SFBayStyle

A Vegan Visits Vin Santo (Willow Glen)

2008-10-05T04:00:00-07:00

Vin Santo in Willow Glen used to be one of our go-to restaurants for a nice meal back when I was only a vegetarian. But two years ago a less than successful attempt at finding a vegan meal (and an unfortunate incident involving two melting down nephews and a really long wait for food for them) resulted in a long absence from the restaurant.

Recently I went back with a couple of girlfriends for dinner and found a whole new vegan-friendly Vin Santo waiting...

At first I was concerned because the waiter told us that Vin Santo had been acquired by new owners a year ago. Well, that can go either way. I had appreciated how the previous owners had created a friendly ambience that gave Vin Santo a real neighborhood feel. That was half its charm. I looked around with new eyes, detecting no obvious changes in the atmosphere, but I was definitely reserving judgment.

It didn’t take long to appreciate one change, though. When I told the waiter I was vegan and asked what he recommended, he asked if I’d like to talk to the chef. I can tell you that it doesn’t happen very often that the chef of a restaurant comes out to talk to you because you’re a vegan asking for something off-menu, but every time that it has happened in my past, the resulting meal has been perfect.

This time was no exception. After spending a few minutes asking what I liked, the chef finally asked if I’d just like him to whip something up to surprise me. Well, of course, who wouldn’t?

My trust in the chef’s surprise was rewarded with an absolutely lovely meal. The chef brought it out himself, and said that since he couldn’t decide, he decided to give me four different things. (For which they seemed to have a plate with four sections conveniently available!)

One offering was a light penne marinara; one was roasted artichokes and asparagus; one was a vegetarian risotto and the last was a mix of beets and mushrooms. In other words: all my favorite foods! Something I also appreciated was that the preparation was not only tasty, but simple and very light. Although I had four different dishes to savor, they were each reasonable portions, and quite light. I didn’t roll out of there, I sauntered out... fully satisfied.

That chef (and he has a name: Umberto Pala) is officially my hero!

Vin Santo
1346 Lincoln Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
(408) 920-2508
http://www.vin-santo.com/

Art For Aids Auction

2008-10-01T04:00:00-07:00

The 12th annual Art For Aids auction will take place this Friday, October 3rd. Support the U.C.S.F. Aids Health Project by bidding on pieces that have been donated by galleries and the artists themselves. (I hear there is a Chagall that was donated for this event.) The silent auction and reception start at 5:30pm with the live auction starting at 6:45pm. Tickets cost $75.00. Please call 415-502-7276 for more information.

San Francisco Restaurants Unite to End Hunger

2008-09-25T14:05:44-07:00

Last week, a very special gourmet food & wine event called San Francisco Restaurants Unite to End Hunger, was held at Ferry Plaza to benefit the San Francisco Food Bank. The San Francisco Food Bank (SFFB) sources, collects and repackages nearly 100,000 pounds of food per day, which comes from supermarket chains, large manufacturers & wholesalers, restaurant suppliers, the USDA and food drives for seniors nutrition programs and low-income families. The food that the SFFB collects supplies for over 600 vital food programs, such as senior centers, after-school programs, neighborhood pantry networks and soup kitchens.

As mentioned in an earlier post, the SF Food Bank has been having a tough year. Food prices are skyrocketing and rents have increased 12% in the last year, resulting in more families relying on the SFFB to supply basic needs. And demands continue to increase. To compound the situation, the amount of the food that the USDA had been providing has been cut by 60% in the last 5 years alone.

Due to this predicament, the member restaurants of San Francisco Private Dining Venues and Estate Groups/Sonoma Cutrer sponsored the San Francisco Unites to End Hunger event to help provide some aid, as well as allowing food lovers to help contribute as well.

The event was held at the World Trade Club at the Ferry Plaza, which made for a beautiful setting with sweeping views of the Bay and the Bay Bridge as its backdrop. The San Francisco Event Music ensemble, another sponsor for the event played lively tunes, as people mingled and indulged in delectable hors d'oeuvres from participating restaurants.

