Food and Dining
Worldwide Reviews
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Food and Dining
Worldwide Reviews |
| AUSTIN TX | |
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El Naranjo
85 Rainey St Austin, TX 78701 Phone:(512) 474-2776 |
The chef/owner is a rather famous chef from Oaxaca that has relocated to Austin and also teaches at the CIA in San Antonio.
The food is delicious and genuine from the Mexican interior.
Served in a delightfully decorated setting with great ambience, this restaurant is nestled
on the very cool Rainey street. The ceviche was world-class, the chips were great, the sea bass was delicious
but the standout was the mole with duck.
Highly Recommended!
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SAN FRANCISCO/NAPA/SONOMA/PASO ROBLES |
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BAR TARTINE
561 Valencia St (between 17th St & 16th St) San Francisco, CA 94110 Neighborhood: Mission |
Co-Chefs Cortney and Nick manage the kitchen of Bar Tartine in San Francisco. The food at this celebrated Mission district restaurant is hard to classify, except to say it relies heavily on local produce and the strong vision of it�s chefs towards layering bold flavors with powerful simplicity. Ingredients are painstakingly made in house. Aged cheeses, spices, koji, and bottarga to name a few, are all processed at the restaurant and form the foundation on which the constantly evolving menu is built. The menu at Bar Tartine is a celebration of diverse traditional flavors presented with a modern, post-regional generosity. A dinner might consist of flavors from Jutland, Hokkaido and Budapest within the same meal - the whole seeming utterly familiar. Varied whole grains and the use of fermentation inform the food, as well as the innovative natural leavened breads baked on premise daily by owner/baker Chad Robertson. Highly Recommended. |
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MUSTARDS GRILL
7399 Saint Helena Hwy (route 29) Napa, California 94558 707-944-2424 http://www.mustardsgrill.com/ |
"Lots of local color" goes into the "bustling, casual" scene and "first-rate" Cal�New American fare by chef-owner
Cindy Pawlcyn at this "unassuming"-looking "Napa Valley classic", an "upscale diner" outside Yountville;
"friendly" service and a "spectacular" lemon-lime tart (with "mile-high meringue") complete the "real California"
experience;
This bustling, window-lined roadside restaurant is where hoardes of hungry vacationers come for all-American grilled goodness. International inspirations for Chef Cindy Pawlcyn, previous winner of the James Beard Award for Best Americana Cookbook, are instantly recognized on the appetizer menu of small plates: sweet corn tamales, Vietnamese lettuce wraps and calamari with curried slaw. Likewise, main courses run the gamut--from the "famous" Mongolian pork chop to the Sonoma rabbit with Mexican chocolate-chili sauce--yet still taste like down-home cooking. For something sweet, look no further than the ever-popular lemon-lime tart, a towering slice of pie with the biggest meringue (made with brown sugar, not white) you've ever seen. Really. It's that big. P.S. reservations recommended. Highly Recommended. |
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ZUZU
829 Main St Napa, CA 94559 707-224-8555 http://www.zuzunapa.com/ |
Situated on Napa's Riverfront, this cozy Spaniard standby with a great staff offers "well-executed tapas" and "outstanding" wines
many Spanish varietals along with Napa bottles in a relaxed, casual atmosphere; it's neither fine dining nor cheap, but devotees dub
it a find that's well worth the sometimes long wait. Also has a $10 corkage if you'd like to bring your own.
Another DON'T MISS restaurant when in Napa. Have to try the seafood Paella and the Boquerones (white anchovies, boiled egg & remoulade on grilled bread) is simply outstanding. One of the best tapa's places you'll find anywhere. Great atmosphere to boot. P.S. no reservations. Highly Recommended. |
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SPOONBAR
219 Healdsburg Ave Healdsburg, CA 95448 (Sonoma) (707) 433-7222 |
Spoonbar is located about 20 minutes from Santa Rosa in the heart of Sonoma.
Chef Louis Maldonado's market-driven menu might best be described as contemporary American fare that's creatively crafted yet approachable.
Earthy favorites like beef short ribs and pork shoulder take exciting twists when paired with unexpected flavors from around the globe.
And the seafood, grains and seasonal produce shine just as brightly. The modern presentation of each dish � on custom plates made by local potter
Jered Nelson � is as artful as the restaurant�s airy interior. And with a critically acclaimed cocktail program led by rising star bar manager
Cappy Sorentino, the atmosphere is lively and vibrant. From plate to place, everything about Spoonbar is a rich alchemy of art and craft.
Really nice wine list with many really good, small, Sonoma producers and a great sommelier with great recommendations. Highly Recommended. |
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La Cosecha Bar and Restaurant
2835 12th St, Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 237-0019 |
Spanish for �the harvest,� La Cosecha Bar + Restaurant in Paso Robles is the second creation of celebrated Chef Santos MacDonal. Centering on the cuisine of Spain and South America, La Cosecha offers culture-specific, specialized Latin flavors by sourcing herbs and spices from each dish�s nation of origin, while taking advantage of the farmer's market-fresh produce, meats, and cheeses of California's abundant Central Coast. MacDonal�s Honduran heritage and fastidious commitment to fresh, locally-sourced cuisine play heavily into each menu, providing guests with an authentic and indulgent experience to remember. The restaurant also features a craft cocktail menu designed to make use of garden-fresh ingredients and locally-sourced artisanal spirits wherever possible. Recommended. |