New Year's Eve in the Bay

Happy New Year lovelies!

I can positively say this was the best [anniversary] weekend I've spent with my boo of one whole year (as of 1/1/12). Nothing but wine-ing and dining, relaxing, sleeping, and more eating. My NYE was filled with good company, good champagne, and surprisingly or not-so-surprisingly early night in for the old grandpa and grandma here. We woke up early in the morning to an amazingly soothing couple's massage appointment in the city followed by a lunch at the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus, a perfectly snobby brunch/lunch/high tea restaurant overlooking Union Square. Their popovers with strawberry butter, fresh lobster club, and comfortably bright window seats are worth the reservation. Then took a nap back home and got ready for the night which resulted in too much champagne and an early walk back to the hotel after grabbing Burger King just before making the midnight countdown on TV. Couldn't have been more perfect.

Next day on our anniversary, after some recovery noodle soup and after a mid-day nap, boo surprised me with a dinner in my favorite culinary mecca, Napa, at Redd. So minimalistic contemporary, yet romantic - exactly how I love it. Their chef's tasting menu impressed with each of the five dishes presented to us in the different menus for him and me. And they absolutely know their wine pairings.

Monday and Tuesday we caught "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" flick which was equal parts disturbing and sitting-on-the-edge suspenseful, lunched at Shan Dong where their handmade noodles in spicy combo soup hit the spot on that very cold day, dined at Fresca where I was craving their sweet homemade sangria for the last two years since I've first tasted it, and ended our wine and dine adventures with a mighty meaty meal at the House of Prime Rib. And all I remember is sleeping in between.

denim bustier - sway boutique,  necklace - house of harlow,  lips - ysl rouge volupte 18

popover with strawberry butter at Rotunda

signature lobster club at Rotunda

black shearling jacket - shopnastygal.com,  skirt - sway boutique,  boots - f21

dress - bcbg, ring - f21

yellowfin tuna tartare, asian pear, avocado, chili oil, fried rice, cilantro at Redd

sashimi of hamachi, sticky rice, edamame, lime ginger sauce at Redd

Wild striped bass, coconut jasmine rice, clams, chorizo, saffron curry nage at Redd

Caramelized diver scallops, cauliflower puree, almonds, golden raisins at Redd

Glazed pork belly, apple puree, burdock, soy caramel at Redd

Roast squab, turnips, spinach, quince, huckleberry jus at Redd

Arietta Quartet, Bordeaux Blend, Napa Valley 2009

Prime new york steak, shortrib cannelloni, bone marrow crust, creamed spinach at Redd

Roast lamb loin, farro, olive tapenade, lamb jus at Redd

Honey walnut fritters, blood orange sorbets, yuzu ice cream at Redd

Molten chocolate cake, eggnog ice cream, pomegranate at Redd

sangria at Fresca

lomo saltado at Fresca

dress - shopnastygal.com, necklace - f21

lava cake at Fresca

Spicy combination soup with handmade noodles at Shan Dong

Shan Dong dumplings at Shan Dong

dress - urban outfitters, necklace and ring - f21, bracelet - shopruche.com