Gastronomie

Puppy Breath in Smell-o-Vision... almost

Hi, you there! Do you love puppies? Well of course you do, because everybody loves puppies. Even cat people love puppies. And snake people too, I suppose.

Anyway, we have a new puppy. For those of you keeping count, yes this DOES make three dogs in the Gastronomie household. And yes, we do live in an apartment. So if you're keeping track, that makes us a little bit insane. Meh. Everyone has their vices.

So, without further ado, here she is -- a little brindle French Bulldog. Born July 11th, making her 12 weeks old, and weighing in at a whopping 6.5  pounds.

We're still batting around names, so if you want to weigh in, go for it!

[POLL IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR VOTING!]

Tags: Food, Wine, Food & Drink, San Francisco, Oakland, Pupppies, Dogs, French Bulldogs

Yay for New Jobs in the City

So, today is the first day of my new job. After several years of working for companies remotely, from my home office, I'm admittedly a bit nervous about having to come face-to-face with people daily, and not spending the first hour of the day responding to emails, in my sweats with a steaming cup of tea.

On the other hand, the group I'm working with are an awesome bunch -- smart, wickedly funny, creative as hell.  And the job itself couldn't be described as anything less than "perfect" for me. It maximizes every single position I've ever held, every accomplishment on my resume.

So, I'm off to catch the 8:31 train to Montgomery station. Wish me luck, and see you at Specialty's!

Tags: Food, Wine, Food & Drink, San Francisco, BART, Specialty's, Commuting, Jobs

Summer's Long Departure

This is one of my favorite times of the year -- the days are getting shorter, but what we have of them bring sparkling-razor-focused sunshine. The haze is gone for a few weeks, and the weather gets a bit temperamental. Yesterday it was 75 degrees at 8pm; today, it's 67 at noon.

My favorite fruit in all the world (tomatoes) are at their apex, and some days warrant eating them out of hand. Other days, it seems cool enough to start canning and souping.

It's the last of the weekends at the lake, the last of the cookouts, the last of lazy mornings in the sun, reading a good book with a glass of iced tea. All these "lasts" remind me how lucky I am to live here, to BE here, and to have wonderful people (and dogs!) around me to share these moments with.

I've compiled a few of my favorite end-of-season recipes for you -- I know I'm looking forward to enjoying the last of the summer light streaming through my windows while I pull together these dishes.

Farmer's Market Penne
Chicken & Squash Risotto
Revelatory Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Bread Salad with Cannellini Beans

PS -- don't forget to come out tonight and celebrate the final days of summer in Old Oakland.

Tags: Food, Wine, Food & Drink, San Francisco, Oakland, French Bulldog, Lake Berryessa, Recipes

Wattie's Tomato Sauce

Why didn't anyone ever tell me?

Cawfee Tawk with the Amateur Gourmet

Hello kiddums -

Hope you are all here to bid Adam Roberts a warm, fuzzy welcome to Gastronomie. As you know, Adam recently published a little tome, and he's working his way through the blogosphere on a virtual book tour.

So grab a cup of joe, snuggle up to your laptop, and join us for the next thirty minutes (or more!) to ask Adam all your questions about his book, blog, life, and how the hell he got so funny. (Seriously. Have you seen the bit about the pet lobster??)

The chat board is behind the break, so read more to get there!

Adam from Amateur Gourmet on Live Chat, this week!

We food bloggers are an odd little community. There's very little strife and animosity between us, and when we can help one another out, we love to. All the better if it's fun for us.

So when Adam contacted me about his virtual book tour, I jumped at the chance to get involved.

This coming Thursday the 13th, Adam from Amateur Gourmet will be visiting Gastronomie, virtually, via a free chat hosted by Geesee.

In true Jewish gay boy/Persian Princess form, we have only JUST nailed down the times, so I wanted to get this post up quickly to give anyone who has questions for Adam the chance to schedule their day.

Who:     Adam Roberts, The Amateur Gourmet

Why:     To pimp his new book, yo!

When:  Thursday, September 13th -- two chat sessions
                  9:00 - 9:30am PST & 4:00 - 4:30pm PST

How:      Just click on the link provided in the post on the home page on Thursday.

A Geesee window will load; registration is NOT required, but we do suggest you select a nickname for yourself so you're not just another Guest (you can do that in the lower right hand corner of the chat window).

Come armed with questions for Adam, but BE NICE. Meanies will be asked to leave or, worse yet, unceremoniously punted from the room.

Tags: Food, Wine, Food & Drink, San Francisco, New York, Amateur Gourmet, Adam Roberts, Chat

Crumpler Bags, Mighty, All Due Respect, and All That...

So, look, here's the thing: I'm really all about helping upstart companies make their products better, and doing good things in business and everything like that.

But, um (and OK, I've had one... no two... bottles of wine tonight), and... wait... let me say first:

I love Maggie. I kinda think Mighty Goods is one of the best websites ever -- seriously, not just currently operating, but EVER. And we'll just agree here that Hank Mason is one cutesty-patootsie-bundle-of-delicious, 'kay?

But, um. Maggie? What third-world country are you referring to, exactly? I've scoured your Flickr, and I can't find one. Amsterdam? Not so much. Austin? Close, but I don't think it counts. Alameda Flea Market? Yea, OK. I'll give you that. Gotta  tell ya, the 3rd world countries aren't the ones you need to take a Sharpie to your camera bag for.

And also? Why is Crumpler responsible for your defective favorite pen? Mine slip in with the cell phone, while a carabiner clip would fix the key problem. (Tho', yea, kinda get you on that - wouldn't cost those guys much to add a plastic carabiner to the bag).

To Simon, a commenter on that Mighty post up there, who asks what a photographer would use the uber-strong Velcro straps for,  I say, "dude, you've obviously never traveled with a tripod".

Look, all due respect and all that, and I totally get that Crumpler bags are cool and whatnot (though, WTF IS UP WITH THAT WEBSITE???), but if you're a photographer, is it totally necessary to make a fashion statement while you're lugging around two or three grand in equipment?

Or is it maybe better to be a wee bit less fashionista about it all, but have a great case that was designed by and for photographers to do what you need it to do?

(In case anyone was keeping track there, I just linked to three - count 'em, THREE -- different companies who make camera bags designed for, you know, PHOTOGRAPHERS).

Peace out.

Tags: Photography, Food & Drink, Mighty Goods, San Francisco

Happenings and happenings

Couple of quick -- ok, not so quick -- updates:

1. I was laid off last week. I've managed to dig out from under the rubble that was my momentary self-loathing and self-pity to see that I have a blazingly bright future ahead of me with tons of opportunity, and that it was THEIR loss, not mine. Righty-o, then, moving on.


2. Spent a gorgeous, lovely late-morning-turned-afternoon Saturday with two lovely ladies -- in OAKLAND, no less! Well, and OK, Alameda.


3. During said excursion, discovered that Bakesale Betty's revered Fried Chicken sandwich is a delightfully perfect foil for Hangar 1's Buddha's Hand vodka. Go figure.


4. Also found out that I don't hate Absinthe, when it is not the God-awful treacly sweet swill I've tasted in the past. I won't spill the beans, but *his* Absinthe is loaded with wonderfully fresh and herbacious flavors -- tarragon and basil come to mind. Stellar stuff. Can't wait 'til it's actually bottled and labeled.


5. I got my first tattoo! Temple Tattoo rocks. Jason McAfee made me feel so comfortable, and took the artwork I brought in as a "baseline" and modified it perfectly.


6. I'm going to Burning Man. I'm doing it. I've been wanting to go for YEARS, and this year the opportunities have converged such that the universe seems to be saying, "hey, jackass, if you make another excuse, I'm going to have to get you laid off". Yes, thank you, universe. I am a jackass. And I sometimes need you to smack me upside the head to make me notice stuff like this.

   I'm going with some experienced Burners, but if you have suggestions or recommendations or whatnot, I'm absolutely dying for them. Bring 'em on.

OK, I think that's good for this installment. Ask away, interwebs, I know you've got questions. Meanwhile, since I'm, you know, unemployed and all that, I will actually have some time to post some good stuff for y'all this next week or two.

Tags: Food, Food & Drink, Oakland, San Francisco, Burning Man, Jobs, Tattoo

High Points From Vancouver

• Vancouver is a city that truly understands and respects sustainability for the sake of itself, and not because it's chic. I fell in love with the place when we went to Granville Island, potentially the most touristy spot in the city, and found the following dumpster:
  

  

Silly? I don't think so. Truth is, I wish there was a composting bin at the Ferry Building. Hell, maybe there is, but they aren't all over the place like they are here, making it easy for the farmers to pitch in at their convenience. Oh, and also? There's a stall at the Granville Island Public Market which serves up the tastiest Cornish Pasties this side of the Atlantic.

• Lumiere, Rob Feenie's restaurant in Vancouver, has not been getting amazing reviews for naught. So far this year, it is the best meal we've had, including phenomenal wine pairings. Standout dishes?

• White & Green Asparagus with morel blanquette and a poached organic free range egg
• Kaffir Lime-poached Halibut with Local Spot Prawn and Coconut Curry Broth
• Le Plateau de Fromages.  - Know why? Because the Canadians aren't neurotic about unpasteurized soft cheeses. Which means that we ate REAL EPOISSES. Which stank so good, you don't even know.

