Behind The Butter

Dinner at Poggio in Sausalito

I’m floored by all your amazing support! Thank you, thank you, thank you! It’s going to be a fun journey–I’m glad y’all are on for the ride!

So, in other news I have determined that I must live in Sausalito.

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I am in LOVE with this little city by the bay!

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I told Almanzo I thought it would be so perfect to someday live in one of the cute “little” apartments right on top of one of these cafes and he just stared at me. And then walked on.
But yes, we met five friends at Poggio for dinner, which was right on the cute little downtown strip. Poggio is an Italian restaurant that opens up onto the sidewalk and reminds me of bistros in the South of France.

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The inside of the restaurant is warm and inviting, with an open air kitchen and a large food fire oven. I’m a BIG fan of wood fire ovens!
The lighting in Poggio, however, is NOT conducive to food bloggers so please forgive the awful white balance errors here. I tried to fix the white balance manually but then the photos were coming out too cold, so here’s what ya get!

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I was more than a little obsessed with the menu, which was divided up in traditional Italian manner into antipasti, primi, secondi and finale courses. Everything looked really delicious and at the bottom of the menu there was a small note in fine print that the chef strives to use only local and organic ingredients when available. Since it was already 8:30 at this point and I was secretly gnawing on my arm, I ordered a bowl of the tomato and bread soup to start.

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It was delicious! Made with fresh basil, vine ripe tomatoes and fruity extra virgin olive oil, this soup reminded me of something I would have gotten in Europe. Tomato and bread soup is actually a very popular (and economical) soup in Italy and is made by simply pureeing together the ripest of tomatoes with old bread from the day before. It was so thick it could almost have doubled as pasta sauce, and was best eaten on crusty French bread.
Another reason I loved this restaurant? Because they had small portions of all their pastas! I ordered the small portion of the squid ink pasta with garlic, cherry tomatoes and calamari for my entree:

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And yes, squid ink pasta is BLACK! Of course I order the strangest thing on the menu….I love me some black pasta and baby octopus! The dish was very good though and extremely light. The texture of the squid ink pasta was a little softer than normal white pasta but it was still delicious and something fun and different.

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I’ve always been something of an “adventurous eater” to say the least….whether that means trying still warm (!!) fois gras at a Parisian farmer’s market, wolfing down a bowl of wild mushroom soup at the tender age of four months or slurping down raw oysters in San Francisco.
Good thing I also have a stomach of steel (knock on wood).
Almanzo ordered the wood fired pizza with spicy roast pork and “gypsy peppers”

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Pretty much, he ordered it simply because “gypsy peppers” were involved. We still don’t really know what gypsy peppers are though…
Glanced at the gorgeous dessert menu but we were all way too stuffed and it was already almost eleven o’clock at that point.

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The menu featured yummy sweets though such as a nectarine crostata and tiramisu. All the more reason to go back!
Actually, we are going back today because Almanzo left his unopened bottle of wine from home on the table last night and we have to go to the city tonight anyway. No wine shall go to waste!

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  • Cole
    August 13, 2010 at 8:45 am

    LOVE Sausalito! Living above a little cafe there would be spectacular.

  • Sarah
    August 13, 2010 at 8:47 am

    I looove Sausalito! My husband and I want to plan a trip back to the bay area, just to spend more time there!

  • Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
    August 13, 2010 at 8:54 am

    Gypsy peppers, squid ink…you’re quite the foodie thrillseeker! I must say, though, it all looks amazing. I adore the little cities that surround the Bay Area, Marin County and Sausilito are definitely on that list!

  • Deb
    August 13, 2010 at 9:06 am

    i love seeing what u eat on a daily basis! esp the healthy food!! don’t remove it in the new blog 🙁

    • eatmovelove
      August 13, 2010 at 11:13 am

      Sorry, but I don’t understand this…um, don’t you have anything better to do than see what someone eats on a daily basis?

      • Kim
        August 13, 2010 at 11:20 am

        Wow, that was harsh.

        Many people look to Jenna and other food and heathy living bloggers for inspiration. There is nothing wrong with that especially if readers are inspired to eat healthier and try foods that they never would have tried before.

        • Penny (VEGGIEtarian)
          August 13, 2010 at 11:52 am

          Agreed. Much too harsh.
          Your reply was spot-on though.

      • jessica
        August 13, 2010 at 12:05 pm

        Eatmovelove… Don’t you have anything better to do than read through comments and write a nasty response?

