Tag Archives: Dep

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

Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma Wine Country

buena10 Buena Vista is oldest winery in California, founded in 1857, Buena Vista is California’s first premium winery, and its history is as colorful as it is proud. Today, it’s belong to the vision of Jean-Charles Boisset. Just a few minutes drive from downtown Sonoma, the original winery is now a California Historic Landmark, and home to our Winery, Tasting Room, and Visitor’s Center.

It’s a beautiful and historical estate, open Daily from 10 am to 5 pm, buena3excluding major holidays. The drive here is quite easy. Plenty of parking spaces, stroll down the pathway, you will see the maze garden on your left and some of the historical figures on your right, before you arrive to the chateau-like main tasting room.

They offer so many tours and wines tasting options, check on their website is best: www.buenavistawinery.com/visit

buena7– Barrel tour and tasting  – $35 per person, the Barrel Tour and Tasting is available daily at 11am and 2pm, the tour and tasting lasts about 1 hour. Reservations are required.

– Private reserve tasting – Escape the crowds and explore a flight of our Private Reserve and limited-release wines at the Private Reserve Bar overlooking our main tasting salon. Available daily between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. $30 per person, $24 for Wine Club Members. No Reservations Required.

buena9– Grand reserve tasting experience – Enjoy a seated, by-appointment-only tasting experience that features library wines carefully selected by our winemaker and poured in the quiet seclusion of The Count’s Cave. Reservations are required. Available daily at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm. $40 per person, $32 for Wine Club Members.

– Be the count blending experience – Who would like to be The Count or Countess?  90-minute,  you will play with Zinfandel, Merlot and buena5mixed reds. Find the perfect palate then bottle, cork, foil and label your bottle. You will design your own label and leave with a newly branded wine tailored to your masterful palate. The best part is you can order as many cases as you desire.
Available daily at 10:30am and 1:30pm. $100 per person, $80 for Wine Club Members. Reservations are required.

buena1– Picnic hampers – Picnicking at historic Buena Vista has long been a favorite for many guests, and we now offer a Picnic Hamper from a fine local food purveyor filled with delectable delights! Available daily between 11am – 3pm, we are offering two options:

The Count’s Hamper, named for our original founding proprietor in 1857, Count Agoston Haraszthy. For two: rustic sandwich, salad, assorted sweet delights.

buena2The JCB French Hamper, named for our current proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset. For two: assorted Artisan cheeses, Charcuterie, rustic potato salad, baguette half, assorted sweet delights.

Reservations are required  and the hamper is for day-of use only. Both Hampers are $75 and include a Buena Vista wine tasting and two glasses for your picnic. This is a good choice if you just want to lay out at chill and not worry about bringing your own food.

They offer variety of wines from rose to sparkling, from chardonnay to zinfandel, blend varietals and more. The wines range from $20 + to over hundred with their soon to be release red.

buena4  I enjoyed their Pinot Noir Carneros but it’s sold out currently. Their zinfandel is another one that you should try if you like spicy, full bodied red.

They are dogs friendly which is so awesome, so you don’t have to leave your 4-legs friend at home. Although they can’t come inside the tasting room unless they’re service  dogs.

I love the Champagne tasting room a lot, off-white leather couches, buena6chandeliers and by the cave, bring a jacket. It’s much more chill and peaceful than the main crowded tasting room.

If you come on the weekend, expect slower service and not much personal, but if you can come on week day, always excellent service here.

Follow them:
Instagram https://instagram.com/buenavistawinery
Twitter https://twitter.com/buenavistawines

by Manda Bear @1MandaBear

Cairdean Vineyards, St. Helena, Napa Valley Wine Country

cairdean1  Cairdean Vineyards just opened their tasting room in St. Helena in the Spring 2014, just right down the street from the Culinary Institute of America, opens 7 days a week from 11-8 PM and no reservation required; which is a perfect last stop on your way back since all the wineries are closed at 4-5 PM.

