Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Chinese Valentine's Day

Photo credit:Vanessa Karlsson 

Do you know about Chinese Valentine's Day?  It is August 2, and Fang Restaurant in San Francisco is celebrating with a special one night only dish for romantics. Chef Kathy Fang is cooking up Heart-Warming Spicy Beef Noodle Soup for Two ($15).  The noodle dish features a rich, flavorful broth made from beef bones, short rib, aromatics, and peppercorns, and is served with rice noodles and succulent pork wontons. Couples who order the special dish to share will also receive two sets of beautiful, satin-wrapped chopsticks which symbolize romantic love and are often gifted to newlyweds in the Chinese culture to encourage fertility. 

The background to this day is a love story between the Weaver girl (symbolizing Vega) and the Cowherd (symbolizing Altair).  They were in love but because their love was not allowed, they were banished to opposite sides of the Silver River (Milky Way), but once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, a flock of magpies form a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day. Thus a pair of magpies came to symbolize marital happiness and faithfulness. Currently in urban China people take the opportunity to buy flowers, especially blue roses symbolizing hopeful love as well as chocolates to gift their sweethearts.

Chef Kathy Fang is the daughter of Peter Fang, chef/owner of the famed House of Nanking. Growing up in House of Nanking's kitchen, Kathy found her passion for cooking and received her formal training at  Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School.  Blending her schooling, Cantonese heritage and cooking style with her own native San Franciscan perspective, as well as her global travels she has created a menu with equal parts tradition and inspiration.

660 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 777-8580


Sunday, July 27, 2014

Mill Valley's Toast to Close; Kitchen Sunnyside to follow

Toast

Enjoy Mill Valley blog reports that Mill Valley's "Toast" to close September 1 and Sausalito's Fred's Cafe owner, Steven Choi will open "Kitchen Sunnyside" after renovations later in Fall 2014. 

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Vive la revolution!

Left Bank

Bastille Day cometh!  Whether you are French or not  have fun celebrating the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille. On the day, July 14, Left Bank Brasserie in Larkspur will be celebrating in style with staff dressed in Moulin Rouge garb, as well as decorations in same theme, plus live music, and caricature artist Jon Casey will be available to sketch guests from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Live music will be provided by Orgue de Barbarie musician Michel Michelis who will play from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Besides the regular menu, celebratory al la carte menu specials will be served.  Selected menu items include smoked pistachio sausage wrapped in brioche dough with lamb’s lettuce salad and truffle sauce; herb rubbed Provençal roasted rack of pork with porcini sauce, green beans and baked potatoes; and Provençal fish stew with branzino, local snapper, mussels, clams and prawns served with garlic toasts and spicy aioli.

Left Bank Brasserie Larkspur 
507 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur, CA 
(415) 927-3331 

Previously reviewed:

Get directions on Anna's Map.