Millennium in SF: A Second Visit

The other night we ate for the second time at a place called Millennium, a totally vegan restaurant in downtown San Francisco. I had only been to a couple of vegetarian spots in my life until moving to SF last year, but now I’ve been to several and I can’t believe that in many ways I am beginning to think I could live sans meat and actually enjoy it.

Don’t get me wrong – a nice steak, a couple of fried pork chops with apple sauce, meat loaf, barbecued ribs, a juicy brisket and other such items still cause me to salivate and swoon – but I’ve learned not to be frightened by meals that don’t involve the demise of something that was at one time walking, flying or swimming prior to hitting my plate.

Millennium is a true vegan establishment – they talk the vegan talk and walk the vegan walk, because they don’t have anything on their menu that had a face or anything that comes from something that has one. That means no dairy, no eggs, and no honey, for that matter. The only things you’ll find at Millennium grow out of the ground. And, believe me; they don’t sacrifice taste or variety in doing it that way.

Located in the Hotel California on Geary Street, this restaurant explores the pleasures of perfectly prepared produce from every angle using every method of preparation imaginable. To kick off this all-natural exploration into the vegan universe, we started off with some pretty amazing appetizers. By far the best thing we ate all night was the Sesame Cornmeal Crusted Oyster Mushrooms ($9.00). They came with a cucumber mint salad, and a sweet & spicy apricot ginger coulis and they kicked ass. The texture and the flavor was a winning combination. I ate more than my share of this appetizer, which resulted in sideways looks from some of my dining companions, but to be honest, I really didn’t care. If this is the kind of stuff vegans eat, count me in! The other appetizer we sampled was a Black Bean Torte ($8.00), which consisted of a whole wheat tortilla, caramelized plantains, smoky black bean puree, manchamanteles sauce, cashew sour cream (without dairy), and a golden watermelon-jicama relish. I would say it was just okay. When I saw plantains listed as an ingredient, I thought it would have some of those flavors, but the rest of the dish overpowered the entire affair.

For entrees, we had the Grilled Rosa Bianca Eggplant Napoleon ($22.00) which had more produce in it than your average Whole Foods Market. It’s a sage scented flageolet bean ragu seared garlic polenta cake with a summer ratatouille, arugula and Greek basil salad and a smoky Romesco sauce. If you know what that means, go for it, but all I know is that it tasted pretty damn good. The only criticism I might have with this dish is that it was very busy. There were so many flavors bombarding my taste buds in unison that some of them got lost. We also had the Chipotle Grilled Portobello and Zucchini Tamale ($21.00) with dried cherries and toasted almonds, sautéed greens, ancho-carrot “cream,” roasted tomatillo salsa and spiced pumpkin seeds. A version of high-end Mexican vegan cuisine, no doubt, this dish was muy caliente and mucho flavorful.

All in all, I would say that Millennium is a very intriguing place that has taken vegan gourmet food to a whole new and exciting level. I would recommend it if you’re on a healthy food kick and even if you’re not. Millennium is located at 580 Geary Street in SF and their phone number is: (415) 345-3900.

Gabriele Bungardt is a Top Pet Painter

I have always wanted to get a professional portrait of my dogs. But, most of the dog painters I’ve seen out there paint canine portraits that just aren’t appealing to me – they look too much like cartoons or they’re too abstract. I want a dog portrait that actually looks like my dog.

That’s why I was so pleased when I recently ran into Gabriele Bungardt and her web site, http://www.ipaintyourpet.net/. Bungardt, who lives and works in Alameda, Calif. is an incredible animal portrait artist. She is well-known throughout northern California as well as throughout the United States and Europe.

Bungardt grew up in Germany in the ‘50s with dogs – lots of them. Her father trained hunting dogs and owned many wirehaired dachshunds and German pointers over the years. Gabriele’s fondest childhood memories include her adventures following dogs into the woods surrounding her home town. Their companionship and protective nature allowed the young girl to roam the forests without worry.

After a very successful career as an Industrial Designer in the Bay Area, Bungardt decided to do something that would allow her to combine her two passions – painting and pets. In just a few years, she was receiving all kinds of kudos for her paintings. The local press has embraced her painting style and the pet community keeps her busy painting pets year-round.

Gabriele moves between larger than life size portrait commissions to more abstract story telling pieces that relate the canine world in a unique and compelling way. She uses a multi-layered application of acrylic paint to achieve depth and three-dimensionality.

Bungardt usually paints her animal portraits from photos, but normally likes to meet the pets first, so that she can get a feel for the animal’s personality.

What attracts Bungardt to pet portraiture? “I love to paint pets, because for one, it’s very relaxing and fulfilling,” she said. “When I am able to capture their expressions and character, I find it so satisfying. I concentrate on the animal’s eyes and if I can get the eyes right, I know I’ve done a good job. I also love the challenge of painting the different breeds.”

Bungardt’s paintings will be featured on Sept 8th though the 29th at the Alameda Women Artists 15th Annual Museum Exhibit at the Alameda Museum in Alameda. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, September 8th from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

Samsonite Luggage Will Stand Up to the Gorilla Test Every Time

Why is this gorilla so sad? Because he tried to break a piece of Samsonite luggage and couldn't do it, that's why. When you think of luggage – good, well-made, sturdy and reliable luggage – the one name that immediately comes to mind has to be Samsonite luggage. No one on this planet makes a piece of luggage like Samsonite. They’re the one and only, the numero uno, the top of the list, because when you buy a suitcase from Samsonite, you know it’s going to last a long time. You never have to worry about those mad airport baggage handlers treating your bags like a red-headed stepchild if you have Samsonite. It will take the punishment every single time and then ask for more!

