Raptor's Delight...

My Very First Article on SFBayStyle.com

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:08:00 +0000

I'm so excited! My first article about the Prada Opening catered by Thomas Keller on SFBayStyle.com is finally up! I love the first pic which shows Harry Denton and Thomas Keller arm-in-arm.

Click here to read it.

A Raptor's Wet Dream from an SF Bay Stylish Opportunity...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:09:00 +0000

Ok, I know it's late and I should probably be in bed right now, but who am I kidding? I always stay up late when I get caught up in my writing. So, I have something that I just couldn't go to bed without sharing this juicy bit of news.

So in addition to all of this transitional stuff of moving the 'food writing' to SF Food Maven, yours truly, is also starting a sweet new opportunity to write for a chic online publication called SFBayStyle.com.
I am super excited about this, because not only is it an opportunity to gain some good experience, it's also an excellent opportunity to be able to attend some great events in the City.
I am literally 'all over the place' these days and am slowly making my way towards literary omnipresence, which, of course, has always been a part of my ultimate goal & master plan. And with that, you are strictly on a need to know basis for now...

So anyhow, what's the 'juice' with the 'wet dream' business?
Well, I was thrilled to find out today that I get to attend and cover the New Prada Flagship Grand Opening tonight (Tues) as an SFBayStyle correspondent...
So, Prada, as if that weren't exciting enough, and believe me, I'm no 'label whore' by any means. Then what's the big deal?
Well, I read on Eater SF the other night that Chef Thomas Keller will be catering the event! I know! I can't even tell you how unbelievably psyched I am to be able to attend this event and eat TK's food again. How exciting is that?

Trust me, I am jumping out of my Raptor skin with excitement and I will be sure to tell you all about it...
Now I can go to sleep, so that the sooner to bed, the sooner I wake to start the day and eat more delicious Food...

Chow, Lovers...

From Raptor's Delight to the SF Food Maven...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:04:00 +0000

So I'm back...
And in major transition as you can imagine... Having been gone for the last month or so, things have been crazed since my return. Mainly been trying to get back into the swing of things from where I left off last May. It is mid-July now, has it really been that long? Time has flown by and now I am in the midst of playing some serious catch-up.

One major change, as those of you who have been keeping up with me, is the change from the Raptor's Delight to SF Food Maven. This has only contributed to the back up in the transition from one to the other. Raptor's Delight will now be my 'Raptor's Random Musings' on anything and everything from Life to Travel and of course, Food, in which I plan to write on that blog in 'my own voice'. SF Food Maven will serve as my more serious and hopefully more professional writing medium for myself as an aspiring writer. Both will provide good exercises in composition, I think, hopefully some interesting reads for you guys... and I hope you as my loyal readers, both old and new, will stick with me in this transition and give me support. Feel free to sign up for both if you feel so inclined, as they should both be pretty different. At least the topics anyway. I will place a link to the SFFM food blog up at the top here in case you want to go back & forth. Any other suggestions are always welcome.

So bear with me in this transition and work-in-progress, and I hope to have things moving much more smoothly as I get settled back into life as the Raptor & Food Maven. There are definitely lots of exciting & delicious things going on, so stay tuned...

Yours In Food...

SF Food Maven aka The Raptor

Changes...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:13:00 +0000

Dear Readers...

I just wanted to let you in on a few up and coming things. I will not be able to post anything for the next four weeks or so, because I am leaving this week to go back east for the weekend and then next week as soon I return I will be flying abroad for the month of June for a trip to the Philippines and hopefully other parts of Asia too. This is going to be a huge, exciting trip for me because the only other time that I was ever there was when I was just 4 years old. I do plan to take a journal with me, so I am sure I will have lots to say. But who knows, I may find my way to an internet cafe at some points during my trip...

With that said, I am planning to do some major changes with the Raptor's Delight. Although I do enjoy this blog, the whole 'Raptor' idea is really just a private joke amongst me & my friends. So with these new changes, I hope to be able to separate out the professional, objective food writing to allow me to write in my own voice again. Y’know, be free to be me kinda thing. Plus, I would really like to appeal to a wider audience with this whole food writing thing. You feel me?
A new blog site is in the works by which I plan to change the name to The Food Maven. I've already secured the blog domain on Wordpress and am in the process of figuring out the Design aspect of it. I know, doesn't it sound like I know what I'm doing? I mean, I got the basics down but I am not the most tech savvy of people as I am sure my friends can attest. So if any one out there can help in any way, then by all means please let me know! It may even involve sharing a Raptor meal together at some point..

I haven't quite decided exactly what I am going to do with the Raptor's Delight yet, but I have been toying with the idea of keeping it as a personal journal-style blog and then The Food Maven can be my professional writing blog. For RD, I’m thinking random internet café jaunts abroad and personal tidbits on the Raptor’s travels in the upcoming weeks to start and then taking it from there…
Of course, Food will still be a very big part of it I am sure.

I’m kinda diggin’ the idea of using RD as a writing journal the more I think about it actually. It has the possibility to be an open canvas. Professional writing can smother a writer’s true voice and as RD progressed I can see that it has happened a little… well, ok maybe a lot. But as my favorite Literature professor at St. Joe’s always said, ‘Good Writing is Good Talk!’ and this very well may be the means to it…

Well, Mabuhay People! Mabuhay meaning ‘To Life’!
I hope to reconnect with you again soon…

Yours in Food…

The Raptor

Aslam's Rasoi

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:47:00 +0000

Aslam's Rasoi

Category: Pakistani & Indian

Neighborhood: The Mission

Price Range: $$

It is a wonder that I haven't written about this place sooner. We go here all the time and I mean, all the time! At least once or even twice a week some times, I would say. I'm not going to lie, we even came here after our lunch at the French Laundry. Sorry FL! This place is great for almost any occasion, from dinner with the girls to large birthday dinners and it is consistently good every time. I love Pakistani & Indian Food and I have some very good Indian friends that think that I was from India in another life. That very well may be true...

Aslam's Rasoi has really great Pakistani & Indian Food. It is definitely not your Indian Dive joint that you find in the 'Loin, but it is a mid-range family-owned place that does their Food extremely well. The Master Chef and Owner, Mohammed Aslam was from Indian Oven in the Haight formerly and has won many awards from Zagat, SF Weekly, San Francisco Magazine and the like. He opened Aslam's Rasoi in April 2006 where he took over the former restaurant there which was called just Rasoi and thus made it Aslam's Rasoi. His Son, Asif and Daughter, Sehrish, both work there and are very sweet and extremely accommodating. This is a family operation and they have always made us feel at home there.

So what else is so great about Aslam's? Well, let me tell you...

For me, the Curries are perfectly prepared where the Spices are just right. The Meats, from Lamb to Chicken or Prawns are always incredibly tender. And their Menu has many things that you don't typically find in hole-in-the-wall joints. I do have my favorites though, so let me share these with you.

Above we have a typical Raptor Aslam's Spread - a photo which I took myself. We always start with a bottle of the Sula Chenin Blanc, which is light, fresh and fruity. Not as sweet as a Reisling, but goes extremely well with spicy Indian Food. When we're feeling super hungry, we will occasionally get an appetizer or two such as Samosa or Pakoras of which there are the typical Vegetable, Bombay-style or Gobi, but we are big fans of the Chicken Pakoras, which in effect are Indian-style Chicken Nuggets. Good stuff! Another great thing is that the Menu not only has your typical Naans and Basmati Rice for their Sides, but they also offer a huge variety of other items that you don't typically find. Like six kinds of Biryanis, Paratha (Buttered and Layered Whole Wheat Bread), Chapati (Unleavened Whole Wheat Bread baked in Tandoor) and Poori (Deep-Fried Whole Wheat Puffs). A little secret for you... We sometimes ask for a Chaat-Style Salad (Not on the Menu) which has Chick Peas, Tomato, Cucumber, Red Onion, Lime Juice and Cilantro and finished with a little bit of Yoghurt. Delicious and Refreshing...

We then go on to order our Mains...

First-timers at any Indian restaurant typically order the Chicken Tikka Masala, which naturally they do a great job with here. But we prefer the Murgh Makhani which is Boneless Chicken simmered in a mild Butter Creamy Tomato Sauce. My favorite go-to Dish is Saag Gosht, Boneless lamb cooked with Creamed Spinach, Garlic and Ginger. Aslam's is my favorite, because their Lamb is so tender and juicy. The photo above is a picture that I took of the Saag Gosht. I love it.

Other Faves are the Karahi Gosht, Lamb cooked with Butter, Ginger, Garlic and Spices in a semi-dry Sauce and the Rasoi's Rogan Josh, a classic Lamb Curry cooked with Ginger, Garlic, Onions and Saffron. These are both very similar Dishes, but we prefer the Karahi Gosht a little more. I have tried a few of the Vegetarian and Seafood Dishes, but admittedly, prefer Lamb & Chicken. I have tried their Dal and I thought it was really good.

Oh and we always get an order of Raita, Homemade Yogurt with Herbs, Shredded Cucumber and Cumin, which is a great Side to help cool down anything spicy. Theirs is particularly thick & creamy, which is how I like it.

Speaking of Lamb, O.M.G.! The Rasoi's Lamb Chops are to die for! See photo below...

Rasoi's Lamb Chops are Tender Lamb Chops marinated in homemade Yogurt and Aslam's Spices. You won't find this under the Lamb section, but in the Tandoori section. They are Unbelievably Good! So Tender, Juicy and Succulent... Mmmm...

Trust me on this one, you have to try it.

All I can say is if you like Indian/Pakistani Food... EAT HERE.

C O N D U I T

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:54:00 +0000

C O N D U I T

Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: The Mission
Price Range: $$$

Had a really great Meal at CONDUIT the other night. No.. It was more than great, it was fantastic! I have also been back several times since and it was just as great every time...

You walk in and you are confronted with a very modern minimalist space – a dimly lit, yet warm space, with candlelight all around, a two sided black fireplace up front and shiny copper and steel conduit piping everywhere which serve as partitions to create little intimate nooks for Dining. There is an open Kitchen and the Bar is to the far right. I find the vibe lively & the space sexy... I like it.

