Tiburon Tavern celebrates Tiburon's 50th

Photo Courtesy of The Lodge at Tiburon

Celebrate with Tiburon Tavern May 30 for the town of  Tiburon's 50th birthday.  At lunch or dinner order “The Bees Knees” -Woodstock Honey Bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup, served with a small order of Fried Herbed Rice Balls with lemon thyme aioli all for only $2. One order per adult at the table only.

Tiburon Tavern
1651 Tiburon Blvd.
Tiburon, CA 94920
(415) 435-5996
http://lodgeattiburon.com/amenities/tiburon-tavern/

DeLoach Vineyards' Pinot Classic Paulée Dinner

Photo credit: Paul Miller

The Pinot Classic Paulée Dinner at DeLoach Vineyards will feature food by Michou Cornu, Director of Cuisine and Hospitality at Boisset Family Estates who will prepare a three-course, Pinot-inspired menu. In Burgandy France, the original Paulées celebrated the end of harvest where the winemakers would enjoy a meal out of a sauté pan and bring a special bottle of wine to share.

Photo credit: Paul Miller

Dine al fresco and rub elbows with the wine personalities including more than 15 winemakers on site, such as Arista Winery, Bacigalupi Vineyards, Benovia Winery, Bucher Vineyard, C. Donatiello Winery, Davis Family Wines, DeLoach Vineyards, Hartford Family Winery, Iron Horse Vineyards, La Crema, La Follette, J. Vineyards & Winery, Joseph Swan Vineyards, Kosta Browne, Merry Edwards Winery, Russian Hill Estate Winery, Siduri Wines, Thomas George Estates, Trione Vineyards and Winery, Williams Selyem. Of course these winemakers will bring special bottles of wine, and you are invited to bring yours as well.  Because the number of people will be larger than can accommodate a meal out of one sauté pan, so to should you bring multiple bottles or a magnum of your choice of wine to bring.  Bring a wrap, and ladies, leave the stilettos at home unless you want to be trapped in the lawn.  This is a once in a lifetime type event, and TOMORROW, May 24 from 6 p.m.  To insure your ticket, call ahead to the vineyard, online sales have ended but there are a few seats left.  The cost is $250 per person.

DeLoach Vineyards
1791 Olivet Rd.
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707.755.3309
www.deloachvineyards.com

Harmonious

Harmony - fresh, light and organic, and tasty too.  I recently enjoyed a meal at this popular Mill Valley Chinese restaurant.

I love that their Crisp Living Butter Lettuce Cups with minced chicken and celery, organic carrots, water chestnuts and shitakes ($12) comes with the plum sauce on the side so controlling the amount of sweet flavor is easy.

And why did I wait so long to try the Organic Tofu infused with shitake mushrooms, wrapped in seaweed, lightly fried, tossed w/ garlic, chiles, cilantro, scallions ($9.50)?  I saw it on the menu, but couldn't picture the dish, then one day took the leap, and now it's frequently in my favorite dish rotation when dining at Harmony.  They also are very good about assisting people with special diets such as gluten free.  Service was stellar and consistent with past experience.

I didn't order it this visit, but the Chocolate Sesame Ball ground lotus seed flour, sweet bean paste, melted chocolate and crushed almonds ($5) is quite a unique taste treat; I don't usually associate chocolate with Chinese restaurants.

Harmony Restaurant

800 Redwood Hwy, Ste 401

Mill Valley, CA 94941

(415) 381-5300

www.harmonyrestaurantgroup.com

Previously reviewed:

August 10, 2007

July 17, 2007

February 23, 2007

Get directions and explore on Anna's Map.

Thai Restaurants in Marin

photo credit: iStockphoto

Here's an update on Thai cuisine in Marin.  Marin continues to have a wide variety of choices for eating good Thai food.  The last time I summarized the list was May 7, 2009. Links to reviews on this blog, or other information about the restaurants appears organized by city below.

