UPCIDER, 1160 Polk St., 2nd Fl. at Sutter, 415-931-1797 Ever since savoring a fantastic New England cider pairing with each course of a fall dinner at NYC’s Gramercy Tavern years ago, I’ve wondered when we might witness the arrival of urban cider bars. SF’s new Upcider and Bushwhacker in Portland are it thus far. Two aspects of Upcider jump out… Read more →
“I love the sound of the bone against the plate and the fortress-like look of it lying before me in a moat of risotto, the meat soft as the leg of an angel who has lived a purely airborne existence. And best of all, the secret marrow, the invaded privacy of the animal prized out with a knife and swallowed… Read more →
SANDWICH-ing in the MISSION Photos and article by Virginia Miller Two unusual, new Mission sandwich options: one of the city’s best restaurants launches lunch with Scandinavian influence (part of the Nordic culinary wave finally reaching the West Coast), and a low-key panini shop opens, refreshingly real with Middle Eastern touches. BAR TARTINE, Mission (561 Valencia St. between 16th & 17th… Read more →
TRADITION, Tenderloin (441 Jones Street at O’Farrell; open Monday through Saturday at 6 pm-2am) Tradition is not neighboring Bourbon & Branch, part two. Though I continue to bring visitors and locals who’ve never been to the still magical B&B, Tradition is a more relaxed entrant in the Future Bars line-up, which includes Bourbon & Branch, Wilson & Wilson, Rickhouse, Swig, and Local Edition. Having been to Tradition… Read more →
This year’s Outside Lands, a three-day extravaganza of some of the top musical acts in the world, quality food and drink (this is SF, after all), all in the beauty of Golden Gate Park, felt more packed than ever. But despite throngs descended on SF from all over the country, turning Golden Gate Park into a sea of trash (the… Read more →
These six noteworthy new books are either just released or out this fall. THE BLUE BOTTLE CRAFT of COFFEE: Growing, Roasting, and Drinking, with Recipes – James Freeman, Caitlin Freeman, Tara Duggan Since its first kiosk in January 2005, Blue Bottle has been my first choice in coffee, from ethos (served immediately, individually, beans sold fresh after roasting) to taste. Musician… Read more →
The annual SF Street Food Fest enlivens blocks of the Mission every year with many of our great food trucks, favorite SF restaurants serving street food, and a few visiting guests, like my favorite Portland food cart, Eurotrash, or the adorable Linda Green of Ms. Linda’s Catering from New Orleans. The big addition this year was a Night Market the… Read more →
Photos & article by Andi Berlin The 17th annual Grape to Glass at stately Richard’s Grove celebrates the wines of the Russian River Valley, a cool atmosphere known for producing rich chardonnays and bright pinot noirs. More than 75 wineries set up booths in the toasty afternoon heat, accompanied by a host of farmers market vendors and local restaurants offering… Read more →
“lt takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.” – e.e. cummings Change is in the air as summer swiftly makes way for fall… This Saturday is the annual SF Street Food Fest, a melange of dozens of food trucks and stands serving global food on a few Mission blocks. It runs a little… Read more →
PLÄJ, Civic Center (333 Fulton St. between Franklin & Gough, 415-294-8925) The world has become hooked on New Nordic cuisine in recent years, thanks to Copenhagen’s Noma, named World’s #1 Best Restaurant for three years straight, sparking a global interest in all things Scandinavian and a new generation of chefs. Before this renaissance, I dined at Aquavit in New York City,… Read more →