Spruce, San Francisco

 California has its own cuisine - fresh food without a lot of excessive preparations that mask the flavor of the ingredients.  Spruce, in San Francisco, is an excellent example of California cuisine.

We started with the roasted sunchoke velouté with tart apples and toasted hazelnuts; a baby beet salad; ricotta gnudi; and a roasted carrot salad.  Each appetizer was fabulous with a rich flavor and plenty of contrasting notes.

For the main course we had: pan-seared cauliflower with black trumpet mushrooms (shared by two); duck breast; and halibut with squash and butter beans.  Each of these was also excellent.

The restaurant has a well-deserved Michelin star!  The service is also outstanding!  The staff were helpful without being overly intrusive and the dishes just seemed to suddenly appear in front of you, like magic.  We were too full for dessert, which was our only disappointment.

The restaurant is large and has a bar area (where we ate), a beautifully lit outdoor patio on Sacramento Street and a elegant main dining room.  Although it is a place where you can arrive dressed in your best,  West Coast chill outfits also fit in well.

                                                This velouté was divine!