Ask the Chef....

Bon Apetit!

 Whether a nice brunch with your friends to a fancy dinner date at Gary Denkos, food has always been one of those things that bring people together for any occasion. And the masterminds behind such delicious meals are chefs. Our very own Executive Chef at The City Club, Michael Munoz is one of those masterminds that have our guest wanting more with his creative creations. We sat down with the Chef to see what kinds of food he is into right now with the summer season upon us.

What kind of food is in right now for summer?

Right now tomatoes are getting into season here in Northern California so a nice caprese salad with fresh tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and a balsamic reduction makes for a fresh addition to any occasion. 

What about meats?

It's a great time to bring out the grill and have a gathering outside. A great dish to grill would be mini lamb chops seasoned with salt and pepper served alongside mint jelly or a mint puree. The mint adds a refreshing flavor to the lamb.

Lastly what drinks are fun for the summer?

I personally prefer a cold beer on these summer days :). However a cucumber martini is a sure way of cooling off . It is very refreshing and easy to make. You take 1 parts gin, a couple of cucumber slices  (which you can muddle ) and add the vermouth. Shake strain and garnish with slices of cucumber

Thanks Chef Munoz for giving some great summer food ideas! Book an event with the Club to have an opportunity to try one of the chef's dishes. The Club just released their 2013 holiday menu. See below and inquire about availability and pricing! Bon Appetit!

2013 Holiday Menu Items

Passed Appetizers

Mini Beef Wellington

Brie En Croute with Cranberry Chutney

Croque Monsieur with Turkey, Brie and Cranberry

Hobbs Bacon Wrapped Diver Scallop

Toasted Pistachio and Cheese Arancini

Burrata and Truffle Honey on Walnut Toast

Salads

Organic Baby Spinach & Frisee Salad

With Roasted Beets, Candied Pistachios, Goat Cheese

Shallot Vinaigrette with a Balsamic Reduction

Chopped Chickory & Citrus Salad

With Bleu Cheese, Candied Pecans

Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

Entrees

Oven Roasted Chicken Breast

With Honeyed Garnet Yams, Pomegranite Reduction and

Caramelized Brussel Sprout Leaves

Seared USDA Prime Filet (6 oz)

With Butternut Squash Sauce

Olive Oil & Herb Crushed Fingerlings, Braising Greens

Desserts

Apple Gallette

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Toffee Pecans

Interested in booking your next event at the City Club?  Click Here 

Sweets for my Sweets

Sweets for my Sweets

Who doesn't love the taste of delicious red velvet cake or the buttery goodness of shortbread cookies? We at The City Club enjoy our sweets and love our vendors who provide all sorts of goodies to our clients. We have chosen to highlight two of our favorites who can sweeten up any event.

Bala's Signature Wedding Cake

Bala aka the Cake Maker makes one of the most beautiful cakes out there! His technique is only matched by how moist and delicious his cakes are! They come in a variety of flavors ranging from traditional white cake and chocolate filling to the more exotic red velvet and coconut filled cakes. He can work with you in customizing flavors and even offers vegan cakes! Bala does it all. Contact him today to schedule your tasting experience!

Some of our favorites: 7- Layer Bar, Brownies
and Mini Cupcakes

Homemade goodness is what we would describe Susie Cake’s desserts. They are made from scratch every day and in small batches to ensure that yummy taste that a lot of people love! They have everything from cakes and mini cupcakes to other classics like mini whoopie pies and lemon bars. The 7-Layer bar is to die for consisting of coconut, chocolate chips, graham crackers and other delicious ingredients that will have you in cloud 9 in no time! They are the perfect comfort food for any occasion! Contact one of their celebration specialists to get these goodies straight from the shop and to your tummies!

Bala the CakeMaker: balas@cakemaker.net

www.cakemaker.net 

Susie Cakes: celebrationCN@susiecakes.com

www.susiecakes.com

Wine Not?

Wine Not?

