You never might have guessed that the enthusiastic and charming wine-lover of Check, Please! Bay Area once wanted to be a senator. She also had a short stint as the hand model in Pillsbury Dough Boy ads.
Fortunately, award-winning author, speaker, and television host Leslie Sbrocco made it big since her days as a pastry hand model. The New York Times alum was recently voted one of the Top 100 most influential people in the American wine business. What's more, the host of KQED's Check, Please! Bay Area won a James Beard award, three Taste Awards, and three Emmy awards. Whew!
We asked Sbrocco seven essentials questions about her life in the Bay Area.
1. What neighborhood do you currently call home? Would you ever move or are you happy in your 'hood?
I currently reside in Petaluma, but lived in San Francisco for over 15 years. Most of that time I called Potrero Hill home and loved every minute of it. Early-morning jogs on the steep hills (back when running was in my exercise repertoire), while taking in the aromas of roasting Hills Brothers Coffee Anchor Steam beer brewing, are seared into my memory. Now, I enjoy the quaint, historical town of Petaluma where food and wine have become an important staple to the downtown area, making it a wine country destination.
2. What's your hands-down, absolute favorite thing to eat in SF?
The Trilogia pasta dish at Chiaroscuro. The chef, who hails from Rome, combines three local dishes: spaghetti carbonara, rigatoni amatriciana, and vermicelli cacio e pepe. Be sure to add a big bottle of Italian red wine to go with it.
3. What's your perfect night on the town?
There are too many to pick just one; however, here's a walkable, Embarcadero-focused fun night on the town: Start with a glass of Champagne and an oyster or two at Waterbar, then stroll to Ferry Plaza for a quick wine tasting at the fabulous Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. Dinner at Coqueta is a must. Don't miss their drool-worthy Pluma pork shoulder loin with honey glaze paired with glass of dry Sherry. It's amazing! End the night with a bit of brown by sipping Bourbon at Hard Water bar.
4. When you need a low-key afternoon, where do you go for down time?
The beach. Any beach. Whether in SF or the North and South Bay, we're so lucky to be surrounded by sand. Sun + sand = happiness.
5. What's your favorite place to go on a day trip from the city?
The Bodega headlands encompassed in the Sonoma Coast state beach are an amazing sight on a beautiful day. You can hike along the dramatic bluffs with views to Point Reyes and beyond. Bring a lunch (an a bottle of wine) and descend the cliffs down to the rugged beach below to relax after the hike.
6. Quick-fire round:
Burrito or Burger: Burger
Presidio or Golden Gate Park: Golden Gate Park
BiRite or Mitchell's: BiRite
Bike or MUNI: Bike
Fort Mason or Dolores Park: Fort Mason
The Independent or the Fillmore: Fillmore
Baker Beach or Ocean Beach: Ocean Beach
7. Three words that describe your life in SF?
Adventurous, appreciative, delicious.
(For more on Sbrocco, check out her website, Thirsty Girl, dedicated to all women who have a passion for wine, food, and travel.)
