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Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
KQED
227 episodes
8 months ago
Check, Please! Bay Area is KQED Public Television's local series featuring regular people reviewing San Francisco Bay Area restaurants. Find out more about this KQED series at: kqed.org/checkplease.
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All content for Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast is the property of KQED and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Check, Please! Bay Area is KQED Public Television's local series featuring regular people reviewing San Francisco Bay Area restaurants. Find out more about this KQED series at: kqed.org/checkplease.
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Food
Arts
Episodes (20/227)
Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This reviews: Swedish Pancakes, Kalbijjim, Lamb and Beef Shawarma Bowl
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 8, airs Thursday, October 28, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

First up, we’re starting things off with the most important meal of the day: breakfast! Located in Millbrae in the South Bay, the family-owned Millbrae Pancake House has served up scratch-made pancakes and waffles for more than 60 years, like the thin, delicate Swedish Pancakes with lingonberry butter. Next, it’s off to San Francisco’s Japantown for Kalbijjim, Korean slow-cooked braised beef short ribs topped with melted cheese (an Instagram favorite!) at Daeho. Finally, we dig into the fresh hummus and savory, flame-roasted meat that fill the signature Lamb and Beef Shawarma Bowl at Falafel Boy in Oakland.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Janet Monaghan, Jennifer Kirk and Shaun Tai from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Millbrae Pancake House | Millbrae
* Daeho | San Francisco
* Falafel Boy | Oakland
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4 years ago
28 minutes 1 second

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This reviews: Pacifica Pan-Fried Frittata, Steak Frites, Al Pastor Burrito
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 7, airs Thursday, October 21, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

What’s better than bacon? Novato’s Bacon sizzles with breakfast delights, like the Pacifica Pan-Fried Frittata with smoked salmon, capers, sour cream and scallions — akin to a bagel and lox atop fluffy eggs. Next, we take the backroads through the hills of West Marin to Due West Tavern at Olema House to taste the signature Steak Frites, a tender New York Strip in a pool of red wine reduction with crispy, golden fries and a dab of Point Reyes blue cheese butter. Finally, we follow the smell of spit-roasted pork to Al Pastor Papi, one of the Bay’s hottest food trucks, where the Al Pastor Burrito draws a devoted following to the eye-catching hot pink truck.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Alexandra Charlos, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen and Christina Davis from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Bacon | Novato
* Due West Tavern | Olema
* Al Pastor Papi | San Francisco (Food Truck)
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4 years ago
28 minutes 1 second

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This reviews: Sisigsilog, Beef Tartare, Jajangmyeon
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 6, airs Thursday, October 14, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

This week, we cruise down to Daly City for breakfast for dinner at Tselogs, where the Sisigsilog, a sizzling platter of savory chicken, a fried egg and garlic rice, is a fan-favorite. Then we’re off to San Francisco's Mission District for Beef Tartare at Ernest, a twist on the steakhouse staple that’s topped with ikura and served with sushi rice and nori. Finally, we land in Pacific Heights for made-to-order Korean comfort food at Zazang Korean Noodles, where we dig into Jajangmyeon, a handmade black bean noodle dish.

This week's special guests include Golden State Warriors superfan Robin Schreiber, the famed Dance Cam Mom, TikTok creator Nick Cho — Your Korean Dad — and local foodie and social worker Aisha Nelson.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins social worker Aisha Nelson, Golden State Warriors superfan and Dance Cam Mom Robin Schreiber, and TikTok creator Nick Cho — Your Korean Dad — from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Tselogs | Daly City
* Ernest | San Francisco
* Zazang Korean Noodles | San Francisco
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4 years ago
28 minutes 4 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This reviews: Rose & Strawberry Waffle, Beef Empanada, Xiao Long Bao
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 5, airs Thursday, October 7, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Fresh, fragrant and flavorful — this week’s special teen guests’ picks are all about melt-in-your-mouth delights! Mints & Honey, a chic, colorful cafe in San Carlos, whips up a Rose and Strawberry Waffle with fresh, unique floral toppings. Then, Milohas crafts traditional Colombian pastries like their savory and hearty Beef Empanada in San Jose. Finally, we learn the secrets to making handmade Xiao Long Bao, the delicate, steamed soup dumplings at Union City’s Din Ding Dumpling House.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins special teen guests Caitlynn, Amelie & Richard from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Mints & Honey | San Carlos
* Milohas | San Jose
* Din Ding Dumpling House | Union City
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4 years ago
28 minutes 1 second

