Jalapeño Girl

Wine.Dine.Donate SF benefit on July 30

Not sure I'll be attending, but this sounds like a worthwhile cause. If you've got the coin.

--Help Feed Thousands By Attending Epicurious.com's Special Farm-To-Table Event--

Join Tanya Steel, editor-in-chief of Epicurious.com, celebrated chefs, and select local farmers and purveyors for an evening of fine wine, delicious farm-fresh creations, and the company of your fellow foodies. Your ticket price will help feed the hungry as proceeds from these events benefit America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest network of food banks.

Wednesday, July 30th
ACME Chophouse with Chef Traci Des Jardins and Citizen Cake's Elizabeth Falkner

Address: 24 Willie Mays Plaza
Time: 6:15 reception, 7:15 dinner
Price: $125

Go to Epicurious.com for more information and to buy tickets

Party Time: Meatpaper & Gastronomica present...

Meatpaper and Gastronomica, two independent-minded magazines exploring the intersections of food and culture, invite you to celebrate the publication of their summer issues with a lively evening of artistic food and food-centric art at Perbacco Restaurant in downtown San Francisco. This event will feature tastings from local chefs, as well as cocktails, an art exhibition, and live music.

WHEN:
Sunday, July 20th
6pm to 9pm

WHERE:
Perbacco Restaurant
230 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
tel: 415-955-0663

TICKETS:
$25 per person, may be purchased online via credit card or PayPal.
A limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.

FEATURED SPONSORS:
Chef Staffan Terje (Perbacco)
Chef Leif Hedendal
Chef Chris Kronner (Serpentine & Slow Club)
Chef Scott Youkilis (Maverick)
The Fatted Calf
Prather Ranch Meat Co.
Verge Syrah
La Fee Absinthe
Rhum Clement
Bluecoat Gin
Trumer Pils
and more

PHOTOGRAPHY BY:
Charlie Grosso

MUSIC:
Gaucho

ABOUT MEATPAPER:
Founded in 2007, Meatpaper is a quarterly print journal focused on art and ideas about meat. Inspired by the current "fleischgeist" that is sweeping the country, Meatpaper publishes lush visuals, provocative articles, and timely reporting. Neither pro nor con, Meatpaper's ambidextrous approach and innovative style have generated international press.
www.meatpaper.com

ABOUT GASTRONOMICA:
Since 2001 Gastronomica has been feeding readers' sensual and intellectual appetites by offering food-focused scholarship, fiction, poetry, humor, and exciting visual imagery. With its diverse voices and eclectic mix of articles, Gastronomica provokes discussion and encourages thoughtful reflection on the history, literature, representation, and cultural impact of food.
www.gastronomica.org

Forward this to a friend

illustration by Marco Marella © 2008

 

Hot Stuff Food Section Round Up

Grilling and other noshes on this week's food section round up on SFist.

Asian Fusion Feast with author Min Jin Lee

I would attend this one if it weren't our wedding anniversary....

Special Event: An Asian Fusion Feast with the Author Min Jin Lee ($95)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 6:30 PM
Ponzu Restaurant, 401 Taylor Street, San Francisco, 94102

Naomi Epel Presents

Cosponsored by American Institute of Wine & Food
and Asia Society of Northern California
Min Jin Lee
(author of Free Food For Millionaires)
and an Asian Fusion Feast

April 30 • 6:30 pm • $95 per person/ $175 per couple (AIWF & Asia Society members receive a discounted rate of $90 per person or $170 per couple)
Includes an autographed book, tax, tip, & house wine. Feel free to bring your own wine, too--there will be no corkage fee.

Location: Ponzu Restaurant, 401 Taylor Street, San Francisco, 94102

For tickets: call 415-927-0960, ext. 239,
or click on the order button below.
 

