Dine About Town-ing It All Over San Francisco With The SFFoodMaven...

WARNING! You may strain your stomachs just reading about this two week Dine About Town stint I just did. I actually ate ALL of this Food... Scary, I know. Serously, a hollow leg or a tapeworm would've come in handy. *Quick sidenote...Ten years back, my good friend Alisha, swore that I had a tapeworm due to my eating habits, so she actually named him Stanley. Well, that was 10 years ago and now I find myself chanting to myself - Stanley, Wherefore are thou now, Stanley??? I Need You!

Honestly, I did not plan to eat this much over the last couple weeks. But since starting the SFFoodMaven, I have developed a following, mostly consisting of very good friends that are Foodies, Food Heads or what have you. And so with the onset of this year's Dine About Town, I was asked to join in or head up several DAT Meals.
So now here we are...
Eight Meals later...
Actually, there were more than that, but we're just talking straight DAT here.
But seriously, what a way to start the new year!



The last two weeks of Dine About Town have been quite a ride. I pretty much Dine About Towned it almost every night of it this time and ate out for two weeks straight.
Now, I have to say that this is the most I've ever participated in it and the few times that I have, I usually had a hard time staying within the constraints of a Prix Fixe Menu. I mean, who wants restrictions when it comes to Food? Certainly not the SFFoodMaven! Hahaha.
Anyway, this time around, sometimes I went with the Prix Fixe and other times, I ventured out. In the end, we're talking about 8 strictly DAT Meals, one Restaurant I did twice, and I'm not even counting any other Dinners that I also had in between these Meals over the last 2 weeks. In case you're curious, some of those other Meals were at Houston's, Farmer Brown and Bix...
Can you say excessive?
Straight up Bacchanalian?
All I know is that I done Bacchus proud and I am sure he is proudly looking down upon my Epicurean Exploits.
Now, you'll just have to bear with me on this one, because it really is a lot of Food. Before sitting down to read this, I suggest you grab a Snack 'cause this one's a Doozy.

Ready?

Here is the breakdown of my 8 DAT Meal highlights...

My First DAT Meal was at Chiaroscuro across the street from the Pyramid. I didn't go there intentionally for DAT, but ended up there after a happy hour block party next door at Aventine. There were a bunch of us at Dinner trying everything from Apps to Primi's and Secondi's, but what stood out most was the Pasta.



I had the Trilogia, which was a tasting of a Carbonara, all'Amatriciana and Pesto alla Trapanese, which is a Winter White Pesto. Here is an excerpt from the Menu with details. The Carbonara was my favorite, but all were quite good.

tagliolini all'amatriciana 14.5 .
homemade tagliolini pasta with caramelized onions, imported guanciale tomato and romano cheese

tagliolini alla carbonara 14.5
homemade pasta with pancetta tossed in a romano cheese egg sauce

maltagliate al pesto alla trapanese (winter white pesto) 17
housemade pasta with organic grape tomatoes, garlic, pine nuts, almond, and basil

My 2nd DAT Meal was at Poleng Lounge and this time I could not be restricted to the Prix Fixe because the Menu had a big Filipino influence and there was just too much that I wanted to try.



We started out with 2 Apps. The Poached Marrow with Coconut Bread which was awesome. Huge fan of the Bone Marrow, or as I like to call it, 'Meat Butter'. Yum.



And then we had the Cebuano B.B.Q. Pork Belly which was just ok, but what I did love was the Side Dish of Salted Egg with Tomato and Onion. Now that was great and I wish I could have ordered a larger Side of that Yummy stuff.

For the Mains...



We then had the Walu Kinilaw, a Filipino “Ceviche” with Butterfish cooked in Sugarcane
Vinegar, Lime Juice and Coconut Milk, also with Thai Chiles, Toybox Tomatoes and Cilantro. This is the Filipino version of the Ceviche and was my absolute Favorite of the evening.

The Sizzling Sisig, which is a Pork Medley with Coconut Vinegar, Onions, Peppers,
and fresh Calamansi, which was not so Sizzling. It could've used more Salt, and been heavier on the Heat, like Jalapeno or something. Unfortunately, it was disappointing.



