san francisco

Outside Lands 2015

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Leave a comment

Outside Lands is a music, food, and arts festival, and it just so happens to be in my favorite city – San Francisco! I was lucky enough to be invited to the 3-day festival in San Francisco to cover the gourmet food and beverages offered at the event! Read on for my favorites!

For the past couple of years, Outside Lands has incorporated the most amazing ‘LANDS’ to the festival.

Wine Lands was filled with old friends and newcomers, but the payment method was much more smooth this year, since it was incorporated into everyone’s pre-registered wristbands. My favorites were from Hobo Wine Company, Ghost Pines, The Prisoner Wine Company, and Union Wine Co..

We happen to mosey through Beer Lands on National Beer Day and found some favorites: Ace Cider, Anchor Brewing, Golden Road, Sierra Nevada, and Stone Brewing Co..

As for the food, the selection was the best it has ever been! Here are some of my favorites:

Chimichurri Fries from 4505 Meats

Porchetta Taco from La Urbana

Chicken Arepa from Pica Pica

Fry Bread Taco from Precita Park Cafe

Poke Platter from Pacific Catch

THE BEST PORK BELLY BURGER EVER from Big Chef Tom’s Belly Burgers

Okonomiyaki Japanese Pizza from Namu Street Food

Are you drooling yet? Now, on to the music! The first day was filled with an eclectic mix of some new artists that I have been wanting to see live and old favorites, including Leon Bridges, The Drums, Glass Animals, Iration, George Ezra, Lake Street Drive, Chet Faker, and Mumford & Sons. The second day started out with a BANG with Misterwives, then Mac DeMarco, Cold War Kids, Milky Chance, Billy Idol, Tame Impala, and The Black Keys. I’m bummed that we didn’t try to venture from one stage to another to catch Kendrick Lamar’s set (which I heard was amazing!), but The Black Keys put on THE SICKEST SHOW. They made a fan out of me. The third day was definitely my favorite, and not just because it was my birthday! We started out the day with St. Paul and the Broken Bones, James Bay, Hot Chip, Slightly Stoopid, Axwell & Ingrosso, Sam Smith, and of course, SIR ELTON JOHN. He put on the most amazing 2 hour show, and I could not have asked for a better birthday!

The Spirit of Aloha at Liholiho Yacht Club

July 30, 2015July 27, 20151 Comment

I can’t contain my excitement! I will be at one of Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America in exactly one week! I have to confess; I have been to Liholiho Yacht Club before, but it was so good that I am going back. I’m not just going back, I’m going back to celebrate my birthday! It will take all of my will power to not get the exact same dishes because they were all SO. DAMN. DELICIOUS.

I truly cannot say enough great things about this restaurant. This beautiful creation is the brainchild of Chef Ravi Kapur (formerly of Boulevard and Prospect) and the powerhouses behind Nopa and Nopalito, Allyson Jossel and Jeff Hanak. Between Kapur’s passion and the Jossel/Hanak winning formula, Liholiho Yacht Club is nothing short of perfection. The space is bright and welcoming, the staff is top-notch (I can’t emphasize this enough), and the food is as if Kapur is sending out each dish especially for your table. From entrance to exit, you feel the personal connection that restaurants strive to convey to their patrons, and this is the only time I have experienced it to such a powerful degree.

First, we indulged in the Tuna Poke covered in sesame oil and radish on top of the crunchiest of nori crackers. We should’ve ordered two. This was the perfect start to the meal and some of the best poke I have ever had (and I’ve had a lot).

I am a sucker for curry. I am a sucker for clams. Obviously, I loved the Manila Clams doused in the most delicious coconut curry with snap peas, turmeric and served with a side of garlic naan. The spice and intensity of flavor packed into this bowl of curry was insane. It could’ve been a soup, all I needed was a spoon.

The Twice Cooked Pork Belly should’ve been called the extra crunchy, flavorful belly of pork. The crunch was so intense, it was difficult to cut with a knife. The pineapple, thai basil, and fennel provided complimentary flavors to the rich flavor and fat of the belly.

I saved the best for last. I mean, just look at this masterpiece. The Roasted Octopus was served with curried raisins, castelvetrano, butterball potatoes, and cilantro. The octopus was PERFECTLY cooked. If you know the detriments of even the slightest overcooked or undercooked octopus, you understand how important and refreshing it is to have such perfection be on a plate in front of you. If I could eat this dish for every single meal, I would. The raisins cut the richness of the octopus and provide a sweet after taste along with the savory and comfort of the potato bites it is served with. If you like octopus, you must order this dish. MUST.

Liholiho Yacht Club is truly deserving of the accolades it has received and I consider myself lucky to have experienced it not once, but soon twice. Follow me on Instagram, for more updates from my birthday meal next week.

For more information, visit http://liholihoyachtclub.com/

Getting Baked at Mr. Holmes Bakehouse

July 23, 2015Leave a comment

On my last trip to San Francisco, I had two places that I HAD TO GO TO: Liholiho Yacht Club (which is another amazing tale for another amazing day), and Mr. Holmes Bakehouse.

Luckily for me, we were staying right up the street from the bakery. Since I was by myself, I wanted to act like I knew what I was doing. I walked up and immediately got in the line that had formed up the street. Some people had stickers, some didn’t, but I didn’t want to ask questions. All of a sudden, there’s people walking right into the bakery and picking up the delicious goodies that I had been so patiently waiting for. Turns out, I was in the ‘Cruffin’ line (a cross between a muffin and croissant). This is a line that forms shortly after the bakery opens. You are limited to 2 per customer, hence the stickers. Everyone in line with a sticker was guaranteed a cruffin. If you didn’t have a sticker, depending on how many were purchased by each person in front of you, you might just get lucky. AND GET LUCKY I DID. I got the LAST CRUFFIN OF THE DAY. The flavor of the day happened to be White Chocolate Blueberry, and I was excited due to the hype surrounding it, but I’ll be honest, I was worried that it was going to be overrated. More on that later.

After getting my single cruffin, I walked in with a box ready to fill with even more goodies. They had scones, cookies, brioche donuts filled with yummy peanut butter cream, and more creative sweets! I couldn’t resist! I got way too many items, but it was well worth it! Everything from the scone to the simple chocolate chip cookie was to die for!

Back at the hotel, I finally got to indulge in the CRUFFIN. It is by far one of the most creative and delicious desserts I have ever had. The richness of the white chocolate flavor and freshness of the blueberry compote inside this oddly shaped, perfectly flaky and fluffy concoction, exceeded my expectations. Run, don’t walk, and get in the cruffin line right this moment!

For major bakery #foodporn and to see more of their creative offerings, follow them on Instagram.

I can’t wait to return on my next SF trip in just a couple of weeks!

For more information, visit http://www.mrholmesbakehouse.com/.

=RUMOR HAS IT: THEY ARE COMING TO L.A.=