Commis was the second fine dining stop during our West Coast trip. There’s a lot to like about this restaurant which is located in Oakland, just accross the bridge coming from San Francisco. James Syhabout has created a concept that brings together the relaxed atmosphere of a bistro with high-end cuisine. Bistronomy if you like, but rather fine dining. Anyhow, it is a place where you can relax, lay back and enjoy a meal at the highest level with lots of creativity and executed with zero flaw.

The dishes are precise in the balance of textures and temperatures, but foremost always impressing with flavor interaction. Someone understood how to find the right rules and boundaries to put his talent and creativity on the plate!

Also, I have to say beforehand how I am puzzled about how much of a bargain this place is. 110 USD for the menu is a steal. But let’s tell the story step by step: Read the rest of this entry »

I swear, this will be the last post about Omnivore Food Festival! I just had to publish some more impressions which didn’t fit in any of the other posts. Like things that happened all around OFF and afterwards.

Wagyu beef from Spain, offered by Parisian butcher Yves-Marie Le Bourdonnec (Calling himself “Le Boucher Bohème”, check this interview ) Read the rest of this entry »

I just got back from Deauville where I spent a great time at the 6th edition of Omnivore Food Festival. Great Chefs, great food, Great wine and great people to share it with – this all makes for superb memories. In the next couple of days I’ll try to post some of my impressions and start right away with the cooking presentations. But first of all, I have to thank Laurent for giving me the opportunity to join the party and greet all the fine palates I met – you know who you are.

… at the “restOFF”, lunch is being taken while sitting on straw bales

But what the heck is Omnivore? Read the rest of this entry »