Tag Archives: food

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 – TwitterInstagram

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 – TwitterInstagram

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 – TwitterInstagram

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 – TwitterInstagram

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

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

Zenshin, Chef Chris Recaido, at South Point Hotel, Las Vegas

I’ve followed Chef CHRIS RECAIDO on Instagram for sometimes
now www.Instagram/C_REC, have dined at his former place SENSEI sushi inside the Marriott Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii before. I told myself, I will visit him at Zenshin Asian Restaurant at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas at some point. zenshin5

I come to Vegas average 6 times a year, some trip like the CES one last month, I stayed for 8 days, I finally got to visit Chef Chris Ricaido. All I can say is WOW, I’m impressed.

If you look at their website, nowhere zenshin6mentioned his name besides the owner and the executive chef, or that their website is a bit dated, they even misspell the grape varietal. However, be sure to call in advance, to make sure chef Chris is in, you will be in for a real treat.

Zenshin Asian zenshin8Restaurant is spacious, you don’t have that feel of a cozy Japanese restaurant. It’s big and almost feels as you walk into a cafeteria. However, the oval sushi bar, makes it perfect for foodies, you can watch to chef and cooks do all their magic in front of you. Don’t let the look and feel of Zenshin discourage you.

Their HAPPY HOUR is amazing, such a great deal on cocktails and not-so-small-bites:zenshin1

– Strawberry Bangkok

– Rising Sun

– Beers & wine

– Hamachi Kama – Grilled Yellowtail Collar & Ponzu Sauce, the zenshin4CHEAPEST in Las Vegas! Order it!

– Teriyaki Beef Sliders or Soft Shell Crab Cake Sliders

– Karaage Chicken

Now the regular menu:

– Jalapeno Yellowtail – Hamachi, Jalapeno, Shiso, Tobiko & Truffle Ponzu – order this!

– Sizzlin’ Tuna – Sizzled with Grape Seed Oil, Ginger, Chives & Truffled Soy – delishzenshin3

– Teriyaki Beef – Marinated in Soy, Ginger, Garlic & Simply Grilled, simply falvorful.

– Uni with caviar, toro, tai, hamachi were all fresh and high-quality fish.

– Cucumber roll with tuna, hamachi, salmon was so delicious, fresh, and it was my FAV roll, off-the-menu, but if you request on a weekday, chef will do it for you.

zenshin2    I have met many chefs via Instagram and Twitter, Chef Chris Ricaido is 1 of the most genuine chefs, he’s humble, kind, young and very cute too!  And I probably enjoy his company a lot more because he’s from Hawaii where my half broski was born and raised, what not to love about him 🙂

zenshin9   Service was very attentive, the price point is so reasonable compared to everything on the main strip or San Francisco Bay Area. This is why I love to come to Vegas for food. TRUST ME, take a short cab drive to the South Point Hotel to check out Zenshin, it’s a perfect sushi spot for a big group or for family on budget.

Follow chef Chris Ricaido and you will see: www.Instagram/C_REC

Zenshin Restaurant
www.southpointcasino.com
9777 S Las Vegas Blvd,
Las Vegas, NV 89183
(702) 797-8538

by Manda Bear – @1MandaBear

Dining with Flynn, Chef Flynn McGarry, Eureka,

Chef Flynn McGarry was cooking at the age of 10, seriously, in his kitchen/bedroom. He’s now 16 years old, offers EUREKA – Los Angeles, a pop up  monthly to serve his fans. Chef Flynn continues to create tasting menus for EUREKA with pop ups in New York and

FlynnMcGarryrecently with summer pop ups in DTLA. And the latest one was at the Michelin Starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco where I got lucky to score a reservation in late January 2015.

This prodigy young and talented chef had been self taught and his unifirst cook book was The French Laundry, yes, true story. Flynn has been staged at 3 Michelin Star Alinea in Chicago with chef Grant Achatz, as well as Eleven Madison Park in New York City with chef Daniel Humm, and work a long side of many talented chefs in Los Angeles.

I have been following him a little while and was so impressed with his discipline, dedication, love and passion for cooking, it’s just simply unbelievable.

steakWhen I was 12-16, I was a typical teenager running around school doing our teenager things! Look at this young bright chef-in-the-making.