Join us for an Asian fusion feast honoring Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food For Millionaires. With a sharp eye and articulate voice, Min Jin Lee deftly introduces a memorable cast of characters that are as colorful as they are troubled and as complex as they are familiar. “After 20 years as a literary escort, I find Min Jin Lee to be one of the novelists I most admire.” Naomi Epel, author of The Observation Deck and Writers Dreaming.

*****
Menu:
Small plates to share…      

Pajeon
Egg Pancake with Green Onions, Manila Clams, Soy Vinegar Dipping Sauce

      

Galbi
Pork Spareribs with Gochujang Glaze and Toasted Sesame

      

Bimbap
Ahi Tuna, Pickled Daikon and Bean Sprouts in Rice Rolls

      

Yukhoe
Beef Tartare with Soy, Sugar, Sesame, Green Onion, Topped with Quail Egg Yolk

      

Large Plates to Share…
Served with Kimchee Fried Rice

      

Jajangmeyon
Noodles in Spicy Black Bean Sauce with Seasonal Vegetables

      

Jeongol
Spicy Seafood Stew with Eggplant and Straw Mushrooms

      

Bulgogi
Flank Steak Marinated in Chlli with Wilted Mustard and Pickled Bean Sprouts

    

Accompanied by Chef’s Selection of Dessert Coffee, Tea, and House Wine

   

No corkage if you’d like to bring your own wine!

Taste of the Nation next Sunday

Taste of the Nation

Experience the Premier Culinary Event

Taste of the Nation San Francisco
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Acme Chophouse
24 Willie Mays Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94107

Buy your ticket to the hottest food and wine event of 2008 and help fight hunger at the same time.

Share Our Strength remains one of my favorite charities because they have great food events and are fiscally responsible. I am volunteering the day of the event, and have been on the event committee in past years. Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation^® presented by American Express is the nation's largest and finest culinary benefit, featuring top chefs and mixologists -- all of whom will come together this spring to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America. Get your tickets here.

Iron Chef Michael Symon will be joined by three competitors from Food Network’s “The Next Iron Chef”, including Gavin Kaysen (NYC's Café Boulud), as well as San Francisco’s own Chris Cosentino (Incanto/Boccalone) and Traci Des Jardins (Jardinière/Acme Chophouse/ Mijita). Finishing with the dessert course again this year is Elizabeth Falkner of Citizen Cake fame and soon-to-open Orson.

Min Jin Lee appears in San Francisco

Naomi Epel Invites You To
 An Asian Fusion Feast
with Author Min Jin Lee

 Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 6:30 pm
Ponzu Restaurant, 401 Taylor Street, San Francisco

Order Tickets Now!

Join us for an Asian fusion feast honoring Min Jin Lee, author of Free Food For Millionaires. With a sharp eye and articulate voice, Min Jin Lee deftly introduces a memorable cast of characters that are as colorful as they are troubled and as complex as they are familiar. “After 20 years as a literary escort, I find Min Jin Lee to be one of the novelists I most admire.” Naomi Epel, author of The Observation Deck and Writers Dreaming.

"I read a terrific debut novel this week. It’s always heartening to find a good new writer, but what’s especially delightful about Min Jin Lee and her new novel, called Free Food For Millionaires, is that she’s taken up the expansive form of the nineteenth century novel and its concerns about money, marriage, and duty, to create a kind of Korean-American riff on all those sagas, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Middlemarch, where the principled heroine sometimes behaves like a downright fool.” – Maureen Corrigan, NPR FRESH AIR

“Top 10 Books of 2007” - USA TODAY
“Year’s Best Books” - NPR’s FRESH AIR
“Favorite Fiction of 2007” - CHICAGO TRIBUNE
“Favorite Books of the Year” - CHICAGO SUN TIMES
“Notable Books of 2007” - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
“Best Novels of the Year” and “The Times Christmas Choice” - THE TIMES (London)

When:
6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Where:
Ponzu Restaurant
401 Taylor Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Cost:
$95 per person or $175 per couple
AIWF & Asia Society members receive a discounted rate of $90 per person or $170 per couple
(includes tax, tip & an autographed copy of Free Food For Millionaires)

Sign up online here,
or call Book Passage at 415-927-0960, x1.

