Thank you. That makes perfect sense.

We decided on SushiSamba. It fits the casual vibe we are looking for, and we are eating early so not sure if we will want a full meal or just a few small plates.

My wife is from Hawaii. We have heard that since many Hawaiians take trips to Las Vegas there is some good Hawaiian food to be found, she has one particular recommendation (I don't remember) so that will probably be lunch. Spam musubi, saimin, etc.

I am down to (in approx. this order):
* Sensi
* SushiSamba
* Emiril's
* Todd's P.U.B.

We made another pilgrimage to Barbara's. I didn't try the broiled or seared scallops. Instead, we shared an order of fried scallops from the walk up window while we waited for our table, then I switched to broiled Halibut. The Halibut wasn't quite as good as at Tadich, but the overall meal (even with fewer fried scallops) was still worth the drive from Oakland.

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Barbara's Fish Trap
281 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

We are flying in for the day from Oakland, for my wife's birthday. Our flight home is 9p, so Raku looks to be out since they don't open until 6p. Since it's a day trip, in concept we would like to stay on The Strip.

Looks like I need to plan a longer trip, and include Raku and Le Cirque on our agenda!

The other place I am considering, after canceling Le Cirque and talking to the Bellagio, is Sensi at the Bellagio.

Raku loks great. We have a 9p flight. Is Raku worth the trip?

What about Emeril's New Orleans Fish House? If that isn't casual enough, then Todd's PUB looks good.

Thank you for the reply. We live near San Francisco and have enjoyed Bouchon in Napa (Yountville) a couple times. Great braised short ribs!

We are coming to Las Vegas for the day only. No luggage. No doubt for comfort we will be dressed in shorts and sandals--no t-shirts or ball caps. I would love to experience Le Cirque, but would not be comfortable if we were dramatically under dressed so that can wait for another trip.

Where can we get a quality relaxed meal, on the strip or a short walk, dressed very casually?

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Le Cirque
Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Shenson's! I struggled the last few years to remember the name, what I consider the last good deli in the Bay Area. Don't get me wrong, I often eat at Saul's in Berkeley, and I like it, but it's not a deli. East Coast West, or whatever it's called on Polk. leaves me cold--good chopped liver though. Haven't got to the kosher deli near downtown SF yet.

Shenson's I only discovered about 6 months before it closed without warning. The agony! Of course, that was before Chowhound.

I ordered the Templeton Rye from Binny's. I added the Sazerac--Binny's selection--so the Templeton wouldn't be lonely in transit. :->

The Templeton is what I was expecting from Rye but never found in the 'Occasion' bottles or the Rittenhouse 80/100 'Everyday Priced' bottles. It's not rockgut, but it's a mean-old drink. Dry, no sweetness, after-taste in the back of your throat, almost grassy (in a good way).

I've been avoiding fried foods recently. I'll give them one chance for broiled or seared scallops, if that doesn't pan out I'll just alternate fried scallops with some other fresh broiled fish.

I agree about potatoes in the chowder. My wife makes routinely fabulous soups with potatoes for thickness. Getting the potatoes ready for the soup definitely takes more labor.

Probably due to Jim Beam marketing. I often see the Jim Beam 'small batch' line at bars where they will carry Jack Daniel's and not Jim Beam white, and I can't recall having seen Jim Beam Black at any bar.

Yes, the Van Winkle that got us started on Rye. The Rittenhouse bottled in bond is my current winner in spirit deliciousness to cost ratio. In Bourbon, that prize is split between Bulleit, WL Weller 7 Year Old, and the Jim Beam Black.

We will occasionally drive from Oakland just to eat at Barbara's Fish Trap, which is technically in Princeton by the Sea (just north of Half Moon Bay).

I used to look over the menu and debate, then order the fried scallops. I am *very* picky about scallops, they are so easy to do wrong.

The fried scallops are perfection. Now, I don't bother reading the menu before ordering. We usually wait for a table, and if I am feeling particularly decadent I'll get a few more scallops at the walk up window after the main meal.

I really only go out specifically for seafood to three places:

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Tadich Grill
240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Sea Salt
2512 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702

Barbara's Fish Trap
281 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

I'm not familiar with the artisnal options. I am, however, very intrigued!

