Old Skool Cafe--San Francisco (Soul Food)

Old Skool Cafe, located at 1429 Mendell Street in the Bayview district, is a grass-roots organization founded by youth-oriented individuals who just want to help inner-city kids. The program helps 16-24 year olds acquire skills for living a successful life while earning a paycheck. In 2005, this youth-run supper club/internship program began and is still going strong today. Not only have they created a great working/learning environment for the kids, but they've also created a warm and inviting 1940's-themed ambiance for patrons with lively music and fantastic food.

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

http://www.oldskoolcafe.org/


DeSante L'Atelier 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Semillon, Napa Valley. A nice light white blend with subtle citrus notes and a clean finish.

Sweet Potato Biscuits. These were dense but soft and moist biscuits drizzled with honey butter. Great for sopping up sauces too.

Mac & Cheese. Each fork-full came with a long stretch of melty Cheddar cheesy goodness. A nice side.

Blackened Catfish. One of the juiciest pan-seared fillets I've had. Well seasoned with Cajun spices, served with cranberry and almond couscous and some tasty collard greens.

Bayview Baby Back Ribs. These slow-cooked grilled ribs were served with spicy-sweet coleslaw and a house made blackstrap molasses BBQ sauce. These were so tender, meaty, succulent and had excellent flavor. The sauce was not necessary but enhanced an already excellent dish.

Lavender Cheesecake. This was a creamy cheesecake with a lavender-infused crust. Sweet fresh strawberries rounded out the flavors nicely.

Buttermilk Panna Cotta. This was an interesting use of buttermilk. The panna cotta was mildly tart but balanced with the strawberry-balsamic coulis and fresh strawberries on top. Light and creamy, this was a great way to end a meal.

If not to support this neighborhood's innovative program that helps inner-city kids, at least come visit for the excellent food and stellar service. 

Hard Water--San Francisco (Whiskey Bar/New Orleans style food)

From the people who gave us The Slanted Door at the Ferry Building, we have now been gifted an American Whiskey Bar re-imagined with old-world style mixed with new-world ideas. Located near the Ferry Building at Pier 3 at the Embarcadero, Hard Water is a counter/bar-seating-only establishment with a vast selection of Whiskeys that can be paired with delicious New Orleans-style cuisine.

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

http://hardwaterbar.com/


Old Fashioned. Made with Prichard's Rye Whiskey, bitters and sugar, this was a little sweeter than I'm used to but still very enjoyable.

Manhattan. A nice balance of sweet vermouth and whiskey, this is always a good standby cocktail.

Mint Julep. Well-balanced with Old Grand Dad bonded, gum syrup, mint and crushed ice. A very refreshing drink on a warm day.

Sazerac. Made with High West Double Rye, Absinthe and bitters, this was a slightly sweeter version than I'm used to but still went down very easy.

Dirty Rice. Made with chicken liver and ground pork, they were not afraid to actually keep the liver a bit chunky. Definitely a winner for this liver lover.

Pork Belly Crackling. Fried nuggets of porky goodness seasoned with Cajun spice, lemon and scallions. Crunchy, meaty, very savory and satisfying. I could eat these all day.

Boudin Balls. Filled with sausage and well seasoned, these balls were crunchy and delicious.

Andouille Sausage & Chicken Gumbo. With okra, peppers, and popcorn rice, this had a nice mildly spicy base with fresh and tasty veggies and meat.

Pan-seared Fish. This was an expertly prepared white fish. It had a nice light crust on the outside and seared until just done. It was flaky with a mildly sweet and tender flesh. This was served with some black eyed peas and topped with sauteed fava beans, corn, peppers and super sweet cherry tomatoes. Delicious.

I was too full to try any of their desserts but they sounded good. My only complaint would be the stools are not so comfortable for people under 5' 6" (I am 5' 2"). But other than that, it's a great place to enjoy a nice cocktail and meal.

Kingston 11--Oakland (Caribbean cuisine)

It's always nice to have some spice in your life. Kingston 11, located at 2270 Telegraph Avenue, has the right mix of flavors in their dishes, with a lively atmosphere for those who want good music, good food and a welcoming, friendly place to hang out.

Not only does Kingston 11 have incredible food, but they're also founded by community-conscious individuals who use high-quality, environmentally-friendly, local and organic ingredients in their dishes. Plus, with an emphasis on flavors inspired by Jamaican home cooking, how can you go wrong?

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

www.kingston11eats.com


Sorrel. A housemade traditional beverage brewed with hibiscus, ginger and spices. Fruity and refreshing.

Salt Fish Fritters. Served with an organic dairy- and nut-free chimichurri sauce, these were fishy in all the right ways.

Curry Vegetables. A flavorful curry sauce gently bathed a plate of fresh broccoli, cauliflower, carrot and potato. This was served with brown rice, beans and plantains. The vegetables were not cooked until disintegrated and were cut into nice, hearty sizes. There was no missing of the meat with fabulous flavor like this.

Oxtail Stew. Rich, tender and succulent oxtail were braised for hours in a thick, hearty sauce. The meat just fell apart with the slightest prodding from the spoon.

Curry Goat. Only served Thursday-Saturday, this goat was rich, tasty, moist and gave its all to this dish. I would definitely come back for this one.

Kingston 11 is also open for lunch Tuesdays through Fridays, and brunch on Sundays. With entrees for carnivores, herbivores and vegans alike, there's something here for everyone.