Dining date: 12/25/13 Like Thanksgiving, Christmas has been one of the largest feasts of the year every single year. For some time now, my family has done Christmas just like Thanksgiving – lunch at my mom’s side and dinner at my dad’s. Double the gluttony. Lunch, at my aunt’s is a potluck, with a relatively…
Cotogna 490 Pacific St San Francisco, CA 94133 Dining date: 12/3/13 Cotogna opened just over three years ago, the next-door sibling to two Michelin-starred Quince. Cotogna’s food is a comfortable, rustic Italian style differing from Quince’s more modern, refined Italian. The commitment to quality and strong execution is shared at both places; they even share…
The Spice Table 114 S Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012 Dining date: 12/14/13 The Spice Table opened about two and a half years ago and quickly made its mark on the city being named one of the city’s best new restaurants by a handful of publications. Its most notable accolade was when chef Bryant…
Akiko’s Restaurant 431 Bush St San Francisco, CA 94108 Dining date: 12/2/13 I’ve always found San Francisco to have a surprisingly lackluster Japanese food scene, made very noticeable once I moved to Los Angeles. Comparing some of the most oft-eaten Japanese foods like sushi and ramen – SF hasn’t really had any noteworthy standouts. However,…
Keiko à Nob Hill 1250 Jones St San Francisco, CA 94109 Dining date: 12/1/13 My dad’s mentioned Keiko à Nob Hill a number of times in the past as a potential restaurant, but we didn’t try it until this most recent trip to celebrate some November birthdays. Chef Keiko Takahashi and partner Seigo Takei opened…
Republique 624 S La Brea Ave Los Angeles, CA 90036 Dining date: 12/6/13 Chef Walter Manzke (Bastide, Church & State, countless collaborative/pop-up events) has become one of my favorite chefs in Los Angeles over the years, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting this opening for a long time. Taking over the location of famed Campanile &…
Commonwealth 2224 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94110 Dining date: 11/29/13 My first two visits to Commonwealth were excellent. The food was creative, well-executed and delicious within a very well-priced tasting menu ($65 at the time with $10 going directly to a local charity). Given I don’t spend as much time in San Francisco as…
Dining date: 11/28/13 The Thanksgiving post has become a sort of tradition on my blog – this is the fifth annual post. As has been the case over the last few years, Thanksgiving is a tale of two meals. Lunch is a casual buffet-style affair at my aunt & uncle’s (mom’s side) while dinner is…