There are many chocolate-pretzel combinations on the market, but CJ's Stix of Novato takes it to the next level with the addition of chunks of perfectly salted toffee. CJ's Bitz, the bite-sized version of the Stix, are dangerous. Case in point: This writer has consumed nearly a whole box of the peanut-butter-filled version during the composition of this post. Find them at the Rincon Market (98 Howard), Gifted Basket (236 8th St.), Farm Fresh to You (1 Ferry Bldg.), Blue Fog Market (2567 Gough St.), and Boudin Bakery locations.
In his blog today, SF Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauer gives his answer to the question, "Can you tell me some restaurants that serve tripe?" At least MB appreciates that tripe can be good food, so full points for that -- but, no surprise, all seven of his recommendations are for relatively expensive Italian or Cal-cuisine restaurants. How can you start a serious discussion of this topic without mentioning Mexican and Sichuan places?
best Semillons, made from old-vines Livermore Valley fruit. In a blind
tasting of the 2005 vintage, you could easily mistake the aromatic, concentrated, balanced
wine for French. Ahlgren also makes excelent Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah.
The winery's tasting room is open only on Saturdays from noon to 4pm. The winery is about 60 miles from SF, in a sparsely populated area a
few miles north of Boulder Creek. As long as you're schlepping all the way
down there, you should also visit the area's major tourist attraction,
Castle Rock State Park.
