Subject:

Beverages

  • Blogs

    September 6, 2011

    House Kombucha: Mild and Pure Enough For Doubters

    ​Even intestinal parasites, perhaps an occupational hazard, can't stop SFoodie. When you're killing everything inside you with antibiotics, rather than the cocktails you normally employ, that leads you, when mobile enough, to the kombucha section of your grocer's beverage case. Why? If you're a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 1, 2011

    Naivetea's Lawrence Lai Talks Taiwanese Oolongs and Kettle Whistle

    NaiveteaNaivetea's owners, Lawrence Lai and Ann Lee.​The Bay Area is steadily, quietly becoming a nexus for premium Chinese and Taiwanese tea in America. The owners of Teance, Far Leaves, Imperial Tea Court, and Aroma Tea Shop all travel to Asia to tour plantations and buy directly from farmers an ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 19, 2011

    Family Winemakers Show Offers More Wine Than You Can Handle

    Foodgal.com​Family Winemakers of California Tasting Where: Fort Mason Center When: Sunday, Aug. 21, 3-6 p.m. Cost: $65 advance, $75 at the door We can drink a lot of wine, but we find the Family Winemakers of California annual tasting overwhelming, in a good way. There's always about 50 times ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 18, 2011

    Twenty-Five Lusk Serves 6-Course Champagne/Strawberry Menu

    Seared diver scallop with foie gras torchon and grilled strawberries​SFoodie is willing to put ourselves on the line for you. So when we heard Twenty-Five Lusk is offering a 6-course Champagne and strawberry themed menu for $90 -- $60 food, $30 wine pairings -- through Blackboard Eats, we ran ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 11, 2011

    New York Times Gets Huffy At SF Weekly

    The Slayer. Would you call it "beautiful?"​We got an email earlier this week through the "feedback:" portion of our website, where Letters to the Editor are sent. The writer objected to a March 2010 blog post in which Jonathan Kauffman wrote in part, "Sightglass is one of the first cafes in S ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 10, 2011

    The Less You Spend, the More Interesting Fifth Floor's Wines Are

    Amy Goldberger in the Fifth Floor wine room​There might be no better sign of where San Francisco's fine dining scene is in 2011 than the wine list at Fifth Floor. It's a pricey hotel restaurant, reviewed today by our restaurant critic Jonathan Kauffman. Yet the list is currently managed by wi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 9, 2011

    San Francisco's Top Five Coffee Shops

    Photos by W. Blake Gray​Coffee is such a personal thing. If I like cappuccino, you like drip coffee black, and Bill Cosby likes a triple-tall nonfat extra-hot no-foam latte (apparently true), we're not going to agree on what the best coffee shop is. But I'm the guy with the pen keyboard soapb ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 5, 2011

    New California Law Gives Brewery Tasting Rooms a Break

    Jason HenryDrake's Barrel House in San Leandro was built expensively under the old law​You walk into a brewery tasting room and order a sample. The beer is delicious, but you can't help noticing that the brewery doesn't have washable tile flooring and the cashier isn't far from the dishwasher. ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 27, 2011

    A Liquid Preview of Jasper's Corner Tap

    Lou BustamanteKevein Diedrich, bar manager at Jasper's Corner Tap​Jasper's Corner Tap, the gastropub project in the hotel section west of Union Square, opens tonight with an impressive list of beverages. The tavern will feature 18 cocktails, 18 beers and six wines on tap. We were able to get ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 22, 2011

    Napa Winemaker Came from Sports Illustrated for Kids

    This is another little extra for this week's review of Bar Tartine in the print edition: an interview with the man who made one of the most impressive wines on the restaurant's very interesting wine list. Liza GershmanDan Petroski​When I called Dan Petroski to ask him how he managed to make M ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 20, 2011

    Bar Tartine Wine List: If It's Porn, It's European Porn

    Alex Fox​This week we ran our first wine list review to accompany Jonathan Kauffman's restaurant review in the print edition of SF Weekly. Jonathan likes to offer people a little extra flavor on the web, so I decided to do that too by dropping by Bar Tartine on a Friday morning to taste wine w ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 20, 2011

    Dear Honest Tea: Is This Honest Enough for You?

    Tejava is significantly better than Honest Tea​Coca-Cola brought dozens of bottles of its sweetened tea brand, Honest Tea, to downtown San Francisco yesterday, left them sitting out in Justin Herman Plaza, and expected us to pay $1 for them. Amazingly, 93% of us did! San Franciscans are just ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 18, 2011

    Scotch and Cheese? Try It at Quince

    ​We've had a lot of cheese and a lot of Scotch, but we've never thought to try them together. That's because we lack the imagination of Quince general manager Katrina Parlato, who is running a bar special this week: a Scotch and cheese pairing flight.It's not cheap, at $36. But these are not cheap ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 6, 2011

    Bring Wine to Mission Chinese Food (But Which Wines?)

