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Happy Saison-iversary!

March 24, 2020 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Just wanted to wish my friends @pickydiner @wdwphoto a Happy Saison-iversary! It was two years ago today on March 28, 2018 that we dined at Saison in San Francisco. A dining experience worth traveling for!

Here is a throwback to their signature dish: sea urchin on liquid toast made from toasted Tartine Bakery sourdough bread that was soaked with a juice made with stock, seaweed, brown butter and lemon.

A few days ago I found the menu we received as a souvenir which still has the seal on it. Hope to see you guys soon for another dining adventure somewhere in the world!

Full recap of our dining experience at Saison:

What It's Like to Dine at Michelin 3-Star Saison in San Francisco

What It's Like to Dine at Michelin 3-Star Saison in San Francisco

December 30, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Well, here it is…I’m presenting to you my favourite meal of the decade! Dinner at Saison in San Francisco (2018 Michelin 3-Star and #37 on the 2018 World’s 50 Best Restaurants) takes this special place in my heart and belly). The uniqueness of the dishes, service, atmosphere and overall dining experience made it worth traveling for.

How Did We Decide on Saison?

So how is it that I came to dine at Saison? Well, a few years back, David (pickydiners.com) and I were fans of the 2014 documentary, Foodies, which followed a group of food bloggers on their mission to eat at the best restaurants on Earth.

We decided to go on a little foodie journey of our own to San Francisco – one of the fine dining capitals of the world – and experience dinner at one of the world’s best restaurants, Saison.

Of course, when you want to travel food especially at a Michelin Star restaurant, it usually takes some advance planning.

Reserve Ahead of Time

We made a reservation two months in advance where we had to pre-pay a deposit. The price for dinner was $298 USD per person. Then, on March 24, 2018, we arrived at Saison for a dinner experience of a lifetime.

Background

Established in 2009 by Joshua Skenes, Saison is a modern American restaurant with cuisine that is focused around wood fire cooking of seasonal ingredients. They work directly with fisherman, hunters, gatherers, ranchers, and farmers for ingredients.

Inside Saison

The restaurant is located within a warehouse with tinted windows from the outside but the inside has a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The hunter-gatherer and rustic-inspired menu also set the tone of the decor which featured some taxidermy of animals which would be part of the menu.

The Kitchen

We had front row seats to the kitchen which you can specifically ask for when you make your reservation.

What We Ate and Drank

Joining me and David on this dining experience was our friend, San Francisco-based photographer, William (@wdwphoto). We had to celebrate the occasion of course with a bottle of Larmandier–Bernier Terre de Vertus.

I also opted for some tea which came in the utmost, cutest modern tea cup.

First Course

Our first course was served without utensils as we were expected to eat with our hands. A warm towel was provided.

This course included a sliced lobster tail, charred pineapple, remaining meat placed into a claw shell, greens and flowers and lime.

If you’re familiar with Chinese lettuce wraps, then this was a similar concept. We essentially created DIY wraps with all seafood and ingredients.

Second Course

Next up was the signature Saison dish: a delicate mound of plump sea urchin (uni) on liquid toast made from toasted Tartine Bakery sourdough bread that was soaked with a juice made with stock, seaweed, brown butter and lemon. Lots of umami greatness with some caramelized sweetness!

Third Course

Third course was a black cod with the most perfect fried skin and buttery flesh.

Fourth Course

The fourth course was a wildflower honey glazed half quail served alone on a plate.

Fifth Course

For the fifth course, we were presented with a selection of hunting knives which would serve as our steak knife.

The dish was plated at table-side and featured a roasted antelope with grilled radicchio and topped with sweet ver jus.

Accompanying the dish were Southern-style country biscuits dusted with chilli and house-made honey butter.

This was followed up by broth made from the antelope bones and topped with a sage leaf.

Perhaps we were taking too long for our dinner (possibly due to photo taking), but the staff gracefully moved us to the bar for the desserts.

We were also presented with lots of complimentary alcohol (likely valued at around $200 USD we guessed).

