Foodicles: A San Francisco legacy reborn

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

A San Francisco legacy reborn

A San Francisco legacy reborn in the hands of a world class celebrity chef. Tosca Cafe is a low key legend for its late night patrons like Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, and other celebrities and politicians dating back to the 80s. As decades passed and food became a greater priority, the bar reopened as more of a restaurant bar in the hands of April Bloomfield and her trustworthy partners.

After seeing Bloomfield's Instagram photo that she was in SF for the week, I jumped at the chance for an early dinner at the no reservations restaurant. A short 20 minute wait later, which flew by at the bar with a delicious Negroni, we were seated at a cozy booth that had a great view of the kitchen and restaurant while remaining private. Even though we didn't catch a glimpse of Bloomfield in the kitchen, you can tell she was there because of the energized vibe of the whole staff. They were all performing their best because the big boss was in town. This was a great first impression of the restaurant and April Bloomfield.

Tosca Cafe is a great place to relax, enjoy sips of drinks, and bites of food. The cocktails are crafted with a depth, many of which are classics of the bar. The pastas are both traditional and some have a world class touch. My favorite dish of the night was a chicken liver pasta with balsamic and sage - so simple and brilliant. (And knowing that she is inspired by the Filipino adobo, you can totally taste the influence.) The night was comfortable, tasty, and awakened my taste buds. I'll definitely be going back for more, and now I'll also make a greater effort to dine at Bloomfield's Spotted Pig and the Breslin in New York City.