courtesy of Bar 888

1. En fuego
Ever wanted to school yourself on the ins and outs of grappa, that Italian firewater (brandy) traditionally offered as a digestif? Here’s your chance. From August 8 to 31, Bar 888 at the InterContinental hotel will be offering a selection of grappa cocktails for $8.88 apiece. Eight signature grappa cocktails will be featuerd, including the Marollo Moscato, a combination of Marollo Moscato grappa, strawberries, agave nectar, Grand Marnier and Prosecco—try it with a burger (served with house-made condiments).


courtesy of Sutro's

2. You say tomato, I say tomato
’Tis the season to pluck ripe heirloom tomatoes from the vines and showcase them in elaborate single-subject dinners citywide. On August 13, chef Ron Siegel of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton will be the guest chef at Sutro’s at the Cliff House, where he’ll prepare a four-course dinner menu that highlights the seasonal bounty of fresh farm tomatoes grown by the Cliff House’s general manager. Reservations can be made by calling the Cliff House, 415-386-3330.



3. The heat is on
Raise the heat and make the summer in San Francisco last a little longer by attending the Long, Hot Summer event that celebrates the efforts of all towards marriage equality. On August 17, from 5 to 8 p.m., acclaimed SF chefs (including Traci Des Jardins, Robbie Lewis and Jen Biesty, among others) will not only rock the kitchen at Orson but also rock on the guitar and drums while playing cult-favorite video game Rock Band. Join the “love affair” by purchasing tickets here.



4. A study of wine
Take your taste buds on a guided tour of Wine Country with the help of Jon Priest, winemaker for Etude Winery in Carneros, held at the Ghirardelli Square wine shop Cellar 360 on August 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Begin with white and move on to red while Priest, one of the most acclaimed Pinot Noir makers in California, presents his new vintages at the complimentary tasting event. Click here for more information.

5. No reservations
Joey Altman, host of Bay Café on KRON encourages his food-enthusiast followers to cook California cuisine in their own homes in his new book, Without Reservations: How to Make Bold, Flavorful Food at Home. Need more suggestions from the Bay Area food guru?  He will be in residence at the Books Inc. in Opera Plaza on August 7 at 7 p.m. to discuss the methods behind his memorable meals.

6. Better judgment
In 1976, the wine industry got a bit tipsy when a little California winery in Calistoga beat out the bigwigs of France to take the top wine title at a blind tasting in Paris.  Bottleshock, a film based on the events leading up to the Judgment of Paris wine competition, opens on August 6 at various theaters throughout San Francisco.  Hopefully, the film leaves as smooth a finish as did the winning bottle of Chateau Montelena Chardonnay.

7. Gone country
Prepare to get down and dirty with a day of work on the family farm. Bring the kids up to Murphy Ranch in Inverness on August 9 to collect eggs from the henhouse, feed the sheep and check in on the cattle at the oldest ranch on the Point Reyes peninsula.  At the end of the day, reward yourself for your “hard work” with a big scoop of ice cream made from local milk. Make your reservations ($12 for kids, $20 for adults) ahead of time by calling 415-663-1158.