Category Archives: Bakeries

Good Eats for Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl, Black History Month, the Olympics and More

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Romance is definitely in the air this month. And what could induce more starry eyes than dining with a view of the crashing waves of the Pacific?

The Highlands Inn in Carmel is making it a little easier on the pocketbook, too, with its new “Starlit Dinners” at its Pacific’s Edge restaurant.

Sunday through Thursday through Feb. 28, enjoy a three-course dinner for $45 per person. Executive Chef Mark Ayers changes up the menu frequently to take advantage of locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Choices may include dishes such as seared scallops, and tender beef seasoned with heady rosemary and served atop creamy mashed potatoes.

For hungry Super Bowl Sunday fans, Urban Tavern in San Francisco will be serving complimentary gumbo, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Feb. 7.

It’s free with the purchase of a beverage at the bar.

Peter B’s BrewPub in the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey invites you in to watch the big game and a chance to win one of four free memberships to its “Mug Club Membership Program.”

What’s that, you ask? It’s a membership that affords you a personal 25-ounce beer stein — hung from the bar at Peter B’s and readily available for your use — and $4 (25-ounce) beers, which are regularly $7 for non-Mug Club members.  In addition, Mug Club members will receive exclusive invites to taste and sample new beers upon their release.

Sprinkles Cupcakes is going bipartisan for the Super Bowl. Feb. 6-7, you can buy a box of 12 cupcakes ($46) decorated with football sugar decorations. Each box contains six Red Velvet and six vanilla cupcakes. Half bear the name of the New Orleans Saints; the other half, the Indianapolis Colts.

Not to be outdone, Kara’s Cupcakes, is offering a special four-pack of cupcakes for Valentine’s Day.

For $13, you get a package of four Sweet S’mores cupcakes decorated with sugar hearts, along with a signature note card with the caption, “I Heart You.” The first 100 customers to purchase the “Sweet Package,” Feb. 13-14, receive a Kara’s  Cupcakes tote. Additionally, Kara’s has just introduced new gluten-free cupcakes.

Not only is Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day, it’s also the start of the Lunar New Year. Catch free lion dance performances, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 and 12:30 p.m. Feb. 14, at Ming’s Chinese Cuisine and Bar in Palo Alto.

Moreover, February is Black History Month. 1300 on Fillmore in San Francisco is celebrating with a four-course prix fixe for $65 or $95 with paired wines (all by African-American-owned wineries).

The special menu by Executive Chef David Lawrence, available through Feb. 28, includes dishes such as cassoulet of duck confit with bourbon-braised pork bell, and Dungeness crab citrus salad. The featured wines also will be available at the bar in a wine flight.

The Pub at Ghirardelli Square invites you in to watch the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 12. Dress in Olympic-inspired garb to win a chance at prizes. Gold, Silver and Bronze shots will be on the menu.

Chef Michael Chiarello’s swank Bottega in Yountville has introduced a fun, new dining option — the chef’s table.

The marble table is next to the kitchen. Parties of six to 12 get the entire table, while parties of four get a communal experience. The chef’s table dining option lets guests interact with the chef and wine director to create a five-course dinner. If you’re lucky, Chiarello, himself, will be your maitre ‘d, too.

Prices, courses and ingredients vary nightly. But typically, it’s $70 per person with another $30 per person for wine pairings.

Feb. 12, the Ferry Building in San Francisco hosts the “Food from the Heart Valentine’s Day Event,” 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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New Vegan Cupcakes, New Pinkberry & Dinner by a “Top Chef” Contestant

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After a year of tinkering, Sprinkles Cupcakes has unveiled its new vegan and gluten-free versions of the Red Velvet cupcake, its best-seller.

Chef Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles, makes the vegan ones with all-natural soy milk, tofu-based cream cheese and coconut oil. The gluten-free one is made with gluten-free flour and topped with a thick layer of the usual cream cheese frosting.

Find them now at all Sprinkles locations.

Word is that competitor, Kara’s Cupcakes, also is working on vegan and gluten-free cupcakes. Stay tuned….

“Top Chef” fanatics will want to know that Season 6 contestant, Laurine Wickett, will be cooking dinner at Coffee Bar Cafe in San Francisco this weekend, Jan. 30 and Jan. 31.

