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San Francisco

Michael Chiarello’s Coqueta

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“Get your camera ready”. After spending a good portion of my two-hour lunch at Coqueta taking photos, the comment from the server approaching my table didn’t come as a surprise. I’m sure the whole staff was amused by my constant photographing that afternoon. What can I say, everything was beautifully done from the room decor, serveware, to the food. Speaking of which, a feverishly smoking vessel was placed in front of me and thanks to the heads-up from the server I managed to get a photo and video as the strawberry compote was being poured onto the rhubarb gazpacho, one of three desserts to conclude my first meal at Coqueta.

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Secret Breakfast Ice Cream

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Bourbon and cornflakes for breakfast anyone? This boozy ice cream from Humphry Slocombe has locals including myself, hooked and eager to try the next wacky concoction. I had the pleasure of meeting owners, Jake Godby and Sean Vahey at a cooking demonstration last year and their personalities and stories are as exciting as their flavors. So what is Secret Breakfast? It is a velvety, rich custard with bourbon and mixed in are chunks of cornflake cookies. I’ll admit the flavor is rather addicting and after three days I’ve finished an entire pint.

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Blue Bottle Pastry’s Hirst Cake at SF MoMA

Last week the SF MoMA had a four-day celebration to mark it’s temporary closing for a 3-year long remodel. The museum will open again in 2016 and in the mean time exhibitions will be scattered around different parts of the city. What we won’t see? The art-inspired pastry creations by Pastry Chef Caitlin Freeman of Blue Bottle Coffee. I went to the MoMA and did a proper send off by having one last dessert.

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I selected the Hirst Cake inspired by Damien Hirst’s “Amylamine”. The edible confetti is what got me.

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Killed by Dessert: San Francisco

Some of the country’s best pastry chefs from the east and west coasts have come together to raise money for Share Our Strength through a series of “Killed by Dessert” events. The founders Lincoln Carson, Bill Corbett, Brooks Headley, Michael Laiskonis, Francisco Migoya & Christina Tosi held events in New York and Texas before making their way to the Bay Area.

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Photo Diary: Star Chefs & Vintner’s Gala Desserts

It was my second year volunteering at the Meals On Wheels Star Chefs & Vintner’s Gala. Local chefs came together to prepare a multi-course dinner for donors who generously gave money to provide meals for seniors in the Bay Area. Raffles were also held to raise funds. That happened to be my area of responsibility that evening, and afterward I was given the opportunity to attend the dessert reception.

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Glowing chandeliers hanging from the exposed ceiling at Fort Mason Center

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