Ponzu Restaurant:
(415) 775-7979
www.ponzurestaurant.com

E&O Trading Company hosts Anthony Bourdain

Bourdain fans did not seem disappointed at last night's Anthony Bourdain dinner event. He had the dish on fatherhood, vegetarians, Rachael Ray, and how he met his wife ("It was a blind date.... I was lonely and wanted someone to hang out and have sex with.") Meanwhile, the guest chefs didn't play it safe -- perhaps a given, considering Bourdain's taste for exotica. Highlights included deep fried honeycomb tripe (guess who? Chef Chris Cosentino), hot and sour braised short ribs, whole roasted stuffed pig trotter, pictured below, and a cheese dessert item with just enough specks of vanilla.

Ample booze from wineries and St. George Spirits meant voices became more boisterous and faces reddened as the night went on. The tablehopper won a Last Supper ("my favorite game with my friends!") book door prize from Naomi Epel Events, and KGO producer Joel Riddell and Robert Moon told me their pal Gene Burns was home making pumpkin cheesecake, yum! Guests were a blend of interesting food and wine loving people from all over the Bay Area, and folks seemed friendly and genuinely happy to share a good meal while sharing views on world affairs, cuisine, sex, and everything in between. We ran into media & PR types, saw chefs, met two adorable students who splurged by putting the expense on a credit card. That's spending I totally dig.

Menu
King salmon - Serrano peppers, Kaiware sprouts, Meyer lemon ponzu

Green Papaya Rainbow Salad ("better than King of Thai's!" proclaimed Oscar) - Kaffir lime Nuoc Mam dressing, pomelo, green mangoes, toybox tomatoes

Prawn Rendang - Kauai prawns, spicy coconut kaffir lime sauce

Shanghainese red cooked pork belly - jasmine rice "jook"

Hot and sour braised short ribs - aromatic broth, chilis, mustard greens

Whole roasted stuffed pig trotter - savoy cabbage, mustard

Long life braised E-Fu noodles - conpoy, Dungeness crab, straw mushrooms, Chinese chives

Celebration rice - steamed jasmine rice, aromatic spices, fresh turmeric

Fresh market vegetables - stir fried nonya style

Desserts - lemongrass chocolate lollipops, grapefruit foam, truffles, and faux pork belly made of yams.

Featured Chefs were Sharon Nahm of E&O Trading Company, Alex Ong of Betelnut, Chris Cosentino of Incanto, Tim Luym of Poleng Lounge, and Boris Portnoy of Campton Place.

CHOW's Cocktail Square Off Finals September 25th

There's a fun cocktail event coming up at the Ferry Building in San Francisco on September 25, presented by the folks at CHOW. Tickets are $10 each and can be had here.

Description:

VOTE http://www.chow.com/contests/squareoff/entries

PARTY $10/person - Iron Chef-style finals including competition cocktails + food from Bacar. Cocktail aficionados around the country eagerly await the inaugural Square Off cocktail competition co-hosted by CHOW.com and Om Organics this fall. On September 25th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, two of the nations foremost cocktailians will vie to create the most delicious culinary cocktail from seasonal, organic ingredients. After the bustle of CUESA's famed Tuesday Farmers Market, one avid amateur mixologist and one top professional bartender will square off in a contest of individual mixing talent and vision  and a tribute to the country's flourishing interest in sustainability and organic culinary drinks culture.

CHOW has selected Square One Organic Vodka as the featured spirit for its Square Off. It invites amateur and professional liquid chefs to submit their recipes on CHOW.com using Square One and other organic ingredients. A stellar panel of judges from the spirits world will single out the most mouthwatering concoctions. The two contenders will then come to San Francisco for a showdown before a fervent public audience and an expert committee of food and wine authorities. The contestants first challenge will be to create an original recipe for a pitcher cocktail using Square One Organic Vodka and at least 75% organic ingredients. They will send in this recipe to CHOW.com and the two chosen cocktails will be served at the event and judged by both the panel and the gathered audience in a peoples choice category.