Wickett, whom some fans thought was sacrificed to keep popular contestant Jennifer Carroll on the show longer, is the chef-owner of Left Coast Catering in San Francisco. She will be cooking a three-course dinner for $35; or $55 with wine pairings. Dishes include cauliflower soup with smoked  potatoes and truffle oil; and panna cotta with citrus compote.

To reserve a seat, call (415) 551-8100 or email: LWickettatcoffeebar@gmail.com.

Brewski — and lots of it — will be showcased at the second annual “San Francisco Beer Week,” Feb. 5-14.

Learn why the Bay Area has become a hotbed for artisan beer-making. Indeed, California has more than 200 breweries and beer companies, the most of any state. Eight of those breweries are in San Francisco.

A bevy of tastings and galas will be held at various venues throughout the Bay Area. Click here for a complete schedule.

Another Pinkberry fro-yo shop has opened in the Bay Area — this one at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto.

Look for it between Bloomingdale’s and Ralph Lauren.

San Francisco’s Waterbar invites you to try its new “Happy Hour,” 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Sweet New Bakery, Wine Time & Meal Deals

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Ten cupcakes sold on opening day at SusieCakes will hold a special surprise. (Photo courtesy of SusieCakes)

With shades of “Willy Wonka,” the new SusieCakes bakery opens Jan. 23 in Greenbrae in Marin County with a fun surprise.

The Los Angeles bakery, which welcomes its first Northern California location, will be hiding 10 “golden tickets” in its signature frosting-filled cupcakes on opening day.

Each golden ticket is redeemable for a special reward, such as attendance to a baking or cake decorating class; a 6-inch or 9-inch specialty layer cake; five dozen mini cupcakes; or one dozen cupcakes. Winners will also be entered in a grand prize drawing to receive a 9-inch specialty layer cake monthly for an entire year as part of the “Cake-of-the-Month Club.”

So if you buy a cupcake on Saturday, be sure to bite carefully.

Are you a natural redhead? Then, Sent Sovi of Saratoga has a special offer for you for its first wine dinner of the year.

Jan. 28, the restaurant will host a wine dinner spotlighting Testarossa Winery of Los Gatos, which specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

And did you know that “testarossa” means “redhead” in Italian? Yup, so the restaurant is extending a 20 percent discount off the normal $100 price per person for the dinner to any natural redheads who mention that fact when they make a reservation and are able to prove it when they show up for the dinner.

Get your ‘do in check and prepare to dine on such dishes as dayboat scallops with caramelized scallop jus and sprout petals; and slow-cooked beef ribeye cap with whole grain mustard spaetzle.

Chef Paul Arenstam invites you in for crab and pig. (Photo courtesy of the Americano Restaurant)

Like crab? Like pork, too?

Then, you won’t want to miss the “Crab and Whole Hog Dinner,” Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Americano Restaurant in the Hotel Vitale in San Francisco.

The event, which will be held in the heated patio tent, will feature guest artisan ham purveyor, Massimo Spigaroli, from Italy. The dinner, overseen by Chef Paul Arenstam of the Americano, is an all-you-can-eat buffet of Dungeness crab, pork, side dishes, salads, desserts, and local white wines.

Price is $85.

Through March, the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, will be featuring distinguished California wines in its ENO tasting room. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday mid-afternoon, a representative from each featured winery will be on hand to answer questions about the wines.

Tasting fees range from $25 to $35 per person, depending upon the vintner. Flights of cheese and chocolates can accompany the tasting for an additional charge.

January spotlights Stage Left Cellars; February showcases Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel, and Dolce wineries; and March focuses on St. Francis Winery & Vineyards.

Throughout the year, Quince in San Francisco will host a series of “In Residence” intimate, informative dinners with guest chefs and vintners from around the world.

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New Restaurants, New Chefs, New Beard Papa and New Holiday Treats

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Sea scallops at the new Meritage in the Claremont Hotel. (Photo courtesy of John Benson)

The newly renovated Claremont Hotel, Club & Spa in the Berkeley hills has unveiled a swanky new restaurant, Meritage.

Guests can sidle up to a mahogany bar or take a seat in the main dining room with its wall of windows affording breathtaking views of the Bay.

Following on the heels of sister establishments, Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel and Le Meritage at the Maison Dupuy in New Orleans, the Berkeley locale features an extensive wine list to go with its seasonal, contemporary California cuisine.

