Tag Archives: Cocktails

RN 74 SF, Chef Adam Sobel, San Francisco, CA

People often ask how do I get the passion with food and wine, beside my parents, this chef was my inspiration, the newest chef/partner of RN74 Adam Sobel (from Bradley Ogden, Guy Savoy, Rick Moonen Las Vegas, Charlie Trotter Chicago, then Bourbon Steakhouse in DC).

Finally chef Adam Sobel is here back to the Bay Area where he first started over a decade ago. Chef Sobel is so talented and cooks with a passion, precision and creativity like no other chefs of his age that I know. He is also the winner of GRAND COCHON 2013 in Aspen Food & Wine Classic – he’s now the KING OF PORC.

rn74_foiegrasThanks to the recent law changed in California, we once again get to enjoy Foie Gras. Chef Sodel’s latest dish, Foie Gras Torchon with toasted brioche, garniture de saison, with Perigord black truffles topping; It’s so decadent, so worth it, oh Foie Gras how I missed you so.

Taking its name from the highway, Route Nationale 74, which runs directly through the Burgundy region of France, RN74 is a wine-centric French inspired restaurant. They have the best Burgundy and Champagne list in San Francisco. RN74’s menus are clearly inspired by the wine program; built on a foundation of regional French cuisine, yet market driven with refined, modern American influences. Executive Chef Adam Sobel, recently crowned “King of Porc” at Grand Cochon 555, brings an exciting flair and strong identity to the kitchen of RN74.

RN74 San Francisco
301 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: 415.543.7474

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm
Wine Bar: Mon-Fri 11:30-close // Sat-Sun 5pm-close
Dinner: Sun-Thu 5:30pm-10pm // Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm
RN74 Twitter // Facebook
Chef Adam Sobel Twitter

by Manda Bear – TwitterInstagram

Alexander’s Steakhouse SF, Chef Marc Zimmerman, San Francisco, CA

The best steakhouse in the Bay Area, the Japanese Wagyu meat selection here is unbelievable. They have an amazing wine list, an exquisite cocktails list, and always impeccable service here. Chef Marc Zimmerman, a CIA graduate, staging in a few of the most respected restaurants in New York City – Craft, Le Bernardin, and Café Gray. Later he worked at Lutece, in the Venetian, Nobu Matsuhisa and Takashi Yagihashi. He became part of the opening team for Guy Savoy, also Las Vegas. Then he’s now the executive chef at Alexander’s Steakhouse in San Francisco for the last few years.

alexanderssteakhouse_uni_shortribThe dish that I always get when I’m here is the ‘Braised oxtail marrow toasted brioche, 1000 island, and uni topping it off’, if this mouthwatering dish doesn’t get you fall in love at the first bite, I don’t know what does!

Located in the SOMA district of the city near AT&T Park, Alexander’s Steakhouse is a welcome addition to the city dining scene offering a fine dining interpretation of the classic American steakhouse with hints of Japanese influence throughout the menu. Featuring a variety of classic cuts such as Porterhouse, T-bone and New York, they specialize in Certified Angus Beef grain-fed from the Mid-West.

They also highlight dry-aged steaks and offer the finest and most luxurious products available including a tasting menu by chef Marc Zimmerman and an award winning wine list designed by Sommelier, Johnny Slamon.

ALEXANDER’S STEAKHOUSE SAN FRANCISCO
448 Brannan Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107

Opening Hours:
Monday ~ Thursday: 5:30pm to 9:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm to 10:00pm
Sunday 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Alexander’s Steakhouse: Twitter // Facebook
Chef Marc Zimmerman Twitter

by Manda Bear – TwitterInstagram

Hakkasan Restaurant, Chef Ho Chee Boon, San Francisco, CA

Hakkasan is beautifully designed, gorgeous spaces, some private dining room for events. This happening Cantonese restaurant offers extensive wine and cocktail list. Hakkasan offers lunch and dinner menu. They are both equally impressive. For lunch, if you think of Dim Sum in China Town, think again. Hakkasan is not your typical Cantonese cuisine restaurant, to say the least. Chef Ho Chee Boon is Hakkasan’s International Executive Chef responsible for new openings and menu development around the world, with a particular focus on creating new dishes for specific locations using the finest local ingredients.

Beside the Dim Sum dishes, you must try the ‘Maine Loster Soup hakkasan_lobster_soupwith enoki mushroom and whiskey’ here, presented beautifully in a baby blue ceramic bowl, the soup is rich in flavor, a little thicker, creamier, and just lingering in your mouth, The lobster is generous and the perfectly cook. This lobster soup is my go to on a cold evening in the city. It’s 1 of the best lobster soups I’ve ever tried.