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This reviews: Kouign Amann, Grilled Pescado Tacos & Hand-Pulled Mozzarella
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 4, airs Thursday, September 30, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

We begin our quest through the Bay Area’s unmissable meals at San Francisco’s famed Arsicault Bakery, once crowned Bakery of the Year by Bon Appetit. We join the early birds to sink our teeth into the Kouign Amann, a sweet, flaky French pastry with a crispy, caramelized shell. Then, we devour the mouth-watering Crispy La Calaca Loca Especial Grilled Pescado Tacos at Oakland’s La Calaca Loca Taqueria, where fresh-caught crispy fish tacos meet guacamole and melted cheese. Finally, we head to wine country and order off-menu at Saint Helena’s Brasswood Bar + Kitchen, where the Hand-Pulled Mozzarella has garnered quite a following with Napa Valley locals in-the-know.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Faith Chihil, Charles Chip Mc Neal, and Rachel Brockl from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Arsicault Bakery | San Francisco
* La Calaca Loca Taqueria | Oakland
* Brasswood Bar + Kitchen | St. Helena
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4 years ago
28 minutes 1 second

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This reviews: Beef Hot Dog, “The Best Indian Pizza” & Fried Pork Chop Bento
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 3, airs Thursday, September 23, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

In the scenic town of Occidental, the Altamont General Store rolls out its Beef Hot Dog, with Hawaiian flair, topped with grilled pineapple relish, pickled mustard seeds, spicy ketchup, yuzu aioli and crispy shallots on a brioche bun. Then, Zante Pizza and Indian Cuisine in Bernal Heights blends Indian and Italian cuisine to create a mouthwatering fusion of spinach, eggplant, cauliflower and more, aptly called  “The Best Indian Pizza - Vegetarian.” Finally, Oakland’s Taiwan Bento cooks up the ultimate Taiwanese comfort food with its Fried Pork Chop Bento, a nostalgic dish with  crispy marinated pork, tea egg, and pickled veggies.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Gaia Wu Magidi, Elizabeth and Ian Bass-Galespie, and Jewel Syquia Olson from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Altamont General Store | Occidental
* Zante Pizza and Indian Cuisine | Bernal Heights
* Taiwan Bento | Oakland [CLOSED]
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4 years ago
28 minutes 1 second

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This reviews: Chicken Milanese, Omu Curry and Chocolate & Vanilla Frozen Yogurt
Check, Please! You Gotta Try This!, season 1, episode 1, airs Thursday, September 9, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes, and never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

We're celebrating Oakland's vibrant, diverse community with three longtime Oakland residents - and the Bay Area dishes you have to try! First, singer-songwriter Fantastic Negrito finds inspiration at Oakland's own Dela Curo, where Chef Chikara Ono delights with his Omu Curry, a dreamy, savory jet-black curry served atop omurice. Next, award-winning director and Blindspotting actor Margo Hall samples the iconic Chicken Milanese at Presidio mainstay Garibaldis Restaurant in San Francisco. Finally, Oakland Roots soccer player Max Ornstil satisfies our sweet tooth with the indulgent, creamy Chocolate & Vanilla Frozen Yogurt at Yogurt Park, which has charmed Berkeley students and families for nearly 50 years.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Margo Hall, Fantastic Negrito and Max Ornstil from Mersea Restaurant on Treasure Island.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Garibaldis Restaurant | San Francisco
* Dela Curo | Oakland
* Yogurt Park | Berkeley
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4 years ago

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Old School
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 16 episode 4 airs Thursday, April 22 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

From quirky diners to traditional bar-and-grills, it’s a trip down memory lane as Leslie Sbrocco looks back at some of the Bay Area’s most historic restaurants.

