Weekend of Eating in the Bay

Started the weekend with Vivace Restaurant in the city of Belmont. The cuisine served is Italian. It was my 1st time here & it was crowded with several groups celebrating graduations. I was here celebrating my bday (yes, still!) with Linda, Ray & Alyssa. The food was good & I will definitely come back.

Started with Cosmo & Lemon Drop

Fried Calamari

Seafood Pasta with Prawns, Clams & Salmon

Lamb Osso Buco

Pizza Special

Kobe Burger

Warm Chocolate Cake

 Saturday Lunch in Walnut Creek at Ha & Mike's place celebrating Margaret's bday (someone else this time!)

Ingredients for Spring Rolls: shrimp, smoked pork,  rice noodles, assorted greens: lettuce, mint, cilantro & shiso

Foreground: Skittle favors
Background: Fried rice with shrimp & shrimp paste

Ha demonstrating how to "wet" the rice paper circle with
Flo (left) & Margaret (rt) looking on

Pork Larb with lettuce cups

Salmon with Wasabi dressing

Haruko's Carrot Cupcakes

Celebrating with Margaret
Standing: (lt to rt) Flo, Pat, Ha & Maggie
Seated:Me, Margaret, & Haruko

Sunday brunch at Town in San Carlos

Chilaquiles: Rotisserie Chicken & Tortilla chilaquiles
fried organic glaum ranch eggs, tomatillo sauce, avocado, sour cream
silkey red sauce...

Harry's Bellini: Fresh White Peach & Passion Fruit
puree, Fresh Lemon Juice & Sparkling Wine

Back to work tomorrow & the gym, too!

Yours truly, Karen!

TOAST OF THE TOWN

Last night San Francisco held its 2nd annual Toast of the Town wine and food tasting. It was held at the War Memorial Opera House. The VIP tasting started at 5:oo pm and was a pre-event tastings of premiere and estate wines. The Grand tasting (the one we went to) was from 7:00pm to 10:00. The website said to get there early but I don't think that was necessary we were there an hour early and most people started showing up for the 7:00 tasting at around 6:30. I did get to meet Kyle from Sac Foodies who was working the event. With 3 floors of food and wine plus spirits there was very little waiting in line to get a taste of the food or drink.. even with the crowd people were pretty well distributed on all floors. 79 wineries and 22 restaurants were represented. All the food we tasted was outstanding the only disappointment was that Postrio Wolfgang Puck's restaurant and Asia de Cuba and Tzar Nicoulai Caviar and a couple of other vendors had closed down by the time we got around to their station.
Here are a few of the wineries: Zonn,Trinchero, Mumm Napa, Piper Sonoma,J.Lohr,Chateau St. Michelle, Concha Y Toro.. plus Pravada Vodka, a rum distributor plus a couple of other spirit distributors. 3 floors..3 hours of eating and drinking.. these were not skimpy pours either. I even found myself pouring out wine after just a sip or two so I could try something else. By the end of the evening we were full of good food and drinks. It was a lot of fun and very well organized. I will definitely be looking forward to the event again next year. Here are some pictures of the food presented.

Etoile-

Chilled English Pea Soup

Compton Place -

Spot prawn sashimi on Watermelon Carpaccio, Chutnied Mango Chili Fizz w/apple & Wild Rocket Gazpacho Air

Two -

Sonoma Foie Gras Torchon w/drunken fruit compote

Go Fish -

Scallop and Shrimp Ceviche

Poleng Lounge

Walu Kinlaw-

Hawaiian Butterfish

Toybox tomatoes, shallots,cilantro, coconut milk, various salts

WINE ENTHUSIAST- TOAST OF THE TOWN

San Francisco March 27th (Thursday) War Memorial Opera House.
VIP Tasting: $185 ,5:00pm- a private pre-event tasting of reserve and estate wines. Includes a complimentary Wine Enthusiast Wine Master pocket electronic wine buying guide,tasting glass,tasting notes booklet and admission to the Grand Tasting.
Grand Tasting $95-7:00-10:pm
30 top rated restraurants are invited, some are: BIX,Auberge Du Soleil,Chez Panisse,Fifth Floor, Quince,Milleneum, Michael Mina etc.
Over 500 wines and spirits..
to check it out go to toastofthetown.com

I posted a meet up, actually asked mel to since it wouldn't let me if anyone was interested in going as a group. If anyone is interested let me know, I can order tickets if you'l like. I think even though the VIP is rather expensive it is a better value and you'd probably be able to taste some great wines. Plus all the food and the "regular" wines at the Grand Tasting also.
E-mail me if interested or post on SacramentoFoodGroup.org