Yearly Archives: 2010

Date Night: Cheese Plate & Movie

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Some nights, a city couple just wants to escape their plans, slow down, and enjoy each others’ company at home. Satish and I like to cuddle up on the couch, pop in a movie, and nibble on fruit, nuts, and cheese. A cheese course offers the promise of unhurried pleasure. We are not cheese connoisseurs, but we do follow a few simple tips when putting out a plate of cheese:

-Look for well displayed cheeses,  and judge on aroma, appearance, and taste. Sample the cheeses when unsure about the taste.
– Ask  knowledgeable cheese merchants about their suggestions based on your palate preference.
-Display no more than four cheeses.
-Accompany the cheese plate with seasonal fruits (apples, grapes, strawberries, stone fruit) and raw honey.

A plate of crackers, cherries, 3 cheeses, raw honey, and chocolate chips with red wine

Dark cherries pair well with red wine and chocolate

Create a romantic ambiance with candles and flowers

A simple, romantic date night!

Samovar Tea Lounge

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Restaurant Review: Samovar Tea Lounge, Yerba Buena Gardens
Crowd: Power lunchers in blazers and ties seeking a mini retreat, creative minds, and refined tourists
Vibe: Peaceful, calm
Decor: City-zen, modern, bright, natural light, neutral and warm color scheme, silk fabrics, Buddha statue, various tea vessels
Layout: Indoors: Tea bar, wooden tables, bench seats.  Outdoors: wicker  and metal outdoor chairs and tables
Portion Size : Just right to large
Imbibe: The Masala Chai and Ocean of Wisdom
Enjoy: The Cherry Oat Scone with Devonshire Cream and Jam – makes me salivate just thinking about them!
Waist Slimmers : Almost everything on the menu!
Price: $45.61; Two people, 2 Masala Chai’s, Grilled Portabella Sandwich, and Braised Tofu Over Spring Greens Continue reading →

Farmer’s Market Find: Flowers for Spain

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I could not make my usual trip to the Farmer’s Market this Sunday morning, as I was joining thousands at the AIDS Walk SF to bring awareness to the epidemic by raising funds and walking 6.2 miles in the Golden Gate Park. In the place of the Farmer’s Market grocery find,  I want to introduce a guest blogger- Phantom Floranista to show you what other wonderful things you can find at the market.  She is a talented florist and urban landscaper on a passionate floral mission. Each week, Phantom Floranista  proves that for $20 or less you can create beautiful bouquets that will be the talk of your next dinner party. Find out more about  Phantom Floranista and her mission here and read about her latest creation below.

Continue reading →

The Weekender

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July 16-25th • Festival del Sole • Ongoing
Festival del Sole takes place every summer in California’s beautiful Napa Valley. The Festival features concerts by some of the world’s most celebrated musical artists, five-star cuisine, art exhibits, and wines from Napa’s top vintners, blended in a unique celebration of the art of life.

Friday July 16th • Food Truck Congregation • 5-9PM
Music, great food, beer, wine, and amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island and Alcatraz?! “Off The Grid” is organizing this weekly cultural market. Participating food vendors include Peko Peko Catering, El Huarache Loco, Kung Fu Tacos, Chaac Mool, Hapa SF, Seoul On Wheels, Soul Cocina, Onigilly, Azalina’s Malaysian and Global Soul. Get your grub on!

Off the Grid: Fort Mason

Friday July 16th • Fashion Fights AIDS • 9PM
“Fashion Fights Aids” is a benefit fashion show in support of the upcoming AIDS Walk. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. FFA has a full line up of talented designers, DJs, giftbag giveaways, and talent dancers performing alongside the runway.

Saturday July 17th • The BreastFest • 1-5PM
A breast cancer brewfest with more than 60 breweries. Ticket price includes unlimited beer tasting, food and non-alcoholic beverages, commemorative glass, and a good time. Live music by Pocket Change and Metal Shop. Win a beach cruiser and many other great prizes at the raffle. All proceeds go to the Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic. Sponsored by Marin Brewing Company.

Saturday July 17th • Learn Lamb with Melissa Perello • 2PM
Frances chef Melissa Perello will be teaching a lamb lesson in the Macy’s Cellar.  Drop by to see what the chef is cooking up—the event is free and the first 50 guests will receive a free gift.


Sunday July 18th • AIDS Walk SF • 9AM
Join SDSAA and Club Dine In! in the fight against AIDS by walking and fundraising. AIDS Walk San Francisco does not require walkers to raise a minimum amount of money. The money raised by AIDS Walk San Francisco supports the services provided by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), in addition to other benefiting organizations representing the entire spectrum of HIV/AIDS services. Please donate or join our team.

