. Again, I blame this on the activity, but I'm told that the place always seems to have too few waitstaff.
But I digress: the food was very, very good. The crabcakes were yummy and crisply fried -- a little too bready, but still yummy. The crabmeat-stuffed portobello was attractively served on a plate with bechamel, then run under a broiler. A salad with mango and serrano ham kept me going after pieces of mango on a friend's plate. Two dishes with names that belong in a Chinese restaurant -- chicken/shrimp in garlic sauce -- will keep vampires away and lovers of the genus Allium coming back for more. The highlight for me was skewers of salmon and shrimp with interleaved onions, mushrooms, and peppers, served with an aioli. The aioli also came on the side with baskets of bread slices -- warm, flavorful, and lightly toasted on a grill. The Rioja that finally made it to the table had a gorgeous bouquet for a fairly big food wine. One of us ordered a chocolate mousse pie flavored pleasantly with coffee, but the texture was ever so slightly gummy.
Overall, a really pleasant experience, if you can get service. At least on Fridays you'll be well-entertained while waiting for your food.
