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ABOUT ME:

Name: Gutenberg

Location: Somewhere near the Golden Gate Bridge.

Occupation: BRPR (Bunrab public relations.)

 
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-Gutenberg



 

November 1-8, 2009

 

go to next week's blogs

 

  Sunday, November 8, 2009
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The Gospel Brunch at 1300 Fillmore began with a bread-laden collection plate:

Warm corn bread, scones and biscuits all worshipped at the altar of divine baking. We were particularly struck by the fluffy, oniony, chive-flecked quick breads.

We made our entree and dessert selections from the prix fixe menu ($39.00 per person) before the singing began. Sparkling wine and Pama liqueur with lemon-lime soda made up the bottomless Pomosas:

... which lent their citrusy spritz to a chicken po’ boy:

... with jalapeno slaw and crisp, house made potato chips and the perfectly cooked shrimp over creamy grits:

The singers added an additional chorus to the a-menu with performances that included an eleven year old girl with a voice that transformed the dining room into a theist-ter:

 

Apple cobbler:

... came with a flaky biscuit crust hiding a multitude of sin-amon. This was good Eden with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Key lime meringue tart:

... was a cloud of puckery sweetness which concluded our Sunday morning service. Chef David Lawrence has orchestrated a praiseworthy brunch with a wholly satisfied following.


1300 Fillmore
Gospel Brunch
Sundays 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
1300 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, CA
415.771.7100






 

 

  Saturday, November 7, 2009
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We followed the shaft of smoke rising from St. Helena’s Chase Family Cellars where the Primal Napa event was heating up.

This display of de-butchery included demos by calf-inated Taylor Boetticher:

... and perb-atrator, Staffan Terje:

Critter crucification:

... and meaty mastication were accompanied by wines and Magnolia:

... brew.

Benton’s bacon:

... grilled oysters:

... and Daniel Hyatt’s cocktails:

... put the “i” in the VIP reception, while I kept my eye:

... on a plate of perfectly cooked beef heart and pork shoulder.

Chris Cosentino:

... may have a Boccalone, but only whispers emerged from his mouth as he gave instructions with his hoarse voice. I asked him if he brought any of his new lard caramels, but he had no candy for this tardy, lardy, trick or treater. My disappointment was eased by chunks of luscious liver straight off the fire.

This primal party gathered eaters, urbanites, and relations round the fire to chew the fat:

... at this vector of vegan aversion.

We loved this day of roasting and toasting and catching up with friends.


Primal





 

 

  Friday, November 6, 2009
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A caveat egg-tour is recited to scrambled customers at Bette’s warning that this establishment cooks their eggs correctly - that is to say, soft. Eateries often eggsemplify an anti-tein method of pro-fessionalism when it comes to radiating these rations for customers that can’t get ova an image of Rocky putting a glass of the raw stuff down his hatch.

The mindset of cooking being a method of germ killing (rather than a pathway to palatability) is frustrating for chefs asked to ruin good product and the customers consuming the collateral damage of a kitchen staff’s reaction to well done stiffs, fortunately for me, my salami and green onion scramble at Bette’s was just right.


Bette’s Oceanview Diner
1807 4th St.
Berkeley, CA
510.644.3230

 

 

Mark your Calendar

Marcia “Tablehopper” Gagliardi will fortify your knowledge of Sherry along with expert, César Saldaña, as guests enjoy Neyah White’s cocktails and straight sips of this beverage during Tablehopper’s sherry tasting.

Don’t worry about rolling your “r”’s as terms are brandied about, just plan on some little Spanish nibbles and a Fino-te speech as Stable Café reigns in Spain.


Tablehopper Sherry Tasting

Tuesday, November 10th
6:30-9:00 p.m.
tickets $59
Stable Café
2128 Folsom St.
San Francisco, CA
21 and older






 

 

  Thursday, November 5, 2009
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Bin There

The Looney waitress didn’t display a PDA for her PDA as she tried to input our order to her malfunctioning hand held computing device. After several tech fails, she ended up comping some of the delayed BBQ at this small smokehouse.

Babyback ribs ($18.95):

... were tender, meaty and good (although a little under-smoked for my taste.) There were a selection of house made sauces to further customize the house slather.

It was difficult to settle on 2 sides, but the collard greens had a good spicy kick while the sticky mac ‘n cheese shells were heavily enriched with cheese.

Looney’s was a pleasant place to pull over for an eating opor-toon-ity despite their digital dilemmas.



Looney’s Smokehouse
2190 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA
510.649.0628

 

 

Mark your Calendar

Over 100 single malt and Scotch whiskies will flow at the 16th annual single malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza at San Francisco’s InterContinental Hotel.

A buffet dinner will bolster the ‘bibers as they delight in the distilled dimensionality of these specialized sips.


The 16th Annual Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza

Wednesday, November 18th 7 - 9 p.m.
Tickets $115 - $130 each, by advance purchase only
InterContinental San Francisco
888 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA
800.990.1991


 





 

 

  Wednesday, November 4, 2009
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I removed the Chicago style dog ($3.59):

... from Olympic consideration due to its doughy physique. The wiener achieved good form with sport peppers, cukes, tomato and some performance enhancing celery salt but the carbo loading didn’t pay off for this dog.