Some of these gourmet samples included House-Cured Anchovies prepared 3 different ways by Palio D'Asti. They were paired with either Roasted Peppers, earthy Beets or a flavorful Eggplant Caponata. Acme Chophouse was serving up Roasted Figs topped with Goat Cheese wrapped in a cured Duck Prosciutto. Kuleto's dish was a Tuna Conserva served on a Toasted Baguette slice with a Roasted Pepper Mission Olive Tapenade and a Parsley Aioli.

Harris' provided a Prime Rib station, sliced up the way you like it, and Chaya Brasserie represented with colorful displays of Sushi Rolls.

My personal favorites for their inventiveness and perfect flavor combinations were by Absinthe Brasserie with its Marinated Lamb Loin sliced thin atop a Vaudovan (Indian spiced) Carrot Puree with a Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Toasted Almonds, which added great texture, and the Thirsty Bear Brewing Company's Melon Gazpacho, prepared with Heirloom Melons and a Coconut Sorbet and Mint, which provided a unique & delicious palate cleanser amidst all of the savory dishes.

The SF Food Bank had a great turnout for this event, as philanthropists and food lovers alike showed up to consume delicious creations, imbibe good wine and give back to their community.

Photos by Rose C Ravasco

Eileen Fisher Special Event

2008-09-24T04:00:00-07:00

Eileen Fisher has always been passionate about empowering women to feel good about their bodies. Eileen creates simple, elegant designs that are truly timeless in appeal. Her commitment to improving the lives of women and girls is evident by the many organizations the company supports through the grant-making program and special fundraisers.

This Saturday, September 27th, from 12-5 Eileen Fisher will be hosting their fall event to benefit Girls Inc. of West Contra Costa. Ten percent of all of sales will be donated. There will be goodies and special gifts with purchase. You can support Girls Inc. and check out the latest designs at Bay Area Eileen Fisher Stores :

San Francisco: 2216 Filmore Street
Palo Alto: 114 Stanford Shopping Center
Walnut Creek: 1171 Broadway Plaza.

Sprinkles Is Open !

2008-09-23T14:05:32-07:00

The economy may be hurting, but people on the Peninsula just can't get enough of cupcakes. Kara's opened a few weeks ago in the Town and Country shopping center. Lines are out the door. Sprinkles opens today in the Stanford Mall. Sprinkles held a grand opening party this Sunday, and reports are that the cupcakes were just amazing. I was impressed by the invitation, a box of two beautiful cupcakes that my family devoured. My kids were quite upset to miss the festivities, but I assured them I would be picking up some cupcakes today! Now for my personal plea..will one of you cupcake makers please make some dairy free cupcakes so people with allergies can enjoy these goodies too?

944 September Fall Fashion Issue

2008-09-22T12:44:53-07:00

Don't we all just love September? The chill in the air, the kids back in school, the big fat fall fashion mags!!944 San Francisco brings it home this issue with must-read articles on local fashionable trends.

Such as: An interview with Jessica Herrin from Stella and Dot home jewelry business, a profile of up-and-coming fashion designers Alyssa Prentice and Ronnie Escalante Jr., a Q&A with one of SF's most stylish closets, and much more. Check it out online at: http://www.944.com/magazine/

A Food Affaire next Monday, September 22nd

2008-09-20T00:26:48-07:00

The Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA) is hosting a sensual gourmet food & wine event called - A Food Affaire. The event is this upcoming Monday, September 22nd at the renowned Ruby Skye nightclub on 420 Mason Street in downtown San Francisco. Over twenty top San Francisco chefs will serve aphrodisiac-inspired dishes that incorporate mood-enhancing ingredients. Whether it's decadent oysters being sucked right out of the shell, lavish caviar pearls bursting between your teeth or foie gras melting like butter on the tongue, you can experience all of the sexiness that these foods have to offer. It is anticipated to be a memorable evening in which you can indulge in seductive food and entertainment.

The event was formerly called Toast of the Town. With participating chefs and restaurants such as Mark Gordon, Terzo; Joey Altman, Miss Pearl's Jam House; Bruce Hill, Bix; Massimo Caporale, Gelato Paradiso; Tammy Huynh, Bong Su; Pablo Estrada, Rose Pistola; Ruggero Gadaldi, Beretta; Paul Piscopo, XYZ; Ranjan Dey, New Delhi; Damon Hall, MoMo's and Pete's Tavern; Dan Scherotter, Palio d'Asti; Joseph Manzare, Tres Agaves; Gary Rulli, Emporio Rulli; Ben Hetzel, Uva Enoteca; Tim Luym, Poleng Lounge.