I'm not that excited about the Vintage Rye 23 yo, and I own a bottle. The three other 'occasion' bottles I have, in my order of preference, are Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, Hirsch 21, and Black Maple Hill 18. All three are fantastic, complex, and worthy.

I finally had a taste of the Rittenhouse 21, which was on my quest list after the Hirsch 21 and Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond -- http://www.chowhound.com/topics/382956 -- it is very impressive, with a bottle and a price to match. However, I am perfectly happy with the Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond--which I drink more often than the 'occasion' bottles.

For a primarily seafood restaurant, I practically limit myself to Sea Salt in Berkeley, Tadich in SF, and Barbara's Fish Trap in Princeton by the Sea (near Half Moon Bay).

We have only been to Maritime East once. We were disappointed, even though they were very eager to please. Maybe we just miss Zax in that space so much!

Sea Salt is consistently unusual, a tough combination.

Both Sea Salt and Marica have good selections for non-seafood eaters--with more options at Marica.

Last night, the grilled Calamari at Sea Salt was fantastic. The Sturgeon seemed a little undercooked, but there are usually 2 straight up 'pieces of fish' served very nicely (the other was Salmon last night) plus unusual combinations that work like the Bacon, Lettuce and Trout, BBQ Eel Banh Mi or the infamous Lobster on a Torpedo Roll. Service last night was quite good, and it looked like quite a few larger parties were having a good time.

I think Garibaldi is more a 6-person dinner party or business lunch kind of place.

Rivoli on Solano. Short menu doesn't distract from the occasion and full of quality--especially (IIRC) a portabello mushroom appetizer that used to be one of the few consistent items on the menu. Room isn't very private feeling, but maintains a nice hushed vibe for special occasion. Go during daylight to enjoy the ambience added by the garden outside.

I will be with an international group of managers from my company, mostly European, with a reputation for late night drinking. When I was young(er) and living in the city, the Marina Triangle was beginning to fade as a destination. Now that I have kids and live in Oakland, I come to the city for family-friendly events or destination dining, but not for drinking.

Please help me look like I still know what is going on in the city, and point out good places to hang out and drink on a weeknight (Tue/Wed/Th) that won't be overwhelmed if 20 people suddenly show up very thirsty with a corporate credit card.

I don't really care what the crowd is like because with 20 people we create a crowd.

Meetings will be at the Hilton in Chinatown.

One night we are having dinner at a residence in Sea Cliff.

One night we are having dinner at McCormick and Kuleto's (not my choice) at Ghirardelli Square.

Joints near these areas would be nice.

Is someplace like Bourbon and Branch or Slide worth the trouble? How about Rye? What about places that I haven't read about in the Chron?

Thanks!

- JB

Has anyone attended this event or planning to attend this year?

I'm in Oakland, and thinking about the event in San Francisco in October.

I'm into Bourbon and more recently Rye. I'm curious about Scotch.

- JB

I've been searching for the Rittenhouse 100 ever since I tried the 80, and then read about the 100. Some brief background, I bought the 80 in Bardstown, KY while attending the Bourbon Festival last year. I only bought it because I had bought 2 expensive Ryes (Black Maple Hill 18-year recommended by bartender in Berkeley, and Vintage Rye 23-year recommended by liquor store in Bardstown), the Rittenhouse 80-proof was about $10 and I figured I wanted to find out what $10 Rye tasted like. Well, when I got the Rittenhouse 80 home, it was smooth and fantastic--certainly for $10. I did some research on Rittenhouse, found out it was made at Heaven Hill where we visited in Bardstown, and also found out that the Rittenhouse 100 won a 'Best Whiskey any price' award. So, an obsession was born. I swear that last year I couldn't find any Rittenhouse in California. In December, I tried in vain to find the Rittenhouse 100 in Lexington, KY, but I did bring home another bottle of the Rittenhouse 80.

So, yesterday, I idly check the Beverages and More chain in California, and voila! I end up bringing two bottles of the Rittenhouse 100 home.

Anyways, after this long obsession, here's my tasting notes:

First sip, first impression, it's the most bourbon-ey rye I've had. Still, not very hot for 100 proof. It's got the bourbon after taste without the tang or the sweetness.

It really fills your mouth with flavor, very apparent to all parts of the pallet. I've been reading stories that Bourbon cocktails are better with Rye, and this Rye makes sense if I can get a consistent supply at $20/bottle.

