Jodi Jackson’s Hollywood

There are not many places like this in San Francisco or for that matter anywhere. It is an old school Moroccan food at its best, complete with a performance while you are dining.

The restaurants décor is very authentic Moroccan. Jack’s wife, Houda, went to Morocco and bought all of the whimsical design elements that make El Mansour a fun place to come, along with the belly dancing performance they have every night.

Owner, Jack Tanverakul is from Thailand and is wife Houda is from Morocco. Jack being no stranger to fine cuisine, spent many nights at the well-known, L’ Orangerie in San Francisco as a server. Jack tells stories about the very famous, Herb Caen, coming in to El Mansour as an undercover reviewer. He says Robin Williams used to be a frequent customer as well.

Here’s what I tried:

Lentil Soup, very smooth and luscious, a great soup.

Basket of Bread, be very careful otherwise you will eat the whole basket and have no room for anything else.

Salads Mohammed – Combination of Carrots, Eggplant, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes, but all very different and fantastic.

Bastela Du Chef Pastry filled with chicken, almonds, and assortment of spices. Flaky dough with sweet chicken and powdered sugar, I just love this starter.

Moroccan Seafood Prawns and Scallops, very distinguished seasoning, really terrific.

Couscous with vegetables, the couscous is cooked perfectly with a symphony of tastes.

Lamb with honey and almonds. This was my favorite menu item. The lamb falls right off the bone and the sweet honey sauce is just delightful.

Chicken with onions and olives. A delicious combination of flavors make this a great dish.

Lamb and Chicken Kabob, both meats are grilled and just the perfect amount of seasoning with a great texture. Lets not forget the unique spices on every dish!

Dessert:

Bananas Fritter, and Kenefa. Sweet bastela with cream and almonds, and sweet tea. This is a very light dessert with lovey fragrant bananas featured. The tea is served from high above and it a great way to end this lovely meal.

Wines:

Robert Mondavi Sauvignon Blanc, I loved this wine with the Bastela du Chef, it has great fruit nuances that add to this great dish.

Robert Mondavi Chardonnay, drink this wine with the shrimp and scallops, it’s the perfect pairing.

Ouled Thaleb – Moroccan Red Wine, a super wine to enjoy with the honey lamb.

Established in 1976, El Mansour had a recent move next door from its original location on Clement Street in the Richmond District. Proprietors reconstructed their vision of Moroccan dining quarters with fabrics and textiles shipped from various parts of Morocco. In addition to the materials, the traditional menu has experienced a rebirth with new tagines and kebabs. Chef Abu-Home has orchestrated the kitchen staff for over 15 years at El Mansour, focusing on using the finest ingredients, he continues to construct delicious meals nightly.

The Belly dancer came out in between appetizers and entrees, she was a dead ringer for Kourtney Kardashian, but of the Latin kind. She was sexy and fun and she was getting the audience to participate. Tips are welcomed, so come with some dollar bills, the show is very entertaining.

If you’re looking for something a little different then your usual dining experiences, this is the place for you. Keep an open mind and a hungry stomach and you will be surprised. Not to mention the great feast for your eyes with the food, libation and belly dancing. Do something out of the ordinary and try El Mansour.

El Mansour
3119 Clement St.,
San Francisco, CA
http://www.elmansour.com

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In an off the beaten path neighborhood lies a slice of heaven, with many amenities and delicious breakfasts served every day. This is a house that will make you feel wanted and comfortable, especially when Sally and Marilyn come greet you outside the kitchen door. Kathleen’s two adorable pugs are super friendly and will also make you laugh.  There are reminders of these two gregarious pugs everywhere in their house. From the overstuffed chair in the living area with pugs in the fabric, to the art in many of the rooms, pugs are everywhere. So welcoming, truly they will become your pals for the length of your stay.

The very safe and upscale neighborhood is known for many scenic walks with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean. Right next to the Presidio, now a National Park, and within walking distance of Golden Gate Park. Two beautiful and challenging public golf courses are less than a mile away.

The big San Francisco earthquake of 1906 had major damage across the city, five years before the My Rose Garden Guest House was built. The city fathers like to remind us that it was the fire that followed which did most of the damage, and that planning after the earthquake has made a repeat of the fire virtually impossible. During the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, My Rose Garden Guest House, which is built on solid land, did not sustain any damage whatsoever.

Proprietor Kathleen Meeker opened My Rose Garden Guest House in December of 2006. This is what she was born to do; it just took her a while to figure it out. Kathleen moved to San Francisco in October 1973 fresh out of college (BA Syracuse University in Journalism/Art History class of 1973) with $600, her Border Collie dog Ruby, and an old Renault and heavy debt from college loans. Scrambling to make ends meet, she had various jobs which included working as a secretary in a law firm, receptionist at a construction company, and waitress at a fast food restaurant until she went into business for herself in February of 1974.  Kathleen rode the wave of the popularity of house plants and opened an interior landscaping firm named “Once Upon A Vine”.  By the time she sold the company 14 years later, she had 10 employees, a husband and 3 young children. In the early 90’s she opened “Great California Chef Tours”, hiring celebrity chefs to put on cooking demonstrations and then getting people to attend. She loved this and was well on her way until she was diagnosed with cancer and closed down the business. Her prognosis was good but she had to go through nearly a year of treatment including chemotherapy and just couldn’t run the business, take care of a 4, 6 and 8 year old, a husband and herself at the same time.

