Bay Area Bites Food + Drink
What’s on the menu for this Valentine’s Day? Chocolate, of course! Feed your sweetie(s) or your own fine self something sweet from our round-up of delectable, locally made treats.
Over 30 of us gathered on a lovely Saturday afternoon to ride to the Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur to kick off SF Beer Week.
Lisa Li shows us where to buy live fish in Oakland’s Chinatown to prepare a traditional Chinese New Year feast.
Valentine’s Day is next week and while a box of chocolates and flowers might earn you some points, you’ll definitely score by making something homemade. And you don’t even have to create something overly complicated. It’s the thought that counts… So, here is a heartfelt and handmade recipe for Gooey Baked S’mores.
A first impression of Lungomare, Jack London Square’s new Italian-inspired restaurant from Chop Bar’s Chris Pastena.
Nothing quite beats an old-fashioned homemade marshmallow, especially if you toast it. Fresh and gooey…you will never buy store bought again!
In honor of SF Beer Week, which kicks off Friday, we take a look at some of the newest craft beer makers who have made the leap to professional brewing in the past year.
To celebrate The Year of the Snake, Bay Area Bites playfully examines the food habits of each animal sign in the Chinese Zodiac. Are you a fussy Rooster, a junk food loving Monkey or a trendy Rat who has to be the first to try the newest restaurant?
Chilly mornings, rainy afternoons, long dark nights: is there a better place to stay warm in the winter than in the kitchen? Home Made Winter by Yvette van Boven comes up dozens of inventive recipes and projects to keep you toasty and well fed.
Instead of being tart as one would expect from a grapefruit-based drink, this margarita is slightly smokey, crisp, and just a little spicy. It’s perfect for winter. It’s also perfect for the Big Game as there isn’t a food or snack it won’t go with.
What is the Big Game without a handful of tasty snacks on hand? Especially if they are homemade. Just one of the wonderful things about these roasted curry chickpeas. They are also big on flavor. The curry and cumin really complement the roasted legume and the coriander adds a bit of zing. Plus they are spicy too!
Mary Ladd interviews Chuck Siegel, who used Kickstarter to revive his company, Charles Chocolates. Siegel is gearing up to open a 7,600-square foot chocolate kitchen and retail space in the Mission.
So, if you happen to be a Ravens fan who has been wondering what appoepriate foods you should have on your table for Super Bowl Sunday, I’ve dreamed up a meal for The Ravenous among you.
Mary Ladd interviews Bay Area resident and Master Chef Martin Yan, who has opened a new Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. Yan dishes about his new TV show, the Year of the Snake, and where he likes to eat locally.
One of the best parts about traveling is the exposure to new and exciting things. And it doesn’t always require busting out your passport. This little gem comes from one of my many trips to Texas. Austin, Texas to be specific. I am a SXSW regular, you see, and this little puppy has kicked off many a tequila-filled night while there. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Long live Bartavelle Coffee and Wine Bar! Owner Suzanne Drexhage talks with Stephanie Rosenbaum about the joys and challenges of opening her new Berkeley cafe on the site of the old Cafe Fanny.
Anna Mindess discovered the world’s freshest oysters and a street lined with shrimp sellers in Mazatlán.
Bay Area Bites (BAB), KQED's public media food blog, feeds you visually compelling food-related stories, news, recipes and reviews from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Enter your email address to receive updates each time we publish new posts.
Flax Seed: The Next Superfood For Cows And Beef?
After years of research, an animal scientist looking for ways to keep inflammation down in cattle came up with a novel approach: feed them flax. The flax in their food helps keep animals healthy and has an added benefit for those who later eat their meat: omega-3 enriched beef.
Congress: Where Food Reforms Go To Die?
As Congress gets to work on the farm bill, two common-sense, bipartisan reform measures seem to have gotten run over somewhere along the way. The first would set minimum standards for housing egg-laying chickens. The second sought to change how the U.S. provides food aid to people in foreign nations.
For Supreme Court, Monsanto’s Win Was More About Patents Than Seeds
The high court ruled unanimously that when farmers use patented seed for more than one planting in violation of their licensing agreements, they are liable for damages.
Try A Do-It-Yourself Mother’s Day
Rather than waiting for someone to give you a treat, why not make one of your favorites for yourself? Something you can snack on all week when no one’s around. Or, better yet, something you don’t have to share. Food writer T. Susan Chang recommends slow-roasted pecans, salty-sweet matzo candy and more.