For the actual Square Off, two additional cocktails will be created onsite: 1) a cocktail using ingredients culled from the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building that day; and 2) a cocktail based on a mystery seasonal, organic ingredient  to be picked by the judges on that day from the Farmers Market. The judges verdicts on these three drinks will determine the winner. The Square Offs five-person judging panel will feature prominent food and drinks writers, renowned trade figures and one lucky consumer (to be chosen locally). In addition, as part of an ongoing effort to forge ties with likeminded companies within the eco community, the competition will bring together an exciting mix of innovators from the green space and beyond. Ticket proceeds from the final event will benefit the non-profit groups Om Organics and CUESA and their mission to promote organic and local foods. CHOW will also make a further announcement on judges and sponsors later in the summer.

For more information, please visit: http://www.chow.com/contests/squareoff http://www.squareonevodka.com http://www.omorganics.org

The Bubble Lounge's Small Plates

Menu Pages readers, welcome.

Earlier tonight, I tucked in to some good grub at The Bubble Lounge. The Chef's name is Brian Konopka ("Little Sandwich" in Polish) and he hails from NYC.

Le Menu
Filo crusted Hearts of Palm with Prosciutto and Parmesan

Duo of Hamachi tartare with caviar and smoked salmon with crispy vegetables

Grilled Brie and smoked duck breast with fig jam-my fave

Caramelized banana and Tahitian vanilla creme brulee

Dark chocolate mousse with white chocolate whipped cream

Warm apple and walnut Napolean with caramel ice cream

Champagne chocolate truffles with Champagne and Grand Marnier-wonderful cinnamon notes here!

Champagnes by Gardet
Premier Cru Rose, 2001
Vintage Brut, 1999
Millesime Rose, 2000
Brut, NV

I'm off to Lake Tahoe to cater tomorrow. Hope no bears attack while I'm there! 

Cooling Down in Vegas

This mint-lime-soda concoction is from the Border Grill, at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It was cool, refreshing and purrr-fect for this weekend's 114+ degree weather. I couldn't figure out why the finely chopped mint bits were brown. Looks weird, tastes good, shrug. I'll have another.

Can't mention the Border Grill without fawning all over their housemade tortilla chips, lamb barbacoa, or plantain empanadas. They win the prize for steepest-price-torta, at over $24. That's two and a half times more than your average Mission torta, and it looked much smaller on the plates we observed. But those fancy resort digs don't pay for themselves.

Made in France/Le Village Warehouse Sale

My pantry needs stocking, so I'm headed to the Made in France/Le Village warehouse sale, later today. Although my cash budget is $200, I have been known to go overboard at this sale.  the rationale is usually: clothes, gas, PG&E. who really needs those things?? There's so many dreamy items to enjoy, from sparkling cider to oozy cheeses and high-quality charcuterie. Spices, olive oil, chocolates and French soaps round out the bounty.

If no one minds, I will sneak some photos, too. See you there?

Just a friendly reminder that Made in France / Village Imports
is holding a gourmet food and wine warehouse sale on:

- Friday June 29th from 02:00pm to 06:00pm

- Saturday June 30th from 08:30am to 01:30pm


Are you ready for Independance Day?

Looking forward to seeing you.

Sincerely,

The Team at Made in France / Village Imports

                         

©2007  Village Imports, 211 South Hill Drive, Brisbane, CA

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation SF

More Flickr pics here.

Last night's Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation event at San Francisco Acme Chophouse reportedly raised nearly 78K (final reports pending). Stars in attendance, and in the kitchen, included Chuck Williams, emcee Tyler Florence,  Tracy Chapman, Traci Des Jardins, Elizabeth Falkner, Thom Fox, April Bloomfield, Chris Cosentino, Jason Tallent, Stafford Mather, James Syhabout, Paul Arenstam, Scott Youklis, Stuart Bioza, Loretta Keller, Joseph Manzare, the Backburner Blues Band & Mr. Bud E. Luv, the tablehopper, Bob Helmstrom, Staffan Tarje, and Chris Cosentino.

