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Sunday, August 23, 2009
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Hundreds of wineries were represented at today’s Family Winemakers of California tasting:
... including newcomer, Skipstone. Their 2005 Oliver’s Blend:
... of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec was plum tasty with spicy elements in this notable nectar.
The 2005 Katin Syrah:
... from the JK Wine Company:
... held pepper, cherry and blackberry in a delicious balance.
Cherry and spice made for a more than nice 2005 Cain Five:
... blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Merlot and Malbec while the plummy 2007 Elizabeth Spencer Pinot Noir made us tune into ESPN.
2006 Pahlmeyer Pinot Noir:
... was a complex black raspberry bush without the thorns.
Both serious samplers and casual quaffers comprised the crowd in the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason where wonderful wines were poured showing off this state’s sensational swigable statements.
The 19th annual Family Winemakers of California tasting
San Francisco, CA
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Saturday, August 22, 2009
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We drank ourselves blind:
... before we perused the labeled tasting tables at today’s New Zealand Wine by the Bay event at the Intercontinental Hotel.
There was an array of reference aromas:
...for those who wanted to make scents of their vocabulary.
We got caught up in the black-current of the Surveyor Thomson 2005 Pinot Noir:
...and enjoyed citrusy sips of Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc between dry Rieslings and unoaked Chardonnays.
The crowd approached this as drinking event:
...(rather than a spitting event) as they snacked on Drakes Bay oysters:
...sustainable salmon:
...cheeses:
...and Luke Mangan’s olive oil dunked bread with dukka.
The growing popularity of New Zealand wines has more new world enthusiasts delvin’ into stelvin to appreciate these pleasing potions.
New Zealand Wine by the Bay
Intercontinental Hotel
San Francisco, CA
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Friday, August 21, 2009
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Malt took flight at this evening’s St. George Spirits Whiskey Night ’09.
We sampled lots of lots and made our tasting notes as we savored these splendid spirits.
Our stomachs were lined with some of our favorite snackage including Boccalone charcuterie (with some of their spicy, spreadable, nduja):
... cheeses from Cowgirl:
...and some divine Naia gelato infused and topped with St. G’s whiskey:
... 86’ed flavors anyone?
A barrel tasting was conducted by whiskey expert and friend of the Hangar, Anthony Rosario:
... who is shepherding a single barrel of whiskey through the St. G process, spotlighting the ingredients to communicate the terrior (for no peats sake) in the house style.
Dave led us by our nose through an aromatic array of alcoholic accomplishments as we analyzed their attributes.
As always, our visit to the hangar was a barrel of fun.
St. George Spirits
Whiskey night 2009
Hangar One
2601 Monarch St.
Alameda, CA
510.769.1601
From today’s Bunrab email, a beater of eggs writes:
Gutenberg,
Glad to see you made it down to Martins West. I hear the dessert menu has something to say for itself deliciously, or at least fun. can you tell us a little bit about it or let me know when you have it on your next visit? Cheers, ta.
Shuna
Gutenberg replies:
Dear Shuna,
We’ve also heard good things about MW’s last course. We’ll get some sweet stuff on our next visit and let you know.
-G
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Thursday, August 20, 2009
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Sweet, tender, pastrami is cured in house at the Refuge.
This meaty marvel is clearly the result of some serious R&D-licious toil. While most Bay Area versions rely on a wall of meat to deton-ate a shock and awe presentation that confuses a massive mound of muscle with two fisted cuisine, the Refuge’s hot, hand sliced goods are reminiscent of katz’ on a hot rye roof. The pastrami and Swiss ($14.00):
... didn’t need the cheese. Mustard and rye bread were all that was necessary to spotlight what will be our future-rami.
The Refuge
963 Laurel St.
San Carlos, CA
650.598.9813
Mark your Calendar
Does a feast prepared by Ryan Farr sound like your kinda thing? How about if there was some Humphry Slocombe ice cream and Valley beer in the mix?
Jesse over at Beer & Nosh is organizing a Notoberfest at Mars Bar on October 10th. $50 all inclusive - that covers the 4505 Meats dinner, beer, HS ice cream, tax, tip and a commemorative tasting glass.
Check out the deets here including a list of Valley Brewing beer that will be served on tap. As tempting as it may be, don’t fill up exclusively on 4505 Chicharrones or you’ll miss the beer-infused ice creams.
