• California Food Fairs, Fests & Markets,  Epicuring Updates

    Come Aboard the Love Boat for CUESA’s Yacht Rock Summer Cocktail Fete on Aug 29

    Ahoy mates – hoist a drink and walk the plank with your Epicurators Susie and Laiko for the second annual CUESA Yacht Rocks party next Weds. We are Captaining the costume contest again – so come for one of the best parties of the summer – right out front at the Ferry Building.  And yes, we’ll embarrass ourselves at the VJ booth singing “Love Boat.” / Laiko & Susie Tilt your captain’s hat, straighten your stripes, and sail over to the Ferry Building for Yacht Rock II, the summer edition of Cocktails of the Farmers Market. For this nautically themed night of sips and bites, CUESA and the Northern California…

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  • California Culinary Travel,  Food Destinations,  Food Haps Blog

    Fair Trade Baking Ingredients Forum at CIA at Greystone on Oct 6

    Tracking down and understanding Fair Trade baking ingredients is a challenge for many commercial and cottage industry bakers. This forum at the CIA in Napa for food professionals and enthusiasts will address issue with a line up including author Kelsey Timmerman (Where am I Eating?, Where am I Wearing?), celebrity chef Malika Ameen (Top Chef: Just Desserts), and food consultant extraordinaire Clark Wolf.  Master of ceremonies, Clark Wolf, will guide the conversation around the Fair Trade dilemma.  After an introduction to the topic from Fair Trade USA, a grower will be Skyped/videoed to illustrate what Fair Trade has meant to them. Kelsey Timmerman will relate his adventures tracking down where…

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  • Best Eats & Foods Lists,  California Culinary Travel,  Food Destinations,  Food Haps Blog

    Craft Brewery Tours, Tastings & Classes in San Francisco – Updated with New Breweries Opening this Fall

    We’re in a golden age for craft beer in San Francisco Bay Area –and many of our established and new brewers are leading the way to inspire a national passion for artisan craft beers – be they kegged, bottled, growlered or casked. There’s so many ways to learn about beer around here — so get out and take a tour, visit one of the 25+ new breweries opening this fall, take a class or get a home brewing kit. We’d love to know if you have any favorite breweries or classes, or tours you think Epicurators should know about.  Cheers! / Laiko NEW BREWERIES Eater SF mapped out the 27…

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  • Bouchon Bakery macarons in Yountville
    Best Eats & Foods Lists,  California Culinary Travel,  Food Destinations,  Food Haps Blog

    Macarons at Bouchon Bakery – When in Wine Country…

    The two-person-deep line at Bouchon Bakery steadily streamed through the door one recent foggy-then-sunny morning in Yountville: It’s the almond chocolate croissants. The bread. No, it’s the macarons. Say yes to all…and make Bouchon Bakery your destination for epicuring bliss. Who eats 25,000 macarons every month? After an incredible Sunday brunch at Bouchon Bistro, Laiko and I were lucky to get a peek behind the scenes at the bakery courtesy of Manager Krzysztof Pawlik. He explained that in this very contained space, the relatively small bakery team makes about 25,000 large macarons per month (they’re about the size of a moon pie). And they’re all made by hand (so far…

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  • California Culinary Travel,  California Food Fairs, Fests & Markets,  Food Destinations,  Food Haps Blog

    Good Eating at SF Chefs 2013

    Another summer another great SF Chefs event, full of tastes from 200 or so from great San Francisco chefs, coffee roasters, distilleries, and wine makers from around the world. Full, yes, oh so full were we. I’ll dub Campari the “most creative” liquor presentation with shaved ices in all sorts of flavors including roasted canteloupe. Delfina Restaurant’s gelato sandwiched in a brioche bun added a drippy sweet dimension to the tastings which leaned toward lots of great shrimp, raw fish, and all sorts of meats. SF Chefs continues today, August 4th, with food and educational events so if you’re visiting San Francisco hop over to Union Square for a taste…

  • California Food Fairs, Fests & Markets,  Epicuring Updates

    Oysterfest at Waterbar San Francisco Benefits Surfrider Foundation | Sept. 1

    The spectacular Waterbar restaurant set on the Bay is hosting a fest celebrating sustainable oysters and benefiting the San Francisco Surfrider Foundation. This year’s OysterFest will honor New Zealand –  and food, wine and beer from New Zealand will be served for attendees to enjoy. Features delicious small bites from oyster lovin’ restaurants & farms including: Waterbar, EPIC Roasthouse, Farallon, FISH, Saltwater, Waiheke Island Yacht Club, Rappahannock River Oysters, and Drakes Bay Oyster Company. To quench their thirst, guests will have a selection of New Zealand wines and micro-brews including Anchor Steam, Trumer Pils and Moa, a New Zealand favorite. Admission is $60 per person and includes oysters and passed hors d’oeuvres. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The San Francisco…

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  • Best Eats & Foods Lists,  Food Haps Blog

    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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  • California Food Fairs, Fests & Markets,  Food Destinations,  Food Haps Blog,  Food Shopping

    Get Your Farmhouse Style On at the Marin Country Mart

    I’d heard about the farmers market at the Marin Country Mart by Larkspur Landing. But what a surprise to discover a little bastion of country farmhouse style, Pottery Barn meets Restoration Hardware with a Bay Area twist. Dining options range from Bel Campo Meats (a farm up north that raises their own cattle) to El Huarache Loco (a small business incubated at La Cocina). Shaded white picnic benches and a sandy earth intertwine making this little slice of foodie heaven is worth a haul from the East Bay (actually it’s very close to the Richmond Bridge) or San Francisco. Plus they have really fun events like the “Folkish Festival” and…

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  • California Cooking Schools & Classes,  China Culinary Travel,  Food Destinations,  Food Haps Blog

    Shanghai Cooking Classes: A Letter from Lindsay

    In China, it’s said that Beijing is the best destination for sight-seeing while Shanghai is best for eating. Since I build my agenda around my appetite, Shanghai has been the perfect home base for me over the past several months. This modern metropolis lives up to its reputation as a culinary hotspot, with access to cuisines from all over China and much of the world abroad. After sampling fare from Shanghai’s copious restaurants and street vendors, I set out on an Epicuring style quest to learn about as many of these creations as I could. Two of the local cooking schools have helped me along the way. If you’re lucky enough to make…

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  • Food Destinations,  Food Haps Blog

    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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