A beautiful tasting room, spacious, modern, and quite charming with a square bar makes it easy to serve guests as they can stand around or sit down. The earthy palette, concrete flooring and dark stained cabinetry are brightened with brass accents.Love the table with black marble top and brass base, leather club chairs, chandelier constructed out of wine bottles which give me a great idea for my own and a beautiful stone fireplace.
cairdean5
We got to try a lot of wines but a few that stand out.

– Haley Margaret White Wine – $10 of this wine helps raise awareness and funding for others who battle Cystic Fibrosis. Nice nose, stone fruits, smooth, bright, just a good wine for Sunday brunch, a unique blend of Pinot Gris, Roussanne, and Viogner.

– 2010 Cairdean Vineyards Merlot Bordeaux blend – 81% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Malbec, and 0.5% Petite Verdot. On cairdean4the nose, red berry, dark cherry , and blueberry aromas,  oak spice, hazelnut and cocoa, lingering finish, medium bodied with balanced acidity. Maybe I’m bias because I love Bordeaux, this wine reminds me of a good bottle of the Right Bank, Pomerol 2010 vintage, to be exact. Only 492 Cases Produced.

– 2011 Cairdean Vineyards Syrah – 84% Syrah, 11% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, dark cherry, spice, herbs, beautiful and cairdean3voluptuous on the nose, even more curvy on the bodied, long finish, full bodied. Syrah is not my favorite varietal, but this bottle makes me think of Northern Rhone, well done, I enjoyed this very much and I got to tried this the last 2 years. If you love a BIG wine, you must TRY this! Winemaker Stacia Williams surely nailed this one! She’s also very sweet and humbled, I’m lucky to get to meet here and her husband Edwin Williams co-owner of Cairdean Vineyards during Flavor! Napa in 2014.

cairdean2  Service was wonderful here as always and the tasting fee is very reasonable and affordable for Napa Valley. Cairdean Vineyards is a perfect last top for you before you leave Napa Valley, don’t forget to check out their newly opened restaurant The Farmer and The Fox cairdeanestate.com

Follow them on Twitter and IG: twitter.com/CairdeanWine

by Manda Bear @1MandaBear

El Dorado Kitchen at El Dorado Hotel, Sonoma, CA

After a long day wine tasting in Sonoma County, we were eldorado1starving and ready to eat  our heart out. El Dorado Kitchen comes to our rescue. Knowing chef Armando Navarro from REDD in Napa, and I was excited to see what he was about to serve us.

El Dorado Kitchen is located in the El Dorado Hotel, it’s such a cute place, open kitchen, a 21-foot-long table fashioned from a single wood plank reclaimed from a Vermont bridge, lots of eldorado3windows for sun light, white trim, fresh flowers, something about this place is so romantic to me. Well, I was in the company of 2 other hot foodies/good friends 🙂

El Dorado Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. We were here for a dinner feast, and I wasn’t kidding.eldorado4

– Kusshi, South Puget Sound, Baywater Sweet oysters – a dozen of freshness!

– Ahi Tuna Tartare – Soy vinaigrette, wonton chips, asian pear, avocado, wasabi tobiko, micro cilantro – tasty, generous portion.

– Roasted Young Beets – Goat cheese mousse, orange, watercress, pistachio meringue – perfect for a warm summer night in Sonoma.
eldorado6
– Steamed Mussels – Chorizo, chickpeas, garlic, white wine broth, country croutons – the mussels weren’t plumed, but the broth was perfect for crouton dipping. It soaked up the broth and it was so good!

– The Truffles fries – oh goodness, gracious, this order is BIGGER than my head! However, it was perfect for dipping to the mussels broth!

– Chilled Corn Soup – Corn & shrimp salsa, chili oil, brioche crouton – it was nice and smooth, love.eldorado5

– Pork Belly – cherry tomato, pickled ramps, jalapeño vinaigrette – this was a SPECIAL order, since I’m allergic to watermelon, chef changed up the recipe. I love pork belly and this is why I work out regularly, so I can indulge this kind of goodness!