Get Restaurant Information:

* The Tadich Grill, San Francisco
* Casa Orinda, Orinda
* Tommy's Joynt, San Francisco
* House of Prime Rib, San Francisco
* Marin Joe's, Corte Madera
* Thanh Long Restaurant, San Francisco
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4 years ago
27 minutes 50 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Handcrafted
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 16 episode 3 airs Thursday, April 15 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Time to satisfy those carb cravings with our guests’ go-to places for the best Asian dumplings and noodles and Italian pastas made fresh daily. This special look back episode celebrates everything handcrafted!

Get Restaurant Information:

* Kingdom of Dumpling, San Francisco
* Belotti Ristorante e Bottega, Oakland
* Antipastos, San Jose
* Soba Ichi, West Oakland
* Noodles Pho Me, San Leandro
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4 years ago
27 minutes 50 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Fruits of the Sea
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 16 episode 2 airs Thursday, April 8 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

From sushi and lobster rolls to oysters on-the-half-shell Leslie’s highlighting our guests’ favorite spots for the Bay Area’s freshest catch.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Waterbar, San Francisco
* Moss Beach Distillery, Moss Beach
* Old Port Lobster Shack, Redwood City
* La Viga Seafood & Cocina Mexicana, Redwood City
* Sushi Rapture, San Francisco
* Anchor Oyster Bar, San Francisco
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4 years ago
27 minutes 50 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Tempting Takeout
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 16 episode 1 airs Thursday, April 1 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

In this special look back, Leslie’s got the inside scoop on some of the Bay Area’s best bets for delicious dishes and mouthwatering meal kits to go.

Get Restaurant Information:

* Homeroom Mac and Cheese, Oakland
* All Good Pizza, San Francisco
* Aburaya, Oakland
* Señor Sisig, Bay Area at large
* Telefèric Barcelona, Walnut Creek
* Gold Mirror, San Francisco
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4 years ago
27 minutes 50 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Stay Gold Deli, Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company, Wayfare Tavern
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 20 airs Thursday, September 10 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Our season finale begins in West Oakland with central Texas barbeque meets Italian delicatessen. With a beer garden, pinball machines and games, Stay Gold Deli has something for everyone. Then, we head to San Francisco’s Sunset District for expertly crafted brews and tasty bar bites. Outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds drop their surfboards and bikes for a seat at Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company. Finally, we journey to San Francisco’s Financial District for a turn-of-the-century-inspired American tavern experience. Tyler Florence’s famously flaky popovers and fried chicken satisfy travelers and locals alike at Wayfare Tavern.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 20. (Maya Wise/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Stay Gold Deli
* Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company
* Wayfare Tavern

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

Dopff & Irion Brut Rosé
Crémant d’Alsace, France, $20
If you love pink sparkling wine like I do, you will want to scoop up bottles of this beautiful bubbly. Hailing from the Alsace region of France, it’s NOT Champagne rather a French style of sparkling called Crémant. This dry, pale-garnet hued wine is crafted with Pinot Noir grapes that showcase delicate red berry fruitiness. It’s a very well-priced fizz that will take you from A to D to D (that’s Appetizers through Dinner and Dessert) with ease.

2018 Raeburn Chardonnay
Russian River Valley, California, $18
A superbly balanced Chardonnay that wraps a crisp core with a creamy texture. Juicy aromas and succulent stone fruit flavors are supported by zesty acidity from grapes grown in the cool Russian River Valley. With barrel fermentation and sur lie ageing layering on lightly-lush complexity, this affordable white is a must buy worth twice the price.

2016 Primrose Primitivo
Solano County-Green Valley, California, $40
Primitivo is Zinfandel with what I like to call an “Italian soul.” This California-grown version of southern Italy’s famed grape variety (genetically identical to Zinfandel), is lush and spicy with a richness tempered by earthy notes. Whip up a bowl of pasta with long-simmered meat sauce and uncork this stylish red.