The idea behind the name, C O N D U I T, is two fold referring to the inspired decor & award-winning design of Stanley Saitowitz, and it also refers to the idea behind the restaurant - serving as a 'conduit' or 'meeting place' for the community to 'come together'.

The Food itself is created by Chef Justin Deering, who hails from the likes of Boulevard, Jeanty at Jack's, Fifth Floor and Tra Vigne and it shows.

I found the Menu itself to be concise & to the point, simply listing its ingredients for the staff to describe the preparation for you. Written a little bit like prose, perhaps even in haiku.

Just Words. Basic. Like this. I liked.

But the best thing about the Menu was the Food's execution. I mean, the Food was incredibly delicious and well prepared. The Wine List was extensive. For Wine this particular evening, we chose a half bottle of 2006 Siduri from the Russian River Valley. Very good.

So, we started with one App and one Pasta Dish.

My dining companion started with the Pork Belly cavolo nero rillete apple pistachio. I definitely like what I tried, and I know he did, because it was gone in 60 seconds. In case you were wondering, Cavolo Nero is a type of Cabbage, also known as Black Cabbage or Tuscan kale. The Pork Belly lay atop Braised Cavolo Nero to one side and two creamy little Pork Rilletes on the other with an Apple and Pistachio Compote on top.

I chose the Gnocchi green garlic dungeness crab arugula and just as others have said, 'To die for…' The Gnocchis were so light & fluffy. Cloud-like. Served with so much Dungeness Crab. It was smothered with Crab. And smothered is no exaggeration as you can see from the photo. Delicious and Heavenly come to mind. It was unbelievably good! I loved it. Highly recommend.

For our Mains..

I had the Duck Breast rapini potato which was Pan Roasted. It had beautifully Crisp Skin on top and stuffed with a filling that I am unsure of what it was exactly, but delicious nonetheless. The Sides were Sautéed Tender Broccolini and what I think was a very disappointing Scalloped Potato type thing that was undercooked and dry. Had it been creamy & light, it would have been perfect. Ah well, maybe or hopefully it was just off that evening.

K had the Walu grilled guanciale cannelini castelvetrano olive which was amazing. Pan Seared Walu atop Creamy White Beans, Bits of Guanciale (a type of Cured Pork that is similar to Bacon) and Green Olives that were fried Tempura-style... This was an exceptional Dish which was perfectly prepared and I hope you get to try it before the Menu changes.

Aside: When I was back recently, we tried the Grilled New York Steak which was accompanied by Seared Bone Marrow Nuggets that were encased in some type of breaded exterior to form little bites, that when bit into, burst into the rich creamy entity that is Bone Marrow in and of itself. Now the preparation was certainly inventive, though not my favorite, but what I wanted to share with you was the description that my dining companion put forth that best described Marrow in a nutshell - and that is 'Meat Butter'. I could not have said it better. I love that.

Overall, I really like this place.
The Space. Modern. Minimalist. Sexy
The Service. On Par. Hospitable even.
The Food. Inventive. Well prepared. Exceptional.
This place was Impressive and I cannot wait to go back...

'Epic'urean Weekend Part 3... SUNDAY The French Laundry

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:22:00 +0000

SUNDAY
The French Laundry

For those of you that are unfamiliar with the French Laundry, it is located in Napa Valley, California, more specifically in the quaint, rustic town of Yountville. The French Laundry is only one of Chef//Owner, Thomas Keller's Legendary Restaurants of which he has five in California, Las Vegas & New York. The French Laundry itself was first opened in July of 1994 and quickly became a multiple award-winning Restaurant. It was modeled after the 3 Star restaurants that he apprenticed at in the French countryside. The Cuisine is American with a French influence and the Dishes are artistic and imaginative, using high quality, unique ingredients.

What fascinates me so much about Thomas Keller is that after reading Michael Ruhlman's The Soul of a Chef (a book that I highly recommend for you fellow Foodies), I learned that Chef Keller had no formal or professional training whatsoever aside from what he learned on his own as a young man working in one of his mother's restaurant kitchens in Southern Florida and as an apprentice in various kitchens abroad in the South of France. He has the highest regard for Food and everything related to what it takes to bring it from the Farm or Garden to your Plate. And today, The French Laundry as well as his restaurant, Per Se in New York are both 3 Michelin Star rated restaurants, one of the highest accolades a restaurant can achieve in the world and he is the only American Chef to have two restaurants that are 3-Star Michelin rated.
Pretty impressive, huh?

Reservations are extremely difficult to come by as you may have read in my earlier post and after trying for the past five years, I did as suggested and called 2 months to the date of when I wanted the reservation and finally scored one back in December.

So that weekend, we woke up early Sunday morning in anticipation of our Lunch at the French Laundry. We arrive in Yountville a half an hour early to stroll the gardens, but upon arrival, we were actually sat early and were led to one of the upstairs dining rooms.

After perusing the Menu, in which you are given a choice between a 9 Course Chef's Tasting Menu or a 9 Course Vegetable Tasting Menu, we made our selections for the parts of the Menu that allowed for supplemental items such as Foie Gras for an additional $30. All Tasting Menus are a fixed price of $240 per person (Service is included) and we opted for wine pairings by the Sommelier. The Sommelier, whose name escapes me, was Parisian and when approached by him, his clever question to us was, "Would you like to stay local or do you prefer to travel?" Our suggestion to you is to definitely travel.

Rather than give complete thoughts and musings on every single Dish, I thought I would post photos of all of the Food, of which there are many, with full descriptions from the Menu. And if any of the Dishes stood out, then I will elaborate of course.

One thing that I will mention before I start is that Thomas Keller is known for his Culinary imagination behind his Dishes, and as I was writing about our FL Experience, I began to recognize and interpret some of the ideas behind some of his Fare. See if you can too.

So Here Starts Our Culinary Journey...

Our Amuse Bouche was the Signature Savory Salmon Tartare Cornet prepared with a sprinkle of Black Sesame Seeds... Simple & Delicious.

Cauliflower "Panna Cotta"
with Island Creek Oyster Glaze & Sterling White Sturgeon Caviar.

KJ & I personally enjoyed this Dish but our dining companions, JZ & JL did not as they are not fans of Caviar. I thought the combination of the saltiness of the Caviar went well with the creaminess of the Panna Cotta. This was what we had instead of Keller's Signature Dish, "Oyster's & Pearls", a play on Oysters and Tapioca Pearls with Sabayon and Caviar. *sniff*
Perhaps another time...

Salad of Yukon Gold Potato "Confite"
with Kohlrabi, English Peas & Garden Mint Vinaigrette

Hardcore Carnivore that I am, I still have an appreciation for Vegetarian Dishes from time to time and this one was a 'star' in my mind. The Potatoes, which where prepared Confite-style were tender & creamy yet fresh-tasting. A lovely Dish...

Moulard Duck "Foie Gras au Torchon" (a $30.00 supplement)
with Compressed Hosui Pears, "Granola", Watercress Leaves & "Trockenbeerenauslese" (a German/Austrian Dessert Wine) Vinegar-Wildflower Honey "Gastrique"

I am not a huge fan of the Torchon or Terrine Preparations of Foie Gras. I prefer just the simple Pan Seared style, because I love the Crispy & Creamy contrast that you get in those preps, especially when it is prepared with a nice Brioche and Fruit. In this particular case, I thought the the size of the portion of Foie au Torchon was just too much. I could not even finish it, which is a shame and I even shared it. I also was not too keen on the large, unwieldy size of the Brioche Toasts that we got to accompany it. They were tasty, but they made a huge mess on the table. I would have preferred less Foie, more Fruit and smaller Brioche.

Grilled "Pave" of Kindai Bluefin Tuna (One of my Most Memorable & probably my Favorite Dish)
with Ruby Red Grapefruit, Crosnes, a type of Japanese Artichoke) & French Laundry Garden "Tatsoi", a dark green spoon-shaped type of Asian green, that was Sauteed and added a nice Creamy Texture to the perfectly medium rare grill of the Bluefin Tuna, the Tartness of the Ruby Red Grapefruit & the interesting flavor and texture of the Crosnes. The combination of all of the flavors & textures knocked it out of the park for me. I can still taste it as I think back and am even salivating as we speak...

Sea of Japan Bigfin Squid
Globe Artichokes "a la Grecque", Spanish Caper "Pain Perdu", Sweet Peppers and Field Arugula

JL was the only one to have this Dish, as the rest of us had the Tuna, and in a nutshell, he thought it was nothing special.

Sweet Butter-Poached Maine Lobster Tail (Another Favorite for Me)
New Crop Fava Beans, Sunchokes, Marcona Almonds and Madras Curry Emulsion

This was a favorite for me and the rest of my Dining Companions as well. The Art of Poaching Lobster in Butter is a technique that Chef Keller is known for and the result is exceptional - Lobster that is extremely tender and delicate. Superb!

Four Story Hill Farm "Cuisse De Poularde"
Applewood Smoked Bacon, "Spaetzle", Savoy Cabbage, Pickled Pearl Onions & Caraway-Infused "Jus".

Not sure if i just did not 'get' this Dish, but it did not do it for me at all. The rubbery, Raw Bacon-like texture of the Chicken was strange and I did not care for it..

"Filet Mignon" of Marcho Farms Natural-Fed Veal
with Bluefoot Mushrooms, Green Garlic, Sweet Carrots & "Bearneaise Reduction"

The Ladies opted for the "Filet Mignon" naturally expecting a Filet of Beef. As I mentioned earlier, this is one thing you have to be careful with when ordering from Chef Keller's Menu because he enjoys various 'plays' on different Foods and Dishes, as in the cuts of Meats in this particular case. We were mildly surprised and enjoyed the Veal immensely.

Kuroge Beef and Black Winter Truffle "Saucisson En Croute"
Fennel Bulb, Cherry-Truffle Coulis & Garden Mache

While the Ladies enjoyed the Filet Mignon of Veal, the guys opted for the Kuroge Beef which is a breed of Wagyu Beef and they were extremely disappointed. JL said that he thought it tasted like a hot dog, in which he was not too far off the mark as Saucisscon En Croute is essentially - Sausage prepared in Pastry. Now why you would do that to a Kuroge Wagyu Beef is beyond me!

