Alamo Square Seafood Grille!

I had dinner with my friend Jeffrey at the Alamo Square Seafood Grille (803 fillmore st.) last night. OMG! This is clearly some of the best seafood I've had since coming to San Francisco - - and it's at a reasonable price. We started off with a crabcake with red pepper flake crust over corn, fennel and jicama salad served with lobster sauce. ($6.95) and then I had Ahi Tuna - poached in a Buerre Blanc sauce ($13.95) and we shared a flourless chocolate cake with fresh berries and vanilla sorbet ($5). It was great - and it wasn't too crowded - so we chatted ingredients and cooking with the manager with each course.

What is Buerre Blanc Sauce? I thought you'd never ask....

1/2 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced shallot
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
freshly ground white pepper

WOW is it yummy - and I'd even go more lemony. (but I'm fruity that way!)

It was one of the most satisfying meals I've had out in a very long time. It gets three snaps WAY up!!

http://www.alamosquareseafoodgrill.com

on their entry on http://www.opentable.com - they say for themselves:

We specialize in fresh seafood in generous portions. Come and visit us on Wednesday evening when you can "Bring Your Own Wine" and corkage fees are waived. In the last eight years, we have become a neighborhood favorite for a delicious meal at a great price. When Michael Bauer reviewed us he said, "Good seafood value at Alamo Square." and "The owners of Alamo are veterans at offering good food at great value." as well as "Snapper, salmon, tuna, swordfish, and petrale sole are all priced at $13.50 for a generous half-pound portion. Even with nothing else on the plate, it would be a good deal, but when you add the myriad side dishes, it's astounding."

Their website is slightly outdated - but - gives a good overall impression of the rest of the fare. I say - GO EAT! ENJOY!

I will remove from you a heart of stone - and give you a heart of flesh....

I watched the documentary "Into Great Silence" tonight. It spends some time with Carthusian Monks in the Alps in southern France. I'm sipping hot noodle soup and drinking a big glass of merlot. Kate is sitting here next to me on the couch.

I didn't sleep well last night. I was out of sorts all day. There is a lot of turbulence out there in the world - great upturns - intense upheavals - hard endings - blossoming spring like beginnings - sudden departures.

during this documentary - it spends sections simply focused in silence on the faces of each brother at the monastery. great sparkling eyes. some that have nervous eyes that go anywhere but the camera.

it follows two initiates - as they take the "embrace of peace" and spend their first six months becoming members of the community. Cutting wood, washing utensils, sharing int he labor as well as the silence. The film is intense - it has no score and no voiceover. The community sings its prayers occasionally - but mostly it is following the brothers through their duties. It is incredible.

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I'm going to go try to read - and get an early night. I hope all of you are well.