The Crispy Adobo Wings, on the other hand, a Succulent Deep Fried Chicken tossed in an Adobo Glaze served with Achara (Pickled Papaya) were good and reminded me a bit of San Tung's Angel Wings.

Poleng was a little hit and miss this time, but this could be because, the Chef, Tim Luym was in the PI and perhaps it was an off night. Will have to come back and give it another shot when Tim gets back...

DAT #'s 3 and 5 were at Le Colonial, so I tried quite a few dishes from their extensive Menu. My first visit earlier in the week was actually a little disappointing, but my second visit with my good friend, Alish and boyfriend, Nick, definitely redeemed them a bit.



As far as the Appetizers and First Course, we really liked the Banh Hap So Diep, Seared Potstickers filled with Scallops, Ginger and Herbs served with a Sesame-Soy Sauce. I also liked the Canh Tom Hum, a Lobster, Coconut and Lemongrass Soup flavored with Kefir Lime Leaf served with Rice Noodle and Crispy Shallot.



For the Entrees, I had the Lobster Special for my first time there, which was a Whole Roasted Lobster in Garlic and Butter. Delicious...



On my second visit, I had the Thit Heo Nuong, which is a Pork Chop marinated in Chili, Ginger and Coconut Juice, served with Three Onion Broken Rice and Pickled Hearts of Bok Choy. The Flavor Combinations were perfect and I absolutlely loved this Dish. My favorite overall.



I also liked the Tom Rang Muoi, Salt and Pepper Crusted Hawaiian Blue Spot Prawns with Garlic Butter served over Pan Fried Egg Noodles and Chilies.

For Dessert, I had a few different items, but the Tapioca and Banana Pudding was the Best. Should you find yourself at Le Colonial, you gotta try it. It definitely makes for a Happy Ending. And that's no joke...

On my #4 DAT I got to kill two birds with one stone, because it was my boy, Raz's bday and I chose Mangarosa. Mangarosa in North Beach is a great place for a birthday celebration, because on Thursdays they have samba dancers dancing on the bar and throughout the restaurant, every 30 minutes or something like that. It was all so lively and so much fun, and we all thought the Food was pretty good too.

Let me break it down, Y'all...
So my friend, Prof actually did the DAT menu and was so kind as to allow me to try his Food. Actually, everybody shared their Food with me which I always appreciate, if not expect. haha...



For Starters and Salads, we tried the Caesar with Hearts of Romaine and Fried Anchovies, the Warm Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese, Polenta Croutons, Grilled Pears, Caramelized Onions
and Balsamic Vinaigrette, and I had the Hearts of Palm Salad with Arugula, Endive, Radicchio and a Citrus Vinaigrette. All were not bad, but the winner for me was the appetizer below...



A Polenta Souffé with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Arugula, Grana Padano and Basil, which was delicious. Oh and I almost forgot to mention that the “Pão de Queijo” cheese bread “Brazilian Style” was really really good. Those went quickly...

For our Entrees, we had the following Dishes...



The Bday boy had the Rib-Eye Steak with Wild Mushrooms and a Veal Reduction Sauce. Lucky for me, I was literally 'Flanked' (get it?) by him and our friend Joe, who also had the Ribeye. Yum!




A number of people had the house made Gnocchi with Roasted Garlic, Crescenza Cream Sauce and Local Wild Mushrooms, which everyone thought was pretty great.



Prof, who sat across from me had the beautifully Tender Soft Beef Short Ribs with a Red Bell Pepper Sauce served with Mashed Potatoes, which was pretty damn good...



I had the Grilled Lamb Chops with Green Peppercorn Sauce that was also a big hit with the table.

One quick aside, I have to give kudos to the staff and servers at Mangarosa, because they were extremely accommodating for our large birthday party of 10. Thanks again to them all because it made for a truly memorable birthday!

Well, are you still with me guys? 5 down, 3 more to go...
#6 DAT was one of my favorites and it was at XYZ.