"Vacherin Mont D'Or"
Garnet Yams, "Pecan Pie" and Cutting Celery Greens

This to me was unremarkable.

Diane St. Clair Buttermilk Sherbet
with Spiced Streusel and Honey-Glazed Cranberry

I liked the Creamy, slightly Sourness of the Buttermilk Sherbet that was paired with the Crispy Spiced Streusel and the Sweet, Tartness of the Honey-Glazed Cranberry. A nice, refreshing Palette Cleanser prior to Dessert.

Dessert...

Valrhona Chocolate "Dobos"
Chestnut Butter, Candied Chestnuts and Brown Bread Ice Cream

Granny Smith Apple "Bavarois"
Cinnamon "Sable", Dijon Mustard Ice Cream and Crystallized Napa Valley Mustard Blossoms.

It was light, creamy & refreshing, just how I like my Desserts typically. And How beautiful is this dessert? How do they do that?...

We were not only presented with the Desserts that we chose from the Tasting Menu, but were We were given a plethora of extra Desserts & Mignardises from Creme Brulee to little Petit Fours & Cookies. A Happy Ending all around...

To sum it all up...

The Restaurant itself. Rustic, Beautiful and Subdued...
The Service. Outstanding.
The Food. The Star. Simple, Imaginative, Artistic...
The Overall Experience. Once in a Lifetime.

The Question is, would we do it again? We are not so sure. I mean, I am all for splurging on a Meal, especially if it is in a place that is as highly regarded as the French Laundry. I think that if you are spending that type of money on a Meal, then every single Dish or at least the bulk of it should be exceptional and knock it out of the park. I loved three or maybe four of the nine or so Courses, so I admit that I was a little disappointed. Although as I was writing this I did begin to learn to appreciate the artistic nature of the Dishes, as well as Keller's reverence for Food and of course, it goes without saying that the Service was impeccable. So I guess if you factor all of these things in, it was worth it. Foodies that we all are, we definitely agreed that at the very least, we are glad that we were able to experience the French Laundry.

At the end of the Weekend, we collectively agreed that this was one of, if not, the best Weekend that we had ever done in Wine Country. It truly was an 'Epic'urean weekend, or as KJ put it, it was Bacchanalian, Dionysian & straight up Gangster all in one...

All in all, when you finish your weekend with the French Laundry, you know you've got it made.

'Epic'urean Weekend in Sonoma Part 2... SATURDAY the Sonoma Wine Country

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:20:00 +0000

SATURDAY...

Wine Tasting.

Now, Having been in the Bay Area for the last 10 years, I have been to the Wine Country many many times. But this is the first time that I've done it 'strictly Sonoma' and I have to tell you, that I really like it there much more than Napa. I love the down-to-earthedness of it all and there are some pretty darn good wines to be found to boot...

First stop, Moon Mountain...

We started of our day of wine tasting with a beautiful drive up a winding road to a Vineyard called Moon Mountain. The first photo above was taken on the way and it was breathtaking to be completely surrounded by vineyard after vineyard. Although the Wine was alright, it was certainly not our favorite of the day... They do have a nice Winery with a big deck where you can take a glass of wine out there and view the the pretty scenery and the surrounding vineyard atop the mountain. It looked like a really cool place to have a party, which they did say they were apt to do...

Now our next stop was Little Vineyards...
What great little spot! We drove in and as you can see from the little building on the left, this place truly lived up to its name. For such a little vineyard, the wine and its proprietors were larger than life and super friendly. The Wines that they offer are Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Resonance and a Band Blend which was our favorite and it was a 2007 Sonoma County Harvest Fair Gold Medal Winner. The Band Blend even comes with a little CD. What was really cool was that Rich, the owner had this interesting instrument that he called the Stick (basically it's a guitar and bass in one and is played by tapping it) and he played as were tasting the Wines. He even let some of us try it. I don't know if I will be successful with this, but I have attempted to put the video of this below... Check it out.

After Little Vineyards, we went to Loxton Cellars...

Their main focus is Syrahs and Zinfandels, although they do offer a Chardonnay and a really great Port. The proprietor is Chris Loxton from Australia and was raised on a Shiraz vineyard in South Australia. When he moved to California, he had to adjust to the 'native' grape of Zinfandel. He founded Loxton in 1996 and we loved the Syrah and the Port. Definitely recommend this Winery for a quick stop in Sonoma if you are into Syrahs, Zins or Port...

Our last stop was a little hidden gem of a spot that is such that, which we happened upon completely on a funny little fluke... One of my companions has the last name Lee and this place is only open by appointment only. So he called them up that morning to make an appointment to stop by and initiates the conversation with a boisterous, 'What's up cuz!'. They have a brief exchange and after that we figured that we were all set. So after traversing Sonoma County going from Moon Mountain to Little Vineyard to Loxton, our fourth stop was C**** L** Vineyard. This place is not very easy to find, because there was no signage and all we had was the address. We hesitantly drive by it at first, unsure as to whether we were in the right place or just intruding on some random people's property. We drive up the short hill that is their driveway and are approached by a friendly couple.
They peek into our car and we ask if we are in the right place. They said yes and we are warmly welcomed and then led to the side patio/deck with an outdoor adobe-style kitchen overlooking their vineyard. It was decorated in a simple, yet elegant Southwestern theme with scattered cactus plants in large pots throughout and a couple of charming chimineas burning amid cloth umbrellas hovering over wooden tables & wicker chairs. It was a lovely setting reminiscent of New Mexico and Arizona.

So to continue with the story, after conversing with the couple and introducing ourselves, we quickly realize that the proprietor's name is not C**** L**, but in fact a combination of the couple's middle names. Their first names being Guy & Debbie. After we had a laugh over the mistaken coincidence, we were generously poured a tasting of all their wines and given little nibbles of a fabulous Truffle Cheese & Crackers to accompany. Mind you, I say generous which is almost an understatement, because they have a very small property, that is just a few acres.
As I said, this was truly a hidden little gem of a spot that I am hesitant to share with too many people, because you would only want to share it with your most favorite people if you know what I mean...

*So if you are interested in finding out the name of the this Vineyard & Winery, then shoot me an email and I will gladly share the details...

an 'Epic'urean Weekend in Sonoma Part 1... FRIDAY the Arrival.

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:13:00 +0000

Hello Food Lovers! I know it has been taking me some time to write about the weekend that we went to the French Laundry. Life has been in the fast lane as of late and I haven't had a moment to sit down and write. But at last, I have found some time before I go to Puerto Vallarta at the end of this week.
Because this particular post is such a huge undertaking, I mean, we're not just talking the French Laundry, the entire weekend was fantastic! How do I even begin?

I decided to break it down into three different posts starting with our arrival into Sonoma on Friday morning, followed by our exploring the Sonoma Wine Country all day on Saturday, and rounding it up with the much anticipated French Laundry for Lunch on Sunday...
It was spent with three of my favorite friends, who were chosen for their Love of Food, as well as my Love of Them. Lucky them and lucky me!
It truly was an Epic Weekend, as the title of these next 3 posts implies. And so starts the recounting of the 'Epic'urean Weekend in Sonoma...

So the weekend that we had reservations at the French Laundry for Sunday Lunch, we all decided to take the Friday before off to head up early and spend a long weekend in Sonoma. I had scored the reservation for 4 at the FL back in December, exactly 2 months to the day of the reservation, so you can imagine the anticipation that had built up to this weekend.

Epicures that we were, we had it all planned out...

We arrived in Sonoma at 1030am and we had reservations to stay at the Trojan Horse Inn, but could not check in until later that afternoon. The Boys had golf at the Silverado Golf Club, and JZ and I had spa treatments at the Sonoma Spa on the Plaza at 1230pm, so we decided to grab a bite first on the Square.

After wandering around the Square, we chose the Sunflower Caffe on the recommendation of my foodie friend & coworker, the Food Rat, who raved about this place on Yelp and said that I 'had to try' the Smoked Duck Sandwich there.

We walked in, placed our orders and then ambled out to find a lovely outdoor garden patio in the back. Fortunately, it was gorgeous day! The Food was brought to us and we all agreed the everything was fresh and delicious. Everyone but me had something on the lighter side: JZ & JL both had the Half Sandwich & Soup combo with Chicken Salad for their Sandwiches. The Whole Roasted Chicken Salad was yummy with big chunks of Chicken, and prepared with Celery, Onions and Parsley. KJ had the Cold Smoked Salmon which was very fresh and was served on a Bagel with the usual suspects as accompaniments - Cream Cheese, Red Onion, Tomatoes, Capers & Lemon.

And I, of course, had the Smoked Duck Breast Sandwich made with Sonoma Saveurs Smoked Duck served warm on a Baguette with Carmelized Onions, Melted Gruyere and a Side of Fresh Mixed Greens. Smoked Duck and Melted Gruyere? It was as expected.. Delicious!

Thanks, C!

After our wonderful spa treatments, shopping & pedicures, my girlfriend, JZ and I caught a cab to the Trojan Horse Inn to check in and change for Dinner that evening. We were greeted by Bethany of the Husband & Wife team owners, and were then shown to our rooms.

Let me tell you about the Inn. This place is a serene, elegant and romantic inn, recently updated with six unique rooms, all with private en suite baths with stand up showers (although some of the rooms did have whirlpool tubs). These we did not have, but I have to tell you what a wonderful little place this is! The husband & wife owners, Greg & Bethany could not have been nicer and accommodating. And they were a great help in recommending what wineries to visit the next day, which only contributed to what would become an epic weekend...

Every morning at 9am, a Gourmet Breakfast was served - the most memorable being the Creme Brulee French Toast which the name itself, needs no description for how good it was. There is an outdoor whirlpool spa in a lower garden terrace with fireplaces. The Inn is large and spacious enough that you didn't get the feeling of it being obtrusive, or it was not overly frilly, both of which we loved.
And the Beds... Oh My God, the Bed was unbelievably comfortable! With 600 thread count Frette sheets and a huge, fluffy pillowtop mattress, it felt like sleeping on a cloud. This place was great!
I would definitely stay there again, if I ever find myself in the area.

We had Dinner that evening at the El Dorado Kitchen (or EDK as the locals call it) on the Square. EDK is a gorgeous and classically modern, trendy Space with warm interiors and Food that is pretty damn good.