    Mission Chinese Food chef-owner Danny Bowien goes through this many chiles pretty fast. ​Mission Chinese Food is a great challenge for wine lovers. It's great, because corkage is only $8. It's a challenge, because some of Danny Bowien's food, like the kung pao corned beef, is so spicy that dri ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 6, 2011

    Latte Art Competition to Determine S.F.'s Best

    INeedCoffee/ CoffeeHero​Dolores Park Cafe's Latte Art Throwdown Where: Dolores Park Cafe, 501 Dolores (at 18th St.) When: Thu., July 7, 7-10 p.m. Cost: Free The rundown: Be it free flowing forms of espresso and foam, or detailed depictions of animals, scenery and faces, all latte drinkers ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 5, 2011

    Dogpatch WineWorks Replaces Crushpad

    ​Since Crushpad left San Francisco last year for Wine Country, folks wanting to make their own wine in town have had to go it alone -- which, in most cases, meant not making wine. And ripe smells in the Dogpatch neighborhood unfortunately haven't been coming from fermenting grapes. But now, t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 27, 2011

    Secret Negroni Menu at Orson

    Lou BustamanteNegroni variation 5: Hard to Make a Living​While the Pisco Punch might have undisputed San Francisco heritage, the Negroni often feels more like the official cocktail of San Francisco. The equal measures of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari said to have been invented in Florence by Co ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 22, 2011

    Robert Mondavi Woodbridge 2009 California Zinfandel

    ​This writer made a simple dinner last night of brown rice, freshly pulled chard and kale from the garden, a handful of off-season wild porcini from -- oops, almost gave away my patch! -- and several steaks of a hand-harvested lingcod, which we lathered with coconut oil and sesame seeds and br ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 21, 2011

    Thirsty Thursday: Cocktail Classes Round-Up

    Lou BustamanteLearning to shake your own cocktails​In an unusual moment for the Bay Area, our weather and the calendar's declaration of summer actually agree. Dust off your shaker and your bartending skills with a couple of classes this week that'll make your pool/park/apartment party as potent as ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 15, 2011

    Monk's Kettle Readies the Abbot's Cellar, Continues Beer Dinner Program

    Jason HenryA roasted veal loin makes great beer cuisine.​It's clear that the folks at Monk's Kettle care about beer. A cellar beneath the ground holds a treasure trove of unique and vintage beers. A staggering array of goblets and chalices makes us want to run away and pursue a career in glass ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 14, 2011

    Surveying Stout Beer Jelly and Biodynamic Wine at Taste of Mendocino

    Sean TimberlakeBlack Dog Farm's jams and preserves range from the mundane to the quirky.​Monday's Taste of Mendocino event brought some of the best nibbles and sips from the county to Fort Mason to sample. Under the expansive roof of the Festival Pavilion, long rows of booths offered up tempti ... More >>

  • Blogs

    June 6, 2011

    A Field Guide to Sustainable and Delicious Dry Farmed Wines

    Whole lotta irrigation goin' on in Napa.​Irrigation is plainly a function of the modern world. Though the ancient Romans built spectacular gravity-driven aqueducts, drip irrigation for agriculture was not invented until the late 1960s in Israel, and only in the 1970s did water-bearing pipes a ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 26, 2011

    Concannon Winery 2009 Central Coast Pinot Noir

    The "R" at the end of "noir" is not silent. The letter is meant to produce a distinct sound, and, in effect, "pinot noir" rhymes with "film noir." But in the upper echelons of wine drinking society, some say "pinot nu-aaah." Have you noticed? One must guess they think they're quite cultured when pro ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 26, 2011

    This Saturday: Make (and Drink!) Gin Cocktails with Scott Beattie

    Lou BustamanteOld World Distillers' Davorin Kuchan will help Scott Beattie school you on gin.​Where: Ferry Building Marketplace, 1 Ferry Building (at Embarcadero)When: Sat., May 28, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.Cost: $50 online via Eventbrite; 21 and overThe rundown: Scott Beattie returns to the Ferry Building to ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 24, 2011

    New Book Teaches the Alcoholic Art of Beer Brewing

    Just Brew It. ​The best part about beer has always been, hands down, drinking it. But for many thousands of Americans, brewing beer is just as rewarding. Brewing is an intellectual experience -- it's an art, a science, a study of history, a mastery of chemistry, and a craft. And while drinki ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 5, 2011

