Invite Me to That Office Meeting

The folks over at Alameda's Forbidden Island just sent out an announcement about their new service.

Aloha!

Now through the end of the year, Forbidden Island is pleased to offer private happy hours for offices, groups, clubs, organizations, or just friends. Enjoy Forbidden Island all to yourself Tuesday - Thursday nights from 5-7pm. No staff fees or room rental charges, just a low minimum sales requirement. We can even help you find a great caterer to set the mood! Email us for more information at info@forbiddenislandalameda.com, and let the Happy Holidays begin!

Mahalo!

Pour a Drink . . .Cocktail Hour is Back

The Complete Plate

So the summer hiatus is over and I will try to get back into the regular blogging routine. This Summer I saw 12 of America’s finest Cities, flew over 10,000 miles and drove nearly 2,000 miles. I just wish I had the discipline to write everyday.

But with a couple of weeks back at home it’s time to get the shaker shook and pour new postings for Cocktail Hour.

On Saturday, my friends and I headed over to the Marina District for one of my favorite dining places to have a good steak, Izzy's Steaks & Chops on Steiner. It had been a while since I had been in, but not much changes at Izzy’s. They did tweak the menu a little over the last couple of years, but this is a place for meat, potatoes and drinks.

You have to love place where the namesake is a long time San Francisco bar tender, Izzy Gomez. The bar tender was beloved in the city and his bar on Pacific was local hangout for San Francisco movers and shakers. An Izzy quote still darns the wall: “LIFE IS LIKE A LONG ROAD, TAKE IT EASY; WHEN YOU COME TO A POOL ON THAT LONG ROAD, DON’T MUDDY IT; MAYBE YOU’LL PASS THAT WAY AGAIN AND YOU’LL BE THIRSTY.”

In this vain, Izzy’s keeps it simple and with its food, drink and service.

If you go on the weekend make sure you have a reservation. Wait time can be 90 minutes on a Saturday. Even with the reservation we had a 10 minute wait because the place was packed. The Bar at Izzy’s is solid with a full section of premium spirits and the wait staff and gets the drinks poured in a hurry.

The bartenders are very careful to make sure the cocktail have great balance in their preparation. They pride themselves on being able to mix just about any cocktail. The bar also regularly features at least ten to twelve well priced wines by the glass.

It is nearly impossible to select a bad steak at Izzy’s. I had the Rib Eye with sides of Izzy’s Potatoes and Carrots and onions. The steak was perfect and the potatoes are decadent. The great thing about Izzy's is it is not a chain this is a good locally owned and operated restaurant that uses top quality ingredients. All of the beef is corn fed and the New York Steaks are aged at least 21 days.

For those of you who live in the Tri-Valley, Izzy’s has a newer location for dining. I have not been to this location, but I am told that it has the same great food and local feel. The third location is on Penisula in San Carlos.

http://www.izzyssteaks.com/

Izzy's Steaks & Chops

3349 Steiner St, San Francisco, CA 94123

(415) 563-0487

A Bay Oasis

The road trip continues . . . after six day on the road and four cities and 3,000 plus miles flying and another 300 miles plus driving, I got to stop in one of my favorite cities on the East Coast, Annapolis, MD.

For the Alameda readers, they will understand how this little town on the Chesapeake Bay could feel like home with the water, sailboats and lots of people milling about downtown. Besides being the home of the US Naval Academy (GO NAVY, Beat Army) and the Maryland State Capital, Annapolis has some great bars and excellent dinning.

I have been to Annapolis before, so there was one stop I had to make, Buddy’s. I dropped anchor for an after work beer and some of Maryland’s best crab cakes. The drive to Annapolis was worth just that one stop, even though the Washington DC traffic was brutal. The SF Bay Area has nothing to complain about when it comes to traffic. But back to Buddy’s Crab and Ribs, this is a family restaurant that has an all-you-can eat brunch. It is a little on the tourist side, but you can’t beat the crab. I had just the crab appetizer because I wanted to try something new.

I walked around for a while until I gained an appetite. After looking at 8-10 menus, I decided on Maria’s, very traditional looking Italian restaurant. Maria’s Sicilian Ristorante and Café offers a specialty drinks and I tried the Annapolis Breeze, a drink that they say is unique to restaurant. The drink consist of pomegranate, Gray Goose L’Orange and fruit juices, very refreshing, very much on the orange flavor with the fruit juice.

The food was traditional Italian fare, I had a mix plate that had lasagna and cannelloni and Caesar Salad. The food was very good, tasted was flavorful and well prepared. The place has been voted Best of Annapolis on several occasions. I would highly recommend.

As a day sailor, it was also good to run into a crew just heading into Maria’s for post race Cocktails and food. So I got to talk a little about sailing, have a good drink and dinner all I all a great stop in this very long trip. Back to Alameda soon, one last stop Philadelphia.

http://www.buddysonline.com/

http://www.mariasristorante.com/

Dupont Circle

So my travels had me heading North after business in Virginia Beach and Richmond to the Washing DC area. Once I got into town, I was little tired, so I checked into the Hotel and caught a 30 minute nap before heading out for dinner. I have to tell you, that this Bay Area boy is getting a lesson on what humidity is, but more about that latter.

After the Nap I was not sure what I wanted for dinner, so I decided to head out to a busy neighborhood to walk and just find something. I’ve been to DC in the past and so I decided that Dupont Circle would be a good spot wander around to find a meal and a cocktail. I walked around the plaza a little, where people were hanging out around the fountain just trying to cool off. A dozen or so people were playing chess and checkers, and there was even one three card Monty game going on.

I headed down Connecticut and found Café Citron. My server was a warm and helpful woman with a Spanish accent. She explained that everything was made from scratch and suggested a couple of dishes. I took my time to review the menu, but ordered the Sangria right away. It was a warm evening. I decided on the empanadas and the jerk chicken.

The restaurant was decorated with warm colors, colored lights and lots of mirrors. The place had Latin flavored techno music playing in the background. Later in the evening, they switch to live Flamenco music, which mad the place come alive. I had a mojito as a follow-up drink as I listen to the music.

The empanadas were very good, but I was not crazy about the Jerk Chicken. The chicken was over-cooked. The jerk rub and sauce was okay, but the overall dish failed to deliver.

Overall Café Citron was a great environment to relax. I would suggest going for the appetizers, cocktails and the music and stay away from the Jerk Chicken dish.

By the way to finish up on the heat and humidity, as I walked after dinner I found that after one block I was soaking wet. Boy, O’Boy do I miss the San Francisco Fog. More from the DC tomorrow.

Wave the Flag

This week I am back on the road, an East Coast swing from Norfolk, Virginia to Philadelphia, PA. I flew into town early so I could settle into East Coast time and get set for my busy week. I had some time to kill on Sunday, so I decided to tour around Norfolk. I have to tell you there was not much to Norfolk, but it was lunch time so I pop into AJ Gators a local sports bar.

Sports bars are always a good default for me, I grew up a big sports fan, even got paid to write about sports and worked in media relations for a major university, but on this day I got a new lesson in sports and drinking.