Don’t forget to say hello to the General Manager Charles Chen,  he’s 1 of the many reasons why this Hakkasan San Fancisco has become such a hot spot in town.

Hakkasan San Francisco overlooks the bustling Market and Geary Streets, and benefits from natural light during the day and softly-lit hand-blown glass pendants at night, with an impressive bronze V-shaped bar as the restaurant’s centre piece.

Featuring two private dining rooms, the menu includes Hakkasan  signature dishes as well as an extensive  tea menu and innovative cocktails made with hand-pressed juices.

Hakkasan San Francisco is open Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner, with extended brunch hours on Saturdays.

HAKKASAN
1 Kearny St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 829-8148
11:30 am – 2:30 pm, 5:30 – 11:00 pm
Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30am – 2:30pm
Bar5: Monday – Saturday 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Dinner: Monday – Wednesday 5:00pm – 10:00pm //
Thursday – Saturday 5:00pm – 11:00pm

Twitter // Facebook

by Manda Bear – TwitterInstagram

Coqueta Restaurant, chef Michael Chiarello, San Francisco, CA

Home of the hottest tapas spot by the water Coqueta of Napa Valley celeb chef Michael Chiarello. On a beautiful afternoon, you can sit at the bar and get this waterfront view, watch the bartender makes awesome cocktails and sampling on the delicious menu of tapas and pintxos, bite-size skewers $2.50 each, a must try, perfect as a quick bite or just to catch up with your friends over happy hour.

House cured boquerones, white anchovies, olives, pearl onions, and coquetta_pintxoguidilla peppers was my favorite. Chorizo, roasted artichokes, and piquillo peppers, was equally impressive. Serrano, house cured, Mancheco, and apricot-sherry conserva was also very good. And the Quail egg “Diablo”, pickled mustard seed, Jamon Serrano; you must order it, who doesn’t love quail egg and Jamon Serrano?

Coqueta means “flirt” or “infatuation” in Spanish, and represents Michael Chiarello and his team’s exploration and interpretation of Spanish Cuisine, wine and inspired cocktails, while highlighting the bounty of Northern California.

COQUETA
Pier 5, The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: 415.704.8866

Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30am – 3:00pm
Bar5: Monday – Sunday 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Dinner: Sunday – Wednesday 5:00pm – 10:00pm //
Thursday – Saturday 5:00pm – 11:00pm
Twitter // Facebook 

by Manda Bear – TwitterInstagram

Mourad, Chef Lahlou Mourad, San Francisco, CA

Mourad opens recently in the Fidi, it’s 1 of the hottest restaurant and bar in town. Chef Lahlou, is the owner of the 1 Michelin-starred Aziza in the Richmond, started with this new concept, Moroccan and Californian style, led by chef de cuisine Chris Kajioka (Aziza, Per Se and Hawaii’s Vintage Cave, where he was nominated for James Beard Award Rising Star in Hawaii).

I got to try a few dishes and this ‘Duck Liver with Pistachio, Cocoa, mouradsf_duck_liverTurnip and Satsuma’ was the most memorable dish of all. The dish presented beautifully with edible flowers, colorful, and elegant. On the very first bite, it was smooth, velvety in your mouth, full of flavor and simply amazing.

Mourad takes the culinary resources of the Bay Area and views them through a Moroccan lens. Influenced by traditional ingredients and flavors yet presented with modern technique, a new cuisine has been born which is simultaneously classic and contemporary.

Located at 140 New Montgomery, in the newly renovated PacBell Building, Mourad graciously features authentic Moroccan design in modern interpretation, being in perfect harmony with the cuisine.

Mourad
140 New Montgomery Street, Suite 1
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: 1-415-660-2500

Operation Hours
Monday to Sunday 5:30–10pm
Twitter // Facebook 

by Manda Bear – TwitterInstagram

Cadence Restaurant, Chef Joey Elenterio, San Francisco, California

    Jay Bordeleau, proprietor of Lower Haight cocktail bar and chef_joey_elenterio2restaurant Maven, has announced plans for his next endeavor: Cadence, a 90-seat restaurant and bar located in the rapidly developing mid-Market neighborhood, slated to open this summer at 1446 Market Street (at Polk).

