New Orleans, city that enchants me. Even in its gritty crime and scarred, beating heart, it is radiant, full of history, color and hope. I have many places to write about here… too many for even multiple articles. But I’ll share some from time to time, hoping you’ll go and explore like a local. Here are favorites from Treme and… Read more →
Happy New Year! I crave new beginnings and love the feel of a “clean slate” each year (even if imagined), to drum up new goals, dream new dreams, and be open to new adventures. 2008 was full of discovery as well as intimacy with those I love. I’m ready for more… Every month, I share Top Tastes, favorite new dishes,… Read more →
VEGETARIAN If it was on a regular menu, I’d dive again into the (lightly) Buttermilk Fried Cauliflower, warm and dipped in Roasted Carrot Aioli ($5), that creative chef (and pork master – have you had his Chicharrones?) Ryan Farr cooked up last month at Mission Street Food’s brilliant, one-shot only Thursday night dinners at Lung Shan. Berkeley’s Taste of Africa… Read more →
There is no way to quite do the magical dining experience that is CYRUS justice. Much has already been written about one of the highest-rated restaurants in the nation, and I’ve been dying to go since it opened. The Renaissance Man made it my birthday dinner surprise (we went the weekend before since my birthday is actually Christmas Day). It… Read more →
Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table – Sara Roahen Certainly this was the ideal book to read prior to and on my recent trip to New Orleans. But on its own merit, Gumbo Tales is a tender, well-crafted memoir that caused my mouth to water and my heart to constrict with bittersweet longing. One of the… Read more →
Miami was never on my travel wish list. I don’t find much to excite me about Florida and am not at all drawn to the South Beach party scene in Miami in particular. But I didn’t mind the opportunity to visit close friends there with the Renaissance Man. I knew I’d love South Beach’s Art Deco architecture and Little Havana’s… Read more →
“This is the violet hour, the hour of hush and wonder, when the affections glow and valor is reborn, when the shadows deepend along the edge of the forest and we believe that, if we watch carefully, at any moment we may see the unicorn.” – Bernard DeVoto, The Hour The year has so swiftly reached an end… hard to… Read more →
BREAKFAST Oakland’s brand new Aunt Mary’s serves up soul/Southern food with East Bay flair in their weekend brunches: I liked the “Stuff in the Pepper” Poblanofilled with chorizo cornbread stuffing (with cherries, nuts, pear) over black beans ($10). SAVORY – VEGETARIAN Tropisueno just debuted in Yerba Buena Lane, acting as a super-fresh taqueria for lunch, and a more creative-flair Mexican restaurant and… Read more →
Thanks to my classic film-obsessed Mother, one of my favorite pastimes is watching old movies. I may not know as much as my Mom does about all things classic film, but I do have an in-depth appreciation & knowledge of film in general, and the classics in particular. I feel lucky to be able to partake in the incomparable line-up… Read more →
“Variety’s the very spice of life,That gives all its flavor.”– William Cowper As you can see from this month’s Top Tastes (favorite new dishes, drinks and bites), it’s been a rich month of new San Francisco restaurant openings, travel and plenty to get excited about. My excitement grows as I anticipate upcoming trips to New Orleans and Miami… a slew of culinary adventures… Read more →