Caviar & Champagne!

Sausalito's California Caviar Company will host a caviar and champagne tasting as part of the Sausalito Woman's Club Preservation Society (SWCPS) Harvest Festival from 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday September 27, 2014.  Guests will mingle around the communal table while SWCPS is pouring the champagne to complement the Caviar tasting at the same time as experts talk about the nuances and contrasting flavors of caviar. Among the caviars California Caviar Company offers is the highly coveted Premium Black Caviar, and their signature caviars include those that are infused with bacon, Bourbon, truffle and saffron.  

There is a choice of tastings:

$25 – Silver Tasting – One glass of MUMM Sparkling Wine and 3 tastes of caviar with the works (2 Signature caviars and 1 Premium Black Caviar)

$35 – Gold Tasting - One glass of MUMM Sparkling Wine and 3 tastes of caviar with the works (1 Signature caviars and 2 Premium Black Caviars)

There are limited seatings at different times to ensure the best experience for all.  For more information and to purchase tasting tickets, click this link:

 http://swcpsharvestfestival.weebly.com/tickets.html.

You can also purchase caviar for delivery at the event at the date you choose (think holiday parties).

The event is a fundraiser and general admission is $40.  Other local artisan food, beverage and wine purveyors will also be there. Enjoy meeting them while enjoying works of local artists and live music with jazz artist, Francesca Lee.

The event will be held at 120 Central Avenue in Sausalito.  Go to hswcpsharvestfestival.weebly.com for more information about the SWCPS Harvest Festival.

Find out more about California Caviar at www.californiacaviar.com.

Left Bank Larspur Celebrates 20

It all began in Larkspur 20 years ago with the original Left Bank.  It has grown to be a family of three restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area headed up by Propriétaire and CEO Ed Levine and Chief Culinary Officer Roland Passot.

From September 18 through 27 the celebration will showcase on the dinner menu classic from-the-past items: La Quenelle Lyonnaise with scallop and salmon mousse and a saffron cream sauce; La Tarte Lyonnaise (in the style of Chef Passot’s hometown), a leek and onion tart with applewood smoked bacon; La Bouillabaisse, a fragrant seafood stew from Marseille served with rouille croutons; and Coq au Vin, chicken stewed with red wine, pearl onions, lardons and mushrooms.

Many alumni who have taken a turn at the Left Bank are now names in the industry. A press release notes, "On the occasion of this milestone anniversary, Levine and Passot note with great pride the number of culinary luminaries who have able to propel their careers thought their association over the years with Left Bank. These include Richard Reddington, Proprietor, Redd and Reddwood; Shelly Lindgren co-founder, A-16 and SPQR; Todd Kniess, Bistro Liaison; Ralph Hershom, formerly Beverage Director with La Cirque and now at Ralph’s Wine and Spirits in Rye, NY; Erik Romme, Executive Chef Menlo Grill at the Stanford Park Hotel; Erik Oberholtzer, founder Tender Greens; Sean Canavan, Regional Chef Tender Greens; Michel Tersiguel, owner and Executive Chef of Tersiguel’s in Ellicott City, Maryland; Jim Vandercook, CEO of Eddie V’s; and Mario Vega, Managing Partner, Eddie V’s Restaurants, Inc. Levine adds, "I vividly remember the day in 1994 when the New York Times' Bryan Miller heralded the restaurant and then Focus Magazine ranked us the top North Bay new dining spot, ahead of French Laundry. Later that same year we were featured in Gourmet Magazine.""

Currently Chef de Cuisine Fabrice Marcon is responsible for the menu, with emphasis on seasonal, often locally sourced organic ingredients.  

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursdan from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday brunch at 11 a.m.

Left Bank Larkspur
507 Magnolia Ave.
Larkspur, CA 94939
(415) 927-3331
www.leftbank.com/home_larkspur

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Bio- a little French twist in Sausalito

Bio started in San Francisco, and now its Sausalito location is not only open, but beckons with French hospitality.  The window denotes that its menu has an emphasis on crepes, and it is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Enjoy watching a French television channel while waiting for your order.  Bio is owned and run by Sylvie Krawec, who will greet you, seat you and do all the tasks, including cooking to bring you a meal which is local, organic, and with many gluten free options.

Sylvie is originally from Madagascar, although it's been 25 years since she's been there.  There has been a chalkboard sign outside touting the "Best Coffee from Madagascar" (usually $2, special price $1).  And it is really smooth, rich and delicious.

I think this is the only place in Marin to serve galettes, a buckwheat crepe that is gluten-free. The restaurant is also potato-free according to Sylvie.  The Galette with vegetable of the day ($14) has a choice of filling featuring chicken, jambon de Paris, duck confit or smoked salmon.  I chose the jambon de Paris.

I cut open the galette to find the filling also included a white cheese. The dish was accompanied by the vegetable of the day, a mix of finely sliced summer squash and red peppers which was sauteed in a little olive oil and herbs.

I also tried the "Natural Organic Berry Purée" ($4) which was made of organic strawberries the morning I visited.

I enjoyed the food, beautiful decor, and not to mention the French TV so much I had to return for a second visit the next day.  I changed it up by ordering a Bio  Croque-Monsieur ($8) with vegetable of the day. That day's vegetable was a ratatouille freaturing very finely sliced vegetables. Summer squash, zucchini, onions and I think eggplant that made a nice addition to the sandwich.  The surprise was that the sandwich base is a gluten-free thick slice of brioche, topped with ham, cheese and Béchamel sauce.