        • Cara
          August 13, 2010 at 4:00 pm

          eatmovelove—–more like “eatmoveb**ch”
          Deb said nothing wrong….I agree I would LOVE for Jenna to keep posting her daily eats”

        • eatmovelove
          August 13, 2010 at 4:20 pm

          wow…i didn’t mean it to be so harsh…thanks alot – you know how to make someone feel like a complete horrible person and ruin their day and night and weekend don’t you??
          i wasn’t the only person who said this before in previous posts…i would never call someone else a b*tch and that is just uncalled for and very upsetting…all i meant to get across is that it’s her blog and she should be able to post what she wants – the same others already yes yesterday when she was defending herself…
          sorry…i guess i’m just sick of eating disordered blogs…

          i hope you feel very happy with yourself for absolutely making me feel like a piece of crap and horrible…were all just human y’know.

        • eatmovelove
          August 13, 2010 at 4:53 pm

          Also, since I do have a heart and am human – I would like to apologize to Deb for coming off the way I did. It was an unwarranted reaction and not meant as a personal attack – unlike the people who responded and called me a b*tch.
          Yes, I like seeing food too and am a foodie.

          I guess I’ve just been overly “sensitive” to these things lately about all day-eats because I have a family member and a friend who have eating disorders – and all they do all day long is read blogs and compare what they eat to others, and judge or make their disease worse…

          I’m sorry – I recognize that’s not everyone’s situation. I guess the frustration and sadness of it just caught up to me.

          I won’t comment again.

  • jenna
    August 13, 2010 at 9:12 am

    i can’t believe you ordered that!! I wish i was more adventurous eater! I don’t think i could do squid!

    thats funny your mama fed you wild mushroom soup at 4 months old!! basically, you are where you are today because of her! 😉 cute!

  • MMiller
    August 13, 2010 at 9:12 am

    Love your eating adventures! Whenever I buy or order something I wouldn’t normally get, my husband knows you must have talked about it!

  • Brianne DeCesare http://beautythroughbalance.wordpress.com/
    August 13, 2010 at 9:18 am

    Oh my gosh, that squid ink pasta looks amazing! I love trying new foods too and it makes me happy to see someone else be adventurous 🙂

  • okra
    August 13, 2010 at 9:19 am

    Gypsy peppers turn from a green/orange to red – but they’re very sweet! 🙂

  • Angharad
    August 13, 2010 at 9:20 am

    Okay, Sausalito. The ONLY thing I can think of when I hear that name is the film “Lost in Translation” and the lounge singer’s band (who go by the same name). They are so cheesy and sort of ridiculous that whenever I hear the name “Sausalito” I say it in kind of a nasal, saucy voice. Weird, but funny and true. Anyone?!

  • katie
    August 13, 2010 at 9:25 am

    ‘still warm fois gras’ made me shudder a little bit! kudos for being so adventurous.

  • jenny
    August 13, 2010 at 9:27 am

    amazing dinner!!!
    hey jenna, i don’t remember if you addressed this but why aren’t you at the healthy living summit? i thought you were on the board

    • jenna
      August 13, 2010 at 9:42 am

      nope! I was with them last year but stepped down this year because I have too much stuff going on over here and couldn’t give a 100% commitment.

      • jenny
        August 13, 2010 at 11:34 am

        Awww….too bad! But understandable! You’ve definitely been busy these past few weeks!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet
    August 13, 2010 at 9:33 am

    The first time I had squid ink pasta I couldn’t believe it was black! But it was delicious.

  • Christina
    August 13, 2010 at 9:34 am

    Every time I read an entry on your blog I start to drool, totes embarassing at work! lol But really, the squid ink pasta looks amazing!!

  • Kelly
    August 13, 2010 at 9:36 am

    Oooh that pasta is so freaky looking! You should have saved some to eat for Friday the 13th haha!

  • Gavi @ GaviGetsGoing!
    August 13, 2010 at 9:37 am

    Sausalito is one of my all-time favorite spots! I rode my bike there last weekend and my boyfriend had to basically push me along so that I wouldn’t set up shop right then and there on the pier. It is has so much charm and elegance. I’m so happy you enjoyed (what looks to be) a delicious dinner! I will definitely have to try out Poggio!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    August 13, 2010 at 9:38 am

    gypsy peppers are super intriguing…i would totally order something with a name like that! what a fun trip to sausalito! what was the flavor like in that pasta dish?

    • jenna
      August 13, 2010 at 9:41 am

      it was sorta like linguine and clams…or just simply olive oil, garlic and tomato. really light and fresh!

