Healthy, easy, peanut-free lunches for your preschooler

From time to time, I will write about my passion for cooking, using fresh, healthy, seasonal ingredients. Some of you have expressed an interest in seeing recipes on my blog, and your wish is my command! I hope you will find some of these food-related posts inspirational in your day to day cooking.

As the mother of two school-age kids, I am constantly trying to make lunch a meal that the children enjoy and that I can feel good about giving them. By spending just a few more minutes each week, planning, grocery shopping and preparing meals in advance, kids can have a healthy meal everyday. All of my meals are peanut-free since one of us has a life-threatening allergy to all peanut products. We make it a rule to not stock items in the house that have peanuts outright or may be cross-contaminated. My older son attends a peanut free elementary school so these menus which were originally created for my three-year old daughter have come in handy on days when my son opts to bring a lunch rather than eat cafeteria food.

Here are some of my kids' favorites which can be easily mixed and matched, and swapped for seasonal ingredients. I always pack either milk or 100% fruit juice slightly diluted with water. They love apple, white grape, cranberry and pomegranate sweetened with a little stevia, acai, and strawberry-banana. Be sure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold in appropriately insulated containers.

In future posts, I will share my recipes for several of the items listed below. I often cook with gluten-free products so you will see these indicated accordingly.

1. -soy nut butter sandwich, (jam or thin banana slices optional)
-fresh fruit cup using your child's favorites e.g., grapes, oranges,nectarines,
strawberries, peaches, blueberries
-string cheese

2. -ham and spinach pinwheel with onion and chive cream cheese spread, cut into thirds
-small container of barley soup
-a couple of strawberries with chocolate chips

3. -broiled salmon teriyaki atop brown rice
-steamed broccoli florettes
-dried fruit such as craisins, pineapple, prunes

4. -grilled cheese sandwich, (thin slice turkey or ham optional)
-baked sweet potato chips
-apple slices, (caramel sauce optional)

5. -turkey and Swiss slices with crackers
-boiled egg
-applesauce

6. -Chinese chicken pasta salad
-trail mix using peanut-free items such as almonds or walnuts, cereal (Rice Chex
and Cheerios work well),raisins, dried mango, banana chips,chocolate covered
sunflower seeds, flax seeds

7. -fried rice loaded with your kid's favorite vegetables
-cherries
-yogurt

8. -homemade macaroni and cheese with cauliflower florettes
-zucchini and blueberry bread

9. -baked pasta with turkey meatballs
-small container of black olives and Gherkin pickles
-blueberries

10.-bagel with your child's favorite cream cheese flavor
-apricot

11.-sliced ham and pineapple lightly tossed with your favorite BBQ sauce and broiled for 5 minutes, atop rice - carrot and jicama sticks, (Ranch dressing or hummus
optional

12.-sliced, roasted chicken (my kids love rosemary-garlic-lemon) with orzo pasta or
better yet, quinoa (add vegetables such as corn, diced red bell pepper)
-cottage cheese with fresh fruit

13.-homemade chicken noodle soup with crackers
-banana
-popcorn

14.-veggie sushi rolls - try cucumber, takuwan, avocado
-small slice carrot-raisin bread
-nectarine

Darla's - kids eat free on Tuesdays

Darla's is a traditional American eatery in the Inner Sunset that offers burgers - 'possibly one of the best in SF' - sandwiches, salads, soups, and breakfast items like omelettes, pancakes and breakfast burritos served all day. For dinner, they have comforting plates of prime rib, pork chops, chicken fried steak and fish and chips which all come with salad, fresh vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes and are priced between $10 and $16. They make homemade milkshakes and rootbeer floats, too.

Every Tuesday past 5:00 p.m., Darla's serves up to two kids under the age of 12 free off the kids' menu with the purchase of an adult entree. If your child brings in a colored picture from their web site, he or she gets a free kids' meal any day of the week with the purchase of one adult entree. Youngsters can enjoy classic kiddie fare such as corn dogs with french fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, and mini burgers. They can have milk, apple juice or lemonade to wash it all down.

There's a patio in the back which is nice when it's good weather. And, how about that little signature chocolate chip brownie that comes with your bill? How cute.

For more info: Darla's, open 7 days a week. 822 Irving Street at 9th Avenue. 415.753.3275.

