Over in China, the Wine Institute, an association of California wineries, is using the Golden State's effortlessly cool image to sell mid-range wine abroad. As the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports, the Wine Institute pushed a year-long ad campaign in Shanghai featuring images of the Golden Gate Bridge and a blond kid carrying a surfboard through a grassy field — all to get the attention of an emerging middle class of Chinese wine drinkers. more ›

The esteemed French Laundry chef's Bouchon Bakery outpost in Yountville was hotter than ever this morning. Unfortunately, it wasn't because of the macarons. A one-alarm fire broke out in the attic above the kitchen sometime around 5:30 a.m. while bakery staff prepared this morning's fresh batch of croissants. Six fire engines and 30 firefighters showed up to battle the blaze that caused an estimated $100,000 worth of smoke and water damage to the bakery's stove and interior. more ›

We knew we'd rope you in with the use of the word porn! more ›

On Thursday morning, we bent our self imposed no-drinks-before-noon"guideline" and attended a fun food and wine event. What made this invite stand out was that the wine tasting, Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau 2006, was tied to an important cause, the San Francisco Food Bank. Had we known we would be able to witness and talk to a good natured young woman dressed in a gigantic Beaujolais Nouveau costume we would've RSVP'd even sooner. Oh, and did we mention we dig romantic French accordion music by Odile Lavault while we sip and nibble? more ›

A great, quick place to head at the last minute to get out of the city and have some fun is to head across the Golden gate and veer East into the southern edge of Sonoma County. We hit our first winery within an hour from the Mission, after just passing Infineon raceway. Going up the driveway to Roche Winery, we scared two vultures away from a a bit of roadkill. A rabbit that just wasn't fast enough. Grisly, yes, but cool nonetheless. We sure weren't in San Francisco anymore. more ›