David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
 | | 06/23/2008 6:03 PM |
| If we want to go somewhere "new" I think I can get a deal on corkage at Fifth Floor. Emily said to come any time and she would work something out. Whether that means no corkage or low corkage I don't know. It will be expensive for the dinner. I don't know what kind of price you're looking at at One Market. I have also been told that I could bring a group to Mina's and not be charged for corkage. Only problem is I can't remember who told me that. It might have been Raj. I'll get in touch with him when he gets back in the country. We've done Piperade and enjoyed it (no corkage). They can take only up to 12.
When I see my son Christopher I'll ask him what other possibilities exist. He is engaged to a young lady who is well connected in San Francisco so who knows. That too! We've also got some great places down the Peninsula and here in the San Jose area. At the two best restaurants in the area, The Plumed Horse and the Michelin stared Manresa, I can get us no charge corkage.
Pick a time and a place so we can get something in at least wet cement.
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 06/23/2008 7:02 PM |
| Posted By Al_ksyrah on 06/18/2008 12:10 AM Now that I have quit my job . . .
Quit your job? I thought you were the big boss man.
-Al OK; so I decided to semi-retire. I'm still the majority share holder so I guess I can never "quit". I always felt guilty on days that I decided not to go in to
the office. Now they know I won't be there and I don't have to feel
guilty. You should see them scamper now when they see me pull into the
parking lot  .
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saut
Grape Fermenter
Posts:522
| | 06/24/2008 12:41 AM |
| Thanks David...
Called and left a message at Jardinaire. They have great food. Mina is great but yes, probably expensive. But if they will give some grace on corkage I'd think we'd have a good sized crowd! We'd need your connections if we were going to go that high end...you da man...
As for time and place, let's say near BART in SF on August 15th (Fri) or 16th (Sat) night. The BART thing works well for a number of us...
More tomorrow...
Fred | | | |
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saut
Grape Fermenter
Posts:522
| | 06/25/2008 8:01 PM |
| Hi all...
Checking on Spruce and Jardinaire...they are both good and both about $140 per person all included. Corkage is $25 at both places. I'll PM David and see if he has any pull...if we can go to Mina's for around the same price I'm sure we'd like that option. Fifth Floor just got some iffy review, basically saying the food was a little precious, but the wine list is really a wonder.
Here are the choices:
Spruce: www.sprucesf.com, great room, not near BART.
Jardinaire: www.jardiniere.com, convenient near BART Civic Center
Fifth Floor: www.fifthfloorrestaurant.com, check out wine list...upstairs from Powell BART exit ... the review is here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/07/CM3210PI3F.DTL&type=food
Mina: www.michaelmina.net, Powell BART
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Winegeek
San Francisco
Grape Puncher
Posts:777
| | 06/25/2008 8:24 PM |
| Fred,
Thanks for all your work on this. Another factor you may want to consider - I think it's a big benefit - is whether we'd be in a private room or not.
Richard | | | |
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tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts:3164
| | 06/25/2008 11:01 PM |
| We'll go with the flow. Thanks for putting this together!
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TN posted on Cellartracker
"I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais
www.tanglenet.com | |
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tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts:3164
| | 06/26/2008 11:52 PM |
| | Hey, what are we bringing? Is there a theme? | |
TN posted on Cellartracker
"I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais
www.tanglenet.com | |
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saut
Grape Fermenter
Posts:522
| | 06/28/2008 1:02 PM |
| Hi all...
The possibilities at Spruce and Jardinaire are both private rooms. I don't have much experience in putting stuff like this together, and I thought this could happen somewhat informally, but it seems like this large dinner party stuff is big business for these restaurants. I guess it is a bit more expensive than I thought it would be (not a personal issue, but still one wants value for the money), and some restaurants are really restrictive with their choices. I guess it is just not possible to have 14 people show up and dine...
I'll see if I can put out a poll! I need to get final particulars on Jardinaire and Spruce, regarding menu choices. David, any thoughts on the other possibilities?
Theme wise, I think it is all open to possibilities. How about "Open that bottle night?" | | | |
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tgenn
Pleasanton, Ca.
Grape Stomper
Posts:166
| | 07/02/2008 7:52 PM |
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"We've also got some great places down the Peninsula and here in the San Jose area. At the two best restaurants in the area, The Plumed Horse and the Michelin stared Manresa, I can get us no charge corkage."
These would also work for me, if others are willing to head to the San Jose area. I do prefer to choose a place that will give us a fair deal on the corkage, so we can spend the money on the food. ( but it is definitely true that for top end restaurants in the city on a weekend - groups are big business). I do love the food at Jardinaire if anything affordable can be worked out.
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Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts:3167
| | 07/04/2008 11:01 PM |
| | David, I think you should go to the Fifth Floor and congratulate Emily on hitting her Master Somm!!! We ended up having dinner at the same table with her at the Herb Garden over the holidays... really nice woman, cool to see she bagged the exam! | | | |
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saut
Grape Fermenter
Posts:522
| | 07/13/2008 11:39 PM |
| Thanks guys for letting me take a break on this. It was getting a bit involved, and I was not sure I wanted an SF offline to compete with some of the great dinners we have for the group. In any case, I will check with them tomorrow about what is available, and if you guys are still game, we can go from there. The important thing is wine and friends...I just had a hard time with all of the restrictions. Why can't a group just go to a restaurant and order off the menu?
More soon!
Fred | | | |
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saut
Grape Fermenter
Posts:522
| | 07/24/2008 11:46 PM |
| Well, too formal and too contrived for my taste. I have had a great learning experience...you cannot take 14 people to a restaurant without them limiting the courses or wanting you to rent chairs. I think we should go for something informal later in the year...this was beginning to look like the anniversary dinner and that was more than I can coordinate in my off time...my apologies.
Next time, I will do the research first and then propose something. For SF, close to BART.
Enjoy the SJ offline!
Cheers,
Saut | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15756
| | 07/31/2008 8:13 PM |
| Posted By Drew on 07/04/2008 11:01 PM
David, I think you should go to the Fifth Floor and congratulate Emily on hitting her Master Somm!!! ... really nice woman, cool to see she bagged the exam!
I saw her right after the results came out and congratulated her then. She was so excited! Saying she "bagged the exam" is an understatement.
She was awarded Remi Krub Cup that is earned all that often. She passed all three sections of the examination on her time.
She knows her wines and... she likes to Party! Plus with that last name it is her destiny.
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