PopSugar San Francisco

Tonight's the Night: Tacolicious II and Adjoining Tequila Bar Mosto Open in the Mission!

Julia Millay Walsh — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:45:00 PST

Tacolicious's second location (741 Valencia St., 415-626-1344) was originally scheduled to open on Nov. 7 in the Mission but was delayed due to PG&E holdbacks. Finally, tonight, the restaurant, along with its adjoining tequila bar, Mosto, will officially open to the public! The doors open at 5:30 p.m. for dinner, and it will be open every day from 11:30 a.m. till midnight.

If you didn't read all the details about Tacolicious II that I shared last month, you should know that the menu will include eight staple tacos, including carnitas, guajillo-braised beef, shot-and-a-beer chicken, and Baja-style fried rock cod, wrapped in freshly made tortillas from SF tortilleria La Palma. There'll also be a few playful items, including chile con queso; the Chocolicious taco, a house-made riff on the Choco Taco, a corner-store ice cream treat; and a $10 booze-driven, prix fixe meal of a taco, a Tecate, and tequila shot. You'll also see brightly flavored salsa, fresh salads with jicama and pumpkin seeds, albondigas, and seafood dishes like classic shrimp cocktail and albacore tuna tostadas.

Read on to hear about the new tequila bar, Mosto, and to see a sneak peek photo!

15 Ways to Have a Very PopSugar Thanksgiving!

Julia Millay Walsh — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 PST

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you have a grand old time with family and friends this weekend. For those of you sticking around in town, there's plenty to do, eat, and see in San Francisco. From swanky staycations to seasonal cocktails, here are some of my favorite picks for the weekend. If all else fails, just pop Love Actually into your DVD player and get in the holiday spirit.

Taste 10 pumpkin-filled treats, from pumpkin-seed salsa to pumpkin pancakes.
Get in the spirit by relaxing at one of San Francisco's cozy bars with fireplaces.
Lace up your skates and do a loop around a holiday skating rink.
Make a last-minute reservation at one of these restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner!
Dine on scrumptious, in-season squash dishes around town!
Whip up a batch of cookies with a yummy cookie mix from an SF bakery.
Treat yourself to a staycation at a hip local hotel.
Knock back a few of these absolutely delicious nutmeg-dusted cocktails!
Pick up a Thanksgiving pie from one of five local patisseries.
Attempt the Whole Beasts' recipe for turkey cassoulet!
Spend your morning or evening at one of these nontraditional Thanksgiving events.
Visit the Westin St. Francis's 1,200 lb. holiday sugar castle.
Shop all of the fabulous Black Friday sales! And treat yourself to something nice.
Pencil a free cardio bootcamp session into your calendar to keep off the holiday weight.
Stay warm and toasty this weekend with one of these six flaming dishes around town.

A Q&A With the Duo Behind Tupelo, North Beach's New Deep South Bar-Restaurant!

Julia Millay Walsh — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:05:00 PST

A new Southern-themed restaurant and bar, Tupelo, opened last week in the former Mojito space in North Beach at 1337 Grant St. I recently caught up with co-owner Derek Mattson and manager Teague Kernan to hear about what's in store for the spot. From mouthwatering dishes like Creole shrimp and grits, a cozy vibe, and live music on the horizon, there's no question it'll be a hot spot in time. Read our interview below to learn more about Tupelo!

PopSugar SF: What's the backstory behind this? How did the two of you come together to open Tupelo?

Derek Mattson: Teague and I have known each other for about 15 years. We’ve probably been talking about opening a place for 14 of them. We started thinking about it more seriously a year ago and looked at several potential locations/venues. None of them felt right from a neighborhood standpoint or one that felt like it would live up to our vision for Tupelo. When we heard that Mojito was going on the market, we felt that it was the perfect space for what we wanted. Big space, full kitchen, entertainment (at least it was).

PS SF: How did you settle on the location? Were you eyeing North Beach from the start?

Teague Kernan: As Derek mentioned, we looked at several locations prior to Mojito coming on the market. I am also a musician and have probably played at Mojito 100 times over the last seven years. We wanted (and still want) to continue the great legacy of live entertainment that has existed here for over 50 years. Janis Joplin played her first San Francisco gigs here, and Steve Martin began his stand-up career here. The list is very long of great entertainers who have played here, and we hope it will continue to grow once (if) we can get our entertainment permit.

PS SF: Teague, I know you're a former Buccaneer (2155 Polk St., 415-673-8023) bartender . . . What's essential to a great bar?

TK: It is not terribly difficult to build a good bar. It takes a varied selection of libations, ambiance and interesting decor, prompt service, and cleanliness. To make a great bar, you need an intelligent, engaging staff. That, in my opinion, is the single most important element in making a bar "great." That is what keeps people coming back.

PS SF: I'm a New Orleans expat, so I'm psyched to see some more Southern cuisine in the city! What made you decide on this menu? Are either of you from the South?

DM: Given that we were setting up shop in North Beach, right next to an Irish Pub, we wanted to put a place together that was uniquely American. The name Tupelo evokes the Deep South, but also has a rich musical heritage (i.e., birthplace of Elvis; Van Morrison, Nick Cave, and John Lee Hooker have all made songs about Tupelo). Soul food was the perfect fit.

Continue reading to hear about the menu, live music, and Teague's favorite North Beach spots!

Link Time!

Julia Millay Walsh — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:15:00 PST

Anthony Bourdain Shares His Favorite SF Spots!