    Meet the Bloggers: Jason Henry

    Jesse HirschJason Henry really, really loves beer.​You read them here, now find out who the hell they are: We give you the diverse group of men and women who cover the local food and drink scene for you on SFoodie. Jason Henry Blogs about: beer Jason Henry swears he isn't beer-obsessed. Pat ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 2, 2011

    Ritual Takes Sixth Place in National Barista Contest

    Ritual Coffee RoastersRitual barista Kevin Bohlin, left, and Ben Kaminsky, Director of Quality Control.​There may be no ticker-tape parade through the FiDi, but Ritual Coffee Roasters just made San Francisco proud at the United States Barista Championship in Houston this weekend. Cutely, the i ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 27, 2011

    Vinyl Wine Bar's Kris Esqueda on Popups, Food Trucks, and Pretension-Busting

    Markris WineVinyl Wine Bar's Kris Esqueda, right.​The Sunday night pasta dinner at Vinyl Wine Bar that I wrote about in this week's review almost qualifies as a popup within a popup. Owners Kris Esqueda and Mark Bright -- who are also behind Saison and Markris Wine Group -- set up the wine bar in ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 21, 2011

    The 'Homebrew Chef' Brews Up 12 Courses at the Toronado Belgian Beer Dinner

    ​There's beer dinners, and then there's Sean Paxton's beer dinners. Paxton (aka, The Homebrew Chef), started preaching the gospel of beer and food pairing well before the trend entered our public consciousness. When not recording his "Home Brewed Chef" show for the Brewing Network/, Paxton d ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 20, 2011

    SodaCraft Coming to the Ferry Plaza Market

    ​Jesse Friedman, aka Beer and Nosh, aka the soon-to-be-released Almanac Beer, just announced on his blog this morning that he has a third alias: SodaCraft. We've written about Friedman's experiments with making ginger ale and other seasonal sodas for the New Taste Marketplace events his wife organ ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 15, 2011

    Local Brewer Jesse Friedman Now Slinging Soda Pop

    jordan.ching12/FlickrOur favorite soda jerk: Jesse Friedman at the New Taste Marketplace.​When life gives you empty kegs and you want to make a family-friendly beverage, make soda. Jesse Friedman (of Beer and Nosh and Almanac Beer Co.) knew he was onto something while attending a friend's wedd ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 15, 2011

    Kombucha Cuisine

    House KombuchaScallop crudo.​Kombucha Dinner Where: House Kombucha, 498 Natoma (at Sixth St.) When: Sat., Mar. 19, 7-10 p.m. Cost: $48 The rundown: At the intersection of live cultures and cultural experience, the earnest apostles at House Kombucha are teaming up with the arty foodsters of ... More >>

  • Dining

    March 9, 2011

    Drink 2011: In Craft Brewing, the Meek Inherit the Earth

    House KombuchaScallop crudo.​Kombucha Dinner Where: House Kombucha, 498 Natoma (at Sixth St.) When: Sat., Mar. 19, 7-10 p.m. Cost: $48 The rundown: At the intersection of live cultures and cultural experience, the earnest apostles at House Kombucha are teaming up with the arty foodsters of ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 9, 2011

    Citizen Cake III: A Work in Progress

    Kimberly SandieThe verrines at Citizen Cake are great. The savory stuff: hit and miss.​This week's review is of Citizen Cake ― or rather, Citizen Cake III, daughter of the Hayes Valley restaurant, granddaughter of Elizabeth Falkner's original pastry shop. As much as I've loved Falkner's imaginat ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 23, 2011

    Heartswork Winery WELL REaD 2009 California Red

    At $5.99, this is one bottle that defies the common wisdom that no-sulfites-added wines justify a higher price.​A molecule called sulfur dioxide ― aka sulfites, a common preservative ― has become the crux of an ongoing disagreement between two schools of winemakers. Those who vouch for the ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 15, 2011

    Brown Owl Brings Microroasting to Parkside

    Lolia S./YelpBrown Owl Coffee's woodshop interior.​Ariana Akbar originally wanted to open a flower shop. But even as the trained florist was working out the plans, she was roasting her own coffee and making a lot of espresso at home. Soon the project became a combination flower shop and cafe, then ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 9, 2011

    Tasting Petite Sirah, California's Little Big Wine

    Alastair BlandTasting panelists Noah P. and Eleni K. strike a pose with the Petite empties.​It was born in 1880, and four years later came to California. But for another 80, almost nobody knew it. Petite Sirah is one of California's historical vines and among the earliest varieties introduced ... More >>

