2016-11-19 04:48:53
SAN FRANCISCO’S CELEBRATED CULINARY SCENE HAS EARNED THE CITY A REPUTATION AS A TOP DESTINATION FOR FOOD LOVERS, AND THAT FOCUS ON CREATIVE FLAVORS, SUSTAINABLY SOURCED INGREDIENTS AND CUTTING-EDGE TECHNIQUES MAKES FOOD AND BEVERAGE FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS TRULY MEMORABLE. Fairmont Old Fashioned A bee-filled container from a rooftop beehive on the W San Francisco Heritage California Fried Chicken, Corn Mac & Cheese, Jalapeno Slaw WHAT’S THE BUZZ AROUND THE LATEST TRENDS? Beehives, for starters, high atop some of San Francisco’s finest hotels. You’ll also find a honey pot of fabulous new options, from the Ferry Building’s gourmet shops to numerous Michelin-starred restaurants waiting to be enjoyed. Read on for more insights on the latest happenings around the city. CLASSIC COCKTAILS WITH A TWIST With its array of creative mixologists and artisan distillers, San Francisco has a long history as an incubator of innovative cocktails. Attendees can enjoy a taste of the city’s craft cocktail heritage with the new “Classics. Perfected.” program at the Fairmont San Francisco. Six cocktails were chosen and perfected by the hotel’s top mixologists, and include such renewed classics as the Fairmont Old Fashioned and Sparkling Collins Royale. “They offer a re-invented take,” says Melissa Farrar, director of marketing communications at Fairmont San Francisco, “with the bartender’s own unique twist on the time-honored classics.” They can also customize classic libations for special events, or create unique bar space for everything from receptions to after-dinner soirees. SOMETHING FOR EVERY DIET Are dietary restrictions a dilemma for your planning process? No problem for San Francisco’s eclectic dining scene, which can easily accommodate the tastes and preferences of any group. Paleo fans will love the “American Primal” cuisine at Dirty Water Restaurant & Bar while vegan and vegetarian attendees will delight in dining at Greens. Omnivores can sample and share dishes family-style at The Slanted Door or Mourad. More daring diners will be pleasantly surprised with the “carte blanche” pre-set, chef-selected menus that change nightly at Lazy Bear and Michelin-starred restaurant Nico. “There is something rather liberating and convivial about dining without a menu,” explains Nico spokesperson Andrea Delaroque. ROOFTOP BEEHIVES Hotels around San Francisco often serve up buzz-worthy fare, but the latest buzz is coming from beehives on their rooftops. From the Clift Hotel to the W San Francisco, beekeeping programs have been inspired by concerns over environmental threats to honeybees worldwide. They’re also part of an effort for greater sustainability by the city’s hotel community, where the honey finds its way onto the menu in the form of desserts, cocktails, and even spa treatments. The Clift Hotel’s 10 hives of 100,000 bees produced 70 pounds of honey last year, which went into the Clift Purple Haze cocktail made of lavender-infused gin, honey syrup and lavender bitters. It could also be found in Chef Thomas Weibull’s pork adobo with honey glaze, and compressed watermelon salad with lavender-infused honey and goat cheese. SUSTAINABLE SOURCING “Local” and “sustainable” are major themes with San Francisco hotels and restaurants. In fact, the Bay Area has long been a pioneering leader in the farm-to-table movement dating back to Alice Water’s Chez Panisse. It’s a philosophy that has also inspired Starwood’s new brand-wide sustainable sourcing guidelines, and incorporated into St. Regis and W San Francisco daily operations. Both hotels feature innovative menus that are not only fresh and delicious but also address concerns like the impact of beef production on the environment. Hilton San Francisco Union Square, the city’s largest property, has been committed to earth-friendly practices for more than 20 years. Organic and locally farmed produce, dairy, meats and seafood menus are a specialty.
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