He was on Time magazine’s 25 most influential teens list and his EUREKA pop up appeared on Zagat’s 30 under 30 Los Angeles 2014 list.

He has been on so many major magazines around the country as well as cooked on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
TODAY show with Chef Daniel Boulud, and was featured on NBC sunchokeNightly News.

For $160 tax and tips inclusive, for the dinner pop up, he served us 14 dishes, progressive new American cuisine. The ingredients he offers is high quality; the technique is truly Michelin Star style.

– Foie Gras
– Egg Yolk cured and gel with saffron, raw squash, yellow beet
– Razor clam
– Lobster roll – delicious
– Uni – brined in sea water with carrot and coffee was delicious and unusual pairing.
– Kohlrabi – confit in cheese fat was so good.
– pumpkin – roasted with mulling spices, bacon, Apple cider
– Sunchokes – pistachio, pear, barigoule – this was so tasty.
– Passmore Ranch sturgeon – grilled in cabbage leaves w/ cauliflower, ham hock, cabbage and sturgeon roulade.
– 21 days aged beet – bordelaise, wilted greens – interesting taste, fascinating flavor.
– Yorkshire pudding – I got to ask for more
– Belcampo Farms ribeye – grilled over Japanese charcoal with celery root, chicories, preserved lemon, amaranth – wish it was a bigger bite! Love the aromatic charred.
– Pistachio, frozen yogurt, cake, white chocolate, Meyer lemon.
– Coffe and parsnip
– Mignardises

Passmore-Ranch-TurbotService by the staff at Atelier Crenn was excellent.

Chef was working hard in the kitchen. He made sure every single dish left the kitchen was perfect. I got to chat with him for a bit. He was a little shy, skinny, and tall with handsome blonde hair. My girlfriends were teasing, we got to wait 2 more years till he turns 18, seriously.

Flynn-BearIt was a memorable meal, keep in mind he’s barely 16 years old. With this rate going, I’m not surprise he’s going to own his restaurant in a few years, and will be the youngest Michelin Star chef ever, in-the-making. I say 5 years from now!

Follow him on IG:  www.Instagram.com/DiningwithFlynn
Follow him on Twitter: www.Twittercom/DiningwithFlynn

by Manda Bear – @1MandaBear

Bardot Brasserie by Michael Mina at Aria Hotel, Las Vegas

Chef Michael Mina’s newest concept celebrates a renaissance of French technique

262b1314-67fb-4cc1-9fac-da71ad2a72bbBARDOT Brasserie, Las Vegas’ debut French concept from James Beard award-winning chef Michael Mina, is now open for dinner and weekend brunch at ARIA Resort & Casino. Paying homage to the skillful culinary techniques, celebrated libations and sexy atmosphere for which The City of Light is renowned, Chef Mina has created a stylish and unforgettable interpretation of a Parisian brasserie in the center of The Strip.
Le Menu
To create BARDOT’s menu, Chef Mina and Executive Chef Joshua Smith merged their travels to Paris with exceptional culinary techniques to develop an array of imaginative dishes.

  • Inspired Cuisine – Chef Mina pays homage to classic French cuisine presenting an exquisite array of signature dishes that celebrate the iconic café culture of Paris. Traditional Onion Soup Gratinée is a gourmet masterpiece that guests can customize with Perigord truffles, braised oxtail and a soft-poached egg; while wings offer an ode to the traditional Duck À L’Orange dish. BARDOT’s version of a Croque Madame is piled high with Paris Ham and Gruyére Fondue then topped with an over-easy organic egg.
  • FullSizeRender (1)Seafood Selections – BARDOT’s extensive seafood menu includes exotic dishes such as Monkfish Bourride, Sautéed Skate Wing and Yellowfin Tuna Niçoise, in addition to a seafood tower that guests can personalize with lobster, king crab, oysters, clams and shrimp.
  • Steak Frites – BARDOT offers the highest quality cuts of beef c369097a-e1d5-4541-abb0-a5ea8a3750c2cooked over an oak wood and charcoal grill. The restaurant’s Steak Frites is a perfect dish for French food aficionados and novices alike featuring an 8 oz. Flat Iron, 12 oz. Ribeye or 8 oz. Filet, which can be accompanied by béarnaise, au poivre, bordelaise or foie gras butter. Pair the dish with simply sinful beef fat fries and bon appétit!
  • Decadent Desserts – For dessert, Chefs Mina and Smith took the traditional French Macaron and cooked up a large-scale presentation of the ultra-decadent sweet, drizzled with chocolate sauce. Lemon fans will swoon over BARDOT’s Lemon Meringue Tart, prepared with market citrus and fresh berries, while lovers of the classic French desserts will marvel at the Mille Fueille, a caramelized puff pastry with vanilla crème patisserie.

