The BOMB

Sorry I didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but as I suspected, I was caught in a conference room meeting with stale coffee and sandwiches. Mind you, I was completely wrong about the vittles being of the foul, pre-wrapped variety. Instead, hearty Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwiches were on-hand - deliciously vinegary tart with sweet roasted, rich pork and an array of crunchy vegetables. Yum!

And, the night before, I did land in enough time to meander around the Mission District before joining a colleague at Luna Park (dining room pictured above). My great foodie find pre-dinner: the Bombay Ice Cream Parlor on Valencia between 16th & 17th. It's the BOMB. A humble establishment, with an adjacent Indian clothing store in full view of the ice cream bar, its wares are undeniably enticing. Fig ice cream. Rose. Saffron. And my pick - Cardamom-Rose.

A small cone was the perfect amuse bouche before Luna Park's whimsical riff on California cuisine. The appetizers were definitely the highlights of the meal: Warm Goat Cheese Fondue with Grilled Bread and Sliced Apples and Marinated Hawaiian Tuna "Poke" with Fried Wonton Chips. The latter dish was a massive "meatball" of tuna tartare in an Asian vinaigrette with wonton crisps for dipping. Addictive stuff.

Clearly I wasn't alone in my feelings. The dish was gone right quick and it seemed that other tables in the boisterous room were gobbling up the chow as well...If the service had been - well, a little more service-oriented - I would have to say it would be worth a repeat visit. But under the circumstances, "Poke" or no, I think the big "get" in the Mission district is that Indian ice cream. Did I mention that it's the BOMB?

Must run. But, promise more details soon.