The next 10 years were filled with driving carpools, taking children on field trips, teaching Sunday school, and doing volunteer work of all different types. When the children started leaving the nest she was itching to go back to work and the idea of opening up a Bed and Breakfast in the now empty house occurred to her. Her husband Steve wasn’t thrilled with the idea and did everything he could do and say to discourage her but she persevered, got all the licenses from the city, special insurance, planted a rose garden out front and opened her doors, first with only 2 rooms and eventually a total of 4 rooms. Steve has now been won over and helps out when he’s around. Kathleen is the oldest of 5 (4 girls and 1 boy); her mother was a home economics teacher. Kathleen and her sisters were always trying to out-Martha Stewart each other before she was even famous. By the age of 12 she could have probably run the Bed and Bed as well as she does now, maybe not cook as much, but she probably would have crocheted the potholders and sewed the aprons.

The décor is kind of old school but makes you feel super comfortable, like your in your own home, and that is what staying at a bed and breakfast is all about. Christmas time is a perfect time to come, with all of their fantastic decoration and a beautiful tree, you will feel right at home. Not the rigidness of a hotel but the love that surrounds a great home that has lots of character. My Rose Garden Guest House is a great example of how a well lived home can be transformed into a great getaway. After all Kathleen raised her children here. My room the Yellow room is the attic, I could see her kids playing hide and seek and being mischievous with all of the fun eaves in the ceiling. Kathleen did a nice job of turning her kids fun clubhouse into very a doable guest room, with all the creature comforts you would need. I also saw the Violet room, which has a wrap around deck that the dogs go to during the day. The Green room on the second floor looked very magical as well, with its own bathroom. While staying here, if there is something you need all you have to do is ask and they will accommodate you.

The only downfall is parking, it is on a street that is small and butts up again the Presidio. The only parking sign is at the very top of the street and really hard to see. They do street cleaning the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, make sure you pay attention to the sign and move your car if its Wednesday, getting a $71.00 parking ticket might put a damper in your day.

All and all My Rose Garden Guest House is a good find away from the hustle and bustle of city living, but just a quick Muni bus away from it all, Muni is ½ block away, or you can Uber there as well. Transit in San Francisco is as good as you get, so really no need to have a car to stay there.

Breakfast was fantastic as well, the first morning Kathleen made Huevos Rancheros with cheese, the second morning she made spinach, onions and arugula with fried eggs on top. Breakfast is at 8:30, so no chance of sleeping in, and who would want to and miss Kathleen’s delicious savory breakfasts. My room was so comfy I would go take a catnap after breakfast to make up for my early rising.

I love my job, and finding new fantastic accommodations is always a plus, so I am here to say that I am a fan of My Rose Garden Guest House and will come back when ever I am in my city by the bay!!

My Rose Garden Guest House
75 20th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94121
my-rosegarden.com

*Note some content was taken off of website as well as given to me by the owner.

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Rich Azzolino is my pal, so when I knew I was coming back this year for Christmas I called him and he said without any hesitation, come back and try some things you didn’t try last time. Well I am here to say that not only is Sotto Mare super fun, but the food will truly knock your socks off.

Like last year, Christmas time at Sotto Mare is a big event. There are stockings on the wall for each employee and every customer that comes in wishes Rich a Merry Christmas. This year was a bit different, Rich underwent 2 knee replacement surgeries at the same time, who does that? Only a man who can’t wallow in his misfortunes and has to get up and get right back to work. So there was Rich in all of his optimistic glory greeting everyone just like he did last year, but with a little bit of a stagger in his step, you know he is so happy to be back, because nothing will stop this great man!

I posted my first review on December 21, 2015.

Here’s what I tried:

Whole Cracked Crab, with cocktail sauce, this is my own personal showstopper. They get the crab from the bay and it is sweet as can be, what a delicacy!!!

Oysters on the half shell – West Coast and East Coast, each one had their own individual flavor, extremely fresh and just went down so easy.

Blue Cheese Salad Wedge, very crispy and fresh lettuce makes for one delicious salad, chalk full of blue cheese.

Boston Clam Chowder, it has bacon in it so it is a bit salty, but wonderful none the less.

Mussel/Clams Steamers, they are both so sweet and fresh, just amazing.

Petrale Sole with sautéed beat greens, I just loved this dish, full of capers and done just right!

Sea Scallop Sauté wild caught, nice plump scallops with a simple sauce so you really get to taste the freshness of the scallops.

Linguine with Manila Clams. These clams are so sweet and nothing here is overdone, just spectacular.

Fettuccine with Smoked Salmon, white sauce. This by far is my favorite here at Sotto di Mare, it is just a wonderful concept that really no other restaurant does.

Wines:

Pinot Grigio, Italy, worked perfectly with the crab with all of its fragrant characteristics.

Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma, I liked this wine with the salad wedge, it went great with the blue cheese

Montepulciano, Italy, you have to stretch your imagination for this wine to go with the smoked salmon.

Zinfandel Sonoma, not your typical fish wine, but I still drank it with the Petrale.

Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma, this one too is not your best wine with fish, but for me I would drink this wine with anything, its just that good.

There is never any dessert served here, they give you a sheet telling you where to go if you want that in the neighborhood, who wants dessert after such a remarkable meal anyway??

