Daily Feed - November 11-20, 2010

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	ABOUT ME: Name: Gutenberg Location: Somewhere near the Golden Gate Bridge. Occupation: BRPR (Bunrab public relations.)			the BUNRAB blog spot
				Do you need to answer back? You can send me comments if you want to. If I want to, I'll post 'em in this very blog. -Gutenberg

November 11-20, 2010

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Saturday, November 20, 2010
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Tightly clustered, medium bodied imbibers gathered at Farallon Restaurant this afternoon for PinotFest.

There were the familiar formulations and as well as those that were new to us like the beautifully blackberried 2008 Littorai Platt Vineyard Pinot Noir and the impressive 2007 Cambria Winery Bench Break vineyard's with its black cherry bolstering.

Etude's 2007 Heirloom was a wonderfully woven, spicy sip of excellent estate expression.

Farallon amused the bouches of noir do wells with passed hors d'oeuvres including short rib sliders, arancini di riso and lentil soup:

This crush-worthy collection of varietal variance had something to offer pinot-it-alls as well as neo flights.

PinotFest 2010

Friday, November 19, 2010
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Every two years the Red Tie Gala makes a habit of looping around to Neiman Marcus:

... to transform this department store into a multi-floor, benefit bash for the Little Sisters of the Poor. This is the best bar:

... and nun:

... party bar none.

Guests were greeted with flutes of sparkling wine:

... and passed hors d'oeuvres before exploring the geographically-themed chow (think USA buffet, British Isles aisle all the way to Asia, Africa & France.)

The nibbling was notable, ranging from tasty tamales to dainty desserts as well as faves like Barbacco's 'nduja, Farina's pesto and Anthony's Cookies:

... (served with bonus shots of milk.):

Bartenders kept it shaking at the many depots dispensing drinks:

... to the dehydrated while an assortment of live music performances:

... kept tempo with the tastes and tipple.

Red was the featured fashion:

... of this function which brought out all sorts of colorful characters in sisterly support.

The Red Tie Gala 2010

Thursday, November 18, 2010
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There was no queue for a bowl of Hapa Ramen:

... at the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market (unless you count the customer strapped to the front:

... of the Hapa-tality staff member.)

H.R. is highly resourceful in refining their pasta populated provisions. The broth was creamier and spicier than the version on my previous visit with an increased dose of spinach and onion. The stewed pork was tender, rich and pleasingly fatty with some kobocha squash to pumpkin up this nori-nudged nourishment.

I slurped through my bowl ($9.00):

... of belly warming richness wondering what tweaks will occur before my next noodle nosh.

Hapa Ramen
San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010
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After we flopped at obtaining five pounds of belly last week, porky purveyor and pal Taylor reminded us that we have to trot over to his shop next time we are snout and about in San Francisco.

We veered off Michael Ruhlman's recipe by baking the belly an hour longer (than the recipe's 90 minutes) to raise it to the indicated internal temperature.

The resulting strips of swine shrunk into satisfying fried flaps:

... that we chomped down while strategizing for our next try (smoking is in our future.)

We'll definitely duck over to the Fatted Calf to stock up on the goods (without coming up a pound short) for our next stab at bacon making.

-G

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
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The Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza rolled out the barrel at the InterContinental with a luscious line up of liquor.

We sipped on some familiar faves after treading into unfamiliar territory with a wide range of expressions including the triple distilled, butterscotch-bitten, Auchentoshen Three Wood:

The Glenmorangie Signet:

... was an exceptional elixir with an elegant, chocolatey charm that was truly stellar.

We hit the hearty buffet:

... before saying hello to some familiar faces at the Balvenie table.

Mitch Bechard hooked us up with glasses of 17 year Peated Cask Balvenie (which he pulled from his hidden stash):

This complex construction had a handsome hit of smoke (derived solely from its cask.)

The crowd was just the right size to whisk around the tables at this excellent exploration of dram-atic drinks.

The 17th Annual Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza
InterContinental Hotel
888 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA

Monday, November 15, 2010
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The crafty creators of Cowgirl Creamery Sidekick:

... know that grilled cheese is the curdesy call that is whey hard to resist. Casein point: the fromage blanc and Pt. Reyes blue cheese sandwich ($6.75):

... which had an affineur-ty with thin slices of Asian pear.

This Frog Hollow fruit added a refreshing burst of crisp to this creamy, crusty creation.

We love the cheese shop and this connected, calcium corner is a mammariable measure in the Cowgirl's maturing enterprise.

Cowgirl Creamery Sidekick
1 Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA
415.362.9355

Sunday, November 14, 2010
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We took our roles as judges for the San Francisco Fall Luxury Chocolate Salon very seriously as we melted morsels of cacao creations over our tempered tongues.

