my favorite things

There is a column in Elle Decor magazine that I love, called "The 12 Things I Can't Live Without." I read it religiously every month, to see if I too can't live without the same things as these famous designers and others. But I have come to one conclusion; most of the time I haven't heard of half of their favorite things, they tend to be a little esoteric. So I decided to come up with my own list of the 12 things I can't live without, a little more common to be sure, but my favorites for real!

1. Rave Hairspray. I have used it for 25 years, perfect hold, no flakes. Please don't ever go out of business. 2. Bluewick candles in guava. That's it. All other candle scents kind of nauseate me. 3. Beautiful sandals. I can't pass them up, gold, silver, black, jewels, doesn't matter. I like to show off a good pedicure and you can't beat the comfort and freedom. 4. Opi nail polish--pale pink on the hands and (for those great pedicures) dark "Lincoln Park" on my toes. 5. Starched white sheets and down comforters. I fell in love with the feel when I stayed in my first European hotel in 1999. You can't beat the feel of being consumed in a white cloud when you lay down. 6. My mother's impressionistic paintings of two New York street scenes. Not only are they beautiful, I cherish them. 7. Gucci sunglasses. Nothing too excessive, just seven or eight pairs 8. Pre de Provence soap and bath gel in verbena. The fresh scent is very clean and great in the summer. 9. My signature scent, Eau Des Merveilles, Hermes, subtle and light. 10. Foreign travel. I have had some amazing trips with my mother from Spain to Thailand and every place in between. One of my favorites continues to be the Pueblo Bonito Rose resort at Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. 11. Stationary. And all the sub categories, note pads, monogrammed post its, labels, stickers--I will become a pauper to fine paper goods. 12. Perfect comfort meal with my friend Brendan Eisan at the House of Prime Rib in San Francisco, deliciously executed every time and the perfect ending to my 12 favorite things.

hot la restaurants firenze and the counter

I was in LA a couple of weeks ago and Brendan and I had a couple of amazing culinary experiences. We had a lovely dinner at Firenze, a Northern Italian cuisine restaurant headed by former Top Chef contestant Fabiano Viviani. This warm space with an open kitchen, live music and private dining area delivered some exceptional food. First up was the fritto misto with calamari and zucchini complemented by the house made bread with a delicious garlicky tapenade. A salad of baby greens with Chianti soaked pears, goat cheese and candied walnuts was amazing only to be topped by the short rib stuffed raviolis laced with a creamy melted taleggio sauce.

I can't wait to go back for rabbit with black olives and a burrata salad with roasted mushrooms with pine nuts. The choices are unique and mouthwatering. The other hot spot in LA we visited is The Counter. This LA phenom is a franchise that has a line out the door. What is is the hook? A stylish interior, clean and modern, a hip bar that eases the wait for a table and a extensive choice of options for the perfect burger. Sit down, take a pencil and fill in the options--included is 100 percent Angus beef, cheese, four toppings, sauce and bun. The combination onion strings and french fries come with 2 sauces and are outrageous.

Another delicious visit to LA. Also a happy birthday to Kevin Alpert, you are the best. XXX, D.

dinner at 2223 market

Had dinner last night with long time friends Michael Perricone and Tom Brocato. Michael and I worked at the Rotunda together for many years and he is now in New York at Bergdorf Goodman and going strong. Tom is Director of Facilities/Real Estate, Charles Schwab, and I met him through Mike nearly as long ago as I have known Mike.

We reminisced about some of our memorable meals, one of which was a birthday party at 42 Degrees. Do you remember that great restaurant? Out next to Espirit at 16th and Illinois, 42 Degrees served some of the best food in this town (the marrow bone with toast points was absolutely killer) all with a sliding glass wall that opened on beautiful days and nights to views of the bay. I miss that place.