Here is what we had...

Because we were there during the Olive Festival, we chose to start with the Feast of the Olives, which consisted of Picholine, Nicoise & Lucques olives, served with Hummus and Wood Fired Flatbread. The Olives were deliciously fresh, as were its accompaniments of Warm Flatbread and Creamy Hummus which worked really well together. A terrific start...

Other Starters were the Warm Brie & Mushroom Tart with Maitake & King Trumpet Mushrooms, Melted Brie and topped with Frisee, which was alright, and the Prince Edward Island Steamed Mussels in a Creamy Sauvignon Blanc Broth, Tarragon and Crispy Fries which was fantastic.

For Our Mains:
JZ had the Beef Tenderloin with a Mushroom Risotto, Watercress, Glazed Carrots and I had the Bistro Steak with the much toted, Truffle Fries and served with a Horseradish Crème Fraiche which were both quite good.
The Boys both had the Bacon-wrapped Pork Tenderloin served with Creamy Garlic Polenta, Caramelized Brussel Sprouts and a Prosciutto Vinaigrette which they enjoyed.

After we finished dinner, we headed to the bar for after dinner drinks and to discuss our plan for the following day. We had a great time and really enjoyed our Meal. Overall, it was a down right great Dining Experience for all of us and would highly recommend EDK should find yourself in the area.

Afterwards, we headed back to the Inn and had a bottle of Sparkling Wine to end the evening.
Great Friends, Great Food & Wine...

It was a perfect first day in the Wine Country...

SPQR

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:12:00 +0000

SPQR
Category: Italian (Roman-style)
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Price Range: $$$

After having read so much about SPQR and after trying their Pork Soffrito on top of ridiculously Creamy Polenta at the Wine & Wishes event that I attended a few weeks ago, I finally got to try it and let me tell you, SPQR did not disappoint.

This place is great! I've gone for Dinners and recently for Brunch and I seriously love the Food. How can you not?

Some may contend that they dislike the no reservation policy and the long waits. I am of another school of thought, in that, if the Food is great, then I do not mind waiting for it. One night of the nights that I went, I met some girlfriends for dinner there at around 8pm and although it was packed, we waited at the bar and had a glass of wine. The wait went by quickly, which I think was all of 20 minutes, perhaps even 30, but I just didn't notice, because I was enjoying myself chatting with my friends and learning about the different Italian wines at the Bar. The place is certainly lively and although I loved the dark, romantic vibe of its predecessor, Chez Nous, not just for the atmosphere, but also for the Food, which was mostly small plates-style as well, and always perfect for a date…

SPQR is the opposite in its liveliness and I love it.

Let me share my experience with you...

The Antipasti are a sweet deal at $7 each, or a choice of three for $18 or five for $28 from a Menu which consists mainly of Small Plates which is broken down into 3 categories of Cold, Hot & Fried, giving you much to choose from...

This particular evening, the girls and I decided to go for the fiver deal, plus a Pasta Dish & an Entrée to share amongst the three of us.

Here’s what we had:

We started with the Chicory Salad with Anchovy and Lemon, which was a great start with its Crisp Chicory, combined with the Saltiness of the Anchovy Bits and the Tartness of the Lemon. It whet the appetite nicely and prepared us for what was to come…

Our next 4 Plates consisted of the following:
-Tender & Flavorful Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) sautéed in Garlic & Olive Oil and finished with Lemon.
-A beautifully tender Calamari that was prepared with Tondini Beans, Capers & Fried Bread Crumbs. A seriously yummy preparation... Embarrassingly enough, when some of it fell on the table, we quickly battled to get to the Fried Bread Crumb Goodness so as not to waste it, it was that good...
-The Brussel Sprouts with Garlic, Capers, Lemon and Parsley were as good as prior reviews had indicated. The Brussel Sprouts were fried and incredibly light, that they were like Popcorn, you couldn’t have just one. And how could you go wrong with the combination of Garlic, Capers, Lemon and Parsley to accompany it? Seriously now. It is that good.
-Veal Meatballs with Arugula and Lemon. Tasty…

For the Pasta Dish we had the Cannelloni of Pork Sausage, Ricotta and Pecorino. The Pasta was freshly made on site and the Dish was Absolutely Delicious! Definitely My Favorite of the night…

Our Entree was a Dish of Bay Scallops with Roasted Cauliflower, Rapini and Olives

All of it was so good, that we practically licked our plates clean. You gotta try it. It is well worth the wait and I personally could not wait to go back for more...

So I did...

Brunch:
Went back for Brunch and I just had to tell you about it...

I had the Chicken Livers with Pancetta, Potatoes, Fried Eggs & Salsa Verde, which was quite good, but my companion’s Dish was to die for!

He had the Cellini Beans with Pork Soffrito, Chiles & Two 'Fried Eggs' Dish which was truly incredible. It was something completely unlike anything I had ever had or even seen before. When it first came out, we both were a bit perplexed as the Dish (pictured above) was laid on the table before us. I should have taken a shot of what it looked like when it was broken into.
Essentially, the clever play on ‘Fried Eggs’ was boiled soft with a yolk that seeped out when you put your fork through it. The Soft Boiled Eggs were rolled in Fried Bread Crumbs and perhaps flash fried to keep the Fried Crumb Bits on.

Hmm… Now that I think about it, I wonder if they were dredged in Flour and then dipped in Egg first? Interesting, if that was the case…

So anyway, these Bad Boys, and yes, they are Bad Boys, were placed atop a bed of Cellini Beans - Tender on the out, and Creamy on the inside Cellini Beans and SPQR’s incredibly yummy Pork Soffrito.
Oh, there’s that Pork Soffrito again… It is so damn Good, I can't stop thinking about it! Mmm…

Creamy…Tender…Savory? Now that is one sexy Dish if you ask me!

All this and it's Unbelievably Delicious... I must go back for more!

And I’m going to get one just for myself and that’s no joke.

Mangia, People. Mangia.

Aqua Impressions...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:51:00 +0000

Aqua

Category: Seafood

Neighborhood: Financial District

Price Range: $$$$

Grabbing a glass of Wine & a Nibble or two after work has become my M.O. as of late. Around 2 or 3pm some days, I find myself wondering where I could go to satisfy this urge. I do have a few places that are quick go-to spots for me in the FiDi - Les Amis being my top place and Perbacco, Frisson, the Bubble Lounge & Aqua are other faves.

The reason I felt the need to write a quick review of Aqua even though I haven't offically dined there for Dinner, is because I find myself there after work for a glass or two of wine & apps quite often lately, as it is on my way to Bart. And though it is a bit pricey and bustling full of suits (of which in the FiDi, you don't have much of a choice), I have grown to love going there.

Because I have become a bit of a regular there (thanks to my friend, Melissa) the bartenders and staff have come to know or at least recognize us to the point of even remembering what types of wine we each prefer and some even know us by name.

And I cannot complete this review without mentioning the charming and hospitable, Jean Claude Persais, the VP of Operations. You can usually find him walking around the restaurant with a huge smile, welcoming people & inquiring as to how they are and if there is anything that they need. And although the Restaurant, in all of its elegant & beautiful splendor, can be intimidating, one can't help but feel at home with Jean Claude's warmth & hospitality, not to mention the loveliness of the staff as well.

Tuna Tartare has become one of those predictable, if not obsolete Dishes at most Restaurants.

At Aqua, Tuna Tartare is their Signature Dish for which they are well known even before Tuna Tartare became popular, and some may even say that they were the original creators of the Dish. Whatever the case, it is undoubtedly a step above the rest.

A little tip for those that are unaware, there are two styles of preparation - One being the 'Classic or Original' and the 'New Moroccan-inspired' Style which is described on the Menu as the Tartare of Ahi Tuna with Moroccan Spices, Lemon Confit, Fresh Herbs. Both are great, but the Classic is no longer shown on the Menu and must be requested. I am a fan of both.

Aqua is definitely one of, if not, the quintessential must-try dining experiences in San Francisco, if money were no object for the Power Lunch or for those very Special Occasions, for both locals and visitors alike.

I, myself, have been for lunch a few times, but I have yet to go there for Dinner. And even though it has been on my Bucket List of places to eat in SF for some time now, it has certainly moved up that ladder.

Taking Mac & Cheese To New Levels...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:44:00 +0000

Mac & Cheese. I love Mac & Cheese. And I know I am not alone in this...
I have been making my own Mac & Cheese for the last couple years (and I'm not talking about the stuff that comes in a box either) and it has always been a hit amongst my friends. The photo above is one of my standard Mac & Cheese that I prepare.
But after awhile, I got tired of doing the same ol' recipe, so for our Superbowl Party this year, I decided to take it to another level. And another thing was that my boy, Raz, said that although he loved my Mac & Cheese, he said that he loved Smith & Wollensky's Truffled Mac & Cheese more.
What?!? Better Mac & Cheese than mine? Hmph!
I'm not mad at it, but I definitely accepted that challenge...

I sampled two new recipes - a new Cheddar Mac & Cheese and a Truffle Mac & Cheese. Technically, I kicked up my Old Recipe for the first and then tried a whole New Recipe for the other. How I went about it was that I searched for 4-5 Recipes for each and then took bits & pieces of each to make New Recipes. It all turned out very well.

What I came up with for my standard Mac & Cheese, which as you can see from the photo above, looks essentially the same, but in flavor I kicked it up a little by adding Cayenne, instead of Nutmeg and I also added some Dijon Mustard. People liked this much more with the change in spices and I am glad that I tried it.

As for the Truffle Mac & Cheese, I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. I mean, how do you go wrong with Truffle? Needless to say, it was a huge hit and I cannot wait to make it again soon. Lucky friends, huh? You bet...

I need to go write down the Recipes now.

Back in Range... And So Happy To Be There...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:44:00 +0000

I've always liked this place. Since they got their Michelin Star last October, this place has been doubly as packed which makes for reservations that are a little hard to come by at times. Of all of my Dining Experiences here at Range (you can read about the other times here), I have decided that this has become one of my 'go to' places, and I've also learned that my favorite place to sit & dine there is at the Bar. Let me share why...
That particular evening we walked in without a rez on a Friday night at around 9pm. We were told that it would be a 45 minute wait until they could seat us. In the meantime, we decided to grab a drink at the Bar. By the time we finished our 1st cocktail, the Bar opened up and we opted to sit there for Dinner. I have to tell you, the Staff is really friendly and very knowledgeable about their Food and Libations, which is why I enjoy eating & drinking at the bar. You get more interaction and I personally like being in the midst of all the hustle and bustle.