A Fresh Pod Cast: Savoring Spring’s Green Peas
Emerald green and tender, yet with a gentle crunch, garden peas can be so delightful when fresh — and so disappointing when not. Try them now in their seasonal prime in these recipes for chilled soup, a citrusy spread and a traditional rice dish.
Spring has sprung! And it’s time to bask in the garden, celebrating the sweet greens of spring with Fava-Bean Crostini topped with mint and Pecorino Romano cheese.
Hunan Home’s Restaurant, Radius, Guerilla Café: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
Restaurants reviewed: Hunan Home’s Restaurant (San Francisco), Radius Restaurant and Café (San Francisco) and Guerilla Café (Berkeley).
Chris Hadfield: Space Chef In Chief
The Canadian astronaut didn’t just tweet and sing his heart out during his five months as commander of the International Space Station. He also took time out to show the world what it’s like to eat up there.
Bocanova, Willi’s Wine Bar, The Rotunda of Neiman Marcus: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews these restaurants: Bocanova (Oakland), Willi’s Wine Bar (Santa Rosa), The Rotunda of Neiman Marcus (San Francisco).
Celebrate the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market 20th Birthday Bash with CUESA
In honor of its 20th anniversary, Bay Area Bites looks back on how the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market has become a San Francisco institution for chefs, home cooks, and curious eaters from around the world.
Exploratorium Elevates Museum Eating Experience
Chef Loretta Keller, the force behind the Exploratorium’s new culinary options, talks bee jet lag, living foods, and seawater cocktails with BAB’s Sarah Henry.
Grits, Fried Chicken and Gospel Brunch – Chef David Lawrence Discusses Life at “1300 on Fillmore”
Mary Ladd interviews Chef David Lawrence about his restaurant “1300 on Fillmore” which is known for fabulous grits, fried chicken and a lively Sunday Gospel brunch.
Hunan Home’s Restaurant, Radius, Guerilla Café: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
Restaurants reviewed: Hunan Home’s Restaurant (San Francisco), Radius Restaurant and Café (San Francisco) and Guerilla Café (Berkeley).
First Impression: Healdsburg SHED
What would a wine country locavore’s paradise look like? Stephanie Rosenbaum talks to Cindy Daniel, owner of Healdsburg’s new SHED, a 21st-century grange, store, and sustainable-living center.
Bocanova, Willi’s Wine Bar, The Rotunda of Neiman Marcus: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews these restaurants: Bocanova (Oakland), Willi’s Wine Bar (Santa Rosa), The Rotunda of Neiman Marcus (San Francisco).
Pompei’s Grotto, Lillie Mae’s House of Soul Food, SPQR: Check, Please! Bay Area reviews
The fourth episode of Season 8 features these restaurants: Pompei’s Grotto (San Francisco), Lillie Mae’s House of Soul Food (Santa Clara) and SPQR (San Francisco). Leslie Sbrocco shares wine tips about Napa Valley wines.
Michael Pollan talks about his new book ‘Cooked’
As in his previous books, Michael Pollan argues in “Cooked” that relying on processed food disrupts our link to the natural world and weakens our interpersonal relationships. But this time he takes a more hands-on approach, doing apprenticeships with a variety of culinary masters who teach him the fine points of fermentation, the benefits of bacteria, and other secrets of honest cuisine. He joins KQED’s Forum in the studio.
KQED’s Forum: Mark Bittman on Part-Time Veganism
Mark Bittman talks about his new book, and how a full-time meat lover adapted to part-time veganism.
Art as Food as Art: Caitlin Freeman and her “Modern Art Desserts”
Cailtlin Freeman’s new book details the drama and recipes behind her self-made dream job: responding to SFMOMA’s art through food.
Are the benefits of genetically engineered foods worth the risks? Check out this half-hour special from QUEST Northern California that explores the pros and cons of genetically engineered crops and what the future holds for research and regulations.
Baby & Toddler On The Go: fresh, homemade foods for a busy life (VIDEO)
A precociously independent toddler packs a healthy homemade lunch and heads off to snack in Bernal Height’s Holly Park in San Francisco. This video is a promo for Kim Laidlaw’s new book: Baby & Toddler On The Go: fresh, homemade foods for a busy life.
Deaf Foodies Savor Gourmet Ghetto Tasting Tour in Sign Language
A dozen Deaf Foodies relish the tastes and history of Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto in a 3 hour tasting tour presented completely in American Sign Language (ASL) by food writer (and ASL interpreter) Anna Mindess through Edible Excursions.
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