November 2011
5 posts
“Salt is born of the purest of parents: the sun and the sea.”
– Pythagoras
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Definitions: enology Noun [ee-NAHL-uh-jee]
also spelled oenology, it is the science or study of viniculture or wine making
one who studies the science is called an enologist (or oenologist)
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“Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost; united and well...”
– Andre Simon (1877-1970)
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Arcadia - San Jose, CA
Restaurant: Arcadia Restaurant - October 23, 2011
Address: 100 W. San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113 Phone: 408.278.4555 Website twitter: @ArcadiaSteak
Food: Modern American, Steakhouse
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: Contemporary, dark woods, leather, and glass
Cost: $$
Rave Factor: 4 Stars
Service: 3/4 Food: 3/4 Presentation: 2/4 Concept: 4/4 Value: 4/4
Review:
...
October 2011
35 posts
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“I have long believed that good food, good eating is all about risk. Whether...”
– Anthony Bourdain
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Definitions: gelée noun \zhə-ˈlā\
any gelled suspension made for culinary purposes
a cosmetic gel
French, jelly, from Middle French
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“You have to eat to cook. You can’t be a good cook and be a noneater. I think...”
– Julia Child
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Alexander's Steakhouse - Cupertino, CA
Restaurant: Alexander’s Steakhouse - October 21, 2011
Address: 10330 North Wolfe Road, Cupertino, CA 95014
Phone: 408-446-2222 Website twitter: @alexandersv1
Food: Steak, Japanese influenced
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: modern Japanese
Cost: $$$$
Rave Factor: 4 Stars out of 5
Service: 4/4 Food: 3/4 Presentation: 4/4 Concept: 2/4 Value: 3/4
To sum up our...
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“Cookery is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather...”
– Marcel Boulestin
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Definitions: sous·vide [soo VEED]
French for "under vacuum"
a technique pioneered in Europe where ingredients are combined in vacuum-packed pouches, cooked under a vacuum, then chilled.
most often by hotels, restaurants and caterers, though it's expected to become increasingly available in supermarkets
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Fleur de Lys - San Francisco, CA
Restaurant: Fleur de Lys - San Francisco, CA
Address: 777 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 Phone: (415) 673-7779 Website
Food: French
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: Antique French
Cost: $$$
Rave Factor: 5 Stars
Service: 4/4 Food: 4/4 Presentation: 4/4 Concept: 3/4 Value: 3/4
This dining experience was top notch in delivering great and attentive service,...
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Definitions: consommé [KON-suh-may, kon-suh-MAY]
clarified meat or fish broth
a soup or sauce base served either hot or cold
the flavor of a consommé can be enhanced through a reduction to half the volume
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The Raving Palate Michelin Guide Drawing
Starting today, The Raving Palate is hosting a drawing as a “thank-you” to our social media fans and followers. Announced on our Facebook Page and tweeted through twitter, The Raving Palate is celebrating the start of Top Chef’s 9th Season in November and the closing of 2011 by giving away a copy of the Michelin Guide to a lucky fan through our social media channels.
An early...
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“…there were only a couple people who’d been cooking on TV before that, and...”
– Rick Bayless, Chef and Owner of Frontera Fresco Restaurant @Rick_Bayless
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“I love the culture of grilling. It creates an atmosphere that is festive but...”
– Bobby Flay, Chef and Restauranteur @bflay
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“A jazz musician can improvise based on his knowledge of music. He understands...”
– Charlie Trotter, Chef and Restauranteur @CTrotters
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“I liked the energy of cooking, the action, the camaraderie. I often compare the...”
– Todd English, Celebrity Chef, Restauranteur, and Author @ChefToddEnglish
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Le Bernardin, Social Media, & the Bigger Picture
Earlier today, Chef Eric Ripert posted an article to Facebook describing a recent interview with CNBC regarding the role social media has had on business for Le Bernardin in New York. In the article, Chef Ripert points to social media as a source of recent success, saying:
“we have a much wider audience being aware of what Le Bernardin is, and we attract a young clientele […] a young...
