Napa

La Palma: Now Featuring Heirloom Corn Tortillas

Brew with a View

Fatted Calf Has Last-Minute Meat (That's Better Than It Sounds)

All through December, SFoodie is bringing you local gift ideas for the food obsessives in your life. Even after two years of business in San Francisco, Fatted Calf Charcuterie (which began in Napa) still flies under the radar of some of the city's meat lovers. Like its counterparts at Boccalone and ... More >>

Airport Report: Greek Salad from Napa Farms Market

By now many San Franciscans have had the chance to enjoy the culinary charms of SFO's year-old Terminal Two, but I just have to gush for a second on the delightful Greek Chicken Salad I had last weekend from Napa Farms Market. I didn't expect much from an airport salad, no matter how much I'd heard ... More >>

Wine of the Week: Balance at the High-Alcohol Edge

Once, on a trip to Napa as a budding wine journalist, I asked a winemaker who had proudly poured me his newest creatio, what the alcohol level was. His snide-scoffing response was effectively that I didn't know what I was asking and was just going with the flow of anti-high-alcohol nay-sayers. Shake ... More >>

LuLu in Packaged Form: White Truffle Honey Hits SFO

Restaurant LuLu is putting its

Number 34: Chorizo from Fatted Calf Charcuterie

​SFoodie's countdown of our favorite 50 things to eat and drink, 2012 edition ​In the Bay Area, "chorizo" usually refers to the fresh, spicy Mexican sausage that fills tacos and tortas in the Mission. The occasional bit of Spanish-style chorizo that turns up in paella is often little more than ... More >>

Wine of the Week: Pine Ridge's $9.99 Crowd Pleaser/Polarizer

Pine Ridge is one of those Napa brands that people have collected and saved since before Napa wines became the rage across the 1% that actually have cellars to store wine in. The producer brought French thinking and balance to California wine making, producing great wines that became greater with ti ... More >>

Wine of the Week: La Sirena's Moscato Azul and Syrah Santa Ynez

​ Heidi Barrett's family has been making wine in Napa long before the valley became a world-renowned wine destination. Barrett is one of Napa's rock-star winemakers, best known for bringing in perfect scores from some critics for her work at Screaming Eagle. If you don't care about Napa, or rock ... More >>

James Beard Awards Announce Semifinalists: Bay Area's Well Represented, Obviously

​The day has come for the James Beard Foundation to announce the semifinalists for the 2012 Restaurant Awards. As SFoodie has written before, the finals can resemble the Oscars in that they're often career awards rather than a measure of how the nominees are performing at this very moment. Tha ... More >>

Wine of the Week: Blue Plate Chenin Blanc Is Worth Getting to Know

Each wine region of France is home to a variety of grape used in wines bearing that region's name. From Vouvray comes chenin blanc. If you're a dessert wine-enthusiast, you probably know that chenin makes for exceptionally sweet wines, including Quarts des Charmes from the Loire, which are among the ... More >>

Wine of the Week: Waterstone Merlot and Cabernet

Sometimes you have to go a long way to find a local wine. For this week's wine(s), we turned to Canada. Actually, Canada came to us in the form of our friend Dups, and his iPhone image of a Waterstone Cabernet. He asked if we knew it. We didn't . He liked it, we tried it, and now here we are. Wa ... More >>

Jessica Boncutter's 2011 Find: Terminal 2 at SFO

​SFoodie is calling up food types around the city to ask them about their favorite discovery of the past year, whether it's new or ancient, an ingredient or a person. We'll be running their responses over the course of the next 10 days. T2 goodness.​We spoke to Jessica Boncutter from the d ... More >>

Permano Caramels and Toffee Can Make You a Holiday Hero

​There's a strong tradition among home candy makers of making a big batch of toffee, then breaking it, bagging it, and becoming the best friend of the moment as they make the rounds with their holiday deliveries. If you have a friend like this, you're likely already anticipating the mass of s ... More >>

English Muffins Good Enough to Have Overnighted

Ben Narasin​Model Bakery's English muffins are all about anticipation and fulfillment. From the moment you take a light, thick disk out of its sleeve, the buttery touch on your fingers -- in stark contrast with the crisp, dry, dusted crust -- makes you want to take a bite. But you have to to ... More >>

