Gastronomic (Mis)Adventures : Search results for san francisco

Fresh off the Press: Flavour, Restaurant Discovery App

Last Tuesday, I was invited to the San Francisco launch party at Cavalier's private room of a new restaurant discovery app called Flavour backed by the Scripps Networks and Aspect Ventures in conjunction with San Francisco Restaurant Week. I met some fellow food bloggers based in SF Bay Area and chatted with Flavour's CEO, Emily Keeton, as well as investors from Aspect Ventures. We discussed the reason behind the creation of the app and its differentiation among all other online restaurant-based apps.

Cavalier served its famous burger from sister restaurant Marlowe and a foie gras with gelee toast.

Intimate setting at a private room at the Cavalier, San Francisco

At first glance, I could tell that the Flavour team spent a good amount of time with the UI design, which is sleek, clean and fresh. It almost felt like I was on an e-commerce app for a luxury brand! I was greeted with a half piece of boiled egg topped with caviar on the San Francisco home page. Page after page, images of well curated fine dining dishes on a white platter popped out, making me hungrier. Good thing I had a Pimm's Cup on hand to keep my cravings to a minimum.

Based on preferences and location, I was given a list of recommended restaurants with reviews from a combination of food critics, top food bloggers, industry experts and knowledgeable locals. I can also create a collection of my favorite restaurants and easily share it within the app. The collection feature is really a great tool for me as a food blogger or any walking foodie encyclopedia since readers and friends randomly ask where they can take guests to eat in San Francisco. Although Flavour is currently integrated to Opentable for booking reservations and Foursqaure, Emily mentioned that they are looking to partner with other vendors and more restaurants. I do hope that besides online reservation systems, they also integrate with restaurant payment apps to provide a seamless dining experience end-to-end from restaurant discovery to actual completion of a meal.

#Getflavour and let me know what you think of the app!

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L-R: The San Francisco home page; Kusakabe's reservation page via Opentable

A Food Walking Tour of San Francisco's Chinatown and North Beach Neighborhoods

Step into the vibrant streets of San Francisco with me as we embark on a culinary adventure through Chinatown and North Beach. Our journey begins at Grant Place Restaurant, where the tantalizing scent of wontons fills the air, drawing us in with promises of savory delights. Watching the skilled chefs fold each delicate wrapper with precision, I can't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within me.

Welcome to San Francisco's Chinatown

Wonton making at Grant Place Restaurant

Leaving the bustle of Chinatown behind, we find ourselves enveloped in the tranquility of Vital Tea Leaf. As we sip on fragrant cups of tea, I'm transported to distant lands, enchanted by the stories behind each brew. The warmth of the tea soothes my soul, awakening my senses for the flavors that lie ahead.

Learning the art of tea making and drinking at Vital Tea Leaf

Our next stop takes us to Molinari, where the aromas of Italy beckon us closer. With each bite of artisanal sandwich, I'm transported to the streets of Rome, savoring the rich flavors of cured meats and fresh bread. It's a taste of Italy unlike any other, and I find myself falling in love with the culinary diversity of San Francisco all over again.

As we wander through the charming streets of North Beach, the scent of freshly baked focaccia leads us to Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe. Sitting down to enjoy a slice of savory goodness, I feel a sense of contentment wash over me. It's moments like these—shared with good food and even better company—that make life truly magical.

Our sweet indulgence awaits us at Z. Cioccolato, where the art of fudge making takes center stage. Watching the chocolatiers work their magic, I can't help but feel like a kid in a candy store. With each decadent bite of fudge, I'm reminded of the simple joys in life and the pleasure that comes from indulging in life's little luxuries.

Finally, we culminate our adventure with the delicate flavors of octopus carpaccio at Mona Lisa Mare E Monti. As I take the first bite, I'm struck by the perfect balance of flavors—the tender octopus, the zesty olive oil, the vibrant herbs. It's a culinary masterpiece that leaves me craving more, yet content in the knowledge that I've experienced something truly special.

Join this gastronomic journey through the heart of San Francisco, where every bite is a revelation and every sip is a celebration of life's simple pleasures. You'll uncover the flavors that define this vibrant city and create memories to last a lifetime. Come and join me on this unforgettable adventure, exclusively with Get Your Guide.

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FAQ: Where to Eat in San Francisco?

Progressive Indian Cuisine at Rooh, San Francisco

Tandoori Octopus with Brioche

Since its opening in 2017 in San Francisco, Rooh has been integrating Indian cooking techniques with a progressive, contemporary style using Californian produce. During this challenging time, Rooh has expanded its outdoor seating capacity with each table nearby a patio heater to provide warmth to diners during those chilly San Francisco evenings. It has also recently re-opened its indoor seating with limited capacity.

