The term *Picky Eater* gets tossed around a bit. I hear it frequently–often directed at me, typically for being critical of a dish or establishment. Let’s do a little refresher-course: A person who doesn’t like stupid waiters, bad wine-lists, crying babies, TV’s everywhere, tourist food, wet tables, uninspired presentations, confused service, freezing dining rooms and…
Tag: Stephen McConnell food blog
How to Own a Stress-Free Restaurant
OK so here’s the deal. I have been a avid observer of the resty business for decades. I am in absolute AWE of the dedication required for cheflife, having seen all of its upsides and downsides, the super-super high notes and the absolute bottoms of this profession. I’ve seen the hours and the total impossibility…
Wine Secrets Revealed
“Where do you shop for wine?” Easily the most-asked question I get–sometimes several times per day. “Where do you find these wines I have never seen before in my life?!?” The beauty part is: most of them right here under your nose. At local shops. Owned by real people–not national corporations. When I turn the…
Resty Updates 9.10
Lots of things to add to THE RESTAURANT LIST: HAPY BISTRO in Pismo Beach whole-heartedly added at ♦♦ for their plate-licking renditions of Greek and Meditteranean food. Wine-list passable. Re-visited MARISOL in Shell Beach for dinner after a) a long absence and b) an embarrassingly bad lunch experience. The memory of the lunch has thankfully been…
SIX TEST KITCHEN
Six Test Kitchen is Arroyo Grande’s flash-in-the-pan new eating establishment heavy on preparation and light on substance. The basis of this resty is not new–single-seating per night, pricy prix fixe accomodations, an allegedly whiz-bang young gun with an alleged stellar resume who is–by reduction–basically a local kid cooking in his parent’s–BEAUTIFUL WALL-TO-WALL STAINLESS STEEL–garage. Everything is ridiculously…
Have you been to Cass House?
http://www.casshousecayucos.com/grill Why does this review have no words? It just seemed so unnecessary for Cass House. Safely and comfortably on the Soif Eats Restaurant Report at ♦♦♦ and can only go up, as there has never been a single flaw in service, ambience, food, pacing or wine-service. The only reason Cass House Grill does not…
New Restaurants Blessed!
TAQUERIA 805 Food truck added to THE TACO LIST at ♦ Quite disappointing. Really lackluster. EL COMPADRE Atascadero added to THE TACO LIST at ♦ Full-on gringo spot. Would suffice only in an absolute PINCH. EFREN’S DELI Oceano upgraded on THE TACO LIST to ♦♦ Hadn’t visited for several years. Was was a bit more impressed this time. Soon to open a new…
Vegetable Butcher SLO
San Luis Obispo’s newest restaurant–and most talked about–is Vegetable Butcher, downtown on Marsh. I have had the pleasure of dining there twice in the past week–once for lunch and again a few days later for dinner. Here’s a few quick hits. THE most talked about item on the menu is the kale appetizer. Actually, calling…
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT 7.23
A few days ago, someone told our most-prominent local food writer she wasn’t a real critic because she doesn’t review chains. So for the entire staff over at AM920 KVEC: Nice crispy tostada shell, definitely fried this morning in fresh oil, a little heavier shmear of beans than ‘corporate’ advises, but they have definitely rested…
BLUE HERON OPENING
THE most anticipated restaurant opening for the entire food & wine community here on the Central Coast has easily been BLUE HERON in the Baywood section of Los Osos. Finally, after months and months of watching the build-out slowly creep towards fruition, the invites to family, friends, industry and media soft-openings started arriving. I was lucky…
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