Rolling Paper: A Guide to Strains of Medical Marijuana

Ben Narasin​Model Bakery's English muffins are all about anticipation and fulfillment. From the moment you take a light, thick disk out of its sleeve, the buttery touch on your fingers -- in stark contrast with the crisp, dry, dusted crust -- makes you want to take a bite. But you have to to ... More >>

Ti Couz may become Giordano Bros., Koko Cocktails not done yet

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. As Ti Couz's closing date hangs in the air, Inside Scoop reports the space (3108 16th Ave.) may have a buyer. Giordano Bros. has filed a liquor licenses for the address, but sandwich lovers should remain ... More >>

Sic Alps: Show Preview

The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco food scene. As Ti Couz's closing date hangs in the air, Inside Scoop reports the space (3108 16th Ave.) may have a buyer. Giordano Bros. has filed a liquor licenses for the address, but sandwich lovers should remain ... More >>

Food Events for the Weekend of Jan. 7-9

Off the Grid/FacebookImpervious to weather at McCoppin Hub.​Friday through Sunday, the area's tastiest happenings. Fri., Jan. 7: Food Truck Rally in Napa Oxbow Public Market, 728 First St. (at McKinstry), Napa; 5 p.m.-midnight The second installment of the first Friday food truck event in Oxb ... More >>

Napa's Food Truck Convergence

​Food Truck Friday in Napa Where: In the parking lot of Oxbow Public Market, 728 First St. (at McKinstry), Napa When: Fri., Jan. 7, 5 p.m.-midnight Cost: Free admission; bring cash for food; BYOB The rundown: Forget the $150 degustations ― Napa's got food truck fever. Jan. 7 marks the se ... More >>

Camino Hires a Proper Pastry Chef, Tango Gelato Takes a Bow

​ ​The past 96 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco restaurant scene.Grub Street chats up Russell Moore of Camino and learns he's hired the restaurant's first full-time pastry chef: Rikki Garcia, who's worked at Village Pub and Brick. She may attempt a few open ... More >>

Seven Hills Rise(s) Up, Beast and the Hare Springs to Life

​ ​The past 24 hours in gossip, innuendo, and cold hard facts about the San Francisco restaurant scene.Urban Daddy is the first to report that Seven Hills (1550 Hyde, 775-1550, www.sevenhillssf.com) opens on Friday. Young chef-owner Alexander Alioto (yeah, you've heard of his relatives) has in ... More >>

Today: Organic Brewers Converge on Ferry Building for Eco Tasting

MateVeza's organic India Pale Ale.​Between the World Series and Halloween we've got a lot to be excited about 'round here. If you have time between getting your Snooki or The Situation costume together and painting a sign with clever wordplay involving Jonathan Sanchez, take a moment to celebr ... More >>

California Nuts/Angry Shoppers: This Week in Food Bloggery

A photo from Lara Hata's Commonwealth slideshow.​A few of the highlights from the blog this week:1. Summer Tomato's Darya Pino debuts on SFoodie with a revelation that California macadamias exist -- in fact, you can find them in Scream's macadamia-vanilla sorbet. 2. On the frozen-foods tip, Tamara ... More >>

This Weekend in Napa, Primal Celebrates the Art of the Hack

kentbrew/FlickrAt last year's Primal, a guest grabs a knife and lends a hand.​A bunch of butchers and chefs will be wielding cleavers against major protein at Primal in Napa this weekend, a repeat of last year's event in the same outdoor location. A bacon taste-off is planned, and expect a sle ... More >>

Sustainability the Focus of Napa Farms Market in SFO's New Terminal 2

tifflaw/FlickrCupcakes on a plane!​Third Wave coffee from Equator. Organic ice cream from Three Twins. Hog Island oysters, Frog Hollow Farm peaches, Kara's cupcakes ― the lineup of producers at the upcoming Napa Farms Market in the San Francisco airport is shaping up.When the new Terminal 2 open ... More >>

Mission Arepa Joint Pica Pica Opens Tomorrow

earl g./YelpPlans call for staying open till midnight on weekends.​God damn it's hard to open a restaurant on schedule in this town. After the kind of media buzz that makes a five-day delay seem like weeks (the launch was expected last Monday), it looks like Pica Pica will definitely open tomo ... More >>

One Last Chance to See Crushpad Before It Emigrates

BottlenotesScenes from 2009.​Custom crush facility Crushpad announced a few weeks ago that it's moving up to Napa next month, scoring a spot on the Silverado Trail (a disappointing move for supporters of urban winemaking, but one that may up the facility's romance factor for budding Helen Turleys) ... More >>

Everything You Ever Wanted to Pick Off a Pig (Times Two)

This meme can be traced directly back to Oliveto.​As sure as Punxsutawney Phil popping his head out of the ground, as inevitable as kindergarteners slathering themselves in pink paint and red glitter, so February brings to the Bay Area one of its favorite annual rituals. Of course, this one involv ... More >>

Is Pica Pica Planning to Open in the Mission?

