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Urban Wine Trail: The Merriest Trail In Town

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We NorCal residents are no strangers to hiking. But there is one trail in particular that has us “buzzing” with excitement. We’re talking about Oakland’s Urban Wine Trail or as we at See.Eat.Love. have begun calling it, “The Merriest Trail In Town.”

The Urban Wine Trail that spans from the Brooklyn Basin all the way up to Uptown is home to 10 wineries. These wineries are lead by stellar wine makers, some with over 40 years of wine making experience. These Oakland wineries are sourcing grapes from exceptional grape growing regions such as Mendocino, Sonoma and Napa, to name a few. But the best part? They are producing and pouring their wines right here in our very own backyard.

Join us on 4/16 as we explore a section of this Urban Wine Trail on foot. We’ll be making four stops and getting the special See.Eat.Love. treatment. Private wine tastings paired with amazing treats and a wonderful meal to cap it all off.

Click here to book

 

 

 

Best Margaritas in Oakland

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In honor of National Margarita Day we’ve put together a list of what we think are the Best Margaritas in Oakland. On February 22nd, lift a glass high and cheers to good food, good drinks and good company. Salud.

Nido Kitchen and Bar in Oakland is known for fresh farm-to-table Mexican food. Try the Margarita La Maxima with blood orange liquor, or the Cerveza-rita—double the tequila and topped with cerveza Pacifico. 444 Oak St., Oakland nidooakland.com.

Tamarindo in Oakland is taking Mexican back to its roots with small plates (antojitos). Pair any plate with the El Fabuloso margarita (Don Julio Reposado, Torres, agave, chile salt rim), or the Margarita de Tamarindo (El Charro Silver, fresh tamarind purée, lime, simple syrup, salt chile rim). 468 Eighth St., Oakland tamarindoantojeria.com.

Calavera located in Uptown Oakland is home to one of the most expansive tequila and mezcal offerings in the East Bay. Roll in there to to sip their magical, salt air-rimmed margaritas such as the Estilo Ron Cooper made with Pueblo Viejo blanco, lime, agave, orange, guajillo sal de gusano, mezcal Vida copita. 2337 Broadway, Oakland calaveraoakland.com

Homemade Ribollita Recipe

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ribollita2
Super simple homemade ribollita recipe. Enjoy!
Yield
Makes 6 servings
Active Time
20 minutes
Total Time
1 1/2 hours

Ingredients

    • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
    • 1 small onion, peeled and roughly chopped
    • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
    • 1 celery stalk, chopped
    • 4 ounces pancetta or ham, chopped
    • 1/2 cup olive oil
    • 1 15-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
    • 3 15-ounce cans cannellini or great northern beans, drained and rinsed
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
    • 1 bunch kale, roughly chopped
    • 1/2 cup toasted bread crumbs
    • Grated parmesan

Preparation

    1. 1 In a large pot over medium heat, sauté the first five ingredients in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil for 5 minutes.
    2. 2 Add the tomatoes and their juices, along with the beans, broth, and rosemary. Simmer, covered, until the beans break apart, about an hour.
    3. 3 Add the kale and cook for 5 to 7 minutes more. Stir in the bread crumbs and serve, drizzled with the remaining olive oil and sprinkled with the cheese.

See.Eat.Love.’s Rainy Day Guide to Oakland

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Don’t let a little rain stop you. There is a Town that needs to be explored one bite and sip at a time. Here is our Rainy Day Guide to Oakland for food and drink lovers.