As for the Food that Evening...

We started with the Raw Hawaiian Tombo, sliced thin Sashimi-style atop creamy Avocado, a refreshing Tangerine Broth and finished with Fresh Tangerine Slivers and Radish Sprouts. Simple and Delicious. This is a great start that awakens the Palette and this is how I typically like to start off my Meals. If there are Oysters, or some type of Crudo, Tartare or Sashimi on the Menu, I usually order it. I like Raw Food.

We then shared the Butternut Squash Stuffed Pasta topped with Parmesan, and drizzled with Lemon and Olive Oil. I thought that the mild saltiness from the Cheese and the crisp tartness of the Lemon worked well against the creamy sweetness of the Butternut Squash. A Very Nice Dish.

I chose the Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder with a Parsnip Puree, Sauteed Green Chard and Marinated Scallions for my Main, which I enjoyed, although I have to admit, not as much as the Coffee Rubbed Braised Pork Shoulder that I had at one of my previous visits to Range.

My companion had the Roasted Chicken with a Fennel and Bacon Bread Salad and drizzled with a Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette, a Dish which we both liked very much.

To sum it all up... We had a Great Meal and a Great Time sitting at the Bar, chatting with other Diners and the Bartender. FYI - the Menu changes daily and does a wonderful job with Fresh Local Ingredients. I love their Food...
Range has become one my favorite go-to Restaurants and I look forward to going back again very soon...

Foreign Cinema's 8 1/2 Year Anniversary Party...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:56:00 +0000

I attended Foreign Cinema's 8 1/2 Year Anniversary Party the other night and it was a blast! The Event was in Celebration of their 8 1/2 Year Anniversary. The cost was only $40 for what seemed like endless Appetizers, Open Bar, Live Music & Perfomers, and 100% of the proceeds went to Street Smart for Kids. The evening itself was well worth it...

As I walked in, my first encounter is with an Oyster Bar. A Perfect start from the getgo...
The Joint was crowded and bustling and I'm feeling the excitement from the moment I walked in.
As I'm loading up on Kumamotos, I glance around and notice in the distance, the Fellini movie '8 1/2' projecting onto the Back Wall, with Live Music and Live Performers such as Acrobats, Fire Jugglers & Contortionists performing on a stage in the Central Courtyard. As it turned out, the entire night had a very Felliniesque Vibe to it - Surreal, Exaggerated Imagery mixed with a little Comedic Absurdity.

We move into the Main Restaurant to find some Drinks and there were 2 long tables with little Appetizer Plates of various Dishes ranging from Seared Beef, Duck and Pork with various Preparations, as well as Individual Salads and Couscous Dishes. While my friend went to grab us some Martinis, I staked out at the tables with the Appetizer Plates seen in the photos above. The Food was Really Good.
Honestly, after having been to FC many times for Dinner, Brunch & Special Events or Occasions, I have come to the conclusion that FC's Food is much better at Events than the Meals I've had whilst sitting down for one. If you read me regularly, you may know that I have written about this before. This Event just proved again, how much better their Food is when it is done in Small Plates or Passed Hors d'Oeuvres-Style. Take it from me, if you can go to one of their events, I highly recommend it.

As we moved out onto the Courtyard, we walked past the Acrobats & Performers to the back corner where we found a huge Grill ablaze with Delicious Little Mini Burgers, as well as Lamb & Chicken on Skewers being fired up. I had the Mini Burgers which were yummy and the Lamb Sirloin which was placed atop a bed of Israeli Couscous. All of it Delicious.
As we traversed onward to the Modernism Gallery to explore what else was in Store, we ran into yet another Oyster Bar & opportunely procured some Sparkling Wine along the way. As the night wore on, we had made another few rounds around the Place, Eating and Drinking all the while...

All in all, it was a Fantastical, Dream-like Night filled with Great Food, Jazz Music & Performances reminiscent of a Fellini Film. How Appropriate and Memorable it all was!
Bravo Foreign Cinema and Happy Anniversary and 1/2...

Cafe de la Presse

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:58:00 +0000

Cafe De La Presse

Category: French
Neighborhoods: Union Square, Nob Hill

Price Range: $$

I have been here several times for Lunch, Bloody Mary's and Mimosas, and I have to say that I really dig this place. It is situated right off Union Square and it's a great spot to stop for Lunch during a day of shopping, or even just to meet a friend to catch up.

I love the Atmosphere and the Design of the Space with its Old World wood panel walls and Cafe chairs and tables. Not to mention that they have a great offering of international newspapers & magazines. It reminds me of my college year abroad in Marburg, Germany and the particular cafe that it reminds me of was a place there called Cafe News. Ah, looking back, they were some Good Times...
I have not had a chance to try Dinner here, but it is a definitely a Great Space during the day. It is situated right across the street from the Chinese Pagoda Gate entrance to Chinatown on Grant & Bush Streets, and if you get a table by the window, it's a great spot to People watch.

As for their Food, I l frequently get their 'Poulet Roti' which is a Roasted Organic Chicken au Jus & Frites. It is SO good! The Chicken is Crisp on the outside and deliciously Juicy on the inside. Perfectly prepared. The Frites are no joke either... I have also tried the 'Tartare de Saumon' - Salmon Tartare, Haricot Vert Salad, Pomme Gaufrette recently which I absolutely loved. The Combination of the Flavors & Textures of the ingredients together is really really good...

A definite Must-Try.

The Menu has a lot to offer as far as Parisian-style Bistro/Cafe Fare, such as Steak Frites, Salad Nicoise and Salad aux Petit Lardons.

One more thing that I have to tote is their Creme Brulee - the carmelized sugar on top is light & crisp and the Creme is perfectly Creamy & Smooth. Damn, it's good! One of the best creme brulees that I've ever had... Well Done.

Recently renovated, I just learned that the Restaurant came under Aqua management by Laurent Manrique, Jean Claude Persais & Charles Condy in the fall of 2005, which says something as far as the Food is concerned. Gotta remember to come back here for Brunch one of these days and put CDLP through the Raptor Brunch test (Eggs Benedict-style)...

Wine & Wish Impressions...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:30:00 +0000

This Gourmet Food & Wine Event was this past Saturday evening and it was a pretty spectacular event as you can imagine. It was held from 5-7:30pm in a sprawling Space on Treasure Island, in which the walls were swathed in dark velvet which showcased the Stars of the Event - the Wine & the Food.
Although it was raining heavily that night, neither rain nor sleet nor snow would have kept me away, and let me tell you it was worth every minute...
I have to admit that I was a bit starry-eyed upon entering... It was almost like a red carpet event for Food. Quite dramatic actually, and people were dressed to impress, some in semi-formal attire even...
Over 70 participating Wineries & Chefs / Restaurants presenting a Taste of what they have to offer... And all for a great cause. The Make A Wish Foundation.
It's a win-win situation. You simply can't go wrong.
I really must urge you to attend when this event comes back around next year if you have never been. I know I definitely will...

Here are the Raptor Highlights...

The Food:

These 3 Restaurants prepared the Tastiest & Most Memorable Morsels of Food which had me wanting to go to each of these Restaurants to try more...

SPQR had my favorite Dish of All...
A Savory Mouthwatering Pork Soffrito atop a Deliciously Creamy Polenta.
*sigh*
SO good...
I have to try SPQR soon.

The Wine:

Holdredge Wines was one of my faves. The knowledgeable husband and wife team of John & Carri Holdredge were there and one could tell that they were really into their Wine. With good reason, I might add... They said that they tended to stick to making their Favorite Wines, such as Pinot Noir, Syrahs & Zins, which just happen to be my Faves as of late as well, and I thought their Wine to be Delicious. I was even invited up to their Winery in Healdsburg for a Private tasting, or I can just come to their Tasting Room on the weekend. My favorite was the Mazie Rose Pinot Noir, which I was able to remember thanks to Carri for writing down on the back of her card. I also want to mention that they had a great 2006 Late Harvest Pinot Gris, a Dessert Wine called Grace's Cuvee, named for their daughter Gracie.

Other Favorite Wines offered were Nicholson Ranch and Enzo Wines which we may try to go to one or more of these when we do our French Laundry weekend this month.

Some Honorable Mentions...

Limon had their Signature Ceviche in these pretty little shot glasses, which although a cute idea, it suffered in logistics and a was a bit difficult to eat. Good Ceviche nonetheless...

The Marin French Cheese Company had a great Table offering many of their Award-Winning Artisan-crafted French Cheeses. A great place to stop by as you are sauntering around wine glass in hand. I love the Gold Award wining Rouge et Noir Triple Crème Brie. And they had little recipe cards for Dishes that you can prepare with their Cheeses...

Farallon was simply offering up Freshly Shucked Oysters with either a Mignonette or Tartar Accompaniment.
Could you imagine non-stop shucking for 2 1/2 hours? They still did it with a smile...

Millenium had these Papadums topped with a savory topping whoes Flavors just burst in your mouth...

I even wrapped the evening up with one of Kara's Cupcakes Cute Mini Cupcakes- I liked the Sweet Vanilla, but I heard that the other offerings of Ghirardelli Chocolate, Coconut & Passion Fruit were just as good...

There were a wealth of Foods offered, too many to mention here...
I guess you will just have to go next year to see for yourselves.

Make a Wish Foundation's Wine & Wishes Event

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:33:00 +0000

Make a Wish Foundation's Wine & Wishes Event

Sat., Feb. 2, 2008
Treasure Island ~ San Francisco, CA

Hello Friends & Fellow Foodies!

Great Food & Wine for a Good Cause? The Raptor is so there...

Anyone else care to join in the Food & Fun?

Just wanted to put it out there for anyone that may be interested in going as well. You can get a $15 off discount with the Tablehopper discount code. Tablehopper readers can get discounted tickets for $135: just click on "Buy Tasting Tickets," fill out the registration form, and enter "dream" under the discount code. The event is one of the organization's signature fundraisers, generating over $500,000 for the greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Thanks Marcia!