My sister, pastry chef Eloise Lim, and I were welcomed by Chef de Cuisine, Pujan Sarkar. After a friendly chat with the chef and our server on what we'd like to drink and our food preferences, we were in for a delightful dining experience.

A Colorful Feast

Not only does the use of edible flowers, saffron, pickled radish and vegetables, and microgreens gives a good first impression, but also the use of different spices and fresh ingredients certainly elevate the flavors on all their dishes from start to finish.

Up first is the dahi puri, a melt-in-your-mouth amuse-bouche that is sprinkled with bright, raspberry powder. Made with semolina flour, the surprisingly flavorful chutney inside provides a burst-in-your-mouth moment while the light sweetness of the creamy yogurt left a sweet note to open up our palate.

Dahi Puri

What we didn't expect next was the generous amount of truffle shavings and butter powder on the stuffed bread with green peas and goat cheese called kulcha. The various ingredients can get overwhelming at first, but this kulcha, which is full of savory flavors, is one of the best breads I've ever had. The good thing is that it came in a mini pancake size, so that I could still devour the remaining dishes.

Kulcha Stuffed Bread

Then, we're off to the Mexican-inspired masala jackfruit taco with slices of mango. The pieces of avocado (not seen in the picture below) goes very well with the seasoned jackfruit.

Jackfruit Taco

I can never leave an Indian restaurant if I don't get my hands on deep-fried cauliflower. Having experimented on my own recipe at home in an air fryer, I know that getting the cauliflower floret to its crispy state is a challenge for a novice cook. I'm very glad to discover that Rooh offers the cauliflower koliwada, which is battered cauliflower florets fried to crispy perfection served with tamarind sauce and peanut chutney.

Cauliflower Koliwada

From the popular crispy cauliflower to the uncommon octopus at Indian restaurants, the tandoori octopus at Rooh is a sure-fire hit for seafood lovers. Plated on bright yellow malai coconut curry, the pieces of octopus, which were as tender as eating fish balls, brought a big smile to our faces (and our bellies). It also came with brioche bread with two types of sauce: garlic tomato with heirloom tomatoes and artichoke, another ingredient uncommon to Indian cuisine.

Tandoori Octopus

As the sun started to set, the wait staff was gracious enough to turn on the patio heater right beside our table. We continued our food journey with more vegetarian dishes, such as the vegetable and fava dumpling on spinach gravy, and the paneer pinwheel in red pepper makhani, which means 'butter'. Both of which are paired with garlic naan and rice.

The use of a little bit of saffron can go a long way and is evident on the paneer and rice. The basmati rice with saffron has a subtle yet distinct flavor and aroma. I was tempted to eat the entire bowl of rice but had to stop myself knowing that dessert is around the corner.

Vegetable and Fava Dumplings, Paneer Pinwheel with Saffron Rice and Garlic Naan

Simplicity at its Best
Our experience at Rooh ended with two simple desserts yet at a very high note. Rooh's pastry chef carefully explained to us how the decadent chocolate dessert topped with mawa burfi butter biscuit took 9 hours to make. While the other dessert, rasmalai with mango peach granitas and milk ice cream, may not be the most Instagram-worthy shot of them all, this simple-plated dessert is actually a favorite of the table with its different textures in play-- crunchy granitas, smooth milk ice cream, and the chewy curd-like rasmalai.

Chocolate Dessert

Rasmalai Dessert (Left)

Art in Cocktails
Rooh's artistic craft also permeates in their cocktail program inspired by the six Ayurvedic rasas, which means 'taste'. Utilizing a blend of Indian ingredients, spices, fresh shrubs made in-house, and artisanal spirits, the results are unique cocktails that tickle the sweet, salty, bitter tastes, and anything in between. The strawberry chai negroni tasted as sexy as it looks, while the bartender surprised me with a gin-based cocktail with pomegranate, egg whites, and mint powder that added a refreshing kick to every sip. We also had a sneak peek of their carrot tarragon cocktail that can easily be mistaken for a glass of fresh carrot juice.

Strawberry Chai Negroni and a Gin-based Cocktail

Carrot Tarragon Cocktail

The ever-changing dinner and cocktail menu makes every visit at Rooh fresh and exciting. Between October 23rd and November 1st, Rooh's locations in San Francisco and Palo Alto, which opened earlier this year with live-fire cooking, are participating in San Francisco Restaurant Week, a 10-day celebration of world-class dining, culture, and community in the SF Bay Area.