Benham’s Sonoma Dry Gin
California, $35
Gin is a spirit with personality. Each one is a blend of botanicals that impart unique character. This upcoming-star bottling from founder Derek Benham, uses local Sonoma County ingredients such as Meyer lemon and Buddha hand citrus...
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5 years ago
28 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Curry Up Now, Falafel Stop, Nick’s On Grand
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 14 airs Thursday, August 13 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

This week, it’s all plant-based plates for our vegetarian guests! In San Francisco’s Mission District, Curry Up Now dishes out fast-casual Indian street food in funky packages: fried ravioli, sexy fries, and loaded burritos. Then, we devour fried falafel and freshly baked pita made from imported Israeli dough at Sunnyvale’s Falafel Stop. Finally, in South San Francisco, sisig, lumpia, and other Filipino classics are given the meatless treatment at Nick’s On Grand.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 14. (Olivia Won/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Curry Up Now
* Falafel Stop
* Nick's On Grand

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

2018 Umani Ronchi Pecorino ‘Vellodoro’ Terre di Chieti IGT
Abruzzo, Italy, $17
I’m a fan of Italian white wines – especially those made with obscure grapes like Pecorino. The name of the variety refers to the “grape of the sheep” because it traditionally comes from areas in central Italy where sheep-farming and agriculture dominate. Pecorino (yes, there is a sheep’s milk cheese with the same name) is a deliciously crisp, high acid wine that still carries roundness and weight on the palate. The Vellodoro is one of the best white wines I’ve sipped all year long.

Frank Family Vineyards ‘Rouge’ Sparkling Wine
Carneros, California, $55
Sparkling red wines have a rich history, but they’re enjoying a renaissance of sorts with examples from around the globe. This one from bubbly superstar, Frank Family Vineyards, is deep ruby in color with succulent, layered flavors. Made in the traditional method from a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the intense color and dark-berry character coming from Petite Sirah grapes, it’s a unique fizz that will surprise and delight. Try it alongside dark chocolate raspberry tart or a selection of cheeses served with plum jam. Deliciously decadent.

Jardesca Red Apertiva
Sonoma County, California, $35
Aperitifs are classic before-dinner sippers in Europe, but the tradition is just developing here. This delicious drink falls somewhere between a wine and a spirit in terms of richness and alcohol levels. Jardesca Red Aperitiva blends three different California red wines with Zinfandel as the main variety. It’s then fortified with Eau de Vie and soaked with a selection of ten botanicals such as ginger, tangerine and cardamom. I like to drink it simply poured over ice with a twist of lemon, but it’s also stellar with a splash of soda or tonic. Red AND refreshing!

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5 years ago
28 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Il Casaro Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar, Soba Ichi
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 19 airs Thursday, August 6 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

First, let’s take a stroll through North Beach for Neapolitan pizza at Il Casaro Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar, which translates to “cheese maker” in Italian. Then, we may have died and gone to noodle heaven at Soba Ichi, where handcrafted soba noodles are made onsite with traditional practices.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 19. (Olivia Won/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Il Casaro Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar
* Soba Ichi

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

Conte Collalto Brut ‘San Salvatore’ Millesimato Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Italy, $11
What a fantastic deal! If you are a Prosecco fan (and let’s face it…who isn’t?) this is a sparkler you’ll want to purchase by the case. Light, refreshing and crafted in a dry style, it hails from the steep, hilly region of northeastern Italy called Conegliano Valdobbiadene. Anchored by two towns of the same names, it’s an historic wine area blanketed with vineyards planted primarily to Glera grape vines. This version from Collalto is named for an historic castle – San Salvatore -- located on the highest part of the vineyard. When you see the words “Prosecco Superiore” is signifies quality and affordability rolled into one bottle.

