Dive bars are always interesting in the daytime, with their many blemishes on proud display in the bright, open sunlight. Without a throng of regulars to otherwise engage the senses, torn upholstery and grungy walls become the center of attention. Of course, the funk of stale beer never seems quite right in the daytime either, and since the freaks, in theory, are supposed to come out at night, even the sparse clientele remains oddly out of context, sober for the moment, but perhaps not for long.
Jack’s Club, located just east of Potrero on 24th [... read more ...]
I was able to satisfy my sick fascination with pork products tonight, thanks to the crispy pork sandwich at SPQR in San Francisco. This dish was, by far, one of the most over-the-top items I have ever encountered anywhere: a doughy-soft potato bun, topped with a slice of ham, a couple slices of bacon, and a glorious chunk of trotter-and-pork-rib terrine, the latter of which had been unabashedly deep-fried. And if that wasn’t already enough, the sandwich itself was dressed with a pork-liver mayonnaise, which is a perfectly scandalous touch, to say the least.
I [... read more ...]
Like many of the great books within its genre, Gerald Asher’s “Vineyard Tales” is one part history lesson and one part wine appreciation. Originally published in 1996, “Vineyard Tales” remains an invaluable text, offering plenty of insight regarding wines that span the globe. Along the way, Asher seems to cover most of the interesting American regions, touching upon places such as Washington State and New York’s North Fork, while also devoting requisite chapters to Napa Cabernet and Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
Considering the scope and diversity of his topics, Asher’s detailed histories are the strength [... read more ...]
You don’t often get to call out Thomas Keller, but I would’ve thought that Bouchon — of all places in the Napa Valley — would’ve been pouring some 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau today. Perhaps there just hasn’t been an audience for it here in Napa, but I really can’t accept that as an excuse. Honestly, as cheap as the stuff is, it couldn’t cost a restaurant that much to keep one case on hand for the third Thursday of November (the wine’s annual day of release).
Sure, I understand that we are not in Lyon, but [... read more ...]
I sincerely hope that the Obamas plant a vegetable garden at the White House. Frankly, I’m a little appalled that there isn’t one already on the property, and I view this as a tremendous shortcoming on many different levels. Without a doubt, I place a lot of the blame on the White House executive chef, whom I felt should have been lobbying for this resource all along.
I first heard about the movement to create a White House vegetable garden during an NPR interview with Alice Waters. She had mentioned this cause alongside her own [... read more ...]