Disclaimer: We were provided a complimentary dining experience in exchange for an honest review.

On the Move @ Sweet Maple, San Francisco

Best Brunches in San Francisco

Updated March 17, 2016

Last year, I published my post on Where to Eat in San Francisco. Many moons later, it is time for another update on the Best Brunches in San Francisco. I try to stay away from the typical scramble eggs and pancakes because honestly I think brunches should be meant for more innovative dishes, which is the main reason why these three restaurants top my list.

1. Central Kitchen, Mission: Where can you get crispy duck with poached eggs and polenta for breakfast with organic veggies? Here only at Central Kitchen. I was apprehensive at first on the polenta, which is usually bland, but the saltiness of the duck and the sweetness of the carrots gave the dish an overall balanced flavor. Cowgirl Creamery's Redhawk cheese also took the spotlight on the cheese plate trio with lavosh. I would definitely be back here to try the marinated squid and smoked salmon.

Located off the main drag of the Mission neighborhood which means that parking is not a big pain, this Kitchen has an outdoor patio perfect for bubbly mimosas as well as indoor seating for windier days.

Scrambled eggs with pea and green olive toast for my vegan friend. Very unique twist to a bruschetta.

Poached eggs, polenta, duck, carrots and maitake for the win!

Cheese plate with fennel preserve to start our meal.

2. Park Tavern, North Beach: Forget about the more than an hour line across the street at the iconic Mama's. Head to the former Moose's space now called as Park Tavern.

I was actually surprised with the diverse selection for brunch. Although I was a little bit disappointed that their deviled eggs for brunch is actually different from their famous deviled eggs served for dinner, the out-of-the-ordinary grapefruit brulee exemplifies why Park Tavern is a must for brunch. The fiery avocado toast also came in close to second.

Sliced grapefruit bruleed to perfection. A good palette cleanser.

Interiors of Park Tavern

There was a long line at Mama's outside. Mehh..

The avocado with sea salt, chile and lemon toast would have been another clear winner but the lackluster wheat bread was a turn-off. Was the bread store bought?

Open faced deviled eggs. A bit disappointing that it had more chicken breast than actual eggs to the mixture.

A picture within the picture.

Can't get enough of this bruleed grapefruit. Must try this at home.

This is how food bloggers work early in the morning with sssourabh.

3. Nopa, Alamo Square: A bit off the beaten track, Nopa still remains as one of the formidable brunch spots in San Francisco due to its high quality ingredients. Also not to be miss is their hot chocolate made in-house. Find out more about it here.

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Fresh, gooey french toast

4. Mission Beach Cafe

My Last Course in San Francisco

Best Brunches Outside of San Francisco

Let's face it. Waiting to brunch in San Francisco amidst long lines and the usual chilly weather sometimes doesn't end well.

Fret no more. Hop in a car and drive away from the hustle and bustle of the city to get high quality, home-made brunch. For many spots, you can even sit outside under the warm sun without freezing.

Top 4: Alana's Cafe, Redwood City

Alana's Cafe in downtown Redwood City is a different experience in itself. The lush garden patio and bright yellow house remind me of New Orleans for some reason. Children frolic in the garden, while the adults sip their fresh lemonade and slowly finish their huevos rancheros. The waitstaff checks up on you from time to time but never rushes you to pick up the tab and leave.

Top 3: Johnston's Saltbox, San Carlos
In a town where most city folks would just pass by driving south to the more popular Palo Alto, Johnston's Saltbox surprisingly has an urban vibe in a low key neighborhood. You can't go wrong with their fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw.

Top 2: Brown Sugar Kitchen, Oakland

Brown Sugar Kitchen is not located in the best hood ever, but you park at their lot and walk in to the restaurant to eagerly await for your chicken and waffles. Don't expect to roam around the block while waiting. You might even have to wait an hour or so, but the price and quality of the food are worth it. Trust me on this.

Even this little boy agrees with me.

Top 1: The Naked Pig, Santa Rosa

And my top brunch choice goes to The Naked Pig. You're probably asking, "Where is Santa Rosa?" I, for sure, didn't know until my friend recommended that we stop here on our way back to San Francisco from Windsor.

The Naked Pig, situated in what appears to be a gas station, is a local gem serving farm-to-table food and has suddenly knocked down Brown Sugar Kitchen for the best waffles ever according to yours truly, a certified waffle snob. The melt-in-your mouth whiskey caramel wafflelette is a home run! And our group of 5 had to get another serving of it. Their frittata, open faced mushroom sandwich, tostadas and eggs all scored well above my expectation. You now know where I will be spending my brunch weekends at. In Santa Rosa.