Le Garage

Le Garage is a popular French bistro located along the harbor in Sausalito, offering fantastic weekend brunch and dinner every day of the week. On a sunny day by the bay, they open the garage-like wall so you can feel the warmth of the sun and smell the fresh ocean air. Today it was a little cold and foggy but it also happened to be Mother's Day so the chilly weather did not stop the crowds. 

To pass time, we posted up at the bar, ordered some drinks and ogled every plate that came out of the kitchen - the wait went by fast. I was tempted to order the warm smoked salmon sandwich with tomatoes, red onions, butter lettuce, Bleu d'Auvergne, capers and crème fraiche on ciabatta, served with fries and aïoli (the guy seated next to me had it and it looked delicious) but the waiter convinced me to order the following:

An egg white omelette with organic baby spinach, heirloom tomatoes and Laura Chenel goat cheese served with mixed greens. It was so good! I'll get the salmon sandwich next time. Reid, true to form, can never turn down a burger, so he ordered the Masami Kobe beef burger: 1/2 lb of Kobe, Morbier cheese, tomatoes, butter lettuce, grilled red onions & aioli on ciabatta served with a side of fries. He was in heaven. 

Le Garage, 85 Liberty Ship Way, Suite 109, Sausalito, CA 94695.  

Be sure to try their sister restaurant, L'Appart Resto, in San Anselmo, too!

Pizza!

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I thought I was a true pizza lover until I read this recent article on Eater, The Ultimate San Francisco Pizza Glossary. Out of the twenty-four pizza restaurants and trucks located in San Francisco, I have only tried fifteen. I was shocked! They forgot my beloved Piccino but otherwise, a very strong guide to anyone looking to consume some pies. I can't wait to try the other nine places on the list...

Round Pond

On a gorgeous day in early May, I was on a wine tasting excursion through the Napa Valley. I arranged for the group to stop at Round Pond for the Il Pranzo Lunch. As we ascended the stairs to the second floor wine tasting area, I was stunned by the gorgeous build-out of the space. It was absolutely beautiful...everything I aspire my future home to be! The room is a mix of both contemporary design with rustic influences (i.e. the antler chandelier below).

The open, airy wine tasting room spilled onto a outdoor patio, complete with a fireplace and breathtaking views of the Napa Valley vineyards surrounding the estate. After a brief background on the history of Round Pond, our tour guide led us through the wine facilities, the barrel room and their biodynamic garden.

Afterward, we were seated on the patio for the Il Pranzo Lunch. We began with their red wine vinegar tasting; trying both the Cabernet-Merlot blend vinegar and the Sangiovese-Nebbiolo Petit Verdot blend vinegar. Have you ever been vinegar tasting? This was a new experience for me so in case anyone isn't familiar; you take a simple sugar cube and pour a dollop of vinegar on the cube, then gently suck the cube to absorb the vinegar flavors. Who knew? 

Now on to the olive oil tasting (also a first for me). We tried three types: their extra virgin, blood orange and Meyer lemon olive oils. I highly recommend branching out from your typical extra virgin olive oil and trying different flavors. The citrus olive oils are a great way to add different flavors to a meal, especially when drizzled over salads or vegetables. 

Finally, we tasted the wines which accompanied our lunch. We tried three of their Estate wines: the 2010 Sauvignon Blanch (my personal favorite), the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. Lunch was served family style. Each platter beautifully displayed trays of fresh fruits and vegetables (straight from their garden), along with a variety of cheeses and meats.

Everyone was in awe of this farm-fresh-to-the-table experience and we couldn't have picked a better day to dine al fresco. Bon appétit!
 
Round Pond Estate, 875 Rutherford Road, Rutherford, CA 94573.

All wines, vinegars and olive oils can be purchased through their website.

The Grove

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The Grove is a quick-bite food staple of San Francisco. Each location is reminiscent of a remote cabin or lodge in the mountains; with its exposed wood beams, pine tables, large Navajo rugs covering the wood floors, rustic pillows scattered everywhere and a huge stone fireplace, which remains the focal point of most locations. You feel like you are stepping into a living room, not so much a restaurant. 

Berkeley Bowl (a delicious vegan salad), Spinach Artichoke Dip and Breakfast Burrito (hangover cure) 

Students are usually scattered amongst the tables, with laptops propped open and a cup of coffee by their side. Others are found leisurely reading the paper in an over sized chair, sipping their morning latte or nibbling on The Grove's American comfort food (think sandwiches, salads, breakfast, baked goods).

The four locations are conveniently located near prime shopping areas throughout the city; Hayes Valley, Fillmore Street, Chestnut Street and the Yerba Buena Gardens, so I often stop by The Grove after a strenuous day of shopping :) Our most recent visit concluded our Mother's Day shopping excursion. We each ordered a cold Hefeweizen and some very unhealthy/delicious spinach artichoke dip. We sat at a table near an open window to take advantage of the rare sunny day in the city. Sipping our beers while devouring the spinach artichoke dip; it was the perfect way to unwind after a long day fighting the retail crowds of downtown San Francisco. So if you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by The Grove to escape the hustle and bustle for a few minutes and just relax. 