2018 The Larsen Projekt Grenache Rosé
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California, $22
Attention lovers of pink wine…this is one you’ll want to seek OUT and sip IN. I adore the Grenache-based wines of The Larsen Projekt, which is a boutique Sonoma producer. This garnet-hued rosé is succulent and crisp with enough freshness and complexity to pair poolside and tableside. The wine’s label depicts a time the owners went to an outdoor café in Provence, France, and saw buckets of rosé sitting in a nearby the fountain ready to pour for thirsty diners. Hmm…I think I need one of those fountains in my backyard.

2017 Trinity Hill ‘Gimblett Gravels’ Chardonnay
Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, $40
New Zealand is known for Sauvignon Blanc, but for those who delve into the small country’s great wines know it’s also a place for world-class reds and Chardonnay. Hawkes Bay is on the north island (two islands comprise the country) and is a spot that makes famed Bordeaux blends and Syrah. It’s also home to this full-bodied Chardonnay from one of New Zealand’s star producers, Trinity Hill. The vines come from a uniquely stony area called the Gimblett Gravels. This imparts taut minerality to the wine, which is wrapped with ripe fruit flavors, exotic aromas and a lush texture. I call it finely focused yet fleshy – the best of both Chardonnay worlds.

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5 years ago
26 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area Kids reviews: Mersea, Bevri
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 18 airs Thursday, July 30 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Check, Please! Bay Area KIDS Special: For our first course, an avid reader strikes gold with fresh bites and stunning views at Treasure Island’s Mersea. Next up, a tennis champ hits an ace with rich khinkali and khachapuri at Bevri, Palo Alto’s first Georgian restaurant.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 18. (Maya Wise/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Mersea
* Bevri
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5 years ago
26 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen, Angela’s Kitchen, Braise
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 17 airs Thursday, July 23 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

In the Tenderloin, Ethiopian cuisine shines in the orange oasis of San Francisco’s Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen. Across the Bay in Alameda, Afghan and Mediterranean flavors combine into unique delights at Angela’s Kitchen. Finally, two born and raised South Bay chefs deliver a rotating farm-to-table menu at Braise in San Jose’s Willow Glen neighborhood.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 17. (Olivia Won/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen [CLOSED]
* Angela's Kitchen [CLOSED]
* Braise Willow Glen

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

Olema Brut Rosé
Crémant de Loire, France, $25
A light and lovely sparkling wine that will make summer sipping a joy. This is not Champagne, rather a bubbly from the Loire Valley of France called Crémant. Crafted with mostly red Cabernet Franc grapes, it’s a dry-styled fizz with red-berry fruitiness making it ideal to serve before, during and after any meal.

2018 B.R. Cohn Sauvignon Blanc
Sonoma County, California, $17
B.R. Cohn’s Silver Label is consistently one of the best values in California Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a wine that looks and tastes like it should cost twice the price. This bottling is crisp and juicy with citrusy freshness. Try it with spicy Thai takeout or cooked-at-home vegetable pasta topped with lemon-infused olive oil. It’s also a perfect wine for simply enjoying in your patio lounge chair.

2017 Argyle 'Nuthouse' Chardonnay
Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon, $45
Argyle is an iconic winery from Oregon having established itself in 1987 as a pioneer in sparkling wine. They also craft classic styles of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This bottling is part of their Master Series blending two select blocks of Chardonnay from their Lone Star Vineyard. It showcases a core of minerality wrapped in succulent fruit then layered with richness from barrel fermentation. A balanced beauty.

