The best of food and drink

Kuleto Estate

2011-06-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

After lunch at Go Fish we made the winding trek to Kuleto Estate Vineyard for a 2:30 tour and tasting. The driveway alone was a worthy adventure. Gaining about a thousand feet in elevation over two miles it cost about a million dollars per mile to install. When you get to the top of the mountain it is breathtaking. The tour was a walk around the grounds with a peek at the main residence and the guest house both with extraordinary stone work and views. The wine tasting was a sit down affair where we tasted a variety of wines which were paired with three different cheeses. I found the India Ink Cabernet to be big and bold without being over the top. Carol and I decided to join their club called King Fish (eat like a king drink like a fish) and plan to attend some of their parties and picnic on their amazing grounds.

Go Fish

2011-06-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

We went to Go Fish before a vineyard tour we had set up. We are big fans of Mustard's and this is the creation of it's owner. We sat at the bar literally on the corner between the regular bar and the sushi bar. It seemed only fitting then to to have some sushi and some bar food. I started with the Crispy Spicy Roll which is made with yellowtail, scallion and tobiko in tempura. Tobiko is Japanese flying fish roe. The roll was delicious bun not very spicy. I then had the Salmon Burger which was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The bun tasted and felt like it had just come out of the oven and the avocado was amazing. Also, the chips were perfectly cooked. We will definitely go back when we have more time to sit and enjoy the place.

Zuni Cafe

2011-06-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

For our 24th wedding anniversary Carol and I chose Zuni Cafe. We are big fans of the Zuni Roast Chicken with Bread Salad. Carol has made it a few times so she was anxious to see how her version rated. Carol's version is really good but I must say that there is a reason Zuni's is widely considered one of the best dishes in the city. It is so crispy on the outside and as moist as any poultry you will ever eat. It is wonderfully salty without being too much so. The bread salad is so decadent and delicious that I must admit to quickly eating it, before the chicken, to make sure Carol did not get more than her fair share! Before the chicken I had oysters. The larger ones are Pacific Hog Island from Tomales Bay. They are briny and tender. The tiny ones are Totten Inlet from Olympia, Washington. They are more intensely flavored and meatier. I asked the manager for a wine suggestion from among the Pinots and the Burgundies. I was pleased when he said his favorite for the chicken was the $60 Burgundy you can see here. There were many bottles well above that price. When our waiter brought our cheese plate the manager came by with two glasses of Italian dessert wine as a treat for our anniversary. A wonderful evening with a wonderful wife!

Farmer's Market

2011-05-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

The San Rafael Sunday farmer's market is back in full swing. The cherries, blueberries, and strawberries are all amazing. Beautiful spring flowers are on every aisle. So many things to choose from and so many samples to taste. This time we got many of the ingredients we needed to make curried lamb burgers. Is there anything better than fresh cilantro, by the way?

This year's Tomatoes

2011-05-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

This year I decided that my tomatoes deserved a raised bed. Pre-made beds cost around $100 dollars. By making the bed myself I was able to get the bed, the highest quality planting soil and the plants for about $100. I will take a matching photo throughout the growing season to see the progress.

2010-12-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

Carol and I last ate at Tra Vigne, in 1990. We went last night with Annika, Tom and Joy and had a really nice meal. The highlight for me was the house made mozzarella served still warm on toasted Italian bread rubbed with garlic. We brought a bottle of wine over from our tasting at Grigich. The food at Tra Vigne is good but it's the setting makes the experience exceptional and the price acceptable.

Le Garage

2010-11-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

Such a great place. I've now been there four or five times. Took my parents and sister this time for a post Thanksgiving meal. Just what I needed -- more food.

Everything I've had or tasted is really good. Not my favorite wine list. More reasonable bottles from California would be nice. The room gets a bit loud too when closed up for the winter, but the food...

2010-10-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

We took Annika and two friends to a new place called House Of Air. Great concept for tiring kids out before a sleep over. After dropping them off we headed over to La Terrasse, one of our favorite spots in the Presidio. Nice cocktails at the bar watching them prep for the evening's dinner. We also had some pate maison.

Gar Woods

2010-09-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

Back to Gar Woods for a Wet Woody or two and the 49er game. Someday maybe a wooden boat and a lake to go with it. For now the Wet Woody does the trick.

