Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Bay Area Admins: Don’t Miss Exclusive Happy Hour Specials on April 25th!

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
Administrative Professional Day Bay Area Admins: Dont Miss Exclusive Happy Hour Specials on April 25th!

If you're an admin in San Francisco, take advantage of these offers of appreciation from some of the Bay Area's best restaurants!

In celebration of Administrative Professionals Day, we are thrilled to honor our admin members with exclusive happy hour specials at more than 35 restaurants in the Bay Area. Participating restaurants encompass Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Wine Country, with San Francisco boasting the most happy hour offers. Between 5PM-6:30PM on April 25, admins can kick up their heels, raise a glass, and enjoy delicious offers created in honor of the important work they do!

Admin Happy Hour highlights include one free glass of red or white wine or a special cocktail of the day at 5A5 Steak Lounge in San Francisco’s Financial District; 2-for-1 well drinks at Betelnut in the Marina; $4 beers and $6 cocktails and full-order appetizers at Loft Bar and Bistro in San Jose; and $5 bar menu, well drinks and selected wines by the glass at Farmstead in St. Helena. The complete list of participating restaurants may be viewed via the dedicated OpenTable Admin Professionals Happy Hour page.  To take advantage of the specials, admin members are required to bring a business card and mention the promotion.

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Artisanal Fromagerie in NYC Seeks the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe!

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
artisanal grilled cheese1 Artisanal Fromagerie in NYC Seeks the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe!

I adore cheese, so it's probably not a surprise that I adore Artisanal Bistro!

Do you make the best grilled sandwich ever? If so, please send me one. Also, enter today for a chance to win the Artisanal Grilled Cheese Contest! Entering is simple. Like Artisanal Fromagerie Bistro & Wine Bar on Facebook, and then visit their contest page. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2012, at 5PM EST.

Grilled cheese has weathered many a diet craze and cuts across an array of cuisines, and they are now more popular than ever. Chef Brennan explains, “Grilled cheeses are hot right now for several reasons. First, everyone can relate to the sandwich from their childhood, so it evokes nostalgic emotions. Also, everyone has made one! And, with talented chefs now getting into the game and using Artisanal,  high-quality products, it’s bringing this humble sandwich to another level. Plus, given the economic climate,  it’s an affordable luxury.” Artisanal’s features several variations on grilled cheese sandwiches. We’ve had them on the menu for about eight years, and it is one of our most popular sellers. My favorite is the ‘Frenchie,’ with the ‘Spaniard’ being a close second.”

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Share Our Strength’s 2012 Taste of the Nation San Francisco: Purchase Tickets

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
Amanda Botelho Share Our Strengths 2012 Taste of the Nation San Francisco: Purchase Tickets

OpenTable's Amanda Botelho, pictured here with Chef Aaron London, most recently of Ubuntu, is committed to helping Share Our Strength realize their goal of ending childhood hunger.

OpenTable is pleased to help support Share Our Strength’s 2012 Taste of the Nation fundraiser to help end childhood hunger across America. You’re invited to savor the finest food, spirits, and wine from the nation’s hottest chefs and mixologists.

In our hometown, OpenTable’s own Amanda Botelho is the Restaurant Chair for Taste of the Nation San Francisco on March 29, 2012. She is joined by Chef Michael Tusk of Cotogna and Quince restaurants. Taking place at the Bently Reserve, you’ll enjoy tasting portions from some of the Bay Area’s best chefs and masters of mixology, from restaurants such as A16, Frances, Jardiniere, Marlowe, Osteria Stellina, Perbacco, Slanted Door, and many, many more. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the San Francisco event this year go to 3 Squares and Children of Shelters, local organizations identified by Share Our Strength to help end childhood hunger in the U.S.

If you’re in the Bay Area — or if you’ll be in the Bay Area — on March 29th, purchase tickets to Share Our Strength’s 2012 Taste of the Nation in San Francisco. With tickets available for $95, $135, and $500, there’s a price that’s right for you!

For more information on additional 2012 Taste of the Nation events happening in other cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., visit Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation page.

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Los Angeles ‘Eat Up’ Brings Virtual Foodies Together at Napa Valley Grille

Monday, November 7th, 2011
DT 2 Los Angeles Eat Up Brings Virtual Foodies Together at Napa Valley Grille

Napa Valley Grille's Victory Beer-Battered Kobe Corn Dogs with Spicy Mustard Paired with Victory Prima Pils

We’ve got a guest post from our friend Mary Bigham and her colleague Amy Strauss of The Town Dish.

In a world of increasingly common virtual connections, breaking bread with fellow food-loving writers from around the country is a modern day novelty. When the occasion arises though, the result is inherently satisfying. For die-hard foodies, there is nothing greater than sharing the love of culinary delights in person, together, as it should be. Passing family-style plates, hearing whispers of “taste this, it melts in your mouth” in lieu of sending a twitpic just feels right. Of course, this roundtable of social-media savvy food lovers still documented each delicious bite with their cell phones, which just is fine by us. An organic dining experience with a side of technology is the perfect recipe for the “eat up” that occurred November 3rd in Los Angeles, California.

Local and national enthusiasts congregated around a rough-hewn communal table at Napa Valley Grille, swapping their tales of food love and heartbreak. Organized by Southwest Airlines and Dish Trip–a website dedicated to traveling in the name of food, the roundup of attendees included Stacey Sun of dineLA, Ann Ora Campea of Girl vs. Food, Aisha Lomando of Foodspotting LA, Caroline Bean of Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Vy. T of Contiki Vacations, and Sandi McKenna and Rick Griffin of Midlife Road Trip.