Then there is Tiffany who will stop you from eating your crab and say “You better stop eating that and save room for the next thing” LOL, she is hysterical, and the best server you will ever experience. She really makes her job look so easy. She had just gotten back from her vacation in Hawaii, so she was all a glow, and ready to make my experience really memorable!

I can never say enough about this establishment, from the food, to the staff, and their loyal customers. There is always something to cheer about when you’re here, and it’s just a real pleasure to be part of their extended family! No matter who you are when you walk in their doors you will feel like family as well, they are the most welcoming people of any of my tasting experiences.

Sotto Mare is just one of those things that you have to do when you’re visiting San Francisco, forget Ghirardelli or The Golden Gate Bridge, I am telling you, forget anything you ever knew about this fair city by the bay and start making your habit of going to Sotto Di Mare, its one of the great wonders of the world, for your mouth!

Sotto Mare Oysteria and Seafood
552 Green Street
San Francisco, CA.
http://www.sottomaresf.com

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Everything about this place screams old Hollywood, from the posters on the walls to the movies always being shown, the owner Gem studied film here in San Francisco, go figure.

Gem and his wife Cigdem are originally from Istanbul, Turkey, so the food reflects their roots. It’s really a neighborhood hang, with great coffee and lovely lunch items, a real find in this usually sleepy area. Orsen’s Belly is community based with seventy-five percent of its customers living within a few blacks away.

They play jazz, while the movie on the wall has the sound turned off. The day I was there they were playing one of my favorite movies, Babette’s Feast from 1987. The décor is industrial with red, green and black metal chairs, wood floors, and many movie posters on the walls.

This coming Friday will be their 7 month anniversary, and business is doing really good. They also host a lot of fun events that they host.

Here’s what I tried:

Breakfast:

Turkish breakfast – feta, organic hard boiled eggs, black olives, cucumber, tomatoes, honey, jam, pita bread. Having been to Turkey I knew just what this was supposed to be and its even better then I remember.

Bagel Sandwiches:

Smoked salmon, house made goat cheese yogurt sauce, cucumber, tomato, and chives. You get lots of salmon and the cheese yogurt sauce is just delightful.

Haigs hummus, spinach, cherry tomato, radish, olive oil, and French Brittany fleur de sel, just the basics but they work so well together.

Tuna melt with Swiss cheese, the tuna is not too dressed, and the Swiss cheese works so well, I loved this lunch item.

Salads:

Veggie Cobb, with romaine, avocado, organic hard-boiled egg, feta, agave-roasted chickpeas, vegetarian Worcestershire dressing. The chickpeas really make this salad wonderful, and so does the very flavorful dressing, for a healthier lunch choice this is the one.

Organic tomato soup, rich and creamy but at the same time no too heavy, a wonderful full-bodied soup.

Wine:
Chardonnay, Cannonball, 2013, a nice buttery wine, and will go great with the smoked salmon.

Sauvignon Blanc, Spy Valley, Marlborough, 2015, I liked this wine with the Turkish breakfast, it went especially well with the sweet honey.

Zinfandel Manifesto Lodi 2014, this wine for me worked with the tomato soup, a perfect combo.

Le Petite Pemere, Sonoma 2014, I liked this wine with the Humus, it brought out a more robust flavor in the humus that is normally tasted.

No nonsense, just great food, and it doesn’t hurt that it has a very whimsical atmosphere. In a nutshell, when you’re in the Upper Richmond area of San Francisco try Orson’s Belly.

Orson’s Belly
1737 Balboa Ave.,
San Francisco, CA, 94121
http://www.orsonsbelly.com/

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Geary Blvd. in San Francisco has many ethnic restaurants, it is a sleepy area, but jammed packed with delightfully creative dining. Simple, yet elegant, Mescolanza does not disappoint. Chef Rueben decided what I should try and he did a great job of giving me some nice tastings off the menu. Mescolanza is a cozy Italian restaurant nestled in the Richmond District of San Francisco, known for its northern Italian menu.

Their décor is simple and elegant, with 2 dining rooms, a mural of the Trevi fountain in Italy adorns the second dining room, and café chair and tables work just perfectly as a backdrop for this delicious food. Festive chopping blocks are wall art, there are wooden floors and blue ceilings with round drop lighting fixtures, making for nice soft lighting, all done with the utmost taste. The bay windows add that only in San Francisco touch. The music they play is Italian opera.

The customers are families, dates, and locals, all very sophisticated. The night I was there they had a private 21st birthday party with a special menu, all of those guests looked like they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

They can host dinners with special menus, wine events or private tastings, plus a devoted kitchen and chef for any event. The Trevi room can accommodate up to 30 people for private parties such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and business luncheons. The room is available on any day or night of the week and can be closed off from the main room with heavy curtains providing for a more intimate setting.

Owner and Chef Ruben and wife Maria Macedo, purchased Mescolanza from the previous owners back in November 1998. Ruben has worked at the restaurant since it opened in 1987, beginning as the pizza cook. It is not unusual for Ruben and Maria to begin their day with a trip to the produce market in the morning, do all the prep work in the early afternoon, work in the kitchen while the restaurant is open, and even do all the cleanup after everyone else has gone home.

Long before he bought Mescolanza, he was hired at the restaurant as a maintenance worker. Yet, during that time, he quietly dreamt of ideas for new dishes that could potentially help the restaurant. Rueben has a strong work ethic, so he worked hard as a janitor until he was promoted to working in the pantry. A short time later, he found himself training in the kitchen as a pizza chef.

