An inside look at the plethora of Bay Area breweries at the ‘Opening Celebration’ of S.F. Beer Week 2012
See host Jace Milstead interview some heavy hitters of S.F. craft beer
2012′s beer week, now underway, will have over 300 events spread around the Bay Area. A monumental growth from four years ago when beer week only had a few dozen events. Since last year, “basically everything has doubled in size,” S.F. Beer Week Communications Director, Brian Stechschulte tells us.
Over 68 Bay Area-based breweries flexed their brewing muscles at the “Opening Celebration” of San Francisco Beer Week last weekend, from old school outfits like Anchor Brewing to newcomer, Almanac Beer Company. The festival, presented by the San Francisco Brewers Guild was held at the Concourse Exhibition Center and drew over 2,600 beer lovers to officially welcome ten days of beer celebration. Read More
This spring, Bruxie will open its third location in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. The eatery specializes in gourmet waffle sandwiches along with salads, Wisconsin frozen custards, locally produced cane sugar sodas, shakes, sundaes and floats. Bruxie offers a menu under $10 that features two types of Belgian waffles: the Brussels waffle, used to produce all Bruxie sandwiches, and the Liege waffle, with Belgian-pearl sugar baked into it. 22205 El Paseo Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688.
Both Bruxie locations in Old Towne Orange and Brea Downtown are open Sunday – Wednesday from 9 AM – 9 PM and Thursday – Saturday from 9 AM – 10 PM. Bruxie Brea Downtown: 215 W. Birch St, Brea, CA 92821. 714-255-1188. Bruxie Old Towne Orange: 292 N. Glassell St, Orange, CA 92866. 714-633-3900.
Looking for another option to get some grub after a day of shopping? 3rd Street Station (close to the Beverly Center) will be holding its grand opening in L.A. on February 17 at 11 AM. Chef Greg DeMichiel’s menu will include niçoise salad, croque madame sandwich, and a braised pork belly panini for lunch while selections of beer-battered fish n’ chips, New York strip loin, pork shoulder chickpea spatzel, sous vide Niman Ranch short rib, Carlsbad Aquafarm smoked blond oysters, and duck fat fries will be on the evening menu. A variety of European beers, select imported wines, cocktails, and made-to-order coffee and espresso are also available. 3rd Street Station is open seven days a week from 11:00 AM; serving food until 2 AM. Offering food and drink specials from 5-7 PM daily. 8486 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048. 323-782-8466.
Inside the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, you can find a renovated and revamped Sai Sai Noodle Bar, formerly Sai Sai Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar. Under Executive Chef Thomas Ryan, chef Jonathan Shin‘s new menu, incorporates various Asian flavors in a variety of rev’ed up traditional noodles. You can find items such as the Shishito appetizer with Unagi Sauce, Sesame Seeds & Bonito Flakes to noodle bowls such as the standard Pho with Beef Broth, Thinly Sliced Ribeye, Jalapenos, Bean Sprouts, Thai Basil, Key Limes & Cilantro or kimchee from Chef Shin’s family recipes in the Kimchee Ramen with Spicy Pork Broth, Stir-Fried Slices of Pork Belly and Kimchee, Bean Sprouts, Green Onions & housemade Black Garlic Oil to the rotating dessert selection of Bubbies Mochi Ice Cream from Hawaii. Sai Sai’s bar offers a number of beer, wines, and sake at $2 beer and $4 glasses of wine during the daily Happy Hour from 3 PM to 7 PM. Sai Sai Noodle Bar is open Monday – Friday from 11 AM to 7 PM. 501 South Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90071. 213-624-1100.
LYFE Kitchen in Palo Alto, CA is now adding “Social LYFE” to its weekday afternoons. From 3:30 – 5:30 PM, Monday to Friday, all drinks including their cucumber-mint cooler, mango madness smoothie as well as local beers and biodynamic wines are a dollar off and select dishes are half-off. Chefs Art Smith and Tal Ronnen specialize LYFE Kitchen’s menu in comfort foods that are less than 600 calories per dish, such as barbeque chicken flatbread, lemon aioli dressed grilled artichokes and edamame hummus with flatbread crisps. 167 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301. 650-325-5933.
The Hilton Palacio del Rio on the River Walk in San Antonio is offering 29% off any additional stay during 2012 to returning guests if you book a room on February 29 during their 2012 Leap Year Promotion. 200 South Alamo, San Antonio, TX, 78205. 210-270-0773.
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City is offering 33% off all food and beverage purchases from now through Labor Day to guests who arrive between Thursday through Saturday. A $150 gift card will be available for $100 at check-in and is valid at any hotel dining establishment including the Breeze Restaurant, Lobby Court & Patio and Xbar. 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067. 310-228-1234.
More places to get a taste of Pliny the Younger in Southern California
Pasadena, Alhambra, Tustin, Orange and Rancho Santa Margarita
We previously reported on the release of this highly sought-after beer at the Surly Goat and Verdugo Bar, but don’t you worry, those aren’t the only Southern California craft beer bars that have gotten the lucky allocation of Russian River Brewing Co.’s Pliny the Younger (10.50% ABV). This Triple India Pale Ale, brewed by owner Vinnie Cilurzo once a year is available at their Santa Rosa pub on the first Friday of February for only 14 days. The brewery only forks over a scarce amount of kegs to distinctive bars around the country. Here are four more locations to get a taste of the Younger in L.A. and O.C. Read More
New airline launches in Virginia, world’s least romantic places
Drinking, eating and traveling news from around the web
- New airline launches in Virginia.
- Travel + Leisure on the world’s least romantic places.
- Budget Travel on 15 of America’s favorite regional sweets.
- Museum in Croatia shows off left over items from breakups.
- NPR on consumer’s guidance on energy drinks.
- New evidence shows that traveling in economy class does not increase risks of developing a blood clot.
- Ad Age on New Belgium Brewing’s social media interaction with fans.
- New White House budget proposal to reduce debt will increase air traffic and security fees.