Photos courtesy of: jameslilley.com

On Friday, April 5^th The City Club had the first Winemaker Dinner of the season, and welcomed the charming Winemaker from Mauritson Family Vineyards, Clay Mauritson. Clay, who is also a 6th generation grape grower, has a simple winemaking philosophy ...you need exceptional fruit to make exceptional wine. This is where the advantage of having a family heritage of grape growers becomes obvious…270 acres of family vineyard and strong relationships built over the years with other growers have given Clay access to some of the best fruit that Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley and Rockpile have to offer. Devoted to making exceptional wines, Clay is on his way to becoming one of California's foremost young winemakers.

Clay brought along his brother Cam who has a Master’s Degree in viticulture and makes sure the vineyard is well taken care of, and his Assistant Winemaker Emma Kudritski. It was great to meet them all and enjoy such an amazing meal with them!  The wines were stellar, and the meal pairing was just perfect – Chef Michael really did himself proud! Though most of the wines we tasted were sold out, Clay offered to make them available for those lucky City Club Members that attended the dinner - a real coup! Next time you want a real treat, drop by Mauritson in Healdsburg and try some of their amazing Zinfandels. A real favorite at the dinner was also their Cabernet Franc. Tell them you’re from the City Club and expect a warm welcome!!

MENU:
Artisan crostini, Havarti, Washington apples, grapes, honey
2012 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc

First Course
Sonoma quail
Sausage, quinoa, Beluga lentils, tendrils, Jus
2011 Rockpile "Westphall Ridge" Zinfandel
2011 Rockpile "Rockpile Ridge"

Second Course
Black Earth domestic lamb rack
Wild mushroom risotto polpette, English pea coulis, Truffle
2010 Rockpile "Buck Pasture" Cabernet Franc
2010 Rockpile "Rockpile Ridge" Cabernet Sauvignon

Third Course
Cannoli
Candied citrus, Scharffenberger, Ricotta
2010 Rockpile "Independence"

For more information on membership at The City Club of San Francisco

contact: membership@cityclubsf.com 

Spring has Sprung

Spring has Sprung!

Whether it is the tulips that adore the windowsills or the April showers, spring is here! And with that opens the doors of Spring/Summer weddings! Everyone is a buzz about planning their special day and a Spring Wedding in San Francisco is one that embraces the cooler weather and the fog that this fabulous city has to offer. Taking a cue from the flowers, designers and retail shops are embracing pastels. Baby pink, and baby blues have always seem to be part of that color wheel. With the announcement of Emerald Green as this Year’s color, a sudden boom in all-things green appeared as if overnight . 

This also goes for the pastels. Mint Green has made its way to shops, bridal magazines, shoes, pants and dresses. If you want to be trending, green is a way to go! Now you don't have to go all out with a full green dress, but a highlight of it on your make up, or better yet shoes, still makes a statement. Adding a bit of color in any occasion warms it up and gives dimension to the everyday neutrals we are so used to. Who knows, people might just be green with envy with your color choice. :)

Why Wouldn't You Join?

In a previous life, I had the pleasure of immersing myself in the day-to-day life at The City Club of San Francisco - engaging with our interesting Members, planning events, working with a friendly and personable staff, enjoying vibrant and busy lunches, happy hours, etc - all things that I miss in my new life as a full-time mommy to a busy and very happy 10-month old.  But I'm fortunate to still be involved with The City Club and having some time away has given me a whole new perspective on the Club:  WHY WOULDN'T YOU JOIN?

I have a bit more time these days to explore what else is out there, club-wise in San Francisco, and I say this in the most objective of ways - The City Club is by far the BEST private Club in the City.  Starting with the staff - a group of consummate hospitality professionals who hail from all corners of the industry and who walk through those brass doors at 155 Sansome Street with the same goals in mind:  to make the Club that much better every day and to ensure that our Members feel like they are the most important people in the world (they are!).  They know names, they know preferences (window table?  stirred not shaken?  they know!), and most importantly, they care.  These days, good customer service seems to be rather obsolete, but at The City Club, personal service is the heart and soul of our business. 

