The Triple Dot: Hops, Cheese and Restaurant Week

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope 2015 is off to a roaring start for you! Based on the busy Bay Area restaurants I've experienced over the past two weeks during what is traditionally a post-holiday lull, the outlook seems quite excellent for a great year ahead.

Even though we're only halfway through January and may just be putting away our holiday decor, it's already time to start thinking about plans for Valentine's Day, which is one month from today! It's a huge night for dining out, of course, and several of our clients are creating special menus and menu items, including the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Pathos Organic Greek Kitchen, Causwells and Oliveto Restaurant & Cafe. In addition to a prixe fixe menu by Chef Austin Perkins, Nick's Cove is also offering its very romantic Nick's Loves Love overnight package throughout the month. If you haven't yet been to Nick's Cove, this is really the perfect excuse to get away with your loved one!

We're of course also ramping up to the 9th Annual California's Artisan Cheese Festival, tickets for which are on sale now and going fast. All of the information is below in the Client Wire, along with Restaurant Week buzz and some great news on the beer front from Mavericks Brewing!

Cheers,

Diana G. Haven
Follow me: Twitter - Instagram

P.S. For the latest news and tips, be sure to follow Ellipses PR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

What New Year's Resolution?

Not one, but two highly-anticipated Bay Area Restaurant Weeks are gracing us with their presence in San Francisco and Oakland, and we have two delicious clients participating! In San Francisco, Fog City is offering a special three-course dinner menu showcasing its favorite fresh and locally-sourced ingredients, including Grilled McFarland trout with Straus juniper yogurt. And, of course, the last course is their famous french cruller and frozen custard dessert. San Francisco Restaurant Week takes place January 21-30. ($40 per person; additional information available here)

Oliveto Cafe has also cooked up an exclusive menu for Oakland’s Restaurant Week, available from January 15th through the 25th. The three-course menu includes boudin blanc of Devil’s Gulch rabbit followed by panettone bread pudding with caramel sauce. And if you haven’t experienced Oliveto's recent renovation, what better time to take a peek? ($30 per person; additional information available here.)

The Battle of the Boozes

Just in time for SF Beer Week, Mavericks Brewing has launched the first non-session beer in their growing portfolio: the hoppy and delicious Tunnel Vision IPA. This beer started out as a special at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company to celebrate the 2014 opening of the tunnels at Devil's Slide on Hwy. 1, and immediately sold out. Its official launch will be during SF Beer Week at the second annual West Coast Craft Can Invitational on February 7th, or you can try it on tap now until it sells out at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. ($45 per person; Tickets available at http://devilscanyon.com/event/canfest2015)

For those looking for a little bit of a boozy competition, the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is hosting the second annual Beer vs. Wine dinner on Wednesday, January 21. This four-course feast features local specialties like Dungeness crab salad, artichoke soup and skewers of local lamb and vegetables paired with a house-brewed beer and local wine from Alfaro Vineyards at every course. Throughout the meal, guests are encouraged to fill out their beer vs. wine ballot, and the winner - wine or beer - will be announced at the end of the meal. ($75 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity; http://hmbbrewingco.inticketing.com)

Cheese on Cheese on Cheese

Is it March yet? Because we're pretty excited to immerse ourselves in all things cheese during California's 9th Annual Artisan Cheese Festival, happening March 20-22 at the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma. Taking place in the heart of dairy country in Sonoma County, this three-day local wine and cheese celebration brings guests up close and personal with California's top artisan cheese makers, authors, chefs, winemakers and brewers, who will be conducting seminars, pairings, tastings, farm tours, cheese-making classes and cheese-focused demonstrations. Attendees have the exclusive opportunity to experience limited-production and rare artisan cheeses and learn about the art of making cheese, all while supporting local and sustainable farmers and cheesemakers from California. ($45-$135 per person; http://www.artisancheesefestival.com)

There are few things we love more than good sushi, and a recent visit to Ichi Sushi + Ni Bar has solidified our passion. Pristine fish that is expertly seasoned means there is no need for soy sauce and wasabi here! We couldn't get enough of the ocean trout, hirame, or the sweetly succulent scallop. Insider's tip: dine early, as some of the more popular fish and menu items sell out by the end of the evening.

We may not get much of a winter here in the Bay Area, but those wintery, spiced cocktails are still calling our names. (We at least like to sport our boots and beanies and order a Hot Toddy, just to pretend.) Nick's Cove has shared their latest wintertime craft cocktail with us, the Fallen Apple, to enjoy in the comfort of our own homes and slippers.

Fallen Apple Cocktail
2 ounces Germain Robin brandy
¾ ounce spiced ginger beer
½ ounce lemon juice
½ ounce apple juice
1 dash baked apple bitters
1 egg white

Instructions
Add all ingredients to a pint glass. Shake, add ice, shake again. Double strain into a glass. Garnish with a dehydrated apple slice, if desired.

This pup gets pretty amped on ball pits. It's okay, buddy, we feel the same way about fine artisan cheeses and a perfectly-paired glass of rosé.

In honor of recent holiday travels, we present to you the Most Annoying People on the Plane, courtesy Expedia and Jimmy Kimmel Live, performed by one of our very favorite people, Sir Patrick Stewart.

The inner workings of the restaurant critic profession are often a mystery. Former food critic Ruth Reichl offers sound advice to restauranteurs and answers some lingering questions in this OpenTable blog article.

Interested in seeing how we can impact your bottom line? Drop us a line at diana@ellipsespr.com. Mention The Triple Dot and receive a complimentary one-hour consultation.

Ellipses Public Relations is a boutique firm based in Oakland specializing in travel, restaurant, food, beverage and special event publicity. We believe in personalized service, targeted media campaigns and building long-term relationships with our clients that help them achieve their goals. www.ellipsespr.com