|
Our online resources,
and important travel updates
|
 |
|
Archive for June, 2007
June 28th, 2007 by Dining Diva Janice
 Cafe Majestic is part of San Francisco’s longest continuously running hotel, The Hotel Majestic. In its first incarnation, dating back to 1902, the mansion was home to Milton Schmitt, a turn-of-the-century railroad magnate. Later, this elegant Edwardian served as the permanent residence for actresses Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Haviland. Numerous dignitaries have slept in its sumptuous suites, as well as one very determined ghost!
 After extensive restoration the historic Cafe Majestic has re-opened. It’s beautiful, wonderfully lit and totally atmospheric with a genteel-cool vibe. The new look offers soothing creamy walls, romantic booths, golden chandeliers and stylish fresh flower arrangements. It’s all very grown-up yet still manages to feel very relaxed. Many restaurants describe themselves as offering “casual elegance” but the Majestic really pulls it off.
As of now the Cafe remains open only for Dinner and week-end Brunches, but will gladly arrange for private functions. A ladies’ high tea, a wedding rehearsal dinner, or a special Birthday celebration would all work well in this classy, intimate space.
Executive Chef Ian Begg mans the kitchen -and does so with great aplomb. In dog years, Chef Begg may not be all that young, but despite his tender age he’s had some great experience-you try getting behind the stove at age 14! He’s all about Cal/French, classic with a twist, seasonal and farm-fresh. All of their scrumptious breads (we polished off the whole chewy oatmeal loaf before we even got our starters), pastries and desserts are made in-house. But clearly, Chef Begg’s first love is fois gras. Totally smitten by the duck’s fatty liver, he begged me not to give up his personal e-mail address, but, believe me when I tell you “foie king” is in there.
We started our meal with an amuse-bouche that set our taste buds a-tingling. Just a few spoonfuls of the intensely flavored tomato/pepper gazpacho, simply presented in a pristine white, oversized soup bowl, and we were ready-set-go. Next up was an unusual and superb appetizer of pan-seared artisnal fois gras with an unexpected yet welcome, assist from slivers of sautéed brussel sprouts.
The Dungeness Crab Salad, a glorious mini-tower of fresh crab, citrus, and avocado mousse, was a silky delight.
Totally jazzed, I tucked into my first main course. The Braised Kurobuta Pork, paired with a surprisingly delicate mustard spaezle and sauced in a cognac/cider mix was sublime. While the Grilled Rare Hawaiian Ono with its tiny pea shoot trim and sea urchin cream was interesting, it won’t become my next religion..
Chef Begg is aided and abetted by a terrific team. After a few superb wine-pairings recommended by General Manager/wine director, Ryan Maxey, we didn’t hesitate (well at least not for too long) when he suggested we try “chef’s latest creation… fois ice cream.” Our adorable, exceedingly well-trained waiter, Tom, must have seen the “ ick” look cross our faces because he quickly jumped in: “It’s really subtle. Refreshing, and with a lingering, wonderful aftertaste.” Ok, we were in.
 The presentation, a single baby scoop in a silver goblet teamed with a glass of sauterne… literally made me swoon. And… I don’t swoon so easily! Imagine the perfect butteriness of a rich creamy vanilla ice cream flattered by the haunting meatiness of the silken fois. Forget it. No way is your imagination that good. It simply must be tried to be believed.
This is a team to watch. And yes indeed-y, fois rules.
Cafe Majestic - Hotel Majestic
1500 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 441-1280
Website
June 26th, 2007 by Dining Diva Janice
 I sent an “instant message” to Muffin*, my pal from college with an invite to come join me in Tiburon for a 2- Daycation.
Her quick response? “I’m in.”
A few days later I pick her up at SFO and we take the endlessly long
ride from San Francisco to Tiburon. Try only 15 minutes—now that’s what I like in a getaway. We zip over the Golden Gate Bridge, through the tunnel and abracadabra, it’s like being transported to another world. Even Tiburon’s weather, to say nothing of it’s landscape, people, and vibe, is totally different from San Fran’s. It was at least 1o degrees warmer when we exited the freeway and a few miles later segued into our digs for the night - the newly renovated
This full service, easy-going luxe hotel sits smack dab in the heart of Tibbie-town.