Under the dedicated leadership of Executive Chef Joseph Gillard, Napa Valley Grille hosted this decadent event with aplomb. Nestled in the Westwood Village of Los Angeles, this Open Table restaurant entertained and delighted the food and wine aficionados over four courses of locally-sourced, seasonal plates. Orchestrated by Napa Valley Grille’s Pastry Chef Manuel Ortega, the food bloggers experienced an evening with the culinary superstar, uncovering his craft through bites of signature dishes and desserts.

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Let’s Celebrate: Happy 15th Anniversary to Prime Restaurant in Atlanta!

Friday, November 4th, 2011
Catherall Lets Celebrate: Happy 15th Anniversary to Prime Restaurant in Atlanta!

Congratulations to Tom Catherall and the staff at Prime on 15 fabulous years!

Prime, located in Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, Georgia, will be celebrating its 15th anniversary the week of November 7 through November 13, 2011, and they’re inviting OpenTable diners to join in on the fun!

From prix-fixe menu options and specialty items priced at $15 to a a private dinner for purchase with owner chef Tom Catherall and charity events, Prime wants everyone to come celebrate, from long-standing diners to folks just discovering this Atlanta favorite. Looking back on 15 years in the business, Catherall is proud that Prime has become the flagship of the Here to Serve restaurant group. He says, “It has been extremely rewarding meeting all our guests and making them into new friends. We have experienced proposals, weddings, and growing families!”

The festivities kick off on Monday November 7, with Chef Dan Garner bringing back scrumptious favorites, such as the whole “sizzling” catfish and many others. Chef Jimmy Meas, the original sushi chef for Prime and corporate sushi chef for Here to Serve Restaurants will headline Tuesday’s Surf & Turf theme, featuring specialty sushi rolls and his signature yellowtail jalapeño as an amuse bouche for guests dining that evening. ”Steak and sushi have been a part of our menu since day one, along with our 1/2-priced steak special. Prime‘s sea bass entree has remained the same and is very popular, as is our chocolate torte cake. New diner favorites include Prime‘s ‘World’s Greatest Sandwich’ and the Kobe beef burger,” said Catherall of Prime‘s offerings.

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A Look at Michael Mina’s 20th Anniversary Tribute Dinner for All Stars Helping Kids

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

On Sunday, October 9, 2011, culinary superstars joined with sports superstars to celebrate the first 20 years of Chef Michael Mina‘s career at MICHAEL MINA restaurant. Proceeds from the event went to benefit All Stars Helping Kids. NFL All Star Ronnie Lott and baseball legend Reggie Jackson were on hand to fete Chef Mina. A carefully curated multi-course, twelve-dish menu (plus canapes!) featured dishes from chefs including Omri Aflalo (Bourbon Steak SF), Jason Berthold (RN74), Mike Davis (MICHAEL MINA), Gerard Hayden (The North Fork Table & Inn), Chris L’Hommedieu (MICHAEL MINA), Joseph Humphrey (Dixie), Paul Piscopo (Trace), George Morrone (Boca Steak), Bruce Hill (BIX), Traci Des Jardins (Jardiniere), Ron Siegel (The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel), Melissa Perello (Frances), Bill Corbett (Absinthe Brasserie), and Lincoln Carson (MICHAEL MINA), as well as Chef Mina himself!

OpenTable, a sponsor of the celebration, hosted some very special guests at our table. Giveaway winners Judy Erlich and Bob Katz, David Honig and Hannah Blumenstiel, who have dined with Chef Mina more than 50 times (!), and Kelly Yu, perhaps OpenTable’s most valuable Bay area diner with almost 500 reservations, and guest Josh Gold, dined with us as we made our way through the many courses that included caviar, abalone, foie gras, scallops, quail, and lamb!

As we look forward to the next 20 years of Chef Mina’s amazing career, you can look back at the event in our Flickr slideshow.

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Are You the Pancake King or Queen of NYC? Prove it on Labor Day at Jo’s!

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
Jos Pancake Eating Contest 2010 Are You the Pancake King or Queen of NYC? Prove it on Labor Day at Jos!

Is this New York's most civilized competitive-eating contest?

Last year, our friends at Jo’s restaurant in Nolita held their very first pancake eating contest. It was a delicious success — so much so, that they’re doing it again this year, on Monday, September 5, 2011, at 4PM. I spoke with Johnny Santiago, Jo’s co-owner and the event’s co-conspirator, about it.

Whose idea was the pancake eating contest, and what was the impetus? Why pancakes?

Executive Chef Michael Barash came up with the idea, but the whys are that we wanted to do something fun, last summer had been a long, hot summer, and because our pancakes are $@8&in’ delicious. As a kid I always tortured my mom about pancakes. They had to look like the photo on the box! She became a pancake master! God bless her, putting up with my crap.

She sounds like a good mom. I might have swatted you with a spatula, if you criticized my ‘cakes. So, how do you and Jim Chu keep out the competitive eaters? Google? Or don’t you?

Last year two professional eaters got in. While that proved to be very entertaining and made for high drama, it was completely unfair. They murdered the competition! So, yes, we now Google everyone!

Spectators at Jos 2010 Are You the Pancake King or Queen of NYC? Prove it on Labor Day at Jos!

Industry professionals, including Nate Appleman, came down to cheer on the competitors.

What are some of the parameters? Can people eat with their hands? Are there beverages you can or cannot consume, etc.?

You must use a fork and knife, because Jo always said, “You can eat all you want, but don’t be an animal.” You can’t dip the pancakes in water, but you can drink water or whatever you’d like. Contestants are also encouraged to be entertaining.

Personality counts? Cool. So, tell me about the pancakes. What type are they (buttermilk, sourdough, blinkens, etc.). I’m not eating carbs at the moment, so the more you tell me about the pancakes, the vicariously happier I will be. Also, do they have to put syrup on the pancakes?

They are buttermilk-ricotta pancakes with cherry maple syrup.

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