Category Archives: San Francisco Bay Area

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BITE Silicon Valley Grand Tasting Recap

levisThis inauguration Bite Silicon Valley 2015 wasn’t only for foodies + techies get together, but also for a great cause, supporting two outstanding organizations in the Bay Area.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (SHFB) is the trusted leader dedicated to ending local hunger in Silicon Valley. And the 49ers Foundation mission is to ‘Keep Kids Safe, on Track and in School.’

The two days Grand Tasting fill with food, wines, cocktails at the state of the art Levi’s Stadium, the home of the 49ers. There was food_bite_silicon_valleymore than 60 chefs, 30 wineries, liquor, beer, sake, and more; all come together to showcase a dynamic weekend of exceptional bites, cooking demos, and chef collaborations. Bite SV featured the industry’s leading technology experts and celebrity chefs such as including José Andrés, Michael Chiarello, Roy Choi, Dominique Crenn, Michael Mina, and Michael Voltaggio. And it’s in the heart of Silicon Valley at the newest and beautiful stadium, the host of Super Bowl 50, and the first professional football stadium to have achieved LEED Gold certification. Levi’s® Stadium is predicted Bite Silicon Valley 2015 052to be the first Californian pro sports venue to achieve net zero energy performance. There’s no place better to host Bite SV than here.

The two days Grand Tasting with over 700 guests for the first year. The two afternoons that you can get up close and personal with celebrity chefs for the first hour or so, it’s best if you get the VIP ticket so that you can attend the wine seminars. You got to meet your favorites, TV celebrities, Master Top Chefs, you name it, they were there to greet and hand you food. There was no line on both days. There were plenty of food and drinks, floating all day, except a few stations the dishes were gone after 2.5 hours. There is no place else can do a grander epicurean event for foodies + tech together like Bite Silicon Valley.

The best part of the Grand Tasting was that no food gone to waste. Bite Silicon Valley 2015 087The excellent company Feeding Forward made sure all food leftover was to deliver to feed the less fortunate. A social venture using technology to connect those with excess food to feed those in need through their mobile app. According to @FeedingForward, by saving just 5% of food from being wasted, we can feed 4 million people. Did you know that 365 million pounds of edible food are thrown away every day? Feed Forward goal is to eradicate hunger & food waste in America. Their platform enables businesses with excess edible food to fed communities in need, instantly. Please join the movement. Follow them @FeedingForward www.FeedingForward.com.

Thank you www.BiteSV.com and Octagon Culinary for an unforgettable weekend.

Some of the high-tech dishes that fans loved:

  1. Chef José Andrés used Clean Cook Stoves solar to make that tasty tacos  @CookStoves. Many attendees were wow by it, only in Silicon Valley.
  2. Revolutionary Plant-Based Dairy @KiteHillCheese, healthy, nutritious, and sustainable. The truffle Dill & Chive cheese and 2-3dcream cheese options make out of almond milk is perfect for lactose intolerance.
  3. 3DS Culinary, 3D Printing candies booth was a popular attraction for techies here.
  4. Cracker bite by @Nomiku was a big heat with a lot of home cooks and chefs.

3-motoA few of our favorite vegetarian dishes:

  1. Chef Richie Farina, Executive chef at Moto Restaurant in Chicago, Top Chef Texas contestant, with his stunningly beautiful edible garden.
  2. 2-beyondmeat-burger100% plant base meat, burger, and taco @BeyondMeat was a popular choice for vegetarian and vegan alike.
  3. Vegetarian bite by chef Charlie Parker at happening spot in Oakland @HavenOakland, Furikake Cracker, Smoke Goat Cheese, Sweet and Sour Eggplant, Mint.

Some of the tastiest dishes of all:

