may 27, 2008

Those who like to trainspot their bartenders will be pleased to learn ~JAMIE BOUDREAU~, most recently of Vessel in Seattle, is in town for a weeklong guest bartending gig at Bourbon & Branch. Here's more from the B&B blog:

"Starting Monday, May 26, Jamie Boudreau will be bartending at Bourbon&Branch. For those of you who might not have heard of Jamie, here's a quick rundown. Jamie Boudreau is considered to be one of the finest bartenders in the world. Bold statement, perhaps, but he has the credentials to back it up. Jamie has bartended all over the world, and has been featured in so many publications that it might give me carpal tunnel if I listed them all. Most recently, Jamie presided over the upscale bar Vessel in Seattle...he was named Seattle Magazine's 2007 Bartender of the Year. If you haven't heard of him, check out his blog at www.spiritsandcocktails.com. After that, run don't walk to Bourbon&Branch. On Monday and Tuesday of this week Jamie will be in the front bar making cocktails. Jamie will then move it back to the Library on Wednesday and Thursday, where he will have his own special menu. This promises to be a very special engagement, and we hope everyone can make it out and say hello to Jamie, and welcome him to San Francisco." Corner of O'Farrell and Jones.

Tomorrow evening, on Wednesday, May 28th, ~RANDALL GRAHM OF BONNY DOON~ will be pouring some of his wines (Ca' del Solo Albariño, Vin Gris de Cigare, and Le Cigare Volant) at Glen Park's Canyon Market. It's a great opportunity to hang out, taste, and learn from this wonderful winemaker. (And you can head over to Gialina for delicious pizza afterwards!) 5pm–7pm. 2815 Diamond St. at Chenery, 415-586-9999.

In case you missed the first cheese tasting at Bar Bambino, now they are doing a ~CHEESE AND WINE TASTING~ this coming Sunday, June 1st, from 3pm–5pm. Here's more from Bar Bambino:

"Bar Bambino explores why raw cheese has captured the imagination of producers and diners worldwide. Fresh from his Commonwealth Club appearance on 19 May 2008, head cheesemonger Colin Shaff will host a tasting to illustrate the virtues of raw versus pasteurized cheese. We present four tasting sets that exemplify the flavors of raw and pasteurized cheeses while uncovering nuanced differences between domestic and European products. Colin will help guide conversation with bits of history, important legal background, and stories recounting the many challenges of artisanal production. Owner Christopher Losa's wine pairings showcase some of Italy's finest varietals with each course." $45 per person. For reservations, contact them at 415-701-VINO or reservations [at] barbambino [dot] com. 2931 16th St. at South Van Ness.

To coincide with the timing of next week's Golden Glass event, ~SOUTH~ is hosting a special dinner on Monday, June 9th: "The best of New Zealand—summer wine dinner" to welcome Simon Buck and Nick Nobilo. The multi-course dinner starts at 6:30pm, and is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call to reserve your spot. 330 Townsend St., Ste. 101 at 4th St., 415-974-5599.

Thursday, June 12th, will be a second tasting from Vinfolio at Coffee Bar: ~THE WILDER SIDE OF PINOT~. Here's more from the linked page: "Doug Wilder, Vinfolio Director of California Acquisitions […] has selected an array of pinot that will showcase a variety of distinct styles and appellations. Doug will be joined by winemakers Kenneth Juhasz of Donum Estate and Ryan Zepaltas of Zepaltas wines as well as a representative from Eric Kent Wine Cellars who will be on hand to talk about their different approaches to pinot and to explain the mysteries of working with this difficult, but highly prized grape. We will also be pouring one or more of the special Hospice du Sonoma Pinot Noir magnums—limited to the first 30 minutes of the tasting." If you want to go, be sure to mention tablehopper for $5 off the ticket price when you register. The last event drew 80 people, and they expect this one to sell out quickly. Pinot, you know. Ticket price ($40 in advance/$50 at the door if tickets remain); includes assorted cheese and charcuterie selections. 6pm–8:30pm. Details on how to reserve your spot and the wines that will be poured can be found through the link above. Coffee Bar, 1890 Bryant St. b/w 17th St. and Mariposa.