The host led us upstairs past the crowds by the bar, and the noise quieted down as we walked up to the second floor. I lay down the pink rose and my purse, and we seated ourselves. To my right, was a piece of art work – a piano soundboard with strings hung on the wall. To our left were other tables on the loft.
J and I had planned for dinner at 6pm, but he surprised me with a pink rose and a box of chocolate outside of my office. It was time for our date night. We walked to Per Diem which was only a few blocks away.
Here are some memorable dishes from the evening.
Pork belly. The pork fell apart as I cut it with my fork. It was accompanied by chard, quinoa, and grapes.
Bone marrow with escargot. The acidity from the capers and tomatoes gave a refreshing balance to the savoriness of the bone marrow. As I chewed on the escargot, I thought of the meal I had with my mom on the Seine back in Paris.
Lamb Sugo. I absolutely loved the lamb. The meat was so tender. The sauce had intense flavors. It was fragrant and savory, perfectly balanced with the polenta and vegetables.
Beignets. These beignets were light and fluffy, and not too sweet. I went for seconds.
It was a delightful meal and a quaint atmosphere for a date night. I asked Chef Matthew Bousquet if he sous-vide’d the lamb, and learned about his experiments between sous-vide style and traditional braising. (Guess which approach he prefers?) Bousquet talked about the intensity of flavors in the sauce with a passion, and I knew we were in good hands.
Will be back gladly.
Per Diem
43 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94104
Disclosure: Per Diem has graciously hosted us, but I’m not compensated in any way, and all opinions are mine.
