— Eating Out —

Maum – A Modern Korean Tasting Menu in Palo Alto

August 22, 2018
Maum - Duck “Dduckgalbi”, scallion salad

Maum continues the trend of tasting menus that incorporate traditional Asian flavors in a modern and elevated dining experience. In contrast to other SF Bay Area spots like SingleThread Farms or Manresa that draw inspiration from Asian ingredients and techniques, I would consider Maum to be more similar to Benu, Hiroshi, Eight Tables, or the now-shuttered Mosu SF.… Read More Maum – A Modern Korean Tasting Menu in Palo Alto

— Eating Out, Travel —

Dining Inside the Eiffel Tower at Le Jules Verne – Paris, France

August 7, 2018
Le Jules Verne - Fin velouté de petits pois, royale d’oursin (Delicate green pea velouté, sea urchin royale, langoustine)

A great way to skip the line at the Eiffel Tower? Make reservations at Le Jules Verne, Chef Alain Ducasse’s restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower! Be prepared to pay though, because this was rather pricey for a one Michelin Star spot. Tasting menus start at 105€ for three courses (weekday lunch only) and climb to… Read More Dining Inside the Eiffel Tower at Le Jules Verne – Paris, France

— Eating Out —

The Disfrutar Especial Tasting Menu – Barcelona, Spain

June 19, 2018
Disfrutar - Multi spherical tatin of foie gras and corn

Disfrutar means “enjoy” in Spanish, and true to its name, the lunch experience here was one of the more enjoyable meals I’ve had. With a delightful combo of whimsical table-side presentations, our extra cheerful server, and a zen dining space, there was much to love about Disfrutar. I found myself smiling and feeling especially carefree during a… Read More The Disfrutar Especial Tasting Menu – Barcelona, Spain

— In The Kitchen —

Your New Favorite Quick Bread – Persimmon Whiskey Bread with Pecans and Dried Apricots

February 28, 2018
Delicious Persimmon Bread

Our household has an obsession with persimmons. Because of the limited, seasonable nature of this fruit (typically November through February), we go a bit crazy at the local farmer’s market this time of year. In February, we found flats of 24 very ripe Hachiya persimmons for $10/flat. These usually go for $2+ per fruit here,… Read More Your New Favorite Quick Bread – Persimmon Whiskey Bread with Pecans and Dried Apricots

— Eating Out —

Atelier Crenn – A Poetic, Modern French Experience in SF

February 11, 2018
Atelier Crenn - Seeds & Grains - trout roe, fermented squash, truffle, toasted seeds, duck fat

Dominique Crenn is one bad-ass lady. She’s breaking barriers as a world-renowned female chef while being a mother, and she’s incredibly down-to-earth and personable! Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit her restaurant Atelier Crenn a second time, and I loved my experience. This meal resonated with me on all levels – presentation, service, and above… Read More Atelier Crenn – A Poetic, Modern French Experience in SF