After a bit of window shopping for the Mrs at the Town Center at Corte Madera, we decided to have lunch at The Counter. Isn't there one if Hawaii? Yes but it's at the Kahala Mall where we hardly venture... plus the Mrs wanted to try one of their famous burgers. She had the standard burger while I "greek'd" mine with roasted red peppers, olives and feta cheese with a glass of Luna Sangiovese. Good burger. I may repeat at The Counter back home.
Dinner was at AVA in Ross. AVA stands for American Viticultural Area or grape growing regional designations as allowed bythe ATF. The online menu looked good but once again, you always take a chance basing decisions on online menus unless they're updated daily or weekly. At 4 days into the gastronomic vacation, the Mrs was looking a little weary and simply ordered a salad to start (proof of gastronomic weariness). I however, recovered from the dessert fiasco at Poggio the previous night.
The Mrs had mixed local salad greens with persimmon while I ventured straight to the Braised Pork Belly with Frisee and Banana Peppers. The pork was succulent on the inside and crisp (like Chinese Roast Pork) on the outside so the belly was obviously quick fried after braising though our server couldn't confirm it (I think he was just holding out). The banana peppers slight heat and the vinaigrette help cut any fattiness left on the palate. And since this was pork, I did have a Pinot Noir with it.
We then proceeded to Pork and Ricotta Meatballs with Pappardelle for the Mrs and the Tuesday Night Special Fulton Valley Fried Chicken with Mash and Coleslaw for me. The Mrs seems to be hankerin' for pappardelle the way I gravitate to runny egg yolks. The meatballs were very tender (probably due to the ricotta) and the pappardelle made the dish once again seem like a deconstructed lasagna. My chicken... outta this world. Our server did confide that the chicken was first confit (slow cooked in its own fat) then battered and fried. Made the Colonel taste like frozen chicken nuggets. The coleslaw cut whatever residual fat was left on my palate... along with the Chardonnay.
We were wise though and refrained from dessert (still 3 more days of gluttony ahead)!
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