Yearly Archives: 2010

Marengo on Union

Posted on by

1

Restaurant Review: Marengo on Union
Crowd: Attractive single women in blazers and skinny jeans wondering where all the single men are
Vibe: Lively and Energetic
Decor: Bright and sleek. White marble counters to dark wooden floors. Organic plants to a retractable roof.
Layout: Open kitchen with a marble chef’s counter, wooden communal table and marble tables for two and four for a quieter experience. Back bar: Wooden communal table and bar all lined with wooden stools, under a retractable roof
Service: Friendly and genuine
Portion Size : Sliders
Imbibe: One Fo(u)r Champagne
Enjoy: The Black & Blue, Porky, Fry Sampler, Queso Marengo, and Chocolate Chip Slider
Waist Slimmers : The Shroomer  and The Jerk -protein style¸ Spinach Salad
Price: $30.61; Two people, 1 vodka soda, 1 glass of wine, 1 slider, 1 grilled cheese

This place is all about whiskey, wine, sliders, and a good time.  Exactly what Union Street needed! There are many healthy choices one can make and still have a great time. The food is unassuming, but really good. The sliders are small.  The spinach-strawberry is delicious (and organic). I would recommend ordering one regular slider and two protein style with a small salad. The wines are chosen carefully and service is super friendly. I look forward to their lunch and brunch service¸ where I can wear a sundress and sit in the back bar without turning blue from the cold.

Sunscreen and sunglasses required

Driftwood fixtures add color to the back bar

Marbled Chef's Counter

Enjoy chic champagne with your bff

The Jerk is really good!

The tiny grilled cheese, a bit over-priced, but yummy!

Farmer’s Market Find

Posted on by

4

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The Golden Gate Bridge is under there!

Purchased: mixed greens, lettuce gems, cherry tomatoes, lemon cucumber, summer squash, zucchini, cilantro, and thyme

I really like Happy Boy Farms

Purchased rainbow chard and Kale from Rio De Parros Organics

Replacing Greens

Spent a total of $46.60 and it's more than enough to last us until next Sunday!

I bought enough vegetables and fruit to last us over a week. On Wednesday, I will pick up a couple of chicken breasts or fresh fish. (We don't eat meat on Mon & Tues)

Maybe we should have friends over for dinner this week?

Other Purchases (not pictured):
Broccoli
Corn
Free range, antibiotic free ½ dozen eggs
French Baguette
Green bell peppers
Heirloom Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Nectarines
Pea Greens
Peaches
Plums
Roma tomatoes
Strawberries

The Weekender July 1-5

Posted on by

1

The long weekend is finally here! If you don’t have plans to jet out of town¸ check out these good ol’ American (non-touristy) events happening in the Bay Area. Check out the slide show for more inspiration!

Thur-Mon July 1-5 • Marin County Fair • 11-11PM
The 65th edition of the Marin County Fair will celebrate the theme Going Global: Connecting Cultures complete with attractions, interactive exhibits and contests that offer the best in family fun. Along with traditional Fair favorites (thrilling carnival rides, delicious food, loveable farm animals and dazzling fireworks) there’ll be exciting family discoveries each day of the Fair!

Friday July 2nd • Turning the Tables • 7-9PM
A recurring theme in the art of Glenda and Jesse Drew is to render visible the often unseen human labor embodied in the modern food system.  Their most recent effort, Turning the Tables, is a series of video/audio portraits of waiters in local San Francisco restaurants.  By sharing the hopes, thoughts, and stories of these men and women, Turning the Tables offers viewers a richer, more human view of restaurant culture.  Join us to celebrate the opening of this exhibition, enjoy a glass of wine, and spend some time with these wonderful moving portraits.

Friday July 2nd • Food Truck Congregation • 5-8PM
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

Sat-Sun July 3-4 • Fillmore Jazz Festival • 10-6PM
With live acts spinning grooves on multiple stages, the Fillmore Jazz Festival welcomes artists from all over the jazz spectrum, including everything from jazz-fusion to vintage jazz standards. The Jazz Festival prides itself on not only looking forward into the future of jazz music, but it is likewise deeply respectful of the jazz legends that came before. In addition to live music, the Fillmore Jazz Festival will feature over eight blocks of arts and crafts, gourmet food and drinks on San Francisco’s historic Fillmore Street.

Saturday July3th • Crush Barrel Wine Market • 12-5PM
The Crush Barrel Wine Market is the first of its kind to offer consumers a $10 instant rebate towards the purchase of wine. Northern California’s premiere wine tasting and wine market celebrates the Bay Area’s vintners, food purveyors, specialty vendors, live music (Bautista), and more. Buying tickets early is recommend — they sold out last time.

Sunday July 4th • Summer Festival and Chili Cookoff • 10-4PM
The 29th Annual Palo Alto Summer Festival and Chili Cook-off continues the tradition of the Independence Day Celebration, attracting thousands of sun and chili lovers. The festival embraces everything wonderful about summer, and teams of chefs battle for the chili championship. There will be live music, dancing, children’s activities, food vendors and more.