 

There was a lively cocktail hour with music courtesy of the Back Burner Blues band. Folks mulled silent auction items (kitchen mixer, toaster, cookbooks, caviar, vino & champagne, anyone?), nibbled caviar and passed apps. Once everyone was seated, Florence kicked off the festivities. SOS was explained, Chuck Williams was honored, and five big ticket items were auctioned live. The biggest sell at 25K was dinner for fifteen guests, prepared in home by Keller, Des Jardins, and Falkner. After the auction, guests made their way home while many of the chefs and staff headed to the beautiful wooden bar, to celebrate a job well done.

MENU

Sweet corn pudding with anchovies & basil salad
Chef April Bloomfield - The Spotted PIg
2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Hall, Napa Valley

Bellwether Ricotta stuffed squash blossoms, wild mushrooms & herbs
Chef Loretta Keller - Coco500
2004 Pinot Noir, Mahoney, Carneros

Rotisserie Tronchetto & fennel with aioli & salsa verde
Chef Chris Cosentino - Incanto
2003 Sangiovese, Monte Antico, Tuscano

A Selection of American cheeses
Sweet grass dairy "Green Hill" Farmstead cow's milk, California
Bellwether Farms "Pepato" raw farmstead aged sheep's milk with peppercorns, California
Cypress Grove "Humboldt Fog" goat's milk, California
Roth Kase "Gran Queso Riserva" cow's milk, Washington
2003 Girard Artistry, Napa Valley
Chef Thom Fox & Chef Traci Des Jardins - ACME Chophouse & Jardiniere

Citizen Shortcake
Chef Elizabeth Falkner - Citizen Cake
2006 Moscato D'Asti, Luigi Coppo, Piedmonte, Italy.

Last gossipy items: look for cookbooks from Altman and Falkner, with photography by Frankie Faheny.

Ukiah Brewing Company's Beer Ice Cream

Beer ice cream? Intriguing, odd, and interesting. Our waitress at the Ukiah Brewing Company--which is touted as the first organic brewPub in the nation-- recommended it, so we decided to give it a go. There were two beer ice creams, stout and porter. All flavors are handmade by the chef. As a dessert, beer ice cream tasted surprisingly good. I tasted a nice melange of flavors: nutty, sweet, vanilla, and of course, stout beer. The beer taste came through at the end, but it wasn't overly strong, bitter or off. It may be that using beer in ice cream effects the texture, which was a bit too icy. Once we stirred it up, it became creamier and more like what one can expect from ice cream.

Not to worry if beer ice cream is not your thing. They also have mainstream sorbet and ice cream flavors. Or try what I found to be tasty cheesecake from Cheesecake Momma. Peanut butter fans may rightfully freak over the restaurants version of peanut butter pie.

The Ukiah Brewing Company & Restaurant has turned into a hang out for the Pig Hunt crew. The brewpub has good, sustainable food and a mellow vibe. There are tables on a pleasant patio in back. On a grooming/fashion note, a majority of the men working and hanging out on one visit had ponytails or shoulder length hair. 

Ukiah Brewing Company & Restaurant
102 South State Street
Ukiah, CA 95482
T: 707-468-5898

Wines of Portugal benefit for Share Our Strength

I'll be helping with a nice ("America's largest Portugese wine tasting"!) event on April 12. It's called Wines of Portugal, featuring Duoro and Port wines. There's a $25 suggested donation for the consumer wine tasting, and proceeds benefit Share Our Strength. I've supported SOS events for years, and appreciate that SOS is a national organization committed to ending hunger. Join us!