Burger Me

2010-09-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in Truckee and find yourself really hungry you have to try Burger Me. Great variety of burgers, hand cut fries and great brews on tap. If there's a heaven...

Angelino

2010-09-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is a place recommended to me by Paul Carek. We went there last October for Carol's birthday. Excellent Italian in an unpretentious setting. Nice and attentive staff forthcoming with recommendations. After biking, cheering, biking again and lifting today I thought a Pizza was in order. Prosciutto and artichoke! The fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes were amazing as well. Last of the season's great tomatoes...

Bouchon Bakery

2010-09-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

Annika had an early game in Napa today so I headed for Bouchon Bakery during warm-ups. Nothing much better than a bacon cheddar scone, cappuccino and the NY Times. Most everyone in line in front of me went for something sweet... lots of action around the chocolate croissant. The place was hopping for 8:00 am on a Sunday.

A little pre-dinner!

2010-09-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

209 gin martini with asian tuna tartar make a great start to any evening. The tuna is courtesy of Le Bernadin, one of my favorite NY restaurants. Carol and I spent, or over-spent many a wonderful evening there.

ISA

2010-08-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm back to my food blog. Last night we went to ISA. Annika had plans so it was date night... Small plates for sharing in the less touristy part of the Marina. The dining room is rustic and romantic. The food was excellent but service and timing was off. They delivered all of our food in a five minute span. We sent the scallops back so we could eat our other selections and a reasonable pace. Besides there was no room left on the table. I think next time we will order our appetizers first. When they come we'll order the mains. I especially liked the truffle and mushroom risotto. Parking can be a bit iffy and going with another couple would give us the chance to try even more of ISA's wonderful dishes.

The Providores

2009-12-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

Went to this great place while in London a couple weeks ago called The Providores. It's a New Zealand restaurant specializing in fish. I went with my Dell client who hails from New Zealand and was planning to see the All Blacks play England the next day... so he was in a patriotic mood. I especially liked the tuna appetizer. The food scene in London sure has really changed for the better over the past twenty years.

Silverman's

2009-10-31T07:26:00.000-07:00

This has been a busy week so my post is actually from last Sunday night. We had dinner at our friends, the Silverman's, home. It was an amazingly clear night and we enjoyed a Matanzas Creek chardonnay on their deck... which has astonishing sunset views from the city across the bay to Mt. Tam. Victoria made her famous creole shrimp with Louisiana hot sauce and homemade ice cream with fresh fruit. Lots of laughs accompanied by great food and wine is the ideal way to end a weekend!

Anchor & Hope

2009-10-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

The girls wanted to come into the city Friday night for dinner. It was a beautiful evening so I walked down to meet them at the ferry. We then walked along Market street and eventually went to Anchor & Hope for dinner. It's a place I go to for lunch fairly frequently. They recognize me but don't yet know my name... It has a cool vibe and good seafood. I must say that it seems like the same menu and same portion size as lunch but for more money. That said the appetizers are what I like most. We had the calamari with a spicy honey sauce and oysters wrapped in bacon. Mmmmmm.

Boulevard

2009-10-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Annika had another game yesterday... which has nothing to do with our dinner at Boulevard but it gives me an excuse to throw up a photo of her in action. Dinner was with the Caplan's who were in Sonoma for a wedding. They live in Ridgewood New Jersey now and were commenting that half the stores seem to have closed in the past few months. Anyway, they wanted to go somewhere special so I chose Boulevard. We had a wonderful time and the food was, once again, excellent. I had the heirloom tomato salad, rack of lamb and one bon bon. The rack of lamb was perfectly cooked and made me feel like it really is Fall here.

Ravenous

2009-10-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

Annika had a game at Ukiah yesterday. A long ride after lots of travel. Ukiah is about 45 miles north of Healdsburg. On our way home we stopped to see an old friend of Carol's, Bill Rosensweig, who she had helped publish and market a book about his company, The Republic of Tea. He suggested we head over to a locals place called Revenous. It's in a charming old house just off the square. Aside from service that was pretty slow and inattentive the food was great. I especially liked the crab cake. It was crunchy and had a sauce with a hint of curry. The portions were huge... so I have nothing to report on their dessert.

