october trip to the wine country

 

 

Mom was here to visit recently and we had a wonderful time.  As usual the city was filled with dozens of activities: street fairs, concerts, ball games, World Cup trials, conventions, and Fleet Week to name a few.  We tried to do everything, dinner out with friends, two dinners at the house, the Ferry Plaza and the Farmer's Market and front and center at the wharf for the Blue Angels and World Cup trials.  We really felt like we were on vacation when we booked a wine country tour.  There is something so magical when you meet the tour guide and que up to get on that tour bus--hard to explain, but I love the feeling--you step out of your world and let someone or something transport you away.

This trip included stops at Franciscan (elegant showroom and delicious wines), V. Sattui (super deli and gifts), Andretti Winery (with catered lunch) and Rutherford Ranch (outstanding olive oil).  We also returned to the city via the ferry rather than by bus, which added a pleasant ride on the Bay. Another too short but wonderful visit with mom.

beso hollywood and more . . .

Had a great time in LA recently, visiting my best friend, Brendan and helping him celebrate another great birthday.  (Last year we went Las Vegas).

We had his birthday dinner at Beso Hollywood, co-owned by Eva Longoria.  It is a very cool space located right in the heart of tourist mecca on Hollywood Boulevard, one block off of Vine.  The place, with it's huge high ceilings and dimly lit glass fixtures feels smoky/noir, a bit of another era, especially with the cool booths and diamond tuck upholstery.

Food was delicious, we started with Eva's guacamole, continued with lamb rack w/rosemary and pepito paste and sea scallops with truffle oil mashed potatoes and pomegranate sauce.  We ended with a deconstructed banana split.  The restaurant gets more interesting later in the evening, when the bar scene turns into a full blown night club, very LA.

The weekend continued with a great off, off production at the Ruby Theater at the Complex on Santa Monica called Geeks vs Zombies.  This wacky production about the end of the world was great fun and had a packed house on Saturday night.  On Sunday, we drove down to Malibu and had a delicious lunch at Malibu Seafood, Market and Cafe.  This casual outdoor picnic table spot features really fresh seafood--our fish and chips perfectly cooked and washed down with fresh lemonade.

You know we couldn't go without a Mexican fix, and Brendan has found an amazing new taco place on Beverly at Stanley called Escuela Taqueria.  A simple concept--a small menu with daily original combinations of mouth-watering tacos.  Think braised beef short ribs with dill pickle, shrimp with chorizo or pork belly with pickled onion.  Add sides of rice and beans and voila!  Yum.

roostertail rotisserie

 

I stopped in for lunch at this charming spot with a couple friends after seeing it listed by SF Magazine as Best of the Bay: Food & Drink 2012.  Located at 1963 Sutter at Fillmore, Roostertail is co-owned by chef Gerard Darian, formerly of Spago and Post Trio.  He has created a warm and casual restaurant based on not only rotisserie chicken, but wonderful beef brisket as well.  The chicken drumettes are to die for, moist and juicy, tossed in a unique green herb sauce.  Try them with the smashed potatoes and country gravy and the rooster salad, a great combination of apple-wood smoked bacon, spiced walnuts, apples, beets and Laura Chenel goat cheese.  And guess what?  If you live in the neighborhood, they offer free delivery.

the chemex coffee maker

There is something so elegant, sleek about the glass coffee maker.  It's part the sensual hourglass shape, the sheer glass and the organic wood and leather collar and part the pure art of the laboratory style, giving the coffee maker a permanent home in places like the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and the Smithsonian in Washington.

No wonder it's called the Chemex.  This iconic piece was invented in 1941 by Peter Schlumbohm, a chemist, originally from Kiel, Germany who settled in New York.  His goal was to brew coffee without imparting any other flavors.  He achieved this by using a simple one piece funnel style brewer made of non-porous borosilicate glass that included a steam channel and a measuring "belly button" blown right in the glass.  Today, this simple, functional design is often touted as one of the best designed items of modern times.  Well, I sure love it.

10th anniversary party

I helped Joseph Leon and Dan Jordan celebrate their 10th anniversary a couple of weeks ago and had a lot of fun doing a few dishes and helping set up the buffet in their beautiful home.  Joseph had a special request for classic chicken salad with sliced almonds and quinoa tossed with lemon vinaigrette, spinach, feta and avocado.

a sunday of great concerts

Well, we started summer right on Sunday, June 24th beginning with a concert in Golden Gate Park at Hellman Hollow sponsored by Alice@97.3,  featuring Graffiti6, Boys like Girls and Adam Lambert.  Joseph, Scott and I packed a great picnic, got a strategic spot and listened to some good music until it was time to race to Stern Grove at 19th and Sloat to hear Anita Baker. 

It's Stern Grove's 75th anniversary and in response, the beautiful redwood grove is featuring free Sunday concerts at 2pm, June 24th through August 26th.  Anita Baker's beautiful voice floated through the trees like the ultimate surround sound, amazing.  A great way to kick off summer!

clam dip recipe

Since it is the beginning of June and the time is here to start cooking all our great summer recipes, I thought it was the perfect time to share my most requested recipe. But be careful, this dip is seriously addictive!

Clam Dip
2 8oz. cans of whole baby clams, drained
1 pkg dry onion soup mix
16oz. sour cream
2 8oz. pkg. of cream cheese (room temp!)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbl Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 green onion chopped very fine

Leave cream cheese out for 2 hours at room temp. When ready to mix, remove foil wrap from cream cheese and place in mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds so cream cheese is very soft. Add all the other ingredients except the green onion and mix well. No lumps! Chill 2 hours. Place in decorative bowl and garnish with chopped green onion. Serve with Ruffles with Ridges!
Makes one large batch. (5-6 cups)

a birthday and bartel's giant burger, redding ca.

Just got home from a wonderful weekend in Redding to celebrate my aunt, Sara Resse's, 80th birthday.  Sara is an elegant lady and Bank of America veteran who doesn't look or act her age--beautiful inside and out.  Happy birthday Sara!

My aunt Jan and uncle Roger picked me up from the airport; of course we were hungry and Jan suggested Bartel's Giant Burger, a family favorite and a Redding institution since 1975.  The great thing--it's not fancy, just the perfect fluffy (wrinkled) bun on a perfect medium patty, with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato and onion, or a fat, split polish dog, you choose, plus fry sauce.  Both are perfection.  Opt for a creamy frosty freeze cone or shake to add to the decadence--an American classic--yum!  The family birthday get-together--one of the best ever and one great family!