Tink's with Jacquie and Shaun

Saturday August 2

We spent most of the day packing and whacking (weeds), so it was lovely to put on some nice duds in the evening and stroll the three blocks to Tink's Cafe, where Jacquie and Shaun had kindly invited us for a farewell (for now) dinner.

We started the meal with appetizers: smoked salmon tartare with avocado and wasabi caviar, piled in the avocado shell and surrounded with lotus-root chips; and shrimp and grits in a sea of dark, savory tasso gravy. Both were hearty and flavorful, though the lotus-root chips won the prize for prettiness and novelty.

As it was a hot summer day, we decided to continue the fishy theme (with a favorite wine, the Con Class Rueda). We had a tranche of grilled salmon on a roasted corncake, surrounded by a tomato-almond "mole" (closer to a romesco sauce, actually) and showered with jicama juliennes and lime. And of course we had to order a new fish: Tripletail.
This toothsome white fish was also grilled, and flanked by arugula in a tasty horseradish dressing. The potato-apple gallette under it was seriously overfried and tough, but this was the only mistake that Tink's made. And the service, as always, was attentive and friendly. So thanks, Jacquie and Shaun, for a lovely time and an excellent dinner.