Suddenly in 1998 an unexpected opportunity presented itself, and he purchased the business. Ever since that purchase he has always made sure that Mescolanza offers only the best quality of organic produce, wild fish, and hormone free poultry.

At the end of 2014, he lost the lease for his original location on Clement Street, and was forced to relocate. It was a very painful experience for them because the future of their restaurant was uncertain, and they faced tremendous hardships looking for a new location. Even after they found one just a few blocks away, there were many construction delays, which in turn, delayed their re-opening. Now, thanks to the loyalty of their customers and to their employees who have stuck by their side through the toughest of times. Today, they are extremely happy and grateful to continue serving their new and returning customers for a long time to come.

Here’s what I tried:

Stuzzichini/Starters:

Melanzane Alla Griglia grilled eggplant, bruschetta, a nice array of flavors and the eggplant is cooked perfectly.

Carpaccio thinly sliced raw beef capers, red onions, mustard paste, shaved Parmesan cheese, and bruschetta. Very tender and moist, a great dish.

Insalate/Salad:

Insalata Caprese, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil. The tomato was ripe and delicious with the accompaniment of the cheese, it is one of my favorites.

Carciofi Con Gamberetti, artichoke bottom, baby shrimp. This item is a little gem, I love artichoke hearts and stuffed with shrimp, what could be better.

Pasta:

Linguine Alle Vongole Veraci fresh clams, garlic, tomato, cream. What I loved about this dish is that it is in a very mild cream sauce, but with lots of garlic, pretty unusual.

Ravioli Di Verdure, artichoke filled ravioli, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and butter, a nice well balanced dish, with just the right amount of seasonings.

Special for the week: Ravioli with seafood and artichoke, creamy tomato sauce, bell peppers, peas, topped with pecorino shavings. It came with a light red sauce and the peas were the highlight for me.

Piatti Forti/Entrees:

Vitello Marsala, shallots, mushrooms and Marsala wine. Super tender veal with a delightful sauce full of fragrant mushroom, a real winner.

Pesce Del Giorno, fresh salmon with seasonal vegetables. This could be the greatest salmon, with a firm but tender cut, and an amazing crispy layer on the top, can’t say enough about this lovely dish!

Wines:

Sauvignon Blanc Sempre Vive, this is a great pairing with the artichoke and shrimp salad.

Chardonnay, San Simeon, I would drink this wine with the linguine and clams; it is well balanced and not too buttery to distract from the serious garlic flavors in the clam sauce.

Merlot delle Venezie, Cesari, this wine would work well with the salmon or the veal.

Wine of the night: Bogle, Phantom. I liked this wine with the Carpaccio; a nice jammy texture went great with the beef.

In Ruben’s own words, “I’ve worked in many different Italian restaurants since the early 80’s to make ends meet, and I have always thought constantly of ways that I could improve my life and consequentially my work.

Chef Reuben calls one of the biggest and most important events, was when Mescolanza were featured on Check Please Bay Area.

Their mission is simple: to serve delicious, affordable food that guests will want to return to week after week.

Next time you’re in the mood for honest Italian with no frills and great ingredients try coming to Mescolanza, it will make you happy and realize that in this case less is absolutely more.

Mescolanza
3750 Geary Blvd.
San Francisco, CA. 94118
http://www.mescolanza.net
* Note some content was taken off of their website.

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I flew from Los Angeles to Oakland, had a real Bart adventure getting to the restaurant, and arrived at the restaurant at 8:30 PM with only an hour before the kitchen would shut down. That did not stop their wonderful staff from giving me everything I asked for to taste.

The restaurant is in downtown Berkeley, and literally you walk out of the Bart station and it’s across the street. It really felt like a few days before Christmas, with everything at the restaurant decked out as well as the street out side. The temperature helped as well, I think it got down to 28 degrees in most places in the Bay Area that night.

Here’s what I tried:

Drinks:

Moroccan Mule with Zubrowka bison grass vodka, mahia fig eau de vie, ras el hanout bitters, mint green tea, lemon, honey, Blenheim ginger ale. This is a very effervescent cocktail, with a kick, but goes down real easy.

Mean Tangerine Aperol, with square one bergamot vodka, elderflower, and lemon. Served in an old school gimlet glass, with great orange flavor a real keeper.

Soup:

This Evening’s Soup, Parsnip Ginger Soup, with Chili oil, fried sun choke. The presentation was colorful, but the minute you taste this soup you will be very happy!

Salad:

Pear and Persimmon, with cucumber, pecorino, fennel, candied pecan. This is a seriously delicious salad, so light and refreshing.

Starters:

Beef-Ricotta Meatballs, with kabocha coulis, bacon and arugula. They serve you 3 big meatballs that have a wonderful taste and will keep you wanting more.

Mains:

Lamb Mixed Grill Roasted Brussels sprouts + sun choke, faro, chard, gremolata, celery root puree. It is a very grand presentation, with a large lamb bone as the centerpiece; the rest is left to your taste buds, which I know will be very content.

Swordfish with zucchini ribbons, butternut squash puree, and mandarin relish. This dish is so pretty, the colors and the proportions re just wonderfully placed.