Notoberfest
Mars Bar
October 10, 2009
1-5 p.m.
$50 advance, $60 door
798 Brannan St.
San Francisco, CA
rsvp to Jesse at: http://beerandnosh.com/notoberfest/
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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Haggis on a stick ($4.00):
... was like Burns night with corn dog coating standing in for the Scottish poetry and the ceremonial knife subbed out with a popsicle stick. This brilliant offal-sicle was served with house made whole grain mustard at Martins West.
The barman served us a couple pints of Hennepin ale ($5.00 each) to wash down our Scottish eggs ($6.00):
... which were made with quail (rather than hen) eggs. These sausage coated ‘bryo’s were cooked to a perfect runny-yolkedness in these cholester-balls.
Our nutritionist suggested we follow up with the burger ($14.00):
... since it was organic. Wagyu, rib meat and chuck were charcoal grilled to smokey, pink perfection. This well seasoned patty was housed in a artisanal bun with a red, ripe, slice of juicy tomato. “Tandoori seasoned” fries had crispy bits and starchy bellies that caused them to disappear into our bellies.
Reclaimed wood, exposed brick and cool filamenty bulbs give the pub an understated, casual elegance backed up by the friendly staff.
Executive Chef Michael Dotson’s take on pub grub is our kind of late night chow. He is clearly some sort of evil genius.
Our nutritionist advised us to return for their enticing marrow bones, pork belly and black pudding roll soon.
Martins West
831 Main St.
Redwood City, CA
650.366.4366
Mark your Calendar
If you visit Teacake Bake Shop on Friday August 21st between 2 and 4 p.m., you will be the proud recipient of one free whoopie pie (those round vanilla creme filled chocolate cake rounds.) How cool is that?
Teacake Bake Shop
Emeryville, Lafayette or Corte Madera locations
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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The cold noodles with pork ($6.95):
... at the Tea Plus Noodle House was bolstered by shredded Iceberg lettuce hidden:
... under the upholstery of cold noodles and marinated pork.
This non-Thai padding seemed like a titanic trick until we stirred the scallions, grated carrots and peanuts into the mix and found that there was a nice balance to this crunchy, summery noodle salad.
Not a bad stop for some cheap and cheerful chow.
Tea Plus Noodle House
1100 D Howard Ave.
Burlingame, CA
650.685.1698
Mark your Calendar
You don’t have to be a cougar to appreciate hooking up youth and maturity. Bar Bambino is holding a cheese and wine tasting which will explore bambino and vecchio ricotta with wines that illustrate the changes that take place after a few years of age.
Unrind over wine while discussing the pro-volones and cons of these pairings.
Bar Bambino
wine and cheese tasting
Sunday, August 23
3-5 p.m.
$35 per person
2931 16th St.
San Francisco, CA
415.701.VINO
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Monday, August 17, 2009
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We chose Mingalaba based on its funky decor and bustling dining room:
... and were pleasantly surprised when this Burmese and Mandarin restaurant produced a tea-licious Lap Pat Dok (aka tea leaf salad $8.95). This seedy supper of sesame and sunflower with peanuts, yellow split peas, fried garlic slivers, cherry tomatoes, dried shrimp, cabbage, chilies and imported Burmese tea leaves:
... was tossed with lemon juice:
... to create a nutty, garlicky tangle of crunch with some Scoville spirit.
Samusa soup ($9.75):
... also had a nice chili presence in this onion, falafel, lentil, garbanzo and cabbage curried combo.
Burmese style pan fried string beans ($8.95):
... were cloaked in dry shrimp and garlic which gave collateral flavor to our rice as we ate our beany bounty.
There were a lot of cool dishes that we spied on other tables so we’ll have to return to check out some more of their spicy specialities at this place for to stave your Burma crave.
Mingalaba Restaurant
1213 Burlingame Ave.
Burlingame, CA
650.343.3228
Mark your Calendar
Both you and the San Francisco Food Bank will benefit by a visit to the New Zealand Wine by the Bay event this Saturday at the InterContinental Hotel. Whenever we attend a NZ tasting, we always discover something new and zeal worthy.
New Zealand Wine by the Bay
Saturday, August 22
noon-4 p.m.
Tickets $40 advance, $50 at the door
InterContinental Hotel
888 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA
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