Last night we ate at one of our favorite haunts that one returns to again and again, 2223 Market. This San Francisco favorite close to the Castro remains successful because they don't mess with the winning dishes. The hearts of romaine is probably the best twist on a caesar salad I have ever had--I have tried to recreate this salad at home but it is never as good--grilled onions, capers, cornichons, creamy garlic dressing and big asiago crostini on top. Follow this salad with the best chicken in town, a roasted crispy skin thigh/leg combo on creamy garlic mashed potatoes, PERFECTLY al dente blue lake string beans, topped with onion rings and surrounded by a divine pan jus. Absolute perfection.

It's nice to know that long term friendships and favorite restaurants remain constant.

passion cafe adds charm and vitality to sixth street

I

was lucky enough to meet Steve Barton and Jacques Andre in early December when they where finishing their construction and getting ready to fine tune the business side of their restaurant venture, Passion Cafe at 28 Sixth Street, San Francisco. Introduced by my friend Tracy Everwine from Urban Solutions, who, knowing my past restaurant experience, thought I might be able to assist them with a little information about the interview and hiring process (and other questions) and I was only to glad to help.

They didn't need much. The truth is Steve, a contractor with a vision and Jacques, a talented French pastry chef, already knew what they wanted and what they needed to do and had set in motion a two year journey on a much anticipated project adding to the revitalization of Sixth Street.

With the layers and layers of past businesses stripped away, a cafe-bistro emerged. Original brick and reclaimed redwood, lighting, fixtures and a restored store front create the feel of stepping back in time, but a roof top deck painted with their signature rich orange color and wrapped with white lights brings it squarely into 2010 and will surely be the IT place to sit and sip champagne, enjoy a coffee or throw a bash!

But the food, the food! I stopped in during a wine tasting and Jacques sampled a couple of the house specialities. Jacques nails it with the creamiest of custards in both the vegetarian and classic quiche lorraine and a croque monsieur the likes of I've only tasted in the city limits of Paris. Jacques's garnish of caramelized onions is to die for. The full menu is still to come, but the tarts, pastries, soups, stews and other bistro fare will be worth the wait.

sweeping views for sale at 207 sheridan in oakland

As you know, if you read my blog occasionally, I have been very excited about the breakout restaurant scene in Oakland and other parts of the East bay. I'm lucky, a couple of my best friends live in Oakland so I get first hand information on the renaissance that is taking place.

Recently I have been helping one of my real estate friends, Fritz Hochfellner with Pacific Union in Montclair, get organized for 2010. This has opened my eyes to another great market that Oakland has to offer and that is great values on homes and condos. While you may have read that the home prices in SF have risen in recent months, Oakland, with its unique hillside neighborhoods and outstanding architecture has a lot to offer in lifestyle and the real estate market.

One such property that Fritz and his associate Sandy have listed is 207 Sheridan, in the Rockridge district, a three story, new construction beauty with sweeping views of the hills, 4 bedrooms, 3300 sq. feet and a private elevator to take the pain out of hauling groceries. Offered at 1,025,000, this is a lot of house for the money. Give Fritz (DRE 00869381) a call at 510.8137489 if you would like to know more.

fish and farm is a great social scene

I am always trying restaurants for my Examiner.com column--you know I write about downtown Tenderloin restaurants, right? Anyway, I had the best experience last night, just a reminder about how many wonderful and interesting people there are in this world.

I stopped off at Fish and Farm, a planned stop after a day of errands and shopping. This restaurant, located in the Mark Twain Hotel on Taylor at O'Farrell has been getting lots of great press about executive chef Chad Newton and his local/artisanal ingredients, including what some have said is possibly the best burger in the city!

I asked to go to the bar and as luck would have it I got the one vacant bar stool in this cozy little space just off the lobby of the hotel. A young women next to me was being served a bottle of Thomas Fogarty syrah. Warm and outgoing, she suggested I try the lamb meatballs with a red cabbage saute and romesco sauce. It was then that I was introduced to Amy and her friend Liz, a country music singer, both from the Plano/Dallas area enjoying a terrific vacation in SF.