Went to XYZ in the W Hotel with my beautiful girlfriends, Renee and Van and later Jenny, who came for drinks. Now, I have eaten at XYZ a couple times before, and I have always had a good meal here, so I was excited for this one. Nee and I stuck with the DAT menu, Miss Van had the Duck (shown above) and we shared a couple of extra Apps.



The Amuse that they brought were some beautifully, delicious Gougeres (in layman's terms - Cheese Puffs).



And we also had to try the Fries which were super good with an Aoli that was to die for!



We, or rather I just had to have the Sonoma Foie Gras with Pickled Huckleberries atop a Crispy Brioche which was pretty yummy.



We aslo had the Hamachi Carpaccio which was paired with Blood Oranges and Tangerines with a Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette. Are you salivating or what? I know, I am.

And so this next part, starts the Dine About Town portion of our Meal...
What? You thought that was it? Oh, heck no...
Read on, People.



First Course was a Crab Arancini with a Pimentón Aioli and Frisée

Second Course Pan Seared Salmon atop a Creamy Pumpkin Risotto with Salsify and Salsify Cream. OMG...
So.
Good.
My stomach just growled at the thought of it!

Third Course was a Tangerine and Vanilla Yogurt Sorbets with fresh Tangerine and Earl Grey Shortbread, and a Gingerbread Cake with Mascarpone Semifreddo and Candied Ginger.

Great Meal from XYZ yet again...

Fish & Farm was #7 DAT with my dear friend Nadia, her hubby Murph and their friend Becky. I opted for the DAT Menu and the others branched out and shared their Meals with me.

First Courses



For the DAT Menu, I started off with the Clams in a Vadovan Curry, Fuji Apples which were nothing to write home about. We felt the Sauce was bland and could've used more Salt and perhaps some Citrus.



Apple Cider Braised Pork Cheeks with a Mustard Spaetzle, Devoto Farms Apple Rosemary Puree was ok, but not as good as we would have hoped.

Funny thing happened while we were there that night. Murph ordered the Grilled Sardines, which he was super excited about, but were told that a table at the front had ordered the last two Sardine Dishes, right as the server was walking by with them in hand. I happened to know the people from the other table, so I, Food Ambassador that I am, popped over to ask if they could spare a Sardine for our table. My friends, Nikki & Todd were so kind as to oblige and were able to try it.
So we had a Grilled Monterey Bay Sardine with Almonds, Golden Raisins, Watercress and Blood Orange and it was delicious. Thanks again, Nik! I owe you one...

Second Courses



Murph and Becky had the Local Black Cod with Sauteed Hedgehog Mushrooms, a Shallot Custard and Hamada Farms Candied Citron, which they thought was quite good with all of the Flavor Combinations and Textures...



Nadia had the Single Malt Scotch Braised Short Ribs with a Pearl Barley Risotto and Plumped Seasonal Dried Fruits and Nuts.



I had the DAT Roasted Chicken paired with a Parsnip Puree and Roasted Veggies, which I was very happy with. Whatever they did to the Chicken, it was Juicy and the Skin was Beautifully Crisp. Nads thinks that there may have been some frying involved. Whatever the case, it was damn good...

Third Course



I had the only Dessert because I did the DAT and it was F&F Sundae that was a Heavenly Ending and did me just right...

I ended Dine About Town by having #8 Meal at Plouf. This was also a favorite and a great way to end it all. I eat and drink at Plouf pretty often, one would say that I am even a regular. I just love the Alley and the feel of it, especially when the weather is nice. This night, I had my very good friend from my college days, Melisa and her hubs, Mason in town. I had them meet me and my girlfriends, Mills, Katy and Nee at Plouf for Drinks and Dins. I opted to do the DAT Menu, since it was my final one and I am glad I did, because it was fantastic.


First Courses



Lobster Bisque Souffle that was absolutely Ambrosial. For my DAT, I had the Baby Lettuces Salad with Fine Herbs and a Champagne Vinaigrette as my First Course.

As for Second Courses...



This was the 10oz New York Strip with Green Beans, Beurre Maitre d’hôtel and a Creamy Potato Dish what knocked our socks off. Awesome.