The Wine and Wishes Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting has proven to be one of the most acclaimed culinary events in the Bay Area. Great chefs, impeccable wines, a magical cause and YOU…a perfect equation for an unforgettable event.
During the Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting you will be able to sample amazing wines and exquisite dishes from any foodie's dream list! And all for a Great Cause!

Hope to see you there!

2008: To A Wondeful New Year...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:27:00 +0000

So here we are in a New Year and the Year holds many adventures and exciting changes in store for the Raptor, which I cannot divulge as of yet... I know, the suspense is killing you, right? Well, soon enough, Grasshopper, soon enough...
All I can say is, Stay Tuned...

At the end of a year and with the start of a new, people often reminisce and look back at the year that had passed and recall one's 'Bests' or 'Faves' of the year.
I found myself asking the following question in a conversation I had the other day,
'What was or were Your All-time Best or Most Memorable Meals of 2007?'
The month of January alone brings many a food article about the writer's 'Best Restaurants/Eats of 200_', which, of course, prompts us to think about what our own answers would be. I suppose my question has 2 parts - What were your Most Memorable Meals and Overall, What was the Best?
I really would love to hear some of your replies. Don't be shy now. You know I'm not.
And with no further ado - here I go...
.
The Raptor's Favorite & Most Memorable Meals of 2007...

Absinthe was my Most Memorable this year. Grilled Steak with Bone Marrow. One Word. Unbelievable.
Universal Cafe is my Favorite Brunch/Lunch spot. All of it is just so incredibly good.
Farina the time I went with my Boys, Raz & Mark C. The Veal Chop is still on my Mind.
Les Amis Revisited for Ally K's birthday - the entire Dining Experience was one of the best...

And so...
A Challenge To My Readers in the Spirit of the New Year....
I wanted to put forth a challenge to you to offer suggestions of Food or Places that you think I absolutely need to try this year.
Let's start with ones that are already on my List...

Gary Danko. Check.
French Laundry. Check. (in February)
SPQR
Tinderbox
Lolo
Zuni for their Wood-Fired Chicken, Caesar & the Zuni Burger
Canteen
Chez Panisse
Manresa, if there's time...
??? Your suggestion here, Reader... C'mon now, what do you got?

Ah, the Holidays in All of its Splendor & Many Blessings...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 05:55:00 +0000

Hello Readers and Fellow Foodheads! It is 2008 and it is bound to be a really exciting year for the Raptor and hopefully for You as well... I hope you all had a great holiday! I know that I sure did...
I flew to my old hometown, Philly and celebrated the holidays with my family there, and then I found myself on a plane that Sunday going to Phoenix and then back to San Francisco on Christmas evening. It was quite a trip going back and forth, coast to coast, but well worth it when family and friends are involved...

During my travels, I ate quite A LOT, as is expected during the holidays, and along the way, I had a few interesting observations that I thought I would share with you...

Whilst in Philly, I of course, had my daily Raptor doses of Cheesesteaks. In a 48 hour period, I had my current all-time favorite, Steve's Steaks, care of my cousin Joy. (Thanks Joy!) As I've mentioned in my Philly Cheesesteak post awhile back, I love Steve's for their awesome Bread and also because they are the only place I know that keeps their thinly sliced Ribeye whole. Most places chop it up fine, which I don't have a problem with either, but I kinda like it this way.

My second steak came from D'Alessandro's in Manayunk/Roxborough, care of my other cousin, Vince. (Thanks Vin!) I thought it was pretty damn good, although I didn't get to eat it fresh, it was still good heated up. Will need to revisit that one once I get back to the East Coast...

Another thing that I wanted to write about is the Wawa Food Stores. Most people from the west coast would not recognize this convenience store because it is mostly regional to the east coast, specifically in PA, MD, NJ, DE & VA. Out here in the west coast, they mostly have Circle K's, we have 7/11's and Wawa's. I really loved this convenience store, because it has an in-house deli and produce section and more variety than most others. My favorite thing to get there was their Roast Beef Shorti, which is a 6" Roast Beef Sub (or Hoagie, which is what I'm used to calling it).

Yeah, that's right, a Roast Beef Shorti and a bag of chips was the best snack. I missed it. Which is why I went to get myself one while I was in Philly to relive old times...

It was interesting to see that they had electronic screens for ordering at the Deli with these easy to use touchscreens. I found it a little strange though, because it wasn't that crowded and the Deli is so small that it seemed superfluous to have it there when the the person making your sandwich is standing right there. I suppose it is whimsical and definitely adds to the image of 'convenience'.

So I order myself a R.B. Shorti on the the touchscreen and order it as I used to back inthe day and I anxiously await my sam'ich. Once i have it in my hands, I bite into it and realize that it was not the same as I remember it. I am disappointed... I found myself asking myself, 'Where's the Beef?!?' I mean, I remember it being so much Meatier. Since when did Wawa's get chintzy with the Meat? This just burst my childhood bubble... I suppose I will have to use the Extra Meat option in the future. Let's hope it was just that particular Wawa...

So where were we? I'm in Philly for a Family Holiday Dinner at my uncle's house and he has this huge spread of Filipino Foods. They had the best Dinuguan (if you don't know what this is, perhaps you can try it first one day with out knowing what your eating and then I will tell you...)
I was shocked to discover that my little 'Raptor Niece', Alexis (see pic of little 2 year old with the devoured spare rib bone in hand, in the right hand column) actually eats Dinuguan, as well as Lumpia dipped in Vinegar, Longanisa and Whole Deep Fried Sardines. She's only 2 and she eats just about anything, even if it is exotic or unfamiliar. I am a very proud Auntie Ninang!

One dish that I had at the family dinner was Arroz Caldo with Chicken that I thought to be exceptionally good and made for a pretty photograph which I wanted to share below.

So on the Sunday before Christmas Eve, my family & I fly back to Phoenix for Christmas. And as we are driving around Phoenix, I spot this bizarre and unusual fast food joint that I had to photograph and share with you as well.

This place was called the Heart Attack Grill and it is an actual fast food establishment! I can't believe it! They even have a website, which proudly states, 'We're Dumb & Proud!'. What the hell?!? It's just weird, I tell you...

Their Menu, which they refer to on their site as 'Medication', includes items such as the Double, Triple or Quadruple Bypass Burgers^®,Flatliner Fried Deep Fried in Pure Lard^{® (Are you kidding me?!)} The Quadruple Bypass Burger® features 2 lbs of Beef, 12 Slices of Bacon and 4 Layers of Cheese adding up to a walloping 8,000 calories. What!?! And all of this is served up with PBR's, Coca Cola's and if you're hankering for a smoke afterwards, they also sell Lucky Strikes. How nuts is that?! As Serious as a Heart Attack I guess...

And it gets stranger even.
The Food is served up by servers dressed up as doctors and sexy nurses! This is almost comical if it weren't so wrong! The website has a number of articles justifying their food and Cigarattes, and toting a Heart Attack Grill Diet, PBR's, and and article on whether or not the AZ Attorney General should shut this joint down. Unbelievable. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I just wouldn't believe that such a place could exist.

So moving on to a better topic, we had a great Christmas Meal. I prepared a Ribeye Roast and Lobster with Mashed Potatoes and Salad. A nice spread and a nice meal to celebrate how fortunate we are as a family...

I hope you had as wonderful and memorable a holiday as well and I look forward to writing more for you in 2008...

French Laundry in February...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:07:00 +0000

Oh...

My...

GOD...

I feel like I just won the Epicurean Lottery... I just scored reservations for the French Laundry in February! I can barely contain my excitement! I have been dying to go there... Not just because it is the ultimate dining experience next to El Bulli in Spain, but because I am so fascinated with Thomas Keller after reading Michael Ruhlman's book, The Soul of A Chef. And also, now that I am leaving the Bay Area next Spring it is all about doing or rather, eating at all of the places that have been on my most coveted list.

Here's how it went down:

I had heard all of these tips about how to get a reservation, you know, like calling 2 months to the date, booking on OpenTable.com at 12 midnight, etc. etc...

I tried calling for a reservation at 10am this morning and could not get through... Then after lunch, I started doing the old redial and connected... After being on hold for five minutes or so, I got a live person/reservationist and was able to make a rez for the weekend after Valentine's Day week. It is exactly 2 months to the date...

Unbelievable. But I got it!

I will now be counting down the days...

Please pardon me in the meantime while I go do some cartwheels...

South Food + Wine Bar

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:28:00 +0000

South Food + Wine Bar
Categories: Wine Bars, Restaurants

Neighborhood: SOMA

Wow. Two new Restaurants two nights in a row (Laiola the night before...) and Another great hit for me tonight. Nice, I love when that happens... And by 'Hit' I mean, Good Food, Great & Friendly Service and Great Atmosphere that will have me coming back...

So we finally went here at the prompting of my girlfriend Jen, who had been wanting to come here for quite some time, but a rez had been difficult to get up to this point. Surprisingly, I actually scored a table for 6 on OpenTable that same morning... Must've been the Thanksgiving weekend... Whatever the case, I am so glad that we got in for Dinner.

First of all, it is a Beautiful Space... The Place is very Modern Oz/Kiwi with Warm Brown Woods, Maori inspired Floors and my Favorite Part is the Molded Australian Wood Lighting Fixtures hanging from the Ceiling which cast Intricate Curvillinnear Shadows onto the Entire Space.. The Effect is Gorgeous.

We were greeted warmly and our group was sat in front of the window. Our Server was extremely friendly and introduced herself, and although it was busy in the Restaurant what she lacked in attentiveness at times, the Bartender picked up, so we were never left hanging. Our Bartender was very knowledgable about Australian & New Zealand Wines and very easy on the eyes too. The Wine was really flowing that night and the one Wine that he suggested that stood out for us was the Arlewood, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, 2003 which went really well with the Food.

So here's the Raptor Food Breakdown:

For Starters we shared the Bushman's Plate - a Combination Plate of Olives, Salami, Marinated Veggies, Lamb Sausage, Shrimp in Herbs, Hummus and Such... A nice start...