Growing up on the West Coast NASCAR has no meaning. The closest the racing circuit got to the Bay Area is when the drivers take a detour to Sonoma, from the South. So, when a couple of boys rolled into Gators they asked what the drink specials were. The bartender rattled them off, and all of sudden I felt like she was speaking a foreign language, NASCAR.

See all the drink specials were related to the race. Green flag $2.25 on bottle domestic (of course no race fan would drink anything else) beers, Yellow Flag $1.25. All of sudden I had a little interest in the race. So the question was when would the first Yellow Flag appear?

Twenty-eight laps in the first Yellow Flag was waved and the beer price dropped. The race had a total of 10 caution flags. Had to look that fact up, I did not stay long enough to watch them all. NASCAR still does not hold much interest for me, but in Norfolk with cheap beer it was worth about 30 minutes.

Later in the evening, I had a more traditional sports evening watching AAA baseball at Harbor Park. The Norfolk Tide (Baltimore Orioles affiliate) took on the Richmond Braves (Atlanta Brave affiliate) in a good game. My seat at Harbor Park was three rows from the field for $12. What a bargain! A beer was $7, but it was more than 24oz, try that at AT&T park. The food was very good.

I had a great time at the game; the crowd went home happy with a 5-3 Tide win.

More stories from the road tomorrow.

Street Party

Alameda’s annual street party, The Park Street Art and Wine Fair” is part block party, part shopping, part high school reunion (for those who went to HS in Alameda) but most of all a whole lot of fun.

For the past six years, I worked the event for my former employer and this year was the first time that I got to enjoy all of the festivities. Many of the bars and restaurants on Park Street set up special deals for the event. Linguini’s had their pizza window and shots of Jägermeister, boy that has the the 20-something crowd written all over it. Cera Una Volta and the new Wine Bar had tastings for those who love the grape.

Because there is so much to write about I will give only highlights.

The Beer: four types were available through the fair, Lagunitas, Fat Tire, Heineken and Pyramid Hefeweizen. None are my favorites, but I tried all four in the spirit of the event. I settled into the Fat Tire.

The Alameda Fire Department Pancake Breakfast was just the right thing for a Sunday morning. The crew was efficient getting the crowd their breakfast and it was cool to see the old fire trucks. The kid in everyone still likes fire trucks.

The music was great. The bands selected gave the entire fair a great vibe. I like the Hitmen they had a great party vibe. The Sun Kings are an Alameda favorite performing covers of Beatles tunes. The great thing about the Sun Kings is the audiences from 20-50 all know the words to the songs. We saw a lot of people rocking and dancing. My favorite was a tottler named Henry who was taking his rocking to the music very seriously.

Big Congrats to Rob Ratto and the volunteer crew who made this event as special as it is every year. Rob only 363 days until the beer starts flowing again for this event.

Alameda’s New Burger Joint

The much anticipated opening of Burgermeister in Alameda cam to fruition this past Tuesday and give the crowds over the past couple of days it looks to be a hit with locals. If you go for dinner and want to sit down be prepared to wait, I went on Wednesday Night and it was a 20 minute wait for table for two.

With any new place there are hiccups, and Burgermeister had a few this evening.

We started with cocktails, the Strawberry Margarita was not good, it was the first time I have sent back a drink in a real long time, and the staff did create the drink but not a good start. The lemon drop was solid, but not great. The bartending needs to be improved.

The real bummer was not wait for table but the long wait for food. Our server forgot to put our order in, and after 20 minutes she noticed. She did apologize and put a rush on the new order, which came very promptly. In the meantime I had twice ordered a beer and never received it, I guess the good part was I did not get billed. I have to say they failed on the execution of service.

The positive was the food. The burger was perfect and the chili cheese curly fries were AWE-Some. So the food was good and I was glad to see all the people dining out in the Park Street District. Of course we ran into several people we know, typical in Alameda. The evening was not a total loss.

I would go back because of the quality of food and give them another shot at improving their service.

2358 Central Avenue (between Oak St & Park St)Alameda, CA 94501
www.burgermeistersf.com/

Celebrating Old School

Live everyone I like to celebrate, be it a birthday, new job or an anniversary. This year I decided to celebrate one of life’s moments at an Eat Bay architectural moment; The Claremont Hotel or more specifically at Paragon in the Hotel. The Claremont has been at its current location since 1906 and has been a resort since 1915.

The Claremont Resort & Spa is a historic hotel that straddles the border between Berkeley and Oakland.. It is located at the foot of Claremont Canyon in the Berkeley Hills, providing the resort with scenic views of San Francisco Bay. It was constructed by a group of real estate developers associated with the Key System. A transbay line ("E" line) ran right to the doors of the Claremont Hotel for those trying to escape San Francisco for the weekend, approaching from between the tennis courts. Thus, Claremont Hotel guests not only had a magnificent view of San Francisco, but they could also go there directly by train. This grand location has kept most of its unique feature of years past.

My wife and I met in Berkeley over 20 years ago but we had never gone to the Claremont together for cocktails or food, so I booked an evening to experience what Paragon had to offer at this unique location. I knew the location would be special. I had arranged a time about 30 minutes before Sunset; it was a little hazy so the Bay View was not as nice as it could have been, but still a great setting.

I have to tell you, that this is location, is a great place for after work, happy hour or getting a group of friends together. The Paragon has a deck and lounge that is perfect to settle in and have a few drinks and talk with friends or a date.

We started with Pomegranate Margarita and Pink Grapefruit from the House Drink menu. Most drink on the menu are $10 and of 14 drinks on the list the diversity offers a little of something for everyone. Paragon offers a limited wine list and a larger after dinner drink list.

For starters we had the asparagus salad and the tuna tartare. The asparagus was crisp and had a lot of flavor. The tuna was spicy with pablano chilies, but it was not overpowering.

We decided on scallops and the pork chop for our entrees. The Paragon has a very limited selection for its entrees, with just six main dishes. The food was consistently prepared, not the best ever, but a solid performance.

Overall the Paragon delivers because its staff was great, the drinks were great, the food was good and the location was outstanding. I would go back, especially to sit on the deck after work and enjoy a few drinks.

http://www.claremontresort.com/

Urban Hike

View from Broadway and Jones Staircase

I can’t remember if we bought the book “Stairway Walks in San Francisco” or it was given to us but yesterday was terrific Bay Area day, to take an Urban Hike. The book has more than 20 walk that navigate you through different neighborhoods, and as you trek the author explains some of the local architecture and sets you up for stunning views.

We decided on the Pacific Heights walk that starts on Broadway and Jones works it way down the hill towards the Russian Embassy, through the neighborhood past the Flood Mansion and some other stunning homes, works its way back up the hill past the Italian Embassy up to the Fillmore crosses over to Alta Vista Park and finishes where you started. In all, it was a good work out and great way to spend the afternoon.

We rewarded our effort by heading down to Union Street to get Mojitos at Betelnut. I wrote about Betelnut in my last post so no big details other than the first Mojito went down real easy. There are several outdoor dining places on Union Street and if you are looking for a bar try the Bus Stop.

