A Date With Flavor » Ali

Marianberry Confections

Ali — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:19:06 +0000

Check out my latest project, Marianberry Confections!

www.marianberry.com

www.facebook.com/marianberryconfections

www.twitter.com/marianberryLLC

www.marianberryconfections.tumblr.com

Coming soon: Marianberry Confections

Ali — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:53:14 +0000

Morimoto Soba Ale: Beer vs. Cheese

Ali — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:40:00 +0000

Rogue started with Morimoto’s Soba Ale and with the popularity and demand they created an amazing cheddar with it. The soba ale is to die for. It is so light and creamy with an intriguing flavor of roasted soba that keeps you drinking. Pairing the ale with the cheddar is an obvious match. The cheedar helps the ale pop and the ale calms the down the cheese.

At first Rogue beers were hard to come across, now the 22oz bottles are in every liquor store around. What makes Rogue Ales different from the rest of the Northwest craft brewers is their wine-like approach with their recommended food pairings, tasting notes and homegrown ingredients. Crazy flavor combinations like the Chipotle and Juniper Berry Ales put Rogue on a whole other level.

If you are in Central Point, Oregon, definitely stop in at the creamery to try as many cheeses as you can and have an unlimited selection of their infamous ales.

Rogue Creamery Rogue Public House & Brewery

311 North Front Street                                    673 Union Street
Central Point, OR 97502                                San Francisco, CA 94133
(541) 665-1155                                                  (415) 362-7880

Nopalito

Ali — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:57:58 +0000

Nopalito is one of our favorite lunch spots in the city. We tend to order the same thing every time we go, but sometimes we’ll try a new item. We always order the Torta de Chorizo Verde, no matter what. The sandwich comes on the most perfect, fresh baked bun with green chorizo, crema, cabbage, onions, queso fresco and guacamole with a few homemade potato chips on the side. When the citrus is fresh, the Naranjas y Cebollas con Chile, Limon y Queso is killer. Blood oranges, grapefruit, oranges, queso fresco, pickled onions and cilantro all on one plate! The gordita is a nice starter although a pain in the ass to share. My date also loves the Carnitas but I’m always for the Chorizo.

The staff is always attentive and wearing different shades of green. They have a nice variety of non-alcoholic drinks, like their iced tea and simple syrup or their meyer lemonade. There are a few wine options, but I’ve always stuck with cervesa here. One of the biggest perks, our pups are allowed inside the patio! Nopalito has great vibes and great food. GO.

306 Broderick Street
San Francisco, CA
415-437-0303

San Francisco Fancy Food Show 2010

Ali — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:44:44 +0000

Twice a year, NASFT puts on the legendary Fancy Food Show. Winter in San Francisco and summer in Manhattan. Over 20,000 foodies of all kinds attend to sample and experience the newest innovations in the food scene. Props to San Francisco for improving the beer selection this year, sponsored by Duvel Green. Dogfish Head and Ommegang had the longest lines and best brews. My top three being Dogfish Head’s Festina Peche and Palo Santo Marron and Ommegang’s Rare VOS. The cheese and chocolates never fall short at the shows. They had established creameries exhibit their latest creations, like Rogue Creamery’s line of blues and Cypress Grove’s infamous Midnight Moon. It’s hard not to jump into the array of specialty meats and charcuterie by Creminelli, Snake River Farms, Hudson Valley Foie Gras and Alexian.

Cypress Grove, Barely Buzzed, Rogue's Brutal Blue, Parmigiano Reggiano

Snake River Farms Kurizo, Wild Boar Salumi, Alexian Pate, Hudson Valley Foie Gras

These are a few that made it to the top of our list. First off, Kari’s Malva pudding was to die for. Go to your nearest Andronico’s or Whole Foods if you’re in the Bay Area, and if you’re not, go here to buy one! John Kelly Chocolates was another booth we could not resist. John and Kelly were both there, reassuring us that John Kelly was not one person! They urged us to try the brand new Walnut Caramel Cluster with Mediterranean Sea Salt. Yum. Then, there was Norman Love, all the way from Florida displaying his genius flavor combinations of chocolate and passion fruit and peanut butter and jelly. Over at Sugar Bowl Bakery was a family affair, literally the whole Ly family was there greeting consumers. If their success story doesn’t touch you, their petite brownies, palmiers and madeleines surely will.