Sixth Course

For dessert, there was a smoked caramel sundae with cacao chips on top.

Seventh Course

Last but not least, the most refreshing and delicious dessert to finish off a fantastic meal. House-made sorbet served in a hollowed orange and accompanied by hand-picked strawberries. This was heaven.

Service

We had one main associate but also different servers throughout the dinner. The servers, which seemed to be mostly men (!), were courteous, soft-spoken, knowledgeable and friendly. They were all wearing suits.

Behind the Scenes Tour

At the end of the dinner, Chef gave us a behind the scenes tour of the Saison kitchen and storage.

Was it worth it?

Yes! At $298 USD it was certainly my most expensive meal to date but a memorable and delicious experience. While Saison has been demoted to 2 Michelin stars and had dropped out of World’s 50 Best Restaurant List (but remains in the Top 100) for 2019, it is still obviously a top-notch dining experience worth every penny.

Oh and here is the infamous photo of the bill which got a lot of reaction when I posted it to my Instagram stories. This is a bill for three people./

Looking forward to more Michelin dining in 2020! Stay tuned 🙂

Saison
178 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA
www.saisonsf.com/

National Crunchy Taco Day 2019: March 21, 2019

March 21, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

It’s #NationalCrunchyTacoDay! Throwback to these delicious Latin and Asian fusion tacos at Dos Chinos in Santa Ana, California. These are the most creative, interesting and tasty crunchy tacos that I have ever had. A must-try when visiting the OC.

Hollywood Chicken: Thai coconut curry chicken, red cabbage, crispy yams, & tamarind sauce, sour cream, onions & cilantro
Dos Chinos Asada: Vietnamese chimichurri angus beef, avocream, onions & cilantro
Bolsa Roasted Pork: Vietnamese roasted pork belly, red cabbage, pickled carrot and daikon, avo cream, onions & cilantro
Irvine Shrimp: Fried shrimp, dulche de leche, chili & lime, roasted walnuts, red cabbage, onions & cilantro

Do you prefer a soft or hard taco shell? Let me know in the comments below.

Orange County Restaurant Week 2019 Returns March 3 – 9, 2019

February 28, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

The 2019 Orange County Restaurant Week makes its return Sunday, March 3 through Saturday, March 9 with more than 150 restaurants participating in the weeklong event. Restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus within the following price categories: lunch for $10, $15 or $20, and dinner for $20, $30, $40 or $50. Participants involved are listed online at www.OCRestaurantWeek.com.

With the number of participating restaurants, there’s something for everyone from casual and family-friendly establishments, to upscale and fine dining. The restaurants will be offering a special three-course menu, many with a cocktail or signature item at no additional charge.

This year, the Cocktails of Restaurant Week will be highlighted to complete dining experiences. Many participating restaurants will be showcasing a special OC Restaurant Week cocktail for $11 (in honor of 11 years of OC Restaurant Week), featuring Chambord, Ketel One, Maker’s Mark and Hornitos.

Take a look at the varied options being offered this year:

Breakfast-For-Dinner Option: http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/breakfast-for-dinner.html

Cocktails of Restaurant Week: http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/cocktails-of-restaurant-week.html

Family Friendly Dining:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/family-friendly.html

Vegetarian Dining:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/vegetarian-dining.html

Date Night:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/date-night.html

Gluten-Free Dining:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/gluten-free.html

Girls Night Out:
http://www.ocrestaurantweek.com/girls-night-out-.html

California Restaurant Month: Newport Beach Restaurant Week 2019

January 13, 2019 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

January is California’s Restaurant Month, a celebration of American farm-to-table cuisine, and Newport Beach shares its region’s top highlights. Newport Beach Restaurant Week returns for its 13th year from January 14-27 for two weeks filled with the best cuisine!

This 14-day dining event showcases Newport Beach as Orange County’s premier dining destination, offering a wide variety of culinary experiences. Participating restaurants offer special prix-fixe menus with lunches available for just $10 – $25, and dinners for $20 – $50.

