Chan-er Turns 34!

[Finally updating the blog, holy delay, Batman!]

September 30, 2009

Chan's actual birthday was on the 29th, so we had to celebrate, of course!

We met up for drinks at the Homestead before dinner...





For dinner, we headed to the new and notable restaurant at 20th and Harrison called Flour + Water. Flour + Water as quickly become the new foodie sensation and neighborhood fave, featuring homemade italian fare.

As recommended by our server, we went the "family-style" mode and shared some antipasti, pasta and secondi.
Tuna conserva with fresh shelling beans, celery heart and roasted peppers.

Heirloom tomato & cucumber salad with red onion and fried basil.
Crispy pig trotter with fig, pickled delicata squash and watercress.
Nepitella tagliolini with chantrelle and lobster mushrooms.
Agnolotti dal plin
Pappardelle with braised duck and porcini mushrooms.
Roasted pork leg and belly with pumpkin puree, vin santo glazed apples and brussel sprouts.


The only dessert I tried: Chocolate budino w/ espress-caramel cream & sea salt.
The food was phenomenal at Flour + Water, a definite go-back and highly-recommended spot.

Happy Birthday Wendy!

Wendy's Birthday Festivities Begin!

September 26, 2009

On Saturday morning, I was pretty out of it, but decided that a nice long run would probably help my jetlag. So, I headed Little Marina Green to join the Nike Women's Run Club on a 10-mile run (I briefly considered doing 12 miles, but the fact that I was sweating salt in the first 10 minutes and that I was melting in the sun curbed that enthusiasm pretty quickly). After the run, I was toast, so I headed home and took a short two-hour nap. Will made sure I didn't sleep too long (to help me get back on PST), and I was hurting pretty bad all day. Jet lag is a be-otch.

On Saturday evening, Will picked up John/Emily/James from the airport (en route from Kentucky to Vancouver with a one-night layover in SF). We had a short visit, and then I headed to Ashley's house in the Marina for a potluck party for Wendy's upcoming birthday.

Ashley's ceviche (yum!):
Carne Asada pre-BBQ:



Best mole I've ever had: Poutine!:









Happy early birthday, Wendy! Thanks to Ashley et. al. for hosting!

Basel

September 26, 2009

TUESDAY (9/22)

On Tuesday morning, I flew to Basel via Munich from Berlin. I was traveling with a co-worker, and our connection at Munich was so tight that both our bags didn't make it (travel adventure #2!). Thankfully, there's multiple regional flights from Munich to Basel, so we were promised our bags later that evening.

From the airport, we headed directly to meetings all afternoon. After my meetings, I checked into my hotel, the Hotel Victoria, conveniently located right by the Basel SBB train station and walking distance to all my meetings all week.

I joined my co-worker and some of her local friends for drinks at a cool and random spot called Acqua. I say random because it was located in an old building next to the tram tracks under an overpass, but it was a very funky space.


From drinks, we headed into the Old Town part of Basel and headed for dinner at a vegetarian spot called Tibits. Apparently, there is another Tibits located in London, and yes, I actually ate here and really enjoyed my dinner.

The food was incredibly fresh and tasty, very good dinner.

After dinner, I headed back to Hotel Victoria to tackle my e-mail, with the South San Francisco work day just starting to clog my inbox.

WEDNESDAY (9/23)

On Wednesday, I started with more e-mail, then meetings, and then a nice lunch with some Basel co-workers at a local Swiss-German restaurant called Restaurant zur Wanderruh. With a menu only in German, I had to get my co-workers to translate for me.

I had the pork medallions with a mustard pepper sauce and spaetzle. Very authentic and tasty.
The afternoon agenda was more meetings and e-mail, before I met up with my co-worker Jenny for some sightseeing in Old Town Basel.















The walk was gorgeous and the evening sunset was beautiful in Old Town. For dinner, Jenny and I found a french brasserie called Kuchlin Brasserie.
I had the mushroom soup with cognac to start. Delish, great way to start a meal (I was digging all the local mushrooms in season!).
And for dinner, I had the beef tartare with french fries and freshly toasted french bread. Oui, oui!
Jenny enjoyed the moules et frites.

Dinner was fantastic, lots of great conversation, and a nice way to end the sightseeing night. Back to the hotel after dinner for more work, leading up to the last day in Basel before heading home. The week was going by quickly and it was quite the whirlwind...

THURSDAY (9/24)

This was my last full day in Basel, so I made sure I could get up early to go for a run along the Rhine river. I had a great run from my hotel to the Rhine, and there is a pretty fantastic pedestrian path along the river. There are four bridges that span the Rhine and the entire run route was about 5.5 miles.

I had meetings all day, and then our team went for dinner in Old Town at a restaurant called the Besenstiel.
We were treated with an amuse bouche of mushroom broth and a "beef salad". Hard to explain but yummy to eat.
I had the cured salmon with papaya and cucumber salad to start.
For the main meal, I had a veal dish for the last time on my trip. Overall, I had pretty good to great meals the entire time on my trip, which was nice.

After dinner, I had to head back to tackle my e-mails and pack for the long trip home on Friday morning. I managed to squeeze in a trip to a chocolate store before catching my flight on Friday morning, so thank goodness for that!

Not sure when I'll be back to Basel, but I have a pretty good feel for the city and hope I can have more time for fun time next time.

Auf wiedersen, Basel!