Dishes include Castroville artichoke soup with crispy prosciutto and roasted tomatoes ($7/$12); Sonoma goat cheese-potato terrine($9/$17); seared sea scallops with celery root-Yukon Gold potato puree($15/$28); and Bay Area cioppino ($16/$29).

The nicely designed menu lets you order dishes in either small or large plate sizes. Dishes also are characterized by wine characteristics so that you can easily pair a dish to a particular varietal you’re fond of. For instance, the ahi tuna tartare with crispy rice, marinated cucumbers, sesame and ginger ($13/$25) is listed under “fruity reds.”

Creamy artichoke soup. (Photo courtesy of John Benson)

Beard Papa fans will rejoice that another branch of the popular Japanese cream puff bakery has opened — this one at 365 2nd Ave. in San Mateo.

It’s Beard Papa’s fifth Bay Area location. The bakery is famous for its cream puffs that have a unique crispy, pie crust-like exterior and traditional, airy choux pastry interior. The official grand opening complete with ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at noon Dec. 18. For more information, call (650) 342-PAPA.

Parcel 104 in Santa Clara has a not-so-new chef. Jonny Hall, former chef de cuisine of Parcel 104, has been named that restaurant’s executive chef, succeeding Robert Sapirman, who left earlier this year.

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New Bakery, Gourmet Turkey Sandwich, Pastry Chefs Event & More

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Whup it up for Whoopie Pies from Susiecakes. (Photo courtesy of Susiecakes)

If you’re already drooling over those Whoopie Pies, you’ll have to wait until January 2010 to try them.

That’s when Susiecakes will open its first Northern California location in Marin at the Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae.

Owner Susan Sarich opened the first Susiecakes in Brentwood in Southern California three years ago. Three others followed suit in other SoCal cities.

The home-style desserts include everything from a best-selling apple pie to Susie’s Famous Southern Red Velvet cake to homemade banana pudding to assorted cupcakes.

Cherry pie. (Photo courtesy of Susiecakes)

If you’re starting your holiday shopping bright and early tomorrow, San Jose’s Santana Row will be offering a bevy of discounts and deals. Puripan Tea Garden will offer 20 percent off all teaware and accessories. Rosie McCann’s Irish Pub and Restaurant will start Happy Hour at 11:30 a.m. with half-off appetizers, and $2 off pints, well drinks and select wines. Roux Louisiana Kitchen joins in with house wine, champagne, mimosas and draft beer for $3 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yankee Pier will extend its Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and feature $1 Skokum oysters.

Thea Mediterranean will discount your tab 15 percent if you show a receipt from any Santana Row shop or restaurant that day. Vintage Wine Merchants will serve up $3 mimosas. And the Santana Row location of Starbucks will open at a crazy 3 a.m. for caffeine-desperate early shoppers.

"Plymouth Superbird'' sandwich. (Photo courtesy of the Naked Lunch)

If you’re missing out on turkey this Thanksgiving, no worries. The Naked Lunch, the fun, fast-casual eatery in San Francisco’s North Beach has a sammie that is sure to satisfy.

Available Nov. 27-28, the “Plymouth Superbird Sandwich” ($9) features Fra’ Mani’s new turkey galantine, made of both white and dark oven-roasted meat. The sandwich comes complete with cranberry mostarda, sweet potato aioli, Hen of the Woods mushrooms and shaved celery — all on an Acme green onion slab.

Chef Doug Keane and his staff at Cyrus in Healdsburg typically have the day off on Thanksgiving.

But this holiday, they’ll be working in a different capacity. Keane, his wife, and his crew will prepare and serve a traditional Thanksgiving feast today for 120 residents of Catholic Charities Homeless Service Center, a local organization that helps homeless families.

Chef Doug Keane (center) and his staff. (Photo courtesy of Cyrus resaurant)

Guests of the shelter will enjoy a sit-down meal at Healdsburg Bar & Grill with all the trimmings, including cornbread, and apple and pumpkin pies.

“Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and giving back,” Keane says. “Rather than simply volunteering our time or donating our food to the shelter, we want to welcome these families as guests of what is, essentially, our home. We hope to provide a memorable and special dinner out- one where we can all give thanks together. ”

Meet some of the Bay Area’s top pastry chefs at “The State of Pastry in SF,” a 6 p.m. Dec. 1 program hosted by the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. They’ll be giving baking tips and talking about the latest dessert trends.

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