Few things make me as happy as Mosel riesling from Germany. Days when both the Giants and Mets win, Messi scores more goals than Ronaldo, or a Hepburn and Tracy movie is on TMC come pretty close. But when it comes to imbibing, the Mosel region’s light-bodied, high-acid, low-alcohol, floral, minerally and fruity wines make everything seem right with the world — even if it might be falling apart right outside my window.
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The other night I was biking down Market Street about 11 p.m., looking to fill a quarrelsome belly. I kept arriving as places closed up, while rejecting bad ideas from the devil on my shoulder (“Maybe a 7-Eleven taquito would hit the spot. …”)
Before heading home to make a sad hummus-and-pickle sandwich, inspiration struck. I remembered a scene from months ago, when a friend ordered a life-changing fish sandwich in an alley.
At the time, I had tried to ignore the friend, because he was being loud:
“OHMYGODTHISISTHEBESTFISHSANDWICHINALLOFHISTORY!!!”
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You gotta love a bar whose menu board on the street says “Soup of the day: Whiskey.” This proudly self-proclaimed dive bar in Lower Pacific Heights is known for good “drunk” food, such as chicken strips. But I was lucky enough to enjoy delicious sauteed Brussels sprouts during a restaurant pop-up featuring A16 cook Chris Norton. (“This is my old stomping ground, my ‘Cheers,’” he explained.) Veteran San Francisco bartender Christine Imfeld is particularly friendly and easily translated the day’s special for a French customer (“Petit chou, vert”).
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Early last year, I had business meetings in Cow Hollow. I’m rarely in that area, so I put out a Twitter call: Does anyone know a good place to eat near the Marina?Besides Atelier Crenn and a couple of other wallet-busters, people were stumped. “Just eat in the Mission,” quipped one wise guy.I started developing a quest to locate a secret treasure in the Marina. The requirements were simple: somewhere reasonably priced and relaxed, where I’m unlikely to get clobbered with a designer high heel.
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Portugal is a small country, but it is the 10th largest wine producer in the world. There are 14 wine regions and 30 or so indigenous grape varietals that are used to make table wines. In spite of its diversity, the one region that has consistently made high-quality wines — at least since I’ve been in the biz — is Dão.
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Valentine’s Day is probably the most “Hallmark” of holidays, but even if you are not a believer, having a bottle of sparkling wine on hand is not a bad idea. You don’t have to go all out and buy French Champagne, but make sure you find something you will enjoy.
Heeding a few tips will make your experience better. First, don’t buy wine just because it has a pretty package. I don’t have scientific proof, but frou-frou often means mediocrity.
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Last summer, the South Korean-ish pop-up Seoul Patch served lunch at a sushi joint near my house. One menu item — the fried chicken “sando” — became a problem for me.
I’d open my fridge, and everything seemed boring and sad. Despite fleeting good intentions (“Maybe I’ll saute up that Swiss chard.”), I kept heading back to Seoul Patch.
That sandwich was better than the sum of its parts. At its core, it was just a heaping mound of boneless fried chicken thighs served with daikon slaw and spicy-sweet gochujang sauce.
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By:
Rob Goszkowski
02/07/13 7:51 PM
Soda Popinski’S Eight-bit video game nostalgia combined with a Russian hunting lodge theme? If it will work anywhere, it will work in San Francisco. At this new Nob Hill watering hole, sleds and bear pelts somehow fit together with globular lights on spears illuminating a framed “Rocky IV”-era Dolph Lundgren poster. Several months in, Soda Popinski’s is up and punching. We spoke with bartender Cory Hunt.
BAR info: 1548 California St. • (415) 857-1548 • www.facebook.com/SodaPopinskis
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Here’s a little news for the sports-ignorant: Your local football team is playing in the Super Bowl this weekend. If, like me, you’re a transplant from some shameful place (e.g., New England), you may just be interested in what you’ll eat during the game.
Before you groan at the thought of soggy nachos and gray burger patties, remember where you live. This is San Francisco, where even the sports bars serve interesting food. Bon appetit!
Tee-Off Bar & Grill3129 Clement St.
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Like many, I usually drink beer when I watch the Super Bowl. That is my beverage of choice when it comes to most sporting events, whether I’m at the stadium or watching at home. However, there are wines that go pretty well with the hodgepodge that is the Super Bowl smorgasbord, so there is no reason to be left behind during the big game.
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URL: http://www.sfexaminer.com/archive/17556/17556?page=4&type[story]=story&quicktabs_1=2&quicktabs_6=1
