Wow, is it just me or was April a blur for you, too? Between and betwixt the spring holidays, family birthdays and travel (more on that soon), the month the superbloom is at peak is already a was. Sheesh! For this month’s supertopic, I’m betting on Charles’ Coronation.
1. What’s Hot
Literally everywhere I look, the talk is of the English royal family – their spats, books and whatnot are in the air. Jumbled amidst the animosity is an opportunity for glorious celebration, the first Coronation held in 70 years. Charles is known to be all-in on organic farming (no word on how he feels about regenerative agriculture) and runs an 1,100 acre farm west of London. As Kim Severson notes in the New York Times, The King Has Definite Ideas About Food. Charles is known to favor a gin martini and likes his Scotch, according to press in the UK.
In the United States, the Coronation ceremony begins at 6 a.m. Eastern which is rather early for a tipple but don’t worry, the celebration lasts all weekend, giving you the opportunity to sip a unique cocktail with brunch. Why not a cocktail named for the King? In an interview with Highclere Castle Gin CEO Adam von Gootkin, I explored the brand’s connection to Downton Abbey’s gardens and whipped up a batch of their King Charles cocktail, a drink that artfully blends gin and Scotch. Try one with a wedge of Stilton.
2. Chef Matkowsky Steps into the Spotlight
After years as the pivot around which San Francisco’s Turntable at Lord Stanley spins, chef Nathan Matkowsky is taking over as, well, chief disc jockey for the month of May. As Chef de Cuisine at Turntable, Matkowsky is known for his abilities to decipher the needs of the incoming chef-in-residence each month, managing everything the rotating roster of chefs need. This month, Matkowsky is in charge of the entire album: the Turntable kitchen is his.
3. Name That Column!
Writing about restaurants and other foodie bits is what I do. But I don’t always have placements, in the outlets I write for, for all of the things that catch and hold my interest. So, I’ve started a not-yet-named column on my blog to capture Restaurant News Around the Bay Area and Wine Country. I can’t call it New In Town because I already write that column for Marin Magazine, which focuses on Marin. So, what should I call it? It’s bi-weekly for now. Send thoughts on the column, if you have ’em.
4. About That Image
I tried hard to capture a stunning image of the superbloom I saw while hiking in the Marin Headlands. Let’s just say that others do that job better than I do. But on a visit to It’Sugar at Fisherman’s Wharf with my boys, I managed a pretty cool shot of the fog rolling up and over Alcatraz.
Stay sane during the Hundred Days of May!
Christina