Sons & Daughters is the type of place you don’t want to share, but do. This oddly named restaurant opened its doors less than a month ago but is already making waves with glowing reviews on Thrillist and Yelp. Purple ceilinged with wall hogging pictures and giant glass chandeliers, the space oozes hipster charm; it’s also small enough to make you forget you’re not in New York. You don’t need a reservation (yet) but beware of Mondays and Tuesdays, since it appears this is holiday time for its creative chefs.
The freshly pressed menu was thoughtfully short and the waitress, unusually friendly. She started us off on the right foot with warm bread and a luscious mango-melon amuse bouche. Next was a zesty herbed salad served with refreshing eucalyptus and delicious curds. The lobster carpaccio, topped with caviar and dill, was unbelievably delicate and the squab, beautifully presented. We’d ordered the tasting menu, which at $48 is an absolute steal, and were blown away by the delicious wine pairings. My only complaint was the truffle risotto. Soupy and bland, this dish was larger than the others and not interesting enough to finish.
After a yoghurty palate cleaner, we chose the raspberry mousse for dessert. Topped with gingery crumbles, this was by far one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. (I’m really not big on desserts, but I’m a massive Tiramisu fan if that’s any indication.) Even with the small portions, we were pretty stuffed by now but happily accepted a last, tiny amuse bouche (or is it called something else at the end of the meal?) of jelly topped pineapple cubes.
Damage: Around $140 for two with one tasting.
Verdict: Absolutely wonderful. The appetizers are slightly stronger than the entrees but the entire experience – presentation, service, ambience, vibe – is just outstanding. Definitely a place I would recommend and revisit… even if it means having to make a reservation next time.
The name of this blog promises you travel and travel you shall get!While I’ve been reporting from SF for a more than a month now, it is time for some real travel. Last week, the bf and I flew to Cabo for the long, holiday weekend. It was my first time in Mexico and I was super excited to take in the beautiful landscapes, explore some desert terrain and feast on authentic local food. It turns out Cabo is probably not the best place for an authentic Mexican experience, but is absolutely incredible nonetheless.
We stayed at a spectacular, but tranquil, resort located in the “corridor” between San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas. Set against stunning white sands, with both the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean in its backyard, Las Ventanas’ sprawling property includes several infinity pools, a luxurious spa and four award-winning restaurants. The beautiful open air Sea Grill serves delicious meats and fresh seafoods prepared in a wood-burning grill and clay oven. A fantastic lunch here woo-ed us back for independence day dinner and the breathtaking location provided us with an up-close view of some beautiful fireworks.
Mi Casa, a restaurant in central Cabo San Lucas, is another place we enjoyed. Decorated with hundreds of wall hangings, quirky tequila bottles and traditional folklore, the restaurant’s entryway will fascinate and mesmerize, a highly desirable effect in case you are waiting for a table. The place definitely has a touristy vibe with an entertaining mix of glamourous party-goers as well as the occasional mariachi or flower-seller. The menu, though not super creative, is easily likable and the portions, quite large. The service occurs at a leisurely pace but is extremely friendly; our waiter insisted on not charging us for our little touched ceviche (it was too tomato-ey).
A big limitation of Cabo is that you cannot really swim in the ocean. Not only is the Baja California Pacific choppy and cold, it is dominated by powerful undercurrents and a rocky coastline, making it extremely dangerous. Keen for some snorkelling, we decided to join the Cabo Escape Cruise and head out to the calmer waters of Chileno Bay. However, a hurricane from a few days earlier had brought cool weather to Cabo and as our ship set sail, we quickly realized it was going to be even cooler in the ocean breeze. An hour and a few pina coladas later, we arrived at our destination. The crew had handed out snorkelling gear and life jackets and now, ready to explore the famous reef, we stood in line to jump in. The water was FREEZING. Not cold like tap water, but cold like ice water – what a shock! It’s hard to breathe when your body is submerged in an ice bath but we somehow recovered and fought the current (yes, it was as strong as ever) to swim out to the “reef area”. Hmmm… ten minutes later, we still weren’t seeing any fish. I looked around and the few people who’d made it as far out as us also looked puzzled, searching earnestly for some sign of sea life. The water was not only freezing and incredibly rough, it was murky and completely devoid of fish. We swam back to the boat and climbed aboard only to learn that the hurricane had driven the fish out to warmer waters. Hah! The one group that had spotted a fish had been so elated that they’d started chasing it, busting out the waterproof cameras to capture this rare life form we’d all gone to so much trouble to see. Hopefully this wasn’t an eerie glimpse into the post-BP future…
Snorkelling misadventures aside, Cabo really is fantastic. After our cruise, we ended up having lunch at a wonderful lobster shack where we got talking with a Canadian couple who’d retired in Cabo 5 years ago. The husband’s deep sea fishing trips supply them with an abundance of fresh marlin and they’d had their latest catch prepared by the restaurant as ceviche – a happy retired life indeed. We spent the next day driving ATVs through the desert and exploring hidden beaches along the (calmer) Sea of Cortez; it more than compensated for the choppy Pacific. So, if you’re looking for white sands, beautiful resorts, dramatic landscapes and fantastic food, consider Cabo. Just hope that you get there before a cold-weather hurricane.