  1. Bite Silicon Valley 2015 055The Glazed Pork Belly bite by Michelin Starred Chef Peter Armellino @PlumedHorse, it was our favorite dish on Day 2 Grand Tasting.
  2. Txampis “Bar Soriano” by Chef Jeffrey Weiss @JeninniKWB Seared Mushroom and garlic, it was our favorite 3-mushroomdish on Day 3 Grand Tasting. It was so good that brought many foodies back to the line for second or third bite at Sunday’s Grand Tasting.
  3. Since Foie Gras is legalized again in California, it was 3-ateliercrennpopular at BITE SV. Foie Gras Mousse bite elegantly displayed on a nice wood log by Michelin Starred Chef Dominique Crenn @AtelierCrenn, it was gone an hour before the Grand Tasting over.
  4. Delicious & the most aromatic Minced Lamb Sandwich dish @DosaSF.
  5. 3-spoonbarSimply Tasty Chilled Carrot Broth, Fermented Curry, Shallot, Peanut Granola, and Basils by Top Chef finalist Louis Maldonado @SpoonBar in downtown Healdsburg.
  1. Fresh oyster prepared by Chef Yu Min Lin’s signature dressing and Chef Dan Huynh of @TheSEAbyASH of Alexander’s Steakhouse Group was a perfect dish for 95-degree hot afternoon.
  1. 3-bourbonsteakpubLocal Salmon Crudo, Pressed Caviar, Yuzu Kosho, Crème Fraiche was the most photogenic dish by chef Chris Curtis @Chefcurtiss of @BourbonSteakPub a @ChefMichaelMina restaurant.
  1. Duck and Crab Fritter bites packed with flavor by Chef Dinari Brown @CenterPlate @LevisStadium
  2. Smoked Sea Scallop with Drop Biscuit, Bacon Aioli and tomato jam by Chef Parke Ulrich @Waterbar
    Bite Silicon Valley 2015 065
  3. Have you ever tried Foie Gras Macaron? Michelin Starred Chef Dmitry Elperin @TheVillagePubCA undoubtedly delivered this savory bite.

For sweet tooth foodies, there’re plenty desserts and pastries:

  1. 3-slanteddoorFor sweet tooth Chef Charles Phan @charlesphansf  @TheSlantedDoor served Vietnamese Coconut Rice Pudding dish. We have seen chef Charles Phan countless time at many food festivals, recently at the Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival, but he hadn’t prepared any 3-michaelminasfdesserts before. This dessert spoon bite was a real treat.
  2. Perfect chocolate Jasmine, Hibiscus, Strawberry by Chef Matt Siciliano @MattSiciliano of the Michelin Starred @MichaelMinaSF
  3. Delicious chocolate mousse dessert from chef Veronica Aroyo @BourbonSteakPub
  4. 2-iccChocolates and plenty desserts by International Culinary Institute @ICCeduWebsite: BiteSV.com
    Twitter: Twitter.com/bitesv
Chef, Chefs, Culinary Events, San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco Bay Area

THE 8TH ANNUAL PEBBLE BEACH FOOD AND WINE, April 9 – 12, 2015, Pebble Beach, CA

 

PBFW15-logo-horz-bw-2

 

 

 

 

Enjoy 4 days of the decadent in food and wine with an epic epicurean Friday Dinner (25)event, Pebble Beach Food and Wine. One of the country’s premier destinations, bringing together the world’s most revered culinary
talent for 3 nights and 4 days of epicurean excellence.  Attendees are invited to explore the three world-class resorts including The Inn at Spanish Bay, Lodge at Pebble Beach, and Casa Palmero, where more than 100 celebrity chefs and 250 wineries come together to showcase a dynamic weekend of exceptional lunches, dinners, cooking demos, chef collaborations, and expirience the amazing Grand Tastings, featuring the industry’s leading experts and most coveted restaurants in the world. And it’s all surrounded by 1 of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

PBFW_chefs_toasting_fadeAt Pebble Beach Food & Wine, ment’or will present Team USA for a very special evening of intimate dinners and culinary demonstrations as inspired by the prestigious biennial competition. Team USA’s Chef Philip Tessier of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group and his Commis Skylar Stover of The French Laundry in Yountville, CA will design a menu inspired by the “Culinary Olympics” at The Imperial Dinner, the pinnacle of the four-day festival, curating a menu that will highlight what helped the Team win the silver prize at the Bocuse d’Or competition.

Other Pebble Beach Food & Wine event highlights include “An Evening at Maude” as celebrated chef and culinary personality Curtis Stone transports the flavors, aromas, and essence of his first-ever Los Founders -217Angeles restaurant to Pebble Beach; join Master Sommeliers and winemakers for unprecedented wine tastings with Chateau Margaux, Domaine Faiveley, Kosta Browne, and Penfolds Grange. Meat purists will enjoy a whole-animal “Meatopia” marquee event co-produced by Esquire Magazine’s Josh Ozersky while others will get ready for cooking demonstrations with the likes of Iron Chef Jose Garces, Dana Cowin, or Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto as he pays homage to the quintessential comfort food–Ramen 101. Additionally, the Lexus Grand Tasting, an annual favorite, will host one of the greatest lineups of wine and culinary talent since its inception in 2008.