Beyond this paramount personal service, I've yet to find another club in town that offers an array of amenities and programs to the Members than what The City Club offers.  Monthly speaker events with city notables?  Check.  Savings on private meeting rooms and events?  Check.  A delicious, healthy, and abundant lunch buffet daily?  Check.  A private Members-only bar with witty bartenders and top-shelf libations? Check.  Networking events every week?  Check.  A membership comprised of the city's top-tier professionals from all industries? Check.  Management who continues to invest in the Club to ensure its longevity and prosperity? Big check.  All of these reasons and many more lead me back to my original thought:  WHY WOULDN'T YOU JOIN?  

When it comes to joining, Corporate Memberships are the way to go. They are designed to allow several individuals from a company enjoy the benefits of Membership at The City Club at the most reasonable rate. All designees can entertain clients at their leisure at the Club, as well as customize their individual membership to best fit their needs (including fitness, golf, spa upgrades).  Larissa Lorian in Membership is as gracious and friendly as they come when greeting new and prospective Members so I encourage you to reach out to her if joining the Club is something you or someone you know may be considering.  There's nothing to lose and much to be gained...

Until next time, I know that The City Club has many more suprises in store, putting the exclamation point on being THE BEST PRIVATE CLUB in San Francisco!  Go see for yourself.

-Victoria Welch

Club Director turned full time Mom...for now

It's Just Lunch...Unless It's Lunch at the Club!

A decent commute on MUNI (hey, one can hope, right?!) that gives me some nice reading time. Saying “Good morning” to my fellow coworkers and awaiting a productive and interesting day. An evening run along the Embarcadero. Every day I try to think of the “little things” I have to look forward to, as having these highlights makes the day pass that much more pleasantly.

Sometime around late morning, however, what I begin looking forward to is LUNCH! I am admittedly proud to work for The City Club, where our Executive Chef Michael Munoz prepares an elaborate and unique menu for you, our Members, to enjoy every day.

On The City Club’s daily lunch buffet, you can expect a full array of salad options to choose from, as well as a delectable carvery display and seasonal accompaniments, a sandwich station, and a medley of sinfully delicious desserts. But did you know that each day’s buffet has its own theme, and that the daily menu can be found, available on our website, every day after 11AM on our City Club Calendar of Events?

As a reminder of our themes:

Monday – Comfort Food

Tuesday – Dim Sum

Wednesday – Sushi

Thursday – International Day

Friday – Prime Rib, Shrimp & Oysters

I don’t know about you, but with these tantalizing offerings available online to entice you to come to The City Club for lunch, I’d have our calendar bookmarked! Better yet, come taste for yourself why lunch at The City Club can be a highlight of your day, as well!

I look forward to seeing you at the Club soon!

Jennifer C. Desideri

Controller

In Need of a Fresh Summer Cocktail?

The City Club Bar has you covered!


Food and Beverage Manager Dwayne Arikawa has a simple yet refreshing cocktail that will bring a little bit of cooling mint and bubbly sparkles into your bar or backyard!  Here's a how-to guide for bringing a little bit of Cuba into your home this summer:


Dwayne Arikawa's "City Club Mojito"




12-15 Mint Leaves


2 oz Light Rum (Oronoco Rum Suggested)


4-6 oz soda water (Ginger Beer Substitute can be used as well)


1-2 cubes of raw brown sugar (or simple syrup)


One half lime


Cocktail Shaker


1 cup of ice


1 Collins glass


1 muddling stick (or any other kitchen tool that will muddle)




Using a wooden muddling stick, muddle mint leaves with the brown sugar or simple syrup at the bottom of your cocktail shaker until the mint is slightly bruised and the sugar has dissolved just a bit.  Then, add your rum and squeeze the juice of one half a lime into the mixture.  Add half a cup of ice.  Pour this mixture into your cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously for about 5 seconds.  Pour the shaken mixture into your glass, and top off with the remaining ice, and the desired amount of soda water you'd like (4-6 oz) and stir gently to blend all the ingredients.   Garnish with a mint leaf and lime wedge.  Mentally transport yourself to Cuba and enjoy!


You may substitute unflavored soda water with ginger beer, however if you do so make a note to use slightly less sugar than previously recommended to avoid making your cocktail too sweet.


Cheers!




The City Club of San Francisco