More important is the Urban Hike is great for finding new places. If we had more time we would have hung in the Fillmore a little longer. There is always a new place to try.

So give it a shot.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon, this is in no way an endorsement of Amazon, so if you can find the book at you local retail outlet I would encourage you to support your local book store.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0899974295/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

Classic vs. Contemporary

I ran into a great article on SF Gate doing an analysis of bartending; East Coast vs. West Coast. The basic premise is that East Coast Bartenders are very traditional and make small changes to long time recipes and West Coast Bartenders look at fresh local ingredients to create their drinks.

The article as a whole is a bit tongue and cheek, but a good read and most of all it provides four cocktail receipts at the end. I leaned toward the Nouveau Carre sounded great.

What I got out of the article is that Americans are becoming very picky about their cocktails and why not when you lay down $8-$12 for a speciality drink. When you go into a Bar and/or restaurant these days you will see some very unique and taste driven drinks. The best is when the bar and kitchen work together to build a menu that complements the dining experience.

Two of my favorite places in San Francisco to have cocktails and dine are Bix and Betelnut. Both have great menus and even better cocktails. Bix is very traditional and serves martini style drinks. Betelnut use the Asian menu to complement the fruit and sweet inspired drinks. Both place are great to settle in for just cocktails. Flora in Oakland is doing a similar thing with cocktails, fresh ingredients and unusual list.

It is good to see that bars are becoming central to the dining experience.

Check out the article and let us know what you think.

SF Gate
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/26/WI3K118SKS.DTL


Bix Restaurant
www.bixrestaurant.com/
56 Gold St
San Francisco CA 94133
Tel 415 433 6300

Betelnut
http://www.betelnutrestaurant.com/
2030 Union St
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 929-8855

A little lesson on Cocktails

I was reading the online version of the NY Times and came across a video in the dining section by Mark Bittman, he does an online video blog called "The Minimalist". His video today is on Cocktails, very intresting a little long over 5 minutes.

Here is the link

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/index.html

Story link:
http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=c7fcd98d4eea510380116b5c815a7ac0c75225ef

The player is midway down the page. The video is titled Cocktail Confidential.

Happy Viewing and Cheers

A New Cambridge Restaurant

The "To Tide You Over Dish"

After Tuesday Night’s wild time watching the Celtics Game, Last night I was looking for a quite, and slightly upscale dining experience. After doing a little Internet Research I found a place called Hungry Mother in Cambridge. The restaurant just opened in March and as I walked up you could tell that they have been filling the tables.

The small ownership group had planned on opening this restaurant 18-Months prior in Bay Village Neighborhood as the “Village Table”. The space they original planned fell through and they reorganized to open this small and cozy restaurant. The name comes from a Virginia State park in Marion a place where one of the owners grew up. The restaurant blends traditional French cooking with Southern food of the Appalachian region.

Being a single diner had an advantage on this evening; because they had a table open and I was able to avoid the 25 minute wait. This small space has two dining areas and a bar. The restaurant is a converted home and has all the charm of a period home in this Kendall Square neighborhood.

Hungry Mother has a number of House Mixed Drinks they list by number not name. I started with the no. 8, as my pre-meal cocktail. The no. 8 is tequila, curaçao, fresh lime, orange bitters, pep up for $9. Most of the house cocktails are between $8 and $9. Hungry Mother does something you see rarely in restaurants they list all of their liquor by type and name. So if you do not have to guess if they carry your favorite libation.

The dinner menu has four sections: To Tide You Over, First Course, Main Course, Can You Pass That. To Tide You Over is small plates that are served to right after you order. The plates are: SPICY PIMIENTO CHEESE celery hearts, toasted pain de mie $4; DEVILED CHIP-IN FARM EGGS & hm bacon $4; BOILED VIRGINIA PEANUTS grey sea salt $3: WARM BEEF TONGUE CANAPÉ gruyère, dijon $3. I tried the Deviled Eggs they had a nice mustard tang and were a great comfort food.

The First Course or Appetizers, range from $7 to $13, include oysters, pate, shrimp and grits and smoked barbeque pork rib. I went for the ribs, great flavor and the smoky sauce was excellent.

They have five main courses to choose from chicken, beef, catfish, bluefish and a pasta dish. The entrees range in price from $16 to $27. My choice for the evening was the French style Gnocchi with mushrooms, spring peas, tendrils and large parmigiano shavings for $17. The dish was served in a vegetable broth with all the fresh produce accenting the dish. Each bite was full of flavor and had a buttery element. I was pleased with the selection.

One of the owners, John, came by to ask about my meal and how I had heard about the place. I did mention to John, that the wine list needs a little improving, I ordered Oreana Pinot and it was not a great glass of wine. He took my comment with professionalism and concern. The attention at Hungry Mother shows, you can tell how much they care about the restaurant. Naomi, my server, did an excellent job and the pacing of the meal was perfect.

This would be a perfect restaurant for nice evening out. The patrons dress casually as well as the staff. Hungry Mother has a home feel.

Hungry Mother (Open Tuesday to Sunday)
233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave
Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02141

http://www.hungrymothercambridge.com/main.html

Fever Pitch

Celtics Hit A Big Shot for No. 17

Fever Pitch

Wow, what a great night, a great sports town and great timing to be in Boston for Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Since I was unable to be at the New Garden for the game it made all the sense in the world to watch the NBA Finals with Celtics fans. I was unsure where to go to watch the game, but I was sure if I went near one of Boston’s sports centers I would find a place. I thought going near the Garden would be tough to get into and out of after the game, so I decided to head towards Fenway Park.

Because I am in town on business, I am staying out in one of the suburbs just West of Downtown, so I decided to take the train down to the Fenway Park to find a watering hole to catch the game and spirit of Boston.

The train ride from the Riverside Station to the Park was nice and easy. I got to the area and took a walk around to find the right bar. Game-On, Boston Beer Works and Cask ‘n Flagon are within a jumpshot of each other so a person has plenty of choices for a place that fits their needs and to settle in for the evening.

I decided on the Cask ‘n Flagon right across the street from Fenway’s legendary Green Monster. I thought this would be a perfect location to watch the game. When I arrived the bar was a little sparse the after work crowd was just arriving and the game crowd had not set out for the evening. It was little strange for me, as a West Coast Person waiting for a 9 O’clock start to the game. But I wanted to have a prime seat for the game, so I decided to have a one-man tailgate. Cocktails, hot wings and nachos were on the pre-game menu.

As tip-off approached the Cask ‘n Flagon filled with a very fevered crowd looking for the Celtics 17th NBA title. One thing I thought I would never see in Boston, was the Red Sox Game being turned off, so they could dedicate the entire bar to the Celtics. A sox fan understands that this was more important. As the announcer began introductions the crowd booed each Laker, saving the largest jeer for Kobe Bryant. As soon as the Celtics intros began the Cheers began roar and the bar was in a fever pitch waiting for the ball to be tossed in the air.

