6 Things To Do on Christmas Day in San Francisco

6 Things to Do on Christmas Day in San Francisco

Commis-Epitome of minimalist approach, sophisticated tasting, Oakland

According to MICHELIN guide inspectors,

“Chef/owner James Syhabout may be keeping busy outside of Commis at his other popular restaurants, but this sparse Oakland original is still turning out elegant and creatively complex seasonal dishes to a packed house every night. Tucked into colorful, boutique-strewn Piedmont Avenue, this dining space is a long, clean, minimalist number with a smattering of tables up front; intimate banquette seating in the back; and a lively counter overlooking the humming kitchen. Soft hip-hop music and a vibrant service staff set the mood-cool and contemporary; relaxed but serious. In the kitchen, Chef Syhabout pairs well-sourced, local ingredients with precise technique to create his sophisticated nightly tasting, which continues to be exciting even for jaded gourmands. Dinner might unveil a plate of silky scallops paired with tangy crème fraîche, poached asparagus, and charred lemon granité; warm, roasted abalone with artichoke heart, fried artichoke slivers, and chicken sabayon; or a chilled fava bean soup laced with tarragon-infused crème fraîche, green tomato gelée, and smoked trout roe. A perfectly poached halibut confit with spring pea "porridge" and ginger foam is another beautifully composed plate that reflects the kitchen's attention to detail”.

We were fortunate enough to score a reservation at this 2 MICHELIN star restaurant recently with our lovely friends. This evening was filled with anticipation, excitement and elation. We didn’t preview the menu as we wanted to be “surprised” and sure enough, we were more than pleasantly surprised at Chef James and staff of Commis’ artistry.

A great way to start the evening:

Caramelized onion financier with bee pollen, foie gras tartlet with dried pear and mulling spices, celery root with lovage, apple and mustard

Fermented carrots with pacific mackerel, yogurt and honey

Surf clam with salsify and avocado perfumed with kaffir lime leave

Jerusalem artichokes with sunflower, trout roe and warm sea lettuce butter

Slow poached egg yolk with smoked daets, alliums and malt

Sea bream with pine mushrooms, brown rice, roasted hen broth

Tisane of button mushrooms

Grilled 60-day aged beef ribeye, beef heart, brassicas and raw almond

Jacob and brichford ‘everton’ comte on a butter craker

Dacquoise, mousse, and sorbet in flavors of lemon

Ice cream of toasted grains, parsnip pudding with while sturgeon caviar

Last but not least, coconut tart, hazelnut coffee cookie and calamansi pate de fruit

Next time you will see us sitting at counter by the open kitchen.

The 2016 San Francisco Michelin Guide

Hmmm, time to call and make a reservation!

The 2016 San Francisco Michelin Guide's Big Winner Is David Kinch's Manresa

For All the Dim Sum Lovers!

One of the best things about living in the San Francisco Bay Area is there are tons of great dim sum restaurants.

Which one have you tried?

The 7 Best Dim Sum Spots In The Bay Area

Truly a hidden gem of Peninsula-Filoli

Filoli is a historical mansion situated in the breathtaking Peninsula. It is well hidden in the woods by highway 280.

http://www.filoli.org/

Not only is Filoli a magnificent mansion, it also has one of the most unequivocal well manicured garden. It's beyond imagination that at one time of the history, the home was actually occupied by the 2 different families!

We started our day by checking at the visitor center and get an overview of this beautiful places.

Touring around the house

Touring in the beautiful garden

Enjoying afternoon tea at the adjacent compound

We started with Fall Waldorf Salad which complemented  exceptionally well with cranberry scone with lemon curd and zucchini madeleines.

Tea sandwiches consisted of cucumber with radishes and dill, egg salad with spinach, crab tartlets, smoked turkey with cranberry cream cheese and ham, brie and apple on mini baguettes.

For dessert, there was extensive selection of pumpkin spice bars, Halloween petite fours, black forest brownine and apple streusel tart.

Ahhhh, truly a fulling and relaxing experience at the Filoli!!

Hottest Restaurants in San Jose

Time to take Uber to San Jose!!

The Hottest Restaurants in San Jose Right Now, May 2015

Tasting Designer Dishes, One Bite at A Time

Ahhhh, love sitting at the out door patio and do people watching at I Prive in Burlingame, especially on a Saturday afternoon!

The menu features modern sushi and is extensive and unique. The wait staff is friendly and prompt. And the food is delicious and unassuming. Also they have sake tasting which pairs perfectly with all the dishes we ordered.

What more can you ask for?

I Privé - Modern Sushi In Burlingame

Eating Croissant and Viewing Exotic Cars

This monthly event will for sure satisfy our cravings for great coffee/croissants, and our insatiable inquisitiveness for cars such as Lamborghini and Ferrari!

Next event is on Saturday, October 24th from 9am-12pm. It's going to be so much fun!!

Cars and Croissants

Impressive Whisky Bar, San Francisco

When we walked by Hard Water, we can't help but wonder what kind of restaurant is this???? This modern looking restaurant is located by pier 3 and there is grand display of bottles, lots of bottles. It turns out those bottles are whisky bottles!
Welcome

Hard Water is a super cool whisky bar that also offer patrons exquisitely thoughtful small plates to go with over 400 types of whisky on the menu.

