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Feast Portland | Sept 19-22
Susie and I both are regular visitors to our Northern Pacific neighbors in Portlandia — for food conferences, to see friends and family and most importantly to eat and shop the fab food stores and markets! Coming up September 19-22nd, is the second annual Feast Portland, founded by a friend in food, Carrie Welch who left NYC and Food Network for PDX. Feast celebrates the ample bounty of this inspiring and inspired region. I’ll be there at a number of events — but many are selling out, so if you’re considering a weekend to discover Portland’s culinary essence, get planning epicureans! In addition to Feast, be sure to visit the…
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SF Bay Area Food Event Picks – Summer 2013
FOOD EVENT PICKS FOR SUMMER 2013 Check Facebook for last minute picks and check back here for ongoing finds! Wed. July 31, Sacramento – Eat Local, Bee Local: A Panel about Protecting Local Honey Bees Passionate about bees and the colony collapse crisis? Join this panel discussion with local experts at the Urban Hive to discuss increased bee deaths, city ordinances and beekeeping in Sacramento, then take what you learn home to your communities! Wed. July 31, San Francisco – Franny’s Crostini Extravaganza and Book Signing at Tartine Afterhours – FREE EVENT Join Franny Stephens and Andrew Feinberg of FRANNY’S BROOKLYN to celebrate the release of their cookbook, Franny’s: Simple Seasonal Italian. Inspired…
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Epicuring Guide to Daily Food Events and Tours
Based on our experiences as California Epicurators we’ve compiled a guide of our favorite ongoing experiences for travelers on the go. Need advice on the go? Ask us! We’re “Epicuring” on Twitter & Facebook or we can create a special tour just for you. Just email us at info (at) epicuring (dot) com. Daily (Check venue to confirm) San Francisco San Francisco is home to Anchor Brewing, which crafts 10 brews, including the famous and tasty Anchor Steam, in their handcrafted copper brewhouse, a tribute to the traditional breweries of old. Daily brewery tours in Potrero Hill are followed by a tasting (naturally!) and last about 2 hours. Reservations are…
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Introduction to the Japanese Kitchen
Japanese dishes and ingredients are having a culinary moment right now in the U.S., with chefs and home cooks drawing from the Japanese pantry, and incorporating dashi and koji in their sauces. And it’s a new rite of passage for chefs to travel to Japan to eat their way through the noodle restaurants (ramen, soba, udon), izakayas and kaiseki restaurants. But without an understanding of the language and culture, a food lover needs an insider to share their knowledge of the culinary heritage of Japan. While I am Japanese-American, there is still so much I want to learn about making Japanese food and I met Sonoko Sakai, who is the…
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Top Picks for Hands-on Cooking Classes at San Francisco Cooking School
I’m working with the new The San Francisco Cooking School which opened this Fall. It’s been enlightening to work with founder Jodi Liano helping create awareness for the school. Jodi has put assembled the largest selection of cooking classes — that’ll teach anyone, from a kitchen novice to a professional. I’m personally signed up for a ton of classes — and can’t wait to hone my skills, techniques and knowledge. Here’s my picks for some favorites below — but the full slate of classes are on the San Francisco Cooking School website. Fundamentals and Advanced Techniques: Asian, Italian, Shellfish, Cooking with Ratios, and Advanced Sauce Techniques. Global Cuisine Series. Hands-on…
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Blood, Bones and Beef Hearts: Where to Eat on (or Around) Halloween?
It’s that spooky season again. Where to live it up on or around the Day of the Dead? It’s not just about candy anymore — although it is still about blood, bones and Batman masks. Fear the food trucks. Friday, October 26 is the last time Off the Grid will appear at Fort Mason Center until next March. They’re turning their farewell gig into a Halloween haunt with decorations, live music from Rolling Stones cover band Black Angel, a costume contest (extra points for Stones-related guises) and Halloween specials at 34 food vendors and two full bars. (Hint: beef-heart tacos and pumpkin-cuchinta ice cream.) Off the Grid is also celebrating…
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San Francisco Cooking School Teaches Culinary Intuition
by Laiko Bahrs “When cooking go by your own taste. When baking follow directions.” That’s a quote I wrote long ago to remind myself to follow my intuition in the savory kitchen but read the recipe in the pastry and baking part of the kitchen. This thinking has worked really well in my kitchen explorations over the years. So it’s exciting when I can say that I am involved with a new cooking school opening in San Francisco which has a philosophy that aligns with mine! San Francisco Cooking School, founded by instructor Jodi Liano was created to teach culinary intuition to cooks who want to work in the food…
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Wine Country Meatopia: COCHON Heritage Fire in Napa
By Emily Shartin, Epicuring As always, COCHON Heritage Fire in Napa never fails to impress. This year’s installment, held at the River Terrace Inn, featured several Bay Area chefs showing off their skills in whole-animal cookery for a captive audience eager to chow down on everything from goat to lamb to pig to rabbit to fish. Heritage breeds were the star of the show, alongside the region’s best produce and — this being wine country, after all — glass upon glass of world-class beverages. We started our afternoon with sips of Robert Craig‘s rosé of Zinfandel as we perused all the glorious food that was on offer. Team Toast was…
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Epicuring’s “Au Revoir, Foie Gras” Guide
June is known as Corn and Cucumber Month, National Smile Month, National Surf Music Month, and even Skyscraper Month. June 2012, however, has transcended the usual nomenclature here in California. It has become Stuff Your Face With Foie Gras Before It’s Banned Month. For those who aren’t aware, July 1st marks the first day where Foie Gras will officially be banned in California despite efforts from Chefs and Foie Gras lovers all over the country. Foie Gras has been controversial for quite some time due to the process of gavage, one technique used to plump up the duck’s or goose’s liver. In response to the legislation banning Foie Gras in California,…
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Best Restaurant Dining Reviewers List for Bay Area
By Laiko Bahrs, Epicuring co-founder As a food professional, I eat out at a lot of restaurants for a number of reasons. To support the industry and friends/colleagues, for meetings, as well as to boost my professional knowledge (and because eating is a hobby, right?). My dining budget is not large, but I do like to try most of the new restaurants whenever I can. How do I hear about the best local restaurants? Word of mouth from colleagues is key for me, as well as a few must-read professional restaurant reviewers whom I trust. Then for fun, there’s the non professional eaters reviews too. If I have a lot…