We also had a dozen Oysters with Buttery Leek and a Wasabi Vinaigrette to start and the Coconut Broth with New Zealand Green Lip Mussel Dumplings which were both lovely. One last Starter Dish that we had was the Salmon Sashimi in Curry & Lime, which I thought made for a really nice Flavor combination which my Dining Companions would more than likely agree with...

For our Mains, we had the Pan Roasted Barramundi with Crispy Skin rubbed with Rozelle Spices and paired with Cauliflower Puree and Sunchokes. I really liked the combination of Flavors in this Dish as well...

We also had the New Zealand Lamb Cutlets with Mint Chimichurri and a Snow Pea and Almond Salad. I liked the Lamb with the Chimichurri, but the Salad, I just didn't get. It was a bit bland and didn't really add anything to the Dish for me.

Lastly, we had the BBQ Australian Beef Fillet with Mushrooms, Salsify and Truffled Verjus which was really great. Very Flavorful and a definite hit amongst all 6 of us.

I did not know what to expect from an Australian Food & Wine Bar and this place exceeded my expections. And the Food, the Food was all pretty spot-on. No misses here and the Staff is incredibly friendly. Try this place...

Laiola got me thinking...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 03:29:00 +0000

Rather than trying to take on the enormous task of just reviewing restaurants,
and honestly, let's face it, I'm no food critic by any means, I got to thinking that perhaps I should expand my writing horizons a bit. Although there are restaurants that I have reviewed on here and probably will do so again in the future, please know that I do my best to be as fair and objective as possible and I typically try to go or have gone to these restaurants several times before I write about them. I just have been thinking lately that it would be a better idea to keep writing as I have been and continue to write about what I know in a broader aspect...

With that said, what do I know about? Well, my friends & family can vouch for this - I know Food.
I think everyone does to an extent. One thing for sure is that we at least know what we like and don't like, right? Of course it is also very subjective...
I, on the other hand, am extremely Passionate about and admittedly, somewhat Obsessed about Food...
What we're talking about here is not just about any old Food, but Good Food...

Great Food...

Memorable Dining Experiences
from both high-end places to hole-in-the-wall joints
that linger in your mind long after you've eaten...

Yes, that's right...

Food or Experiences that you find yourself telling others about
for weeks, months, even years after you've had it...

Food that essentially becomes an Experience and Vivid Memory in your Mind and has you wanting, yearning to go back for more...

If you read my blog, then you know what I'm talking about.

So here I am, intent upon broadening my writing horizons by penning down anything and everything Food-Related from Random Thoughts & Musings on Food to Individual Dishes that really Stand Out and Memorable Dining Experiences that are Visually and Sensually Extraordinary in My Book.
You with me? Well, alright then! Let's get this started...

I got to thinking about all of this after the Meal I had at Laiola the other night... I was really excited to try this new place after reading several reviews that, although were mixed, were mostly glowing and positive. I wanted to go there and see for myself. After our Meal there, I found that I really liked this place a lot in spite of the fact that some Dishes were a little bit hit & miss as I had read.
Let me tell you what did do it for me though. It was the Great Service and also two Dishes in particular that just knocked it out of the park. Food that was memorable enough to make me want to write about and share with you. And this was how I came to the conclusion in this instance, that I need to be writing about Individual Dishes that are remarkable and stand out in my mind.

Let me give you the Raptor Breakdown...
We walked in and were immediately struck by the warmth of the space & the lively atmosphere created by the backdrop of burnt orange walls, pressed copper ceiling and a copper food & wine bar spanning the length of the room. The place was seriously buzzin' and it was a Tuesday night. We walked in without a rez, and although it was packed we only had to wait 20 minutes for our table. The time went by quickly because the server/host kept us occupied with choosing & trying different Spanish wines of which we were unfamiliar. He was very accommodating and pretty knowledgable, which was really great. Before we knew it we were seated with our Menus and we were instantaneously on a first name basis with our server & host. I love that...

We opted to get a number of Starters versus Entrees so that we could try more Dishes and really get a feel for the Food. Although some of the Dishes were not worth mentioning here at this point, there were two Dishes that I found to be truly memorable and actually quite exceptional.

The First Dish that we fell in love with was the Grilled Young Octopus prepared with Fresh Shelling & Romano Bean Salad. One bite made us quickly forget what we were talking about and a heady silence ensued. I was reeling...
The Octopus was Grilled to Perfection, Incredibly Tender with Amazing Flavor... The Combined Flavors of the Grilled Octopus with the Bean Salad, which included Nuances of Celery, Capers and Tomatoes tossed together with a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a Beautiful Vinegar was perfectly balanced. It was Exquisite. We loved this dish... A definite Must-Try.

But it was the Next that was our Favorite Dish of All...
This was a Grilled Quail that was prepared with a Moroccan-Spiced Rub with Roasted Sunchokes and what I believe was an Artichoke Puree, and I can hardly express it better than - this Dish was Awesome!
The Skin was Perfectly Crisp and So Flavorful in Contrast to the Quail Meat which was Incredibly Tender, Substantial and Juicy...
It was Unbelievably Good and gave us both that 'Eyes-rolled back kind of reaction'...
Our reactions were so impassioned that the girls having dinner next to us couldn't help but notice and asked what we could possibly be eating that would cause such a fervent response. We breathlessly went on to tell them about the Grilled Quail and how Unbelievably Good it was. Before we knew it we actually shared a bite with each of them. Now that was some 'Food Bonding Love'...
Yes People, our socks were definitely knocked off with this Dish...
You gotta try it.

Trust me, I'm still reeling...

To get the Visual, here is the Quail Photo Shoot from that Evening...

Also, a Nice Little Tip for you - Rather than the typical serving of a Glass of Wine, they serve their Wine in Carafinas, mini carafes, that hold 250ml of Wine which is equal to 1/3 Bottle of Wine. Bonus.

UPDATE 12/17/07: Went back for the Quail and was extremely disappointed. It was nothing like the last time, unfortunately. Like I said, this place is totally hit or miss...

The Raptor Does New York...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 02:41:00 +0000

ah New York... I just love that City... I love the Energy of that place.
Being from Philly, we used to go there when we were feelin' bored and itchin' for a lil' excitement. New York never failed to disappoint.
In actuality, I had not been back to NYC since 2002, one year after 9/11 happened.
That is a long time... What was I thinking?

Well, my NYC drought ended and I found myself running through the City like a Wild Woman (Yes, Rick Dare, the hands were up in the air... haha..)... Like a Woman starved, I lost all abandon and...

ahem. yeah, and so uh...

Needless to say, I had a fantastic time...

So here's how it went...

I met my old college roommate from from my Freshman year at St. Joe's for dinner at Babbo, Mario Batali's restaurant in Waverly Place. I hadn't seen her in 14 years and it was great to be able to catch up. I had tried to make a reservation a few days prior, but was unable, so the restaurant told me that if there was just the two of us, then we could try for a walk-in. This worked out great because we made it to the upstairs Dining Room. Score.

I was really excited to go here and I really wanted to like this place, but sadly I was a little disappointed. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or maybe it was an off night. Who knows? Once seated, we chatted with the Sommelier and she suggested rather than getting a full bottle, that we should get a Vino al Quartino, which are Wines by the Litre (250 ml). Very nice. We got the Morellino diScansano I Perazzi La Mozza 2005 Toscana for $11. It was great! Score again...

To start us off, we were given a complimentary Bruschetta topped with Garbanzo Beans and Olives, which was just ok. The rest of the Meal went as follows:
Appetizer/Anitpasti - Prosciutto San Daniele "Riserva" with Black Pepper "Fett'unta" - This was great. The Prosciutto was fresh and buttery. You really can't go wrong.
As for our Mains, I'm not gonna get into it in detail, but we had the Mint Love Letters, the Lamb & the Guinea Hen and were disappointed unfortunately. I will have to give the place another try... Sorry Mario...

We wandered down the streets and the next place we went was Sushi Samba on 7th Ave. When I initially walked in, I was a little wary that it would be too cheesy, but after drinks and apps at the bar, my mind changed on that. The Decor was very trendy with glowing orb lights on the ceiling which cast an orangish-red glow in the room with linear partitions, bamboo and glass... I guess you could say it had a similar vibe to one of my fave sushi joints in SF called Tokyo Go Go, but in a much larger scale... The people who work there are gorgeous and accommodating... The people who went there were beautiful and the drinks were tasty.

My New Love...

But it was there that I found a new Love... And found it in the Seared Otoro Kobe Beef with Warm Shiitake Mushroom, Ponzu gelee & a Truffled Tofu Sauce which was DIVINE! It was so good, it made me have one of my 'moment's. You gotta try it to know what I'm talking about! After our huge dinner at Babbo's a few blocks away and watching the Food that went around and were being served to the people around us made me want to try more. What little I had was surprisingly good...
Note to Self: Must come back and get more Seared Otoro Beef...

The next day I met a friend at the Blue Water Grill at Union Square. This is a great sprawling space, traditional in decor with beautiful vaulted ceilings and crown molding and it seemed to be a great place for lunch meetings - from business & power lunches and just to meet with friends...

The Menu is eclectic, but consisted mainly of Seafood and a somewhat New England/Asian fare. They had such things as Lobster Bisque, Maryland Crabcakes to Thai Calamari, Lobster Spring Rolls & Lettuce Wraps and even Sushi.
A little tip: they have a very reasonably priced Prix Fixe Lunch Menu for $24.07 which my friend had. She started out with a refreshingly good Red Snapper Ceviche with Passion Fruit & Malagueta Pepper, and for her Main she had the Wild Striped Bass with Edamame, Pea Shoot Salad & a Sesame Miso Vinaigrette which was delicious. I, on the other hand, opted for something from the Simply Grilled section which featured different Fish & Seafood items that are marinated with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon, Garlic & Capers and then Grilled. Each of these are then served with a Side that you choose and a Sauce, which is cool because it's kinda served A la Carte style like a Steakhouse, but for Seafood. What a good concept! I chose the Organic Salmon with Rapini and Chimichurri Sauce. All Good...

We finished off our Meal by sharing the dessert that came with my friend's prix fixe which was a Chocolate Ganache Tart with Butterscotch Crunch Ice Cream & Caramelized Bananas. YUM! Overall, the Service was great and I had a great lunch experience... Good Times.

