Archives for January, 2014

Coqueta Brings Tapas to Pier 5, San Francisco

Posted on Jan 31, 2014 under Archives, San Francisco | No Comment
Chef Michael Chiarello's Coqueta

Chef Michael Chiarello’s Coqueta

Chef Michael Chiarello, owner of Chiarello Family Vineyards, Napa Style and Bottega in Yountville, opened Coqueta, his first Spanish influenced restaurant, last year on Pier 5 in San Francisco.

Working with chef de cuisine Ryan Mcllwrath, Chiarello spent two years in Spain researching recipes for the tapas inspired menu.  Lots of work also went into renovating the space. Tables were raised so diners can admire the ocean view, the outdoor terrace was glassed in to create an enclosed al fresco bar area, a huge wood fired oven was added to the open kitchen, and the inside décor was enhanced with long dramatic drapes and cowhide rugs.

“Coqueta” translates to “flirt,” which references the chef’s playful dishes, drinks and experimentation with a new Spanish cuisine.

The 56-seat restaurant offers a variety of plates. Here is what we sampled when I visited last month.

Pintxos at Coqueta

Pintxos at Coqueta

The Pintxos, one-bite skewers, are a fun way to start a meal and include house cured boquerones; chorizo, roasted artichokes and piquillo peppers; Serrano ham, manchego cheese and apricot conserve; baby beets with cana de cabra cheese, and quails egg with pickled mustard seed and ham.

Pintxos at Coqueta

Pintxos at Coqueta

We also sampled the El Plat Cap which was a nice selection of cured meats served with nuts and a pan de cristal con tomato.

El Plat Cap

El Plat Cap

Our tapas items began with white gazpacho with marcona almonds, grapes and syrah. We loved this.

white gazpacho

 

Next came the red kale ensalada with roasted squash, fuyu persimmons, and warm rancho cordo.

red kale salad

red kale salad

The tapas also included a nice smoked salmon bite with queso fresco and truffle honey.  Yum.

smoked salmon

smoked salmon

My fave of all the tapas was the chicken and English pea croquetas with cured cara cara orange.

croquetas

croquetas

We also sampled the sunny side-up egg with shrimp, crispy potato and a chorizo dressing. This is the most popular dish of the tapas.

egg with shrimp and potato

egg with shrimp and potato

The grilled albondigas, pork and duck meatballs, with a tart cherry and tempranillo puree were also lovely, as was the grilled shortribs served Catalan style.

duck and port meatball

duck and port meatball

beef shortrib

beef shortrib

Larger family style plates include a variety of paellas, we had the classic with bomba rice in a Jamon serrano and shellfish broth with root vegetables, chorizo, gulf prawns, clams and lemon alioli.  A must to order.

paella

paella

paella

paella

 

Other main courses on the menu include a whole grilled branzino, a 32 ounce ribeye and a pork shoulder loin.

lollipops

lollipops

Dessert includes a strawberry rhubarb gazpacho in liquid nitrogen, churros, caramel lollipos with popcorn and ice cream sandwiches.  We sampled the lollipops and the churros, both were a great end to a fabulous meal.

churros

churros

The cocktail menu is equally inventive, with specialty sangria, mojitos, margaritas and traditional porrons – party pitchers of refreshing libations.  We had the festive mojito costa brava with mint, white rum, lime and minted cane sugar as well as the J&T, a non-alcoholic juniper, lime and tonic beverage.  I also got to sample a special holiday cocktail, don’t remember what it was but it was delicious.

mojito costa brava and J&T

mojito costa brava and J&T

 

Holiday cocktail

Holiday cocktail

Coqueta is a perfect spot to wind down with a sangria and tapas and travel to Spain while remaining in San Francisco.  Located at Pier 5, The Embarcadero, reservations highly recommended at 415.704.8866.

Buffalos Restaurant Opens at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

Posted on Jan 08, 2014 under Archives | No Comment
Buffalos at Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch

Buffalos at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

Last month, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch unveiled a brand new restaurant and lounge in addition to upgraded guest rooms, expansion of their unique ski-in, ski-out experience and updated spa treatment and relaxation areas.