Top restaurants participating in this year’s acclaimed event include local favourites like Moulin, Olea, Farmhouse, Nobu, and more. Read more about these palate pleasers below!

Moulin

Committed to delivering an authentic French experience, Moulin is filled with the smell of fresh-baked pastries, the taste of rich wine, and the sound of people speaking French throughout the bistro.

This celebrated restaurant, owned by French chef Laurent Vrignaud, has two locations in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, with a third location slated to open in 2019 in San Clemente. The innovative Chef Vrignaud also plans to open an antique store adjacent to the Newport restaurant.

Olea

Newly opened in 2018 and the talk of the town in Newport Beach, this restaurant continues to receive only rave reviews from locals.

Named for a genus of trees that flourish in tropical regions, Olea offers a European twist on Napa-inspired spirits and cuisine, with dishes like crispy Jidori chicken schnitzel with wild mushrooms. Restauranteur Russ Bendel has plans to expand his collection of restaurants in 2019.

Farmhouse

Farm to fork comes to life in this iconic Newport Beach setting at Roger’s Gardens. The gorgeous, scenic background is paired with incredible cuisine, like the grilled Dijon soy glazed pork tenderloin and the house cured salmon with grilled pumpernickel bread.

Chef and owner Rich Mead has been developing relationships for more than 20 years with local farmers markets to source the freshest ingredients.

Beachcomber

After nearly two decades, Crystal Cove renovations are set to begin again this month, restoring the historic Crystal Cove State Park cottages where the Beachcomber Café is located.

This quaint, beachy space boasts oceanside views and a perfect outdoor space, accompanied by delectable dishes like blue crab stuffed salmon and handcrafted cocktails like the “luscious lemonade.”

Nobu

This famous global sushi bar opened its Newport Beach location in 2017 under the direction of Executive Chef Frank Gorriceta, who spent 14 years cooking under the guidance of famed chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa and has since been at Nobu for 11 years.

With items like squid pasta and prime filet with pomegranate teriyaki on the menu, it’s no wonder why this chain is so popular.

Taco Rose

The talented chefs at Taco Rosa use natural ingredients, spices, and flavours passed down through generations to create delicious dishes. Fused with contemporary techniques and innovations, these foods come from a variety of regions throughout Mexico.

All of the menu items are prepared using non-GMO corn, responsibly sourced seafood, greens from local organic farmers, and humanely-raised meats.

Other 2019 Newport Beach foodie events:

August 17-18 2019: Pacific Wine & Food Classic offering guests the chance to taste vibrant summer-inspired cuisine and cocktails from the best local chefs.
August 2019: 11^th annual Lobsterfest where diners can fill up on food and fun while also raising funds for charity.
October 2019: Newport Beach Wine & Food is one of the most exclusive epicurean events featuring dinners with celebrity chefs and tastings from 40 top restaurants.

Orange County Soft Serve: Mr Matcha

September 28, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

During a Southern California trip with my family this past summer, I visited Mr Matcha, a local dessert shop known for serving organic matcha soft serve. They have three locations in SoCal (Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Alhambra). I went to the one in Santa Ana, Orange County on the way back to Los Angeles from San Diego.

Mr. Matcha Menu

Mr Matcha is best known for their soft serve in matcha or black sesame flavours. They also serve a sundae and a variety of hot and cold drinks (teas, lattes). Aside from matcha, they also have drinks in houjicha (roasted tea) and black tea flavours.

Interior

The interior of Mr Matcha was minimal with the ordering counter/preparation area occupying most of the space. There is a counter by the window with some stools but no dining tables inside.

There is a cute neon sign that says, “We’re a matcha made in heaven.” Mr Matcha has more of a SoCal vibe rather than traditional Japanese.

What I Tried

I went with the Matcha Soft Serve ($5) in a black charcoal cone. The photo I have below does not do justice to the perfect swirl I actually received. Unfortunately, I collided with another girl who was trying to take an Instagram-worthy photo and that is why the tip of the cone is deformed in my photo!