Opening Night Reception

openingThe 8th Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine kicks off on Thursday APR 9 at 6 PM at the famous Inn at Spanish Bay for a night of unbridled indulgence. The Opening Night Reception features delicious bites from from 23 top chefs and tasting of over 200 domestic and international wines

Please Note:  The bulk of this event is reserved for our Weekend Package Ticket Holders; individual tickets are extremely limited.
Get your ticket now!

Wine Seminars

Founders-313-103With 22 dedicated wine seminars over the course of the weekend, Pebble Beach Food and Wine is the perfect place for the true wine connoisseur. Whether you prefer to compare a broad spectrum of wines within a certain varietal, discover the diverse range of wines that one winery can produce, or taste how different the same wine from the same vineyard can be depending on the vintage, Pebble Beach Food and Wine offers the experience you’re looking for. Whatever tasting you visit, you’re assured to be trying the finest wines the world has to offer. A few events with tickets are still available: Get your ticket here!

The Best of Beringer Treasures from the Library –  showcase the Beringer Seminar v.3-01wines of perennial powerhouse Beringer Vineyards, who’ll be pulling from their Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon library to showcase some of the most memorable vintages of the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s.  Known for Cabernets that balance power with finesse, Beringer Vineyards extensive winemaking experience and exceptional vineyard sources result in some of California’s very best bottles.

Champagne Billecart The Epitome of Effervescent Excellence – True Champagne connoisseurs know that the mark of a BILLECART SEMINAR v.8-01great house is excellence across its entire portfolio of bubbles, not just in its most luxurious tête de cuvée blends.  Here at the Eighth Annual Pebble Beach Food & Wine,  showcases the wines of Champagne Billecart, which for many, is the benchmark for effervescent integrity.  Led by Geoffrey Loisel, we’ll taste across the spectrum of sparkling wines made by this Mareuil-sur-Ay house, one of the last that remains family-owned among the Champenoise.  Join us for a truly exceptional afternoon of sparkling magic!

Penfolds and the Pinnacle of Australian Wine – Penfolds celebrates penfoldsa strong winemaking heritage built over 170 years and has become one of Australia’s oldest and most esteemed houses.  While it produces a dizzying array of award-winning wines from a variety of grapes, its reputation is firmly based on powerhouse reds like Grange and St. Henri, where the shiraz grape arguably reaches its New World zenith.   Special featured Penfolds’ Winemaking Ambassador, and long-time friend to Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Mr. DLynn Proctor, as he guides us through an unparalleled tour of Penfolds’ finest.

Rock Stars of Pinot Kosta Browne – For anyone who’s ever dreamed dan_brownebig, the story of Dan Kosta and Michael Browne’s unlikely ascent from waiters to winemakers is particularly inspiring.  Based in Sebastopol, this duo’s phenomenal success with pinot noir has made Kosta Browne an iconic brand in just over a decade’s time.  Highly collectible and hotly coveted, the wines of Kosta Browne will be presented by Dan Kosta in this ‘only at Pebble Beach’ event.

Cooking Demonstrations

Meatopia Dinner v.2a-01Pebble Beach Food and Wine is your opportunity to learn cooking techniques and skills directly from renowned chefs like Curtis Stone, Masaharu Morimoto, Jose Garces and Kevin Gillespie. Each chef will give a demonstration that shows off his or her unique skills, providing you with insights you can use in your own kitchen.

Lunches

Pardon My French - Chef's Table Lunch v.(MARUJO)-01Experience extravagant cuisine in exquisite restaurants with exceptional views of the Pacific coastline and the famed golf courses of Pebble Beach. Celebrity chefs unite to create delectable lunches, each one united around a specific theme. Your wine (or, in the case of the Best of Belgium lunch, beer) will, of course, be perfectly matched to your meal.

Dinners

Dinners at Pebble Beach Food and Wine provide the best in fine dining. Whether your meal showcases “A Taste of The Big Apple” or “Beauties & Their Beasts” you are sure to have the ultimate gastronomic experience.