Dinner and a Movie

Snuggle up with a movie at The New Parkway Theatre. The theatre shows everything from blockbuster hits to small independent movies. Sit back in one of the various couches and armchairs situated in front of the screen. They have a full service dinner and beer menu serving comfort food and 12 local brews, along with your typical movie snacks. And they make their popcorn fresh and unbuttered so that you can season as you please at the concession stand. // 474 24th Street; thenewparkway.com

Oakland Urban Wine Trail

There are over ten wineries in Oakland all featuring distinct wines made from grapes sourced from stellar wine regions such as Napa, Mendocino and Sonoma. The wineries are dotted along the Urban Wine Trail making it easy to duck into a winery every few blocks to get out of the rain. You can do a self-guided tour or hop on our Urban Wine Trail tour to get the special treatment plus an awesome meal too. // seeeatlove.com

Old Oakland’s Swan’s Market

Head on over to Old Oakland and step into the coolest food emporium you will ever visit. This awesome open-stall, communal market is home to some of the tastiest restaurants this side of the Bay. With over six restaurants in the market such as, Dominica Rice-Cisneros’ Cosecha and Sarah Kirnon’s Miss Ollie’s, we recommend you come hungry so you can grab a little something from each stand. Also, highly recommend paying Brendan at Deep Roots Wine Bar for a cocktail or wine tasting and a cool history lesson on the area. // see individual shops websites for hours

Cheers,

Raquel

About See.Eat.Love.

See.Eat.Love. is a food tour and events company created by Oakland resident and lover of all things food and drink, Raquel Navarro. Raquel offers food lovers intimate culinary strolls through Oakland and events such as cooking classes and pop-ups with local Oakland chefs. Explorations and events take place in neighborhoods where small business owners, artisans and restaurant chefs share their personal food stories and their passion for local, unique and delicious eats. And, of course, along with learning about each area’s culinary and cultural background, guests are treated to signature tastes unique to Oakland.

 

Last Meal of 2015 - Our Top Picks for Oakland

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With so many choices how can one decide where to have the last meal of 2015? Here are our Top Four Picks plus a place to cap off the night with live music and a cocktail or two.

Family, friends, good food. That’s all we need in life

  1. Calavera - Calavera is hosting La Cena de Los Danzantes de la Luna, The Last Feast of Tonalli in the year of the Aztec Blood Moon, from 5 pm - 11 pm on 12/31. The special menu includes smoked oysters, bone marrow butter poached Maine lobster tacos and so much more.
  2. alaMar - alaMar is offering a prix fixe three course dinner for only $45 plus a $9 cocktail special. And starting at 9 pm the place is going to turn into a party with live DJ, party favors and more.
  3. Boot & Shoe and Penrose - Enjoy your last pizza of the year at the always delicious Boot & Shoe Service and then head across the street to Penrose for their NYE party with live music from the Zongo Junction. Tickets are required for Penrose. Your ticket gets you one drink ticket and unlimited passed snacks. Click here to buy your tickets for Penrose.
  4. Camino - Camino is also offering a fixed menu for $110 that inlcudes Wood oven-roased rib eyes, oysters, truffles, champagne…and more.

Wherever you choose to celebrate we hope you have an amazing time. Stay safe and we’ll see you in the new year!

Cheers,

Raquel

Owner of See.Eat.Love.

Instagram Photo Contest

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Five winners will be chosen at random. Winners will be announced on 1/11.

Starting on 12/28 every time you post a picture on Instagram of your favorite restaurant dish with the hashtag #OaklandEats you increase your chances of winning a $100 gift card that you can use during Oakland Restaurant week which begins on 1/14. Easy peasy. Instagram photo contest fun for all. Can’t wait to see all the awesome food.

Sautéed Beet Greens over Orecchiette

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Sautéed Beet Greens over Orecchiette

Sautéed Beet Greens over Orecchiette

Earlier this summer I planted a variety of fall/winter veggies including beets. After months of TLC and constant patrolling so the pesky squirrels wouldn’t get my crop I was able to harvest my first batch of veggies including a handful of beets. The beets, as I had dreamed, were delicious slow roasted, then tossed in a citrus vinaigrette laid over greens, blue cheese and Marcona almonds, finished off with a light drizzle of good local honey and a sprinkling of Maldon sea salt. Always a light sprinkling of Maldon sea salt. But the real stars were the beet greens. Beet greens are often overlooked but when prepared well can be absolutely delicious. Here is how I prepared them. Give the recipe a try and let me know what you think. Provecho!!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 small sweet onion, diced
  • 3 strips of thick cut Applewood Smoked Bacon, diced
  • Beet greens from 4 beets, stems thinly sliced, leaves torn
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup + more for plating of Paremseano Reggiano
  • 1/2 lb Orecchiette

Directions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil for your pasta. Don’t forget to add salt to your water.

