Liam's List: Slanted Door Napa and The Commodores at Stern Grove

FOODIE PICK: SLANTED DOOR, NAPA
Slanted Door , Napa is open for all day dining from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is truly hitting its stride. Fans of Phan rejoice. You can enjoy all the Slanted Door greatest hits from the 1995 menu on Valencia to the 15 years Ferry Building menu to some new refreshing menu items now in Napa.

COLD STARTERS
- Slanted Door Spring Roll
- Green Papaya Salad

WARM STARTERS
- Bahn Nam
- Crispy Imperial Rolls
- Gau Choy Gau

CLAYPOT
- Clay Pot Chicken

WOK
- Shaking Beef

So many scrumptious dishes but one of the standouts for me always along with the legendary Shaking Beef is Vietnamese Chicken Salad - as delicious and refreshing  as any salad you’ll ever enjoy.

The wines (terroir driven and sustainably farmed) like the cocktails are the best here. The long main bar, made by the chef himself, is an inviting spot for the solo diner, for a date or for a few pals just wanting to hang out. Chef Phan told me that a San Francisco lunch box tailored for wine country workers is coming soon.

The Slanted Door cuisine is as satisfying as it ever was, perhaps bolder than before. Make sure to get the three chili sauces. At Slanted Door Napa it’s the unbridled maestro Phan with an amazing culinary orchestra by Chef Dong, hitting all the right notes at this new spot on Soscol near downtown Napa. Get a reservation now at Slanted Door Napa and eat indoors in the cozy barn-like dining rooms or al fresco in the courtyard among the trees. You’ll be oh-so-pho glad you did.

FOODIE INTERVIEW: CHEF CHARLES PHAN
“Look out for some special wine dinners soon. We want to get to know our neighbors,” says Chef Phan.

Enjoy my tasty talk with Charles Phan the chef who put elevated, modern Vietnamese cuisine on the map at Slanted Door on Valencia Street in San Francisco almost 30 years ago. There may be a homecoming there in the Mission next year! The Ferry Building location, however, is no more. The Slanted Door Napa spot is a hot spot and worth the drive from any place in the Bay Area. Chef also has a location in Burgundy, France and closer to home in San Ramon.

PARTY: BEST OF THE BAY
Celebrate the Best of the Bay under one roof at One Sansome this Saturday evening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. From cocktails to food, mixologists, tastemakers and chefs - all will be there to enjoy and imbibe. Thanks to Autumn for her generous shout out in the latest issue. See you there.

MUSIC: COMMODORES AT STERN GROVE
You know their songs: “Brick House,” “Easy,” “Lady,” “Still” and many more. Hear The Commodores among the redwoods at Stern Grove this Sunday starting at 2 p.m. I’ll have the honor of performing as emcee. See you soon.

FOODWISE: SUMMER CELEBRATION
Taking over the Ferry Building this Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Foodwise Summer Bash is a delicious party that features 48 of the Bay Area's beloved restaurants, bars, and wineries - all showcasing peak-season produce from the farmer’s market. The line-up of restaurants and chefs is impressive: 7 Adams, Bolita, Copra, Dalida (Top Chef contender), Lunette Cambodia, Minnie Bell's Soul Movement, My Friend Fernando, Otra, Parche, Pizzeria Delfina and many more.

SAVE THE DATE: PAWS FOR PINOT
EPIC restaurant on the San Francisco waterfront is the place to be next Sunday, July 21 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Benefitting Guide Dogs for the Blind, Paws for Pinot is an afternoon of Pinot Noir tasting curated by the restaurant’s wine director, Grace Newport, and featuring delectable gourmet eats from notable Bay Area restaurants on the property’s bayside piazza. Newport has curated a fantastic line-up of renowned wineries that will be pouring their Pinot Noir at the event.
Paws for Pinot will feature fun games, a raffle and live music by The Henry Coopers with a special appearance by legendary rock journalist, Ben Fong-Torres.

Enjoy your weekend and to all my French friends, Bon Bastille.

Liam's List premieres Fridays on KPIX and is also available to download via iTunes. Please email ideas to me at liam@liammayclemproductions.com .

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