Lunch at Chez Panisse

Eastside Road, Healdsburg, March 25, 2009

LUNCH YESTERDAY in the café at Chez Panisse with family: sand dab sa'or with onions, currants, pine nuts, and bay leaves, served cool; grilled pork leg with sauerkraut, roast potatoes, and mustard sauce. I've loved sand dabs sa'or for years; it's how I always cook them at home -- sweat the onions with some pine nuts, then add liquid (white wine, stock, or even water) and currants; I add a splash of vinegar too. The dabs go on top of all this and barely steam 'til cooked.
The pork was delicious and as I thought made a perfect match to the sand dabs, kraut answering sa'or. Lunch was like a piece of music in two movements, each an analogue of the other. It didn't hurt to have a delicious Barhi date and a Page mandarin afterward.

Godello A Coroa, Valdeorras; Vinho de Mesa Tinto, Capote Velho