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<a href="https://www.sprucesf.com/">Spruce</a> in San Francisco: A Gastronomic Delight with Exquisite Ambiance

Hey there foodie friends! Today, I wanted to share my recent dining experience at Spruce in San Francisco. Nestled in the vibrant Presidio Heights, this upscale dining destination perfectly blends sophisticated flavors with an inviting atmosphere. So, grab a seat and let&#39;s dive into a memorable culinary journey!

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1. Food: (4/5) A Culinary Symphony of Flavors

The menu at Spruce is a tantalizing showcase of seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Whether you opt for the tasting menu or the bar menu, prepare to have your taste buds dance with joy! From the first bite to the last, every dish is meticulously crafted with precision and creativity. The use of bold flavors and elegant plating truly reflects the culinary mastery of Spruce&#39;s team. The caviar service is ridiculous how good it is to enjoy and perhaps pair some champagne.

Remember, while the tasting menu might seem like a splurge, Spruce&rsquo;s bar menu offers a more casual and affordable way to experience their culinary expertise. Whatever you choose, don&#39;t forget to save room for dessert as Spruce is renowned for its innovative sweet creations. Beignets are terrific.

2. Service: (5/5) Elevating Hospitality to an Art Form

Spruce&#39;s approach to hospitality is simply exceptional. From the moment you step through the door, you are greeted by warm and knowledgeable staff who treat you like a longtime friend. Their passion for hospitality shines through every interaction, offering personalized recommendations and attending to your every need with impeccable service. It&#39;s clear that creating a memorable dining experience is at the forefront of Spruce&#39;s philosophy. The sommeliers are top notch, in fact they 3 or more on the floor at any time. Everyone is very knowledgeable, it&rsquo;s clear they do an amazing job of training.

3. Wine List: (4/5) A Sophisticated Journey for Wine Enthusiasts

Calling all wine aficionados! Spruce&#39;s wine program is a true gem. Their thoughtfully curated wine list boasts an impressive selection of both classic and lesser-known wines from around the world. The list is not small by any means, in fact might be too big for one to manage on their own. Thank goodness we have an <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/corkrules-wine-confidence/id1631528589">app</a> for that. With great attention to detail, the wine program at Spruce offers a depth that caters to every palate and budget. As mentioned above their sommeliers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate. They&#39;re more than happy to guide you through the menu, suggesting perfect pairings that complement your culinary journey.

<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/spruce/episodes/447">CorkRules Podcast Episode #275</a>

4. Vibe (5/5): Elegance and Warmth Collide

Spruce sets the stage for a memorable dining experience with its beautifully designed dining room and inviting bar area. The dining room exudes sophistication with its cozy fireplace, elegant chandeliers, and plush seating. It&#39;s the perfect setting for a special date night or celebrating a milestone. On the other hand, the bar area offers a more vibrant and livelier atmosphere, making it ideal for casual get-togethers with friends or enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail. No matter where you choose to sit, Spruce guarantees a warm and welcoming ambiance that adds to the overall dining experience.

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Spruce in San Francisco is a culinary haven that deserves a spot on every food lover&#39;s list. With its exceptional menu, stellar service, impressive wine program, and inviting atmosphere, Spruce is a must-visit destination that will undoubtedly leave you wanting to return for more. So, gather your friends, make a reservation, and prepare for a gastronomic journey that will delight your senses and create lasting memories. Cheers to good food, great company, and unforgettable experiences!

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Hey there foodie friends! Today, I wanted to share my recent dining experience at Spruce in San Francisco. Nestled in the vibrant Presidio Heights, this upscale dining destination perfectly blends sophisticated flavors with an inviting atmosphere. So, grab a seat and let's dive into a memorable culinary journey!

Spruce in San Francisco: A Gastronomic Delight with Exquisite Ambiance

Wine gifting is a time-honored tradition that never goes out of style. Whether you're attending a dinner party, celebrating the holidays, or simply wanting to show appreciation, a bottle of wine can be an elegant and thoughtful gift. However, there are certain etiquettes around wine gifting that should be observed to ensure your gesture is well-received. Here's how you can master the art of wine gifting.