Boston fans are passionate. With every tip of the ball, every turnover, every big shot the crowd was into the action. I have sat in a lot of bars, watching a lot of sports over the years and there are very few times when you feel like you are actually in the area and part of the game. Last night was one of them.

Since I would not ever cheer for a Los Angeles team I zeroed in on cheering for local Bay Area products. Cal alum Leon Powe and Hayward High School’s Eddie House both contributed to the Game 6 blow-out. Eddie hit a couple of big shots and the Boston crowd embraced me as cheered for my local boys. As a kid and a basketball fan I was a big Bill Russell fan, so it was great to see the former USF Don on the sideline.

I got exactly what I expected a great time. Even though I got to bed late and overslept a little this morning it was worth the trip to experience the Championship with the Celtic Fans.

Cask ‘n Flagon is a great bar with televisions everywhere, even in the bathroom so you do not miss the action. I local told me that on Red Sox home games it is almost impossible to get into the Cask ‘n Flagon because people show-up three hours before the game, to watch the action outside the park because they can not get a ticket to be in the park.

The now World Famous Cask’n Flagon began as a small neighborhood bar known as Oliver’s back in 1969, was host to many now famous musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Hendrix, and the band Boston. A few years later Oliver’s changed its name to the Cask’n Flagon. Through the years the bar has gone through many changes and was once known as the little bar on the corner of Brookline Avenue.

Cocktails were $6 and draft beers $4. I had the meatloaf for dinner and it was pretty good, they grilled it before they served it to give it a smoke flavor and add skewer marks. The food is typical pub fare. The wings and nachos were good and full of flavor. This place is more about a great crowd than the food and beverages. A must try for any Boston Sporting event.

I have to say thank you to the Boston Fans for treating me so well and letting be a part of their history.

http://www.casknflagon.com/about1.htm

On the road again

I am writing from my stop over in the Phoenix Airport, just as Tiger hits a big putt on No. 10 . . . . the bar just got a little loud. The PHX airport has free wireless, this should be a must nowadays in all airports with flight delays.

I will update the blog from Boston this week. I look forward to being in Bean town with the Celtics and Lakers playing tomorrow night. I will try and find a great Boston Bar to blog about. Just a side note, I check Stubhub with a small fantasy of heading to the Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The cheapest ticket was over $600 for the nose-bleeds, thus I will be watching from a bar.

Have a great Monday.

Cheers

Leave the Taco . . .Have a Beer

Final post about Phoenix . . .

Since I was in the Southwest, I wanted to get a sense of the local flavor so I searched for a good Mexican food restaurant. Before I start, I need to provide a disclaimer that I am very picky about my Mexican food, every restaurant needs to live up to a very high standard when it comes to authenticity and flavor. Simply said it needs to be close to my grandmother’s cooking or it is not acceptable.

I went on a recommendation, from a fellow co-worker, to Tee Pee, 4144 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ. Tee Pee is very old school Americanized Mexican food restaurant, with a large full service bar, televisions that blare the baseball game and large portions of food.

A mixed crowd of trades people to men in suits flowed in for my lunch time visit. A couple of businessmen bellied up to the bar to have a shot of Patrone before heading back to work and the full bar hand plenty of drinkers for the mid-week afternoon drink. Tee Pee offers mini pitchers of draft beer for patrons looking to have a little more than a 12 ounce beer. Drinks in the bar were reasonable $3-$4 for beer and $3-$6 for a mixed drink.

The place was packed for lunch and you may have to wait for a table if you get there during the lunch or dinner rush. I understand that a crowd is very common. The dinning area is very Spartan with a bunch of tables and some booths crammed together. This is not a fine dinning experience; it is noisy and has a bustling pace.

I soon as sat down the server had chips and salsa on the bar. The salsa was well balanced and had great flavor. I was really encouraged by the initial offering. I then ordered a Number 1 (Taco, Tamale, Enchilada, Rice & Beans — 10.50), to get a variety of items and test them out.

So with anticipation, I wait for the food to come out, but I soon as I saw the dish I knew I was in trouble when I saw the plate covered in cheese and the taco overfilled with lettuce. The taco shell just could not handle the weight of everything stuffed inside and as soon as picked it up in began to crumble. The enchilada was okay, something I would have again, but the sauce lacked any punch and it is the sauce that makes a good enchiladas, and this missed the mark. The tamale was dry and lacked any real flavor. Overall the plate was below average.

Overall the experience was very average; this is gringo food nothing more and not worth a special trip. I truly wished I would have found a better representation of the true local Mexican food flavor in an area filled with tradition. Next time I will have to do a little more searching to find a more authentic dining experience. I did like the bar and the drink prices, would definitely hang out to watch a game, have a beer and some chip and salsa.

www.teepeemexicanfood.com

Tee Pee Mexican Food
4144 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 956-0178

Slide into the Windy City

Part deux of the trip to Phoenix.

So I was looking for a place close to the office to grab lunch and a burger is always a good call. So I did a quick Yelp search to map any and all burger place within a mile of the office and I found the Chicago Hamburger Company.

The place gives you a taste of the Windy City in the middle of the desert. The Daly for Mayor Signs, the Bears, Cub and White Sox memorabilia adorns the walls and would make any Midwesterner feel the breeze is about to come off the lake at any minute.

The Chicago Hamburger Company, specialty is Original Windy City Slider®. In addition to the slider this Chicago style burger stand that serves Vienna hot dogs and polish, char broiled sandwiches, wings, salads, and daily specials. They have the daily specials listed on their website so check them out before you go.

The sliders are not White Castle and that is a very good thing. I had four double sliders with cheese and they were full of flavor and went down very easy. The buns really made the burger. Overall they four doubles were very filling and tasty. The cost is very reasonable $1.04 for a single cheese burger and $1.64 for a double cheeseburger.

The fries are top notch; the local magazine twice gave the Chicago Hamburger Company top honors for their fries. The fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

They also serve old fashioned milkshakes so I decided to have a coffee flavored shake for dessert. It was a good call for the 94-degree day.

This is a very family friendly environment, with kid menus, pinball games, including an old baseball Pennant Fever game and Pac-Man. The TV was tuned to WGN for Cubs baseball.

The Chicago Hamburger Company
3749 E. Indian School Road
Phoenix, Arizona
(602) 955-4137
Open Mon-Sat: 10:30am-8pm
http://www.chicagohamburger.com/index.htm

Oasis In The Desert

So when you travel for business you get to see very little of the places that you go you have to take full advantage of the small amount of time you do have to experience the city. I was in Tucson and Phoenix last week, so I did a little research and asked a few co-workers who lived in the area for a great place to eat and have drinks.

The staff at our Phoenix office sent me to neighboring Scottsdale to a steak house they said would fit the bill for a great night out. The steak house they recommended was Mastro’s City Hall Steak House and Bar. Mastro’s runs three restaurants in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.

Let me start with this place is not cheap!! The $8-$10 cocktails are enough to startle any drink bargain hunter. If you are going to do the works appetizer, dinner and drinks bring you wallet. My guess it is $70-$80 per person depending on what you order.