Sunday July 18th • The Peruvian Food Festival • 10AM
The Peruvian Food Festival is  all about the Food.  With over 40 unique dishes from every region of Perú you could imagine prepared by 20 Restaurants/Chefs.  If you have never tried Peruvian Food this definitely the place to start your love for Peruvian Food.  If you already have tried Peruvian Food, here you will be able to enjoy unique dishes that you won’t find in restaurants.  Lastly, you can not forget to try Peruvian Pisco and Cerveza Cusqueña.  Enjoy everything the Peruvian Culture has to offer  and be entertained by traditional Peruvian music and dance performances.

Sunday July 18th • Run for Teachers • 10AM

Teach with Africa works to break down the economic and social barriers to education in Africa by sending teams of educators to implement projects in underserved communities through an exchange of teaching and learning. Run For Teachers organizes a benefit run (5K) to honor Tracey Lurie-Sklar and to benefit Teach With Africa.  The run is a 3.5 mile out-and-back course from the parking lot of the St. Francis Yacht Club along Crissy Field to the turnaround point at Fort Point.

Tuesday July 20th • Happy Tea Hour • 5:30-7:30PM

Get happy over tea Happy  Hour with Club Dine In!. Enjoy a sampling of teas at the tea bar and some sweet and savory snacks. Meet cool people, learn about tea, get uplifted, have a blast. $10 includes all the samples you can drink and delicious snacks like Samovar’s squash dumplings, halloumi veggie kebabs, and tea-infused cookies. Better than any Groupon deal! Please help spread the word about this unique event and forward this invitation to other like-minded folks interested in supporting the healthier social life in San Francisco. RSVP here.


Samovar Tea Lounge, Yerba Buena Gardens

AIDS Walk SF and Happy Tea Hour

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Get happy over tea at Samovar‘s Happy Tea Hour with Club Dine In!.


Enjoy a sampling of teas at the tea bar and some sweet and savory snacks. Meet cool people, learn about tea, get uplifted, have a blast.
$10 includes all the samples you can drink and delicious snacks like Samovar’s squash dumplings, halloumi veggie kebabs, and tea-infused cookies. Better than any Groupon deal!
Please help spread the word about this unique event and forward this invitation to other like-minded folks interested in supporting the healthier social life in San Francisco.

Raffle Prize:
50% off portrait package with PlusMediaDesign.com ($175) includes 10-12 professionally touched up classic portraits of yourself and/or family.

Please RSVP and invite your friends.

Samovar Tea Lounge, Yerba Buena Gardens

Samovar Tea Lounge l 730 Howard Street, San Francisco 94103 l 415- 227-9400

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Join SDSAA and Club Dine In! in the fight against AIDS by walking and fundraising. AIDS Walk San Francisco does not require walkers to raise a minimum amount of money. The money raised by AIDS Walk San Francisco supports the services provided by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF), in addition to other benefiting organizations representing the entire spectrum of HIV/AIDS services.
To sign-up:
1. Register at: http://bit.ly/9hTUpJ
2. Click on “Join our team”
(Registration is FREE)

To Donate:
1. Go to: http://bit.ly/9hTUpJ
2.Click on General Team Donation
3. Donate

AIDS Walk San Francisco is a powerful and inspiring day in Golden Gate Park. On July 18, 2010, we will honor those who continue to fight, remember loved ones lost, and work to realize a future without AIDS.

We recommend that walkers show up at 9am to sign-in, turn in donations, and pick up fundraising awards. The walk itself starts at 10:30am and takes around 2 hours to complete , the Walk is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). At 12:30pm, there will be a big concert in the park and announce the fundraising total for AIDS Walk 2010. The concert will finish around 2:30pm and is followed by the closing ceremony at 3:00pm, where we announce the total money raised for AIDS Walk 2010.

Donate or Join Team SDSAA Bay Area for the AIDS Walk in San Francisco on Sunday, July 18, 2010. No minimum amount necessary. Thanks!!!


Yummy, Crunchy Kale Chips

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Two weeks ago, we excitedly bought a 32 ounce container of Krunchy Kale at the farmer’s market. The kale was very tasty and seemed liked the perfect snack; healthy, not fried, full of vitamins, and low in calories. That is until I ate practically the entire $8 container in one sitting. So last week, I bought of a bunch of fresh, organic kale for $2.00 and was set to make my own kale chips. I carefully washed, dried, oiled, salted, and baked the kale. The prep was somewhat time consuming, but highly rewarding.

