Celebrating our wedding anniversary over a long weekend, we enjoyed wonderful Vietnamese food at The Slanted Door in The San Francisco Ferry Building. We stopped in Carmel for amazing fire roasted Castroville artichokes with balsamic vinaigrette and sun dried tomato aioli at the Rio Grill and incredible linguine with scampi at Casanova.  Our three favorites on this trip were:

Quince (San Francisco)

Michael Tusk has taken his cooking to another level at his new location on Pacific in historic Jackson Square. The tasting menu prepared for us featured 10 special courses and among the most memorable were the carpaccio of monkfish with black winter truffle butter, a tortellini with cauliflower, sea urchin and green romesco sauce, spaghetti with black truffles and Parmegiano Regiano, and baby sweetbreads in risotto with leeks and black truffles.  The new space features high ceilings and a beautiful, understated elegance which makes every one feel part of something special. Michael’s wife Lindsay is there to make sure every one really does feel special and welcome and comfortable. This is a real winner! Quince, 470 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, (415) 775-8500

The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton (San Francisco)

Award winning chef Ron Siegel cooked a creative nine-course tasting menu for us on our anniversary evening. Everything was delicious, and we were particularly fond of the sautéed abalone with shitake mushrooms and miso gelee in dashi broth, the roasted rare squab breast with persimmon, green garlic and apple ginger reduction, and the Japanese Kobe beef with crispy polenta and black trumpet mushrooms in an onion and red wine sauce. The contemporary French menu has an Asian twist which is really exciting, and combined with elegant ambience and impeccable service this was definitely a memorable experience for our wedding anniversary. The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, 600 Stockton Street, San Francisco, (415) 296-7465

Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur)

Chef Craig Von Foerster offers an innovative, new menu every night.  Our three dinners in this idyllic location featured some especially delicious soups: lobster bisque, crab bisque, cream of green garlic, and cream of Jerusalam artichoke. We also enjoyed several Kobe beef variations (ribeye with braised short rib and tataki cooked perfectly rare), a butter poached Maine lobster with parsnip mousse, and a flavorful rack of lamb crusted with coriander. With three days in heaven at the dramatic, beautiful and romantic Post Ranch Inn, a talented chef, a spectacular restaurant, a fabulous wine list, a knowledgeable sommelier, and amazingly friendly and thoughtful service, we felt like family and had no reason to venture out to eat at any other place. After having only just three days, we were totally rejuvenated and pondered: how soon can we return??? Sierra Mar at Post Ranch Inn, 47900 Highway 1, Big Sur, (800) 527-2200