  • Blogs

    February 3, 2011

    Disloyalty Card Rewards Restless Coffee Addicts

    ​A few weeks ago, eight local cafes quietly began setting stacks of a promotional card out on their counters. It's the kind of thing coffee shops have been giving customers for years ― buy X drinks, get one free! However, this new "disloyalty card" adds a novel twist: It rewards shopping around. ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 24, 2011

    Eat Grilled Cheese, Get Toasted

    John Birdsall​Grilled Cheese and Craft Beer Pairing Where: American Grilled Cheese Kitchen, 1 South Park (at Second St.), 243-0107 When: Sun., Feb. 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $30 The rundown: AGCK is commemorating SF Beer Week with a sandwich and brew matchup, but unlike at stuffy wine pai ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 24, 2011

    Caffe Pascucci: A Cure for San Francisco's Italophilia?

    Caffe Pascucci's pistachio cappucino.​Devoted Italophiles, San Franciscans tend to think of Italy in its most pastoral guise, a country filled with artisans passionately crafting humble, exquisite food that sings with innate simplicity and good taste. Our idealization doesn't just apply to pasta, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 21, 2011

    Prime Your Liver: SF Beer Week Returns, Feb. 11-20

    San Francisco Brewers Guild​In just a few short weeks, San Francisco will transform into a beer-soaked playground for SF Beer Week, Feb. 11-20. During the 10-day "week," he Bay Area becomes ground zero for brewers and craft beer aficionados spoiled for choice among hundreds of events. If your ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 10, 2011

    Good Eats and Zinfandel Pairing Brings the "Z" Back to Herbst

    dr_XeNo/FlickrFifty eateries, fifty wineries, paired up in the buddy system at Herbst Pavilion.​Like bells to Pavlov's dogs, the sight of a capital "Z" this time of year starts us thinking of (if not quite drooling over) red wines native to the Golden State, punctuated by notes of pepper and r ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 29, 2010

    Three Events to Keep You Drunk for New Year's Weekend

    ​New Year's Day is all about fresh starts and optimism, but don't make the mistake of believing you can say goodbye to a whole year with one night of drinking. Our extensive studies have shown that a full 24-hour period of carefully paced cocktails is required for that. With that in mind, here ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 17, 2010

    Sightglass Brothers Offer a Window on the Microroastery

    Catherine ColeSightglass Coffee owners Jerad and Justin Morrison hope to open the cafe portion of their tri-level SOMA warehouse this spring.​It's been a little less than a year since Sightglass Coffee owners (and brothers) Jerad and Justin Morrison flipped the switch on their beloved cast-iro ... More >>

  • Dining

    December 8, 2010

    Fresh Eats: Our weekly roundup of SFoodie news

    Catherine ColeSightglass Coffee owners Jerad and Justin Morrison hope to open the cafe portion of their tri-level SOMA warehouse this spring.​It's been a little less than a year since Sightglass Coffee owners (and brothers) Jerad and Justin Morrison flipped the switch on their beloved cast-iro ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 6, 2010

    Local Pisco Expert Signs Books, Gets Wonky at Pisco Latin Lounge

    Guillermo Toro-Lira has penned a history of Peruvian brandy in California.​Every movement needs a historian, someone who can frame events with the trajectory of inevitability. For Barbary Coast cocktail cultists, that historian is Lima-born Guillermo Toro-Lira. Like some early Christian saint, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 3, 2010

    DIY for the Holidays: Homemade Liqueurs

    Sean TimberlakeInfused spirits are among the easiest gifts to make and some of the nicest to get.​ The first of SFoodie's weekly guides to food-crafting gifts you can make. Giving booze for the holidays always reminds me of my grandfather. It's not that he was a big drinker, quite the contrar ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 30, 2010

    What Kind of Sparkling Wine Makes a Good Mimosa?

    Brant FoehlWhich of these bottles should you drink at 9 o'clock in the morning? "All" is not the proper answer.​Like many a San Franciscan on a slightly fuzzy morning, I love a nice morning drink to clear the haze or put a bounce in my step. The three standard breakfast drink choices: Bloody Marys ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 23, 2010

    Afternoon Coffee at Ma*Velous

    Yes, you sip it like tea.​ I first heard of the idea of a distinction between morning coffee and afternoon coffee a few years ago, when a barista at a Seattle coffee shop was describing the shop's array of beans on offer. The cafe's Central American and Indonesian beans, he told me, were straightf ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 17, 2010

    Lev's Debuts Kombucha Vinegar

    Tamara Palmer​Following the recent release of its kombucha extract, Lev's Probiotics of Treasure Island has just introduced two types of kombucha vinegar. Made with aged green tea kombucha, it's available in original and hibiscus varieties. The price point ($12) puts it below the cost of the e ... More >>

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