I settled in for a couple of drinks before I had dinner. The drinks were well balanced and on the large side. The bartenders would adjust the drink to your taste on request with no hesitation. A little weak, a little they were there to make it right.

Just as I was finishing my cocktails the live music started. Traditional lounge music with a little rock and roll mixed into the set. I must have heard two or three Elton John songs that night along with Frank and Dean.

For dinner I had a spicy Caesar Salad. It had a little wasabi in the dressing. For dinner the bone-in Rib Eye and the potatoes wedges au gratin. The steak was sizzling and a little under-cooked, but the way they serve it continues to cook on the plate. The steak was more than I could finish, and I am a big eater. I have never had Au Gratin Potatoes served this way. Big potato wedges crispy and then served with enough cheese to make the California Cheese Board jump in glee as City Hall tried to save the industry by itself.

The meal was very good but even better was watching the Scottsdale Nightlife. I learned a new term on my visit: “Scottsdale Girl”. This is a young, very well dressed young lady out looking for a slightly, or in some case much, older man with MONEY. I saw a 60+ Bob Barker look-a-like cruise the bar twice before settling on a young lady sitting at the bar. The three carat square cut diamond ring on his hand was enough invitation for this young lady to accept a drink, titter for a while and then leave with Senor Barker.

As an out-of-towner being guided by the bartender and some locals, I caught on to the game of identifying the “Scottsdale Girls” in the bar. I could not have had a better evening being alone in a foreign town. Tomorrow a much different Phoenix Experience.

http://www.azeats.com/mastros/default.htm

Time Travel -- 1930s

Back from another work related road trip, this time it was the desert of Arizona. So, this week I will have a couple of postings from local business and a few from my trip to the Tucson and Phoenix.

This week I start locally. I was invited by a friend to attend a birthday celebration of a close friend of his in San Francisco. The invite was last minute, but I was up for trying something new and interesting. We head over on BART and walked the few blocks from the Embarcadero Station to 133 Steuart for an evening at Shanghai 1930. Once you arrive you head down the stairs and are transported to another time and place.

Shanghai 1930’s website, http://www.shanghai1930.com/ , boast that this is a “Cosmopolitan Restaurant” that invokes the spirit of Shanghai during the period between the Two World Wars. I did not dine on my first trip but did peek at the menu and saw the Asian influenced meals would be worth a trip back. The party we met raved about the food, so a must on the trip back.

The bar/lounge had a great feel. Live music flowed through the room, with the lead singer rattling off song from Dean, Frank and Tony. Live music is from 8-Midnight on Friday and Saturday and 7 PM to 11 PM every other day. The music is billed as Jazz, but given my experience I see that a few crooners slip in to entertain the crowd.

The staff was fast and the cocktails were large and pack a good punch. The full bar has a strong selection of beers and wine. Shanghai 1930 offers a happy hour menu between 5 PM and 7 PM in the Blue Bar. Signature drink and appetizers headline but the offer six beers and a selection of wines for $5 and $6 respectively. The signature drinks sound very exotic: Shanghaipolitan, Sexual Healing and Dragon Tea

This Downtown establishment also features a cigar lounge. After a couple of drinks we retired to the Guanxi Lounge (Members Only Cigar Bar). Some delicate encouragement to manager by our party got us into this members only section. The thought of a large bar tab and a group buying cigars with a high mark-up must have ran through his head as he sat us in one of the Private Rooms.

Guanxi translates into the American word “Connections”. You could see how this Cigar Bar can be a place for a couple of people to sit down get to know each and make a business deal over a couple of drinks and a smoke. I gave up cigars about a year ago, so I enjoyed more cocktails and watch everyone enjoy the evening.

This is a great place to have a drink and relax. For local Alameda residents it is close to BART and the Ferry, worth a trip in for Happy Hour and a little music before heading back to the Island.

Alameda Institution

The other night I headed over to 1645 Park Street, many of you may not know the building by address but if you live in Alameda you know it by name. The Victorian building houses an Alameda Institution, McGee’s Bar and Grill. I am very partial to McGee’s, in part, because owners John and Linda Costello gave me a job when I was in college and more importantly because I always feel like I am at home in this Pub and Bar.

A friend of mine and I started the evening down the street at another bar, but after poor service from the bartender and the wrong drink we headed to McGee’s to salvage the evening. That night, both John and Linda were in the bar and I got a chance to talk to John for about 30 minutes and I realized that for most of my life and all of my adult life McGee’s has been a part of it.

We talked about changes in Alameda since he bought the bar over 30-years ago, at the young age of 25. This place is his life and he treats customers with respect. Linda always add warmth to the place and customers come and go like family. General Manager Tim Goodman works the crowd and make sure that the operation is working for the customer. The staff knows the regulars and what they drink.

McGee’s serves as an informal gathering spot for long-term Alameda residents who have left the Island and want to meet up with old friends. It also seems to serve as the venue for every high school pre- and post- reunion party, no matter if it is five tears for some and three decades for others.

There is always a conversation that is interesting in the bar. Sports are topic one, but any other subject will and does come up. McGee’s has several television for sports enthusiast.

This is a full bar and Brian “Big B” will serve you the perfect cocktail. I have always gotten a solid drink at McGee’s.

The Pub has a diverse menu and I have tried almost everything on it. For an interesting twist try the Lumpia as an appetizer. It is the only bar in the area, that I know of, that serves the Pilipino dish. The fried chicken is out of this world it is spicy crunchy and full of flavor. McGee’s has a variety of burgers and if you do not see the way you want it just ask for any additions and they will fix it how you like. They are pretty open to changes.

McGee’s, unlike other pubs, has a great selection of entrees grilled salmon to tri-tip. The fare is unpretentious and served in a counter style. You order at the cash register and they call your name when the food is ready.

The restaurant is family friendly. A staircase divides the bar from the dining tables and families can come to dine, while Mom and Dad have a cocktail.

I guess for me McGee’s is one of those places that make Alameda, well Alameda. Give a try and you will see why it has survived for 30-years, by treating people like family.

http://www.mcgeesbarandgrill.com/index.php?index.php

Another LA Spot

I warned everyone a few posts back that I will be writing about places outside the Bay Area for period. I am traveling a lot these days, so when I get home I have wanted to stay at home and secondary reason is the travel season is upon us and many of you will be getting away, so I thought it was worth mentioning some place away from the Bay if you happen upon one of the fair cities I will be traversing through in the next eight weeks. I will still mix in local spots, so check back.

Not really Los Angeles, Culver City is South of Westwood and West of Downtown and very close to LAX. Culver City is home of Sony Picture Studios and has gone through a tremendous amount of redevelopment. Culver City at onetime was described as a wasteland. For years, no one went to Culver City because of its rough image. That has all changed.

In a region where it is hard to find walkable business districts Culver City has work hard to turn the downtown into a destination place. Free parking and easy freeway access make it a hot spot. Culver City has turned into a hip, modern and progressive community that combines unique restaurants and entertainment with a rapidly expanding multimedia hub.