I had the DAT Grilled Salmon with Sauteed Spinach, Creamed Potatoes, Salmon Caviar and a Cream Sauce. Loved it.



Mills had the Wild Mushroom Risotto with Truffle, Creme Fraiche and a Wild Mushroom Ragout which was unbelievably good. We all raved after we got to try a bite...

Third Course



Banana Profiterole with a Warm Chocolate Sauce

This was a great evening, where my old and new friends came together. We ended up spending nearly 6 hours there, eating and drinking and sharing stories, which is very reminiscent of my long dinners from when I lived in Germany. Quite the Happy Ending... *sigh*

So there you have it, Friends...
If you actually made it all the way to the end here, then kudos to you.
As for me, I could seriously use a giant fork right about now, because I'm Done!

Wine & Wishes 2009

Yes, 'tis that time of year of again for one of the hottest culinary tickets of San Francisco - Wine & Wishes 2009. This is a spectacular culinary event showcasing the best of the Bay Area's Chefs and Wineries, while celebrating and supporting the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation. It is to be held at the dramatic and unique setting of Treasure Island on Saturday, February 7th.

There are two parts to the Event:

The Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Standard Ticket: $150.00 W&W 2009 Tasting Ticket (21 Years of age or older ONLY)

Shuttle option: $10.00 Please reserve a seat on the shuttle from Treasure Island to the Embarcadero BART Station

And The Winemaker Dinner to follow immediately after the Tasting $350 per person or $6,500/table of 20 (limited number available) VIP Privately Hosted Table: $1,000 per person or $10,000 for a table of ten. Includes limo, opportunity to select which wish to "adopt" and premium seating.

Click here for a list of participating Restaurant Chefs and Wineries.
To purchase Winemaker Dinner tickets please contact Francoise Monet at 415.402.2765 or fmonet@makewish.org

Click here to view more detailed Event info i.e. location, directions, schedule and fees.

Must be 21 years or older to attend Wine and Wishes.

Wine and Wishes highlights extraordinary chefs and winemakers and provides culinary enthusiasts with an exceptional experience. Take it from me the SFFoodMaven, who attended it last year, this event is definitely not to be missed if you can swing it. You can read about last year's event here, but I gotta say, I was pretty blown away by this Epicurean display and if you are even considering going, then I most readily support it! I more than likely will be attending the Tasting only, which was more than enough Food and Wine.
I know this is a pricey event, but if you consider what you are getting, it is certainly well worth it, if not more. Also, I have an insider tip on how to get 10% off for the Tasting, which will then only cost you $135. Shoot me an email at sffoodmaven@gmail.com. If you are interested in attending as well, then please do let me know and perhaps we can meet at the Embarcadero BART station to shuttle over.

Mangia!

SF Dine About Town 2009

Ok, it's that time of year again, time for you to Grab your Forks People and do exactly that!  Dine About Town is back for its 8th Delicious Year.  Dine About Town (DAT) starts tomorrow, January 15 and runs through the 31st of this month. 

For those that are unfamiliar, Dine About Town is a bi-annual event that typically runs the last couple weeks of January and again in June.  It is a restaurant promotion is presented by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, and sponsored by The San Francisco Chronicle and Macy’s West.  This promotion allows you to save up to 50% on specially prepared 3-course lunches for $21.95 or dinners for $34.95 at one San Francisco's dining establishments. 

Let's face it, times are tough right now.  And in San Francisco, we like to eat.  So book your reservations at one of the participating restaurants and eat your hearts out people!

Reservations are available through OpenTable.

Dates and times of participation vary by restaurant.  Menus subject to change. Mangia!

 

Ode To 2008: SF Food Maven's Year In Food

Hello Fellow Food Lovers! Welcome to another Delicious New Year with the SFFoodMaven!  I Hope the Holidays were Plentiful and of course, the accompanying Eats Delectable...  As is customary, the End of a Year and the Beginning of a New one, brings forth the introspective side of oneself and causes one to reflect upon the past year.  For me, my reflection dwells on All things Food...

