Special Private Party (maybe Boulette's Larder?)

sorry to bump my own thread, but can anyone comment on boulette's vs. other high end places?

thanks!

GeckoPig in San Francisco Bay Area

Guittard unsweetened chocolate "buttons" in SF?

I just found unsweetened chocolate at the TJ's in SF on Masonic. It is an 8oz bar for $2.49 (I think). I'll try to remember to post about how it tastes once I bake with it.

GeckoPig in San Francisco Bay Area

Special Private Party (maybe Boulette's Larder?)

I'm planning a very special party for about 20 people (likely less). I would love a place with a nice/comfortable space, nice view, and excellent food. I'm open to the entire bay area, but would likely prefer SF.

I am willing to pay up to $200 per person for food/wine.

I am considering the "private restaurant" that Boulette's Larder becomes in the evening. It is $165 per person, which seems steep when the tasting menu at Michael Mina is $135 or five courses at Gary Danko is $98.

So two questions:

- Does anyone have any suggestions for other places?

- Can anyone comment on Boulette's versus other high end restaurants? Am I just paying for more control over the menu and the space? Or the necessary profit margin for them for not selling alcohol? (BYOB with no corkage helps explain why I would pay the extra cost, but not why they would necessarily charge it)

Thanks!

GP

GeckoPig in San Francisco Bay Area

Guittard unsweetened chocolate "buttons" in SF?

Do you have a brand/type of unsweetened chocolate you use and like that is available in SF? Thanks!

GeckoPig in San Francisco Bay Area

Guittard unsweetened chocolate "buttons" in SF?

Thanks so much for the responses, I will try the Bittersweet Cafe and Sur la Table

GeckoPig in San Francisco Bay Area

Guittard unsweetened chocolate "buttons" in SF?

I just moved north and need a source for good bulk chocolate in SF, like at the Milk Pail Market in Mountain View.

They carry little tubs of Guittard chocolate and I'm most in need of the unsweetened chocolate, since I can find good semi/bitter/milk chocolate elsewhere. The unsweetened comes in small, quarter sized discs. It is delicious and really easy to use.

Does anyone know where I can find these in SF? If not, is there another source for good unsweetened chocolate that is not super pricey? I looked at Rainbow Grocery, but their unsweetened was in a big brick.

Thanks!

GeckoPig in San Francisco Bay Area

Farm Fresh to You? Farm Co-Op? CSA?

To piggyback on your topic...I'm moving to SF and have to leave Full Belly (which has been great!). I'm choosing between Terra Firma and Eatwell. Anyone have a recent opinion? Thanks!

GeckoPig in San Francisco Bay Area

Braised Pork in Red Wine with Chicken?

I'm having one of those dinner parties where all I can serve is chicken because of all the food issues.

I was thinking of adapting a Mark Bittman recipe that essentially is pork shoulder/butt in cubes, red wine, chicken stock, 10 garlic cloves, and carrots cut up braised in the oven. After braising, you remove the solids and reduce the sauce.

It is delicious with pork, but do you all think it will be delicious with chicken thighs? Or too boring?

Also, what do you think of serving it with israeli couscous? I have used bread in the past as a starch, but some people will likely be standing up holding plates of food, so I'm trying to make it easy to eat just with a fork.

GeckoPig in Home Cooking