There were the familiar local 'tiers of chocolate makers like Tcho and Ghirardelli as well as neobites like Salt Side Down and Coco Tutti.

Au Coeur des Chocolats:

... dazzled with their single origin offering as well as their sunflower butter centered confection. We'll make a point of dropping by their new San Francisco shop for more of their impressive bites.

Garden Creamery's:

... honey dark chocolate sorbet and raspberry red pepper sorbet were our refreshing introduction to this new frozen, dairy-free line of delicious, agave sweetened scoopage based in Novato.

Amano:

... continued to amaze with their new line of filled chocolates.

We bought a box of these hedonistic helpings chased by a cup of their drinking chocolate that was so thick and rich that it defied science by being pourable.

Vice:

... pushed the envelope with brazen bites including garlic, anise and hot pepper. Their bold signature permeated these munchable, mold-breaking morsels (and even extended to their choice of footwear.)

After a lap around both rooms we settled back into the cyberhutch to offer up our input. We crossed our fingers for our faves before breaking out our purchases for a sweet reminder of our day.

The San Francisco Fall Luxury Chocolate Salon
Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA

Saturday, November 13, 2010
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We dashed over to Dashe for their second annual paella fiesta:

... where we fed our inner enfant terrible while sipping on Dashe's E'nfant Terrible.

Gerard Nebesky panned for gold with his impressive paella:

.. which we savored with the fruit forward 2007-2009 Dry Creek Zinfandel.

A fabulous flamenco dancer:

... stomped beside the grapey goods as guests took in the Spanish flair of this fine fiesta.

Dashe Cellars
Paella Fiesta
55 4th St.
Oakland, CA
510.452.1800

Friday, November 12, 2010
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We pulled off the Great Highway to grab a snack at the Beach Chalet where there was lots of seating available (given that it was 7 o'clock on a Friday.)

My Mojito ($8.50) was a little sweeter than I prefer while the sidecar ($11.00):

... had a pleasing pucker from citrus juice with a brandy and Cointreau kick.

Chicken wings ($11.00):

... were standard specimens of appetizer appendages with blue cheese dip and celery sticks.

Calamari misto ($12.00):

... included deep fried shallots, fennel and lemons in this slightly oily squid starter.

The restaurant is located above the Golden Gate visitor's center:

... so they get their share of out of towners seeking a waterfront view and house made beer.

Even though we didn't order anything mind-blowing, it was still a fun stop for a quick, tourist-friendly bite.

Beach Chalet
1000 Great Highway
Ocean Beach
San Francisco, CA
415.386.8439

Mark your Calendar

One more week until we don our red-galia for the Red Tie Gala at Neiman Marcus.

This blushingly knotty night is a dose of re-tux and tail therapy - check out the last RTG when guests wove through each floor of Neiman's nibbling nosh from some of San Francisco's excellent eateries at this benefit for the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Red Tie Gala
Friday, November 19th 7-11 p.m.
tickets $250 per person
Neiman Marcus
Union Square
San Francisco, CA
415.682.4608

Thursday, November 11, 2010
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We filled our cavities at this evening's Sugar Rush event which offers sweet support to Spark's youth services.

Previous parties have included some of the area's flakiest pastry producers and this year's line up of cheffage sweetened the deal.

Michelle Polzine participates in many events but never phones in a default dessert.

This evening she demonstrated her Range with roasted strawberry and creme fraiche ice cream bars:

... which bounced bon bons to the next level with a tasty tang and fruity flourish beneath a brittle border of chocolate.

Coi's Bill Corbett sous vided white chocolate for a parfait that flirted with fennel in a huckleberry polka dotted, choc block of creamy construction:

Hedonistic Humphry Slocombe:

... ice cream sandwiches came in cookie/ice cream combos of ginger/oolong, chocolate/Vietnamese coffee and peanut curry/peanut curry with a sensational stout float chaser.

The Recchiuti's:

... made mendiants:

... as part of their collection of craveable chocolates. Adam Becker teamed up with this well tempered team with his pumpkin biscuit with muscavado milk chocolate mousse, semolina biscuit, mandarin chiboust and chestnut and oats streusel:

... which had a restrained sweetness to highlight the layered lusciousness of this collage of complexity.

Boulevard's Jessica Sullivan:

... made a persimmon pudding cake:

... topped with an apple terrine and a pomegranate persimmon salad. We fell for this autumnal tumble of spiced, fruitiness with a cloud of whipped creme fraiche.

Delfina's bomboloni:

... Millennium's chocolate marble pumpkin brownie torte:

... and The Fifth Floor's quince tart with pomegranate foam:

... had us bouncing out the door. Sugar Rush continues to attract the support snappy whippers who support whipper snappers in this community-minded celebration put on by Spark.