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Definitions: som·me·lier n. /ˌsəməlˈyā/
A wine waiter
A restaurant employee who orders and maintains the wines sold in the restaurant and usually has extensive knowledge about wine and food pairings.
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The Michelin Guide - History & Michelin Star...
The Michelin Guide has been accepted the world over as something of the Gold Standard for restaurants and restauranteurs - each striving to achieve the coveted 3-star ranking and be recognized as being of the highest caliber. The reason why Michelin stars are so highly regarded by the restaurant industry is because most establishments receive no stars at all.
For example, in the Michelin Guide...
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Definitions: gas·tron·o·my Noun /gaˈstränəmē/
1. the practice or art of choosing, cooking, & eating good food.
2. the cooking of a particular area: "traditional American gastronomy"
3. Wylie Dufresne, as in WD~50
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The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards - Livermore, CA
Restaurant: The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards - October 7, 2011
Address: 5050 Arroyo Road, Livermore, CA 94550 Phone: 925-456-2450 Website twitter: @Wente
Food: American, French, Italian, Californian
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: Country Vineyard
Cost: $$$
Rave Factor: 5 Stars
Service: 4/4 Food: 3/4 Presentation: 3/4 Concept: 3/4 Value: 4/4
Wente’s restaurant is...
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Definitions: in·ter·mez·zo Noun /ˌintərˈmetsō/
1. used as a way to cleanse the palate in between courses
2. small, light and refreshing, usually a sorbet or light sparkling wine
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Left Bank - San Jose, CA
Restaurant: Left Bank - San Jose
Address: 377 Santana Row, Suite 110, San Jose, CA 95128 Phone: (408) 984-3500 Website
Food: French
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: Parisian-style brasserie
Cost: $$
Rave Factor: 3 Stars
Service: 1/4 Food: 2/4 Presentation: 2/4 Concept: 2/4 Value: 3/4
Overall, the food was average and the quality was average as well. They have problems...
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“It’s my belief that cooking is a craft. I think that you can push it into...”
– Tom Colicchio, Head Judge of Top Chef @tomcolicchio
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Become a Facebook Fan of The Raving Palate →
In addition to The Raving Palate’s twitter account, we’ve also have a Facebook Page dedicated to sharing reviews, posting pictures of our dining experiences, and getting your feedback. If you’d rather like to see pictures of the dishes we’re referring to, be sure to check out our photostream on Flickr. Log in and join us today!
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Definitions: amuse-bouche Noun \ˈä-ˌmüz-ˈbüsh\
1. a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre
2. a small complimentary appetizer offered at some restaurants
French, literally, (it) entertains (the) mouth
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2011 Top 10 U.S. Hotel Restaurants →
Perhaps born out of our recent dining experience at the Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar at the acclaimed Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco - we got to thinking about the fine dining restaurants attached to prominent hotels and resorts throughout the country.
For example, when I think of the most concentrated region of popular hotel restaurants, my mind skips immediately to the Las Vegas Strip (it...
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“Like baseball, food will never go out of style; we will always need to eat and...”
– Gail Simmons, Food & Wine editor and host of Top Chef Just Desserts @gailsimmons
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Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar - San Francisco, CA
Restaurant: Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar at the Fairmont - Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA - October 1, 2011
Address: 950 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108 Phone: 1-415-772-5000 Website Email: sanfrancisco@fairmont.com
Food: Californian
Decor/Ambiance:
Cost: $$$
Rave Factor: 5 Stars
Service: 4/4 Food: 3/4 Presentation: 3/4 Concept: 3/4 Value: 4/4
Overall, the Laurel...