The Art of Holiday Wine Gifting: A Guide to Etiquette and Unforgettable Impressions

The holiday season is a time for celebration, and champagne is a popular beverage of choice for many. Whether you're looking for a high-end champagne to mark a special occasion or a more approachable option for casual gatherings, there are plenty of choices to consider.

Bubbles for the Holidays!!

CorkRules is built for wine enthusiasts who are constantly on the lookout for new and exciting wine experiences. People often find themselves lost in a sea of options when trying to choose the perfect bottle for any occasion. Look no further! CorkRules Wine App is here to meet all your wine needs and revolutionize the way you explore, learn, and enjoy wine.

CorkRules - The Uber Wine App

Learning about wine can be an exciting but challenging journey. With thousands of wine varieties, regions, and winemaking techniques to discover, it's no wonder that many beginners feel overwhelmed (as do we) when starting their wine education. However, numerous resources are available to help people build their wine knowledge, and wine magazines are among the best tools for aspiring oenophiles (wine geeks).

Our favorite wine magazines to help your wine journey:

Joh. Jos. Prüm is a celebrated family-owned wine estate located in the heart of Mosel, a serene region in Germany, renowned for its outstanding Rieslings. The Prüm family's wine-growing heritage dates back to as early as the 17th century, further solidifying their stature as one of Mosel's most revered wines producers. The estate's rich history, coupled with a well-preserved passion for meticulous wine craftsmanship, allows them to consistently deliver the grandiosity expressed in each bottle of their world-renowned Rieslings.

A Taste of Heaven: Joh. Jos. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Auslese Riesling 2010

Paola Bea is a legendary figure in the world of Italian wine, particularly in Umbria. The family is renowned for their commitment to natural winemaking and has been instrumental in establishing the reputation of Sagrantino di Montefalco as one of Italy's most distinctive wines.

San Valentino Paolo Bea an Italian treasure

Back in 1998, renowned chef Mario Batali opened this gem in the heart of Greenwich Village. It quickly became one of the hottest spots in the city, attracting food lovers from all over the world. Fast forward to today, and the restaurant is now under the expert management of chef-owner Mark Ladner, who has taken Babbo to new culinary heights.

Babbo Ristorante in NYC! An Italian Classic!

Hey foodies! We recently had the pleasure of dining at Estiatorio Milos, a Greek seafood paradise nestled in the heart of Las Vegas, located in the opulent Venetian Resort. Let me tell you, this place is an absolute must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality cuisine and a warm, inviting atmosphere. As always, freshly caught fish is displayed whole on ice, it’s a symbol of the seafood pleasures ahead.

Estiatorio Milos, a Greek seafood paradise in Las Vegas

Hello, movie buffs and wine enthusiasts! Get ready to swirl your glasses as we introduce you to a new cinematic delight that will take you on an intoxicating journey through the picturesque vineyards of California wine country. It's time for another grape-infused adventure with 'Gap Weekend,' a film that promises to be this generation's answer to 'Sideways.'

Uncorking the Delights of 'Gap Weekend': Via California Wine Country

Rachel Peacock

French Louie

French Louie

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RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Rachel Peacock, Sommelier, WSET 3 candidate, and cellar worker helping create some of your favorite wines from Washington state. Hey Rachel, so nice to have you.

RP: Hi Robert! Thanks for having me, this is a great topic. I love dissecting wine lists and getting inside the thought process of the wine directors creating stunning pairings that really elevate the cuisine. For this episode, we are reviewing French Louie&rsquo;s list, and there are some standout choices to bring your meal to the next level. As a somm, I see this time and again, where a customer&rsquo;s wine selection can really make or break the entire meal.

RT: Great, that&rsquo;s exactly what we&rsquo;re looking for! CorkRules is an effort to demystify the wine list for the average consumer because we know not everyone who enjoys wine is an expert, nor do they need to be! Wine should be for everyone.

Our goal is to give you some general education on food and wine pairings, specific to a different restaurant each show. We are going to hack this list for you, so to speak, with a variety of routes to choose from. Today is a classic because this list is all about French wine.

RP: Right, and French Louie has a really thoughtfully curated list, which basically does half my job for me!

