Joyce was out of town, which gave Tom as opportunity (as if he needed one) to eat out. Where? Hummm. How about the recently opened Waxman’s Restaurant located in Ghirardelli Square. It is a lovely space with a casual Italian menu.

Since he was eating alone, he was prepared for an opportunity to taste only two dishes. Luckily, fate brought some friends in the door, which gave him a chance to sample a number of other dishes.

• Fried Pork Meatballs were a hit with all three of us. Cooked medium-rare, the light, crunchy outer crust was filled with juice and melted goat cheese, topped with a light fondant on served on a bed of marinara sauce with pesto;
• Softshell crab was a disappointment. Although I knew the crab was deep-fried before I ordered it (but only after I had asked), the anticipated light tempura crust turned out to be so thick that I couldn’t taste the leg. Although I would have certainly gotten more taste by eating the body, I decided to substitute another dish to which I had been attracted.
• Grilled Wolfe Ranch quail. The large quail was perfectly cooked and very good, served simply on a tasty apricot, walnut, romano bean and parsley salad.

His server contributed to his dining experience by recommending wines by the glass to pair with each dish. A Chateau Massiac carignan/syrah blend with the meatball; a dry gewürztraminer/viognier/marsanne blend from Tablas Creek was planned with the crab, which was supplemented with a glass of my friends’ Pinot Noir.

• Tastes from his friends’ dishes included:

  Seared calamari salad with chick peas and herb aioli, which as a bit vinegary for my taste;

• Garganelli with duck sauce, shishito and duck cracklings with marinara was rich and tasty; and
• J.W. chicken, with salsa verde and arugula, another straightforward entree that was well prepared and quite good.

A good enough initial experience that he anxiously is await returning for the annual, June 17, 2016 AIWF/Pinot Days’ June Winemaker Library Dinner. And this time with Joyce