Lexus Grand Tastings

lexusThe Lexus Grand Tasting Tent at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is the weekend’s most spectacular opportunity for maximum culinary indulgence. With over 300 wines from top-notch producers from around the world to a “who’s who” list of 30 top celebrity chefs, this is your chance to mingle, mix and sip with the very best in the field. As always, there will be opportunities for book signings and photo moments with many of the weekend’s biggest and brightest names, so buy your tickets early as this extravaganza sells out each year. Package Guests get VIP access 30 minutes early.

Happy Hours

After Hours v.1-01At Pebble Beach Food & Wine, the partying continues for our select group of celebrity chefs, winemakers, sommeliers and industry influencers who dance quite literally until dawn.

Please Note:  This is a private, invitation-only event.

Tickets

Mernt'or Dinner v.5-01Major partners for this year’s event will include FOOD & WINE, Lexus, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, as well as more to be announced. Tickets or gift certificates are now available and may be
purchased a la carte or as a weekend package, with prices ranging from $100 to $4,750 for a VIP, all inclusive four-day pass including
Lexus transportation and access to exclusive celebrity chef and winemaker after-hours parties.

Three total weekend packages are available. Tickets can be purchased at: Pebble Beach Food and Wine website.

As some of our proud Northern California famous chefs will be creating special dishes on the Opening Night, dinners, lunches, and the Lexus Grand Tastings, for you with the best sommeliers team; _MG_9363featured chefs Jared Gallagher (Chez TJ), Dmitry Elperin (The Village Pub), Peter Rudolph (Madera Restaurant), Peter Armellino (The Plumed Horse), Matthew Accarrino (SPQR), Justin Cogley (Aubergine at L’Auberge), Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn), Bill Corbett (The Absinthe Group), Lissa Doumani (Terra/Urchin Bistro/Ame), Kelly McCown (Selland Family Restaurants), Charles Phan (Slanted Door Group),  Richard Reddington (REDD), Skylar Stover & Philip Tessier (The French Laundry), William Werner (Craftsman and Wolves), and more. I’m so looking forward to support this great cause epicurean event, as well as meeting these chefs, and industry influencers. There’s so much to learn, to explore, and to be inspired. Don’t forget to harshtag us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook #PBFW @PBFW @DrinkMeMag @DepLifestyleMag and @1MandaBear.


Pebble Beach Food & Wine Hotels

Golf-41Many of the motels and hotels at Pebble Beach are within walking distance or just 10, 15 minutes drive to the Pebble Beach Food & Wine events. Nearby options, search in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove and Monterey also provide easy access to the event with shuttles daily by half an hour or an hour, please check www.PBFW.com website for details. To check for hotels availability here Travelocity.com/Hotels

 

 

Website | Facebook.com | Twitter.com | Instagram

by Manda Bear – Twitter | Instagram


Beauties & their Beasts Dinner v.5-01 Beringer Seminar v.3-01 Cocktails & Cuisine Lunch v.1 (Stacked Logo)-01 Founders -72 Remix-74 Rhone Rising - The Wines of Stephane Ogier Seminar v.3-01 Sweet Triumph - First Growth Royal Takaki Seminar v.2-01

 

Chef, Restaurant, Restaurant Review, San Francisco Bay Area

RN 74 SF, Chef Adam Sobel, San Francisco, CA

People often ask how do I get the passion with food and wine, beside my parents, this chef was my inspiration, the newest chef/partner of RN74 Adam Sobel (from Bradley Ogden, Guy Savoy, Rick Moonen Las Vegas, Charlie Trotter Chicago, then Bourbon Steakhouse in DC).

Finally chef Adam Sobel is here back to the Bay Area where he first started over a decade ago. Chef Sobel is so talented and cooks with a passion, precision and creativity like no other chefs of his age that I know. He is also the winner of GRAND COCHON 2013 in Aspen Food & Wine Classic – he’s now the KING OF PORC.

rn74_foiegrasThanks to the recent law changed in California, we once again get to enjoy Foie Gras. Chef Sodel’s latest dish, Foie Gras Torchon with toasted brioche, garniture de saison, with Perigord black truffles topping; It’s so decadent, so worth it, oh Foie Gras how I missed you so.

Taking its name from the highway, Route Nationale 74, which runs directly through the Burgundy region of France, RN74 is a wine-centric French inspired restaurant. They have the best Burgundy and Champagne list in San Francisco. RN74’s menus are clearly inspired by the wine program; built on a foundation of regional French cuisine, yet market driven with refined, modern American influences. Executive Chef Adam Sobel, recently crowned “King of Porc” at Grand Cochon 555, brings an exciting flair and strong identity to the kitchen of RN74.