There will also be exotic dancers, henna tattoo artists and fortunetellers. SKYY Spirits is the exclusive beverage sponsor for the event and will be creating a list of specialty cocktails for the evening. Proceeds raised from A Food Affaire will benefit the GGRA's Scholarship Foundation, which provides talented students with scholarships to help fund their tuition towards careers in restaurants and hospitality.

The ticket price is $150 VIP or $100 for general admission, per person. VIP Event Begins at 6pm, general admission to open at 6:30pm. Rivera Public Relations is offering a discount to fellow industry professionals and food-lovers alike: When buying tickets, use the promo code "RPR" (all uppercase) and you will receive a $20 discount. Or for those couples that want to attend, use the promo code "RPR2" and receive two tickets for the price of one (a $50 value).

Click here to purchase your discounted tickets and get ready to go behind the scenes with participating San Francisco chefs to experience their take on aphrodisiac-inspired cuisine at this year's "A Food Affaire". The event is sure to tantalize your tastebuds and satisfy all of your senses, from touch to sight.

Vintage Fashion Expo This Weekend

2008-09-19T05:00:00-07:00

When it comes to fashion and personal style, a touch of vintage is always in and one of the best venues to find authentic vintage clothing is the biannual San Francisco Vintage Fashion Expo. Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the fall expo is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21, at the Nob Hill Masonic Center, 1111 California Street. Tickets are $10.

Lis Normoyle, co-owner of Vintage Fashion Expo, tells me that the current Frida Kahlo exhibit at MOMA has been a big influence on local style. Several dealers at the show will have Mexican embroidered jackets, hand painted skirts, hand-tooled handbags, and silver jewelry. Normoyle works with the best vintage dealers around the country bringing designer clothing, estate and costume jewelry, accessories, and textiles to San Francisco every year. Check the Vintage Fashion Expo website for hours and a $2 off coupon, http://www.vintageexpo.com/.

Welcome Faye Ho

2008-09-18T09:00:00-07:00

It's never too early for jewelry and particularly the lovely designs of Jewelry by Rosalina. Local fashionable ladies gathered one morning last week at Neiman Marcus for the Bubbles and Bites event, to get a peek at Rosalina Lydster's latest jewelry designs and welcome visiting entrepreneur Faye Ho.

Mireille Schwartz was eying a bauble or two, looking fabulous in Chanel. Damion Matthews from SFluxe also paid a visit before darting off to work.

Ms. Ho posed for pictures and quietly chatted with attendees, sharing her passion for animals. The granddaughter of a casino tycoon, Ms. Ho grew up in Macau, China and was educated in Switzerland and New York. She returned to Macau in 2004 after the death of her grandmother. She has since been working to raise funds for Anima, the Macau animal shelter. Committed to improving the environmental conditions and health care for unwanted pets, Ms. Ho was elected President of Anima in 2006. She is visiting San Francisco with plans to make our city her future home.

Spared from the Storm, in its last month at Stanford

2008-09-17T19:50:01-07:00

Don't miss your last chance to see Spared From the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art, now on view at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University through October 4, 2008. Over 80 drawings, paintings, and sculptures by some of the most significant artists in history are included, representing only a portion of the New Orleans Museum of Art's diverse and comprehensive collection which was spared from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

It comes as no surprise given the history of New Orleans that the exhibit is undoubtedly rich in French works, including such artists as Bucher, Vigee-Lebrun, Degas, and Braque, but the exhibit also includes equally interesting works by Picasso, Magritte, O'Keefe, Cassatt, Cornell, and many others. The artistic range and profound variety makes this exhibit particularly fascinating.

Spared From the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art
on view now through October 4, 2008
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
328 Lomita Dr (at Museum Way)
Stanford CA 95305

Free tours of the exhibition on Thursdays at 12:15 pm and Saturdays/Sundays at 2pm.
This exhibit was organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art to benefit its Katrina Recovery Fund.