This is not a drink for lingering. I really like drinking it sip after sip, no gulps, no pausing, because I like the way it tastes while it's active. As I'm writing, the double shot is almost gone. It's not sweet, but it's not bitter. Well balanced, the classic whiskey caramel without sweetness. I think the best word for this Rye is balance, which explains why it wins awards. There's nothing here that could 'offend'. This may be the first quality whiskey where I could see two people opening a bottle, then looking up and suddenly realizing the bottle is empty.

Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US. The only other distinction is "Kentucky Bourbon", which must be distilled in Kentucky and aged at least one year in the barrel in Kentucky.

St. George is made by the same people who make Hangar One vodkas. I like their infused vodkas, they seem a few years away from getting the hang of Whiskey.

The Rittenhouse 80-proof is a very approachable Rye. I haven't tried the 100 yet, I finally tracked down some bottles about 60 miles away, but it won Whiskey of the year at a San Francisco convention of all spirit makers.

>> heavy on the bourbon

I can't believe I didn't know about the bourbon selection until now. Finally want to T-Rex. Is it the world's best Q? no. But, the brisket was fork tender on the inside, crispy on the outside. That's a nice sit-down plate of meat.

We sat at the bar, watching this amazingly efficient bartender turn out drink after drink--I really need to come back for brunch and sample from their bloody mary selection--with the back drop of the best bourbon and rye selection I have seen in the East Bay outside my own collection. Considering most bars have a row of scotch, the Jim Beam brands of bourbon (Booker, Baker, Knob and Basil Hayden), and maybe a Woodford Reserve for show, the bourbon selection was legendary topped off by a nice smattering of rye and canadian whisky. As I sat stunned at the selection of bourbon, the bartender brought me the whisk(e)y book. Her only mistake, she believed that all bourbon must be made in Kentucky--not true. Fine whisk(e)y, nice beer selection, and meat. What else do you need? We'll be back, and we'll sit at the bar--unless we bring the kids for brunch.

Also, ask for the cornbread without the syrup.

I was just thinking about my favorite breakfast places. The reason I don't go to Bette's often is that it's not worth the wait compared to all the other options out there.

However, when my daughter or I want that baked pancake, were off to Bette's--especially on a Saturday morning when the kids are noisy enough that I've already given up on sleeping in and it's early enough to miss the really long waiting times.

I work for Dreyer's Ice Cream, sold as Edy's Ice Cream east of the Rockies (excluding Texas). We always have these anecdotes that the products are somehow different or the eggs in a midwest plant are different from those in the west, but the recipes are the same and some plants manufacture for both labels. Sales of product near code date to Grocery Outlet may have an Edy's label in California because we're not going to ship across the country to lose any more money than we are already losing to sell it off to Grocery Outlet.

We went to Roy's for Mother's day brunch last year. It was a break from the usual brunch scene, and a good presentation. Like my other trip to Roy's, the quality of the food was not outstanding, but my wife (from Hawaii) and kids had fun and were treated well. It was nice they had dishes specifically aimed at kids which is surprisingly hard to find for any Sunday brunch, and it seemed to me they attracted a decent number of families that were relocated from Hawaii.

The only dish I remember was a fancy version of Loco Moco, which is a standard Hawaiian meal of a hamburger patty over rice with fried eggs and gravy. I can't remember exactly what Roy's did to it, but it was a fun if not authentic or gourmet entree.

Not a lot of Rye at BevMo in CA. I think they have Black Maple Hill 20+ year, which is expensive and tastes like it. The Rittenhouse was an impulse purchase at the Bourbon Festival because it was $10--and I had only had expensive Rye to that point. When I got it home and opened it, I was blown away. I'm definitely bringing bottles of that back when I visit family in KY for x-mas.

My favorite Rye so far is Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, there is only one source in CA -- http://www.hitimewine.net/. Maybe if they get enough requests, they will get two cases next year!

WL Weller Special Reserve (7-year) has been my house bourbon at $16. It may be replaced by Bulleit at $22. For something more remarkable, consider Old Pogue (some love it, some hate it) or Elmer T. Lee. If you are lucky and live in a state that sells Rittenhouse Rye, they have the best whiskey for the price, and Rye is a good complement to Bourbon in your cabinet.