RT: So just a few notes about the restaurant, French Louie is a French-American bistro near downtown Brooklyn, in a really warm and beautifully designed space. Owners Doug Crowell and Chef Ryan Angulo are industry veterans serving up beautifully executed classics in the lexicon of Parisian bistro cuisine.

So, Rachel, what&rsquo;s your overall impression of the list?

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RP: This is a list that is after my own heart. I love the simplicity. They are bringing you a nice array of what they know is going to pair well with this food: Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux and to a lesser extent some options from Alsace, the Loire and Rhone Valley. They also offer some American counterparts of these varietals and styles, which is great too.

RT: That&rsquo;s sort of a &lsquo;greatest hits&rsquo; list of French wine regions. What really stood out to you?

RP: Well, they seem to love their Pinot Noir, and I love what they&rsquo;re selling. They&rsquo;ve found some great selections at reasonable price points! Namely, I&rsquo;m looking at the 2015 Gevrey- Chambertin from Georges Lignier et Fils. This is a great producer from one of the most coveted communes of Burgundy. It&rsquo;s going to be light bodied enough to pair with their steelhead trout offering but it still maintains enough acid and structure that it would be completely delicious with the Duck au Poivre as well. You can expect black currant and cherry notes from this wine along with violets and the rusticity that Red Burgundy is known for. Game and leather notes and licorice undertones should be starting to show themselves as well. This is a great introduction if you want to familiarize yourself with more Burgundy.

RT: I&rsquo;m salivating over Duck and Pinot now, but what else caught your eye?

RP: Well, I really feel like Americans don&rsquo;t drink enough Bordeaux Blanc, and this would totally be the place to do so!

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RT: Tell me more about that&hellip;

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RP: Everyone is so focused on the reds of Bordeaux, but the whites really have so much to offer. Most typically they appear as some sort of combination of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle, the former two varietals most often. While white Bordeaux can present itself as a light, grassy, citrus-driven white, the most coveted Bordeaux Blancs are rich and complex with baked apple notes that emanate a unique umami flavor.

The offering from French Louie really typifies the lighter style from Jean Marc Barthez. It&rsquo;s so refreshing and delicious and I could see a way to pair a whole meal around this bottle. This is a serious value bottle too.

RT: So, what would be your ideal meal with this bottle and their dinner menu?

RP: Naturally I would start with some oysters. This bottle is Sauvignon Blanc driven and aged in stainless steel so it&rsquo;s going to help facilitate the minerality we want with that pairing. Next, I&rsquo;d move on to the chilled sweet pea soup. Again, those grassy notes with the spring peas will be amazing. For my main course, the gnocchi Parisienne would be a stand-out with the broccoli walnut pesto. The fat of this dish and the acid of the wine will really balance one another. This would be a light but fulfilling meal and it&rsquo;s always so satisfying to pick out a wine that complements every course.

RT: Wow, that meal has me wanting to celebrate Spring and all things green. Sounds incredible. Finally, if there&rsquo;s one bottle to really impress a client or a date, what would you go for on this list?

RP: That&rsquo;s easy. This is a value list to begin with, so there really isn&rsquo;t anything inordinately expensive and the higher-end bottles they do carry are quite fairly priced. So naturally, my eye gravitates toward the Champagne, which really can be paired with most courses beautifully.

RT: I am always looking to add more Champagne in my life.

RP: Me too, I really am a sucker for a good bottle. In this case, go for the vintage! They offer a 2002 &ldquo;Cuvee Nicolas Francois&rdquo; from Billecart Salmon, a legendary producer. This is a solid vintage and highly rated, with notes of apricot and brioche while maintaining austerity and great acidity. I&rsquo;m absolutely loving this option, and it&rsquo;s a screaming deal at this price point if you ask me.;)

RT: Wow, what a great rundown on some French classics! Rachel, thank you so much for guiding us through some of these staples at French Louie. I fully plan on heading there for oysters and Champagne soon. To our audience, thank you all for joining us and we hope you take away some ideas for pairing.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us an email to:

Info@corkrules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available, and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We look forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

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END

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Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen

28-50

Bowling center with an arcade plus a sports bar hosting comedy nights.

Grape the Wine Co.

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

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