Frantoio

2009-10-10T08:36:00.000-07:00

At cooking school, last weekend, one of the other students recommended to Carol an Italian place in Mill Valley called Frantoio. I must say that because the restaurant is attached to a Holiday Inn I was more than a little skeptical. Cool place though. They make there own olive oil there in a giant press which gives some justification for the cavernous feeling. I ordered the rigatoni with lamb sauce but our waiter said that the rabbit ragout was outstanding so I switched. He was right. Annika was home with two other girls for a sleep-over so I was relieved to find the house in one piece when we returned.

Noto

2009-10-03T15:02:00.000-07:00

Annika had a game in Windsor today. A 5-1 victory in which she scored a goal by the way! Carol was a cooking school so I ventured, by myself, into the town for a coffee during warm-ups. I found a cool place called Noto... that sits across from the village green. Nothing like good cap and a paper before the big game. Annika played the best game of her life yet and I was very well caffeinated for it!!

Fish.

2009-09-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

Annika had a baby sitting gig next door last night so we decided to head for a restaurant that sits directly across the bay from us. On the harbor in Sausalito, Fish. is quite a different experience. First, you stand in a line (which last night was about 30 minutes). You then order your food, pay with cash and get a number. Drinks, silverware and the like you take out side with you and search for an open bench or picnic table. Fortunately Carol was able to score a bench before we got to the front of the line. We had a crab dip with homemade potato chips that was really good. I had grilled marinated tuna over pasta that was fresh and surprisingly light. At Fish. they make quite a big deal about sustainability which adds authenticity to a place dripping with it. Last night was a perfect evening... about 70 degrees at sunset.

The Fish Hopper

2009-09-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

We went to the Monterey Aquarium and spent a spectacular couple of hours. We didn't see the new White Shark who is apparently still quite shy. We did see lots of other incredible things. Afterward we did the touristy thing and went to The Fish Hopper which is along Cannery Row. I normally wouldn't mention a place like this here but I had an amazing grilled fish platter caught all in Monterey Bay. The sardines were the highlight.

Olita

2009-09-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

We went to Santa Cruz for a walk along the boardwalk and some dinner. I was searching for cool place to go an found a recommendation for Olita in an article about Santa Cruz being one of the best places to live. The restaurant is most of the way out on the pier and has amazing views. Our waiter recommended the prawn and crab enchiladas insisting that he would not steer us wrong. He didn't. My margarita's weren't too bad either.

Apple Box

2009-09-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

Annika had a game against Petaluma this morning and we dropped her with time to find a place for breakfast. Right on the river is a place called Apple Box. We had a latte and split a breakfast burrito. We sat by the river and saw a bike club assemble and leave for a ride. That whole river area looks like it's probably fun on a Saturday night.

Drazil Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza "FAF"

2009-09-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

After a mountain bike ride up around Alpine Lake Carol and I were putting our bikes back on the car and a guy came over an asked us if we liked coffee. He was selling coffee he has roasted that morning. He was very excited by the beans he had just gotten from "FAF", a coffee plantation in Brazil. We bought a bag and waited a day as he instructed. Freshly ground and put through the drip maker the coffee has a naturally sweet aroma. The taste medium and very smooth without even a hint of bitterness. It's both nutty and sweet. I have no idea how to get more of it. We always park there but I have never seen the guy before.

Station House Cafe

2009-09-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

Carol and I dragged Annika out to Bear Valley for a ride/hike to Arch Rock. The fog would come and go making the temperature swing all over the map. Afterward we went into Pt. Reyes Station and had lunch on the back patio of the Station House Cafe. Our waitress looked just like the Asian girl from Grey's Anatomy (though she doesn't think so). Our food was good and hearty. I especially liked the fried oysters from nearby Drake's Bay.

Tahoe House

2009-08-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in need of coffee and a bite and you are near Tahoe City I absolutely love Tahoe House. It's a specialty foods grocery that does all its baking on premises. My best breakfast there is to get the house smoked salmon. Fresh cream cheese and bagels made that morning. If you happen to have a heirloom tomato from the Farmer's Market... so much the better. Annika loves the pastries. Fresh fruit, sugar and dough baked into gooey goodness (in any combination) is hard to beat.