Wines of Portugal
April 12, 2007
at The Palace Hotel
2 New Montgomery Street
SF CA 94150

5:30 to 8 p.m. Consumer Wine Tasting
6 to 6:30 p.m. Wine Seminar: "Keys to Understanding Portugal's Major Grape Varietals"

To register contact:
Wagstaff Worldwide
Brigid Finley
Phone: 800-87109012 x24552#
Email: rsvpsf@wagstaffworldwide.com

Bonny Doon at Incanto

Mark your calendars for this one! Randall Grahm is one of 
the most interesting folks in the wine industry, and always 
entertaining. The great thing about having rules is breaking 
them. On April 9, 2007, Incanto's shattering one of its most 
cherished rules (a rule about serving only Italian wines) 
to pour not one, but four California-made wines paired with 
a special tasting menu to celebrate the return of the Ca' del 
Solo line of Italian-inspired wines the forefront of the 
Bonny Doon Vineyard universe. These wines are terroir-
driven, inspired by Dante, and sealed by screwcap.

Iconoclastic winemaker Randall Grahm will be on hand to 
mark this occasion. We might even convince him to recite a 
bit of his "Vinferno" if we're lucky. It will be a night to 
remember!

As always, you can find more details about this dinner, 
including wine pairings and sample menu at:

http://www.incanto.biz/

 

Haggis, anyone?

The Edinburgh Castle has an interesting haggis event this Saturday. I love the Castle. I started drinking there when I was a student at the California Culinary Academy, because it's within stumbling distance. The Tenderloin location (complete with the occasional pot smell near the door) has an old feel to it. There's lots of wood, dim lights, and an ample adult beverage selection. We have most of our Litquake meetings there, and Alan Black makes sure there is a year round roster of book, music, and other cultural happenings.

I haven't yet tried haggis. But this might be the perfect chance.

13th annual BURNS NIGHT 2007
Saturday January 20, 8pm, $10 door

No, not Scottish cannonballs but Scotland's national dish, The Haggis.
Ingredients are a State Secret in Scotland but leaks suggest that a sheep's stomach filled with magic potions is oozing deliciously from the sides.
Now's your chance to fight for a small piece of haggis.
Come and celebrate the poems, songs and life of Scotland's national poet, the great Robert Burns

HAGGIS, BAGPIPES, POEMS, RANTS, WHISKY
FREE BUFFET OF NORMAL FOOD
IT'S THE CASTLE'S BIGGEST PARTY OF THE YEAR.

Village Imports/Made in France sale this weekend

Where's my clone when I need her? I am pining for a trip to Brisbane, to visit the Village Imports warehouse sale starting tomorrow. Sausages, wine, oils, vinegars, herbs, lemonade, cured meats, alcoholic cider, chocolates, and cheeses, come to Momma!

One tip I picked up from my last shopping excursion there? On Friday, it's possible to "beat the crowds" by hitting the warehouse after 5 p.m. A super helpful clerk told me that everyone rushes on Friday to be there between 2 to around 4:45 p.m., and after that, it is more of a breeze. Less of a wait in line (wear a wool beret and bring an intellectual book or newspaper to really fit in), fewer people, all around better. The problem of 280 or 101 traffic once you pay and load up your car? Well, you'll just have to eat a cheese and chocolate snack before you hit the road. Believe me, it is worth the time and traffic to get all that Euro loot.

Below is the text of an email Village Imports sent me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mary

Just a friendly reminder that Made in France / Village Imports
is holding a gourmet food and wine warehouse sales on:

- Friday November 17th from 02:00pm to 06:00pm

- Saturday November 18th from 08:30am to 01:30pm


Are you ready for Thanksgiving?

Looking forward to seeing you.

Sincerely,

The Team at Made in France / Village Imports

            This message is an advertisement from Village Imports. You may opt-out from receiving future messages about our open warehouse events by Clicking Here. Village Imports will respectfully comply with your             request within 24 hours. Village Imports understands the importance you place on the privacy of information that personally identifies you. You may access our Privacy Statement and read how Village Imports considers the responsible use of personal information to be an essential element in respecting your privacy.