I thought the matcha flavour was excellent and it seemed of a high quality grade. There was a nice, slight bitter aftertaste which balanced with the sweetness of the soft serve. The waffle cone was very sturdy and held the soft serve well (ie, no leakage).

My husband was surprised, like other people who have commented the same thing on Yelp, that the soft serve was hollow through the middle. I thought it was acceptable because you can’t get that pretty swirl if you try to fill it in!

Overall Impression of Mr Matcha

I thought the Matcha soft serve cone was pretty good at Mr Matcha and would recommend it. Next time, I’ll have to be more careful around other people who are also trying to take that perfect Instagram photo! Rating: 4/5

Mr Matcha
Address: 305-105 E 4th Street, Santa Ana, CA
Website: www.gomrmatcha.com

How to Have a Beercation in San Diego

September 26, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Did you know that San Diego is the Craft Beer Capital of America? From the most discerning aficionados to craft beer newbies, San Diego is home to 150+ breweries, countless beer bars, innovative tasting rooms and a unique beer culture. Here are some ideas on how to have a beercation in San Diego.

How to Have a Beercation in San Diego: Breweries, Tours and Events

Credit: Visit California

San Diego Beer Week

San Diego welcomes visitors to raise a pint and toast the milestone 10th anniversary of San Diego Beer Week, November 2-11, 2018. Presented by the San Diego Brewers Guild, this premier, annual celebration showcases beers from more than 130 local craft breweries at events held throughout San Diego County at participating breweries, bars, restaurants and more. One of the country’s biggest beer weeks, San Diego Beer Week is expanding Beer Week 2018 by welcoming breweries from neighboring Tijuana and Baja, Mexico, paying homage to the Cali-Baja culture that makes San Diego a unique destination.

Credit: San Diego Beer Week

Stay & Drink

Navigating the region’s 150+ breweries requires a good night’s sleep. Fortunately, many of San Diego’s luxury hotels serve up both comfy rooms and tasty brews.

Located in the heart of downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter, the historic landmark U.S. GRANT Hotel presents Cask Ale Nights every Friday at 4 p.m. when Cicerone Jeff Josenhans and Chef de Bar Cory Alberto partner with a local brewery to curate a deliciously unique brew of the week finished in The U.S. GRANT cask. Past collaborations have included Mission Brewery Kolsch infused with Douglas fir and Saaz hops, Iron Fist Brewing Spice of Life Bier de Garde with autumn spice and Acoustic Ales Groupie Belgian Ale with chocolate fudge.

Credit: US Grant Hotel

The bayfront Grand Hyatt taps into San Diego’s craft scene with the launch of Brew30 , a modern craft beer gastropub showcasing the city’s finest breweries, from its taps to elevated bar fare. True to its name, Brew30 features 30 rotating taps, 28 of which are dedicated to local craft breweries. Food inspired by local brews includes pretzel bites with Stone West Coast IPA cheese dip and Texas smoked brisket with Julian Hard Cider BBQ sauce. Brew30 also partners with local breweries to create exclusive, limited-edition ales like Oceans30 IPA, a mild hop-forward IPA with tropical fruit, citrus, spice and pine flavor, created in collaboration with Mother Earth Brewery.

Credit: Grand Hyatt

Guests of the stylish Pendry San Diego can go on a San Diego craft brewery tour from their bar stool at Nason’s Beer Hall. Nason’s serves two dozen local craft beers on tap, as well as globally-inspired comfort food, live local music on Thursdays and Fridays and vintage bar games like beer pong, giant Jenga and table shuffleboard. For beer connoisseurs traveling with their furry four-legged friends, Nason’s hosts a daily Pints with Pups on the patio where guests can fetch a beer plus dog treats for Fido.

Pendry San Diego

Get informed with a Beer App

Pouring over San Diego’s craft beer scene can seem a little overwhelming, but thanks to the San Diego Brewers Guild’s official new “SD Beer” mobile app (available for iOS and Android), all the info visitors need is just a tap and a swipe away. The definitive digital pocket guide features an easy-to-use interactive map of breweries, list of events and profiles of all Brewers Guild brewery and allied retail members.