The Grove, 2016 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115.
The Grove, 690 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105.
The Grove, 2250 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.
The Grove, 301 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94123.

Redd

Last year Reid and I dined at Redd for my birthday. It was one of the best meals I've ever had - no exaggeration. Since then, I recommend Redd to anyone and everyone venturing to the Napa Valley to wine and dine. I love the modern, minimalist décor (think Room & Board) and if the weather is nice, you can sit on the patio, near the fireplace (Romantic? Yes.).

Thus, when I asked my mom to meet me for lunch in Napa, it was any easy decision. Let’s go to Redd! She had never dined at this culinary hot spot so she was definitely excited, especially after I had hyped up the restaurant. To make the most of our experience, we opted to share multiple appetizers so we could taste a little bit of everything. And of course, ladies who lunch can’t lunch without a glass of champagne! A glass of Schramsberg Brut Rosé, anyone? While sipping champagne, we started with the asparagus soup with lemon cream and a petite smoked salmon Gruyere panini (the restaurant split the order into two servings - the presentation was impeccable). The soup and panini: delicious, rich and creamy! 

Next came the yellowfin tuna and hamachi tartare, with avocado, chili oil, fried rice and cilantro. I think this was my favorite of the three dishes just because I love tuna tartare. 

We finished the meal with lettuce cups filled with stir fried chicken, eggplant, and scallions.

The lunch was obviously delicious; more than satisfying the taste buds, just as it had done a year ago. So try Redd or try their new sister restaurant, Redd Wood, an upscale pizzeria located on the Northern end of Washington Street. Redd Wood combines one of my favorite restaurants with my favorite food (pizza, of course!) – what could be bad about that? These restaurants are culinary staples in the Napa Valley dining world.  Be sure to try one or both next time you’re in Yountville. I swear you’ll fall in love!

Redd, 6480 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599.

The Slanted Door

Slanted Door is one of those Ferry Building staples. It's always bustling with people; locals and tourists alike. It offers delicious modern Vietnamese food in a contemporary, open, airy space. If you don't happen to have a reservation (highly recommended for both lunch and dinner), they do take walk-ins. So one sunny Saturday morning we cruised the Farmer's Market and after eying the fresh produce and inhaling the delicious food aromas, suddenly we were hungry. We put our name on the wait list and 20 minutes later, we were seated overlooking the bay. That's the great thing about this restaurant - no matter where you sit, you can view the fabulous San Francisco Bay. And on a day like this (warm, sunny, not a cloud in the sky), it was perfect for a window seat. 

It's always fun to try as many things as you can at any restaurant. Slanted Door's menu is conducive to sharing. So that's exactly what we did. We ordered the following:

• crispy vegetarian imperial rolls, taro root, cabbage, glass noodle, roasted peanut 
• grilled organic chicken, rice vermicelli noodle, imperial roll, cucumber, mint  
• star route farm baby spinach, garlic, caramelized shallots

Everything tasted delicious and refreshingly healthy, aside from the "crispy" (a.k.a. fried) imperial rolls. They have a quite an expansive selection on non-alcoholic beverages, so instead of the typical weekend Bloody Mary or Mimosa, I opted for their twin girls pomegranate spritzer and Reid tried their lychee-infused iced tea. Such a great Saturday...I love long, leisurely lunches!

Slanted Door has become quite a staple in the city. It is so popular, in fact, that they started a chain of to-go restaurants. Out The Door offers selected dishes from Slanted Door, as well as new menu additions, so you can still sample the delicious Vietnamese cuisine, even if you don't want the complete dining experience. With three locations in the city, it's hard to miss. Grab and go for dinner or lunch. It's so easy!  

Slanted Door, 1 Ferry Building #3, San Francisco, CA 94111.

Oxbow Public Market

We spent the weekend in Napa recently, celebrating a friend's birthday. On our way out of wine country, we stopped at the Oxbow Public Market to check out the upscale "food court" I have heard such good things about. It was so much fun walking around this expansive warehouse, perusing the restaurants, gourmet foods, gifts and wine. Since it was early AM, we opted for brunch at C Casa, a Mexican eatery. We both ordered the Huevos Rancheros, two white corn tortillas smeared with black beans, 2 eggs over medium, pico de gallo, roasted corn relish and chipotle aioli. Order, pay, find a seat and wait for them to call your name. It's a simple, no fuss way to grab some gourmet eats. 

Ritual Coffee (location in SF, as well), had quite a line, with everyone in need of their early morning java kick. If it had been later in the day, we could have taken advantage of Hog Island Oyster Company and Oxbow Wine Merchant & Wine Bar...sample some cheese, have a glass of wine, maybe order some oysters. I guess we'll save that for next time.

In case you are craving sweets, Kara's Cupcakes set up shop in the Market. Kara's is a cupcake staple in SF, so for those who can't venture to the city, now you can sample them in Napa!  I was tempted to have dessert for breakfast. I mean how yummy do these look?

Check out Oxbow if you are planning a visit to Napa anytime soon. If not to eat, you can always buy food gifts for friends and family. I was tempted to buy some olive oil from The Olive Press for my mom. There were so many different olive oils to choose from...who knew? 


Oxbow Public Market, 644 First Street, Napa, CA 94559.