Hello daddy

Everyone whom we know in San Francisco who knows we love Foreign Cinema expresses surprise. Yet everyone whom we send from NY, LOVES it. I guess it's because the "style" of the restaurant is not really all that Californian. It's an old movie theatre, with an outdoor area where you can watch the movie. As Annalena does not multitask well, we sit in the enclosed area, where all you need to do is eat. And if you come here, you should be prepared to eat.

The menu is interesting , and the "theme" seems to be playing with spices from the mideast. For example, Annalena ate tuna in Persian spices last night, cooked to the point where she likes it: cold at the center. Guy had orange cardamom chicken, with a pool of sauce that had all those wonderful flavors in it.

Before that, we had a shared appetizer of a duck salad, with chicken pate toasts and mache salad that was wonderful. And before that, the best brandade Annalena has ever tasted (and Annalena grew up on bacala), and a gorgeous arugula salad with a sweet type dressing and crunch pistachio nuts.

Desserts were a huckleberry fool , and lemon tart with pineapple sorbet.

There were flavor combinations here that Annalena is going to play with. She makes a gooseberry fool, but began thinking "Hmmm. the huckleberries have enough pectin," and the dessert is this beautiful lavender color. Annalena has used oranges and pineapple together before, but never lemon and pineapple. She will now. And cardamom and orange on chicken. Hmmmmm. We see yet another dish going into repertoire , from this restaurant.

See, Foreign Cinema is the source of Annalena's wildly successful lavender infused porkchops. They were on the menu last night, and there is always that wonderful tension of sticking with the familiar, and going with something new. But now, I want one of those chops for breakfast.

This is a restaurant where we have seen the best and worst of customers. And it is a shame that we see the worst. The restaurant has made an excellent decision, in hiring older staff, including our good buddy, Daddy P. The first time we went to the restaurant, it was love at first sight. He never forgets us. He has a colleague who leaves for Bosnia for two months every year. We got him on his last night before his trip. Hugs and tears all around. Two more people who are good, who know what they are doing, and do not tolerate fools lightly. You be rude to them, they will reciprocate. We have never had a bit of bad treatment from this guys. Say hello, ask questions, tip well, and they will love you and they will remember you.

And how can you NOT love a restaurant where it's probable that the guy who cooked your fish is the one with the serious mohawk, or perhaps the bulldyke in the corner who looks like she could have caught the tuna itself.

We love this place. It's casual, but the food is great, the oysters are cheap, the wine is excellent. YOU GOTTA GO. Give it a try.