The whole place has bar stools only, no dining tables at all. It's catered to the super cool whisky drinkers.

The 5 Most Popular Wedding Venues in the Bay Area

Came across this article and thought it's nice to share.

Which wedding venues have you been to?

The 5 Most Popular Wedding Venues in San Francisco

Which of these 14 Peninsula Secrets Places Have You Been To?

14 Peninsula Secrets You Had No Idea Existed

Which Weirdest Restaurant Have You Been To?

We have been to several of the weirdest restaurants in San Francisco, and we are planning to try all of them!

Next one on the list is to eat in the dark and eat in bed!! Woo-hoo!!!

9 Weirdest Restaurants in San Francisco

Playing Bocce at Beresford Park, San Mateo

This is a park with something for everyone! One will find garden center, playground, tennis courts, baseball diamond, basketball court, skate area and of course, bocce ball court!!!

http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/index.aspx?NID=2442

We were there with a group of friends on a beautiful Sunday afternoon playing bocce. Everyone brought goodies and drinks to share. We engaged in Bocce game and it was “women” vs. “men” and the game got a bit competitive of course.

It is a great place to visit for those who love the outdoors!!

Flintstone House for Sale!

We've always loved the Flintstone house and this iconic Flintstone house in Hillsborough is for sale!!!

'Flintstones' House in Hillsborough Listed for $4.2M

It is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home perched in the hills over I-280 in Hillsborough. It is truly one-of-a-kind property and probably a once-in-a-lifetime to own the Flintstone house.

We recall when the home's exterior was off-white (which truly represented Flintstones Home and has been painted a rusty orange shade.

The house was created by architect William Nicholson as an experiment in innovative building materials. The rounded forms are made by spraying a kind of concrete on metal frames molded over balloons. Most call it the Flintstone House, but it's also deemed the Barbapapa House after the circular, shape-shifting creatures featured in a children's book from the 1970s.

Truly an unique investment opportunity of a lifetime!

The New Stanford Hospital is Going to be Incredible

Stanford University Medical Center Project: Renewal

Culinary and Cocktail Feast with Asian Influence

“San Francisco is not only home to one of the country's largest Asian American populations, it also leads in terms of the country's food and cocktail culture”. http://luckyrice.com/

We had the pleasure attending LUCKYRICE Feast which was held at the historic Bently Reserve. The event spotlighted some of San Francisco’s finest Asian culinary and cocktail talents!

There was an impressive pig head display

The venue was packed with people who needed to satiate their fine palate

Some of the best pork belly porridge

Sampling Asahi “Reserve”

Freshly prepared pad thai

There is also a Blue Light VIP room!

Palo Alto Art and Wine Festival

According to the words on the street, it's one of the best art and wine festivals in the Bay Area and it's happening this weekend!!

Palo Alto Festival of the Arts-list of food vendors-Palo Alto

What makes it the best? 

• The stage is located in the center of the festival.  
• There is a beer garden, wine and beer glasses with tickets and champagne/mimosa glasses as well. 
• Best kettle corn 
• Exquisite street art 
• What life is like when price tag is not a consideration
• Best wine and food

Gotta check it out!

San Francisco Street Food Festival

If you are planing to attend the street festival this weekend, here are some great tips to know before you go!

Five things to know about this weekend's San Francisco Street Food Festival

Luxury Cinema, Bowling Alley and Fitness Center By Hillsdale Mall

We know we can't wait!

Hillsdale seeking fresh look: San Mateo officials, public respond favorably to revisions for proposed movie theater, bowling alley, other improvements - - San Mateo Daily Journal

Exotic Uni Experience

Have you ever had the freshest Uni ever??? Yes, you heard me, freshest uni!

If you've ever enjoyed the fine diversity of Japanese cuisine, and are a serious sushi connoisseur, you have probably experienced the singular love of uni-a type of sushi made from the gonads of a sea urchin. It is an acquired taste and when you eat live uni, it brings the experience to another level!

Apparently, Uni has a "euphoria-causing chemical" ingredient similar to what you find in cannabis! Yes, pot, marijuana, etc. (Interesting!!!)

At Tomokatsu in Burlingame, you get to experience the freshest live uni you can find.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/tomokazu-japanese-cuisine-burlingame

In addition, Tomokatsu has other great food that you don’t normally see at other Japanese restaurant…such as crab porridge, which is one of our favorites as well.

For All the Hello Kitty Lovers!

Hello Kitty Café Truck Will Return to San Francisco, Delivering More Unbearably Cute Snacks

Aloha Festival!!!

PICA's Aloha Festival lets you literally get a taste of the islands until you get over there, no airplane required!

The 2 day event is being held at the San Mateo Event Center on August 1 and 2 from 10am to 5pm. http://www.whatshappeningcalendar.com/events/NorthernCalifornia/San_Mateo_Aloha_Festival.html

There will be lots of entertainment, food, drinks, music and more. Bring sunscreen, blankets (can get chilly at night) and enjoy yourself!

Paella Kick

We’ve been on a Paella Kick and wanting to explore all the restaurants that serve paella, and came across Mancora, in San Mateo.

It is such an interesting restaurant (next to a hotel) and you would never notice there is a restaurant right next to it.

We were surprisingly impressed with the food. Everything tasted so fresh and flavorful.

Thank you Mancora for fulfilling our Paella Kick!