One of the success stories of the redevelopment is Ford’s Filling Station. Owner and Chef Benjamin Ford calls his place an American GastroPub. The goal is to have simple food done very well. You will pay for the frsh ingrediants and quality that is produced. This no average pub. Ford may be more famous for being the son of Actor Harrison Ford, but the food is the star of this show.

One of the unique things about Ford’s is the Cured Meat section of the menu. If you are into meat, this is a must. The Salame, Prosciutto, Coppa, Mortadella, Sopressatta are just the standards on the list. They offer plates to try one, two or three different meats. The cured meat along with cheese list is a great way to start the meal.

The menu changes but a few staples are almost always on the entrée menu. The buttermilk fried chicken and skirt steak are staples. On my trip I tried the flatten chicken it was moist and had a lot of flavor. Others in my group had the Fish and Chips and the brook trout.

Ford’s has a full bar and daily drink special. Like most dining places in LA there is outdoor seating, and this is a must to take in the scene. Bring your sunglasses and ask for a prime spot. You may look like one of the Executives from the studio that dine at Ford’s.

http://www.fordsfillingstation.net/

Showtime

It was a big weekend in Alameda. The movie theater renovation and the new Cineplex completion drew big crowds for the Grand Opening weekend. From my perspective the opening was a huge success seeing people on the street, dining and seeing old friends in the crowd.

I watched movies in the theater prior to its closing and then later worked in the skating rink that lived in the building for a few years. It was one fun job, spinning records and skating, but I never saw the building in this state. The renovation is spectacular, the screen in main theater is large and the sound is awesome. This is just a great place to watch a movie.

My wife and I wanted to make the opening a event of our own, so instead of spending a $100 for the gala we decide to spend money on Park Street. We made a dinner reservation at Pappo, 2320 Central, for Friday and walked across the street for the 7 PM showing of Indiana Jones.

Although we had been to Pappo in the past, it was good to see that the restaurant was also taking advantage of the theater opening. Pappo has created a new “Movie Menu” for dinners to get a selection of tapas plates. We started with the Sangria, very tasty and refreshing; I went through my first glass pretty fast. If they offer the Spanish influenced drink give it a try.

We order off the Movie menu trying Kefta Sliders, Fringz, Eric’s Gnocchi and the Arugula salad. Off the regular menu a bowl of the potato soup with bacon. The slider were a lamb/beef mix with cucumber and goat cheese, the fringz a mix of French fries and Onion rings. Both dishes were very good, but it was the Gnocchi that was the hit of the evening.

The house made Gnocchi sauce was so good that we began dipping the French fries in the left-over. This dish is so decadent that it is good to share, but I could see hoarding this it very easily. The server told us that they call it “Crack Sauce” because it is so addicting.

The meal was great and the staff kept us on time for the short walk across the street to make our movie time. I have to say the entire staff at Pappo was very attentive and made the pacing of the meal very relaxing.

Pappo does not have a full bar, but does have a large wine list by both the glass and bottle.

We had such a good time that we went to the free showing of Singing In the Rain on Saturday and another movie on Sunday. I had a chance to see the theater before its opening during the restoration for some photos see my Flickr page: http://flickr.com/photos/john-alameda/sets/72157603681539844/

http://papporestaurant.com/
2320 Central Ave.Alameda, CA510.337.9100

http://alamedatheater.com/
2317 Central Ave.
Alameda, CA
510-769-FILM

F.O.

When I travel to Los Angeles, there is only one dining place that is a must stop. Father’s Office (F.O.) in Santa Monica. This pub is not that big and the bar is simple; draft beer. What F.O. delivers is great food and a beer for anybody.

The “Office Burger” is not your typical all American burger, and if you need to have ketchup on the burger this is not your place. The burger is served just one way. There is no substitution, there are no changes, do not try asking. The burger is awesome, but comes with a side of attitude. The Office Burger made from dry aged beef and contains, caramelized onions, applewood bacon compote, gruyere, matag blue cheese, and arugula. They meld all of the additional ingredients together before placing them in the bun. Not a cheap burger around $12.


The sweet potato French fries are worth the trip to the West Side. The Sweet Potato French Fries are seasoned with roasted garlic, herbs, and served with a blue cheese aioli. Their regular fries are also great, but these offer a nice complement to the burger.


F.O. has 36 Beers on Tap most are staples but they do rotate part of the stock. This is a beer drinkers paradise. Plus Santa Monica is not a bad place to hang out while visiting SoCal.

Go early! F.O. opens at 5 PM most nights, 4 PM on Fridays and Noon on the weekend. If you go on the weekend, go before the 20-somethings awake from a night of clubbing. The Santa Monica place is small, and gets packed very quickly. Also when its crowded expect dealing with the door-man, positioning yourself for a table and waiting. When I mean staking out a table I literally mean boxing other people out for a table. To snag a table you pretty much just have to hang out over someone's table till they clear.

If you don’t like the crowd, phone your order in and head down to the beach.

F.O. has just opened a second location in Culver City, in the new trendy redeveloped area. Same hours, same menu, slightly larger place to serve the hungry and thirsty.

Santa Monica
1018 Montana Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90403
TEL: 310 393 BEER (2337)

http://www.fathersoffice.com/

Back on the Wagon an a Maverick

The Cozy Maverick

Okay I have been off the blogging wagon for a while, new job obligations and mucho traveling the last few weeks. So here we go to get the blog jump started. Today a restaurant in San Francisco and in the next couple of days some really great out-of-the Bay Area places that I have visited while traveling. Just a heads up I will be doing a lot more traveling in the next eight weeks so if you have tips for Phoenix, Boston, Philadelphia, Virginia Beach or DC drop me a note.

The wife and I really love the Mission and all the great places to eat and have a drink. We now have a new place to have dinner or brunch. Maverick, (3316 17th Street, San Francisco) is American comfort food with a fine dining twist.

With side plates Collard Greens, Mac n’ Cheese, Grits and Gravy the southern influence hits you right in the face. The Southern Fried Chicken looked awesome, and was flying out of the kitchen, but I passed on it for the Grilled Wagyu Beef Bauvette Steak and my wife had the Butter Braised Sturgeon. Both dishes were very taste.

Maverick does not have a full bar, but the wine list is very good. They bill themselves as an eatery and wine bar and succeed on both levels. The offer 15 wines by the glass and there is a varietal for almost every person. If you are more a hops and barley person, Maverick offers 14 types of beer. One of my favorites Trumer Pils is served.

We have also had brunch at Maverick and that experience was even better than dinner. The chorizo and eggs is house made chorizo with scrambled eggs, green onion and cheese grits, cornbread muffin with Marshall’s Farm honey. The cheese grits are awesome and I am not a big grits fan. The biscuits and gravey and cornmeal pancakes are worth the visit. Add a blackberry mimosa and it is a great brunch.