©2006  Village Imports, 211 South Hill Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005-1255.   All Rights Reserved.

Where I'll be: Beaujolais Nouveau Event at the SF Food Bank tomorrow

Tomorrow morning, I am headed to the San Francisco Food Bank for  a reception and tasting of the Beaujolais Nouveau 2006. Some wine professionals and writers poo-poo the idea of this wine & its annual celebration & marketing hoopla. However, I want to see and taste what the fuss is all about (or not). My experience with the wine so far? It is straightforward, easy to drink, and meant to be light and fruity. Not necessarily something to collect or keep for a long time, but rather to have fun with, as soon as possible. I like that they are partnering with social agencies. My longtime work with the Share Our Strength charity helped me learn how difficult it is for hunger related charities to attain funding no matter what season it is.

Photo and below info courtesy of Wine Without Rules site.

LES VINS GEORGES DUBOEUF BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU 2006 ARRIVAL FESTIVITIES BENEFIT HUNGER CHARITIES IN SIX CITIES

        Click below for more information:                     

                                          
                             

Spicy Hot (!) Chocolate Drink from Bittersweet

Next time you're in Rockridge, be sure to try a spicy version of hot chocolate. It's one of the quickest ways to feel like a Mayan emperor. The place to go for this regal chocolate experience? Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe. They also have a Fillmore location in SF. Bittersweet's spicy chocolate drink has layered chocolate, cream, rose, vanilla, and cayenne notes. Although the drinks to go cup appears small and perhaps only four to six ounces, the liquid treat inside is rich and full of flavor. You won't need more than that, because there is more than enough chocolate drink to enjoy and even share. It tends to be only moderately spicy, but the mellow heat is warming and a somewhat unique experience.

While at Bittersweet, you may catch a glimpse of Anita from Dessert First. Watching the workers whip up your spicy chocolate drink is only a sliver of the fun. Look and try not to drool over the rest of Bittersweet's goodies: chocolate bars, truffles, baked goods (adorable mini cupcakes), books, shirts, and other sweet treats. Browse, shop, and relax. There are a few tables and benches out front, for those who want to linger.

Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe
5427 College Avenue
Oakland, CA.
T: 510-654-7159

Chilled Lillet

Lillet is an apertif, best when chilled. The white grape version is golden colored and light, with hints of fruity orange, subtle lime, and orange peel. It's slight bitter flavor note comes from quinine, which gin and tonic fans will surely recognize from their tonic.

Although I never drank  Lillet while in France, I know someone who has. Regan and Blair served Lillet to us for the first time before a delicious meal in their home. It became an instant food find favorite. That's what travel should offer, no? The chance to discover new and interesting things.

It's good to share the Lillet wealth. The past few weeks have brought us ample opportunity to give the gift of white Lillet to others. It was tough to figure out what sort of hostess gift to give to a local Famous Author. She seems so worldly and sophisticated, and wise. I had never been to her home, but suspected it would be of the "only the finest" ilk. Any old bottle of wine, candle, or jam wouldn't do. Something special was needed, stat. White Lillet felt right.

Sure enough, Famous Author perked up when I told her we brought Lillet. "I love Lillet," she said smoothly, adding, "I have these glasses, will they work? They're from eBay. They remind me of when I was a kid." The glasses were frosted glass with an animal motif-colorful tigers, cheetahs, and lions danced and smiled. She became frustrated at scooping ice into the glasses, and instead searched for kitchen prep gloves. Famous Author is prepared for it all. As I watched her find the gloves, I remembered she once told me she has a deep stash of emergency kit supplies, and is fully ready for any quake, fire, or other disaster.

Famous Authors' guests enthusiastically said yes to our offers of Lillet. It seemed to be the near perfect beverage for sitting on a deck in the warm evening, watching the San Francisco bay. The only problem with Lillet? Watch out, it goes fast. Better bring two bottles.