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Definitions: pal·ate Noun /ˈpalit/
1. The roof of the mouth, separating the cavities of the nose and the mouth in vertebrates.
2. A person's appreciation of taste and flavor.
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The Melting Pot - San Mateo, CA
Restaurant: The Melting Pot
Address: 2 North B Street, San Mateo, CA 94401 Phone: 650-342-6358 Website twitter: @SMMeltingPotCA
Food: Fondue
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: Modern
Cost: $$$
Rave Factor: 2 Stars
Service: 1/4 Food: 1/4 Presentation: 2/4 Concept: 3/4 Value: 1/4
Review: First impressions are crucial developing the experience at a restaurant. When first...
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“Service is extremely important in a restaurant. I always say that people will...”
– Tom Colicchio, Head Judge of Top Chef @tomcolicchio
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Alexander's Steakhouse - Cupertino, CA
Restaurant: Alexander’s Steakhouse - September 30, 2011
Address: 10330 North Wolfe Road, Cupertino, CA 95014 Phone: 408-446-2222 Website twitter: @alexandersv1
Food: Steak, Japanese influenced
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: modern Japanese
Cost: $$$$
Rave Factor: 3 Stars
Service: 1/4 Food: 3/4 Presentation: 4/4 Concept: 2/4 Value: 3/4
Overall, the service was...
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The Raving Palate on twitter →
If you haven’t already, please follow us on twitter to get real-time updates on interesting articles, suggest restaurants to visit, and pieces of our critiques!
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“Cooking is the only craft that relies on all five senses. The only way to become...”
– Gail Simmons, Food & Wine editor and Top Chef Judge @gailsimmons
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Mesa Grill - Las Vegas, NV
Restaurant: Mesa Grill Las Vegas - October 31, 2010
Address: 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Website
Phone: 877-346-4642
Food: Southwestern
Attended: Brunch
Decor/Ambiance: Modern
Cost: $$$
Rave Factor: 4 Stars
Service: 2/4 Food: 3/4 Presentation: 3/4 Concept: 4/4 Value: 3/4
Review: Came here for Sunday morning brunch. Ecstatic to try one of Bobby...
September 2011
7 posts
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Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - Anaheim, CA
Restaurant: Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse - April 16, 2011
Address: 2041 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA 92802 Website Phone: 714-750-5466 Email: anaheim@ruthschris.com
Food: American, Steak
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: Modern, Dale Chihuly pieces
Cost: $$$$
Rave Factor: 4 Stars
Service: 2/4 Food: 4/4 Presentation: 3/4 Concept: 3/4 Value: 4/4
Review: We arrived an...
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“I equate [being the chef] to a conductor conducting an orchestra. The conductor...”
– Tom Colicchio, Head Judge of Top Chef @tomcolicchio
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CraftSteak - Las Vegas, NV
Restaurant: Craftsteak Las Vegas, October 30th, 2010
Address: 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV89109 (MGM Grand) Phone: 702-891-7318 Website twitter: @CraftsteakLV
Food: American, Steak
Attended: Dinner
Decor/Ambiance: Modern
Cost: $$$$
Rave Factor: 5 Stars
Service: 4/4 Food: 4/4 Presentation: 3/4 Concept: 4/4 Value: 4/4
Review: We were seated promptly by our...
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Restaurant Reviews & Ratings
As we get started in chronicling our reviews, we’d like to create a simple template for consistency’s sake. The basic outline of our reviews will include general information about the name and address of the restaurant for those interested in making a reservation or getting directions before starting our critique.
Example:
Restaurant: Pho Palace Address: 123 Elba Island Street, San...
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Curators of Culinary Cuisine
What started as a interest and casual pastime as become something more of a hobby - dining out at upscale restaurants the type of which you can generally afford to go to on special occasion. In fact, for my fiancee and I restaurants have always played a special role in our relationship; the same restaurant on Santana Row in San Jose, CA is the same place in which I proposed to her three years...
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“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a...”
– J. R. R. Tolkien (1892 - 1973)