San Francisco Chocolate Salon Returns on April 2nd as the Premiere West Coast Artisan Chocolate Festival

The 14th Annual San Francisco International Chocolate Salon takes place this Spring on April 2, 2022. The Chocolate Salon has long been known as the original artisan chocolate festival on the West Coast.

Chocolate aficionados, fanatics, lovers and addicts can taste & experience a wide range of artisan, gourmet & premium chocolate in one of the world’s most famous culinary metropolitan areas.

Chocolate Salon participants include chocolatiers, confectioners, and other culinary artisans, such as Amano Artisan Chocolate, Z. Cioccolato, LetterPress Chocolate, Michael’s Chocolates, Formosa Chocolates, Goufrais, Siamaya Chocolate, CocoTutti Chocolates, Fookie, R & J Toffees, Brigadeiro Sprinkles, The Good Chocolate, p.o.p. candy co., flying noir, the Wishing Well Workshop, Fabula Tea, and more.

For more information or tickets, visit www.SFChocolateSalon.com or HERE.

The San Francisco Chocolate Salon, Los Angeles Chocolate Salon, Sacramento Chocolate Salon, Seattle Chocolate Salon and International Chocolate Salon are produced by TasteTV, which originally created the first Chocolate Salon event in San Francisco in 2007, inspired by its cultural cookbook on chocolate, entitled “French Chocolate.” French Chocolate is available on Amazon.com and on www.FrenchChocolateCookbook.com.

Local and State COVID Guidelines apply.

International Arts of Fashion Foundation Reveals 9 Top Student Designers

The Arts of Fashion Foundation, a San Francisco-based fashion education non-profit, recently unveiled 9 fashion students selected in their annual competition. The students were reviewed by an international jury lead by iconic Antwerp Six member Walter Van Beirendonck, alongside other influential Belgian designers such as Jean-Paul Knott of Brussels, Jan-Jan Van Essche of Antwerp and Zoë Vermeire of Ghent.

Under the theme “Momentum” and the art direction of California-born designer Brandon Wen, the official fashion film of the International Arts of Fashion Competition premiered at the same time.

Over the course of the year the Foundation received fashion design proposals from 366 students representing 116 fashion institutions from 29 countries. Hosted at the Cristobal Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Spain, 50 projects that reflected creative and innovative potential were selected from the initial group. At stake was a chance to win apprenticeships with renowned fashion houses from across the globe, including the Métiers d’Art – Chanel, as well as scholarships for creative programs to further develop their careers.

In the past the competition has concluded with a final jury session and fashion show in San Francisco to select winners. However, with limited travel for students and professionals due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Arts of Fashion decided to create a film for the final presentation of the international competition.

The final results and prizes, including apprenticeships with reputable design houses and scholarships, are:

  • Arts of Fashion Apprenticeship Award | Maison Lesage – Paris: QUANG THAI NGUYEN – Canada | LCI Montreal
  • Arts of Fashion Apprenticeship Award | Maison Montex – Paris: YINUO WANG – China – Tsinghua University
  • Arts of Fashion Apprenticeship Award | Maison Lemarié – Paris: EMILY ROSE SAUNDERS – UK – Norwich University of the Arts

Arts of Fashion MasterClass Scholarship Awards

  • JIWON JANG – South Korea – Kookmin University
  • SOA SHIN – South Korea – Kookmin University
  • YUANYUAN ZHANG – China – Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts YAYI TAN – China – Donghua University
  • CERASELA-IRINA NICOARA – Romania – University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca
  • ARIADNA GEGUNDEZ – Spain – LCI Barcelona – Felicidad Duce

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Arts of Fashion, with Antwerp chosen as the city to begin a year of celebrations in cities across the world that are significant to both fashion and to the Foundation.

Exquisite additions to the celebration of creativity in fashion are the contribution of long-time Committee Chair, Juliet Bergh, the support of the City of Antwerp, and of a network of partners, including Ulla Models Agency and Jill Models Management Agency in Antwerp, the Make Up For Ever Academy in Brussels, and the Fashion department of the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Through these series of events, the Foundation aims to create strong ties and promote creative exchange between design professionals in all areas of the fashion world.

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Classic Book Reissue: SAN FRANCISCO DOGS

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Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel debuts Fredericks for Breakfast and Lunch in San Francisco

The Clift Royal Sonesta Hotel in San Francisco recently opened their new eatery called Fredericks.

Fredericks is helmed by Executive Chef Daniel Corey (formerly of Michelin Star LUCE at the InterContinental), paying homage to Frederick C. Clift, the original owner of the property. The restaurant has a black and white floor similar to what adorned the space in the 1920s, as well as neutral walls with exposed brick, also part of the earlier space. The floor itself was the inspiration for the rest of the decor, which features a classical look from the hotel’s original restaurant while echoing the chic feel of modern day San Francisco.

Fredericks has a combination of booth, banquette and square table seating for guests who want to linger, enjoy their meal, and soak up the ambiance. A sampling of the breakfast menu reveals sweet pastries at breakfast such as a Kouign-Amann Baton and savory pastries like the Union Square with Sausage, Hash Browns, Egg & Cheese, as well as tasty offerings such as a Gravlax Plate with Bagel, Salmon, Cream Cheese, Tomato, Red Onion & Capers; Avocado Toast on Sourdough with an 8 Minute Egg; and a California Shakshuka with two Poached Eggs, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cilantro, and Yogurt.

The restaurant also serves lunch, where patrons will find soups and salads including the Kale Salad with Medjool Date, Almonds, Aged White Cheddar and Sherry Vinaigrette, alongside sandwiches and more substantial fare such as Fish Tacos made with Crispy Local Rock Cod, Smoked Jalapeno Crema, &  Marinated Cabbage and a Half-Roasted Chicken with Marble Potatoes and Grilled Lemon.

In addition, in a section with high seating and smaller tables, Fredericks also serves to-go food and drinks – with selections designed to complement the offerings in the Redwood Room – including a high-end coffee program with partner roaster, Peerless, gourmet pastries and snacks, elevated comfort food, and wine, beer and cocktails on tap.

The Clift’s legendary Redwood Room reopened on July 1, 2021 with a new sumptuous food menu, handcrafted cocktails, and a revitalized look. The room retains its namesake redwood walls and glamorous lighting, only undergoing a change in furniture, flooring, and wall art. The new bar is manufactured from an 800-year-old redwood tree found by a custom woodworker in Montana. Also new — original Gustav Klimt paintings [reproductions created by students of Klimt, under his direction] uncovered onsite during the hotel renovations — have been painstakingly restored and re-hung, lending the room an art nouveau ambiance.  Menu items include Warm Orange Pull-Apart Buns with Honey Butter made with honey from The Clift’s own rooftop beehives, Waygu Beef “Double Double” Sliders with White Cheddar and Onion Jam on a Brioche Bun, and Oysters on the Half Shell with Passion Fruit Mignonette and Caviar.  Newer cocktails include an updated Old Fashioned (“The Big Chair”) – a nod to the famed oversized chair that every visitor to The Clift has likely taken a photo with, and “The Mr. Clift”, the lounge’s take on a Manhattan.

More information at:
https://www.redwoodroomsf.com/

Fredericks is open seven days a week, Reservations are not required. https://www.sonesta.com/us/california/san-francisco/clift-royal-sonesta-hotel/fredericks