Ed U./YelpThe Venezuelan arepa maker currently operates at Napa's Oxbow Market.​Rumors are swirling that Pica Pica Maize Kitchen is branching out from its original base at Napa's Oxbow Public Market to the Mission. SFoodie's source puts the spinoff of the Venezuelan arepa maker somewhere near ... More >>

Sweet Beat: BonBonBar's Pumpkin Pie Bar

T. Palmer​After moving back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles, Nina Wanat relaunched her confections company BonBonBar in October. Wanat is a graduate of CIA's baking and pastry program in Napa, a course she switched to after attending law school at U.C. Davis and being tempted into the culinary wo ... More >>

Knives Out

T. Palmer​After moving back to the Bay Area from Los Angeles, Nina Wanat relaunched her confections company BonBonBar in October. Wanat is a graduate of CIA's baking and pastry program in Napa, a course she switched to after attending law school at U.C. Davis and being tempted into the culinary wo ... More >>

Bite the Zeitgeist Next Week at Acme's Artisanal Wiener Tasting

J. Birdsall4505 Meats' Dogzilla-style hot dog: Cultural icon in a bun.​What is it about the hot dog -- traditional lunch of toddlers, work-boot wearers, and Costco shoppers -- that's turned all zeitgeisty? Sure, it's the curdled economy -- big duh. For the price of a turkey club, you can get a ... More >>

Toronado to Host a Six-Course Wallow through Local Beer and Food

Lost In Translation/FlickrCall it a sign of the times.​More and more chefs are turning to beer to pair with food these days. Catch a taste of the trend this Sunday afternoon as two chefs serve up what's being billed as a Locavore Feast at Toronado Pub (547 Haight at Fillmore). Chefs Melissa Ax ... More >>

First Korean Market's Killer Kimchi

It's the best you can buy (though your grandma's might be better).

Rancho Gordo's Miracle Fruit

(Image via Rancho Gordo)Steve Sando is a frequent presence at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market with his Napa-based company Rancho Gordo, which offers several varieties of beans in vibrant colors that make a potentially dull food staple seem alive with possibility and flavor. Vanessa Barrington, Sando ... More >>

Music from Big Pink

(Image via Rancho Gordo)Steve Sando is a frequent presence at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market with his Napa-based company Rancho Gordo, which offers several varieties of beans in vibrant colors that make a potentially dull food staple seem alive with possibility and flavor. Vanessa Barrington, Sando ... More >>

R.I.P. Vincent DeDomenico: Rice-A-Roni Creator Dies In His Sleep

(Image via Rancho Gordo)Steve Sando is a frequent presence at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market with his Napa-based company Rancho Gordo, which offers several varieties of beans in vibrant colors that make a potentially dull food staple seem alive with possibility and flavor. Vanessa Barrington, Sando ... More >>

Got Hot Pot?

Dining's an adventure at S.F.'s only Muslim-style Chinese

Discount Dynasty

After scoring big with "Two Buck Chuck," renegade vintner Fred Franzia once again has Napa Valley's wine burghers in an uproar

Best Napa Restaurant

Market

Best Biplane Rides

Vintage Aircraft Co.

Best Wine-Tasting Restaurant

Restaurant LuLu

Museum of Food

Bringing the galleries of Copia alive, French-style

After the Series, Mumm's the Word

Bubbly and baseball, plus a quirky collection of 78 RPM records

What the Hell Is Copia?

At Robert Mondavi's new $55 million foodie mecca, you'll find seminars on goat cheese and mustard; surrealist movies; a SPAM exhibit; wine tastings; figurines of pooping Catholics -- everything, in fact, but the answer to that question.

Shufflebored

High-powered comings and goings in the food biz

Foie Gras for the Soul

Restaurants react to last week's attacks

Best Thai Restaurant

Thep Phanom