RN74 San Francisco
301 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: 415.543.7474

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm
Wine Bar: Mon-Fri 11:30-close // Sat-Sun 5pm-close
Dinner: Sun-Thu 5:30pm-10pm // Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm
RN74 Twitter // Facebook
Chef Adam Sobel Twitter

by Manda Bear – Twitter | Instagram

Chef, Restaurant, Restaurant Review, San Francisco Bay Area

Alexander’s Steakhouse SF, Chef Marc Zimmerman, San Francisco, CA

The best steakhouse in the Bay Area, the Japanese Wagyu meat selection here is unbelievable. They have an amazing wine list, an exquisite cocktails list, and always impeccable service here. Chef Marc Zimmerman, a CIA graduate, staging in a few of the most respected restaurants in New York City – Craft, Le Bernardin, and Café Gray. Later he worked at Lutece, in the Venetian, Nobu Matsuhisa and Takashi Yagihashi. He became part of the opening team for Guy Savoy, also Las Vegas. Then he’s now the executive chef at Alexander’s Steakhouse in San Francisco for the last few years.

alexanderssteakhouse_uni_shortribThe dish that I always get when I’m here is the ‘Braised oxtail marrow toasted brioche, 1000 island, and uni topping it off’, if this mouthwatering dish doesn’t get you fall in love at the first bite, I don’t know what does!

Located in the SOMA district of the city near AT&T Park, Alexander’s Steakhouse is a welcome addition to the city dining scene offering a fine dining interpretation of the classic American steakhouse with hints of Japanese influence throughout the menu. Featuring a variety of classic cuts such as Porterhouse, T-bone and New York, they specialize in Certified Angus Beef grain-fed from the Mid-West.

They also highlight dry-aged steaks and offer the finest and most luxurious products available including a tasting menu by chef Marc Zimmerman and an award winning wine list designed by Sommelier, Johnny Slamon.

ALEXANDER’S STEAKHOUSE SAN FRANCISCO
448 Brannan Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107

Opening Hours:
Monday ~ Thursday: 5:30pm to 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm to 10:00pm
Sunday 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Alexander’s Steakhouse: Twitter // Facebook
Chef Marc Zimmerman Twitter

by Manda Bear – Twitter | Instagram

Chef, Restaurant, Restaurant Review, San Francisco Bay Area

Hakkasan Restaurant, Chef Ho Chee Boon, San Francisco, CA

Hakkasan is beautifully designed, gorgeous spaces, some private dining room for events. This happening Cantonese restaurant offers extensive wine and cocktail list. Hakkasan offers lunch and dinner menu. They are both equally impressive. For lunch, if you think of Dim Sum in China Town, think again. Hakkasan is not your typical Cantonese cuisine restaurant, to say the least. Chef Ho Chee Boon is Hakkasan’s International Executive Chef responsible for new openings and menu development around the world, with a particular focus on creating new dishes for specific locations using the finest local ingredients.

Beside the Dim Sum dishes, you must try the ‘Maine Loster Soup hakkasan_lobster_soupwith enoki mushroom and whiskey’ here, presented beautifully in a baby blue ceramic bowl, the soup is rich in flavor, a little thicker, creamier, and just lingering in your mouth, The lobster is generous and the perfectly cook. This lobster soup is my go to on a cold evening in the city. It’s 1 of the best lobster soups I’ve ever tried.

Don’t forget to say hello to the General Manager Charles Chen,  he’s 1 of the many reasons why this Hakkasan San Fancisco has become such a hot spot in town.

Hakkasan San Francisco overlooks the bustling Market and Geary Streets, and benefits from natural light during the day and softly-lit hand-blown glass pendants at night, with an impressive bronze V-shaped bar as the restaurant’s centre piece.

Featuring two private dining rooms, the menu includes Hakkasan  signature dishes as well as an extensive  tea menu and innovative cocktails made with hand-pressed juices.

Hakkasan San Francisco is open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner, with extended brunch hours on Saturdays.