Sunday July 4th • Mind, Body & Wellness Workshop • 10-4PM
Mind-Body Wellness Workshop is a free community service initiative by The Art of Living Foundation and aims at creating more awareness about healthy and stress-free way of life. The experience of meditation can take us beyond the usual mental stress and emotional agitation to a calm centered place. Explore the delicate art of quieting the mind!

Sunday July 4th • Fireworks and BBQ • 1-6PM
It’s San Francisco’s biggest Fireworks Party! Come sample and shop for dozens of boutique wines and enjoy barbecue food in the historic Del Monte Square next to the Cannery on July 4th at 1p-6p. Fill up on barbecue food, enjoy boutique wines, and select your wine for the fireworks and for your after party!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Easy Chicken “Kebabs”

Posted on by

1

Cooking meat isn’t my favorite, but after writing the post about Healthier Social Eating, I was inclined to make chicken kebabs. The problem is that I live in an apartment in San Francisco, and I do not have a backyard¸ much less a balcony.  So grilling is not an option. (I tried the George Foreman indoor grill, but I did not like the results). Anyway, I decided to put the vegetables and chicken on wooden skewers, wrap them in foil, and roast them in the oven. After, marinating the vegetables and heating up the oven, I discovered we didn’t have the skewers. That is the worst thing that can happen to a cook on limited time.  I thought about ditching the whole project and settling for leftovers. Then it dawned on me that I could use my pizza stone (a fancy wedding gift). The results were d-e­-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. What impressed me was how little time I spent on the whole process and everything tasted as if it came out of a wood-fire grill. This is definitely going to be something I whip up when I have hungry friends over.

Ingredients
¼  cup olive oil
1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
2 lemons juiced
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 cups assorted summer vegetables, cut into 1½ inch pieces (zucchini, squash, bell peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms)
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thigh meat, cut into 1-inch chunks
12 (10- to 12-inch) wooden skewers (optional)

Directions

  1. Whisk together olive oil¸ mint¸ lemon juice, thyme, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper until well blended to make a marinade.
  2. Put vegetables into a glass bowl. Put chicken into another glass bowl.
  3. Divide marinade equally among the bowls and mix each well to coat all of the ingredients.
  4. Cover each bowl and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Stir occasionally.
  5. Soak wooden skewers in water for at least one hour.
  6. Skewer vegetables and chicken separately on skewers. For example, thread only bell peppers on one skewer, only squash on another and only chicken on the next. Since protein and vegetables cook at varying times, this will allow you to cook individual skewers until the items are sufficiently done (and eliminate burning one ingredient while trying to cook another). If you don’t have skewers, you can roast them in the oven.
  7. Preheat grill to 375°F (a medium-hot fire). Grill chicken until just cooked through and slightly charred, turning often, about 8 minutes. Grill vegetables until just tender. OR Alternately, preheat the oven to 425°F. Spread out the vegetables on a nonstick baking sheet. Pour remaining marinade over the vegetables. At the same time, you can spread out the chicken on another baking tray and pour its marinade over the chicken. Cook vegetables until tender and the chicken for about 10 minutes. OR If using a pizza stone¸ cook vegetables until tender and starts looking charred, about 6 minutes, turning once. Transfer to a plate. Add chicken to the pizza stone and cook for about 10 minutes, turning once.
  8. Transfer skewers to a platter and serve.

Serve with a side of Greek yogurt, salad, and/or couscous for a complete meal.

The marinade

I marinated the chicken for 3 hours but I recommend a longer time.

Veggies only took 5 minutes in the oven!

My Greek Salad, takes 5 minutes to assemble

Side of Greek Yogurt

Side of Couscous with Green Heirloom Tomatoes

I devoted 45 minutes to preparing, cooking, AND cleaning up. Worth it!

Meatless Monday Meal

Posted on by

2

French green lentils with sautéed leeks, mushrooms, summer squash, and  carrots.

Nutrient dense and amazingly delicious!

Heart healthy, protein rich snacks to keep you sustained throughout the day.

Salad of fresh strawberries and olive oil dressing

Roam Artisan Burgers

Posted on by

0

Restaurant Review: Roam Artisan Burgers Crowd: Britex Strollers, American Apparel leggings, Banana Republic collard shirts  Vibe: Cheery Decor: Urban Rustic, if that means a 200+ year-old beam reclaimed from a bar, glass bottle chandeliers, and hanging terrariums by Flora Grubb … Continue reading →

