Category Archives: Enticing Events

Inaugural Eats

Posted on by 8 comments

The next president.

So you aren’t going to make it to Washington, DC for those glittery presidential inaugural festivities on Jan. 20. That doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate in your own delicious way.

Fork and Spoon Productions of San Francisco is offering the chance to “Celebrate Obama in Pajamas.” Uhh, that would be you in the pj’s, not the president-to-be.

Roll out of bed, and nosh on an eight-course breakfast while you watch the ceremonies on TV. Fork and Spoon will drop off this feast for you plus 11 of your most political friends the night before. Just heat and enjoy the next morning.

Feast on egg casserole with bacon and goat cheese, cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit salad, malasadas (Hawaiian donuts), spinach salad, Hawaiian tropical punch, Bloody Mary mix, and a pound of Kona coffee.

Total price is $804.61 (Barack Obama’s birthday). Orders need to be placed by Jan. 16. To order, call (415) 552-7130.

Nick’s Cove in Marshall is getting in on the act, too, with its Presidential Inauguration Community Dinner, Jan. 20, which actually will be served all day long.

Read more

Martini Madness

Posted on by Leave a comment

Martinis galore at last year's cocktail celebration. (Photo courtesy of Douglas Thompson)

If you’re feeling a little hung over from all that revelry on New Year’s Eve, martinis might not be exactly what you want to see right now.

But just think: You have eight days to recover before the Martini Madness Challenge 2009 rolls around at the Saddles Steakhouse at MacArthur Place Inn & Spa in Sonoma.

The Jan. 9 event (5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), part of the Sonona Valley Olive Festival, will feature 10 bartenders from various Sonoma Valley restaurants and bars presenting their top martini for judging.

Enjoy the fruits of their labor (shaken or stirred?), along with appetizers and live music. Tickets are $40 per person ($45 at the door). There’s also an $85 option that includes entry to the Martini Madness festivities, plus a three-course dinner at Saddles.

Purchase tickets here.

For more fun Sonoma Valley Olive Festival events, head to Ramekins Culinary School’s Vineyard Room in Sonoma on Jan. 24 to partake in the annual Feast of the Olive Dinner. A host of chefs will prepare a five-course feast inspired by olives, with matching wine pairings. The chefs will work in teams of two to prepare each course using local, artisan olives and olive oils.

Read more

And the Winner Is….

Posted on by 8 comments

New York Chef Eric Ripert and cookbook author Cindy Mushet complete their task of eating 26 different cookies.

There are far worse ways to spend a Saturday morning than judging dozens of cookies with the likes of Eric Ripert, executive chef of New York’s four-star Le Bernardin; Dominique Crenn, executive chef of Luce in the Intercontinental San Francisco; Cindy Mushet, author of the Sur La Table cookbook, “The Art & Soul of Baking”; and Emily Luchetti, executive pastry chef of Farallon, Waterbar and Epic Roadhouse restaurants, all in San Francisco.

In fact, I can’t think of when I’ve had quite so much fun so early in the day.

The five of us braved sugar shock to help judge the 13th annual “Holiday Cookie Exchange” contest that aired live this past Saturday on “Dining Around with Gene Burns” (KGO Radio AM810).

First place to Swedish Pepparkakor.

The contest received a record number of entries. Burns, himself, spent a grueling 13 hours whittling down the 500 entries to a mere 26 finalists.

Even so, you just try tasting 26 cookies in one sitting. It was a tough job, but we five were up to the challenge.

Pastry Chef Emily Luchetti, and Chef Dominique Crenn can't believe they ate so many cookies.

In the end, we chose these four winners:

Read more

Meet Chocolate Experts at Fog City News in San Francisco

Posted on by 8 comments

Sacarmento's Ginger Elizabeth Hahn

San Francisco’s Fog City News is indeed one of a kind — a Financial District newsstand that sells thousands of magazines, and hundreds of premium chocolate bars from around the world. I call that nourishment for the mind and the sweet tooth.

Bonbons by Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates (Photo courtesy of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates)

Best yet, the store often hosts chocolatiers to talk about their confections and answer questions. Noon to 2 p.m., Dec. 15, meet 27-year-old Ginger Elizabeth Hahn of Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates in Sacramento. Her handcrafted chocolate bars and bonbons are available exclusively in San Francisco at Fog City News. Some of her signature bonbon flavors include Orange Jasmine Tea, and Caramel Apple Tatin. The event is free.

In 2009, look for more chocolatiers at the store at more free events:

Read more

« Older Entries Recent Entries »