Make a reservation! This is a very small restaurant and it fills up very quickly. Maverick is on OpenTable.com for reservation convenience. The staff is very attentive and helpful.

http://www.sfmaverick.com/

Http://www.opentable.com/

A Drink of History

From the Buena Vista Website. The Irish Coffee Lined-up

So I was reading

So I was reading, yes booze hounds and foodies read, a NY Times article (link) titled “Pub Crawl Through the Centuries” that talked about England’s oldest drinking establishments, some dating back to the 13th Century.

This got me thinking about some of the Bay Area’s more famous place to sit a while and have a libation. These places are not as deep rooted as the English Pubs, but still have great history for the West Coast of the Colony.

The Oldest is Tadich Grill, (1849) sitting at 240 California, San Francisco. Tadich Grill is a favorite among the Financial District crowd and the bar is always full.

Home of the first Irish Coffee is the Buena Vista, 2765 Hyde St (@ Beach) San Francisco, a bustling bar with locals and tourist. Although I believe that some Irish man was putting Irish Whisky in breakfast drink well before the Buena Vista perfected their receipt in 1952. Great marketing and a good drink, well worth stopping on a foggy San Francisco evening and watch the freezing tourist in their shorts and newly purchased fleece jackets.

One of a kind Trader Vic’s in Emeryville is a surviving location in a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore the nickname of founder Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. Trader Vic, and one of two people who claimed to have invented the Mai Tai. Bergeron opened a small bar/restaurant across from his parent's grocery store in Oakland, California named Hinky Dink's, which soon became Trader Vic's during the Tiki fad of the 50’s. The Emeryville location is one of the last two in the Bay Area. The San Francisco location closed at the beginning of the year.

Right across the street from City Lights bookstore, the Beat Generation’s unofficial headquarter, is The Purple Onion. This North Beach Club, 140 Columbus (between Jackson and Pacific), offers an intimate, 80-person setting and was a popular influence in local music and entertainment during the Beat era. Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, Maya Angelou, Phyllis Diller, the Kingston Trio, and the Smothers Brothers (who recorded their first album, Live at the Purple Onion there) all played the club in the 1950s and 1960s. Richard Pryor has also performed at The Purple Onion. Now day it is a shadow of its former self, but a place to have a private party or channel Allen Ginsberg and have your very own poetry reading.

Eli’s Mile High Club now The Mile High Club (3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland, CA 94609) opened in 1974 by Eli and Alberta Thornton as a West Coast Blues venue. The club has had several owners but and is not the same in heyday, but for blues fans it is legendary.

A good start to the history, will try to do part II in a couple of weeks.

NY Times Story
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/travel/13Journeys.html?st=cse&sq=Pubs&scp=1

TGIF

Thank God Its Friday , sans Donna Summers singing in the background, and with the terrific weather we are having today in the SF Bay Area I started think of great places to have an outdoor cocktail to enjoy the start of the weekend.

So with the Sound Track of the TGIF Movie as inspiration I will make a couple of suggestions.

"Easy" -- Right around the corner from the house is Speisekammer (2424 Lincoln Ave, Alameda, CA) . Large outdoor patio, great place to sit and drink German Beer. If you get a little hungry the Brawts are awesome.

"Take It to the Zoo" -- Lucky 13 (1301 Park Street, Alameda, CA) can get a little wild on Friday. Good size patio out back, real spartan setting but the music is loud and the drinks flow.

"Trapped In a Stairway" -- Forbidden Island (1304 Lincoln, Alameda, CA) Aloha, Mr. Hand! Although you will be inside it will feel like you are outdoors with the tropic theme. If you are into mixed rum drinks with little umbrellas, this is the place. Loud shirts are encouraged. The patio is pretty much for smokers.

"Too Hot To Trot" -- Pier 23 (the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA). The deck is a great view of the water out on the deck and Coit Tower from the interior. This is a total outdoor hangout and the crowd is ready to have a good time. You can get buckets of beer and good cocktails. Bar food is available.

By the way, just in case you were wondering, the songs artist were: Commodores, Sunshine, Paul Jabara, Commodores.

Enjoy the weekend and remeber to save the last dace for LOVE.

Cheers

Old Standby

Just like anything in life, we have things we like to experiment with and some things we always fall back to out of comfort. A favorite t-shirt, a date buddy (someone that you can always call-on), and places we go to to eat, drink and be merry.

I tend to write about new places that I have tried in the last couple of days, but this past weekend I went back to a couple places that are tried and true. Places were you feel comfortable and treated like you are the friend of the owner. Think of "Cheers" without Sam Malone/Ted Danson.

On Friday Night, after sailing (opening of the season, very happy) and a few cocktails at the Fireside, my buddy and I traveled across the street to Nations Giant Hamburgers on Webster Street in Alameda. It had been a while, since I stop into the old burger joint and much of it had not changed over the years. It a simple menu, big old greasy burgers, but for a moment it brought me back to the countless runs we made to Nations for burgers over the past 20 years. These are burgers have all the fixings and my option of grilled onions and pickels. Fries and pie round out the menu. After midnight this is a great stop, not the best burger I have ever had, but a lot of memories waiting for my burger to come up. Some of the memories are little more difficult after some very late nights.

On Saturday, headed into McGees Bar and Grill on Park Street in Alameda. Owners John and Linda Costello are great people and treat every customer with care. Tim, the bar manager always calls me by name and looks to see if I have a drink. The NCAA Basketball games were on so it was a full house. McGees has a great pub menu burgers, wings, fries and few items with a slight mexican slant. I end up at McGees more often than I will admit because of their diverse menu. You don't need to know what you want until your are ready to order. McGees has a full bar and is well worth a stop.

Nations http://www.nationsrestaurants.com/

McGees
http://www.mcgeesbarandgrill.com/

See old review of Fireside
http://cocktailcocktailscocktails.blogspot.com/2007/12/fireside.html

HIGH ROLLER

Hard Rock Pool

Living like a HIGH ROLLER!!!

Some things do get better with age. As you get older and meet more people opportunities open up to experience things you never have had chance in the past. One person in our group of nearly 20 guys has become very successful in business and with it comes some very influential contacts. So, this trip to Vegas I got a chance to see what it was like to live like a High Roller.

A must, once in your life, you need to spend a day in a Cabana at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Pool. First, I was impressed that the Cabana was a comp but the location right next to the pool with an impressive service and a television to watch all the NCAA basketball games. The Hard Rock Pool is one of the most coveted locations in all of Vegas with its young and hip crowd that loves a good time. During the summer the Hard Rock’s ReHab is the best afternoon Sunday Party in town. So with the Captain and Cokes flowing, Sun and a Party atmosphere I was in prime real estate. Although I am way outside the target demo for the pool, it was good energy to let you know that you Vegas vacation is in full swing.

Pool Cam at Hard Rock: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/pool/pool-cams/

ReHab: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/pool/rehab/

The experience did not end with the pool. My buddy was also able to get us access to Body English one of the busiest Night Clubs in town. No cover charge, right pass the long line of anxious part goers and the velvet rope was opened and you could see many in the line envious that we did not have to wait. We were escorted right into the club just like I was one of Hollywood’s elite. The doorman treated me and our group like we played thousand dollar hands of blackjack and come to Vegas once a week, just like old friends. Cool experience.

