Thoughtful Gourmet Blog

Last summer, it seemed everyone I knew had caught the spiralizer bug. Courtesy of the paleo movement, which asks its adherents to, among other things, give up carbs, spiralizers, a kitchen gadget that slices vegetables and fruits into curls and (duh) spirals, are having their moment in the sun. I jumped on the bandwagon to take […]

Mint Plaza Redux –  What’s New and Happening Now San Francisco’s Mint Plaza, that L-shaped wedge of open space behind the old Mint Building at the corner of 5th and Mission, is bustling once again with restaurants, food trucks and events. Just steps away from the Westfield Center and Union Square, Mint Plaza is a […]

San Francisco’s taste for the flavors of the Southeast Asia shows no signs of slowing. New restaurants bring the food of Guam and Sri Lanka to the city while an established restaurant defines the food of Indonesia in elegant style. 1601 Bar & Kitchen Neighborhood: San Francisco, SOMA Located on a quiet stretch of Howard Street, […]

Casual but upscale dining is a national trend that only seems to keep growing in San Francisco. These restaurants turn on the culinary firepower yet keep the setting refined, luxurious and low key. Great food, a fun vibe , and maybe even a Michelin star. It is all here. Chef’s Counter at Saison Neighborhood: SOMA Chef […]

eau–de–vie: a clear brandy distilled from the fermented juice of fruit. French, literally, water of life, translation of Medieval Latin aqua vitae First Known Use: 1683 (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eau-de-vie) Bordeaux. Whether or not you are a wine drinker, the name Bordeaux is familiar and connotes a prestigious sort of French wine. Just north of Bordeaux, in Poitou-Charentes, […]

Do you remember ZIMA? ZIMA, the smash hit easy-drinking malt beverage delivered to the world from Coors Brewing Company (now Miller Coors) in 1994, is with us no more (Coors discontinued it years ago) but a mini-revival in the clear, citrusy beverage is well underway. To wit, Brian Felley & Mo Hodges, owners and drink-slingers […]

With Christianity’s high holy days just weeks away, wine is on my mind. Wine, a part of Christian religious traditions since its earliest days, deserves a place at holiday tables. A wine made from grapes grown in and around an Italian monastery and used in religious feasts? Bingo! I recently sampled two wines made near […]

Stepping onto the grounds at the Cairdean Estate is, at first glance, unremarkable. To the right of the parking lot, heavy machinery stands in front of a wide building. To the left, a series of low-slung buildings sit quietly, as if waiting for something to happen. There is little noise, other than the occasional whoosh […]