Julia Millay Walsh — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:20:00 PST

In his new show, The Layover, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain eats his way around the globe, discovering hidden eating and drinking gems in various cities. Promoting the series, Bourdain recently spoke with The New York Times about some of the favorite spots he's visited while jet-setting for the series, and in so many words, he admitted that SF is his favorite city for eating in the US: "Anyone who doesn’t have a great time in San Francisco is pretty much dead to me. You go there as a snarky New Yorker thinking it’s politically correct, it’s crunchy granola, it’s vegetarian, and it surprises you every time. It’s a two-fisted drinking town, a carnivorous meat-eating town, it’s dirty and nasty and wonderful." Bourdain also shared a few of his favorite spots around San Francisco, including, surprisingly, some Chinatown dive bars. Come find out what they are!

Source

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10 Edible Gifts From San Francisco Culinary Stars

Julia Millay Walsh — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:40:00 PST

Stumped on holiday shopping? One thing many people have in common is a love of grub, so an edible gift is a foolproof option! Luckily, San Francisco is full of innovative chefs, bakers, butchers, and other culinary producers who've made it easy for us to eat their creations at home. From subscription services to beautifully jarred preserves, there are plenty of nourishing gifts to order for the holidays. Consider sending an edible gift to a friend afar to give them a taste of the city or treat a local foodie friend to a homegrown treat.

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Thanksgiving Recipe: The Whole Beast's Holiday Turkey Cassoulet

Julia Millay Walsh — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:35:00 PST

Chef John C. Fink's SF-based snout-to-tail catering company The Whole Beast, which specializes in whole-animal menus cooked for private gatherings, has got you covered this Thanksgiving with a mouthwatering holiday turkey cassoulet! Cooked long and slow, the delectable dish is composed of Willie Bird turkey confit, turkey cranberry sausage (yum!), braised dark meat, and heirloom beans. If you don't feel at home in the kitchen, you can order the almost-one-meal dish for your Thanksgiving fete and pick it up or have it delivered; cost is $42 for a serving of six or $54 for a serving of 10 - totally a steal! - and an additional $75 or $200 if you want it to arrive in a fancy Emile Henry Cassoulet pan to keep. Just call 415-816-1414 or email thewholebeast@gmail.com to arrange your order!

If you're a take charge kind of gal (or gent), and relish the tradition of holiday cooking, rejoice! Fink has shared this special recipe with us, so you can create it in your own kitchen.

Ingredients

1 whole turkey
1lb. of Rancho Gordo snow cap beans
1lb. of Rancho Gordo Christmas lima beans (soak beans in water to rehydrate at least 24 hrs in advance)
Turkey sausage with cranberry and clove (see recipe below)
Turkey confit-leg and thigh (see recipe below)
Braised turkey thigh (see recipe below)
1 gallon turkey stock (see recipe below)
2 onions
4 stalks celery
9 cloves of garlic
1 lemon, zested
Fresh bunch of sage
Fresh bunch of thyme
Fresh bunch of oregano
2/3 lb. of pork belly and/or bacon

Continue reading to learn the steps!

5 Local Patisseries to Order Your Thanksgiving Pies

Julia Millay Walsh — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:30:00 PST

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it! Unless you envisioned spending next week fighting fellow shoppers for jars of pumpkin purée and French's fried onions, now's the time to order your pies, dinner rolls, and other dishes. Most grocery stores in the city are selling ready-made simple pies like pumpkin and pecan, but if you want something extra special - like roasted pumpkin with a chocolate crust or cranberry and pecan tart - or a traditional pie with more flavor, it's best to order from a bakery. Here are five local patisseries for your Turkey Day dessert.

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Seasonal Sips: 5 Nutmeg-Dusted Cocktails Around Town

Julia Millay Walsh — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:30:44 PST

If the season's to-do lists are expanding at rapid speed, take a break from your cooking and shopping and pop into one of San Francisco's artisanal cocktail bars for a nutmeg-dusted drink that will put you in the holiday spirit. Here are a few places around town that you can find one of these deliciously uplifting confections. Why not make it a cocktail crawl?

While you're visiting the Ferry Building farmers market, pop inside for a drink to warm you up. The house Agricole Rhum Punch (lower right) at Slanted Door (1 Ferry Building, 415-861-8032) is served on the rocks with La Favorite rhum agricole ambre, lime, cane syrup, Angostura bitters, and allspice dram and dusted with nutmeg. Yum yum, rhum rhum.
Have a pretheater drink at Michael Mina's Clock Bar (335 Powell St., 415-397-9222) inside the Westin St. Francis on Union Square: the Chartreuse Swizzle (lower left) is made with green Chartreuse, velvet falernum, fresh lime juice, and pineapple juice, served tall over crushed ice with nutmeg and fresh mint. How refreshing does that sound?

Get in the spirit with three more nutmeg cocktails!

Gift Guide: Josh Harris of The Bon Vivants Shares His Holiday Picks For Guys

Julia Millay Walsh — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:10:00 PST

What do men want? I sure as heck don't know. So this year, I'm going straight to the source for holiday gift ideas for guys. I've asked a handful of handsome local tastemakers for their own holiday picks, and I'm passing them along to you!

To kick things off, Josh Harris, bartender extraordinaire and founding partner of cocktail and spirit consulting company The Bon Vivants (who may also have the best mustache on this side of the Mississippi), has shared five fantastic gift ideas for the gentlemen in your life. From a hangover treatment to a gourmet's best friend, check out his selections.

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