fly me to the moon.

walking into disco volante, a restaurant/bar/live music spot in downtown oakland, on a chilly february night, is like walking into a fabulous party where the lighting is dim, the music exotic yet familiar & the mood sexy & playful.  it was a good night for a date, side-tie leather pants & a vintage fur.
some things i cannot pass up on a menu & chicken livers with toasts is one.  the toasts, resting on a bed of arugula, come with a thick spread of liver pate & a ramekin of quince preserves.  the combination of rich, creamy liver with the sweetness of quince & peppery greens is luscious.  a salad of arugula with a sherry vinaigrette is simple & has a nice acidic kick.  sounding too good to save for next time, i ordered the volante burger with aged white cheddar, pickled pepper mayonnaise & bacon jam.  yes, bacon jam – piggy, salty, yummy-ness.  the burger is so good – tender, not over-mixed, softly seasoned & cooked perfectly.  it reminds me of the incredible burger at eccolo (which is no longer) and as it turns out, the chef is one and the same.
after a delicious dinner i sat at the table listening to a great live band & feeling grateful to live in oakland.