Duck Breast with alubia bean succotash, parsnip veloute, and fried sun choke. The smoky flavor really stands out, but perhaps not as crispy as I would like.

Mushroom–Ricotta Cannelloni with beech and maitake mushroom, arugula, cauliflower béchamel. The mushrooms are wild with an amazing cream sauce.

Sides:

Lollipop kale with garlic, pecorino, and fried shallot. This is a very healthy experience; the little shallot rings are very sweet.

Cauliflower with gremolata, and sunflower seeds. A nice rendition of a very popular vegetable dish, truly a winner.

Dessert:

Almond Chocolat Torte, Candied almonds, caramel sauce, crème Chantilly. The caramel sauce is the highlight and the chocolate torte did not disappoint.

Pumpkin Beignets spiced sugar quince, really inventive and wonderful.

Cranberry Apple Spice Sorbet, a nice refreshing palate cleanser and end to a marvelous experience.

Wine:

Oro Paz, Sauvignon Blanc, 2015, Luchsinger Vineyard, Lake County. Peach rounded out flavors, I would do this wine with the Pear and Persimmon salad.

The Gardener Riesling, 2013, Scintillia Vineyards, Carneros, a bit on the fruity side, but would be a great match with the cauliflower.

Matias, Chardonnay, 2014, Santa Lucia Highlands. A perfect blend of fruit with a nice buttery nuance, great pairing with the Swordfish.

Shebang, Zinfandel Blend, NV, California. I love a good Zin and this one was right up there, try this wine with the great lamb grill.

Purple Hands, Pinot Noir, 2015, Willamette Valley. I liked this wine with the Mushroom–Ricotta Cannelloni, its adds to the overall mushroom goodness.

Saracina Malbec 2012 Skid Row Vineyards, Mendocino, I thought this wine paired nicely with the Beef-Ricotta Meatballs.

It’s a very lively interior, with a nice warm flow. The bar is equally inviting, a kind of Cheers vibe. The can offer private dining and parties, such as bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, holiday parties, academic events, their party room can accommodate 40 guests.

Revival is using, many local producers for some best-of-season foods in their kitchen. They are preparing 100% grass fed organic lamb from Emigh Ranch, humanely raised beef from Cream CO. meats, the best sustainably sourced seafood from Water 2 Table, Frog Hollow apples, and the abundant produce of Happy Boy Farms.

Revival serves thoughtfully crafted artisan cocktails utilizing fresh ingredients and premium spirits. Their cocktail menu is a mix of modern interpretations of classic cocktails and innovative seasonal concoctions. The spirits list has been carefully selected, with a focus on smaller craft distillers. Their wine list is lively and international, featuring the best of the old world and the new. They focus on smaller wineries that practice organic and biodyamic growing, and make the most of being near wine country, and near by producers.

Revival is open for brunch, and ready to serve Berkeley’s downtown community. With local, consciously raised meats, best-of-season produce, and fresh house-baked artisan breads. Bar master Pete has assembled a growing list of truly original, expertly balanced cocktails to accompany your meal. From his Hot ‘n Bloody, to the whiskey-based Dixie Buck, these cocktails are a few steps beyond the usual brunch booze suspects. They go down easy, deliver serious endorphins, and taste fabulous.

Revival Bar and Kitchen serves a menu of truly local, seasonal delights, well sourced and minimally processed, designed to satisfy, replenish, and inspire. They are open for dinner, weekend brunch, a lively happy hour, and late night bites on Friday and Saturday. Revival Bar and Kitchen is adventurous, approachable California-style cuisine.

Revival Bar & Kitchen
2102 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94704
revivalbarandkitchen.com
(510) 549-9950
* Note some content was taken off of their website.

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This is a Rogers and Hammerstein musical at its best, traditional and in all of its original glory. The gorgeous costumes, sets, and actors, are truly a feast for your eyes! An amazing production that should be seen by all!

Cast members include: Laura Michelle Kelly (as Anna Leonowens), Jose LLana (as King of Siam), Joan Almedilla (as Lady Thiang), Manna Nichols (as Tuptim), Anthony Chan (as Prince Chulalongkorn), Graham Montgomery (as Louis Leonowens), Brian Rivera (as Kralahome), Baylen Thomas (as Captain Orton & Sir Edward Ramsey), and Heather Botts (u/s Anna). The ensemble of actors and dancers are equally brilliant!

The production’s costumes are out of this world, it’s as if you are stepping into an ancient world of Siam, regal, nonetheless. The dancing is fantastic and utilizes many unique props to enhance the characters. For instance, large Buddha pieces and ornamental Thai style head pieces are part of the excitement.

“The King and I” has fascinating storyline dealing with customs and traditions. In the story line, the King’s main goal is for SIam to be progressive and modern by getting rid of old customs and traditions. But the King himself, is one of the last people to change. One of the issues is with the treatment of women, perhaps best described as slavery. The King is a male chauvinist at it’s truest form and has no idea how women are treated in other countries. Luckily, Anna is there to teach the children of Siam, and the King, to do away with the old traditions. There is much dissension between the two of them, but as the story unfolds their fondness for each other becomes the main lesson. It is a wonderful lesson in love and power, it pretty much will stick with you for a long time.

