Tuesday evening. I know, it’s odd for me to work on the blog at the beginning of the week. The sun is setting on a clear day. The weather is a bit pleasant. It’s quite beautiful outside. I’m staying in the Mission tonight, this time on the side on the edge of Potrero Hill. I’m out here with my girlfriend tonight and we’re out here to hang out with friends afterward. Not a whole lot has happened since a few days ago I worked on the blog. California is still in a drought. It looks like monkeypox is starting to be a thing of concern. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is still happening. Yeah, not a lot has changed. We’re all caught up in some fuckery. These thoughts plague my mind while I’m trying to have a nice evening with my girlfriend. Where am I this time? I’m having dinner at The Morris.
The neighborhood bistro was started in 2017 by Pual Einbund with Gavin Schmidt as the head chef. The space is small, fitting only a handful of tables indoors. The other half of the seating is outside in their parklet. The open kitchen is small and right next to the entrance, where you see the chefs prep and plate the food for patrons to see. The space is simple in design with greenery decorating the space. The bar is in the back of the restaurant. Electric table fans with a modern design accompany each table. I used to pass by this tiny restaurant many times years ago and this is my first time visiting. I was having a difficult time finding somewhere of interest to eat and this was the only idea that I had, an expensive idea. It was a gamble. Luckily, it panned out.
To start things off, we had their Mushroom Profiteroles with Vadouvan, so mushroom puffs with spices, topped with fresh greens. The puffs were pleasantly soft, almost to the point of being crumbly, but still structurally sound. The mushrooms were savory and packed with tons of delicious flavors without being too earthy. The greens on top were fresh and tasty, which contrasted nicely with the profiteroles without competing with them. So far so good.
Next up was the Tartine Bread with Duck Confit. I was slightly hesitant to order this at first since duck confit at times can be hit or miss with the meat being too dry and a bit too salty, but my girlfriend is a fan of the bread from Tartine, which happens to be just a few blocks away, which is why we ordered it. Luckily, my concerns dissipated when our order arrived. The duck was fatty and spreadable with just the right amount of salt. The bread was warm and with a lot of different flavors going on, which probably came from the developed cultures in the dough. Those two simple ideas combined with butter brought a whole lot of deliciousness to our table. The different fats were soaked in the bread. Just fantastic.
Later came the Charred Broccoli with Grilled Squid. The broccoli was fresh and collected all the various flavors and sauces from the plate. The squid was nicely grilled, which brought out the savoriness and caramelization of the meat. Nothing about the squid was rubbery. Even my girlfriend, who dislikes eating cooked seafood, enjoyed the dish. I wouldn’t have thought this combo would’ve worked and that broccoli doesn’t have to be boring. Again, impressed.
We’re now having their Smoked Half Duck with Root Vegetables accompanied by a side of mustard sauce. The duck skin on each piece is nicely smoked and crispy, retaining the delicious fat underneath. The meat is still moist and rich with flavor. The sauce on the side was poured on top of the meat and vegetables adding a bit of a kick while still being smooth. The various root vegetables are cooked nicely and add all types of flavors. There’s a bit of sweetness from the carrots. The whole potatoes are crispy outside while soft inside. The radish and romanesco work well with the meat. This dish is thoughtful. After all of these years, I’m happy that I finally came to visit.
This visit is a delicious and welcomed distraction from life. I haven’t thought about how shitty the world is until now, but I’m still thinking about the food. It’s one of those times where I know the world is fucked, but I don’t care right here and now and it’s welcomed for the time being. I can’t think of anything about the food that came close to being mediocre. It’s another place where I feel fully satisfied with a meal. I plan on coming here again. Due to the high price point, I don’t know when, but it will happen. I’m currently having a pleasant time and I’m trying to cherish it.
Emotional Eating 