I've Got Shower Faucets on My Mind

We need a new shower faucet. I know that might not sound like an earth-shaking thing, but to me it’s frankly very important. Without a good shower faucet, you can’t get a decent shower. Hot or cold water will drip down off the faucet onto your back and it’s extremely uncomfortable. The water pressure is affected and the entire showering experience just becomes an arduous chore. A good shower faucet can make your day a wonderful thing. A bad one can ruin your day. These are the things I think about shower faucets all the time. Maybe I need help.

This Week's Restaurant Review: Michael Mina in SF

Every once in a while I have a dining experience that makes me happy just to be alive and in possession of taste buds that are in good working order. Food can be a miraculous thing if it’s prepared and presented with passion and this restaurant is so passionate about what they do that you can taste it in every bite. The name of the restaurant is Michael Mina in San Francisco – and once you’ve been there you won’t soon forget it.

One of the hottest young chefs in the country, Michael Mina, has fashioned a restaurant that is universally praised for its original concepts in American cuisine -- featuring elegantly prepared and artfully presented dishes that emphasize distinct tastes and bold flavors. This guy knows what he’s doing and isn’t afraid to take chances and create dishes that few chefs have even dreamed of creating. Other chefs go to Michael Mina to steal his ideas, I’m told. And I believe it!

If you want the very best San Francisco has to offer, Michael Mina is no doubt right up there at the very top of the list. No one else does it the way Mina does, featuring a mixture of the exotic with the basic; combining comfort food and fine dining in such a way that others have tried to imitate it over and over again, but without success.

Some of the signature entrees that we tried recently during our visit to Michael Mina included lobster pot pie, tuna tartare and fried chicken for two. Everything was spectacular and went way beyond already sky high expectations. They also feature a caviar cart, dessert bar and over 2,200 wines.

A warm and welcoming atmosphere, created by well-known California designer Barbara Barry, made us feel pampered, while the conscientious staff spoiled us from the instant we walked through the door. You don’t know what attentive service is until you’ve eaten at Michael Mina.

The best thing about Michael Mina is the very affordable price-fixe menu. It allows normal working stiffs like us to eat there without taking out a small business loan. The options range from the $98 price-fixe menu (3-course) to the $135 price-fixe menu (6-course). If you have the money, I would recommend the 6-course menu. I mean, how many times in your life are you going to be able to eat a meal that you’ll remember for the rest of your life?

Michael Mina is in the Westin St. Francis at 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. You basically can’t get into a place like this without reservations, so call them at (415) 397-9222. Hours: (Mon-Sat) 5:30 pm-10:00 pm; (Sun) 5:30 pm-9:30 pm.

The only thing I regretted when I left Michael Mina was that I didn’t have a couple of extra stomachs. It’s the only time in my life that I wanted to be a cow.

Nowak is Whacked!

AOL news reported that former astronaut Lisa Nowak is pursuing an insanity defense on charges that she assaulted and tried to kidnap a romantic rival, according to a document released Tuesday.

Defense attorney Donald Lykkebak wrote that Nowak suffered from major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia and "brief psychotic disorder with marked stressors." He also added that she was gassy and had assorted phobias of crossword puzzles, poodles and anything involving Jerry Springer. Lykkebak noted that the already-petite Nowak had recently lost 15 percent of her body weight and was living on a diet of pop rocks and Tang."This notice does not challenge competence to stand trial, but only raises insanity at the time of the offense," he wrote. “In other words, Ms. Nowak is crazy when it suits her, primarily every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and every other Saturday.”

Nowak, 44, was charged with attempted kidnapping, removing a tag from a new mattress, jaywalking in space, breaking wind in a space capsule and blaming a fellow astronaut, battery and burglary with assault, after allegedly driving nearly 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando to confront Colleen Shipman, the girlfriend of a former space shuttle pilot Nowak had been involved with. She was dismissed from the astronaut corps a month after her arrest.

Nowak is currently working at Chuck E. Cheese and doing testimonial ads for Snuggy diapers. “They have the stay-free gathers that prevents moisture from seeping out, which is a big deal, especially in outer space,” she said.

Nowak said that she hopes her trial will be over soon. “I want to get all of this behind me so that I can move into my new house….on Pluto.”Nowak has pleaded not guilty, and her trial is set for September. She plans on taking the stand during the trial, but will not speak, she claims. “I’ll be doing a series of shadow puppets to tell my story,” Nowak said. “And possibly some mime.”Circuit Court Judge Marc L. Lubet unsealed the notice of intent to rely on the insanity defense on Tuesday. Florida law requires such a notice before trial to let prosecutors prepare.

(Parts of this article are fictitious and provided for entertainment purposes only.)

Chalk it Up as Art

There were some great artists out in force this weekend at the Palo Alto Art & Wine Festival doing some incredible chalk art on the sidewalks of Downtown P.A. Here are some photos I took of the best drawings.

Vick Admits Guilt

www.Ultrapms.com

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Chubby's All Stars to Play at Yuckfest 2007

The Chubby's All Stars band held a press conference today to announce that they will be playing at the 2007 Yuletide Yuckfest at Rooster T. Feathers Comedy Club in Sunnyvale on Sunday night, December 2nd.

"The All Stars are proud to be a part of the Yuckfest, which they feel is a very worthwhile fundraiser for Toys for Tots," said Jeff Seigel, spokesman for the band. "All of the band members are unified in the belief that giving back to community in which they live, play and jam is the right thing to do."