Eat This Michelin-Man!

Excuse me, Mr. Michelin-Man? This post is for you. I want to make you salivate in jealously, as I feature Zuni, a restaurant that was unjustly and woefully omitted from your Michelin Guide listing.

Michelin-Man, can you imagine having the most taste bud-satisfying bloody Mary made from a thick tomato juice heavily infused with vodka, tart balsamic vinegar, and a liberal squeeze of lemon juice? Zuni serves these tomato cocktails topped with a mignonette of brunoised shallots that float and bob in the drink, and that impart a deep, rich, oniony flavor throughout the tomato puree.

Michelin-Man, also think about Zuni's Bellwether Farms ricotta gnocchi with wilted spinach leaves, crumbled and shelled pistachio nuts, and lemon zest freshly grated from the sharp panels of a microplane. The cheesy gnocchi pillows are delicately spongy, almost like fresh marshmallows, and one can taste the grainy cheese curds within the airy gnocchi bites. Think of high-quality Italian mozzarella Michelin-Man. I dare you to find this kind of gnocchi anywhere else.

Also, there are many other dishes of note Michelin-Man. Zuni serves heaping platterfuls of golden-fried shoestring potato fries, that are crisp to the bite and glittering with a uniform scattering of granulated salt crystals. They are delicious Michelin-Man, believe me. But even more delicious is the grilled steak of "blue nose" bass perched upon a sweet nest of red and orange pepperonata slivers. The moist fish steak is served with yellow Finnish potatoes that have a crisp and browned exterior shell and are steaming-hot and fluffy on the inside. Most importantly, the bass is served with a generous dollop of creamy and provocatively-flavored aioli, that acts as a luscious dipping sauce for the shoestring fries and roasted potatoes. The aioli isn't too heavy at all, but it is heavenly.

And the desserts Michelin-Man, they are unforgettable. The divine flavors from the pot de creme and flourless chocolate gateau will make you go insane.

So, have I changed your mind Michelin-Man? What do you think of Bay Area restaurants now? If I couldn't convince you, take a peek at some other photos and read up on other posts chockful of praise for Zuni.