One bunch organic Lacinato kale

1. Preheat oven to 300°F 2. Clean and air dry/dry in a salad spinner

3. Remove the stems and tough center ribs, and tear into large pieces 4. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle sea salt to taste

5. Place kale in a single layer on a baking sheet(s) and bake 6. Bake for 20 minutes or until crisp.

Enjoy!

The result: Incredibly light, crunchy and sans any of the bitterness that kale usually leaves in your mouth. My friends loved it and the entire batch was done in four days. None of us have to feel guilty about, as there is hardly any calories, carbs or fat in the chips.  I have to admit, the dried kale from the farmer’s market tasted better. Maybe because they dry, not bake their kale and add cashews, bell peppers and lime juice into their mix. Next time, I will season the kale with lime juice, pepper, and dried basil.

Farmer’s Market Find

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Typical Summer's day in San Francisco

Fruit for the week, Ken's Top Notch Produce

Spinach salads and cooked spinach this week. Happy Boy Farms

Maybe I will make a lentil stew with these babies. Happy Boy Farms

Getting inspired to make something fun for the Spain vs. Holland gathering.

A new welcomed vendor, Hollie's Homegrown, selling herbs and edible flowers from her garden.

Makes you forget about the cold, gray day!

Market fresh tomato and basil salad for the World Cup Finale party. 1. one pint of cherry tomatoes halved2. handful of basil roughly chopped3. 1 tablespoon EVOO drizzled over tomatoes and basil4. Sprinkle salt and pepper to desired taste and toss well

Not pictured:
Heirloom Sundried Tomatoes- Serendipity Farms
Dried Greek Basil- Hollie’s Homegrown

Total spent:$25.70
I bought a lot less this week, since I still have plenty left over from last week.

The Weekender July 9-11

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Friday July 9th • Food Truck Congregation • 5-9PM
Music, great food, beer, wine, and amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island and Alcatraz?! “Off The Grid” is organizing this weekly cultural market. Participating food vendors include Peko Peko Catering, El Huarache Loco, Kung Fu Tacos, Chaac Mool, Hapa SF, Seoul On Wheels, Soul Cocina, Onigilly, Azalina’s Malaysian and Global Soul. Get your grub on!

Friday June 9th • Groove with Mucho Axé • 9-12AM
Put on your dancing shoes and head over to Berkeley for a night full of live Latin grooves and dancing. Sambada and Mucho Axé will keep you going the entire night. Mucho Axé is a 7-piece band performing original compositions with a unique blend of grooves, rhythms, and flavors from Latin America, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico & from here.

Mucho Axe

Saturday June 10th •Dairy Farm Family Tour• 1:30-3:30PM
With almost 2,100 acres, 900 milking cows, and two milking parlors, Tresch Dairy is the largest of the Straus Dairy partners. Join Kathy Tresch for a tour, bottle-feed a calf, see cows being milked, and churn and taste butter. Take a hay ride to the heirloom apple orchard, taste Straus milk products and learn about sustainable agricultural methods and the important role farms play in preserving watersheds and wildlife habitat. Suitable for the whole family.

Saturday June 10th • Inside Outside Food & Art • 7-10PM
Exploring the concept of “inside” beauty being brought outside, and vice versa, this collection of sculpture and assemblage features work that is both organic and man-made. Plant life inhabits art in living, growing pieces throughout the existing gallery, while artwork makes it way outdoors into our recently-expanded garden. Food by Soul Cocina, Evil Jerk Cart, Gobba Gobba Hey, and Creme Brulee Cart.

Saturday June 10th • Dirty Dancing Film Night • 8-10PM

Grab a blanket, a date, pack a picnic, and watch this classic in the Union Square park.Maybe you will get inspired to dance and sparks will fly!

Sunday June 11th •New Wine Release Party • 1:00-5:00PM
Join Broc Cellars winery for their second annual food and wine pairing. Three new wines will be released: a white blend, a red blend, and a 120-year-old vine carbonic maceration carignan. Chef Ian Begg of Naked Lunch will be preparing very specific food pairings for each wine. $20 for food and wine pairing.

Sunday June 11th • Spain vs Netherlands • 11:30AM
Get your friends together for paella, Dutch chocolate, sangria and beer and watch the biggest sporting event come to an end. Is the Octopus still allowed to pick a winner?

Image: Reuters

Super Toxic Foods: Strawberries

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Beautiful, plump, deep red strawberries attract even the finickiest eater to enjoy their juicy sweetness in their mouth. They are the most popular berry in the world. Strawberries, like other berries, are famous in for their rich source of polyphenols. … Continue reading →