  2. While the pot is coming to a boil. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook all the way through. Remove bacon and reserve in a bowl to add back later.

  3. By now water should be boiling; add pasta and cook per directions on the box. While that cooks, add onion to pan; cook until translucent, about five minutes. Add garlic; cook for one minute. Add beet-green stems and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add beet-green leaves and 2 to 3 tablespoons water. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and season with salt and pepper.

  4. Drain pasta reserving a little bit of the pasta water.
  5. Toss bacon back into the pan with beet greens and add drained pasta.
  6. Add about ladle-full of pasta water to the pan and the 1/4 cup of parmeseano reggiano.
  7. Toss until all the pasta is coated. Pasta should have a sheen.
  8. Serve hot and sprinkle more parmeseano reggiano to taste.

Thanksgiving Wine Guide

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I believe that a meal is not a meal if it is not accompanied by a good wine. And this year I Ordinairewanted to make a little extra effort in selecting a few key wines that I’d showcase on my dinner table this Thanksgiving. To get a little help in the matter I went down to my neighborhood wine shop and bar, Ordinaire Wine, to get some professional help in choosing the perfect wines to complement my Thanksgiving dinner. Below is a list of the wines I chose based on my good man Ethan’s recommendations:

2011 Céline & Laurent Tripoz Fleur d’Aligoté

To get the party started I chose a little bubbly to accompany the appetizers. The reason is simple: Champagne and other sparkling wines—Cava, Prosecco, Moscato d’Asti, included—are not just great party wines, they’re also the most versatile wines for pairing with food. I went with the 2011 Céline & Laurent Tripoz Fleur d’Aligoté. Very dry, bright, and refined. A great wine to start a night with.

2006 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein

I love Rieslings. A lot of people hear Riesling and think “sweet” wines not ideal for food pairings. Well, I’m here to contradict this belief and advocate for Rieslings. Austrian Rieslings, such as the one I chose, are dry, structured wines with stony, pure, shimmering mineral flavors that dominate the palate, yet are never heavy or out of balance. The particular Riesling I chose, the 2006 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein, is rich and fleshy, juicy and complex, with a nutlike quality, perfect to compliment the main feast.

2012 Julien Altaber Sextant Maranges

For those who prefer a juicy, red wine with their meal, I went with a magnum bottle of the 2012 Julien Altaber Sextant Maranges. This beautiful Pinot Noir is from a plot of land that the producer recently bought in the newest of the Burgundy appellations - Maranges. This lies just outside Saint Aubin and exhibits very good terroir which is why the area has been elevated to AOC status.

I highly recommend you visit Ordinaire Wine to get Ethan, Bradford or any of the other knowledgeable and friendly staff to help you pick something perfect for your meal.

And since we’re talking about wine…don’t forget to join us 12/6 and 12/13 as we drink and eat our way through the Urban Wine Trail. A portion of the sales will go to the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Click here to buy your tickets.

SeeEatLove-WineTour website image

 

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

About Raquel Navarro and See.Eat.Love

Raquel Navarro is the founder of See.Eat.Love. a food tour company that offers food lovers intimate culinary strolls through Oakland’s diverse neighborhoods. Raquel and her team of knowledgeable ambassadors – many with culinary training, cooking experience, or food writing backgrounds – take guests on gourmet adventures to get a look behind-the-scenes into the best of Oakland’s acclaimed food communities, where they will discover delicious edible treasures one bite or sip at a time.