Both the singing and acting in “The King and I” are remarkable. Laura Michelle Kelly has a sort of Julie Andrews’s quality to her voice– she brought the house down every time she sang. Jose Llana and Joan Almedilla did an incredible job as well. The songs “Hello, Young Lovers,” “Getting to Know You,” “Something Wonderful,” and “Shall We Dance,” were each given great arrangements with perfect vocal tenacity. I believe that there is no better music and lyrics than with Rogers and Hammerstein– so much talent in those two.

“The King and I” is based on the novel “Anna and The King of Siam” by Margaret London. The choreography was by Christopfer Gattelli– based on the original choreography by Jerome Robbins, and directed by Bartlett Sher.

There was a lot of action on the Red Carpet before the show too. The red carpet attendees included: Hillary Hickman “In My Mother’s Arms,” Carly Hughes “American Housewife,” Mary Hollis Inboden “The Real O’Neals,” Shirley Jones “The Partridge Family,” Max Landis “Chronicle,” Eva LaRue “CSI: Miami,” Dawnn Lewis “ A Different World,” Ashley Liao “Fuller House,” Kate Linder “The Young and the Restless,” Greg Louganis “Entourage,” Barbara Luna “The King and I” Original Broadway Cast, Masiela Lusha “George Lopez,” Armand Mastroianni Director, Katherine McNamara “ShadowHunters,” William R. Morris “Falcon Crest,” Ryan Newman “Monster House,” Ann Robinson “War of the Worlds,” Sara Rue “Less Than Perfect,” Gabrielle Ruiz “My Crazy Ex- Girlfriend,” Benjamin and Matthew Royer “Best Friends Whenever,” Olivia Sanabia “Just Add Magic,” Sherri Saum “The Fosters,” Matt Shively “The Real O’Neals,” Vincent Spano “Alive,” Hal Sparks “Lab Rats,” Haley Tau “Bella and the Bulldogs,” Gina Torres “Suits,” Forrest Wheeler “Fresh Off The Boat,” Bebe Wood “The Real O’Neals,” Bradley Pierce “Beauty and the Beast,” Aubrey Anderson-Emmons “Modern Family,” Ashley Argota “The Fosters,” Dante Basco “Hook,” Luna Blaise “Fresh Off the Boat,” Soni Bringas “Fuller House,” Barbara Chase “9 to 5,” Francois Chau “Rescue Dawn,” Camille Chen “Two Broke Girls,” Ian Chen “Fresh Off the Boat,” Brock Ciarlelli ”The Middle,” Darius Cottrell “American Sniper,” Denise Crosby “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Patrika Darbo “Days of Our Lives,” Giselle Eisenberg “Life in Pieces,” Joey Fatone “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson “Modern Family,” Lou and Carla Ferrigno “The Incredible Hulk,” and Daniel Franzese “Mean Girls.”

Of course the history of The Pantages Theater is a miracle in itself, with all of its ornate decoration, it adds beauty to any show being offered there.

For an upbeat evening of dancing, singing and entertainment, go see “The King and I.” It will lift your spirits and make you believe that a great musical is well worth seeing.

The King and I
The Pantages Theater
6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 468-1770
hollywoodpantages.com

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Wilde Wine Bar and Restaurant – Dinner Saturday Dec. 10, 2016 – Hollywood, CA. This is a great location, on La Brea in a very hipster area, with lots of art galleries on every block. This used to be a wine bar that I wrote about as well, 3 twenty wine lounge. The transformation is astounding, going from high tech, to down right chic romantic, a place you really want to come and try.

This was on of those tastings where I was unable to choose a lot to taste, I had a limited budget, but I thought I picked some good choices, now its up to you to come in and try the rest!

Here’s what I tried:

To Share:

Eggplant – Cutlet Parmesan, with house made tomatoes sauce and Parmesan. The eggplant is cut very thin, and the tomato sauce is super rich. Done really simple this dish shines, it is delicate yet very Italian, a great way to start.

Plates:

Cast Iron New York Strip Steak, 10oz. with au proivre sauce, cress and fries. The fries were just the bomb, but not heavy, super light and crispy. The steak is very large, you can share this with a guest, the sauce is very French, with ample amount of pepper.

Local Sea Bass Filet, ‘nicoise” sautéed with olives, capers, parsley and Meyers lemon. Flaky moist fish, this sea bass hit all the right notes. The vegetables are equally terrific, cooked just enough, they tended to be crispy. I just loved the subtlety of flavors and the way it was presented, a true winner.

Dessert:

Chocolate Cake, they give you a small piece but it really is enough. Delicate, and light with very robust chocolate flavor, it makes a nice finish to my great meal.

Wines:

House Sauvignon Blanc, Olas, 2013. This is a very drinkable wine and it is their house wine, I would recommend this with the Sea Bass, nice and light with a fruit forward balance and nice delicate flavors.

Barbera, Cantine Valpane, Italy, 2013, this is the wine to drink with the steak; it is dry and very Italian.

Pinot Noir, Challen, Ca. 2013, for me I loved this wine with the chocolate cake, it adds a great deal of jammy nuances to the great chocolate flavors.

The interior is just lovely, with its great romantic lighting, and the best crystal chandelier ever. Impeccably appointed, 1500-square-foot dining room is warm, sexy and sophisticated, offering comfortable bar and lounge-style seating as well as more formal table settings. There is lots of fresh artwork to look at, very often they have art work up from a local gallery.