Credit: SanDiego.org

Discover BEERology

Discover how agriculture, cities, writing and religion all have ties to ancient craft brewing at the fascinating BEERology exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park. Sponsored by several San Diego breweries, the exhibit explores ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Chinese, and even beer-loving headhunters from the Amazon that perfected the brewing arts in interesting, and even strange, ways. Visitors can learn fascinating stories and see phenomenal artifacts that reveal the links between beer and culture, such as the solid gold beer cup of an Inca king.

Credit: San Diego Museum of Man

Go on a Tour

Explore the sudsier side of San Diego on customized private or public tours, featuring a driver and tour guide that picks up guests at their hotels. A fun and safe way to visit San Diego’s breweries, companies like Brew Hop, Brewery Tours of San Diego and San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour do all the driving while visitors partake in all the beer tasting.

Notable tours include Brew Hop’s chauffeured luxury transportation and San Diego’s only Sailing and Brewery Tasting Tour; Brewery Tours of San Diego’s food pairings and souvenir glasses, and San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour’s popular Beer Train Trolley Tour.

Credit: San Diego Beer and Wine Tours

A few handy brewery tour tips: Stay hydrated. It’s recommended to drink at least 16 oz. of water at each stop. And don’t rush. Time and hydration are the two best defenses against overindulgence. For those who opt to go on self-guided tours, brewery hopping is safe, easy and convenient with taxis or Uber and Lyft ridesharing; drivers are available day and night throughout San Diego County.

Relaxation with Beer

Visitors can tap into spiritual well-being and inner peace at San Diego breweries with Hoppy Yoga, offering yoga sessions for all levels at a featured brewery followed by an optional beer social. The cost is $20 per person and includes a tasting flight or pint. Money saving packages are available, including the 2-pack ($35) and 6-pack ($90).

Credit: Hoppy Yoga

Every Friday night (7:30-10 p.m.), Flagship Cruises hosts a Hops on the Harbor craft beer dinner cruise featuring a different San Diego brewery each month. Chef Brian Gist collaborates with local brewers to create an exciting dinner menu that pairs perfectly with the distinctive flavors of each brewer’s beer selections. Cruise highlights include craft beer flights by the featured brewery, gourmet food stations, meet and greet with brewers, dancing, prize giveaways and spectacular panoramic views of San Diego Bay.

Credit: Flagship Cruises

How to Book & Save with Expedia Add-on Advantage

August 1, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

Thank you Expedia for sponsoring this post. Book your travel on Expedia.ca to save with the Add-On Advantage!

Hey everyone! I’m back from my summer trip to Los Angeles and San Diego in partnership with Expedia.ca and I’m excited to share with you some travel planning tips and tricks. Have you heard of the Expedia Add-On Advantage program? It’s a way to book with ease, flexibility and savings. You can get discounted hotel rates when you add on to your existing trip and it’s exclusively for Expedia travelers. For this trip, I used the Expedia Add-on Advantage to score great savings on hotels. Read on to find out how I did it.

HOW EXPEDIA ADD-ON ADVANTAGE WORKS

Begin by shopping for your flight, car or package on Expedia.ca.
Hotel savings (of up to 50% on Expedia.ca) on select properties are instantly unlocked up until the start of your trip.
The hotel stay needs to occur within the travel dates of the flight, car or package purchase.
The hotel stay does not have to be in the same destination as the flight, car or package purchase – i.e. If a traveler books a return flight to London for three weeks, he or she can book a Paris hotel deal for that trip using the Expedia Add-On Advantage.
When you’re ready to shop, look for hotels with the Add-On badge. The discount will already be reflected in the lower price. Simply book and save.

My experience with Expedia Add-on Advantage

After booking my flight from Vancouver to Los Angeles on Expedia.ca, I didn’t book my hotel accommodations right away. This was great because Expedia Add-On Advantage lets you take the time you need to research the perfect hotel at the perfect price. However, the hotel booking needs to be made before the start of the trip because that is when the unlocked hotel discounts expire.

