Tag Tartine

Starting a Cookbook Club, a Spicy Twist on an Afternoon with Friends

2 comments By The Kitchen Whisperer Filed in General Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , January 5th, 2010 @ 5:21 pm

One of the things that makes the office environment at Parties That Cook so special is that we have a monthly cookbook club. Once a month, one person picks a cookbook and the first Monday of the month to hold the potluck. The rest of us choose a recipe out of this chosen cookbook and either spend the entire month pouring over how to make this recipe the best, or the Sunday evening before at 10 p.m. rushing to bake a cake. However we do it, it always ends up being an eventful lunch hour sharing our cooking stories and decompressing from a month of attempting no side conversations.

If it is just a few friends, coworkers, or complete strangers, cookbook clubs are a great way to build friendships and buff up your skills in the kitchen. No kitchen prowess is needed, so they are a fun activity for beginners but can be just as exciting trained chefs. For beginners, Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything” and any Barefoot Contessa cookbook would be great because they are so well-tested. As you become more advanced, try to challenge yourself with something like Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”.

Why limit it to cookbooks? Cooking magazines have great recipes as well as mouth-watering photographs. “Fine Cooking” and “Cooks Illustrated” are both wonderful starts. They focus more on teaching and don’t assume that you are completely experienced.

Not only could you check out magazines but also some of the chefs on the Food Network. Giada De Laurentiis and Rachel Ray would be a good start.

As you cover the more well known cookbooks, it is always fun to have a breakfast cookbook club, like we did with the “Tartine” cookbook, or a trip to Egypt over lunch, much like our “Dining on the Nile” cookbook club. It is never a mistake to choose a more specific genre of cookbooks. You may not come out with the variety you would get with something like the “Joy of Cooking”, but you’ll be surprised with all of the different flavors you can find in just one course.

Hosting a cookbook club monthly with your friends is a great way to beat the heat of the economy while still enjoying yourself.

Top San Francisco Restaurants

2 comments By The Kitchen Whisperer Filed in General Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , December 8th, 2009 @ 8:49 pm

Take a break from the holiday festivities and grab a date or a group of friends and treat yourself to a delicious meal. Bibby is constantly being asked about her list of top San Francisco restaurants and there’s no perfect time like the present to try one of her favorites. Or give a gift certificate as the perfect holiday gift! Here is her list of favorite local, neighborhood spots, wine bars and large scale restaurants.

A-16 – (Marina) Perfect for pizza fans and wine aficionados. The southern Italian-inspired menu features authentic Neapolitan pizza, fresh pasta and house-cured meats.

Da Flora – (North Beach) Small but romantic, this rivals any good Italian restaurant in North Beach.

Delfina – (Mission) The menu changes daily, but the pork sugo with pappardelle is a definite must try.

Rose’s Cafe – (Cow Hollow) This bistro-café offers sidewalk tables and a bakery with a daily selection of pastries, desserts and breads.

54Mint – (SOMA) Rustic Italian eatery and deli.

Conduit – (Mission) Contemporary American with French and Italian influences.

Terzo – (Cow Hollow) Seasonal Pan-Mediterranean menu featuring small and large plates.

Aziza – (Outer Richmond) One of the best, if not the best Moroccan restaurant in the city. The menu is California influenced and offers organic and locally produced ingredients.

Sushi Ran – (Marin) Fusion of traditional Japanese and Pacific cuisine.

Picco – (Larkspur) Pizza and homemade ice cream with an eclectic wine selection.

Isa – (Marina) French tapas that are elegant, yet straightforward.

Pizzetta 211 – (Richmond) Amazing pizzas with only 4 tables, so go early. Cash only.

1550 Hyde Cafe and Wine Bar – (Russian Hill) All organic and sustainable; a member of the Slow Food movement. Tuesdays are free corkage nights.

Chez Panisse – (Berkeley) A neighborhood bistro and a Bay Area favorite since the 70s. Seasonal fixed dinner

menu with sustainably-sourced, organic and seasonal ingredients.

Zuni Café – (Upper Market) Seasonal organic ingredients that incorporate traditional regional French and Italian cuisine. Two words: roast chicken!

Fresca – (Pac Heights) Peruvian gourmet with a gastronomic approach.

Citizen Cake – (Opera district) Known for their whimsical touch, the retail bakery/café features tons of baked goods.

Tartine – (Noe) Delicious bakery that is perfect for breakfast or lunch.

Bar Tartine – (Mission) Cozy spot with a great brunch menu.

Foreign Cinema – (Mission) Daily menu changes of California/Mediterranean cuisine in an industrial chic setting. Foreign and independent films are screened in an outdoor courtyard.

Destino – (Market Street) South American with a contemporary twist. The wine list features selections from South America, Spain and California.

Universal Café – (Mission) A favorite brunch destination with ingredients from environmentally sustainable farms and ranches.

Piccino – (Potrero) Seasonally driven menu  from local and organic purveyors. The coffee bar is three doors down.

DOSA on Fillmore – (Pac Heights) Eco-friendly restaurant featuring South Indian ‘home-style’ cuisine with an innovative interpretation.

Burma Superstar – (Inner Richmond) Burmese at its best. Worth the wait in line.

OTD – (Pacific Heights) Well prepared Vietnamese cooking in a modern setting.

Kasa – (Castro) Inexpensive home-style Indian.

Flour + Water – (Mission) Simple and authentic food like hand-rolled pastas and cured meats are all done in house. Their mantra is the triple r: refurbished, repurposed and reclaimed.

Mamacita – (Marina) A marry of well-known Mexican street food and family dishes with sustainable, local ingredients.

Bar Jules – (Hayes Valley) Small and cozy with produce from small farmers and sustainable meat and fish.

Gitane – (Downtown) Simple bistro fare of the Basque region in a modern, funky setting.

Wine Bars of Choice:
Hotel Biron – (Opera district) European style wine bar with a tasty cheese menu.

Hidden Vine – (Downtown/Nob Hill) Very, very cozy and romantic.

For a Large Scale Restaurant:
Spruce – (Laurel Heights) Contemporary American cuisine with a temperature controlled curing room for its in-house charcuterie program.

Quince – (Financial District) Newly located to Pacific Ave. It’s upscale Italian at this high-end neighborhood favorite.

Kokkari – (Jackson Square) Greek with a French twist. Great ambiance in its European old-world setting.

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