If you've been following the SFFoodMaven since its inception, there have been many changes which have transpired over the past year, most notably, the transition from the Raptor's Delight to the SF Food Maven.   In spite of these changes, I have pledged to start some new traditions, as well as uphold old ones, such as this, in which I chronicle my past SFFoodMaven Faves at the beginning of the New Year.  You can check out last year's post here if you like.

As for the past Year in Food, 2008 had plenty to offer as far as the Tried and True, and the Old Faves and the New.  My plan to kick it off this time around is to take you on a Culinary Tour of the SFFoodMaven Faves of San Francisco, from Brunch to Dinner, and even Snacks in between.  Essentially, you will be taking a proverbial walk through San Francisco through the eyes of the SFFoodMaven.   So in the spirit of waxing poetically into the New Year, here is the SFFoodMaven Ode to the Top Ambrosial Offerings of 2008...

We shall begin with a few options for Brunch...

I am a bigger fan of Brunch over Breakfast, because you get the best of both worlds and personally, I am not much of an early riser to begin with. SPQR on Fillmore in Lower Pac Heights, has a scrumptious Brunch with one rather unique Brunch item - the Deep 'Fried Egg' Brunch Dish shown above which is positively Divine! It is prepared with Soft Boiled Eggs that are 'clothed' in Bread Crumbs that are Deep Fried for a Spicy, Crispy Coating, then placed atop Creamy Cellini Beans with Pork Soffrito and Chiles. Oh and btw, their Pork Soffrito is To Die For... Absolute brilliance.


















Dim Sum is another great Brunch option here in San Francisco and there are tons of places to choose from, which would definitely make for another write up on here altogether. But one of the most prominent and well-known places in SF is Yank Sing, of which there are 2 locations in SOMA close to downtown. They deem themselves as both a Traditional yet Contemporary Dim Sum place. Although it is a bit on the expensive side as far as dim sum places go, the quality and creativity are well worth it. One of my Favorites, and something that I had there during my latest visit, was the Shanghai Meat Dumpling, which is one of their Signature Dishes and is comprised of Minced Kurobuta Pork, Scallion and Ginger wrapped and steamed in its own Aromatic Broth. Sounds Divine, doesn't it? Yank Sing has a great little slideshow presentation on their site on the The Art of Eating Shanghai Dumplings. I Love the Idea of Meat, that is Steamed in its own Juices, enclosed En Papillote-style in its own wrapper. It is an Exquisite Little Morsel of Heaven! Downright Sensuous even.. Please excuse me while I go have a cig now... lol
If you've never had it, then you have got to go there and try it...
The Food Maven has Spoken.

The Poulet & Frites at Cafe De La Presse, in Lower Nob Hill by Union Square, is an SFFoodMaven 'Oldie but Goodie'. I go to Cafe De La Presse fairly often for Brunch, as it is right in my neighborhood and even frequented this place fairly often even before I moved here. The Chicken is perfectly roasted and the Frites are both pretty damn good and make for a great staple...

And now let's move on to Lunch...

My Favorite Lunch Spot in my neighborhood, Lower Nob Hill, or actually more in Union Square is a quaint cafe on Maiden Lane called Mocca. It is across the street from Union Square and although it is a little on the pricier side due to the tourist factor, the Food and the Setting are terrific! The Food is very Fresh, Flavorful and just plain Fantastic. My Favorite thing on the Menu is the Peppered Tri-Tip Sandwich in which the Tri-Tip is Braised in a Red Wine Sauce that is so unbelievably Tender and Juicy with just the right amount of Seasoning and Spice. It is served with a Side of Tomatoes a la Provencal which make for a perfect pairing. So Savory and Delicious! Just talking about it makes me want to head down there for Lunch right now. Mmm... Anyone care to meet me? haha..
So anyway, this is a great spot when it is a beautiful, sunny day in the City, because you can sit outside and enjoy the live music of DeWayne Oakley & Friends and do some great people-watching. The Tri-Tip Sandwich is my fave, but the rest of their Dishes are pretty terrific as well. I just adore this place and am there quite often...