2014 Futa Cabernet Sauvignon
Colchagua Valley, Chile, $65
As a long-time fan of the wines of Viñedos Calcu from Chile, I tend to cover their affordably delicious bottlings, which always over-deliver in quality. This wine, however, is the peak of their offerings and deserves a place in any wine lover’s cellar. The stunning label brings to life the meaning of the word Futa, which is “big and magnificent” in the indigenous Chilean Mapuche language. The complex Cabernet Sauvignon is structured and built to age beautifully,
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5 years ago
28 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Locanda Ravello, Café Umami, Main Street Kitchen
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 16 airs Thursday, July 16 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

This week, we celebrate teachers with three teacher guests! First up, the flavors of the Amalfi coast bloom at a cozy pizzeria in Danville: Locanda Ravello. Next, Oakland’s Cafe Umami is the perfect spot for nourishing grain bowls crafted by a former microbiologist and brimming with fermented flavor. The final course: seasonal and sophisticated offerings at Walnut Creek’s welcoming Main Street Kitchen.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 16. (Maya Wise/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Locanda Ravello
* Cafe Umami
* Main Street Kitchen

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

Maison Bruno Paillard ‘Première Cuvée’ Champagne
France, $45
The style of Bruno Paillard captures the elegance and complexity of world-class Champagne. It’s about the assemblage with this producer. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes from more than 30 Cru vineyards and more than 25 vintages are blended to create this stylishly dry, deliciously layered sparkling. Open the bottle for a splurge night with shellfish, or splurge on yourself and simply pour a glass to savor.

2018 Tornatore Etna Bianco
Sicily, Italy, $30
If you haven’t explored wines made in Sicily, this is a white to seek out. Hailing from the eastern side of the island in the shadow of the volcanic Mt. Etna, it’s made with a local white grape variety named Carricante and crafted in stainless steel to maintain its citrusy freshness. Pair it with anything fresh from the sea or garden. A unique wine with Sicilian flair.

2018 Landform Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, Oregon, $25
The name of this wine tells the story. It’s all about the ground as the Grounded Wine Company’s focus is on showcasing a sense of place in each glass. Owner, Josh Phelps, grew up in a family dedicated to wine. His Landform Pinot Noir brings the essence of Oregon’s Willamette Valley to life. It’s sophisticated yet fun with bright red fruit notes shining through. Sure…it’s great with food, but just sip it on your porch with a view of the sunset for an ideal pairing.

2016 Adobe Road Winery 'The 24' Red Blend
Sonoma County, California, $66
In my hometown of Petaluma, California is a place where wine is celebrated and enjoyed. The Adobe Road Winery is the destination, but their wines are the journey. This Rhone-style blend is Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre and is spicy and rich. The winery’s roots are in the car racing world and the labe...
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5 years ago
27 minutes 50 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area Kids reviews: Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar, La Note Restaurant, Magnolia Street Wine Lounge & Kitchen
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 15 airs Thursday, July 9 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Check, Please! Bay Area KIDS Special: It’s time for another trip to the kid’s table! Up north in Windsor, a programming whiz kid savors the hallmarks of Southern comfort food at Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar. Next, a second-generation Check, Please! guest reviews his Berkeley spot that’s been serving French brunch for the past two decades: La Note Restaurant. Finally, after competitive swim meets, there’s nothing a young swimmer would rather eat than creative soul food blending Cajun and Asian flavors at Oakland’s Magnolia Street Wine Lounge & Kitchen.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 15. (Maya Wise/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Sweet T's
* La Note Restaurant
* Magnolia Street Wine Lounge and Kitchen [CLOSED]
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5 years ago
28 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: La Marcha Tapas Bar, Brazen Head, Atelier Crenn
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 13 airs Thursday, June 25 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

From Season 13, Berkeley’s La Marcha Tapas is a festive ode to Spanish Nightlife, where Taberna classics are given a distinct California twist. Next, from Season 12, it’s off to The Brazen Head in San Francisco, an old-school neighborhood bar that serves nothin’-fancy pub grub late into the night. Finally, from Season 11, experimental dishes blossom from a chef’s poetic inspiration at Atelier Crenn.

Get Restaurant Information:

* La Marcha Tapas Bar
* Brazen Head
* Atelier Crenn

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

2019 Apaltagua Reserva Carmenere Rosé
Maule Valley, Chile, $12
This zesty pink from Chile is one I highly recommend every year around this time. It’s ideal for summer sipping with its pale-rose hue, pink grapefruit juiciness, and affordable price tag. A dry rosé made primarily from Chile’s signature red grape, Carmenere, with a dash of Syrah, it’s crisp, succulent and goes down easy. It’s also pretty to look at from the label to the wine. Pair alongside anything casual eaten al fresco from grilled fish to chips and salsa.

