This past Wednesday, Barack Obama was spotted walking into one of San Francisco’s swankiest restaurants, Quince, for dinner. As one of three 3-Michelin-star restaurants in SF, Quince is known for serving a $390 tasting menu of contemporary Californian cuisine. This is the second time in six weeks that Obama has enjoyed a meal from the Quince team in SF, as he was spotted dining at the restaurant’s private dining space, Officina, in March.
The Chronicle reported that the former president entered Quince around the same time that Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff arrived, although it’s unclear whether they were dining together. We also don’t know why Obama is in town, but his visit does coincide with Climate Week, even though he’s not on the schedule. SFGATE asked Quince to comment on the former president’s visit, but they declined per restaurant policy.
What’s on the menu at Quince?
The Quince menu showcases home-grown Northern Californian ingredients from around West Marin and their organic farm in Bolinas. Chef Michael Tusk curates seasonal dishes from over 40 varieties of heirloom fruits, vegetables, and flowers, resulting in an exquisite tasting menu that changes every night.
These days, Quince’s showstopping “Gastronomy” tasting menu runs for $390 per person, comprising ten courses that showcase numerous culinary techniques and creativity. There is also a smaller four-course menu option for $270 per person.
Notably, Obama’s visit coincides with Quince’s “White Asparagus Menu,” a multi-course offering dedicated to “one of Chef Tusk’s favorite seasonal ingredients.” This specialty spring tasting menu costs $420 per person and would’ve been available to the former president during his visit.
In addition to the illustrious Quince restaurant, award-winning chef Michael Tusk and his wife Lindsay also manage the aforementioned Officina, Italian restaurant Cotogna, and wine bar Verjus. If you want to get a taste of their culinary vision but can’t aspire to celebrity-level prices, both of the latter options offer exquisite dishes for less.