Just a few days before the trip, I searched for hotels in Los Angeles and San Diego and the ones that were part of the Expedia Add-on Advantage were identified with the Add-on Badge (highlighted in yellow).

With the Add-on Advantage, I received a 6% discount on our stay at America’s Best Value Inn & Suites.

For Chula Vista Inn, the discount was already reflected in the lower price.

Some highlights of the trip including trying these vegan, 3D popsicles in Santa Monica.

Visiting Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, 90210 and doing some window shopping.

Visiting LEGOLAND and embarking on a real submarine at Deep Sea Adventure.

Strolling through Balboa Park in San Diego in the evening.

It was wonderful to have incurred savings on hotel stays through the Expedia.ca Add-on Advantage. To find out more, visit Expedia.ca.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Pretty Woman Filming Locations on Rodeo Drive

July 29, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

One of my favourite Hollywood on-screen couples is Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. So when I visited Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills last week, I made it a point to visit some of the filming locations for Pretty Woman.

Regent Beverly Wilshire

The Regent Beverly Wilshire at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard (Wilshire and Rodeo Drive) is the luxurious hotel where Edward and Vivian stayed. The exterior and the lobby of the hotel were featured in the movie but the rooms were a set built at the Disney Studio in Burbank.

9500 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills
CA 90212

Giorgio Beverly Hills

Giorgio Beverly Hills at 273 Rodeo Drive is the first luxury boutique to be founded on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It is also where Vivian was able to get that stunning red cocktail dress for dinner. The Giorgio Beverly Hills brand was sold to Avon in the 80s and the store’s name was changed to Fred Hayman Beverly Hills. 273 Rodeo Drive is now a branch of Louis Vuitton, but Fred Hayman Beverly Hills has a smaller boutique nearby.

273 North Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills
CA 90210

Donald Trump Walk of Fame Star Vandalized

July 29, 2018 by foodgressing Leave a Comment

During my trip to Los Angeles last week, I revisited Hollywood Boulevard and took a stroll along Hollywood Walk of Fame. Just outside Hollywood and Highland Center at 6803 Hollywood Boulevard was Donald’s Trump Hollywood Walk of Fame star which he received in 2007 for his reality TV series, NBC’s The Apprentice. The star has been noted to have received negative attention since Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. As I passed by the star, I witnessed first hand the negative attention the star received as a man aggressively scuffed his shoes against the star. Here’s a photo of it as the man stood to analyze the amount of damage he did. Trump’s star certainly looked like the most damaged star along Hollywood Boulevard.

I’m putting up this post as I find it interesting (though not surprising) that a few days after I took this photo someone had taken a pickax and smashed Trump’s Walk of Fame star. Check out this video from TMZ which shows the man going to town on it. According to TMZ, no one tried to stop the man (who would approach a man swinging a pickax?) and the man later surrendered.

Some have reported this to be “copycat” attack because the star was previously damaged by a man with a sledgehammer in 2016. It was interesting to have seen Trump’s star intact for a brief moment during my trip.

BREAKING! President Trumps star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was just destroyed. We’re following up on #2NEWSAM. pic.twitter.com/qiad6yIMCn

— Ron Bird (@KUTVRon) July 25, 2018

How Did We Decide on Saison?

Reserve Ahead of Time

Background

Inside Saison

The Kitchen

What We Ate and Drank

First Course

Second Course

Third Course

Fourth Course

Fifth Course

Sixth Course

Seventh Course

Service

Behind the Scenes Tour

Was it worth it?

Mr. Matcha Menu

Interior

What I Tried

Overall Impression of Mr Matcha

San Diego Beer Week

Stay & Drink

Get informed with a Beer App

Discover BEERology

Go on a Tour

Relaxation with Beer

HOW EXPEDIA ADD-ON ADVANTAGE WORKS

My experience with Expedia Add-on Advantage

Regent Beverly Wilshire

Giorgio Beverly Hills

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