2019 Mettler Family Vineyards Albariño
Lodi, California, $20
Though Mettler is a historic grape-growing family in California, one of their newest releases is made with a grape variety that hails from Spain. Albariño is known in western Spain’s Galicia region for producing crisp yet complex whites. In California there are only a few hundred acres planted. Mettler’s version is one of the best. Crisp, aromatic and still sporting a rich texture, it’s a wine to pour in place of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Salud!

2017 La Crema Chardonnay
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, $30
La Crema is a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist. Though crafting numerous versions of both varieties from various wine-growing regions, this Chardonnay is my favorite. It captures both richness coming from oak barrel fermentation and aging, but with a core of citrus-scented minerality and freshness to balance. It’s an excellent choice to serve as a cocktail on its own, but with food it shines. Scallops, lobster in butter, pasta in cream sauce with mushrooms and soft cheeses are all ideal partners to this elegant pour. (2018 is the current vintage)

2017 Mettler Family Vineyards Petite Sirah
Lodi, California, $25
When you want a powerful, jammy red look no further than Petite Sirah…it’s anything BUT petite. This red from the lauded grape-growing Mettler family,
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5 years ago
28 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Anaviv’s Table, Larb Thai Food & Tapas, Mister Jiu’s
Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 12 airs Thursday, June 18 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

For a meal unlike any other, we start in a Richmond warehouse for a multi-course, farm-to-table communal dining experience at Anaviv’s Table. Then, tucked away in an El Cerrito stripmall, Larb Thai Food & Tapas concocts traditional Issan-style delicacies that are hard to find in the Bay Area. For our final course, we head to Mister Jiu’s in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown, where chef Brandon Jew celebrates Chinese cuisine with seasonal California ingredients and upscale sensibilities.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 12. (Olivia Won/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Anaviv's Table
* Larb Thai Food & Tapas
* Mister Jiu's

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

Faire La Fête Crémant de Limoux Brut
France, $19
For affordably delicious bubbly, seek out Faire La Fête. It’s not Champagne (that only comes from the region of the same name in France), rather it’s French Crémant, which refers to sparkling wines made from around the country. This one happens to hail from the southern part of France where sparkling wine originated in 1531. Faire La Fête basically means having a party, so whether you’re toasting Tuesday night takeout for yourself or a Saturday soirée with friends, raise a glass of this crisp, fruity fizz.

2018 Emeritus Vineyards, ‘Hallberg Blanc’ Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, $40
Emeritus is a new class of classic when it comes to California Pinot Noir. It was founded in 1999 by famed vintner, Brice Cutrer Jones, after he sold Sonoma-Cutrer and bought Hallberg Ranch. A Pinot Noir master, Jones has crafted a version like no other with the Hallberg Blanc. It represents the best of both worlds because he’s made a white wine from red grapes. How? The juice is gently extracted from the red Pinot Noir grapes with little skin contact, which is the thing that imparts the purple hue to red wines. With melon and peach aromas, a kiss of oak richness and a sultry texture, it’s one of the best wines I’ve sipped all year.

2018 Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay
Burgundy, France, $16
When it comes to well-priced Chardonnay with finesse, you can’t beat this wine from the noted house of Louis Jadot in Burgundy, France. Coming from the south of Burgundy in an area called the Mâconnais, it’s a fruit-driven Chardonnay capturing a streak of minerality from the vineyards’ limestone soils. No oak is used to make the wines making the purity of the citrus and stone fruit shine through. An all-purpose white, you can pair it with a brunch egg casserole,
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5 years ago
28 minutes 10 seconds

Check, Please! Bay Area Podcast
Check, Please! Bay Area is KQED Public Television's local series featuring regular people reviewing San Francisco Bay Area restaurants. Find out more about this KQED series at: kqed.org/checkplease.