Well, hello there. Are you out playing hooky? I’m sure we’re all thinking about it. Fortunately my weekend had me playing outside a fair amount, starting with a Saturday outing with my mother and sis to Out the Door on Bush for brunch (hello banh nam, banh cuon, and congee!), and then we caught the exhibit at the Palace of Legion of Honor, The Cult of Beauty: The Victorian Avant-Garde 1860-1900—it’s very mom-friendly, if you’d like to take yours there this weekend! I also went to tour and visit Central Kitchen and St. Vincent that evening—you’ll see both projects in today’s chatterbox.
Sunday was an over-the-top celebration for my friend’s birthday: a group of us chartered The Dauntless, a 45-foot mahogany cruiser, for a ride on the Bay. We disembarked and picnicked in a field at Cavallo Point—with a spectacular view of San Francisco—and then hopped back on the boat for more cruising. It was pretty breathtaking to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge, a view I hadn’t seen before. Happy 75th birthday, Golden Gate Bridge!
More congrats are in order for all the nominees AND winners at the James Beard Foundation Awards last night, especially Boulevard for finally winning Outstanding Restaurant (after eight Susan Lucci-esque years of being nominated for the category!) and to Emily Luchetti, who was inducted into the Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America. You can read who all the JBF 2012 finalists are here, which also includes the Book Awards, and more.
A few more things to note: first, May is National Burger Month—how convenient, a whole month. You’ll want to listen in to today’s episode of You Gotta Eat This on KGO Radio since I talk about where you can celebrate with some tasty burger deals around town.
More meat: did you know I am hosting a salumi tasting class with Peter Temkin (charcutier for Show Dogs, Foreign Cinema) on Friday June 15th at Ramekins in Sonoma? It’s going to be a fun (and informative) event: we’ll be walking you through the ancient craft of charcuterie, discussing the history and different styles of cured meats in Italy, Spain, and France, and giving tips on how to buy, serve, and store them at home. Sample local artisanal salumi, while sipping on some lambrusco. See you there!
Lastly, Thursday is Bike to Work Day, and I’d say it’s a perfect time to get around on two wheels with this gorgeous weather this week.
Ding-ding!
(Marcia rhymes with Garcia)
The Dauntless, our Sunday charter to shenanigans. Photo: © tablehopper.com.View tablehopper Newsletter from Tuesday, May 8 2012
