Tag: martin ranch winery

A trio of local wineries were given high praise at the 33rd annual San Francisco International Wine Competition, held June 14-16 at the distinguished Hotel Nikko in downtown San Francisco.

Barbecuing a beef brisket – wonderful cuts available by the way at Rocca’s Market in San Martin – takes about 10-12 hours to do it right, so you’ve really got a lot invested in time and technique. That’s why I appreciated this line so much after smoking a brisket last weekend and then continuing to make what’s known as “burnt ends” – tasty chunks of beef bursting with flavor. Alton Brown, Food Network Star and author of multiple cookbooks, nailed it: “Bimetal coil thermometers are about as accurate as a sniper scope on a nerf gun.” So, if Dad likes to BBQ, a good instant read thermometer would be a great gift …

Claddagh unveiled a new menu Tuesday and our lovely waitress, under the watchful eye of hard-working owner Leslie Benson, pitched a mound of “Ultimate Fries” to our weary group. The verdict: “killer.” Healthy? No – but more than a wee bit tasty. Mixture of ranch and blue cheese dressing, Frank’s hot sauce, a few other “secret” ingredients and bits of crispy bacon. Messing with the menu never tasted so good. A tip of the green Claddagh cap  in order …

South County wineries continue to eke out a stellar reputation for themselves alongside industry bigwigs from Napa, Paso Robles, Sonoma and beyond, leaving 57 judges with a positive impression on their palate during the 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition last week.

South County wineries made us proud in the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, bringing home brag-worthy scores amid the record-setting 5,050 entries from 23 states.