HAKKASAN
1 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 829-8148
11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 – 11:00 pm
Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30am – 2:30pm
Bar5: Monday – Saturday 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Dinner: Monday – Wednesday 5:00pm – 10:00pm //
Thursday – Saturday 5:00pm – 11:00pm

Twitter // Facebook

by Manda Bear – Twitter | Instagram

Chef, Chefs, Restaurant, Restaurant Review, San Francisco Bay Area

Coqueta Restaurant, chef Michael Chiarello, San Francisco, CA

Home of the hottest tapas spot by the water Coqueta of Napa Valley celeb chef Michael Chiarello. On a beautiful afternoon, you can sit at the bar and get this waterfront view, watch the bartender makes awesome cocktails and sampling on the delicious menu of tapas and pintxos, bite-size skewers $2.50 each, a must try, perfect as a quick bite or just to catch up with your friends over happy hour.

House cured boquerones, white anchovies, olives, pearl onions, and coquetta_pintxoguidilla peppers was my favorite. Chorizo, roasted artichokes, and piquillo peppers, was equally impressive. Serrano, house cured, Mancheco, and apricot-sherry conserva was also very good. And the Quail egg “Diablo”, pickled mustard seed, Jamon Serrano; you must order it, who doesn’t love quail egg and Jamon Serrano?

Coqueta means “flirt” or “infatuation” in Spanish, and represents Michael Chiarello and his team’s exploration and interpretation of Spanish Cuisine, wine and inspired cocktails, while highlighting the bounty of Northern California.

COQUETA
Pier 5, The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.704.8866

Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30am – 3:00pm
Bar5: Monday – Sunday 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Dinner: Sunday – Wednesday 5:00pm – 10:00pm //
Thursday – Saturday 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Twitter // Facebook 

by Manda Bear – Twitter | Instagram

Chef, Chefs, Restaurant, Restaurant Review, San Francisco Bay Area

Mourad, Chef Lahlou Mourad, San Francisco, CA

Mourad opens recently in the Fidi, it’s 1 of the hottest restaurant and bar in town. Chef Lahlou, is the owner of the 1 Michelin-starred Aziza in the Richmond, started with this new concept, Moroccan and Californian style, led by chef de cuisine Chris Kajioka (Aziza, Per Se and Hawaii’s Vintage Cave, where he was nominated for James Beard Award Rising Star in Hawaii).

I got to try a few dishes and this ‘Duck Liver with Pistachio, Cocoa, mouradsf_duck_liverTurnip and Satsuma’ was the most memorable dish of all. The dish presented beautifully with edible flowers, colorful, and elegant. On the very first bite, it was smooth, velvety in your mouth, full of flavor and simply amazing.

Mourad takes the culinary resources of the Bay Area and views them through a Moroccan lens. Influenced by traditional ingredients and flavors yet presented with modern technique, a new cuisine has been born which is simultaneously classic and contemporary.

Located at 140 New Montgomery, in the newly renovated PacBell Building, Mourad graciously features authentic Moroccan design in modern interpretation, being in perfect harmony with the cuisine.

Mourad
140 New Montgomery Street, Suite 1
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: 1-415-660-2500

Operation Hours
Monday to Sunday 5:30–10pm
Twitter // Facebook 

by Manda Bear – Twitter | Instagram

Chef, Restaurant, Restaurant Review, San Francisco Bay Area

Cadence Restaurant, Chef Joey Elenterio, San Francisco, California

    Jay Bordeleau, proprietor of Lower Haight cocktail bar and chef_joey_elenterio2restaurant Maven, has announced plans for his next endeavor: Cadence, a 90-seat restaurant and bar located in the rapidly developing mid-Market neighborhood, slated to open this summer at 1446 Market Street (at Polk).

To help realize his vision of Cadence, Bordeleau successfully recruited some heavyweight talent as his business partners in food and beverage, including highly accomplished chef Joey Elenterio, who most recently served as executive chef of Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern.  Named a San Francisco Chronicle Rising Star in 2012, Elenterio also served as executive chef of Chez TJ, where he earned a Michelin star; he can lay chef_joey_elenterio3claim to the title of youngest American Michelin star chef in 2011/2012.

We got to try chef Joey Elenterio food many times since his day at Chez TJ, then Wayfare Tavern just last year. We love what this young chef is having in store for us with his talented skills in the kitchen. This over 6 ft tall, handsome, and humble chef surely will make Cadence a restaurant to watch in this Summer 2015.

chef_joey_elenterio4    On the cocktail front, Maven bar director/partner Kate Bolton will lead beverage operations and deliver a compelling lineup of culinary-driven craft cocktails, with an emphasis on market-driven libations that utilize fresh ingredients from Cadence’s kitchen.