The Lodge’s public spaces are lovely, done up in beautiful outdoor shades -the exact colors of Nature’s wardrobe. The craftsman-style property has 102 rooms, including the suites and are styled out with every amenity necessary for an easy getaway: Sumptuous featherbeds WITH a choice of pillows- so important for that perfect night’s sleep, a large complimentary wireless workspace complete with an ergonomically correct chair,(because they don’t want you getting all knotted up after you just spent the last hour luxuriating in your massive Jacuzzi tub,) cuddly-soft robes, free movies to borrow, and so on….
After we arrive, we head directly to the pool to catch some late afternoon rays. The beautifully maintained patio area is studded with flowers and fantastic private cabana’s (literally unheard of in the Bay Area) triggering a Pavlovian response to order one of those resort-y cocktails. Ahhhhh, this is the life.
The only noise we heard came from our tummies, growling as a reminder that we had skipped lunch. Dressed “pool casual ” we strolled in to the Lodge’s Dining Room,
. We decided to sit outside, which thoughtfully has heat lamps to combat any winds, so we could eyeball the local action. Tiburon’s quaint boutiques,art galleries, bars and restaurants are just a stone’s throw away and it was fun to see the locals meandering about as their day came to a close.
Dinner time! We speed -read though our menu’s and ordered up. After a sip of two different wines so that we could decide which we preferred,(don’t you just love places that do that?) are apps arrived.
I loved my loaded Gingered crab cake(s) starter with it’s side of sweet and sour slaw. Muff went for their Market Salad, a tasty tangle of greens, apples, blue cheese and candied pecans. She felt she needed the roughage. Like, did anyone ask?
Next up was the most wonderful entree -a slowly braised pork shoulder, sporting
a ruffle of super thin potatoes, topped with the teensiest little pearl-sized pear rounds. We also shared a Tavern Menu burger-largely because so many people around us seemed to be eating it with gusto. Good call.
We were to full for dessert, still, not a peep was heard from our table, when our waiter brought out a plate with two white porcelain spoons for each of us. One held a taste of cherry-coke sorbet topped by bitter-sweet coco nibs, and the other had frozen passion fruit ice with a bit of mango and sea salt. Talk about a perfect ending! This Chef has ice-cream NAILED!
Bedtime!
June 26th, 2007 by Dining Diva Janice
How fun does this sound? The first annual New York Food Film Festival — a summer-long event featuring animation, short films, and documentaries about food — kicked off Thursday, June 14, through Saturday, June 16, with a series of films about regional American hamburgers.
The festival returns from June 21 to June 23 with films about hot dogs and sausage, including the Best of the Wurst, chronicling a Korean American woman’s discovery of Berlin through its multicultural mash-up snack food, currywurst.
The event wraps up from September 6 to September 8 with a lineup of movies about barbecue. Naomi Leibowitz’s mini-montage of Rachael Ray “mmm” faces, Tasting Rachel Ray, plays throughout the festival. All of the screenings take place at Water Taxi Beach, 2nd Street and Borden Avenue, Long Island City.
The films are FREE with the purchase of film appropriate food, such as Apsaragus Roll-ups, or Green Chili Cheese burgers. (Good idea to order your eats from the Website in advance.)
June 25th, 2007 by Stephanie
Divas, it’s time to wield your mighty pens! While summer sizzles, our content might drop a degree in delight if you aren’t contributing. You don’t have to be a travel writing guru to submit. Believe me when I say that your natural sense of story, observations and, most of all, passion, will guide your wonderful writing. So will our submission guidelines link found at the end of every single Tango Diva article.
All we ask is that you write about 1000 words, run the opus by a couple co-workers, and submit!
Know a gal in Senegal? Love the morning air in Bonaire? Let us know! Below is our editorial calendar for the rest of the year. Articles adhering to these themes will take top priority for front page placement and newsletter mentions. Ahoy, Divas, and plunder the world by pen!
