A Tale of Two Kellers (SF Chefs. Food. Wine.)featured
It was the best of times…it was the best of times. Because apparently there are no worst of times when you’re graced by the presence of these two culinary legends.
Chefs Thomas Keller and Hubert Keller have won the hearts, minds, and stomachs of the people – and after their showing at last weekend’s SF Chefs. Food. Wine., even more so.
More »
Share
SF Chefs. Food. Wine. Highlight Reelfeatured
As featured in Bay Area Bites, August 10, 2009.
To quote Mayor Gavin Newsom, “Aspen, eat your heart out.”
An epic event 2 ½ years in the making, SF Chefs. Food. Wine. was like a food-lover’s Disneyland with over 200 of the Bay Area’s finest chefs, 450 wineries, and mixologists aplenty strutting their stuff.
Over the past four days, Union Square was transformed into a playground of tastings, seminars, and demonstrations from a who’s who list of culinary legends, rising stars, artisans, and experts.
…Which made for some pretty phenomenal quotes.
It sometimes feel like a blessing and a curse to live in a city with so many amazing restaurants to try because let’s face it, who can afford to try them all? One can read about them, drool over descriptions and photos of them, and then place them on an ever-growing bucket list of places to try.
The Grand Tasting Tent at SF Chefs provided the rare opportunity to hone that list, allowing participants to really taste, touch, see, and feel for themselves, a sliver of what some of these heralded restaurants are all about. The air was electric and the excitement palpable, as the wine flowed and the bites were dished out.
More »
Share
Summer of Otsufeatured
As featured in Bay Area Bites, August 5, 2009.
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with this buckwheat soba noodle recipe I spotted on one of my favorite healthy food blogs, 101 Cookbooks. The recipe is originally from Pomelo, a fresh little restaurant serving “global cuisine” in Outer Noe Valley and the Inner Sunset, and let me tell you, it is a keeper. I just cannot seem to tire of it. It’s healthy and light, yet substantial enough to make up a full meal. Plus, it’s a breeze to whip up…and the flavors! There’s a wonderful balance to this dish.
The honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar in the dressing gives it a great sweet, salty, tang. The lemon juice adds a touch of bright acidity, and the sesame oil, a mellow nuttiness. Then there’s the cayenne and ginger, imparting the perfect amount of warmth that caresses the back of your throat as you savor it all. (I do bring down the cayenne from ¾ teaspoon to ½ teaspoon for a more subtle heat.)
More »
Share
La Bella Vita at Americanofeatured
There are two similar sayings in Italy: la bella vita and la vita è bella. The former refers to the beautiful life, or the good life. The latter is the shining outlook that life is beautiful. If you are Matt Stuhl, Sommolier of Americano, and have the opportunity to taste over 200 wines during a 3-day world renowned wine tasting extravaganza in Verona, Italy, then indeed, life is beautiful ‘cause you’re living the good life.
Lucky for us, we can reap the benefits of Matt’s good life extravaganza at VinItaly, the largest Italian wine event in the world, because he has come home to Americano with some newly discovered vino that just happen to pair perfectly with Executive Chef Paul Arenstam’s summer menu:
More »
Share
