Chinese Chicken Salad

I went to Costco and picked up one of their famous rotisserie chickens (what a steal for $5!). Here's an easy and relatively healthy salad to make at home or to bring to a party.


Chinese Chicken Salad (Josephine's version)

For the salad:
2-4 rotisserie chicken breasts, shredded (or mixture of dark & white meat)
1 head napa cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
1 head radicchio, cored and thinly sliced
1 bag of bean sprouts
2 carrots, shredded
4 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green part)
4T sesame seeds, lightly toasted

For the vinaigrette:
2tsp dry Chinese mustard powder (or Colman's powder)
1/4 rice wine vinegar
1tsp soy sauce
2T light sesame oil
3T peanut oil (I used vegetable oil and it was fine)
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2T honey

Directions:
1. Mix together all the vegetables in a large serving bowl
2. Top with shredded chicken
3. Place all the vinaigrette ingredients in a blender until smooth. Correct the seasonings as needed.
4. Pour vinaigrette over salad
5. sprinkle sesame seeds on top

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J. Crew Additional 20% off sale Ends May 1st

Extra 20% off all items in their Spring sale. Enter EXTRA20 at checkout. Online only ends Friday, May 1, 2009.

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Macy’s Friends & Family Coupon Ends May 4th

Enjoy and additional 25% off at Macy's Friends & Family event starting today through May 4, 2009. In addition to the 25% off regular, sale and clearance merchandise, receive free shipping. Enter MACYSFF at checkout. Extra 10% off on small electrics, personal care, electronics, furniture, mattresses, and area rugs. Some brand exclusions apply, see store for details. View this photo

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Press Club

Napa meets SF. Press Club markets themselves as the "wine country experience in San Francisco." It has a luxurious and modern decor with several tasting bars, lounge areas, and retail store. I just went last night and thought the space and interior were beautiful and the concept appealing. However, found it to be a bit pretentious and overly priced. There are tasting bars lined against the perimeter featuring 8-10 wineries with a bar in the back that features all the wine.

Know before you go:

  • You'll need to check-in with the host before heading downstairs to get a tasting card. This allows you to purchase the tastings at the different wineries. When complete, the host will simply bill you based on what was scanned on the card
  • Drinks are NOT cheap! Each "taste" is a 2oz pour and at our first stop, tastes for Miner Pinot were $9/taste. We asked about getting just a glass of wine and she said that would be a "double" or "triple" taste. I'm sorry but I don't care what kind of place you are at in the city but a glass of wine should not be approaching $30, especially when I know how much that bottle is worth at full retail! Some tastes were as low as $4 so for $8, you can get a "petite glass of wine."
  • If you want to bypass talking with winery folk and just want to get some vino or a flight combination, head to the back bar where the full list is available
  • Don't come hungry! Aside from the truffle popcorn ($4), the cheese and charcuterie platters are highway robbery!

Like I said, awesome space, cool decor, creative concept but somebody needs to figure out a way to do this without having to drop half a months rent on wine.

Featured wineries: Chateau Montelena, Fritz, Hanna, Landmark, Miner, Mount Eden, Pahlmeyer, and Saintsbury.

Neighborhoods: Union Square, SOMA
20 Yerba Buena Ln
San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 744-5000

www.pressclubsf.com

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Oyster Bliss

Once a year Kermit Lynch Winery and Monterey Fish join forces to put on one of the best Saturday afternoons you'll ever have in Berkeley. While taking over the parking lot of the international wine store, tents and tables are set up and the only thing Tom at Monterey Fish is hoping for is some sunshine! It was a beautiful Saturday and leading up to our astronomical heat wave so it was the perfect day to enjoy wine, oysters, and get our daily dose of Vitamin D. When we got there shortly after noon, the line was long and everyone looked pretty comfortable with bottles of wine. We were just hoping to snag a seat at some point. After getting 3 dozen oysters ($10/6 oysters), grilled garlic sausage & salad ($10), and a bottle of wine (wines by the glass and bottle were available), we found some table space to enjoy the feast. What could be better than sun, vino, and oysters? That's right folks, pizza! Throwing you off a bit?  Well, even after all that food, we went to Cheeseboard and split a pie!  I will definitely be out for Oyster Bliss next year. It is a bit of a trek to the East Bay but a fun event to attend. Be sure to stop into the wine store for a special selection of imported wines.


Kermit Lynch
1605 San Pablo Ave
(between Cedar St & Hopkins St)
Berkeley, CA 94702

(510) 524-1524
www.kermitlynch.com

Cheeseboard Pizza

Neighborhoods: Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley
1512 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94701

(510) 549-3055
www.cheeseboardcollective.coop

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Boulevard Bistro

While on my "vacation" in the good ole suburbs, my dear friend Shannon took me to one of her favorite restaurants in her home town, Boulevard Bistro. I've been to Boulevard Bistro a couple times before and have always enjoyed the welcoming owners, friendly staff, and the quality of food at affordable prices. Granted, we were in Elk Grove but this was a reputable restaurant that I wouldn't mind having back home in SF.

The table started out with Fried Shrimp Cakes with a Roasted Corn Salsa, Red Pepper Aioli and Micro Greens ($8) while I started off with the Veal Sweetbreads with Shitake Mushrooms and Red Wine Thyme Sauce ($9). I can't remember the last time I got sweetbreads for $9! This was a generous portion of the delightfully savory dish and the wine sauce was rich with flavor. The shrimp cakes were also very tasty and something we order each time.