Wilde has been opened since April 2015, and it has really taken off. They offer uncomplicated European-American dishes, good old-fashioned hospitality and an award- winning wine list. They want to offer each customer making a feeling of a relaxing evening at home or an invitation to a good friend’s house for dinner, Wilde has earned an unheard-of, near-perfect rating on Yelp. Wilde makes every effort to eliminate the intimidation, snobbery and high price tags many people often associate with wine, you can taste numerous types, each with their own special characteristics. Wilde recently earned the #1 spot on Open Table’s Diners Choice Awards for the Restaurant with the “Most Notable Wine List” in the entire Los Angeles area for two consecutive months (October and November 2015

They do lots of events and have a very fun Sunday night’s “Fried Chicken & Bubbles” which is often fully booked in advance.

About The Owners:

Lorna Donohoe, owner and General Manager, she left a successful marketing career to open Wilde Wine Bar & Restaurant and focus on her lifelong love of wine, food and entertaining. She was previously head of global marketing at Playboy Enterprises, overseeing the repositioning of one of America’s most iconic brands, and has also worked with such high-profile companies as Conde Nast Publications, along with a host of other leading lifestyle, fashion and designer brands.

Nader Naderi, Executive Chef and Owner, began his culinary career at a young age in London’s Earls Court and went on to open two successful restaurants in Los Angeles. In 2001, he left the restaurant business and launched a hugely successful fashion company, The Great China Wall, and later consulted for designer denim brands such as Wrangler, Seven for All Mankind, Koral and others. In 2015, he returned to his culinary roots, opening Wilde Wine Bar and Restaurant with wife and business partner Lorna Donohoe. Of his cooking philosophy, Naderi says: “When I was working as a chef in Italy and Europe, the food was simple, no more than three or four ingredients and paired with simple wines that let the food speak for itself. There has been this huge trend for over-complicated, over-seasoned dishes, fusions and so many ingredients that one can barely taste what the dish is. Our local customers and catering clients continually express their appreciation that the food at Wilde is farm-to-table, organic orsustainable, simply prepared with just a few ingredients.”

There is so much potential here to become the most fashionable local wine bar on La Brea, I know once you come in and experience the cozy romantic warmth the way that I did you too will be hooked.

Wilde Wine Bar and Restaurant
320 S. la Brea Ave.
los Angeles, CA 90036

http://wildela.com/

*Note some content was taken off of their website.

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The Petersen Museum is a great reason to get out and explore this fantastic event. This is the perfect backdrop for yummy desserts, cocktails and some savories dishes. You will enjoy your decadent experience amidst some of the most collectable cars in the world. Festive, and fun, LA Weekly puts on a great pre-holiday event. With 21 bakers, 22 bartenders and over 30 vendors, truly a holiday eating, drinking and shopping extravaganza! VIP’s were treated to an hour of tastings before the general public came in at 8pm. In its third year, the annual holiday party features over 15 of the city’s top bakers, over 20 of LA’s most respected mixologists and more local LA artisanal craftspeople. Curated by the LA Weekly’s own food critic Besha Rodell and Katherine Spiers, with a portion of this year’s event proceeds benefits Food Forward Brand.

About the Petersen: Founded on June 11, 1994 by magazine publisher Robert E. Petersen, and his wife Margie, the Petersen Automotive Museum is owned and operated by the Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation. Previously located within the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the museum is permanently housed in a historic department store originally designed by Welton Becket. The building opened in 1962 as a short-lived U.S. branch of Seibu Department Stores, before operating as an Ohrbach’s department store from 1965 to 1986. Six years after Ohrbach’s closed, Robert Petersen selected the largely windowless site as an ideal space for a museum, where artifacts could be displayed without harmful exposure to the ultraviolet radiation of direct sunlight.

In 2015, the museum underwent an extensive $90 million renovation. The building’s façade was redesigned by the architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, while designers at The Scenic Route configured interior spaces to accommodate changing exhibits that are intended to encourage repeated visits. The exterior features a stainless-steel ribbon assembly, made of 100 tons of 14-gauge type 304 steel in 308 sections, 25 supports and 140,000 custom stainless-steel screws. The remodeled museum opened to the public on December 7, 2015.

Sips and Sweets Vendors:

Cocktails Presented by: Hendrick’s Gin, Tullamore DEW Whiskey, Reyka Vodka, Milagro Tequila, Sailor, Jerry Rum, and Monkey Shoulder.

Bartenders: The Roger Room, The Pikey, The Lucques Group, The Bar at Belcampo Santa Monica, Sotto, Red O Santa Monica, Sassafras, Sonny’s Hideaway, Miro, Momed Atwater Vollage, Otium, LekurLips, Lock & Key, Lost Property, E.P. & L. P, Guelaguetza, Hyperion Public, Bar Toscana, Nerano, Birch, Accomplice, 71Above, and 1886 Bar and The Raymond.

Sweets: Alexander Steak House, Bearclaw Kitchen, Beverly Hills Beignet, Choctal Single Origin Ice Cream, Cobblermania, Copenhagen Pastry, Crème Caramel LA, Enjoyer, Mascarpone Cheesecake, Mc Connell’s Fine Ice Cream, Mercedes Binge Desserts, Nickel Diner, Ococoa, Salt & Straw, Street Churros, The Broadway Baker, The Gourmandise School, Waffling Around, Wanderlust Creamery, Westbound, and WP24 by Wolfgang Puck.