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Buffalos bar

Buffalos bar

 

The new Buffalos restaurant features a seasonal menu focused on local ingredients, specifically showcasing grass-fed buffalo and bison dishes.  Guests can enjoy buffalo steak and eggs, bison burgers, bison chili, bison tartare, bison sheppard’s pie, and bison ribeye in addition to a variety of entrees including rack of lamb, seared sea bass and steamed mussels.  Here are some of the items I sampled while I was there.

Bison tartare

Bison tartare

We started with appetizers of bison tartare with mustard, capers and a quail egg, a bison salad and buffalo wings.

Bison salad

Bison salad

Main courses included a starting entree of a lovely ranch lamb chop with baby carrots and rosemary.

Lamb chop

Lamb chop

We also were served a bison shepherd’s pie with ugly goat potatoes, gravy, carrots, peas and mushrooms.  This was my fave of the night.

shepherd's pie

shepherd’s pie

We also enjoyed Little Snake River mountain trout with a couscous salad and champagne vinaigrette and a bison ribeye with beer battered onion rings.

trout

trout

bison ribeye

bison ribeye

In addition to highlighting bison dishes, another unique feature of the restaurant is their Colorado crafted draught and bottled beer program featuring the finest locally created beers.  Diners can enjoy a beer paired meal or opt to order from the restaurant’s specialty hand-crafted cocktail menu.

beer

beer

Design elements of the restaurant include an open kitchen, carved rock pillars and a wooden beamed ceiling.  All of the items Chef Daniel Bouza served us were fantastic.

Bachelors Lounge

Bachelors Lounge

The new exclusive Bachelors Lounge also opened in December, offering guests a place to relax while enjoying imported cigars, hookahs and signature cocktails in the indoor area next to a large modern fireplace or al fresco in the covered and heated smoking lounge.  Cozy and comfortable outside seating provides stunning views of the surrounding mountains, while the inside area offers live music.

Bachelors Lounge

Bachelors Lounge

Bachelors Lounge

Bachelors Lounge

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is also home to Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, offering new seasonal winter menus as well a chef’s multi-course tasting menu.  Here is what I sampled when I visited.

tuna and hamachi sashimi

tuna and hamachi sashimi

Appetizers include a fresh tuna and hamachi sashimi, a spicy tuna tartare with avocado, ginger, and sesame wonton chips, and a mixed green salad with apples, fennel, blue cheese and candied walnuts.

spicy tuna tartare

spicy tuna tartare

mixed green salad

mixed green salad

 

Our main courses included wild Alaskan King Salmon with pancetta, clams, fennel and a leek puree, mushroom agnolotti with black truffle, goat cheese, mascarpone and parmesan, and Wagyu short ribs with toasted farro and winter root vegetables.  All dishes were outstanding, with our fave of the night being the incredible short ribs.

Alaskan King Salmon

Alaskan King Salmon

mushroom agnolotti

mushroom agnolotti

Waygu short ribs

Waygu short ribs

Dessert was a traditional Kaiserschmarren, a pancake with strawberry topping.

kaiserschmarren

kaiserschmarren

The resort’s renovated look embraces the “parkitecture” design style inspired by the great mountain lodges of the Western United States, including earth tones, contemporary artwork and sophisticated furnishings.  The updated design in the impressive rustic Great Room centers around a three-story stone, wood-burning fireplace and throughout the 180-guest rooms and suites.

 

Great room

Great room

Club room

Club room

The large open club room showcases food and drink options throughout the day and provides a nice relaxation area for Club guests.

Outside

Outside

skilift

lift

The resort has also expanded their renowned ski valet services located steps away from ski lifts.  Guests can use the ski valet to pre-warm boots and prep skis so equipment is ready to go when needed.  At the end of the day, guests equipment is cleaned and stored.  Apres ski,  visiotrs can enjoy the outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi, firepit and gourmet s’mores.

outdoor heated pool

outdoor heated pool

 

jacuzzi

jacuzzi

The award-winning spa has also been refreshed with updated treatment rooms and relaxation areas, centered by the rock-lined grottos featuring steam, sauna and hot and cold plunge areas.  For a perfect winter getaway, head to The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, reservations at 970.748.6200 or http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/BachelorGulch/Default.htm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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