Jalapeño Girl

Slow Food Nation Taste Pavilions

Slow Food celebrates "food that is good, clean and fair." These honey samples looked and tasted good. Other foods on offer at Fort Mason today at times took as long as forty five minutes to get. Thankfully, the Native Foods tent had a shorter line, and we gladly tried all three items on offer: bison chili (rich, thick, meaty, clean tasting), hominy, and wild rice cakes with a spicy kick. While I was happy to try something that reminds me of my Dad's Kwakiutl Native American heritage, I also found myself hoping that the cooks there would have a steady stream of customers all day. I had time to mull it over as we sat on hay outside, people watching, eating, drinking and talking.

It's great to have face time with the makers of these foods and drinks, sure. But it would've been a more satisfying event if the lines were not so long and slow.

Lamb Sandwich at Jordan's Restaurant, Claremont Resort

CHEF BROTHER MENTION ALERT!

My brother Josh Ladd is now the Executive Sous Chef at the Claremont Resort. I gave a him a few months to settle in before visiting Jordan's Restaurant. Jordan's is more fancy and elegant than the Paragon, but there is still tasty food and outstanding views. If you are a celeb watcher or Cal sports fan, the chances of spotting someone strolling around the lobby are highly probable.

The lamb sandwich was tender and tasty and I loved the addition of figs to the accompanying salad.

Jordan's currently needs a pastry chef. Whoever's filling in might think of applying.

Share Our Strength NYC events in October

Celebrate Big Apple's Culinary Might, Help End Childhood Hunger

Share Our Strength is excited to announce that it is one of two charities that will benefit from the first Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine and Travel & Leisure. And we knew you'd want all the delicious details.
It runs from Friday, October 9 - Sunday, October 12, primarily in NYC's fashionable Meatpacking District

It brings together global culinary icons and America's most beloved TV personalities.

It's the brainchild of Lee Brian Schrager, who created the wildly successful Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival

50-some sensational events including tastings, demonstrations, book signings, dinners, live interviews, plus special menus at Meatpacking District restaurants...check them out here

Share Our Strength and the Food Bank for New York City will share 100% of all funds raised

An online auction of luxury items including gourmet dinners, rare wines and extravagant travel will run September 15 - October 15-you can make donations through August 27

Look for these and other chefs who have supported Share Our Strength over the years as they host events, and participate in live interviews and TV show tapings, burger competitions, dessert tastings, wine dinners and the Grand Tastings: Alton Brown, David Burke, Tom Colicchio, Todd English, Guy Fieri, Duff Goldman, Rachael Ray and more.

This is simply too grand an event to miss and what better way to help end childhood hunger than with thousands of fellow food-and-wine-loving friends.

Make your plans today!

SF Chocolate Seizure Event on 9/11/08

CHOCOLATE SEIZURE 2008

Chocolate Tasting & Wine Making Event

September 11th, 2008

6:00pm - 8:30pm

Join us in making the first wine in North America designed to pair fantastically with chocolate

Join Us To Create The Ultimate Chocolate Lovers Wine

TasteTV, producer of Chocolate Television and the International & Luxury Chocolate Salons, has teamed with Crushpad to create the very first wine specifically designed to go pair well with chocolate:

CHOCOLATE SEIZURE 2008

The design team for this one of a kind boutique wine consists of TasteTV, Crushpad winemakers, a panel of top artisan chocolatiers and food & wine journalists, and you - the chocolate lovers -- who will jointly decide on the flavor components that should be blended into the first chocolatiers cult wine:

"Domaine de Taste Amerique: Chocolate Seizure 2008."

Chocolatiers include artisans such as:
- Coco Delice
- Jade Chocolates
- Cosmic Chocolate
- Schoggi,
- TCHO
- The TeaRoom Chocolates
- Saratoga Chocolates
- NEWTREE America - Gourmet Belgian Chocolate

The $40 cover price will include panel participation, chocolate & wine tasting, and a reserved bottle of the Limited Edition red wine: Chocolate Seizure 2008.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Litquake Smut tribute event menu and pics

Work Date of Sunday, August 3, 2008

Event Description:    Litquake fundraiser with light refreshments for approximately 200-250 guests. All food to be served at room temp until 10 p.m. or when food runs out. Guests arrive at 7:00 pm, show begins at 8:00pm.

Menu:          Steamy & Saucy BBQ Pork Sliders, Creamy & Sexy Petite Quiches,  Sinful Assorted Cheese and Fruit, Gotta Have It Chocolate Covered Strawberries (dark chocolate with white chocolate drizzles).

Hot Stuff Food Blog Round Up

Crock pot goodness, eggy wonders, and more can be yours on this week's Hot Stuff post over at SFist.