Culinary Muse

ROBIN WILLIAMS, LIVE!

Drop everything and go directly to BIMBO'S 365 CLUB WEBSITE. Tickets went on sale 15 minutes ago. They have just announced two more evenings with Robin Williams - Working on Material.  Mr. Muse and I attended last week's performance. Genius. Two hours, non-stop.  What is this guy on?  Sheer talent and a wave of creativity that is unstoppable.  Hurry as the $25.00 tickets will sell out fast with all proceeds going to charity. Have dinner at FIOR D'ITALIA as we did.  Like a scene out of 'Moonstruck'.  The waiter told us that Robin Williams eats there. Could this be true?  Find out for yourself.

Shopping Synchronicity

The stars in fashion heaven aligned themselves today during lunch at the Rotunda Restaurant in Neiman Marcus. The cameras flashed and we were off and running. Lucky for the Muse, she was lunching with W who knows who all of these folks are at a glance. He faced east and gave a running commentary on who was arriving with whom. (I need a copy of my Nob Hill Gazette or Paper to place the faces with the names). Denise Minnelli Hale was the first to arrive looking as divine as usual. Then Ralph Rucci and James Galanos strolled in followed closely by Vanessa Getty. That was on one side of the dining room. On the other side, we had Miuccia Prada’s brother pacing back and forth talking on his cell phone. Why so many fashion folks gathered in San Francisco? We are guessing that it has something to do with the grand opening of the new Bloomingdale's next week. And what better place to lunch than the very grand, over the top dining room of the Rotunda. Good food, beautiful interior, nice view, strong cocktails.

ALICE SHOPS

And what did Alice Waters purchase last Saturday at the Sur La Table in the Ferry Building? Charming French paring knives.  Or more precisely ‘traditional French paring knives...perfect for peeling, coring and other small, delicate tasks.’ Surely these must have been for a pique-nique? Hard to imagine a chef at Chez Panisse hacking away at a wild boar with a wooden handled paring knife. Even if it is French.

TONY DOES THE TONGA ROOM?

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

The nice San Francisco police officer in the black flack suit (perfect for this cold and foggy San Francisco evening) just told me that you were dining at the Fairmont this evening. Might I suggest cocktails in the Tonga Room first?  If you make it in before 7 pm you might be able to take advantage of the free hors d'oeuvre.  But, hey, I bet you're on an expense account.  So live it up.  Order the puu-puu platter.  And one of those crazy drinks with 10 different liquors served in a coconut shell.  Please don't let that thunder scare you, or your secret service mates.  It's just the tropical rain storm that passes through, every 20 minutes.  So authentic.  So tropical.

I always feel so safe when folks like you come to town.  After all, who would dare try anything on Nob Hill with all those FBI snipers positioned on our rooftops?

Anyway, have a great time, Mr. Blair.  We hope you packed a coat because summer as we know it has finally arrived.

Martha Stewart Looks Good

So there she was yesterday at 5:30 roaming from store to store. Was I the only one who recognized her?  I stood to the side and watched her shop.  Looking like all the other upper middle class, well-coiffed women who frequent the Ferry Building Marketplace, she seemed to be enjoying her casual stroll.  And she looked great: blue blazer, khaki slacks, wedge sandals and no purse.  Yes, no purse.  I am concerned by this.  Where does Martha stow her lipstick?  Does she just walk around with a credit card in her pocket?  Too bad she wasn't there on Saturday.  We could have set her on the trail of the Man in Madras.  Now that would be interesting. Martha Stewart reinvented as Nancy Drew.  Which in a way she is.  She is my generation's version of the intrepid Titian haired ingenue who always gets to the bottom of things. No nonsense.  Case solved.