Les Boissons
IMG_0029ARIA’s Mixologist Craig Schoettler, Wine Director Kim Wood and Mina Group’s Director of Cocktails Carlo Splendorini salute French drinking tradition with an inventive beverage menu that cannot be experienced elsewhere.

  • Finest Wines – Wood curated one of the most extensive by-the-glass programs, as well as the largest selection of French wines in Las Vegas at BARDOT, highlighting the finest small production and rare vintages from across the globe. Additionally, BARDOT will be one of the only restaurants in the country offering wines by the houses of Couly-Dutheil, Patrick Piuze and Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve, regarded as some of the finest in France.
  • Innovative Cocktails – The restaurant’s cocktail program 1B9A8C54-E3B7-461C-B65F-0614DAE6390Bcombines the best of French culture and Las Vegas style. Signature sips include And God Created Women, a satisfying layering of French spirits and egg whites; and the Voltaire, a cider-based cocktail that dazzles the senses with baked apple bitters and housemade ginger syrup.
  • Eclectic Brews – Beer enthusiasts will be delighted by more than 80 international hard-to-find varieties such as Germany’s Kulmbacher, Belgium’s N’ice Chouffe and France’s Jade Organic. BARDOT also boasts its own exclusive craft beer, Hors D’âge, brewed in Northern France in collaboration with Stillwater Artisanal Ales.
  • Historic Spirits – Schoettler scoured the beverage world to garner BARDOT Brasserie’s impressive collection of historic spirits, including cognacs dating back to 1811 and Las Vegas’ largest selection of Chartreuse, the legendary French liqueur distilled by Carthusian Monks.

L’atmosphére
ee1ce84a-b8b8-4547-898c-1a5b62c40417Created by Bishop Pass Interior Architectural Design Studio, BARDOT’s space exudes a dark and sexy, almost enigmatic atmosphere.

  • Big Brass Bar – A vibrant location for mingling with friends or grabbing a cocktail, BARDOT’s bar will catch visitors’ attention the minute they walk inside. Perched high above the zinc countertop is a maze of brass pipes connecting to form shelves for the venue’s high-end spirits and alcohol.
  • Chic Dining Room – BARDOT’s main dining room offers a traditional yet luxurious dining space. Walls of black lacquer are paneled with gold pen striping, surrounding a series of Parisian columns. Burgundy leather booths and bistro-style tables spread across a pristine marble floor, where guests can sneak a peek inside the restaurant’s show kitchen as they watch their meals come to life.
  • C2B43A10-F3A0-4AA8-B6E8-FDBE62EEB4B1Sidewalk Café – A nod to Parisian sidewalk cafes, BARDOT features intimate seating outside of the restaurant for an entertaining dining and people-watching experience. Situated in the courtyard overlooking ARIA’s second-floor promenade, the locale’s French-inspired storefront and high windows transport guests to a 20th century literary café in Paris.

BARDOT Brasserie is located on the second floor of ARIA. The restaurant’s hours of operation are:

  • Dinner daily from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  • Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
  • Nightly happy hour from 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the bar and in the lounge

For reservations or for more information call 877.230.2742 or visit www.ARIA.com.  Follow BARDOT on Twitter and Instagram at @Bardot_LV.

Welcome to Dep Lifestyle Magazine.

Dep Lifestyle Magazine features beautiful lifestyle, food, wine, restaurants, chefs, culinary events, charity events, and in English & in Vietnamese at www.VietPressUSA.com.

Locations:  Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and more cities to come… Coming soon in winter 2015.