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Celebrate International Women’s Day by Eating and Drinking … Of Course
Realizing that this coming Friday, March 8, is International Women’s Day got me thinking about all the female food-and-drink entrepreneurs I’ve met around Northern California over the last few years, and some of the fun and inspiring things they’ve told me. For instance, Deborah Brenner (pictured above) left a plush Manhattan marketing career to write a book about female winemakers in California. That book, 2006’s Women of the Vine, inspired Brenner to move to the Wine Country, make wine herself, and create Women of the Vine, a winery offering the creations of a dozen-plus female vintners. “I had spent the past 20-plus years in a very male-dominated field,” Brenner told…
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2013’s “Best Chocolatiers” Announced
Based around the International Chocolate Salon held late last year in San Francisco, the 2013 Best Chocolatiers and Confectioners in America Award winners were announced this week by TasteTV, which created the contest and event. I was a judge at the Salon, where I got to sample amazing artisanry and talk to the artisans themselves. Mindy Fong of SF-based Jade Chocolates was premiering her latest product: dried green mango with a chili-lime spice rub atop chocolate tiles. I snapped a picture of these spicy little guys: Wendy Lieu, who operates SF-based Socola Chocolatier with her sister, crafts truffles flavored with guava, lychee, durian, black sesame, bacon, pumpkin, PB&J, tea, Vietnamese…
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Spirits Rising: DSWE Pop-Up Tour
A pop-up wine-and-spirits road show On a sultry San Francisco day: Our hearts and palates glowed so At this dazzling display. We met men who make clever bitters From lush herbs, spices and fruit, And celery. (Got the jitters? They use the seed, not the root.) The clear pinkgold of sweet dreams, Eau de vie, sun-kissed in France: Armagnac Castarède gleams On the palate: Angels dance. Secret recipe, Sicilian, 1868: Pair it with ginger ale: Yes, out of cans. The latest buzz is that Averna is great For all grown-up Jägermeister fans. Grape flowers fashioned into gin Produce round, spicy, velvety G’Vine. Eighty to 87.8 proof, with vermouth in A…
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Hash Browns Go Glam at “McDonald’s Unwrapped” Benefit
On an October night that was balmy, not stormy, Three chefs who were all certifiably gourmet Helmed a benefit in San Francisco: Lo, A sumptuous three-course feast, but know That every component of every dish, From the miniature meatloaves to the Gullah Island Fish Filets, had to be something found in the kitchen Of an average McDonald’s restaurant. “Bitchin’,” You might say. “Bring on the fries!” Hark: This was not a no-brainer, nor a walk in the park. Chefs Ryan Scott, Beverlie Terra, and Sophina Uong (Of Market & Rye, Chaminade, and Picán, home of strong Espresso cocktails) became alchemists that night, unveiling Hash-brown gnocchi, pickled berries, with sharp sticks…
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Eating Your Way through California’s BBQ Competitions With a BBQ Judge & 10 BBQ Events You Should Visit this Summer
With BBQ being the new thing on the food scene, we thought there was much we needed to know about the BBQ competition circuit. So we turned to our friend in eating, Melanie Wong, who has been training as a Kansas City Barbeque Society judge. Tough work if you can get it –and boy does she get it. Melanie takes us behind the scenes on the ‘que circuit, shares her tips on how to evaluate bbq like a pro, tells us what a “BAT” is, and finally lists her 10 picks for BBQ competitions to try this summer. [All photos by Melanie Wong; to view her full Flickr Stream click…
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Epicuring Internship/Stage Positions Are Open!
Epicuring is looking for a few food-mad interns/or stage professionals to work with us on Epicuring and help us develop the content we feature on Epicuring.com, Food Haps & calendar, and help us build our community through social media and marketing. ABOUT US Epicuring is a popular food calendar and “Food Haps” newsletter featuring hand-picked food events, classes and experiences for natives and visitors to the Bay Area. Founders Susie Wyshak and Laiko Bahrs are long time food professionals who launched Epicuring just over a year ago. ABOUT YOU We’re looking for a few California-loving team members who are as passionate about food experiences as we are for these areas: Content:…
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Let’s Eat Real Together This Weekend – Prizes and Meet Ups
We’re heading to Eat Real in Oakland this weekend –will you join us? We’re meeting up all weekend long at a few key spots. Eat Real Oakland’s third annual three-day festival is a free celebration of our great food scene all set at Jack London Square in Oakland. There are classes, tastings, demos, markets, a farm and food trucks all in one spot. Epicuring Challenge & Prizes! Win a spot on a tasting tour with Epicuring of Susie’s favorite Berkeley Spots if you complete the three challenge below! Meet Up with Epicuring at Eat Real and pick up our new Epicuring Sticker Take a photo of yourself at Eat Real…
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Behind the Scenes at Cochon Heritage Fire
Cochon Heritage Fire in Napa on August 13th was an Epicuring extravaganza for lovers of heritage meats, with sweaty chefs, hot fires and great wines and beers. Everyone who knows me is well aware this is my favorite food event of the year. Susie and I headed up to St. Helena on Saturday to be a part of the third annual meat and fire fest now known as Cochon Heritage Fire, and previously aka Primal Napa. The setting was Charles Krug winery –a historic property –that is a picture perfect setting for fire cooking alongside the vineyards, with the Greystone at the Culinary Institute of America as a backdrop. Check out…
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Welcome to Epicuring California!
We’re so excited that Epicuring.com has come to be. This project of Susie Wyshak and Laiko Bahrs, as well as the generous help of a great team, brings a dream and need to life! Epicuring came from Susie’s investigations of promoting California for tourism and our own efforts to plan an eating trip to Los Angeles. We found the effort of researching and planning made us realize taking a vacation is hard work! We created Epicuring as a resource for culinary adventurers to find interesting and hand-picked experiences in California. We’re focused on the San Francisco Bay Area for now, as we get feedback and iron out the kinks to…