Now, I can go on and on about all of my Food & Dining Experiences in NY, but NY and its 5 boroughs are massive as you know. I stayed with my cousin in Brooklyn in Bay Ridge and this was my first time there. Y'know, I was really digging Brooklyn and its great little towns - like Bay Ridge, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Park Slope and D.U.M.B.O.
Brooklyn kind of reminded me of Philly. I liked it.

One thing that I miss in SF is Turkish & Greek Food. I learned to love Turkish Kebabs, when I lived in Europe and there they called them Doner Kebabs. They were great when I was hankerin for a little somethin' somethin' in the middle of the day shopping, walking to school or in the middle of the night after drinkin at the bars. Those were the days... *sigh*.

So I asked my cousin where to get me some good Turkish Kebab. We ordered from Bay Kebab on 3rd Ave. and I loved it! This place does some seriously good Kebab! No joke...
I got me a Lamb Kebab from here and it rocked! I mean I'm still thinkin 'bout it... We also got the Lentil Soup/Ezogolin which is a Savory Soup consisting of Red Lentils in Tomato Sauce and some special Turkish Bread to dip it in. SO good, especially on a rainy day... I might just hafta move my ass to Brooklyn so that I can get it on a daily... Fo Real..

That night, my cousin and her friends took me on a driving tour of Brooklyn & Manhattan. We ended up in a nice little spot in the Meat Packing District called Revel. This was a Cool Space in the same block as Tenjune and Buddha Bar. I really liked the exposed brick walls, tree-lined open back patio and the overall openness of the space.
We had a bunch of drinks there and I found myself really digging the space and overall vibe of the place. And after taking a look at the Menu and other reviews, I will definitely be back to give the Food a try...
Before I knew it, it was 5am and we were stuffing our faces with a Slice from Joe's. Awesome.

Saturday morning I was hungover and hankerin' for more Bay Kebab. But I had to meet my other cousins and goddaughter who came up from Philly in Soho for some shopping and eventually Dinner for my godchild's 16th birthday at a cute place on Prince Street called Zoe Restaurant.

At our table, we started with a Zoe Salad and French Fries with a Side of Truffled Cheese. Fancy Cheese Fries, who knew? I had the Duck Two-ways - Pan-Roasted Duck Breast & Leg Confit paired with Rice, Sauteed Chard & and Fig Jam. Good stuff... My cousins had the Pan-Seared Arctic Char with Marinated Vegetables, Pearl Onions, Fingerling Potatoes, Dijon Vinaigrette & Chive Oil which I thought was really good and also The Lemon-Thyme Marinated Whole Roasted Red Snapper with Spring Vegetables and a citrus-shallot Vinaigrette. That one was just ok for me. The Server was attentive and the Raspberry Cosmos were delicious and they kept coming, which was nice...

For Dessert we had the S'Mores - Toasted Marshmallow on top of a Fudge Brownie & Graham Cracker and Malted Milk Chocolate Ice Cream on the Side. This dessert was awesome! All in all, we had a great meal and friendly drinks and would recommend going again...

Eventually Sunday came too soon and it was time to leave. Between you & me, I actually missed my flight because I wasn't ready to leave just yet. My cousin & I ended up exploring Brooklyn a little more and having Brunch at this great little place called Bar Tabac in Cobble Hill.

I really liked this place. I loved the rustic French country setup and friendly atmosphere from the moment I walked in... I had my Egg's Benedict with Bacon instead of ham and I loved it! (I know, Bacon instead of Ham? It's a Raptor thing, I'm not a fan of Ham, but trust me, it's a great substitution that adds a little crispy texture. You oughtta try it some time...) The Hollandaise was flavorful, the Eggs poached just right and the Bacon perfectly crisp. The Dish definitely passed the Raptor Brunch test...
Great place for Brunch and a Great way to send me back on my way to SF...

All in all, I had a fantastic time in New York and cannot wait to go back for more...

The Raptor in Los Angeles...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:34:00 +0000

I've been doing some traveling lately...

Just got back from NYC and went to LA to visit friends the week before and had a great time...

Which is cool, but more importantly, what did I EAT?

Friday night my good friend took me to Spago. Although I found the Service to be questionable for this type of fine dining restaurant, I thought The Food on the other hand was Great!

Wie Toll, Wolfgang! Vielen Dank', Es war sehr Lecker!

Und so ...

We arrived for our reservation and were seated in a side booth, which I thought was a great location overlooking the entire restaurant. The Decor was very kitschy in a 90's sort of way. After being seated, it took a good 10 minutes before our server brought us the Menus, which we had to ask for. Although our server was not snotty by any means, he was just not very available. Luckily, the bus staff redeemed him a little by their attentiveness.

Here's what we had:

We started with the Sweet Corn Bisque with Lobster & Chanterelle Mushrooms which was unbelievably good! My friend was still raving and salivating over it the next day. I had the Burratta wrapped in Organic Sauteed Pear with Prosciutto and Micro Greens and finished with a basil reduction. Delish! The Burratta was soft & creamy and it paired nicely with the sweetness of the Pear and the saltiness of the Prosciutto. Loved it!

For our Mains, M had the Pan-Roasted Chicken with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, Yellow Finnish Potato Puree (i.e. Mashed Potatoes, yet more refined) and Natural Juice. The Chicken was wonderful, and perfectly prepared, juicy on the inside and crispy skin on the outside. It was a Great Dish... I think Chicken gets overlooked a lot of times in finer restaurants, but I highly recommend this one. I had the Pan-Roasted Liberty Duck Breast which was prepared with Maitake Mushrooms, Cipollini Onions, Braised Pancetta, a Sweet Corn Flan and Natural Juice with Marjoram. The Duck Breast was also prepared perfectly, medium rare on the inside and Crispy Skin on the out. One other thing that happened service-wise was that when they took away my 1st course, they took my silverware and never replaced it until we had already both received our Mains, and we had to flag down someone to replace them. Not cool...Although the Service was a bit disappointing, the Food was Fantastic. It was a cheesy, quintessential LA restaurant experience, that I would recommend to any LA first-timers like myself...

Other places that I got taken to were Urth Cafe and Martha's in Redondo Beach. I'm not gonna get into the details of these places, but I went for Brunch and did the Raptor Eggs Benedict Test at both places and unfortunately, they did not pass... But whatever, my point is that my Friends are saying that I was difficult to please.

Who?... Me?... Really? You don't say...

I suppose one could say that this is true. But honestly, isn't it a good thing?

At least when you Eat, or should I say 'Dine' with the Raptor, you know that I will have researched every Restaurant in the Vicinity and perused every Menu before deciding where I am going to eat.

And really, it is not just about Great Food but Great Service is important as well...

It really is about the Dining Experience if you ask me. And them's my Two Cents...

Now.. Where am I gonna Eat next?...

Cheesesteaks... Mmmm...

noreply@blogger.com (The Urban Food Maven) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 23:08:00 +0000

Being that I am from Philly, born & raised, I thought it only appropriate that I dig deep within my inner Philly-Pina and dedicate a Raptor Post to My Beloved Philly Cheesesteaks. Now mind you, I have been living in San Francisco for the past 10 years, so I plan to jump back & forth between Philly and SF regaling my tale of the Philly 'Steak.

Traditionally, as with most Philly people, I have been raised on Pat's the Original 'King of Steaks' located at 9th & Wharton where it crosses Passyunk in the heart of South Philly, the Italian neighborhood. Pat's was our 'go to' place growing up, because it was open 24seven and was the place to grab a Steak after Proms and such, before walking over to Penn's Landing.
I know, right? What a dreamy schoolgirl's fantasy, huh? But I'm tellin' you, that's how it was...

Pat's was also the place for when you had the drunken munchies after the clubs. Two or Three AM on many a night, I had found myself at Pat's waiting in a long line, on hot summer nights, and even through rain or freezing cold. We didn't care, as long as we got our 'Cheesesteak on... y'know what I'm sayin'?'

I went to St. Joe's and when I lived at the dorms we used get our Steaks from Larry's Steaks Home of the Belly Filler on 54th, which is a 2 foot long of Steak, buh-lieve it or not! Yours truly, the Raptor, actually ate two, yes you heard me, two of these bad boys in one sitting one night. Ah, how I long for those days when we were young and metabolisms were high...

In '95, I left Philly and going back to visit family & friends, we were introduced to Steve's Prince of Steaks in the NorthEast with two locations off the Boulevard. They slice their Ribeye thick and keep 'em whole rather than chopped up like most other places and their Roll is incredible!
Now Steve's is our favorite place for Steaks, whenever we go back. Only prob is that their not open 24hours, so we sometimes still end up at Pat's.

Let me digress and go into what makes a Cheesesteak authentic...
Well, let me tell you...
It's all 'bout the Meat & Cheese of course, but first off it's got a lot to do with the Bread. It's typically a French Roll, and best if it's fresh and a little chewy. More importantly, you can't have too much Bread. If the Roll were too 'Bready' then one would hafta resort to "tunnel-ing" one's Roll. The preferred Cheeses would be Whiz, American or Provolone and you can get it "wit" or "witout" Onions. When it comes down to it, once you've combined the above, it then becomes all about the "Cheesy Goodness." Once you've thrown one down, you know it was good one if you end up wearin' some of that "Cheesy Goodness" with a spot on your shirt or some drippage on your shoes. It's no joke...

So where does the Raptor go when she's fixin' for a Cheesesteak in SF?
Well in all my 10 years here in the Bay Area,

The Cheesesteak Shop on Divisadero is the only place so far that comes the closest to home.
And other Philly transplants that I know would agree. This place ships Amoroso Rolls from back East and even has Tasty Kakes and Whiz. I suggest that you order extra Meat, because that's how I like it, plus it makes for a better 'ratio' as mentioned. Hey, I'm the Raptor, whaddya expect?

One place that'e been brought to my attention is Jake's Steaks on Buchanan off Lombard. I have yet to try it, but it's on my list. Will report back once I do...
Also, Amato's in San Jose is toted as one of the best cheesesteaks this side of the Mississippi. I gots to go! Can you say 'Road Trip'?