Gar Woods

2009-08-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

OK, I've been initiated into the Wet Woody fan club. Along with a Southside on the porch at Shinnecock or a Mt. Gay and Tonic on the Brockleman's boat on Lake Waccabuc... The Wet Woody is now one of my favorite summer drinks. Tasty and dangerous. Gar Woods is a fun restaurant sitting on an incredible spot. It's also a boat and I now want a Baby Gar Wood... which would make our dinner really expensive in the long run.

Bridgetender

2009-08-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

On out first night in Tahoe we went back to the Bridgetender. The food is fine but what I love is the atmosphere and the crowd. It's a great place for a burger and a beer. I only wish I still had my Harley to drive up on.

La Terrasse

2009-08-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

This place was recommended to us by Lloyd Silverman. It has a lovely view of the bay. When we were there for dinner there was a sailboat race going on. The food is simple and delicious, the place cozy and intimate. You are in San Francisco but you feel miles away. Annika brought a friend and they both had pizza which they loved. Carol especially liked her mushroom soup.

The Pasta Bowl

2009-08-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

I took a group from the agency to the 3rd Annual 49er Foundation Pasta Bowl. It was at the Santa Clara Convention Center. We had two rookie linebackers at our table (great guys) who were there to help me serve dinner to the table. It was a very nice night for a really good cause. Every time I hear Mike Singletary speak I want to work even harder and do even more!

Marin Farmer's Market

2009-08-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

When I first came to SF I would got to the Farmer's Market at the Ferry terminal on Saturday. I love locally grown food that is organic and really fresh. Really fresh, as in picked within 24 hours or so. Since moving to Tiburon we have found the Farmer's Market by the Civic Center in San Rafael. We go virtually every Sunday morning and hunt for what's in season and really fresh. Carol has made quite a few meals where the perfect ingredient came before the recipe. I tend to make a breakfast of the free samples. I also always get a tamale on the way out. The only other constant is that Carol always buys some flowers for the week ahead. The whole place has a wonderful vibe and energy.

Left Bank

2009-08-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

While searching for a parking place on a recent trip to Picco I spotted Left Bank. We decided to give it a try. We sat outside on a beautiful night after a day at the beach. With the exception of a martini, I went for the classic French Bistro fare: oysters (only four to an order) and the steak frites. Both were really good. The steak was tender and moist and the fries were nice and crispy. There is a great big fireplace in the dining room that we will go back for in the winter.

SF Giants Food

2009-08-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Took Carol and Annika to the Giants game today. Beautiful sunshine and a Giants win. Seemed like it was nearly a full house. All the food is pretty basic at the park but the Garlic Fries are something else. Loaded with fresh garlic and sprinkled with parsley they have a sharp flavor. On the heart health scale I wonder if the garlic offsets the frying of the potatoes?

Quince

2009-07-31T07:52:00.000-07:00

I took clients to Quince last night. It's the second time I've been there and everything I have had is really special. That said, their pasta steals the show. Last night I had Angolotti dal plin which is traditional Piedmontese filled pasta. It had a light sage butter sauce. I became a fan of any raviolli with a sage butter sause when I used to go to Lupa in New York. The next time I go to Quince I plan to ask if all my four courses, including dessert, can be a pasta dish.

Sol Food

2009-07-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

We went for another great ride today. This time China Camp. After more calories burned I took the group to the take out version of Sol Food. Once Again I had the steak sandwich. Is it the bread, the sliced steak, the avocado, the grilled onions, the melted cheese or the mayo sauce? Whatever it's great! We ordered the plantains this time too and they are a worthy complement.

Joe's Taco

2009-07-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

Went for a mountain bike ride in the Marin Headlands today. Couple of hours of significant calorie burn. My companions said we had earned a trip to Joe's Tacos. There were lots of people who had the same post ride idea. I was told to try the marinated grilled fish tacos. I'm not sure how good they are because I was so hungry but I think they were really great.

Tomatoes

2009-07-25T08:48:00.000-07:00

Here's the first real batch of heirloom tomatoes from a sunny spot in my backyard. I purchased the plants at the Marin Farmer's Market in San Raphael a couple months ago. Later today they will be combined with crumbled goat cheese and mixed with a olive oil and herbs from the garden.

