District Oakland

Anyone who knows anything about me knows I'm completely bonkers for French fries. Not the run-of-the-mill kind, I'm talking about the perfectly cut, perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned and served with a fancy sauce kind of fries.

I am always on the lookout for them - even when I think I don't really "need" them. But I don't write about what I need here - I write about what I want. It's a lot more fun.

While these folks have those perfect fries, I can name a few more reasons why District in Oakland is worth the trip.

First of all, the other thing I'm often on the lookout for is a cozy, stylish spot to simply enjoy a drink sans the full dinner commitment. The stately, yet sexy loft-like interior chock-full of plush sofas is the ideal choice for that in Oldtown.

If you decide to stay for dinner, there is no shortage of tasty bites. In addition to the French fries with truffled parmesan aioli mentioned, er... raved about above, I can also recommend the all natural beef sliders with gruyere & red wine-onion jam, the ahi tuna tartare with peruvian rocoto chili, cucumber & meyer lemon dressing & the chevre stuffed peppadew peppers.

They do an amazing job with cheese flights served with Acme bread, house-made charcuterie platters and pizzetta too, and with over 40 different varietals by the glass they can hook you up with the perfect wine pairing.

I have yet to try one of their desserts, but given the obvious enthusiasm for whiskey - did I mention they have over 40 small batch varieties to choose from, I should probably make a special trip for the bourbon bread pudding with pecans, bourbon caramel & whipped cream.

Still not sold? Will $1 oyster happy hour help seal the deal?

Plum Indeed

If you saw my earlier posts on Haven or Plum, then you already know I'm a huge Daniel Patterson fan.

So no need for me to go on and on about how all of his restaurants seem to deliver on the delicious handcrafted cocktails, mouthwatering menu and perfect atmosphere that effortlessly and simultaneously infuse you with energy AND a relaxing sense of ease.

Oh wait - I'm going on and on again. Well, whatever. After 3 visits to Plum Bar, I think I have decided it's my favorite out of the 3 (in the East Bay anyway) and here's why. Mainly, I like how "approachable" the menu and the atmosphere are by comparison.

View fullsize

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy 4 - 5 - 6 course dinners but sometimes the thought of sitting ANYWHERE for 2-3 hours makes me restless. And just because I'm on the go, doesn't mean I'm looking for "fast food".

I love that you can breeze in and out of Plum Bar - they're open until 1:30AM on the weekends, so you have all night. There's no guilt about lack of commitment and no concerns about lack of quality. Come for a drink before dinner, or come for one after, or for dessert. Heck, camp out the whole night and have drinks, dinner, dessert and drinks again. Whatever you decide, you will revel in the goodness all-round.

All of the cocktails are impeccable - I like the Ol' Saint Fashioned with Templeton rye, brandied cranberry, candied orange and orange bitters. Try the Chicken Wings & Skins with hot sauce & cilantro - it's not what you think - remember who we are talking about here. The Double Burger with Gruyere is amazing and so is the Poutine - a delicious concoction of fries, gravy and cheese.

If you order all of that, don't eat all of it. If you do, you will not have room for the Brioche Doughnuts. Which will mean that you'll have to come back - again and again perhaps, and that will be a tragedy.

Uptown Crawl

Not just another flash-in-the-pan addition to Uptown's flourishing hip and trendy bar scene - Dogwood feels like the real deal as they serve up the stylish ease.

They say - "An intimate spirits-driven sanctuary specializing in cocktails and charcuterie by the pound". I say it's instantly timeless and comfortable, part speakeasy, part hunting lodge, yet current and a bit sexy.

The cocktails are handcrafted, stout and reasonably priced. Try the Hen House - a delicious concoction of gin, ginger and lime. And what's not to like about a joint with bacon chutney on the menu?

Now back to the notion of an Uptown crawl. Try this:

Start with Dogwood - ease into the night with their cozy atmosphere, retro music and a cheese/charcuterie plate and don't forget the bacon chutney.

Next move on to Make Westing - order something from the "Things in Jars" list and elbow your way on to the bocce ball court.

If you're still hungry, go to Flora and order most anything on that menu. Now you're primed and ready to end the night at the kooky Cafe Van Kleef - the "epicenter of the Uptown renaissance". Here you must order the signature drink, The Greyhound, in hopes the generous slice of vitamin-packed fresh grapefruit atop this cocktail will help stave off any ill effects of this long crawl.

Downshifting with Mazzy Star & Gin

The Gin Drink from Camino is fitting the bill for a chill happy hour starter this week. I know it's plenty cold outside - I'm talking more about affecting state of mind or downshifting from a hectic week.

Most people, including me, typically associate gin with summertime cocktails. Then I decided summer is too short to put such restrictions on this super versatile spirit. I know I have posted numerous gin recipes already but what's that famous quote about too much of a good thing? Yes, exactly. 

Plus I think it's perfectly suited for these chill tracks from Mazzy Star. Their first release in over 10 years sounds as good as ever. Rumor has it a full LP and tour dates are due out in early 2012. I'm a patient fan - I will most definitely be on the lookout.

Gin Drink

2 oz gin

1 oz Dolin Blanc

1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz fresh cucumber juice

Pour all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice, shake, strain into cocktail glass and garnish with grilled fig leaf.

Mazzy Star - Common Burn 

Mazzy Star - Lay Myself Down