It turned out they had dined at Fish and Farm on Thursday, loving the food and making quite an impression on the staff, including chef Newton, who visited their table and prepared some custom dishes. This night, they procured a table in the bar when a gal named Laurie (who turned out to also be from Dallas, knowing many of their favorite restaurants) offered to share her table and I was invited to join.

I loved my meatballs and enjoyed watching the courses start to arrive for Amy and Liz, who told the manager to just surprise them with chef's selections. The frisee salad looked incredible. They were off to Beach Blanket Babylon later that night and possibly brunch at Farmerbrown in the am. To Amy and Liz if you read this, thank you for inviting me to dine with you.

lemon and honey sugar body polish

I am crazy about sugar scrubs, body polishes, etc. but they can be very expensive (think Brown Sugar Body Scrub by Fresh) until my friend Deidre made a batch of sugar scrub a few years ago. I happened to see a similar recipe for it in a C&H ad this holiday and I thought it would make a great stocking stuffer or hostess gift for Christmas.

I made a few changes to the to the recipe and you can certainly use any fragrance essence

you prefer. I used 8oz. low mason jars with simple ribbon and a hang tag that stated what it was. Of course small jars with custom labels and stickers would look great--the possibilities are endless. The best part, your skin really is silky smooth and sugar has long been known for its healing powers. I would not use it on the face. Wipe the tub or shower well after use. It can be really slick.

The recipe:

1 cup white or brown sugar

3/4 cup vegetable oil like canola (no olive oil--too much odor)

1/4 cup honey

4 capsules of vitamin e oil

2 or 3 drops of lemon essential oil (or to your liking)

Stir, and package. Does not need to be refrigerated, but will need a little stir with each use.

Makes 16 oz.

a retro dinner party in la and a visit to rivera restaurant, downtown la

I visited Brendan in LA a couple of weeks ago to celebrate our Christmas since we would not be able to do it over the conventional holiday. (He will be in SF for New Year's Eve.)

Brendan planned a great dinner for six of us and I was only to happy to assist since he is a little out of commission due to recent repair surgery on a damaged elbow. The table was absolutely gorgeous and the menu delicious. We tagged team and it worked out perfectly. Our retro menu began with a classic clam dip and a first course of cream of broccoli soup. Brendan re-created our favorite salad from House of Prime Rib in San Francisco followed by a super moist, herb infused pork tenderloin with roasted fingerling potatoes tossed with Gorgonzola and sauteed baby carrots. Homemade blackberry pie a la mode completed the decadent fare.

The beauty of any party is the interesting mix of guests, some who have never met but through some mysterious chemistry seem to have instant interesting dialog and debate on a variety of topics. (After dinner party questions don't hurt.) In attendance of course was our dear host, Brendan, the driven and consummate entrepreneur-owner of Blink Photo. Tu, the beautiful neighbor with a trail of broken hearts who works in executive placement. Jodina, the loving mother, a voice actor/partner with Jon St. John Productions. Dwayne, the cool intellectual who owns Gathers Strategies, and Jennifer, the actress strong in her beliefs, who owns GuerriLA Theatre in LA, a unique theatre experience performed in private homes. I don't know where I fit into this whole mix except that perhaps I am the keen observer, waiting to see how the whole
thing plays out. On this night no topic was off limits and no opinion to sacred. A great time was had by all.

I can't go to LA without trying out the latest hot restaurant and downtown Los Angeles is the place to find it. We made a Sunday night reservation at Rivera, an upscale Latin eatery on Flower across from the lavender lit trees of the Staples Center.

We started with the tortillas florales with Indian butter, delicate homemade tortillas stamped with edible flowers and the butter, an avocado puree. Another starter not to be missed are the piquillos rellenos stuffed with chorizo, gruyère and golden raisins. Brendan had an entree of banana leaf braised pork shoulder with Peruvian potatoes and I had blue corn tortillas stacked with duck, black beans and goat cheese, smothered in chili rioja sauce. A side of quinoa and spinach complemented both.

Another lovely trip to LA.