Medai snapper and Tasmanian sea trout at Bourbon Steak in San Francisco
Dining at a Michael Mina restaurant is always an exercise in excess. In the best of ways, of course. After all, this is the chef who popularized the idea of trios, where it’s not simply enough to present just one rendition of a dish, but three different ones simultaneously on one plate. It takes skill, timing and sophistication to do that well.
And that’s just what’s on display at Mina’s new Bourbon Steak in the Westin St. Francis San Francisco in Union Square. Bourbon Steak takes the place of the former Michael Mina flagship restaurant there, which has moved to the old Aqua restaurant space on California Street.
The once chic white and eggshell blue 102-seat dining room has been transformed with a more masculine atmosphere with dark charcoal floor-to-ceiling columns and hues of deep cognac and sand. The logo of a steer can be found subtly echoed on the window treatments and water is brought to the tables in whimsical glass milk bottles.
This marks Mina’s fifth Bourbon Steak nationwide. And he has the formula down pat. Read More »
Grace Cathedral in San Francisco
Whether sightseeing or in search of spiritual enlightenment, these three San Francisco churches fit the bill — no matter what your religion.
Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street): This Nob Hill church was founded during the gold rush in 1849. While the original building was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, this newer French Gothic masterpiece is the third largest Episcopal cathedral in the U.S. The soaring interior is dotted with stained glass — more than 7,000 square feet of it — depicting at least 11,000 people including Albert Einstein and John Glenn. It’s a bit of a celebrity draw as well — Courteney Cox and David Arquette married here. While visiting, take a few meditative moments to walk the cathedral’s two labyrinths — one inside, one outside. The Huntington Hotel is a half block away.
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Chinese National Day Parade in Chinatown, San Francisco
[Flickr/Brian Stechschulte]
It’s always fun to poke around shopping districts like Union Square and the Marina, but to get a better flavor of San Francisco’s diversity, you’ll want to head to the ethnic neighborhoods.
The Mission – If you’re looking for Latin culture, the Mission district is the place to be. Bordered by Portrero Hill, the Castro and Noe Valley, this area is known for its food, music, funky shopping and colorful murals depicting the life and history of the people living here. The district is home to Mission Dolores, the oldest building in the city, finished in 1791. As for window shopping, walk Valencia Street and get the most bang for your buck. While everyone has their favorite burrito spots, we go to Taqueria Cancun on Mission Street, which sports picnic style tables and multicolor paper cutouts hanging from the ceiling. You won’t be too far from the Mission, staying at the Good Hotel.
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The E&O Trading Company in San Francisco, CA
[Flickr/doortoriver]
For those of you who still think “tiki” to be synonymous with “tacky” (read: Trader Vic’s) and brush it off as an icon of kitsch from years past, the E&O Trading Co. is stepping up to refute your claim. Located steps away from the Campton Place Taj Hotel and Hotel Triton, this San Francisco establishment has reinvented the long-belittled pu-pu platter into something hip, fresh and budget-friendly.
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Union Square, decked out for Christmas
This is it—the final push for San Francisco Christmas shoppers to pick up those all-important holiday gifts for friends and loved ones. A trip to Union Square can be productive, but it can also become daunting. Here are three places where you can stop for a refueling cup of coffee or bottle of water. Read More »
