Looking for some outdoor fun? San Francisco’s got you covered. There is a festival for every interest – art, jazz, wine, and of course, great food! Dofino Cheese will be sampled at Uncorked!, North Beach Festival, Filmore Jazz Festival, Polk St. Blues Festival, and Fiesta on the Hill, so be sure to pick up your free taste while you are there!
Food for Thought
Best Festivals in San Francisco
May 15th, 2013Best Grilled Cheeses in San Francisco
May 1st, 2013
Craving grilled cheese? Make your own Fontina Toasts with Bacon!
It is no surprise that one of America’s greatest foodie cities is also home to some of America’s best grilled cheeses. Here are our top picks!
Pioneers of the artisan cheese movement in America, Peggy Smith and Sue Conley of Cowgirl Creamery opened Sidekick, a cheese and dairy bar, after the success of their cheese shop in Ferry Building Marketplace. Their cheese, made from milk from local organic dairies, is arguably one of the best in the area. Their fresh mozzarella bar, artisan cheese plate and cheese soups are all delicious, but it’s hard to compete with the grilled cheese sandwich. It changes daily and is always a favorite with regulars. Affordable, fresh, and environmentally-friendly, this is the place to go to get your grilled cheese fix! View on Google Maps.
Although Hog Island is famous for the fresh oysters they pull out of Tomales Bay, their grilled cheese sandwich is a must-try as well. Hog Island uses a combination of three very different cheeses: Fromage Blanc, Mezzo Seco and Cave Aged Gruyere. They are mixed with fresh herbs and sandwiched between crusty Acme ciabatta bread. Our favorite thing about this sandwich is the way the melted cheeses pull apart in long, gooey strands. View on Google Maps.
Best Panini Presses
April 16th, 2013If you want to make perfect panini, the right press can make all the difference. Whether you’re only looking for a sandwich press or you want a multi-purpose device, finding the right combination of capabilities within your budget is key. Check out these best-selling options, and you’ll be enjoying a Chicken Panini with Light Havarti and Rosemary in no time!
Chicken Panini with Light Havarti Slices, Tomato, and Rosemary
- Le Creuset Panini Press & Skillet Grill Set—You may not be used to making panini in a skillet, but this pan gives you the same melting action (complete with grill marks) while being conveniently dishwasher safe. $199.99.
- Breville Panini Press & Grill—This sandwich press doubles as an indoor grill and makes entertaining groups easy. There are options for panini of different sizes and a “high sear” setting for those who like them extra crispy. $119.95. Read the rest of this entry »
What is Chermoula?
April 9th, 2013
Moroccan Joes with Melted Gouda and Chermoula
Traditionally, chermoula is a seafood marinade used in North African cuisine. It can also be used as a meat marinade, stuffing or sauce in a wide range of recipes, and it always adds a lot of flavor. Moroccan chermoula is made with dried parsley, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper, but its ingredients are by no means limited (our version uses cinnamon, tomato, and olives!) Chermoula’s assembly depends on the chef’s preference; ingredients are either blended together in a food processor or stir-fried for heated flavors. Considering its flexible preparation and ingredients, chermoula can accompany a wide range of dishes for an extra kick of flavor or variation in texture, and is a great addition to any cook’s repertoire.
Want to give chermoula a try? Start with our easy recipe for Moroccan Joes with Melted Gouda to practice your chermoula making skills!
Cooking with Chef Elizabeth Falkner
April 5th, 2013
The former Chef and partner of two Michelin recommended restaurants in San Francisco, Elizabeth Falkner is one of the most recognized faces (and heads of hair) in the Bay Area culinary scene.
A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute with filmmaking aspirations, Falkner eventually found her calling in the world of pastry. In 1997, she founded Citizen Cake, a retail bakery, and eventually expanded it into an elegant restaurant, bar, and patisserie. Citizen Cake was awarded recommendation by Michelin for three consecutive years and scooped up numerous awards from both local and national media. She continued to explore her savory side with the opening of her second restaurant, Orson, in 2008, conceptually blurring the lines between sweet and savory. In 2012, Falkner moved on to New York City to start Krescendo, a pizzeria in Brooklyn. Though she was once dubbed “”the ultimate sugar mama” by actor Robin Williams, Falkner knows her pizza pies too: she was the first American woman to win the Classic Italian category in the World Pizza Championship in Naples.
Besides running restaurants, Elizabeth loves culinary competition—she was a competitor on Food Network’s The Next Iron Chef and Iron Chef America and a judge on Bravo’s Top Chef and Just Desserts. She has also been a guest chef on Rachael Ray’s $40 a Day, Martha Stewart Living, and more.
We recently met up with Elizabeth at Krescendo (check out that sparkly tiled pizza oven!) to make three recipes using Dofino Havarti Slices. She made her own tartine with Havarti, bacon, kale, and peppers, and you can view the recipe here.
Check out the video, which was filmed for LXTV 1st Look, and watch Elizabeth make her dish!
Elizabeth Falkner Prepares Tartines with Dofino Cheese
Char-Broil Live Tour Schedule
March 26th, 2013
It’s that time of year again! Dofino and the Char-Broil Live Mobile Grill Tour are hitting the road again. Join us for giveaways, demos, and of course, tasty snacks! Be sure to grab a sample of the delicious burgers made with Dofino Havarti.
Check out the schedule below to see when you can get in on the action!
Note: This schedule is subject to change. For the latest updates, visit the Char-Broil Live website.
Havarti Tartine Recipe by Elizabeth Falkner
March 8th, 2013Elizabeth Falkner makes Tartines with Dofino on LXTV 1st Look
When it comes to inventive comfort food, who better to ask than Elizabeth Falkner? Former Chef of Citizen Cake in San Francisco, Next Iron Chef contestant, and author of Cooking Off the Clock, Falkner has cooked everything from sweet to savory, haute to homey.
Along with LXTV 1st Look, we recently caught up with her at Krescendo, her new Neapolitan pizza restaurant in Brooklyn. She prepared our Lone Star Mac and Cheese and Ham ‘n Havarti Hearties, then showed us how to make her very own Dofino Havarti Tartine. We’ll be posting the video soon, but here is the recipe to tide you over:
