A wild coast escape and Thanksgiving dinner at Big Sur Bakery

thanksgiving dinner at big sur bakery

the location.
big sur bakery + restaurant, big sur, california
the menu.
~ creamy butternut squash soup with toasted seeds and pomegranate
~ field greens with herbed buttermilk dressing & roasted pecans
~ wood roasted turkey breast & braised turkey legs with roasted cranberry sauce
~ herb mashed potatoes with garlic gravy
~ wax & string beans with fried shallots
~ traditional mushroom stuffing
~ fresh baked parker house rolls
~ apple pie with vanilla ice cream & pumpkin pie with whipped cream 

TBD Restaurant, campfire ambience & wood fired hearth cooking

the location.
tbd restaurant, san francisco, california
the menu.

~ autumn lettuces with butcher's vinaigrette

~ beef tartare, cheedar & beer, bitter herbs

~ {pinkie's bakery} toasted bread, butter & seaweed 

~ cabbage, local clams, hot peppers, bonito

~ heirloom carrots, lentils, sesame

~ lamb breast, preserved peaches & urfa

~ arepa flatbread, aged jack, maitake mushrooms

Le Diner a San Francisco, a pop-up picnic dinner with friends {& 4000 others}

Le Diner à San Francisco, an annual elegant all-white pop-up picnic dinner with a long tradition in Paris was held in San Francisco for the third time this Friday. The secret location {Civic Center Plaza} was not revealed until hours before the picnic - and by late afternoon long rows of tables set up under the plaza's allées of pollarded sycamore trees were slowly turning into elaborately decorated all-white picnic tables, with thousands of diners following the all-white dress code {bringing fabulous foods & wines to the tables} ...

Recipe : fig crostata & plum crostata {straight from the tree}

fig crostata plum recipe

We only spent a few days in Anderson Valley, but an overbearing fig and Santa Rosa plum tree bursting with ripe fruit made for the perfect excuse to bake not one, but two Indian summer fruit tarts. The crust for both tarts was based on Elizabeth Minchilli's infallible shortcrust {no long kneading, no chilling, no rolling pin!}, a recipe that has become a dessert staple around our kitchen since the first cherry crostata earlier this summer - so here's to sharing it again ...

Recipe : Oven Roasted Plum Rosemary Jam

It was the peak of plum season in Anderson Valley last month and I don't think I have ever seen fruit trees laden with more ripe fruit: there were two plum trees in the fruit orchard {a yellow Mirabelle and a purple Santa Rosa variety} and each tree's branches were covered in heavy clusters of sweet plums. While picking a small basket for lunchtime plum crostata, ripe plums literally started raining down from the heavy branches - so, two full baskets later we decided to make jam with the sudden harvest bounty!

Indian summer days in Anderson Valley

A rustic ranch in the hills above the Anderson Valley. Days of homestead living with chickens and roosters, sheep and goats, a wise dog, two barn cats and a hog named Piggy. Amazing sunset views over the coastal range in the distance. And a fruit orchard bursting with ripe fruit - bright yellow mirabelle plums, golden Asian pears, tart red apples, sweet green apples, fragrant Santa Rosa plums, sweet figs and the tiniest of grapes {more on some baking here & canning here} ...

Market: Shed, a modern grange in Healdsburg

On a recent rainy Saturday, on the way to Anderson Valley, we met our friends Grace, Scott & Tasman* at the new Shed in Healdsburg {* find T. below} ...

What a gorgeous space: a huge modern barn structure with recycled steel siding & all-glass facade opens to an open, airy space divided into three retail sections {cooking, farming & eating} sharing space with a coffee bar, cafe, fermentation bar, larder and grain mill.  The second level is a beautiful event space, a  bright hall opening to two observation decks with various seating areas and an open prep kitchen. Gorgeous tile details & amazing woodwork throughout.  From seasonal produce to European bee hives, from old-school cooking utensils to local wines, it's a new mercantile concept taking inspiration from the traditional agrarian grange, connecting local producers to the community and supporting sustainability.

A rainy morning in the country & breakfast with Mr. Boots

Waking up to a grey and rainy Saturday {fall is in the air!} brightened by a very sunny breakfast: 

ripe local peaches and black mission figs, ricotta cheese drizzled with Camp Meeker honey and skillet warmed scones from Wild Flour Bread ... 

It's aperitivo time at Sweetwater ...

the location.

michael's barn in sonoma county, california

the menu.

~ local marinated goat cheese & gruyere with caper berries

~ humboldt fog goat cheese with concord grapes

~ la quercia prosciutto with black mission figs

~ michael's famous butter toasted ciabatta crostini
~ marinated olives & bosc pears

An Italian inspired picnic dinner {finally, summer in the city!}

the location.
philippine + daniel's kitchen and garden, san francisco, california
the menu.
~ aperitivo {capocollo, black mission figs & lucques olives}
~ insalata caprese with yellow peaches { recipe here }
~ tonno del chianti with canellini bean arugula salad and pickled onions { recipe here }
~ grapefruit campari granita with whipped creme fraiche

Ligurian cooking in San Francisco { Cucina di Giulio}

the location.
monica + brett's kitchen, san francisco, california
the menu.
~ marinated olives, nuts & tapenade cherry tomato canapes
~ risotto with white endive, grapes & roquefort cheese
~ pesce alla liguria {cod fish with olives, tomatoes, potatoes & olive oil}
~ baked banana & peaches

Aperitivo afternoon in an enchanted garden

aperitivo italiano italian aperitivo

the location.

jasmine & frank's garden,  mill valley, california

the {aperitivo} menu.

~ prosciutto di san daniele with black figs, arugula & fresh mint

~ roasted red bell peppers with burrata 

~ bruschetta with feta, cherry tomatoes & basil / prosciutto & shaved parmesan

~ crostini with chickpea tomato dip
~ Italian salumi, cheese & marinated olive platter

~ grissini, tarelli & breads

~ pistachio & limone gelato with rosemary short bread

italian aperitivo italiano 

A ping-pong afternoon & farm dinner with friends

the location.

madeleine & thomas' farm kitchen, marin, california

the menu.

~ cheese, bread & cracker spread {& plums from the garden}

~ local bone-in pork shoulder braised with tomatoes & onions

~ roasted potatoes with fried sage leaves, wild rice and quinoa

~ garden fresh lettuce with corn & carrots

~ yellow peach crostata {recipe here} with whipped cream

Carmel's birthday dinner in the Mission

the location.
sharon & scott's victorian, san francisco, california
the menu.
~ salumi & prosciutto platter
~ grilled asparagus, cucumbers with feta & mint and bean tomato antipasto
~ chicken marbella {marinated with green olives, prunes & capers} served with wild rice
~ almond cakes with dark chocolate frosting