Well, THAT was quite the weekend of debauchery. After moderating a cooking demo on Friday with chefs Al Brown (visiting from New Zealand) and Brad Farmerie (The Thomas at Fagiani’s, Public in New York), and watching Sean Brock (Husk) joke around and cook with Daniel Patterson (Coi), I was more than ready to hit the Friday night tasting tent at SF Chefs. The Plumed Horse styled us with some proper luxury (thanks for the caviar!), while Locanda’s BLT with housemade guanciale and Baker & Banker’s corn vichyssoise were my favorite tastes of summer. Dosa didn’t hold back on the spice with their lamb uttapam, huzzah. I may have visited the Negroni umbrella stand more than once (lather, rinse, repeat), and Rye on the Road made a killer cocktail with Cynar, the cleverly named Thistling Dixie. Good times.
My Saturday workout ended up clarifying how tired I was (guess who unexpectedly took a nap and slept through the afternoon?), but then sis and I put on our dresses and hit the Saturday night tent. Kudos to Bluestem Brasserie for taking that night’s music theme the furthest, and I was really digging the oyster and Bowmore whisky luge, brilliant.
After doing some writing on Sunday, I decided to punch the clock and headed down to San Mateo for a bottle of bubbles and supper with grandma. Pimento cheese, ribs, cheese soufflé, and a salad, with the best company one could ask for. Henry the mutt provided plenty of tableside entertainment (such a clown), and I got grandma cracked out on the new Recchiuti malted milk chocolate sauce, which we had with our vanilla ice cream.
This Friday, Outside Lands is kicking off, and I am crash-coursing on a lot of opening bands I don’t know very well on Spotify. One thing I do know well is the sick lineup of eats, including pozole from Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas, Malaysian nachos from Azalina’s, Big Chef Tom’s Belly Burgers (got to try one at SF Chefs—good stuff), sardine chips from Rich Table (wow, that sounds like a lot of work, go team). You can also warm up with hot chocolate from Charles Chocolates, and in case you had a rough night, you can get started with a fried egg sandwich and hash browns from il Cane Rosso. Some food trucks will also be there, including Bacon Bacon, Hapa SF, and The Chairman Truck. Oh yeah, and don’t forget Outside Laaaaambs! Lamb poutine, I am coming for ya. Beer Lands and Wine Lands, they always keep me feeling good. Like D’Angelo, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. It’s on.
A few additional pieces for you: last week on 7x7.com, I did a roundup of special menus and prix-fixe deals around town, and here’s my piece on “summer” eats and new places for the SF Bay Guardian.
Let’s have a fun Fogust (credit to Karl the Fog for that brilliant portmanteau!). Marcia Gagliardi
Boxing Room’s table at SF Chefs, serving smothered okra and tomatoes with cracklins on top. Photo: © tablehopper.com.View tablehopper Newsletter from Tuesday, Aug 6 2013