When I'm craving a Steaming Bowl of Pho, make my way to the Inner Richmond, and I go for one of my favorite Pho places in the City, called Pho Hoa Clement. Reasonably priced and great food, but more importantly great Pho. I usually get the #13 with Rare Steak and Well Done Flank. Yummy and So Satisfying. I judge a Pho by its broth and this place definitely has it down...

l love Mediterranean Food, so if I find myself in the Inner Sunset, I go to my favorite Mediterranean Grill Place called Yumma's for their Gyro Plate... They use Naturally-Fed Meats and they offer Shawarma, Shish Kebab and Vegetarian Foods. When I crave Mediterranean Food or Gyros, this is the Spot...

For a Mid-Afternoon Snack, The Burrata at the Americano (shown above), is an SFFoodMaven, Local Burrata Fave. The texture and consistency is always just right. It is drizzled with Olive Oil and sprinkled with a bit of Pepper and what I think is a Lavender Rock Salt. Absolutely Divine if you ask Me! This and the Wild Mushroom Flatbread Pizza with Sage and Black Truffle were a sure thing with a nice glass of Cava or Rose, during the times I would hang out with friends on the outdoor patio for daytime drinks and happy hours last summer.

SFFoodMaven Juicy Morsel...
This past December, I traveled down to LA and was blown away by the Mozzarella Bar at Osteria Mozza, a restaurant by three veritable virtuosos of the Food World - Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich and Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery. That Meal may very well have been my overall SFFoodMaven Favorite Meal of '08, and that, my Friends, is no joke. Be sure to stay tuned for a write up of my spectacular Meal there in the near future.

When I'm craving a little Sushi, I head to my Fave Spot in the Mission - Tokyo Go Go. It's Hip, the People that work there are Friendly and Great, and the Sushi is Yummy and Inventive. You can find my friends and I there quite often because it feels like our second home.
My absolute Favorites there are the Kobe Beef 'Zabuton' Tataki (shown above) made with Snake River Farms Kobe Beef, Yuzu, Maldon Sea Salt and Fresh Wasabi. It's SO good that my friends and I have been known to come close to stabbing one another with our chopsticks to get the next piece of 'Meaty Goodness'. It is no joke. We are like a pack of Raptors with our chopsticks, it is quite a sight to behold! The other ones that I love are the Azteca Roll with Spicy Crab, Avocado, Cucumber & Gobo topped with Suzuki, Jalapeno, Chili Aioli, Tobiko and Scallion. Sounds like a lot of stuff, but trust me, it all goes perfectly together. Lastly, I am a fan of the Sunshine Hand Roll with Hamachi, Cilantro, Wasabi Tobiko and Quail Egg. All Extremely Tasty! SFFoodMaven says, Eat Here.
 

Last up, is the Crab Gnocchi at C O N D U I T...
I will have to be honest and tell you that I was never a big fan of Gnocchi, but CONDUIT's Gnocchi has changed me mind. It is prepared with Green Garlic, Dungeness Crab and Arugula, and just as others before me have said, 'It is to die for…' The Gnocchis were so light & fluffy. Cloud-like. Served with so much Dungeness Crab, that it was smothered with Crab. And smothered is no exaggeration as you can see from the photos. Sure, it may be swimming in a Bit of Butter, but I am not opposed. This Crab Gnocchi here is undeniably my favorite Gnocchi of all time. It is simply - Deliciously Divine.

So there you have it... My very own personal 'Ode to Food in 2008' - a Delicious Culinary Tour of San Francisco through the eyes of a Food Maven. Thank you so much for reading along with me over the past years and I look forward to yet another Deliciously, Delightful Year exploring San Francisco and beyond for Ambrosial Offerings, Tasty Tidbits, Juicy Morsels and of course, that Next Great Meal...

As Always, Yours In Food...

The SFFoodMaven



A Little Aside: Eagles beat the Giants yesterday in an Awesome game, and being originally from Philly myself, I just HAD to put in some props. GO EAGLES!!!

Menu For Hope and The World Food Programme - Only A Few Days Left!

Menu For Hope is an annual fundraising campaign, spearheaded by Chez Pim and many foodbloggers from around the world. This effort originally started five years ago after the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia by which Chez Pim was inspired to start the first Menu For Hope. Since then it has become a yearly campaign to raise funds for worthy causes around the world.