To help realize his vision of Cadence, Bordeleau successfully recruited some heavyweight talent as his business partners in food and beverage, including highly accomplished chef Joey Elenterio, who most recently served as executive chef of Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern.  Named a San Francisco Chronicle Rising Star in 2012, Elenterio also served as executive chef of Chez TJ, where he earned a Michelin star; he can lay chef_joey_elenterio3claim to the title of youngest American Michelin star chef in 2011/2012.

We got to try chef Joey Elenterio food many times since his day at Chez TJ, then Wayfare Tavern just last year. We love what this young chef is having in store for us with his talented skills in the kitchen. This over 6 ft tall, handsome, and humble chef surely will make Cadence a restaurant to watch in this Summer 2015.

chef_joey_elenterio4    On the cocktail front, Maven bar director/partner Kate Bolton will lead beverage operations and deliver a compelling lineup of culinary-driven craft cocktails, with an emphasis on market-driven libations that utilize fresh ingredients from Cadence’s kitchen.

The concept is progressive American, with a tightly focused menu that reflects Elenterio’s relentless commitment to using the very best ingredients and working with purveyors of the highest integrity.

chef_joey_elenterio    Cadence will be adjacent to Bordeleau’s forthcoming live jazz fueled, spirit-forward cocktail bar Mr. Tipple’s Recording Studio, which will be located at 39 Fell Street and 1446 Market.

Cadence Restaurant
1446 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
www.cadencesf.com Twitter @CadenceSF
Executive Chef Joey Elenterio – Twitter @JElenterio  
Bar director/partner Kate Bolton

by Manda Bear @1MandaBear

Zenshin, Chef Chris Recaido, at South Point Hotel, Las Vegas

I’ve followed Chef CHRIS RECAIDO on Instagram for sometimes
now www.Instagram/C_REC, have dined at his former place SENSEI sushi inside the Marriott Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii before. I told myself, I will visit him at Zenshin Asian Restaurant at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas at some point. zenshin5

I come to Vegas average 6 times a year, some trip like the CES one last month, I stayed for 8 days, I finally got to visit Chef Chris Ricaido. All I can say is WOW, I’m impressed.

If you look at their website, nowhere zenshin6mentioned his name besides the owner and the executive chef, or that their website is a bit dated, they even misspell the grape varietal. However, be sure to call in advance, to make sure chef Chris is in, you will be in for a real treat.

Zenshin Asian zenshin8Restaurant is spacious, you don’t have that feel of a cozy Japanese restaurant. It’s big and almost feels as you walk into a cafeteria. However, the oval sushi bar, makes it perfect for foodies, you can watch to chef and cooks do all their magic in front of you. Don’t let the look and feel of Zenshin discourage you.

Their HAPPY HOUR is amazing, such a great deal on cocktails and not-so-small-bites:zenshin1

– Strawberry Bangkok

– Rising Sun

– Beers & wine

– Hamachi Kama – Grilled Yellowtail Collar & Ponzu Sauce, the zenshin4CHEAPEST in Las Vegas! Order it!

– Teriyaki Beef Sliders or Soft Shell Crab Cake Sliders

– Karaage Chicken

Now the regular menu:

– Jalapeno Yellowtail – Hamachi, Jalapeno, Shiso, Tobiko & Truffle Ponzu – order this!

– Sizzlin’ Tuna – Sizzled with Grape Seed Oil, Ginger, Chives & Truffled Soy – delishzenshin3

– Teriyaki Beef – Marinated in Soy, Ginger, Garlic & Simply Grilled, simply falvorful.

– Uni with caviar, toro, tai, hamachi were all fresh and high-quality fish.

– Cucumber roll with tuna, hamachi, salmon was so delicious, fresh, and it was my FAV roll, off-the-menu, but if you request on a weekday, chef will do it for you.

zenshin2    I have met many chefs via Instagram and Twitter, Chef Chris Ricaido is 1 of the most genuine chefs, he’s humble, kind, young and very cute too!  And I probably enjoy his company a lot more because he’s from Hawaii where my half broski was born and raised, what not to love about him 🙂

zenshin9   Service was very attentive, the price point is so reasonable compared to everything on the main strip or San Francisco Bay Area. This is why I love to come to Vegas for food. TRUST ME, take a short cab drive to the South Point Hotel to check out Zenshin, it’s a perfect sushi spot for a big group or for family on budget.

Follow chef Chris Ricaido and you will see: www.Instagram/C_REC

Zenshin Restaurant
www.southpointcasino.com
9777 S Las Vegas Blvd,
Las Vegas, NV 89183
(702) 797-8538

by Manda Bear – @1MandaBear