Thai Restaurants I've discovered

Corte Madera
Tub Tim Thai

Fairfax
Siam Lotus

Larkspur
R'Noh Thai
Tha Siam
Sea Thai Bistro - to be visited

Mill Valley
Boo Koo (Fusion) - to be visited
Thailand Restaurant - to be visited
Thep Lela

Novato
Arun Thai Restaurant - to be visited
Chao Praya
My Thai II - to be visited
Thai Bistro
Thai Kettle (Farmers' Market) - to be visited

San Anselmo
Auryn Thai Cuisine - to be visited
Bann Thai - to be visited

San Rafael
Bankok Thai Express
Bay Thai Cuisine
Calgang
My Thai
Royal Thai Restaurant
Savory Orient (Fusion)
Signature Thai
Thai Smile
Tommy's Asian Bistro & Grill (Fusion) - to be visited

Sausalito
Arawan Thai Cuisine
Kitti's Place
Thai Terrace

Other Greater Bay Area Thai places I've reviewed

East Bay
Da Nang

Sonoma
Sukhothai
Thailand Thai Cuisine

Grads Eat Free (with two others)

Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt San Francisco

Looking to celebrate a high school or university graduation? OneUP at the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco is offering a celebration deal - 2014 grads eat free with two adult paid meals per graduate. OneUP takes more of the work out of celebrating with the Grand Hyatt San Francisco’s concierges coordinating graduation lei deliveries direct to the restaurant from local florists including Leis for Kokomo and Aloha Leis. Graduates who stay at the Grand Hyatt will be treated to a special in-room welcome message, another recognition of their dedication and hard work to complete their studies. What's on the menu?  Dishes include seafood Louie with Dungeness crab and shrimp; organic fried chicken breast with warm potato salad and buttered baby kale; grilled New York steak with smashed Yukons, sautéed kale and blue cheese garlic butter; and chocolate royale.  All for $25 per person for lunch and $35 per person for dinner, exclusive of tax and gratuity.  Full menu can be found here.  Offer ends June 30, 2014. Go to the website for full details.

OneUp
Grand Hyatt Hotel
345 Stockton St.
San Francisco, CA 94108
For reservations and more information call 415.398.1234

Tried and True

Daniel and I had dinner at Joe's Taco Lounge in Mill Valley a couple days ago.  Daniel had recently discovered  and asked me why I'd never taken him there. Why indeed?  The festive and casual atmosphere is still a happy one with intergenerational presence.  There are hundreds of hot sauces to choose from lining the shelf that encircles the inside of the restaurant.  Daniel enjoyed the Grilled Pacific Snapper Burrito with rice, black beans, cheese and salsa negra ($7.50).  He keeps coming back for this filling and healthy meal he likes it so much.

I was tempted by the chalkboard special- Pollo Adobado ($15.95).  The small print read tender chicken marinated in achiote, garlic, lime, salt and pepper, served with refried black beans, Spanish rice, sour cream and guacamole. Not mentioned was the bit of shredded lettuce and pico de gallo that completed the plate.  The chicken was tender and well marinated, and a taste of achiote, garlic and lime was distinguishable.  The servers were attentive and we enjoyed our meal.

Joe's Taco Lounge 

382 Miller Ave.

Mill Valley, CA 94941

(415) 383-8164

www.joestacolounge.com

Facebook

Previously reviewed:

July 11, 2009

May 26, 2007

Get directions and explore on Anna's Map.

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Entebbe Breakfast

My first impression of Uganda came as I tiredly stumbled out of Entebbe airport into the dark, greeted by a noisy throng of drivers of all types, waving signs of the names of each intended pick up, names that looked to be from every corner of the world. I was with fellow traveler Lee, and we were scanning for a familiar face, Peter, Executive Director Emeritus of Global Partners for Development, a veteran of many a visit to Uganda. 

Ah, there he was and we were quickly whisked off to our lodging at the Gately Inn. It was so dark for an urban area, yet alive with all manner of transport from bicycles to boda-bodas, a kind of scooter or motorbike boost driven by a young man for a small price.  

Waking up the next morning the first impression was of sound, a riot of birds chirping and insects humming. The Inn had breakfast service on its veranda, and I chose eggs Benedict on "whole meal" bread. Rustic looking, as pictured above, but tasty and satisfying with the telltale dark yellow yolks of pastured chickens. So started my three week trip to Africa in February.