Tango Diva Editorial Calendar 2007:
Summer: - Eco-Travel, Adventure Travel, The Great Outdoors
-Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, Family Travel, Kid-Friendly Destinations
-Young at Heart Divas: Travel for the Fabulous 50 and Over Set
September: Style Issue! Fashion, Female Designers, Architects, Artists
October: Food! Global Cuisine
November: Teen and Kid Issue! Children around the world weigh in on their hometowns. Got access to school-aged children who want to see their writing in an online magazine? Let me know!
December: Holiday Shopping Issue! Great Gifts, Must-Haves
June 19th, 2007 by Stephanie
How ever shall we entertain ourselves this summer? What about the Band Aid of our time, the album, "Instant Karma: the Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur"? Artists like Black Eyed Peas, U2, Jack Johnson, Lenny Kravitz, Corinne Bailey Rae, Christina Aguilera, Jakob Dylan, Youssou N’dour and more join together on this mega-star John Lennon cover album. Yoko Ono has generously donated all music publishing royalties to the cause.
Okay, you’ve got FLY SOLO already and it’s tucked in your beach bag. But what hot, controversial, historic new release will wow guests with its presence on your coffee table? How about the newly released, unConventional, YearlyKos: Citizens, Focus and Action?
This first-ever blogger-based essay collection just hit virtual stands and contains fascinating essays by and portrait photography of immortal progressive bloggers and dedicated politicos like Ambassador Joe Wilson, retired Gen. Wesley Clark, Markos Moulitsas Zúniga (founder of Daily Kos, the biggest progressive blog on the planet), Barbara Boxer, Harry Reid and cartoonist Tom Tomorrow. Oh, and I contributed a wee essay and edited the book. It’s a project I’m passionate about, but if you don’t share these views, I still love you! My daddy’s a big, ol’ conservative. It’s all good! 
I’m taking Holly Payne’s, The Sound of Blue, with me to the Balkans next week. She is getting to be quite the Eastern European expert between this Balkan-set book and her previous Turkish tome, The Virgin’s Knot.
And the women of my Spark board are hosting a small book group around the mind-blowing title, Global Woman: Nannies, Maids and Sex Workers in the New Economy.
At the La Honda Faire and Music Festival last weekend, guess who I met? I met Neal Cassady’s daughter Jami Cassady Ratto! Her mom Carolyn wrote the book, Off the Road: My Life with Cassady, Kerouac, and Ginsberg. Here’s why you have to buy this book NOW: the next edition will not contain certain priceless letters due to a dispute with the Kerouac estate. So get ‘em while you can! If you’re a big Beat person, why not also check out, Women of the Beat Generation?
Did you know that La Honda, CA, is where Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters hung out and tested themselves on acid? Where Hunter S. caught up with the Hell’s Angels? Nestled in the Santa Cruz mountain foothills, sleepy, hippie, bikery La Honda hasn’t changed much. What history! Hunter S. Thompson called La Honda, "the world capital of madness. There were no rules, fear was unknown, and sleep was out of the question." (from the Prankster History Project)
Don’t worry—packed among these hefty collections will be lots of trashy star gossip rags! Because it’s summa time. In fact, it’s the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love, yeah baby!
What are you reading this summer?
 
June 19th, 2007 by Patti
We girls need a break every now and then and The Interlaken Inn has the perfect solution: The Diva’s Diversion package.
Gather the girls and get away together for the is great package price! The Interlaken Inn in gorgeous Litchfield County, Connecticut – in the foothills of the Berkshires — has introduced the Diva’s Diversion package exclusively for the girls. It’s a weeklong girlfriends getaway (shorter packages
available too).
Diva’s Diversion includes:
- 6 nights, 7 days
- Townhouse Suite with full kitchen, living room with fireplace
- Loft bedroom with two full-sized beds
- Adjoining Townhouse Room with two additional full-sized beds
- Sleep sofa in the living room,
- New England-style hot breakfast buffet each day
- Casual luncheon served daily, room-service if you prefer!
