Ate at Bistro Michel for the first time last night, with mixed results. That place is really weird. My steak frites were quite good, served with a curry ketchup. The steak was topped with fine herbe butter. The mussels were ok, served with fennel and pernod, however, they kind of wrecked that with wayyyy too much cream. Not necessary. The server seemed hellbent on getting us really drunk, and I blame my current headache on the nasty free glasses of Ficklin chocolate "port" that they served us. I get offended when people call something port when it's not from porto. I guess I have a lot of anger inside. He also gave us a free Duchess de Bourgogne beer. This was in addition to a bottle of Gigondas for four and a glass of rose for me. Then at the end of the meal our server completely abandoned us to drink beer with his friends on the curb (which is kind of awesome) but we had to go inside eventually after waiting for the check to be taken for like half and hour. The dinner took three hours. Which is fine. That area is weird. Magpie's new little place is open right there.
BTW, Ficklin "port" are opening a tasting room at 20th and I? Good luck getting Sac into wine. I'm convinced that will never happen.
17 comments:
Was Virga good at that spot? I ate there but can't remember. I remember eating like a pine needle or something on a pasta once ...
NM
Virga is too old school for me to know. But Scott and his mom liked it, and also the previous tenant which was called the Sacramento Ravioli Factory, or some such. Hella old school.
River City Ravioli! The good ol days.
River City Ravioli! When was the tipping point when we lost great names like that and got "Pronto!", et al
NM
the real scourge of naming is the complete lack of creativity in businesses such as "15L", "lounge on 20" etc. so angry.
Choose a Pasta, Pick a Sauce!
Man, I miss that one.
gbomb
I don't know why more people aren't raging over the new Amtrak platforms. It's such a total blunder. I guess the bright side is that they offer a good view of the old shops buildings.
perhaps we are too beaten to rage, as longtime sacramentans witnessing folly after folly. we are the vietnam war of cities.
don't you mean "chooz a pasta, pick a sauce"?
CANNOT WAIT for the new P.T. Anderson movie.
How would you feel if Ficklin made a Madeira, but spelled it Madera? That might be a crafty move.
JD
yeah, if they want to spell it like "poort" our "pourt" or something, my rage level will go down. "pourt" could lead to a good marketing campaign: pour some pourt into your gullet and enjoy the sensation of being hit over the head with an artificial chocolate hammer. a hammer which will continue to pound the next morning.
tougher road with port, but Ficklin is in Madera, CA, so it would make more sense.
JD
Madera, CA: The Mad Era to locals
+1 PT Anderson movie. Does anyone know if a local theater has 70mm capabilities?
Madera is such a weird name for a town.
Imagine the founders saying "Let's just call this place 'wood'."
Even in Marin County, they were original enough to Corte their Madera.
I am taking an early train tomorrow morning. Thanks for the reminder or I would have totally been too late to make that hike.
N.
Chuke a pasta, puke a sauce! Man, that poor place didn't have a hill to go down. Of course I ate there anyway...
--------W
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