• Omakase at Tojo's... C's been here a number of times, but since his last visit, Tojo's has moved to a much larger space with some 12 or so seats at the Omakase Bar.  This was an AWESOME meal, with a ridiculously entertaining chef, but with ultimately less raw fish than you might expect if you read the online reviews.
  • This is a great place for uni (sea urchin). It was fresh, flavorful, and of perfect texture
  • Make friends with Tojo-san, pour him (and his sous-chef, to whom he refers as the "second best sushi chef in the world") a couple glasses of sake, and you'll be treated like royalty.
  • See number 2, and hope that he pulls out the big tub of home-marinated seaweed in dashi. If you're lucky, he might scoop some into a shot glass, then top that with an oyster and mountain potato puree. When you do it as a shot, you'll understand the very meaning of umami. You'll bow to the brilliance of the whole damn thing.
  • When Tojo realizes that you have a hollow leg (and that you might eat him out of house and home), he'll mention that a particular dish is "a great way to end your meal". You might think this rude, until you realize just how much you've eaten for your fixed price meal. But, he won't leave you hanging. That last dish might be an unbelievable big-eye tuna loin, wrapped in seaweed with a light dusting of panko flour, and deep-friend until the center is still perfectly rare but warm. You might not think this is possible until you've eaten it. It is, and it's maybe the second-best use of a deep fryer in the world. (For the record, the first would be fried chicken. Which I did NOT eat in Vancouver. Duh).

• As you're walking covetously towards Cartier on Howe Street, you might realize that you're really hungry. And that they don't open until 10am (hopefully, you won't wonder why you're thinking about bling this early in the day).
  
  So you might ask around, and be directed towards Scoozi's, an itsy-bitsy joint for the office crowd downtown. Grab a seat at an outside table and enjoy a cup of coffee with steamed milk (served tableside to your taste) while you wait for your breakfast.
  
  When Michael tells you they're well-known for their yogurt, you'll believe him and tuck into a bowl of the best -- and I mean better than fresh Persian -- yogurt with fresh seasonal fruit drizzled with local British Columbian honey.
  

  

  And then? Then you might order a breakfast pizza, with a deeeeeelish cornmeal crust, lusciously moist ham, pesto-scrambled eggs, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. You might stab your husfriend as he grabs for a nibble beyond his sanctioned slice.
  

  

The other thing that I realize as I go through the pictures of our Vancouver trip is that the skyline somehow reminds me of Tehran's. I wonder if that isn't part of the reason it feels so close to home for me. I'm really not exaggerating, you see, when I say that I would move here in a heartbeat, given the chance.

And also? If I could take a moment to get all schmoopy-poopy-sappy on you?

I have this uncle. He's maybe my favorite person in the whole world. I adore him in ways that make me cry when I think of him, because I didn't see him for 20 years before this weekend. I hadn't ever met his wife or his son -- people who, sight unseen, were were as dear as life to me.  Jamshid taught me how to ride a bike, he taught me about music, he taught me that sometimes life hands you lemons, and you learn to make lemonade. Now he lives just two hours from me after two decades where he lived in Iran and I lived here. When we saw each other, we literally RAN the length of the street that separated us. It was like something in a slow-motion movie.

Daiee Joon, I've missed you painfully. I'm so sorry we didn't see more of each other this weekend. I can't wait to see you and N and M again next month. I can't wait to spend time with this beautiful family you've made, and my little cousin who is the smartest kid I've ever met. I love you!!!

Tags: Food, Wine, Food & Drink, San Francisco, Vancouver, Iran, Lumiere, Tojos

Leeeeaaaving, blah-blah Jet Plane...

OK, kids. Here's the deal. I've got one restaurant related post that I'll get up this week for y'all (pretty pictures courtesy of C included).

But then? Then, my life turns to shit for two weeks. Well, no, that's not true. I have two weeks of travel hell, but only ten days of true shit. The last five days are  going to be pretty and shiny once we get there.

So, posting might be light, and that which there is is likely to be snarky and bitchy at times. But, if you are interested in joining me on my travel to hell and back, check out my Twitter, which I'm currently a little in love with. I was thinking about putting a badge up there on the right somewhere, but thought it would detract from the LOVELY design of this site. {snort} and also {hint-hint... you know who you are}. And if you're into the whole "stalker-vibe" thing, you can send a text to 40404 with "Follow fkhatibloo1" and you'll get my updates as texts to your phone. Freaky, huh?

Anyway - tasty lunch at the new Cesar on Piedmont Avenue to come. And then? Who knows. But keep with me, and if you feel like sending notes of fortitude from time to time, I'd love to hear from 'ya.

In the meantime, check out the heinousness of this itinerary... food recommendations in any of the cities mentioned would be graciously accepted.

May 14:        Depart San Francisco on the red-eye to...
May 15:        Washington, DC connecting to...
               Charlotte, NC on a stopover to...
               Fort Myers, FL...
               Pick up rental car
               Client Meeting & Dinner
May 16:        Drive to Ft. Lauderdale
               Client Meeting
               Depart Ft. Lauderdale to...
               Denver...
May 17:        Drive to Golden, CO
May 18:        Depart Denver to Boston...
May 20 - 23:   Conference Inferno
May 23:        Depart Boston to...
               San Francisco
May 25:        Depart San Francisco to...
               Vancouver, baby!
May 29:        Depart Vancouver to...
               San Francisco

Send supports, people. I'm goin' in.

Tags: Food, Travel, Boston, San Francisco, Vancouver, Florida, ACCM