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.
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.