Each December, food bloggers from all over the world join the campaign by offering a delectable array of food-related prizes for the Menu for Hope raffle. Anyone can buy raffle tickets to bid on these prizes and for every $10 donated, you earn one virtual raffle ticket to bid on a prize of your choice. And believe me, the prizes are truly amazing! At the end of the two-week campaign this Wednesday, Christmas Eve, the raffle tickets are drawn and the results announced on Chez Pim.

For any FAQ's such as how to donate, how are the donations collected & distributed and more on the beneficiary - the UN World Food Programme - please click here.

Last year, Menu For Hope raised nearly $100K to help the UN World Food Program (WFP) feed the hungry. And this year, for just $10 or more, you too can help keep kids in school and win delicious food prizes from food bloggers all over the world.

Unfortunately, I got a late start, because I just now got wind of this. The campaign started on December 15th and runs through this Wednesday, Christmas Eve, which means there are only a few days left! So please, if you would like to donate to the cause, go online now and browse the amazing array of prizes by type, or find a prize near you by searching by region. Bid on as many prizes as you'd like. Buy raffle tickets as holiday gifts to your loved ones. Here is that link again. This holiday, help us help the WFP end world hunger.

Savory Cupcakes... Really..

For real. This is no joke.
These are Savory Cupcakes made with Meatloaf and Mashed Potato Frosting. I know, right?
Bizarre. But the SF Food Maven doesn't have much of a 'sweet tooth' so I personally thought these are a brilliant idea. I mean, I'm sure it will take some getting used to as far as the Visual versus Oral sensory expectation, but I would be willing to give it a shot.

I actually first read about this on the Bunrab's site, because the one known as 'Chubby' made them for a Holiday Cupcake party. Bravo Chubby! I would have loved to be able to try one...

If you would like to try these for yourselves or if you would like to even make me some over the holidays (hint hint), then here is the link to the recipe on Food Network. I think the Sanf, Yoghurt-covered Fennel Seeds are a really nice touch...

Dine Out Against Hunger This Thursday December 18th...

DINE OUT AGAINST HUNGER - Thursday December 18th

13 Top Restaurants Will Donate a Portion of Proceeds to the San Francisco Food Bank
It's no secret that restaurants have seen a real slump in business lately, but really who isn't? Unfortunately, there are hundreds of thousands of people in San Francisco who are suffering worse circumstances who are at risk of going hungry this holiday season. These people are from poor working households whose incomes are so low that they are unable to put food on their families tables every day. The San Francisco Food banks supplies food over 600 programs operated by community service agencies and food pantries throughout the City.

So Scott Youkilis and Michael Pierce of Maverick restaurant in the Mission district created Dine Out Against Hunger, and brought together some of the city’s top restaurants to donate up to 10% of their dinner sales from Thursday (December 18th) to the San Francisco Food Bank
.Maverick is also offering to take 10% off of the tab for any customers making an additional donation to the Food Bank.

Participating Dine Out against Hunger restaurants are:
Maverick, Slow Club, Serpentine, Foreign Cinema, Magnolia, Sociale, Slanted Door, Kuleto's, Delfina, Americano, A16, Incanto and SPQR.

The focus of this drive is to raise financial contributions versus actual food donations from participants, because for every $1 donated, the Food Bank can distribute $9 worth of food into the community - thanks to its relationships with retailers, growers and distributors. San Francisco Food banks' goal is to distribute 66,000 holiday meals this season.

So get out there and eat out for a good cause - helping to feed others in need for the holidays.
Mangia!

For reservations, contact the individual restaurant
or for more information, visit - www.SFFoodBank.org.