– Dungeness Crab Cake – Heirloom tomato gazpacho, avocado, sweet 100 tomatoes, pea shoots – fresh and sweet, beautiful plating.

– Housemade Ricotta & Lemon Ravioli – Roasted artichokes, asparagus, rutabaga, parmesan, guazzetto – delicious.

– Pork and ahi tuna tacos, special order from chef Armando Navarro – thank you for this – they offer on the bar menu.

eldoado5DESSERTS:

– Vanilla Tapioca – Peach, rhubarb gel, brioche, raspberry sorbet

– Baked Chocolate Mousse – Chocolate shortbread crumble, crème fraîche froth, mint chocolate chip ice cream

– Cherry Crisp – Lemon curd, streusel, cream cheese sorbet

For the wine list, El Dorado Kitchen carries almost 170 wines by the bottles and 30 by the glasses, majority Sonoma County, Napa, and decent choices of French wines, I’m impressed. I love that how all the local wines are small mark up, that was exactly what we did, ordered Sonoma wines.

Service was good, the food was so reasonably price point, GENEROUS PORTIONS, so we obviously over ordered ourselves. Thank you chef Armando for the extra love and changed the recipe because I was allergic to the watermelon.

eldorado2           During our dinner, there was a black out in Sonoma Square, the restaurant kept calm, and continue to serve us in extra candle lights, just about 5 minutes later, the light was back on, and everything was as smooth as nothing had happened.

My 2 girlfriends and I couldn’t even move by the time we finished the dinner. We are full, satisfied, and happy. I love it here and I can’t wait to bring more friends and family back here soon.

Follow chef on IG: http://instagram.com/chef_g_navarro

El Dorado Kitchen
www.EldoradoSonoma.com
405 1st St W,
Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 996-3030

by Manda Bear – @1MandaBear

Bardot Brasserie by Michael Mina at Aria Hotel, Las Vegas

Chef Michael Mina’s newest concept celebrates a renaissance of French technique

262b1314-67fb-4cc1-9fac-da71ad2a72bbBARDOT Brasserie, Las Vegas’ debut French concept from James Beard award-winning chef Michael Mina, is now open for dinner and weekend brunch at ARIA Resort & Casino. Paying homage to the skillful culinary techniques, celebrated libations and sexy atmosphere for which The City of Light is renowned, Chef Mina has created a stylish and unforgettable interpretation of a Parisian brasserie in the center of The Strip.
Le Menu
To create BARDOT’s menu, Chef Mina and Executive Chef Joshua Smith merged their travels to Paris with exceptional culinary techniques to develop an array of imaginative dishes.

  • Inspired Cuisine – Chef Mina pays homage to classic French cuisine presenting an exquisite array of signature dishes that celebrate the iconic café culture of Paris. Traditional Onion Soup Gratinée is a gourmet masterpiece that guests can customize with Perigord truffles, braised oxtail and a soft-poached egg; while wings offer an ode to the traditional Duck À L’Orange dish. BARDOT’s version of a Croque Madame is piled high with Paris Ham and Gruyére Fondue then topped with an over-easy organic egg.
  • FullSizeRender (1)Seafood Selections – BARDOT’s extensive seafood menu includes exotic dishes such as Monkfish Bourride, Sautéed Skate Wing and Yellowfin Tuna Niçoise, in addition to a seafood tower that guests can personalize with lobster, king crab, oysters, clams and shrimp.
  • Steak Frites – BARDOT offers the highest quality cuts of beef c369097a-e1d5-4541-abb0-a5ea8a3750c2cooked over an oak wood and charcoal grill. The restaurant’s Steak Frites is a perfect dish for French food aficionados and novices alike featuring an 8 oz. Flat Iron, 12 oz. Ribeye or 8 oz. Filet, which can be accompanied by béarnaise, au poivre, bordelaise or foie gras butter. Pair the dish with simply sinful beef fat fries and bon appétit!
  • Decadent Desserts – For dessert, Chefs Mina and Smith took the traditional French Macaron and cooked up a large-scale presentation of the ultra-decadent sweet, drizzled with chocolate sauce. Lemon fans will swoon over BARDOT’s Lemon Meringue Tart, prepared with market citrus and fresh berries, while lovers of the classic French desserts will marvel at the Mille Fueille, a caramelized puff pastry with vanilla crème patisserie.

