Culinary Muse

FREE TICKET TO TONIGHT'S WATERS, TRILLIN AND REICHL EVENT

My dear friend, Christine, of blogspot Christine Cooks, is giving away two tickets for tonight's event at Herbst Theater. Go to blog for details.

You say Whisky, I say Whiskey? Or is it Scotch?

Join us tomorrow night at WHISKYFEST and find out. The First Annual San Francisco WhiskyFest will be happening at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero from 6:30 to 10 pm. This is the oldest and most prestigious whisky tasting event and largest independent distiller tour. It sells out in Chicago and New York and should do the same here. Join us while we sample rare and new artisan whisky releases from around the world. Sponsored by Malt Advocate Magazine it brings together consumers and industry professionals for an evening of great brown liquor. We like that.
Tickets: $105.00, $145.00 VIP Admission (one hour early entrance). Tickets are all inclusive. A buffet will be available the entire evening and each attendee receives a commemorative Glencairn whisky glass.

ARIAS WITH YOUR CAPPUCCINO

Today we were driving around running ‘car errands’ when I detected that the blood sugar was dropping fast for both of us. I suggested Caffe Puccini as a joke because anyone’s chances of finding a shady parking place in front (necessary because dog was in car) are one in a million. Oh right. I forgot that Mr. Muse has parking karma as does our dog. There it was. Right in front. I just laughed and jumped out of the car.

There is nothing fancy or chic about Caffe Puccini, my favorite coffee house in North Beach. Great espresso drinks, no attitude, good pasta, no attitude, respectable biscotti, homemade desserts and did I mention no attitude? Other North Beach coffee houses may have been here longer but I get tired of the looks of distain from the barrista when some of us in line are not hip to the special jargon of the house. Enough already with the rolling eyes and the knowing glances exchanged between the coffee guy behind the counter and the table full of beat poets who have been there since the 50’s. But I digress….

What you get at Caffe Puccini is opera on the juke box, good food fairly priced, big cappuccinos and the feeling that it won’t take you 45 years before the owner will acknowledge your presence. CAFFEE PUCCINI, 411 COLUMBUS AVE., 415.989.7033.