COI

Daniel Patterson's Coi
I have been wanting to try Coi for some time and I finally got the opportunity to go with my good friend, JM. The name of the restaurant itself, Coi, a French word meaning 'tranquil' is an apt name which best describes the small, yet elegant space with its serene and rather subdued interiors with a muted color palette and grasscloth walls. Chef and Owner, Daniel Patterson is a known for his adventurous techniques and masterful execution of dishes that often incorporate molecular gastronomy. Some examples of these would be foams, emulsions, gels, essences, aromas and the use of essential oils with food of which he has written a book about and is known for. These techniques, which are not unlike that you would see from Ferran Adria's El Bulli in Roses, Spain and Grant Achatz at Alinea in Chicago, which are extremely cutting edge, whereas Patterson is much more subtle, perhaps more towards the style of the veritable Thomas Keller of French Laundry.

Coi received four stars from Michael Bauer of the Chronicle this past August, a rating shared by only a precious few of the veritable Bay Area chefs such as Thomas Keller of the French Laundry, Roland Passot of La Folie, Ron Siegel of the Dining Room at the Ritz and Michael Mina to name a few. Patterson's style of food is highly unique and individual with a depth and artistic quality that is rivaled by no other in San Francisco. As Frank Bruni of the NY Times stated, Patterson's food is likened to art, religion and Chanel No. 5.

So enough with the background, let's move on to the important part - the Food.
Below are my photos from our Meal with Menu descriptions below each item...
And if the photos are anything to go by, each Dish was rather unique and beautiful.

Our first encounter was the Amuse Bouche, of Milk & Honey, which was exactly that...
Milk encased somehow within the Honey.

First Course, PINK GRAPEFRUIT ginger, tarragon, black pepper
Next to the Dish itself was a small dab of essential oils - we were instructed to dab some on our wrists and inhale deeply before eating. This is COI's signature fragrance, and it was interesting to say the least.

Second Course, SHINY BEETS citrus scented gel, vadouvan

Third Course, FROMAGE BLANC TART early girl tomatoes, mcevoy olive oil, verbena

Fourth Course was a choice between this on and the Bone Marrow Dish below.
CHILLED PIQUILLO PEPPER SOUP pole and shelling beans,
preserved lemon, cumin, mint.

SMOKED AND SEARED BONE MARROW red and white pomegranate,
asian pear, sorrel.

Fifth Course was a choice between this Dish and the Spiny Lobster below.
CHANTENAY CARROTS AND ARTICHOKES BRAISED IN OUR BUTTER
green cardamom, cilantro.

SPINY LOBSTER SALAD radish, bramley's seedling apple, fennel, chervil

Sixth Course was a choice between this one and a Raviolo which for some reason, I failed to photograph.. weird. I guess th Abalona was just that good...
SAUTEED MONTEREY BAY ABALONE escarole,
parsley-caper vinaigrette

Seventh Course we both were given the MATSUTAKE GRILLED ON THE PLANCHA potato-pine needle puree. Nice Dish.

The Eighth Course was a choice between the SLOW COOKED FARM EGG
green farro, gold chard, brown butter-parmesan sauce.
And the Bison Dish below...

SEARED BIG VALLEY RANCH BISON gold turnips and their greens, black olive

The Ninth Course was a Cheese Course
ETUDE (SOYOUNG SCANLAN) khalal barhi dates, walnuts, peppercress

The last few Courses were Dessert Dishes. First a QUINCE PARFAIT huckleberry, almond, thyme.

MICHEL CLUIZEL "CONCEPCION" GANACHE seascape strawberries,
cocoa nib, violet ice cream.

MILKSHAKE vanilla bean, olive oil

The Milkshake above, as unassuming and simple as it sounds, was a real winner, which came as a huge surprise. I mean, I'm talking 'eyes rolling back' kinda good. A truly fantastic end to an amazing dinner. JM and I agreed that the other winners were the Abalone and the Bison.

Coi was a truly memorable experience which we found to be truly innovative and each Dish, meticulous in its presentation and attention to detail and in its use of local organic ingredients. And just an FYI, the Tasting at Coi consists of an 11 Courses at $120 per person, so be sure to save up beforehand. Thanks again, JM for dining with me, and as I said, next food review will be my treat!
Where shall we go next?

Wishing You and Yours a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope You are having a Wonderfully Delicious Thanksgiving with a Big Juicy Turkey and all of the Fixins with the People that you Love...

Gobble Gobble...

SF Food Maven