Body English: http://www.bodyenglish.com/

So, I got to play like one of the big boys. It only took 10 minutes to break the spell as I entered the Airport. The Southwest Airlines Cattle line waiting for flight brought me back to reality, and those great little bags of peanuts. Oh well, I have next year.

This Ain't No Vegas Buffet

Why, Why, Why

Okay, I finally have enough energy to write after my return from Vegas. I know that the Blog is traditionally Bay Area, but this week’s posts will be all about “Sin City”. Today it is all about the food.

When it comes to food Vegas is no longer about cheap buffets. You can still find a buffet, not so cheap any more, but it really has become a city of fine dining. In past trips I have eaten at some very nice restaurants. Here are few places to try if you are planning a trip; followed by two new dining experiences.

Alize (Palm): Let’s start with the view. The Palm is West of the LV Strip and the restaurant is on the top floor. Late evening dining is spectacular, but once the Ghost Bar starts up one floor below the rhythmic thumping can be felt in the dining room, so about 8 PM is the best time, lights of LV and great food. Chef Andre Rochat brings his culinary expertise to a very French inspired menu complimented with an award-winning wine list.

Link to the menu: http://www.andrelv.com/alize/dinner

Commander’s Palace (Aladdin): The reason to go to the Las Vegas version of this classic New Orleans eatery is because you have no trip to the Big Easy planned. I normally would not recommend a restaurant that’s flagship is in other city, but this restaurant is renowned for its hospitality as its food and there is no drop in food quality. Besides I would go just for the Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé. Had the dessert in both cities and it is fantastic no matter where it is served.
Link to the menu: http://www.commanderspalace.com/las_vegas/menu_detail.php?menu=14

Okada (Wynn): A very tranquil restaurant in the sea of Vegas noise the space is surrounded by waterfalls, lush gardens and a koi filled lagoon. A table next to the water is a must, make sure you ask for a prime location with your reservation. Chef Masa Ishizawa serves up authentic teppanyaki (teppan , which means iron plate, and yaki, which means grille) and robata cooking (grilling skewered foods over charcoal), with modern Japanese Creations and Sushi that is top grade.
Link to menu: http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/pdf/Okada_Menu_Jan8_08.pdf

This weekend I left the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel just once but still had two great dining experiences on site. Here are the new:

AJ’s Steakhouse (Hard Rock Hotel and Casino): Las Vegas has plenty of steakhouses Morton’s and Ruth’s Chris have homes in LV and every top notch casino has one. AJ’s is reminiscent of an era when Las Vegas was defined by people who expected only the finest steaks and smoothest martinis. Dark ambiance and a very comfortable dining experience create the perfect setting for diners. I had the 22oz bone-in Rib Eye, done just right. The sides of Potatoes Gratin and Mac and Cheese were incredibly good. Two good bottles of wine from a strong list help to round out the meal.
Link to menu: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/dining/ajs-steakhouse/

Nobu (Hard Rock Hotel and Casino): Must confess been to Nobu in NY so I had very high expectations, which the staff delivered on to finish the weekend in grand style. The sushi is very high grade, and as a very fickly seafood eater it is very important for me to be satisfied. Master Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has the highest standard for the quality of food from his kitchens. The Toro and other sushi are excellent, the scallops were incredible and I do not like scallops. A must try if you are in NY or LV.
Link to menu: http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/dining/nobu/

Happy Dining and Cheers

Vegas Baby

As the boys in Swingers say "Vegas Baby"

My annual pilgrimage to the desert starts tomorrow, a four day weekend, to catch part of the NCAA tournament and too participate in acts of debauchery. After today's no post until next Monday or Tuesday . When I return there will be plenty recount, while still leaving the Vegas filter in place with the old Vegas adage of what happens in Vegas . . .

Before I head out, I just wanted to give you a short story about my one of my first trips to Vegas with my buddy Brad. The year was 1988, and because we had more time than money we decided to drive from the San Francisco Bay Area to Vegas. We left after work and drove most of the night stopping in some of the Central Valley's best towns: Fresno, Bakersfield only stopping for beer and snacks. Brad's friend Neil worked at the Old Aladdin Hotel (now blown up), the site of Elvis and Priscilla's wedding, and he got us a deal on a room. Neil even got us into the Penthouse suite for a night because some Whale did not show to use the room. The views of Vegas were intoxicating, or the Jacks and Coke. One or the other.

We gamble, had 25-cent breakfast, ate 10-cent chicken wings and visited some of Vegas' lesser known spots. A good example was Larry's Villa. Larry's is a bar and strip club in a strip mall next to a laundry mat. The strippers were bad, but the pitchers of beer were $4 and they had microwave burritos if you got hungry.

Our journey home was just as adventurous. Instead of going the traditional route through So Cal and up I-5 or 99, we headed up Nevada's I-95 towards Reno, cut over at Tioga Pass through Yosemite and back to the Bay. The four days had eaten up most of our cash, so we filled up in Vegas and the tank was hitting empty in Yosemite, we wrote a bad check for the last bit of gas and a 12-pack, since there was no money in the account anyway. Some how we got back home in one piece.

Good Times. (Speaking of Good Times: Jimmie Walker is from Vegas)

Over the years the trip have gotten more elaborate and more expensive, but like many things the first time is the best. Will try to have a good time, and will double down even if it is my last $100. Because I'm Money Baby.

A Good Friday . . . to you

A Good Friday . . . to you

Call this an only in San Francisco event. With Easter Sunday this weekend the annual Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter Celebration and Hunky Jesus Contest at Dolores Park is approaching.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a perfect San Francisco organization, kabuki-make-up wearing cross dressing “nuns”, throw the most interesting and unique Easter Sunday maybe anywhere in the world. For a little history on the Sisters see (the Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisters_of_Perpetual_Indulgence ).

Easter morning starts with good old fashioned fun the Easter activities for the kids include face painting and an egg hunt at 10:30am. As morning turns to afternoon the activities turn more adult. (This is a warning; the activities in the park are not child friendly when the Band starts playing). This year’s live music will be the B-Cups, Charm-School Dropouts and Ex-Boyfriends perform, an Easter bonnet contest at 1pm, an all-boy burlesque show 2pm and at 3:20p the afternoon is capped off with the Hunky Jesus.

Bring a picnic lunch and stay a while. The day is always fun and interesting; you just don’t know what the Sisters or the Crowd will do. The Sisters use the event to raise funds for community organizations.

A couple places to drop into if you do not bring food. The Dolores Park Café is right across the street. It will be very crowded on Sunday but the food and coffee is very good. Pizzeria Delfina is on 18th , try the Margherita and or four Cheese.

Easter Day at Dolores Park
Address: Dolores and 18th Street, San Francisco, CA
http://www.thesisters.org/

The Dolores Park Café
www.doloresparkcafe.org

Pizzeria Delfina
www.pizzeriadelfina.com