Tyler Florence: Wayfare Tavern

Posted on by

3

Restaurant Review: Wayfare Tavern
Crowd: Blazers with loosened ties and blouses with black pumps
Vibe: Lively and loud
Music: Jazz
Decor: Turn-of-the-century San Francisco Barbary Coast
Layout: Four floors: 1. Basement floor for the restrooms and an entrance to the kitchen 2. Main floor with a raw bar, full bar, open kitchen with a Chef’s Counter, and booth seating 3. Second floor with a smaller bar, more seating, and a Billiard Room 4. A rustic, private dining room with a wine cellar.
Service: Genuinely Friendly, Professional, and Precise
Portion Size: Large
Imbibe: Jasmine Green Tea Cooler (non-alcoholic)
Enjoy: Fresh out of the oven Popovers and Goat Cheese Ravioli
Waist Slimmers: Chilled Watermelon Salad, Marin Tomato Salad, and Crisp Pacific Catch Halibut
Price: $177.85 across four people, three appetizers, three entrees, 3 glasses of wine, and one non-alcoholic beverage

The instant you walk in and pass the four eager hostesses, you feel like you have stepped away into another time and place. A feeling of mischievousness overcomes you, and you begin to wonder about all of the secrets this place might have, just like in the 1800’s. The bar is packed and the open kitchen is full of action. It feels a little chaotic, while I wait at the bar for the rest of my party to show. Despite, the opening week crowd, the bartenders are upbeat and do not give off the “I feel the pressure, I am too busy” vibe. There is a whirlwind of staff buzzing around and attending to your every need. At times, it feels like there is more staff than patrons. The general manager is very kind and talks to us in length about the making of Wayfare Tavern. The size and style of the menu is very representative of Old America, with a modern-Californian twist. It’s large with ample choices for the meat lover and pescatarians. However, there is only one vegetarian entrée with quite a few salads and sides to pick from.  We watch Mr. Florence carefully inspect and perfect each dish before it goes out, which is really amazing to see. He even tries to take a few minutes away and talk to patrons, which I really appreciate in a celebrity and chef.  As for the taste, I am a little disappointed. Maybe, my expectations were too high, but as a gourmet foodie, I find the food to be good, not great. The entrées are a little overpriced, but justifiable for the neighborhood. Though, I do plan to go back, just not too soon.

Wayfare Tavern l 558 Sacramento St San Francisco, CA 94111 l 415-772-9060

The Parlor

Stuffed animals and birds are common fixtures

The Classic American Menu

Elegant, rustic tablescape

Organic Marin Tomatoes with Black-Eyed Beans, Goat Cheese, and Chive Blossoms

Smoked Olive Oil Mac n' Cheese

Goat Cheese Ravoli with Summer Squash

21-Day Dry Aged Grass Fed Sirloin

The men on the table claimed it was above average

Intrigued by Club Dine In!

Farm to Table Brunch

Posted on by

3

June 20th marked the one year anniversary of our official engagement, meaning a ceremony in front of 120 family members. To celebrate, we decided to stay-in and make one of our long, scrumptious brunches. The morning before, we filled up our market bags with organic heirloom tomatoes, mint, basil, baby leeks, ricotta cheese, goat cheese, a brioche bun, farm fresh eggs, bing cherries, nectarines, raspberries, lavender, and gladiolus.

making it official, again

The Ambiance:

Our dining room

The Menu:

Floral Cherry Salad

Floral Cherry Salad is a staple salad that I make during the spring and early summer. Mix salad greens, flower petals, slivered almonds, and pitted cherries together in a mixing bowl. Drizzle lightly with balsamic vinegar, sea salt, and pepper.  Toss and serve.

Fresh herbed Omelet

Fresh Herbed Omelet

Roasted Tomato with Quinoa

The Roasted Tomatoes stuffed with Quinoa is really easy to make. Try for yourself.

Raspberry and Ricotta Brioche

Raspberry and Ricotta Brioche makes for an elegant brunch dish or dessert. It is also very easy to make.

Did you know that Club Dine In! is on Twitter and Facebook? Follow@clubdinein for daily health, fitness, and social news, recipes and delicious tips! Join the Club Dine In! community on Facebook to connect with like-minded individuals and find out about exclusive Club Dine! events.

Grand Opening of North Beach’s Farmers Market

Posted on by

0

Last Sunday, June 13th, the North Beach Farmers’ Market opened with the support of hundreds of San Francisco residents and tourists.  It was a pleasant, sunny San Francisco day for the grand opening. North Beach is a newbie in the Farmer’s Market scene and this market was the perfect size to ease the neighborhood into the shopping experience. This market is the smallest I have seen in the city, but it offers most of what you would expect. Freshly baked breads and pastries, olives and olive oil, cheese, honey, abundant fruit and vegetables, eggs, brightly colored flowers.  Though, don’t expect to find coffee or hot food trucks here. But then again, you are in North Beach! You can easily walk over to one of the many cafes for your daily fix of java! Take that coffee and freshly baked goods to Washington Square park and enjoy!

Please show your support of this market, by visiting every Sunday. Be sure to sign the petition, requesting to extend the market until early fall.

North Beach Farmers’ Market

Mason Street, between Columbus Avenue & Lombard Street
Every Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm
June 13, 2010 through October 24, 2010