- Three-course dinner served in the award-winning Morgan’s Restaurant each night
- Decadent afternoon treats such as "Chocolate Kiss” refreshment break, and more
- Complimentary access to the resort’s recreational facilities
- Exclusive discounts at Ellora Spa & Sanctuary
- Complimentary vineyard tour and wine tasting at Millbrook Vineyard
- Tea tasting at Harney & Sons Fine Teas
- Tickets to the famed Norman Rockwell Museum
- Tickets to Edith Wharton’s magnificently restored estate, "The Mount"
(Her classic best seller, The House of Mirth, was written here.)
The Diva’s Diversion is priced at $799 per diva plus tax and service charges — 10 person minimum — or for diva parties of six women, $799 per person plus tax and service charges without adjoining extra bedroom.
For more information on the Diva’s Diversion package and to make reservations, contact The Interlaken Inn Resort at 860-435-9878 / 800-222-2909 or visit www.interlakeninn.com
The Interlaken Inn is 100 miles directly north of New York City on Rt. 112 (Interlaken Road) in Lakeville, Connecticut. www.interlakeninn.com.
June 16th, 2007 by Patti
SFO International Airport has created a a FREE "cell-phone waiting lot" that allows people to wait for friends and family to emerge curbside rather than endlessly circling the airport and cursing the airport police.
Just a 3 minute drive from the terminal, the FREE lot is accessible from the San Bruno Ave exit on US 280, near the long term parking garage. It’s free for 1 hour.
Since I fly solo alot - it will be awhile before I check out this cool feature - so let me know if you do and how it works out. I especially would want to know how to get there easily from 101. Are they serious? HWY 280?
June 14th, 2007 by Patti
Tuesday June 19th is a walk-around tasting gala featuring signature dishes from each chef, as well as premium wine pairings, spirits, and entertainment. The event will be held at the Westin St. Francis. Tango Diva offers a $10 discount to it’s readers - see our Calendar of Cool lsting for full details.
June 14th, 2007 by Stephanie
A unique benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund, top celebrities like Kelly Rippa, Morgan Freeman, Bryant Gumbel, Tony Hawk, Jackie Mason, Ray Romano, Jim Belushi and Ivana Trump have taken the Briggs & Riley challenge to design their own 22" Baseline Carry-On Uprights® with distinctive artistry, autographs and priceless memorabilia.
This one-of-a-kind eBay auction starts at 3 PM EST TODAY, June 14th.
This is your chance to own one of the most distinctive pieces of luggage on the planet! Briggs & Riley are leaders in fabulous luggage. It’s the luggage I’ve been traveling with since I started globe trotting! Seriously–my luggage is over 15 years old! And since it has that amazing Briggs & Riley lifetime warranty, whenever it shows signs of wear and tear (which it didn’t until about ten years into its life), I just toddle on down to Half Moon Bay and drop it off, and they fix it free of charge!
I love this company!
Start the bidding today at www.ebay.com/briggsriley.
Live in NYC? Visit these bags in person at Grant Gallery starting today and going through Saturday. What a fun thing to do this weekend!
*Grant Gallery, 7 Mercer Street, Soho, 6 PM June 14 - Saturday, June 16
 
June 13th, 2007 by Teresa
Are you fit to be FIFE’D? (Women’s Knickers, Boy-Shorts, & Tops)
Oh we love wearing our boy’s boxers, but now we can have our own pair of yummy briefs - and all for a great cause. (Spending money is so much easier when I know a portion of it is going to a great cause. Our good friend Andrew Linton and his ClubFife.com have agreed to contribute 25% of all purchases until June 29th towards Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. All you have to do is click here, buy, enter code LLS2007 in the field below the shipping address.
ClubFife.com makes women’s knickers, boy-shorts, & tops. He has been recognized by Women’s Wear Daily INTIMATES (WWD), Wired.com, KnickersBlog.com, MightyGoods.com & the San Francisco Chronicle. You will not be disappointed, regardless if you are buying for yourself or others.
So dress down for the mighty flight against blood cancers!
bicycle helmet prices pirodr! 666
|
