Category Archives: Enticing Events

Awesome Abalone

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"Super'' red abalone. (Photo courtesy of Steve Lonhart, SIMoN/NOAA)

Face it, not many of us can sport six-pack abs.

But the Highlands Inn in Carmel can give you “Super Abs” — for a price.

That’s short for abalone that’s farm-raised in a sustainable manner by the Monterey Abalone Company. And these particular ones are ”super” because the red abalone (the most common type raised off California waters) are being cultivated wtih a new method that results in faster growth, a brighter color, and apparently more flavor. (Yours truly has only tasted the “regular” Monterey Abalone Company abalones. And those are mighty fantastic already.)

Abalone ceviche. (Photo courtesy of Steve Lonhart, SIMoN/NOAA)

The abalone company is working in conjunction with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories to do this. Highlands Inn has exclusive rights to all of the “Super Abs” now available to be harvested.

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A Celebration of Dungeness

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Bistro Boudin Executive Chef James Chan gets crabby. (Photo courtesy of Boudin Bistro)

Would you buy a Dungeness crab from this man?

Well, you should, because Executive Chef James Chan of Bistro Boudin, 160 Jefferson St., 160 Jefferson St. near Pier 43 1/2 in San Francisco, has got a deal for you.

Through March, the restaurant will serve a once-a-week Crab Feast on Thursdays. You get one crab per person, linguine with slow-cooked tomato sauce, Caesar salad, and of course, Boudin’s sourdough bread.

Prices for the feast are $25 for one person; $49.50 for two; and $89.95 for four.

Bistro Boudin's crab extravaganza. (Photo courtesy of Bistro Boudin)

OK, the Niners might not have made it to the Super Bowl. ‘Nuf said.

But you can catch 49ers team members in another competition, the 7th annual Celebrity Crab Festival. They’ll be digging into bowls of Dungeness crab, noon to 3 p.m. Feb. 28 at San Francisco’s Union Square, to demonstrate the fine art of cracking the Bay Area’s premier crustacean. That will be followed by a timed crab cracking contest to see who can crack the most crab.

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Restaurant Specials and Food From the Heart

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Enjoy stuffed squash for half price, if you eat late and in a big party. (Photo courtesy of John Benson)

If you’re a night owl, gather your nocturnal friends for a dining deal at Zare at Fly Trap restaurant in San Francisco.

Its new “Ten After Ten” promotion lets parties of 10 or more who make a dinner reservation for 10 p.m. or later get 50 percent off the cost of food. It’s good Monday through Saturday. Just mention what special occasion you’re celebrating — birthday, anniversary, bachelorette party or something else — when you book.

Meatballs with harissa at Zare at Fly Trap. (Photo courtesy of the National Honey Board)

If you prefer eating earlier, Chez Papa Resto in San Francisco has introduced a monthly changing themed four-course prix fixe dinner menu (with amuse bouche) nightly for $50. Wine pairing is available for an additional $35.

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Celebrate Suds — Big-Time

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Beers galore. (Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pub)

Brewski lovers will rejoice that “SF Beer Week” rolls around, Feb. 6-15.

The 10-day beer celebration will showcase the San Francisco Bay Area’s long heritage with craft beer. More than 150 events are planned throughout the Bay Area. They include beer festivals, beer dinners, meet-the-brewers evenings, home-brewing demonstrations, music, films, and even a museum exhibition.

“We want the public to know that San Francisco is a hot spot for artisan and craft beers. It is an artisan environment,” said Dave McLean, owner and brewer of Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery, and the Alembic bar. “San Francisco has the top examples of artists – from cheese, to wine, to arts and culture – and beer is a part of that excellence.”

Get ready for Beer Week. (Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pub)

After all, beer is considered the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the world. The Bay Area’s connection dates back to the 19th Century, when it had nearly 50 breweries.

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Go Red

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February is American Heart Month, so be good to your ticker.

Alarmingly, heart disease is the number one killer of women. So resolve to eat healthier, exercise more, quit smoking, lose weight, and keep your cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure under control.

The Food Gal will be doing her part in all of this, too. Yours truly will be joining a handful of other women on ABC’s “View From the Bay” ( KGO-TV channel 7), 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, with hosts Spencer Christian and Janelle Wang. We’ll be participating in a fashion show organized by the American Heart Association and Macy’s. Basically, I’m just hoping I don’t trip over my own two feet walking down the runway.

You can do your part, too, by wearing red on Feb. 6, National Wear Red Day. Landmark buildings around the Bay Area, including San Jose City Hall’s dome, will be lit up in red that day for the occasion.

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