Food trucks are a hot topic. Their flourishing population has already led to some intense turf wars, a slew of food festivals celebrating their existence (check out the OC Foodie Fest in LA) and, even a concession by hard core Twitter critics that the service has at least helped bring gourmet food to the masses. Despite all this fuss, food carts are nothing new. The Vendy Awards, bestowed annually upon the winners of the street-food cookoff held on Governor’s Island, are in their sixth year. We’ve been standing in line for chicken & rice and buying bagels off the grub truck for decades in Manhattan. Then why the buzz? Did the 2008 recession blues cause lunchers to re-evaluate their $12 sandwiches? Is this the most cost-effective way for entrepreneurs to launch their foodie dreams? Did Twitter really change the game? Or did food carts just suddenly get really good?
Whatever the reason, I am a big fan. And it seems like San Francisco is too. Today, the company I work for rented Chairman Bao’s for lunch – meaning all of us got dibs on the captive truck parked behind our building. Wow. With a menu that includes things like Duck Confit with Mango Salsa and Lions Head Meatball with Kim Chee, you know they’re not messing around. I tried the Red Sesame Chicken with Scallion and Bok Choy and the Pork Belly with Daikon – both steamed, not baked – fluffy, spicy and delicious. I also tried their Ginger Lychee shaved ice drink, which was very sweet but still irresistible.
Oh and check out the controversy around the truck – Eddie Huang, of Baohaus fame, claims they stole the idea for the name from one of his signature dishes. I haven’t been to Baohaus but I think, if anything, the SF truck is drumming up West Coast fame for this LES store 🙂
After several weeks of lusting after the salt and pepper crab, my boyfriend got his wish Monday night as we ventured over to China Town for dinner at R & G Lounge. We’d ordered takeaway from R & G several times before and, while I found the food good, I didn’t think it dramatically different from any other Chinese restaurant. After dining in-house at what many consider to be the holy grail of San Francisco’s Chinese food, I ended up changing my mind.
For starters, R & G wasn’t the cramped, colourful Chinese food shop I had pictured it as in my mind. Instead we were greeted by a large, modern space, three-tiered, high-ceilinged and brightly decorated in glass and steel. People dress up to go to R & G and the short skirted, high-heeled Asian girls who walked in left me feeling uncharacteristically underdressed for SF in my jeans and hoodie. While modern and high-end, the upstairs seating area feels distinctly Chinese, with traditional decorations and an entirely Asian staff. We managed to snag the last table before the dinner crowd tumbled in and a waiter promptly came by to ask about drinks.
At first glance, R & G’s leather-bound menu could fool you for a 12-page novelette, but a closer look reveals that it’s conveniently illustrated with delicious-looking pictures of signature dishes. Having previously tried the special beef and seafood lettuce cups, we decided to go for the hot and sour soup, geoduck sashimi and scallops with steak cubes (in addition to the infamous crab, of course). The waiter was nice enough to inform us that the geoduck was trading at $60 per person (yikes!), meriting an easy pass and, resulting in a more realistically sized order.
Everything was delicious! The watermelon juice was fresh and unwatered down and came in a giant ceramic glass along with a crazy straw (who doesn’t love crazy straws?), the soup was a delightful medley of tangy flavours and the crab a golden mass of crispy goodness. My favourite dish of the night, though, was easily the steak & scallops – a surprisingly delicate and ungreasy blend of melt-in-the-mouth juiciness. I couldn’t stop nibbling on these bite-sized morsels long after I was full. As a bonus, we were in and out of there in just under an hour with less than $100 of damage. Worthy of its 4 stars on Yelp? That and more…
“… I really wouldn’t mind the fly except that I’m a vegetarian”
It always amuses me when I’m out with new people and I order a vegetarian mains at dinner. Not because I’m laughing at myself or because I find vegetables funny, but because, by now, it’s become amusingly easy to anticipate the natural question that such a choice begets: “Oh, I didn’t realize you were a vegetarian?”.
I say question, and it usually is. Usually, it’s a well-intentioned expression of surprise and curiosity, a conversation-starter that, at the very least, justifies some more discussion of the topic and, with the right tone of voice, maybe even some sort of pseudo intellectual debate.
Unfortunately, I rarely get to go down that path because I am not, actually, vegetarian. I order the occasional vegetarian entree because I genuinely like vegetables. I know, I know, why go out to eat well..uh…a vegetable? Well, sometimes it’s because I’m not hungry enough for meat. Sometimes I want a change of pace with something light and refreshing. Or sometimes (and brace yourself, because this’ll sound crazy), sometimes I’ll see an exciting sounding vegetarian dish on the menu and I’ll just order it.