Savories: Banh Oui, Big Mozz, Burritos La Palma, Cheezus, Chinese Laundry Truck, Elvio’s Chimichurri. And Mama Musubi.

Entertainment: Bridges, On the first floor: DJ Stylus. On the second floor: Cuffin, DJ Haylow, and DJ Val the Vandle. On the third floor: Motown on Mondays LA., MOMLA, Featuring The MOM LA Players, EXPO, MONALISA, C-MINUS, SLOEPOKE. On the rooftop: Dave & Buster’s Presents DJ Hydroe.

Next year come one come all and fast track yourself into the holiday spirit, you will be glad you made the trip!

Petersen Automotive Museum

6060 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, 90036

petersen.org/

laweekly.com/sips-and-sweets/2016

Photo Credit: Catrine Karl

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* Note some content was taken off of event presenter’s websites.

Bella Cristia is in La Quinta, California, better known as Gem of the Desert. La Quinta has many outdoor activities and special events throughout the year, along with plenty of sunshine. La Quinta is pretty much, a resort town, filled with premiere golf courses. There are plenty of beautiful open spaces, with its lush vegetation, mountains, flowers and fresh clean air. All of these wonderful things come with a stay any where in La Quinta, what doesn’t come with a stay in La Quinta is the personal touch that Innkeepers Leah and Patrick lend to this very peaceful environment. Their homespun attitude and attention to detail will make you want to come back to Bella Crotsia time and time again.

Another amazing thing that happens when you walk in the door at Bella Cristia is the overwhelming presence of Leah’s daughter Cristia, the bed and breakfasts namesake. What seems to be a very horrific story, one that will stick with you while you look into Leah’s beautiful eyes during your heartfelt conversations about life, will end up warming your heart and teaching you a lot about the human spirit and love. During my stay Leah was about to commemorate the 9th year of her daughters passing. Cristia passed away in Nov. of 2007, on a brisk fall morning in a car accident. Her passing was very quick and not something any of her family ever thought would have happened. When you talk to Leah about her daughter she has nothing but love and respect for Cristia, but you can also feel the shock of a life-gone way to soon. Leah discussed with me the after life, and all of her very detailed dreams about Cristia after she passed. You can just feel her daughter everywhere in their lovely bed and breakfast. There was time when Leah could not talk about her loss, but she feels in a cathartic way it helps her with her tragedy by keeping Cristia in her thoughts every day. For me I am very attuned to after life and consider myself a bit psychic, you would have to be open for this kind of telepathic activity to be able to embrace it. I am sure if you just came to relax and did not broach the subject it would just feel like a wonderful stay at a hidden oasis in La Quinta. Although Leah feels that everyone who stays at Bella Cristia was brought there by divine intervention, some kind of spiritual journey. She learns from each and every guest and their own different types of life situations, and wants to be of service to other parents who may be hurting. She has had some guests who lost children in similar types of accidents and relishes the fact they found their way to her and that she can heal herself and her guests by sharing their experiences. I would say that Leah’s rock is her husband and partner Patrick, who has also had his own struggles, surviving cancer a few years back. Patrick is the chef; he whips up a delicious breakfast before he goes off to work at The La Quinta Chamber of Commerce every day. This powerful duo has some much love to give, with all of their tragedies you are rest assured that you will be in the lap of luxury at Bella Cristia, with every attention to detail taken care of. The elegance surrounds you, with all of Patrick’s and Leah’s little touches. I felt really blessed that some thing brought me to them and that I was elevated to a better understanding of how love can conquer all.

And then there is Dusty Rose and Wanda, their fantastic pooches, who both have their own wonderful personalities. Wanda is a Seeing Eye dog poodle and Dusty Rose a service Labradoodle. They will greet you when you enter and find time to give you lots of love throughout your stay.

The house has two fantastic suites that have their own entrances, with large flat screen TV’s jazucci’s bath tubs, all of the luxurious amenities you would need to have a nice tranquil vacation. I stayed in the The Meiomi Suite. The Meiomi suite is a beautiful room named after one of Leah and Patrick’s favorite wines, a Pinot Noir out of Napa Valley. This room is decorated with an elegant Spanish feel. During the cool season, you can sit by the fireplace, gaze through the French Doors and take in the magnificent view of the Santa Rosa Mountains. Bella Cristia is designed and operated for an adult clientele, so leave the kids at home, no one under 21 years of age is allowed.

Patrick serves a very tasty breakfast, using the healthiest freshest ingredients. I had a sausage frittata served in a mini iron skillet, homemade blueberry scones, this dish was very delicious, and kept me energized until lunch. They use organic food and farm grown when available. They also will accommodate anyone with a special food request, or food allergies.

Their décor is cozy, not too over done. Their beds are extremely comfortable. There are little nick knacks as well as large pieces of furniture and art. At night they enhance the pool with midnight blue lighting, that changes colors. Everything here is sophisticated elegance. They also have cruiser bikes so you can get some exercise while your out site seeing.

Leah and Patrick’s story will restore your faith in mankind, and make you truly appreciate the little things in life that you might be taking for granted. Their resiliency and ability to face life’s tragedies head on will give you a new reason to value your own circumstances. What ever the occasion you will be forever touched by Leah and Patrick’s, hospitality, warmth, and grace!

Bella Cristia a Bed & Breakfast
78705 Avenida La Torres
La Quinta, CA 92253
760-275-2119

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