Category Archives: Bread Basket

September 29, 2011
7:06 PM
by: Uhockey

Binkley’s, Cave Creek AZ

…when you really start going out of your way to experience the best of what the world’s dining has to offer it is infrequent that you are shocked and amazed; In the era of food television, flickr, yelp, and any … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Binkley's, Bread Basket, Cave Creek, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Lobster, Macaroon, Phoenix, Pork, Scottsdale, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Vacation

September 29, 2011
3:38 PM
by: Uhockey

Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix AZ

Having touched down in Phoenix only 200 minutes prior and already with breakfast under my belt the next stop on my tour of The Valley would be the most famous of all my gastronomic experiences in the area and, all … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Bread Basket, Phoenix, Pizza, Pizzeria Bianco, Pork, Vacation

September 7, 2011
7:47 PM
by: Uhockey

Plum, Oakland CA

…despite the urging of my dinner companion at Commis I simply could not justify the expense of a dinner at Coi during this trip to San Francisco; I’d simply heard too many mixed things from too many trusted palates and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Food, Ice Cream, Oakland, Plum, Pork, San Francisco, Vacation

September 5, 2011
6:39 PM
by: Uhockey

The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena CA

My trip to Paris in April led to a renewed faith in the United States Michelin Guides; having dined at six 3* temples of gastronomy and four 2* establishments during our nine days in town I found that on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Lobster, Meadowood, Napa, San Francisco, St. Helena, Sushi, Tasting Menu, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Vacation

September 5, 2011
4:14 PM
by: Uhockey

Redd, Yountville CA

I’m not one to bluff or pull punches and with that stated I’ll simply state my first visit to Redd was a disaster – it was so bad that the bait n’ switch menu and awful service led to me … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, California, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Pizza, Redd, Vacation, Yountville

September 4, 2011
7:49 PM
by: Uhockey

Commis, Oakland CA

Sunday would be a day of small bites, baseball, and both old friends and new as the day began at 4:45am with a run through the hills of Oakland followed by a shower and a quick drive into the Mission. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Commis, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Oakland, San Francisco, Tasting Menu, Uncategorized, Vacation

September 3, 2011
9:57 PM
by: Uhockey

Atelier Crenn, San Francisco CA

I love food, I love the arts, and given my choice I prefer the more freely flowing and less constrained versions of each – it is probably why artists like Dali, chefs like Gagnaire, and bands like Mars Volta all … Continue reading →

Posted in Atelier Crenn, Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Pork, San Francisco, Vacation

September 3, 2011
12:49 PM
by: Uhockey

Cyrus, Healdsburg CA

Having originally planned to dine at Cyrus for dinner but instead changing plans a few weeks prior in order to accommodate a friend who subsequently had to back out again leaving me as a party of one the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Coffee, Croissant, cyrus, Dessert, Foie, Food, Healdsburg, Ice Cream, Macaroon, San Francisco, Tasting Menu, Vacation

September 2, 2011
7:30 PM
by: Uhockey

Saison, San Francisco CA

To anyone who knows me they’ll realize that my vacation planning is extensive – there are things I enjoy (the visual arts, music, and sports in no particular order) and if I can fit in some great dining all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Lobster, Saison, San Francisco, Sushi, Tasting Menu, Vacation

September 2, 2011
12:00 PM
by: Uhockey

Pizza, Chicken, Pork, Ice Cream, and Chocolate, The Bay Area CA

Moving from bakeries to savories and then to chocolates and ice-cream the rest of my quick meals and ancillary bites during this visit to the Bay Area would run the gamut from $3 chocolates to a $20 pizza to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Berkeley, Bread Basket, California, Cheeseboard Collective, Christopher Elbow, Dessert, Ice Cream, Ici Ice Cream, Pizza, Pizzeria Delfina, Pork, Roli Roti, San Francisco, Smitten Ice Cream, Una Pizzeria Napoletana, Vacation, Zuni Cafe

June 18, 2011
1:20 AM
by: Uhockey

Avenues, Chicago IL

For my last dinner on this trip to Chicago the choice came down to Graham Elliot, Ria, or Avenues – not a bad one in the bunch from what I’d been told, but with one standing far above the others … Continue reading →

Posted in Avenues, Bread Basket, Chicago, Crab, Dessert, Food, Illinois, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 17, 2011
4:06 PM
by: Uhockey

NAHA, Chicago IL

At NAHA, Chef and owner Carrie Nahabedian cooks in her own kitchen; she does this at both lunch and dinner. She also answers her own e-mails and at least when I called to make reservations she answers her own phones … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, NAHA, Pork, Vacation

June 16, 2011
10:45 PM
by: Uhockey

Next "Paris 1906" and The Aviary, Chicago IL

To call the hype surrounding Chef Grant Achatz’s “NEXT” substantial would be the understatement of the year…or perhaps of last year since first the restaurant was named the “most anticipated restaurant in America” for 2010 and didn’t even start selling … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Illinois, Next, Pork, The Aviary, Truffle, Vacation

June 7, 2011
5:06 PM
by: Uhockey

Rino’s Place, Boston MA

For my very last 3/4 day in Boston my agenda finally had nothing to do with the conference but rather with seeing the New England Aquarium – the last remaining “Top 10” aquarium left on my United States list – … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Food, Italian, Massachusetts, Rino's Place, Vacation

June 6, 2011
11:05 PM
by: Uhockey

No. 9 Park, Boston MA

While many touristy stops such as Durgin Park, Mike’s Pastry, Pizzeria Regina, and Union Oyster House come to mind when thinking of the Boston dining landscape there is perhaps no other location (save for the currently closed Olives) as significant … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Massachusetts, No. 9 Park, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 6, 2011
5:46 PM
by: Uhockey

Eastern Standard Kitchen, Boston MA

When I arrived in Boston my Monday lunch had originally been unscheduled; on one hand I figured I’d be getting a bit worn down by the conference by that point but at the same time I did not want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Dessert, Eastern Standard, Eastern Standard Kitchen, Foie, Food, Massachusetts, Pork, Sweetbreads, Vacation

June 6, 2011
10:03 AM
by: Uhockey

Parker House Restaurant, Boston MA

With the first lecture of the day scheduled to be a good one I got up for an early run at 5:00am on Monday June 6th so that I could have a proper sit-down breakfast at a Boston landmark before … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Breakfast, Coffee, Dessert, Food, French Toast, Massachusetts, Omni Parker House, Parker House Restaurant, Vacation

June 5, 2011
11:52 PM
by: Uhockey

L’Espalier, Boston MA

As one of the earlier East Coast members of the “farm to table” revolution and a regular amongst the “best of” lists in various local and regional publications dinner at L’Espalier was the easiest dining choice I made in all … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, L'Espalier, Lobster, Massachusetts, Pork, Souffle, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 5, 2011
3:40 PM
by: Uhockey

Mistral, Boston MA

Of all the places I’d marked as likely visits in Boston Mistral’s brunch was the only one that raised some red flags with a few trusted opinions stating it was not worth it, yet aside from being part of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Breakfast, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Massachusetts, Mistral, Pancakes, Vacation

June 4, 2011
8:19 PM
by: Uhockey

Island Creek Oyster Bar, Boston MA

…on Saturday the Boston Bruins by way of the Boston Red Sox unknowingly threw a big monkey wrench into my well planned trip to Boston. Having visited many of the most storied stadiums in baseball and the most fabled arenas … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Food, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Italian, Lobster, Massachusetts, Vacation