The concept is progressive American, with a tightly focused menu that reflects Elenterio’s relentless commitment to using the very best ingredients and working with purveyors of the highest integrity.

chef_joey_elenterio    Cadence will be adjacent to Bordeleau’s forthcoming live jazz fueled, spirit-forward cocktail bar Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio, which will be located at 39 Fell Street and 1446 Market.

Cadence Restaurant
1446 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.cadencesf.com Twitter @CadenceSF
Executive Chef Joey Elenterio – Twitter @JElenterio  
Bar director/partner Kate Bolton

by Manda Bear @1MandaBear

Chef, Restaurant, San Francisco Bay Area, Wine Country Bay Area

El Dorado Kitchen at El Dorado Hotel, Sonoma, CA

After a long day wine tasting in Sonoma County, we were eldorado1starving and ready to eat  our heart out. El Dorado Kitchen comes to our rescue. Knowing chef Armando Navarro from REDD in Napa, and I was excited to see what he was about to serve us.

El Dorado Kitchen is located in the El Dorado Hotel, it’s such a cute place, open kitchen, a 21-foot-long table fashioned from a single wood plank reclaimed from a Vermont bridge, lots of eldorado3windows for sun light, white trim, fresh flowers, something about this place is so romantic to me. Well, I was in the company of 2 other hot foodies/good friends 🙂

El Dorado Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. We were here for a dinner feast, and I wasn’t kidding.eldorado4

– Kusshi, South Puget Sound, Baywater Sweet oysters – a dozen of freshness!

– Ahi Tuna Tartare – Soy vinaigrette, wonton chips, asian pear, avocado, wasabi tobiko, micro cilantro – tasty, generous portion.

– Roasted Young Beets – Goat cheese mousse, orange, watercress, pistachio meringue – perfect for a warm summer night in Sonoma.
eldorado6
– Steamed Mussels – Chorizo, chickpeas, garlic, white wine broth, country croutons – the mussels weren’t plumed, but the broth was perfect for crouton dipping. It soaked up the broth and it was so good!

– The Truffles fries – oh goodness, gracious, this order is BIGGER than my head! However, it was perfect for dipping to the mussels broth!

– Chilled Corn Soup – Corn & shrimp salsa, chili oil, brioche crouton – it was nice and smooth, love.eldorado5

– Pork Belly – cherry tomato, pickled ramps, jalapeño vinaigrette – this was a SPECIAL order, since I’m allergic to watermelon, chef changed up the recipe. I love pork belly and this is why I work out regularly, so I can indulge this kind of goodness!

– Dungeness Crab Cake – Heirloom tomato gazpacho, avocado, sweet 100 tomatoes, pea shoots – fresh and sweet, beautiful plating.

– Housemade Ricotta & Lemon Ravioli – Roasted artichokes, asparagus, rutabaga, parmesan, guazzetto – delicious.

– Pork and ahi tuna tacos, special order from chef Armando Navarro – thank you for this – they offer on the bar menu.

eldoado5DESSERTS:

– Vanilla Tapioca – Peach, rhubarb gel, brioche, raspberry sorbet

– Baked Chocolate Mousse – Chocolate shortbread crumble, crème fraîche froth, mint chocolate chip ice cream

– Cherry Crisp – Lemon curd, streusel, cream cheese sorbet

For the wine list, El Dorado Kitchen carries almost 170 wines by the bottles and 30 by the glasses, majority Sonoma County, Napa, and decent choices of French wines, I’m impressed. I love that how all the local wines are small mark up, that was exactly what we did, ordered Sonoma wines.

Service was good, the food was so reasonably price point, GENEROUS PORTIONS, so we obviously over ordered ourselves. Thank you chef Armando for the extra love and changed the recipe because I was allergic to the watermelon.

eldorado2           During our dinner, there was a black out in Sonoma Square, the restaurant kept calm, and continue to serve us in extra candle lights, just about 5 minutes later, the light was back on, and everything was as smooth as nothing had happened.

My 2 girlfriends and I couldn’t even move by the time we finished the dinner. We are full, satisfied, and happy. I love it here and I can’t wait to bring more friends and family back here soon.

Follow chef on IG: http://instagram.com/chef_g_navarro

El Dorado Kitchen
www.EldoradoSonoma.com
405 1st St W,
Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 996-3030

by Manda Bear – @1MandaBear