 Boulevard Bistro offers something for everyone including vegetarian, poultry, seafood, and meat. The dishes are all pretty straightforward, nothing too elaborate in ingredients but all using quality and fresh, in-season ingredients. I got the Grilled Salmon with Fingerling Potato, Shitake Mushrooms, Asparagus and a Cauliflower Puree ($20) while Shannon got the Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese, Green Beans and Whipped Yukon Potatoes and a Cabernet Reduction ($34). The menu also included a Stuffed Chicken Breast with Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, Roasted Red Peppers served with Potato Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus and Morel Mushrooms ($16), Seafood Trio of pan seared sea scallops, salmon & prawns with a sweet potato risotto ($20), and Griled Duroc Pork Chop with green beans, bacon, and mashed sweet potatoes ($22).

The owners of the restaurant are very nice and warmly greet you at the door, inviting you into their cozy bar area to enjoy champagne on ice before your meal. If you find yourself in Elk Grove or the Sacramento area, I would definitely recommend Boulevard Bistro for a delicious and enjoyable meal.


8941 Elk Grove Blvd
Elk Grove, CA 95624

(916) 685-2220

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Ironside

I'm excited to report the news that the folks over at District will be opening up Ironside in the Chronicle Books location due to open in the late summer. Coffee/pastries, lunch, and dinner will be served with a focus on healthy, simple, and seasonal Italian/American cuisine. They will also be offering limited wines by the glass. I'm particularly excited as this is right across the street from my work!

680 2nd Street @ Townsend

District


216 Townsend St

San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 896-2120

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Jardiniere Monday Night Prix Fixe Menu

My co-worker just went to Jardiniere last night for the first of Monday night prix fixe dinners at Jardiniere. She was so sweet to pass along the menu because a) she knew I would totally ask the details of her whole meal and b) she thought I might want to go for one of their upcoming Monday dinners. Each Monday (see dates below), Jardiniere will be offering a 3 course prix fixe meal and the best part folks, $45 includes the alcohol pairing! Now I say "alcohol" because one of the dinners is actually whiskey themed. It could be interesting but probably not up my alley. I'm more interested in the food – anyone up for just drinking my whiskey? ;)   Here are the details for the upcoming events:

April 27, 2009
A Taste of San Francisco Dinner

Warm Calamari Salad,
White Bean and Cucumber Salad, Cilantro and Spiced Yogurt
Paso a Paso Verdejo, La Mancha, Spain 2007

••••••••

Cioppino,
Dungeness Crab, Prawns and Tomato
Domaine des Nugues, Beaujolais-Villages, Burgundy, France 2006

••••••••

Tiramisu, Featuring Local Chocolate
Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo, Tuscany, Italy 2000

May 4th
Whiskey Dinner

Duck Confit Salad,
Candied Kumquats and Tamarind Gastrique
Eagle's Nest
Eagle Rare Bourbon, Elderflower Liquer, Benedictine, Kumquats

••••••••

Whiskey Braised Shortribs,
Barley Smoked Bacon and Ramp Greens
Kentucky Cobbler
Buffalo Tracer Red Wine, Bitters

••••••••

Maple Syrup Pudding Cake
Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon

May 11th
Italian Dinner

Bruschetta of Artichoke, Shelling Beans and Sheep's Milk Ricotta
Domaine Pellehaut "Harmonie de Gascogne"
Vin des Côtes de Gascogne, France 2007

••••••••

Garganelli Pasta,
Ragu of Devil's Gulch Pork, English Peas and Parmigiano-Reggiano
Cascina Ca'Rossa, Barbera d'Alba "Mulassa" Piedmont, Italy 2005

••••••••

Vanilla Panna Cotta,
Swanson Farms Strawberries and Almond Shortbread
Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec Champagne, Reims, France NV

*Wines subject to change

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Bloomingdale’s Friends & Family Ends Apr 26th

Enjoy 20% off at Bloomingdale's Friends & Family Event starting April 22 through April 26, 2009. Enter SPRINGFF at checkout or print the below in store coupon. View this photo

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Shopping Deals this week

Kate Spade
Enjoy an additional 20% off all reduced items, online only at katespade.com. Discount will be applied at checkout. Offer good through Friday April 24, 2009.

Puma
Enjoy savings when you shop at your local Puma store or online from April 20-May 10, 2009. Spend $75 or more, receive 20% off, spend $125 or more, receive 30% off, spend $175 or more, receive 40% off. Print the below coupon or enter 70_FLYSTYLE at checkout. View this photo

Williams-Sonoma
Save up to 20% on Wusthof Classic open cutlery at Williamssonoma.com. Also, permanent reductions on Shun Kaji cutlery, now 15% off with the Shun Classic Santoku Knife at a special limted time price of $58.85, Reg $149 for the 5 1/2 inch size. What a bargain! Some exclusions apply. See website for full selection.

Lacoste
Free shipping on all orders $100 or more now through April 30, 2009. No promotion code necessary.

CB2
Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22, 2009. Receive a cool CB2 canvas tote on any in-store purchase on April 22 (while supplies last). I use mine all the time for grocery shopping!

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