  • Coco @ Opera Girl Cooks
    August 13, 2010 at 9:41 am

    Love those gypsy peppers! Organic peppers of all kinds were on sale at my Whole Foods last week, so I went a little nuts and bought serranos, guajillos, jalapenos, and gypsy peppers. It has been fun trying to use ’em all up in different recipes! I am still too much of a wuss to leave the seeds and veins in the hot ones though.

  • Chicago Cuisine Critique
    August 13, 2010 at 9:42 am

    That pasta looks awesome. Black pasta isn’t exactly the most appealing thing, but it sure is tasty. 🙂

  • Janet
    August 13, 2010 at 9:45 am

    Sausalito is so cute, right?? My Mom and stepdad used to live on top of the yoga studio on Caledonia! There are some really cute stores on that street (esp. the stationary one!), plus really great Thai food and that sushi place everyone likes. 😉

  • jeanna
    August 13, 2010 at 9:45 am

    I was just there! I love that place! I got the spinach and ricotta pouches with pork. Ahhhmazing!

    Do they charge a corkage fee?

  • Suzanne de Cornelia
    August 13, 2010 at 9:50 am

    I love Sausalito. When lived in San Francisco would walk from Nob Hill, over the GG Bridge, to Sausalito and then take the Ferry back at sunset–sit on the freezing top deck with a glass of wine and a bag of Cheetos to throw for the trailing Seagulls. Was sad when they closed the restaurant/hotel at tippy top of hill where could have burgers and fries on the deck surrounded by gorgeous trees, flowers, birds and be totally in ‘the country’ while looking out to sailboats on the Bay and San Francisco in the background. Just dazzling.

    Very good goal to move there–then in between The City and Wine Country. Can always find amazing deals esp in this economy. Like this treehouse!
    http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/apa/1895778536.html

    Also wonderful in Sausalito is their famous moonlit paddles.

  • Rachel
    August 13, 2010 at 9:55 am

    I was going to ask why you weren’t at HLS but then I saw the reply above! Glad you were able to make the right decision for you.

    Crazy looking pasta!!

  • Krystina
    August 13, 2010 at 9:56 am

    I love that you ate the bread soup with more bread. Aren’t bread soups lovely? I made one recently and it was so hearty and heartwarming.

  • Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog)
    August 13, 2010 at 10:06 am

    Your dinner entree looks fabulous. I love the black pasta, I’ve never had it, but it looks interesting. Squid is one of my favorite foods from the sea. Sausalito looks like a very charming place to live!

    Jenn

  • Lisa
    August 13, 2010 at 10:07 am

    I’ve never been to Sausalito but I absolutely LOVED San Francisco! It was such a cool city–and very much like Seattle where I’m from. I love marine air.

  • Maria @ Oh Healthy Day
    August 13, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Black pasta and octopus – now I’ve seen everything. Also, very excited about your upcoming blog – you will not lose a reader here 🙂

  • Jackie
    August 13, 2010 at 10:17 am

    I have always wanted to try squid ink pasta. My boyfriend used to go squidding and said those suckers would spray ink every where and by the end the bucket of squid was totally black.

  • Marisa @ Loser for Life
    August 13, 2010 at 10:21 am

    I love Sausalito! I went a million years ago on a trip with My Dad and I though it was a lovely place!

  • theemptynutjar
    August 13, 2010 at 10:21 am

    I’m actually kind of glad you didn’t go to Chicago…I am getting tired of seeing a lot of repeats on blogs (take that with humor) 🙂

  • Lauren @ 40Apples
    August 13, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Sausalito is just DRIPPING with charm! I love that place. I used to dream of living there when I was older (used to? please. still do.)

    Squid ink pasta is one of my all-time favorites dishes. It’s so crazy flavorful. The whole dinner looks terribly lovely 🙂

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing
    August 13, 2010 at 10:29 am

    That sounds AMAZING!!! And I’m loving the new ELR!

  • Maissa
    August 13, 2010 at 10:38 am

    I love Sausalito! Back in high school when I still lived in San Francisco my friend and I used to take the ferry over and go for burgers at this fantastic burger bar they have there (can’t remember the name, it’s famous, you’ll know it if you see it, the line is always out the door) and then down the block to a candy store for taffy.

    My cousins also lived there for a few years and I always used to take their kids down to the waterfront when I babysat for them.

    Dinner looked wonderful. I wish I’d been more interested in food back when I lived in SF. Alas I was a teenager and more interested in seeing movies and shopping.

  • Andrea
    August 13, 2010 at 10:41 am

    I’m in love with Sausalito, too! It is the cutest little place. I must go back there…

  • Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf
    August 13, 2010 at 10:45 am

    I tell the husband that I’d like to live for a short time in an loft style apartment in the downtown of a city someday and he tells me that I’ll be living there alone. Boo.

