Tilth

My birthday dinner at Tilth was impeccable! You can really taste the freshness and purity of the local and organic ingredients Chef Hines uses to create her masterpieces.

I began dinner with a cheese course, Mopsy's Best from the Blacksheep Creamery with balsamic reduction and a strawberry rhubarb sauce. It was a sharp, nutty cheese served at perfect room temperature.

Then, I progressed to...+READ My birthday dinner at Tilth was impeccable! You can really taste the freshness and purity of the local and organic ingredients Chef Hines uses to create her masterpieces.

I began dinner with a cheese course, Mopsy's Best from the Blacksheep Creamery with balsamic reduction and a strawberry rhubarb sauce. It was a sharp, nutty cheese served at perfect room temperature.

Then, I progressed to the Chilled Billy's Gardens Tomato Soup with basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, and mini grilled cheese garnishes. The presentation was stunning (they pour the soup over the garnishes from a little pitcher at your table) and the flavor was pure tomato spiked with garlic and mellowed with creaminess.

I chose the Pete Knutson's Sockeye salmon for my entree, served over a bed of romano bean, tomato water, and currant tomato. The salmon was by far the best I have ever had; it was cooked perfectly and simply to allow its freshness to shine through.

For dessert, I went with the Theo Chocolate Ganache Cake with a chocolate cookie, cocoa cream, and sea salt. The server, Emily, was fantastic and she put a candle on my cake without even being asked! It was very rich and decadent, but the cream really balanced it out.

Dinner at Tilth is a wonderful experience that I highly recommend to anyone who appreciates the sincere, simple beauty of fresh food!-COLLAPSE / REPLY (9 Replies) (by SharpCheese, created August 27, 2010)

»great experience -- great service

My husband & I ate at Tilth last night. Our waiter was Garin. He pleasant, informative, and not condescending -- but he did 2 additional things. First, when my husband was trying to figure out what glass of wine to have with his carrot risotto, Garin gave him a taste of two candidates to help choose. Second, we had a gift certificate, which we left at home. We called the babysitter to give us the...+READ My husband & I ate at Tilth last night. Our waiter was Garin. He pleasant, informative, and not condescending -- but he did 2 additional things. First, when my husband was trying to figure out what glass of wine to have with his carrot risotto, Garin gave him a taste of two candidates to help choose. Second, we had a gift certificate, which we left at home. We called the babysitter to give us the number on the gift card, but that didn't work. So Garin talked to his manager and said, "don't worry about it, just bring it by later" We offered to give them our credit card number, and he said there was no need. What a great note to leave on!

Also, I drank a lot of water, and they never let my glass get more than 1/2 empty.

What we ate:
amuse bouche -- vichysoisse w/salmon roe -- yummy, definitely made for one bite -- a whole bowl would've been too rich & salty

broccoli cheddar soup -- yum, great mouth feel. Waitress who brought it came back a minute later with a little more, saying the serving looked small to her!

beef tongue salad w/salsify -- really good. salsify very good. horseradish cream & green onion puree good accompaniment

carrot risotto -- v. good

sable fish -- crisp skin, lovely white flesh. accompanying lentils a bit tart. crispy shallots crisp and savory . champ sauce (potato & leek) creamy and flavorful

vegetarian cassoulet -- smoky, not to hubby's taste

pork belly w/mustard spatzle -- not quite melt in mouth, very good, spaetzle had a bit of kick to offset the richness

Hubby had 3 cheesed: Mt. Tam triple cream -- great. A blue and a goat -- both good, but can't remember what they were

sweet that came with check -- chocolate covered roasted almonds -- just right, good chocolate, deeply roasted nuts.

Bread not the high point -- tasted good, but nothing special & not warmed. crackers that came w/bread seemed house made, but also just a plain foil for cheese

I had the house made apple-ginger soda. Pleasant, sweet. Tasted like sugar instead of corn syrup, which was nice.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (by sirinatsai, created February 7, 2010)