Les Boissons
IMG_0029ARIA’s Mixologist Craig Schoettler, Wine Director Kim Wood and Mina Group’s Director of Cocktails Carlo Splendorini salute French drinking tradition with an inventive beverage menu that cannot be experienced elsewhere.

  • Finest Wines – Wood curated one of the most extensive by-the-glass programs, as well as the largest selection of French wines in Las Vegas at BARDOT, highlighting the finest small production and rare vintages from across the globe. Additionally, BARDOT will be one of the only restaurants in the country offering wines by the houses of Couly-Dutheil, Patrick Piuze and Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve, regarded as some of the finest in France.
  • Innovative Cocktails – The restaurant’s cocktail program 1B9A8C54-E3B7-461C-B65F-0614DAE6390Bcombines the best of French culture and Las Vegas style. Signature sips include And God Created Women, a satisfying layering of French spirits and egg whites; and the Voltaire, a cider-based cocktail that dazzles the senses with baked apple bitters and housemade ginger syrup.
  • Eclectic Brews – Beer enthusiasts will be delighted by more than 80 international hard-to-find varieties such as Germany’s Kulmbacher, Belgium’s N’ice Chouffe and France’s Jade Organic. BARDOT also boasts its own exclusive craft beer, Hors D’âge, brewed in Northern France in collaboration with Stillwater Artisanal Ales.
  • Historic Spirits – Schoettler scoured the beverage world to garner BARDOT Brasserie’s impressive collection of historic spirits, including cognacs dating back to 1811 and Las Vegas’ largest selection of Chartreuse, the legendary French liqueur distilled by Carthusian Monks.

L’atmosphére
ee1ce84a-b8b8-4547-898c-1a5b62c40417Created by Bishop Pass Interior Architectural Design Studio, BARDOT’s space exudes a dark and sexy, almost enigmatic atmosphere.

  • Big Brass Bar – A vibrant location for mingling with friends or grabbing a cocktail, BARDOT’s bar will catch visitors’ attention the minute they walk inside. Perched high above the zinc countertop is a maze of brass pipes connecting to form shelves for the venue’s high-end spirits and alcohol.
  • Chic Dining Room – BARDOT’s main dining room offers a traditional yet luxurious dining space. Walls of black lacquer are paneled with gold pen striping, surrounding a series of Parisian columns. Burgundy leather booths and bistro-style tables spread across a pristine marble floor, where guests can sneak a peek inside the restaurant’s show kitchen as they watch their meals come to life.
  • C2B43A10-F3A0-4AA8-B6E8-FDBE62EEB4B1Sidewalk Café – A nod to Parisian sidewalk cafes, BARDOT features intimate seating outside of the restaurant for an entertaining dining and people-watching experience. Situated in the courtyard overlooking ARIA’s second-floor promenade, the locale’s French-inspired storefront and high windows transport guests to a 20th century literary café in Paris.

BARDOT Brasserie is located on the second floor of ARIA. The restaurant’s hours of operation are:

  • Dinner daily from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  • Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
  • Nightly happy hour from 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the bar and in the lounge

For reservations or for more information call 877.230.2742 or visit www.ARIA.com.  Follow BARDOT on Twitter and Instagram at @Bardot_LV.

Welcome to Dep Lifestyle Magazine.

Dep Lifestyle Magazine features beautiful lifestyle, food, wine, restaurants, chefs, culinary events, charity events, and in English & in Vietnamese at www.VietPressUSA.com.

Locations:  Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and more cities to come… Coming soon in winter 2015.