Bio is relaxing, inviting and the food is good too.

Bio

2633 Bridgeway

Sausalito, CA 94965

(415) 324-7080

www.biologiquesf.com

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

BBQ n Curry House

Sausalito has its own Halal Indian & Pakistani restaurant in Marin City, the BBQ N Curry House.   Shahid and Sana Saracha have poured their hearts into making their offerings with care and giving friendly service.  Besides being Halal, where the animals are killed humanely, the dishes are prepared with whole herbs and spices for the most part, which means you get all the flavor, without stomach upset.  

The yogurt used in the mango lassi ($1.99), and other dishes, is house made and it tastes exceptionally fresh. 

The samosa ($3.99) was served piping hot and was crisp on the outside, tender on the inside.

This special dish - Aloo Keema ($12.99), roasted potatoes simmered with ground beef, onions, tomatoes, garlic, green peppers, ginger and special spices will get you hooked.  It is a very simple dish but elevated by the ginger and 'special spices'.  Half of this came home with me and shared with a friend that had dropped by, who kept making 'mmm.. mmm' noises as he polished it off.

This garlic cheese naan ($1.99) was addictive, and garlic was very much in evidence.

This plain naan ($1.50) was hot, buttery and had a delicious blistery quality.

Another tasty special is the Chicken Jalfarzi ($12.99)- tender morsels of  boneless white chicken pieces in a thick stew with red peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic and special spices.  I've ordered this dish several times and it it consistently flavorful.

My friend enjoyed the fish biryani ($12.99), which he kept praising for several days after the meal.   

 The fragrant basmati rice ($2)  was the perfect foil for the other dishes as well.

The service was great and the owners were friendly.  If you want to catch a plate here soon, you'll need to show up before Shahid and Sana take a vacation from September 25 to October 13, reopening October 14, 2014.

BBQ n Curry House
160H Donahue St.
Sausalito, CA 94965

(415)289-0786
www.bbqncurryhouse.com

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Fleeting Hatch Chiles

Are Hatch Chiles on your radar?  

These beauties are only in season a few weeks each summer, and still available for a couple weeks at our bay area Mollie Stone's Markets. Hatch Chiles are only grown in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico, and its season is in August and September.

I got my hands on some fresh ones and took them to a friend's house for a birthday barbecue.  First I split them so that the flat side would rest well on the grill.

Then these prepped chiles got a quick bath in a fresh lemon and olive oil mixture I whisked together.

With the oil marinade, it's not surprising that these flamed up a bit on the grill.

Nicely grilled, the Hatch Chiles made a nice addition to the summer's bounty of grilled vegetables.

There are other ways to preserve the experience year round, with dried Hatch Chiles, Hatch Chili powder and a peppy Hatch Salsa. Melissa's makes the Hatch Chile powder and the Hatch Salsa.  Melissa's also provides fresh Hatch Chiles by the case to Mollie Stone's. A Hatch Chile cookbook is available for sale at Mollie's as well, with 176 pages of Hatch Chile inspiration.

The Hatch Chiles I bought were pretty mild with only a slight kick.  The Hatch Salsa was a little spicier.

I brought the salsa to the birthday barbecue as well.  My friends gave it a thumbs up and it disappeared fast. Mollie Stone's is celebrating the season not only with roasts at it's various San Francisco bay area locations, but its delis and bakeries are including it in some seasonal dishes, such as twice baked potatoes with Hatch Chiles, a Hatch Chile corn bread, and I even saw a Hatch Chile Relleno Casserole in its Sausalito store. Celebrate the Hatch Chiles as part of the fleeting fall season. And if you need another reason, a medium-sized fresh Hatch Chile has as much vitamin C as six oranges!

Former Mill Valley Champagne Space to Morph

Enjoy Mill Valley blog reports that the former space of Champagne in Mill Valley is the intended home of a new modern Mexican restaurant "Playa".  Karen Goldberg, owner of Mill Valley's TamalPie has big plans for it.  Read more at Enjoy Mill Valley.

Off the path for breakfast

Anchorage 5 Restaurant is a favorite locals hang out in Sausalito. Located a few blocks off Bridgeway across from the Heath Ceramics outlet, it is not far from the harbor and quite a few boaters and live-aboards enjoy breakfast or lunch here. I'm posting from a couple of recent trips here.

The French Toast Sandwich ($10.95), is really a deconstructed one with the ingredients (French toast, one egg and three pieces of bacon) plated attractively. There is cinnamon added to the batter which gives it interest, as well as the maple syrup served on the side.

The "Sailor" ($11.95) has a hamburger patty, two eggs, grilled mushrooms and onions piled on rye toast with a topping of cheddar cheese.  This is definitely filling and indicated for those who need the calories to row the boat.

Service is efficient and cheerful, and if you want to catch the more laid-back local vibe, you won't go wrong with a breakfast or lunch at Anchorage 5 Restaurant.

Anchorage 5 Restaurant

475 Gate 5 Road

Sausalito, CA 94965

(415) 331-8329

Previously reviewed:

February 3, 2009

March 2, 2008

October 17, 2007

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.