Diablo Dish

01/03/09

The Wine Mine is a Fine Find

The Oakland shop is a great place to find inexpensive wines.

Posted at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

12/23/08

Pleasanton Hotel Closing

We’ve seen more restaurants than usual closing their doors. We’ve lost Movida in Livermore, Mono in Oakland, and Strings in Walnut Creek to name a few. It’s always disappointing when a business closes. You can’t help but think of the people who will lose their jobs.

I’m especially sad that the Pleasanton Hotel will close after its New Year’s Eve celebration. This Victorian era restaurant has been a part of Pleasanton’s charming and historic downtown for 25 years. I never did have the good fortune to eat dinner there. I always just swung by after hours to listen and dance to the jazz and blues bands on the patio. It was always a great time under the magnolia tree.

If you get a chance, there are a few more good times to...

Posted at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments: 1

12/22/08

A.G. Ferrari Hosts Italian Cheese Tasting

I like to consider myself a cheese connoisseur because of the healthy household I grew up in—growing up in Salinas Valley, we had an organic garden and had many cheese parties to go with the homemade breads my dad made. However when I visited Europe, I saw and smelled cheeses with names I had never heard of. Luckily A.G. Ferrari Foods, known for their gourmet foods imported from Italy, offers unique and delicious cheeses from all regions of Italy and brings them stateside.

Until January 31st, A.G. Ferrari Foods is hosting four complimentary cheese tasting events at all of their 13 locations throughout the Bay. On Monday, December 22, at 6-7:30 PM, the cheese tasting events kick off with pairing various Italian cheeses with holiday wines. Continued on Sunday, December 28...

Posted at 01:49 PM | Permalink

12/19/08

Web Exclusive Contest: Win Christmas or New Year's Eve dinner at Lafayette's Chevalier Restaurant

Lafayette's new Chevalier Restaurant is winning rave reviews from our food team—look for a featured review in the upcoming January issue of Diablo. Chef Philippe Chevalier is preparing spectacular menus for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and has offered a lucky Diablomag.com reader a special prize: dinner for two (wine not included) on your choice of Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve. Enter below—and good luck!

Posted at 01:14 PM | Permalink

12/18/08

Get your latkes and other Hanukkah treats at Saul's Deli

This Sunday, December 21, Hanukkah begins at sundown. You don’t have to wait until sundown, though, to enjoy traditional Hanukkah foods. Saul’s Restaurant and Delicatessen in Berkeley is hosting a sidewalk Latke Tent and Beer Garden this Saturday through Monday, 11 am – 6 pm.
 
Drop by to try Saul’s Latkes, which won a place in the East Bay’s 101 Most Delicious Things to Eat. The potato pancakes are fried at the tent and served with applesauce and sour cream. Order the Latkes individually or, if you want to take Latkes to a holiday party this weekend, preorder Latkes by the dozen...

Posted at 04:57 PM | Permalink

12/18/08

Prix fixe dinner at Wente Vineyards on New Year's Eve

If you're looking to make New Year's Eve dinner plans, you should enter our contest to win dinner for two at Chevalier Restaurant in Lafayette. But in case you want to make reservations early, you could also consider the prix fixe dinner Wente Vineyards will be offering for New Year's Eve. Info about the dinner below.

The Restaurant at Wente Vineyards has announced a special prix fixe New Year’s Eve menu. Executive Chef Arthur Wall and Sommelier Jorge Tinoco have created a five course menu with wine pairings that...

Posted at 09:59 AM | Permalink

12/15/08

Winner of Diablo's Crab Trivia Contest on Facebook

A winner has been selected from our exclusive Crab Trivia Contest on Facebook. Siv Ricketts won dinner for two at the Walnut Creek Yacht Club!

 
For access to exclusive Facebook contests and giveaways, become a fan of Diablo magazine HERE

Below are a few of our favorite responses to the bonus question, "What's your favorite memory of eating crab and the best way to eat it? Feel free to share your memories or recipes by commenting below.

Question:

What’s your favorite memory of eating crab and the best way to eat it?”
 

Answers:

Over a 3-year...

12/09/08

Diablo on TV

The December issue of Diablo magazine made a special guest appearance on Monday’s episode of KGO’s View from the Bay. Master bartender—and Diablo favorite—Manny Hinojosa wowed host Janelle Wang and local morning talk show’s live crowd by whipping up his trademark Hot Mexican Punch, which he first shared in the Food Scene of this month’s issue.

Hinojosa, looking as natural on television as he does behind the bar, is somewhat of a local celebrity, turning his longtime bartending gig at the Walnut Creek Yacht Club into a job traveling the U.S. inventing new cocktails. Here’s the

Posted at 05:06 PM | Permalink

12/08/08

A Decade of Dungeness

The Walnut Creek Yacht Club's holiday crab dinners are coming up. Check out Diablo's Facebook page to win a free dinner for two.

Posted at 06:53 PM | Permalink

12/08/08

Cookie Decorating at Zephyr Grill & Bar

Love the idea of letting your kids decorate holiday sugar cookies and gingerbread men but hate the idea of cleaning frosting and spilled sprinkles from your kitchen floor?

Zephyr Grill & Bar in Livermore offers the perfect solution: a free cookie decorating party for kids on Dec. 13 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. While your kids are perfecting the buttons on their gingerbread men and cloaking sugar cookies with colorful sweets, you can enjoy Zephyr’s free appetizers. Reservations are recommended: 925-961-1000.

And don’t worry, this is one gingerbread man that you can catch again -- the “Build Your Own Holiday Cookies” ($7.95) are on the menu during the holiday season.