My first Pebble Beach Food & Wine this April 12-15, 2012. Despite chilly breezes post-rainfall and those outrageously high ticket prices ($500 is a cheap dinner ticket), it was a bustling, fun-filled weekend of food and far more wine, much of it high quality, celebrity chefs, after (and after-after) parties, copious amounts of caviar, champagne and white Burgundy sipped overlooking… Read more →
Though Science of Cocktails may be on hiatus next year due to the Exploratorium‘s big move to the Embarcadero, this year’s party is worth highlighting. Attending since the inaugural event three years ago (my review here), Science of Cocktails gets better each year. I’m not sure if the new VIP area added much other than a bird’s-eye view from above… Read more →
Kitchit, “home of bespoke dining”, is not another pop-up dinner. In fact, the company, founded by Brendan Marshall, a Stanford grad who was just named one of Forbes “30 Under 30” in the Food & Wine category, is more like a private dinner party with a world class chef. In my case, it was a dinner in a private SoMa… Read more →
On a recent misty morning in Point Reyes, then inland for a Petaluma afternoon, I visited two of our most beloved creameries. The damp earth of a dairy farm in dark, early hours is oddly intoxicating, while sampling fresh cheese in various stages of ripening is sheer pleasure. These dairies make me proud of the familial, forward-thinking, humane food practices… Read more →
Upscale dining destination Fifth Floor hosted a series of guest chefs last week for the holidays, each one cooking meals inspired by their heritage and culture. A brilliant idea with chefs as notable as Dominique Crenn of Atelier Crenn and Hoss Zare of Zare at Fly Trap. A portion of each of the $95 dinners went to the guest chef’s… Read more →
DON BUGITO DINNER at HEADLANDS CENTER for the ARTS, Marin Nestled near the ocean in the wilds of the Marin Headlands sits Headlands Center for the Arts, an artists’ haven in a reclaimed military barracks that is inspiring just to be in, as it must be for its artists in residence. Known for the culinary care and special event meals… Read more →
Another year, another WhiskyFest. I’ve been attending a number of years now, ever relishing an opportunity to try unexplored whiskies, refresh my taste memory on others, and connect with whisk(e)y industry folk and distillers here from Kentucky to Scotland. A number of options listed as VIP tastes (more than ever this year) were not, in fact, available at all. Some… Read more →
Here just a few photo highlights from this year’s bigger-than-ever SF Cocktail Week… read about the event here. Read more →
CHEFS NIGHT OFF at Radius Chefs Sarah and Evan Rich (who also happen to be husband and wife), come with a fine dining, creative pedigree cooking in kitchens of the caliber of Coi, Quince and Michael Mina. On August 29th, I attended their first Chefs Night Off pop-up dinner at Radius, and they are also hosting pop-up Fried Chicken Dinner… Read more →
For those of you who attended last year’s San Francisco Cocktail Week, you know it was jam-packed with some downright magical events, celebrating our city’s rich cocktail heritage, bar talent and innovation. Monday begins the 5th annual Cocktail Week, bigger than ever, with numerous national and local brands represented, an extensive schedule of seminars, parties, events, and the first ever… Read more →