Monday, July 25, 2011

A Special Recipe from our Kitchen to Yours


Take a step into the City Club kitchen as we present Sous Chef Juan Munoz's vegan tomato bisque recipe to you.  We offered this delicious soup at the Members' buffet lunch a few weeks back, and it was quite the popular hit amongst our members, with one member even asking for the recipe!  Although this soup is vegan and healthy, it is thick, hearty and provides the warmth and comfort we all look for in a home-made soup recipe.  So bring out your cooking utensils and introduce a little bit of The City Club kitchen into your home today!


Vegan Tomato Bisque








10 Roma Tomatoes, halved
½ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 carrots medium diced
2 yellow onions sliced thinly
2 tablespoons minced garlic
½ cup canola oil
¾ cup red wine
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
4 quarts vegetable stock
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons white truffle oil


Toss Roma tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil together in a bowl.  Then, place tomatoes on a sheet pan, skin side up and roast at 425 degrees for 30 minutes or until skin is charred.  Using a deep pot, heat up canola oil and add the carrots, onions and minced garlic.  Let the vegetables caramelize, then add the red wine.  Let reduce completely until the mixture is tender.  Add roasted tomatoes.  Then, add thyme, cumin, sugar and tomato paste, let stew for 10 minutes on low heat, continuously stirring so the sugar does not burn.  Add vegetable stock and let simmer for 30-45 minutes.  Blend the mixture.  Add red wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.  Add truffle oil to taste.


-Juan Munoz,
Sous Chef
The City Club of San Francisco




Additionally, if ever you or one of your guests would like the recipe for any of our dishes provided in the restaurant, please do not hesitate to ask us!  We would be more than happy to share any of our delicious recipes with you.


We hope you will enjoy this healthy soup recipe as much as we did.  Have a wonderful week!


The City Club of San Francisco

Friday, July 15, 2011

Secrets of a Private Club: The City Club Revealed



San Francisco has a secret that even many San Francisco Bay Area natives and visitors alike are not yet privy to. Nestled in the heart of the Financial District, 155 Sansome St. houses one of the City’s best kept secrets: The City Club of San Francisco.

Located on the 9th, 10th and 11th floors of the Stock Exchange Tower building designed by architect Timothy L. Pfleuger, The City Club of San Francisco originally opened as the men-only Pacific Stock Exchange Luncheon club in 1930, with the transition to The City Club of San Francisco occurring in 1987 after an extensive restoration and remodel of the space. The art and interiors of the Stock Exchange Luncheon Club cost a third of a million dollars in 1930, a very significant sum in the Depression Era times. Iconic and opulent, the décor of The City Club reflects the height of the times in which it was built, with lavish appliqué work existing throughout the entire club, bronze, gold and silver adorned ceilings in addition to the club’s centerpiece and iconic symbol: the Diego Rivera “The Riches of California” mural that takes up one entire wall between the 10th and 11th floors, along the grand stairway connecting the two floors. The City Club houses a plethora of historical facts, artwork and memories from the era of prohibition, the stock market crash and California’s rip-roaring 1930’s.

In addition to the iconic Diego Rivera mural and the two stunning main ballrooms, The City Club also boasts the “Wine Cellar Room” and the adjacent “Game Room”, both of which hold secrets of their own. Both rooms boast speakeasy-themed accents that during their heyday attempted to conceal the consumption and sale of alcohol that took place during the infamous prohibition era of the 20th century, when the rooms were being constructed. Additionally, the game room holds numerous surreptitious doorways and stockrooms, along with a hidden cubbyhole to hide the once outlawed alcohol.

We invite you to see what one of San Francisco’s premier secrets is all about. The City Club of San Francisco is one of the Bay Area’s outstanding spaces to host any type of event ranging from a large wedding to a simple and straightforward business meeting. Although the ambiance of the City Club may be opulent and regal, the warm, welcoming and personalized service provided by The City Club’s staff is what sets the club apart and has kept it alive and growing for 86 years.

To book your next event or inquire about membership, contact The City Club today at 415.362.2480, or at our website at www.cityclubsf.com.