209 Gin

2009-07-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, I like Gin Martini's. My dry vermouth ratio is 5:1 and I prefer mine vigorously shaken then served up in a frozen glass with two olives that have not been pitted. I was never especially partial to a particular premium gin until I had locally made No. 209. It's a revelation! Here's what the bottle says: "In 1882 in Napa Valley the 209th distillery began creating award-winning spirits. This new 209 gin recipe, created with a Napa winemakers passionate attention to detail, is crafted with all-natural botanicals, rare ingredients, and is distilled 5 times. The lower quality heads and tails of each distilation are discarded & only the finest "heart" of each small, handcrafted batch is bottled." Most good Bay Area restaurants are now carrying it.

Rutherford Grill

2009-07-24T15:20:00.000-07:00

So after we went to Spring Mountain Vineyard we took our bottle of '87 Cabernet to the Rutherford Grill. We sat outside on a beautiful but quickly cooling evening. I had the special pork chop that had been brined for two days. It was a two inch thick hunk of juicy goodness. The rest of our food was good but not worth a special mention. The no corkage fee is very cool if you are keen to sample one of your Napa finds.

Spring Mountain Vineyard

2009-07-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

Carol and I went to Spring Mountain Vineyard for our anniversary. We had tried their wines at a 49er Foundation event in Tahoe and decided to make a reservation. They only give a limited number of tours each day and much of Spring Mountain's charm is that it's well off the beaten path. After the tour we tasted all their new releases. I was not too impressed with the whites or the Pinot Noir. The Cab blends though were really great. I especially like the Elivette which was much more subtle and subdued than many Napa Cabernets. We were having so much fun that our guide decided to let us try "something special". He poured us a taste while covering the year. Carol said to me "wouldn't it be cool if that was an '87". We tasted and it was truly unreal. He turned the bottle around and it was in fact the '87. That was, if you haven't figured it out, the year we were married. We bought a vertical of the Elivette and a bottle of the '87 to take to the Rutheford Grill.

Kokkari Estiatorio

2009-07-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

Kokkari Estiatorio is a downtown Greek restaurant where I recently had a business lunch. When you walk in the first thing you see is an animal roasting in the fireplace. That is actually more appetizing than gross. Lot's of good food here but the eggplant dip with homemade grilled pita is the best I've ever had. You can easily create a feast by sharing the small plate appetizers and never need the entrees.

Girl and the Fig

2009-07-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Go to brunch (or lunch or dinner) at the Girl And The Fig up in Sonoma. They take simple food and make it better than you've ever tasted. Case in point the grilled cheese sandwich. With each bite you are thinking how can a grilled cheese taste this good. The Bloody Mary with the house made mix is also really great in its simplicity. If you can, get a table outside inn the garden.

Picco

2009-07-22T19:36:00.000-07:00

I really love everything about Picco. Three things stand out to me though. I love the Ahi Tuna with apple, shiso, sesame and soy on sticky rice cakes. The cakes are the perfect holder for the tartare. They make risotto on the half hour so it comes when it comes. It is fresh creamy and full of complex flavors. The mini burgers are made with a Point Reyes blue cheese sauce that is the thing that makes them special. Oh yea, they have Fever Tree tonic so be sure to have your favorite gin and tonic.

Bungalow 44

2009-07-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

While recently at Bungalow 44, with another couple, we had the chance to share a bunch of different things. The truffle parmesan fries are worth a special trip... even if that's all you order. The appetizer of homemade gnocchi with gorgonzola and thyme was amazingly rich and decadent. And the bartender makes a mojito with his own mint infused simple syrup.

Fever-Tree Tonic Water

2009-07-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you like Mt. Gay and tonic please find and try Fever-Tree Tonic Water. I found it at BevMo where it is sold in four packs. It's lighter and dryer than other tonics and makes my Mt. Gay and tonic even more refreshing. When you build the drink, squeeze the lime on the ice cubes then add the Mt. Gay followed by the Fever Tree. The first sip is the best.

Sushi Ran

2009-07-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

Had dinner last night at Sushi Ran. All the food was amazing but the Beef dish is amazing. The Black Cod is a must order too. We'll see if the sake in a box brings good luck.