  • Jaime
    August 13, 2010 at 10:54 am

    Yum! That all looks amazing! I’ve just come back from Croatia where squid ink risotto is a staple – sooo good!

  • Sarah (Oc2Seattle)
    August 13, 2010 at 11:01 am

    A place outside of Europe with small pasta portions? I’m in! Seriously, if America would adopt French and Italian portion sizes I’m pretty sure the “obesity” epidemic would be cured.

  • Janna@Janna's Keeping it Real
    August 13, 2010 at 11:06 am

    don’t you just LOVE Sausalito!?! it is one of my favorite Bay Area’s (he he he). It is such a cute/quaint little town, love it!

  • Sharon
    August 13, 2010 at 11:11 am

    Oh I’m right there with you on the living in Sausalito fantasy-its been one of mine for ages.

  • eatmovelove
    August 13, 2010 at 11:14 am

    Trying new things at restaurants is the point of going out! (most times 😉 ). Although…black pasta…? I’d have went with Almanzo’s choice!

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
    August 13, 2010 at 11:17 am

    Yum! I was in Croatia this summer, and had lots of squid ink pasta and risotto– I loved it!

  • Camille
    August 13, 2010 at 11:23 am

    Aww, I love Sausailto! Despite living in SF for a year, I only made it to Sausalito during my recent visit to the city. It is so charming 🙂

  • R @ Learning As I Chop
    August 13, 2010 at 11:25 am

    That tomato soup looks delicious! I may have to make some sauce this weekend…

  • Scargosun
    August 13, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Ga! You passed up nectarine crostada!? 😉 Seriously, I LOVE me some nectarines and I never see them used in recipes. Maybe that means I should make one.

  • Jil @ Peace, Love & Munchies
    August 13, 2010 at 11:34 am

    That soup sounds incredible…I’m all about rustic tomato soup. As simple as it is…I feel like it’s hard to find it done well!

  • Suzanne de Cornelia
    August 13, 2010 at 11:34 am

    Your post inspire me to write, ‘Dreams Closer Than They Appear’ when I started thinking about dreams and realized how my ‘impossible ones’ came true….And onto the next!
    http://tinyurl.com/npt7ze

  • Penny (VEGGIEtarian)
    August 13, 2010 at 11:56 am

    Well, Jenna, sweetheart, I gotta say…….after seeing your pasta I am perfectly happy with my decision to be a vegetarian. 🙂 lol

  • Jessica
    August 13, 2010 at 11:56 am

    I just bought some sweet gypsy peppers at the farmers market in St. Paul, MN last week. I have to confess – I bought them just because the name sounded cool! They were delish. 🙂

  • Sarah
    August 13, 2010 at 12:00 pm

    yummy! i actually just got back from italy two weeks ago and the bread soup brings me back:) sooooo good!

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit
    August 13, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    Looks amazing! Hope you got that bottle back 😉

  • Chinye
    August 13, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    wow, that’s something i would normal look over. thanks for the explanation of the dish and it’s flavors!

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
    August 13, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    Heck yes to that pizza. But squid pasta? No way. I wish I were more of an adventurous eater but that freaks me out!

  • Devon
    August 13, 2010 at 12:49 pm

    I love Sausalito and lived there for quite a while. Even better part about Sausalito is that it is usually sunny when it is foggy elsewhere.

    And Poggio, my dad is obsessed with that place. So much so that there is one waitress who always waits on him and as soon as she sees him grabs a bottle of Rombauer for him. He always gets the same thing.

    It is a very sleepy little town, where the majority of the residents are more my fathers age than mine and where most things close pretty early. I do miss it though!

  • Katelynn
    August 13, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    I am going to be in SF and Sausalito in a few weeks. Your pictures make me very excited! Can’t wait for the delicious Northern CA food. 🙂

  • Nancy @ The Wife of a Dairyman
    August 13, 2010 at 1:17 pm

    I was just in Sausalito a couple of weeks ago with my cousin and almost ate at Poggio but Scala’s won out that day:) Next time I’ll check out Poggio. I’ve never had squid ink pasta before, looks interesting! Have fun in the city tonight!

  • Dani
    August 13, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    Wow Jenna you are a brave girl to try the squid ink! I’ve only been to Sausalito once but thought it was adorable!

  • Rachael
    August 13, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    I love that part of Marin – I used to teach in Mill Valley and would mosey on over to the water for post-work walks!
    Squid ink pasta is always great for the shock value of the color and the ingredients (as well as being delicious). My cousins, who are not the most eclectic eaters, went crazy when I made it for them years ago – something “cool” about eating ink, methinks, in the mind of kids.

  • Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place
    August 13, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    I love sausalito, too! Such a beautiful quaint town. one of my fav places I visited when in san fran last year.

  • Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble)
    August 13, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    What a beautiful city!

    I love being an adventurous eater- you end up finding incredible things you never would have thought to try!

    xo
    Kris

  • Betsy
    August 13, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    This post was case and point why I think you should definitely follow your new direction. Ever since you moved to California, I’ve turned to your blog whenever I feel like I need to be insanely jealous of someone: where the live, work, eat and play. Done and done.

    Also, I appreciate the fact that you stay healthy while eating REAL FOOD.

  • Beth
    August 13, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    Oh how fun – I heart Sausalito and would love, love to live there! So glad you got to enjoy that cute town! Have you been to Carmel yet? That is a super cute little town too 🙂

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
    August 13, 2010 at 2:33 pm

    When my husband and I went to San Francisco on our honeymoon, I had black pasta. It was seriously the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. They broke an egg over the top of my pasta and once it was served to my table, they instructed me to basically “scramble” it into the pasta. It may not sounds amazing, but it really truly was. I could have licked the bowl, but I didn’t, I swear. Well, maybe a little.

  • Amy
    August 13, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    I need to get to Sausalito. I think we drove through there when I went to San Francisco but that was years ago. I feel the need to get back there. Your dinner looked great!

  • Allison
    August 13, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    Sounds like you are having an amazing time! Check out this great article on 5 foods you should remove from your diet today!

  • Daisy
    August 13, 2010 at 3:14 pm

    I love Squid Ink Pasta. I actually posted pics of it on facebook longgg before I read food blogs or was a blogger myself. One of my friends commented “it looks like worms.” hahaha. I told her “that’s how much I love to document food, even if it looks like worms.”

  • tara
    August 13, 2010 at 3:55 pm

    aw I love this little city too!!!! We stopped there last month on the way home from the redwoods. I just moved from Canada to Monterey and I love reading about all the things you do since I am close by. I just found your blog a few weeks ago. We go up to SF a lot for visits so I hope I can check out some of those good restaurants 🙂

  • Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats
    August 13, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    I don’t know if you’ll get this in time, but my FAVORITE photographer in the world, Lisa Kristine, has a studio in Sausalito. She’s a travel photographer and her work is unbelievable. You’d love her (if you don’t already!) 😉

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
    August 13, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    I like that you’re an adventurous eater! It makes me feel less weird about trying out lamb testicles… and liking them! 😉

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie
    August 13, 2010 at 4:49 pm

    I’ll be honest, there’s really no way I’d ever order something like an ink squid pasta. I might TRY it if some one was really persuasive but that just looks gross!!

    I sound so close minded but unlike you I have a very sensitive stomach!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape
    August 13, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    I’d never heard of squid ink pasta before. It looks a bit scary to me but it would be an interesting dish to try.

  • Anne @ Chute Assis
    August 13, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    Oh. My. Lord. Sausalito is the reason I agreed to move to the Bay Area! SO amazing!

  • zoe
    August 13, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    yum! i love poggio! and i LOVE sausalito! i’ve been within 20 minutes of it my entire life 🙂 glad you enjoyed it!

  • jamie
    August 13, 2010 at 7:28 pm

    mmmm….bread soup. fell in love with it 10 years ago during a college trip to italy. i seriously think about it at least once a week during winter months but have never been able to create it at home…not that i’ve tried, really, but i have googled – part of me wants to keep my perfect memory of the most delicious soup ever, but maybe you’ll inspire me to get creative in the kitchen. of course, one of your excellent step by step instructions wouldn’t hurt 🙂

  • Amber K
    August 14, 2010 at 9:09 am

    I am definitely not an adventurous eater like you! To be fair, I do NOT have a stomach of steel. I have a very sensitive stomach, and I am super picky when it comes to food. My tongue dislikes certain flavors strongly and sometimes even if it tastes good, if the texture is way off I can’t swallow it!

  • Shelley (Pink House)
    August 14, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    OMG! My husband’s uncle lives right up the hill (you actually walk up a LONG set of stairsteps from Paggio’s in Sausalito’s and we went there last year when we visited him. We simply walked out his door, and down about three flights of stair steps onto the sidewalk and went in the restaurant. They know the uncle by name as he stops in there very regularly and we got some special treatment. So fun! I would also LOVE to live in Sausalito. The view of the water and cityscape is amazing!

  • Dee
    August 16, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    I think bad lighting might be an italian restaurant kinda thang. LOL!