Jokes aside, all of these situations just make me realize how much it sucks to eat out as a vegetarian. I mean, where are we as a society when there are people who believe that the only reason someone might pay good money for a vegetarian meal is because they are bound by some sort of philosophical, religious or physiological constraint? Doesn’t that imply that we consider vegetarian food inferior – something eaten out of limitation rather than a choice? Applying this lens together with a “you are what you eat” philosophy quickly leads to an extremely negative viewpoint on vegetarianism in general.
Even if you can withstand the constant barrage of curious, well-intended questions, I cannot imagine that eating out as a vegetarian can be particularly exciting. While every restaurant menu usually has something veg-friendly on it, there’s little guarantee that their vegetable offering lives beyond the realm of cold salads and starchy carbs. Not exactly something I’d want to splurge on.
After reading Skinny Bitch (I’m not proud of the title either but its a great book) a few years ago, I became a vegan. The shocking statistics and scary research presented by the two authors was compelling enough to make me never want to go near meat or any kind of dairy product ever again. My resolve lasted about 5 weeks. And I might add that 3 of those weeks were spent in India – a country with possibly the most vegetarian-friendly cuisine in the world. As soon as I got back to England, my impractical New Year’s resolution started heading out the window.
So how do we make the world more vegetarian-friendly? I came across this fantastic blog recently, written by a vegetarian who also happens to be in the middle of food school. Check out her ideas.
Just to be clear though, I’m not advocating some sort of self-righteous vegan lifestyle at all. What I am advocating, is eating more vegetables.
I did some digging and there’s quite a bit of conflicting information as to what the “best” vegetables really are. So in lieu of that somewhat arbitrary title, here are five delicious and nutrient packed veggies I highly recommend tucking in to.
5. Asparagus
This almost leafless member of the lily family is rich in folic acid (vitamin B9), which has been shown to reduce levels of an inflammatory substance called homocysteine which, in turn, is linked with heart disease. One serving of asparagus (5 spears) provides over 60% of the recommended daily intake. Asparagus also contains vitamins A, B6, C, K, protein, some beta carotene, potassium, zinc and fiber. It has no fat, no cholesterol and is low in sodium. Asparagus may also improve the health of your digestive tract by sparking production of friendly flora (like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria).
Grilled, steamed or wrapped in bacon – asparagus is a firm favourite
4. Sweet Potatoes
A cup of baked sweet potatoes with skin is an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene as it contains 13107 IU of this powerful antioxidant. It is also a very good source of manganese and Vitamin C as well as Vitamin B6 and the minerals copper, fiber, potassium and iron. Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes are rich in anthocyanins and have the highest antioxidant activity among sweet potato varieties. These vegetable all-stars are not only delicious and versatile but weigh in at just 95 calories per serving.
Pretty much nothing comes close to sweet potato fries
3. Dark Leafy Greens
Dark green leafy vegetables are, calorie for calorie, perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide a variety of Phytochemicals including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats. Perhaps the star of these nutrients is Vitamin K. A cup of most cooked greens provides at least nine times the minimum recommended intake of Vitamin K, which is believed to help regulate blood clotting, protect against osteoporosis, reduce inflammation and prevent diabetes.
Kale, Collard Greens, Spinach, Swiss Chard and Dandelion
2. Carrots
Carrots are the richest vegetable source of pro-vitamin A carotenes, a phytonutrient which has shown to help protect vision and is associated with reduced risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers. This orange root crop is also a very good source of vitamins C and K, dietary fiber and potassium and a good source of B complex, manganese, molebdenum, phosphorus, magnesium and folate. Carrots are known to help protect eyes, skin, hair as well as boost energy. If, like me, you find eating carrots kind of boring, try mixing half and half carrot juice with OJ – it doesn’t get much better than this.
Bugs Bunny knew what he was doing
1. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of nature’s most nutrient dense foods. Even though beta carotene gets all the press as a health food, the most powerful cancer-kicking carotenoid is really lycopene. Lycopene delivers twice the antioxidant power of another top antioxidant, vitamin E. Yet, you’d have to eat a hundred times as many calories in vitamin E-containing foods to get the antioxidant power that’s in one tomato. Lycopene can help lower the risk of all cancers, particularly prostate cancer. The body absorbs more lycopene from tomatoes when they are cooked into sauces, pastes, and salsa or when eaten with olive oil. Additionally, tomatoes contain around 4,000 phytonutrients, 1/2 a gram of fiber, 25% of the RDA for vitamin A, a gram of protein, a bit of vitamin B6, riboflavin, niacin, almost half the RDA for vitamin C and even a pinch of minerals. All that for only 26 calories? Get going!
A Wandering Feast 