Jody Maroni’s
5617 Bay St.
Emeryville, CA
510.547.2246

 

 

Mark your Calendar

Humphry Slocombe, Chez Panisse and Range will be among those displaying their sweet nature at Sugar Rush 2009.

Range’s hot date turnovers and Boulevard’s Rocky road meringues at last year’s event were so seriously sumptuous that we can’t wait to see what they come up with this year.

If you like dessert, you’ll be glad you spun by this benefit for Spark’s youth apprenticeship programs.


Spark’s Sugar Rush 2009

Thursday, November 12th 7-9 p.m.
tickets $50-$250
111 Minna Gallery
111 Minna St.
San Francisco, CA
415.626.5470 x110






 

 

  Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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I couldn’t stop crunching on the thin, house made, peppery, potato chips:

... that border the sandwiches at the Berkeley Bowl Cafe.

These starch-ways where the culinary keystone of our midday meal at this counter service, market eatery.

The French Dip ($8.95):

... was filled with slices of prime rib riding in on a horseradish cream. This nicely spiced, arugula accented sandwich was a better bet than the hamburger ($6.95):

... which arrived under-seasoned and over cooked (but at least it had some of those crisps as consolation).

Their wood oven and rotisserie will require another rotation. I am particularly curious about the ‘za at this produce procurement portal.


Berkeley Bowl West Cafe
920 Heinz Ave.
Berkeley, CA
510.898.9555

 

 

Mark your Calendar

You can both ornament and be a star at One Market this Saturday at a cookie decorating party benefiting the Make a Wish Foundation.

Finger sandwiches and non-alcoholic refreshments are included along with a decorating kit:

... and 3 freshly baked gingerbread stars. Pastry Chef Patti Dellamonica-Bauler will be on hand to offer confectionary counseling as she hosts this star studding event.


One Market

Cookie Decorating Party for the Make a Wish Foundation
Saturday, November 7th at 11 a.m.
The full $20 ticket price goes to Make a Wish.
1 Market St.
San Francisco, CA
415.777.5577





 

 

  Monday, November 2, 2009
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Commis-ary

We went with a couple pals to see about Chef Syhabout at Commis Restaurant where diners select an appetizer, entree and dessert (for $59) to be bookended by a few additional treats.

A perilla soda:

... offered an effervescent mingling of mint with a hint of sweetness to prime our palates for an amuse-ing egg yolk that was stripped of its white once it had set:

This golden globe was paved with a gravel of smoked dates and chives. This was a ‘jool of a sweet, salty, rich, creamy and crunchy dish.

We realized we had asked that they feedus an appetizer that might eggsaust our hatches, but the soft farm egg went in a divergently delicious direction with fermented black garlic, onion flowers, potatoes and luscious pork jowl:

Plump mussels:

... flexed in a squid broth with an apple emulsion. I dug this root vegetable and watercress grounded, shellfish sensation.

The pork loin and belly:

... were okay, but not the right thing to follow that over the top jowl. These leaner bits of meat pulled us back to a feeling of sensible eating on a field of cream kissed, wheat berries and walnuts with a gourd mustard.

The minute my fork touched the grilled black cod:

... I knew that I was in for a crisp-skinned, moist-fleshed bit of fish. This hunk of heavenly seafood was surrounded with stewed seaweed, savoy spinach and wood sorrel and paired with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.

Roth Kase buttermilk bleu affinee:

... was an earthy hunk of richness countered by persimmon and toasted pistachios.

Celery root cake with a wonderful celery sherbet, dots of niabel grape jelly and almond butter crunch:

... was like a trippy bag lunch of PB&J with celery sticks. These clean and rich flavors and textures were delicious with a pot of 8 treasures tea.

Absinthe gelee:

... ended this spirited supper. The chow, service and setting were all wonderful. Next time we’ll try to snag counter seats:

... to watch the action in the open kitchen.


Commis

3859 Piedmont Ave.
Oakland, CA
510.653.3902

 

 

Mark your Calendar

San Francisco’s Coffee Bar has some Chefs Dinners coming up in November including a “Basque’ing in the Cali Sun” supper that the Jetset Chef (aka Alex Marsh) will prepare on November 14th-16th when he returns from Spain.

Laurine Wickett of Left Coast Catering will roasting a pork shoulder for the non-vegi option in her 3 course dinner on November 7th and 10th.

Check the Coffee Bar site for deets.


Coffee Bar

1890 Bryant St.
San Francisco, CA
415.551.8100


 




 

 

  Sunday, November 1, 2009
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The streets of San Francisco were surprisingly civilized for a Halloween night. We hit some fun parties that were more raucous than the roads and were happy to cash in our daylight savings bonus hour.

It felt like a trick that only 2 pieces of applewood bacon come with the country breakfast ($9.50):

... at Venus.

This duo of smokey strips from Golden Gate Meat Company inspired gluttony so perhaps this petite pork-tion was for my own good.

The biscuit wasn’t flakey or fluffy, but I appreciated the crispy bits on the spuds and over easy eggs.

After orbiting around the Bay Area, bacon and eggs are a good landing pad.


Venus

2327 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley, CA
510.540.5950





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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