Foreign Cinema: A year-round favorite in the Mission

For years, my husband and I have loved the unique Cal-Med style food, professional service and "industrial chic" environs at Foreign Cinema. We've enjoyed romantic champagne brunches - they carry one of my favorite bubbles, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé - many a dinner with friends, and a few family meals with the kids. After 10 years in business, this place still impresses.

It was around 1:00 p.m. when we arrived last weekend and both the dining room and courtyard were packed. Good thing we had reservations. The hostess, coffee server and waiter were all friendly and performed their jobs seamlessly. The food was great, as always. I like that they change their menu everyday, it keeps each visit interesting and fun. Our three-year-old daughter seemed to enjoy our brunch as much as we did. And, she had a good time drawing with crayons on the white butcher paper they conscientiously placed over our white tablecloth.

During the day, the patio is a bright, cheery space and after sunset, a flicker and glow emanate from nightly films they project onto the brick wall. The dining room has a warm yet urban feel and casual elegance that makes dining here feel like a treat. Whether you sit inside or out, it is a hip place to hang out and break bread with friends any time.

This Mission District destination is also a cool setting for private parties. There are several options, including a spacious art gallery adjacent to the patio, a mezzanine and a small Director’s Table. Lazlo bar located in front of the restaurant is also available for buyouts. My friends and I have often boogied to the grooves of the DJ and enjoyed late night drinks there.

Here is the line up of food we ordered:

Baked eggs in chicken hash ($15) - Oooh, my kind of dish! Two eggs sat atop chicken hash, kale, tomatoes, onions, and chickpeas in a spicy red sauce. I loved all the ingredients and especially liked that it packed some heat. The grilled papad, or thin Indian flatbread, was nice although a hunk of French bread would have soaked up that sauce better.

Madras curry roast chicken ($16) - Another delightfully spicy dish. There was a perfectly roasted half chicken with crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. It was accompanied by basmati rice with golden raisins, red onion raita and broccoli rabe. Mmmmmmm.

Fruit "pop tarts" ($6.75) - There was a choice of apple and strawberry that day and we opted for apple. It looked kind of like a pop tart dusted with confectioner's sugar but tasted much better. Unlike the sickeningly sweet kiddie version, this was like a warm apple turnover.

Kids' portion of French toast with a side of slow-cooked brown sugar smoked bacon - Our daughter had two pieces of baguette French toast with maple syrup and an order of delectable, chewy, slightly sweet bacon. Mommy had no self control and ate half of the bacon, oops! The kids' menu ($10) consists of a three course meal starting with fresh fruit and ending with two scoops of homemade ice cream with whipped cream. Besides French toast, entree choices included scrambled eggs and a grilled cheese sandwich.

I also give them thumbs up for serving delicious decaf coffee from Caffé Roma in North Beach.

Foreign Cinema is always worth the trip to the Mission District.

For more info: Foreign Cinema. 2534 Mission Street, between 21st and 22nd Streets. 415.648.7600.

Crazy for Koo

No doubt about it, Koo excels at serving wonderfully fresh sushi and sashimi. Chef/owner Kiyoshi Hayakawa (Sushi Ran, Ace Wasabi’s, Tokyo GoGo) turns out impressive quality fish with daily specials from his simple, clean Irving Street sushi bar and restaurant. There are also fusion dishes like shrimp and scallop dumplings with a drizzle of chili oil and mango puree, grilled artichokes, and duck breast salad with a mustard-ginger-pineapple sauce. The latter is our favorite, but overall, the sushi bar items are really their forte. Servers are always courteous and efficient. Koo has a nice selection of sake and my husband likes the fact that they serve Asahi Black which he can't find at many restaurants in town.

One unique and fun dish to eat is appropriately named A Spoonful of Happiness. You actually receive two delicious spoonfuls: one with uni (sea urchin), quail egg, tobiko and ponzu sauce; the other with ankimo (monkfish liver) wrapped with whitefish, ponzu and truffle oil. A shot of dry sake accompanies them. The first bite is smooth and creamy and the second bursts with flavor. Wow, my tastebuds do cartwheels.

A few of our favorite types of sushi here are the wild aji (mackerel) garnished with green onions, the otoro or indulgently fatty blue fin tuna, wild King salmon, and nasu or Japanese eggplant. Rather than rattle off a long list, let's just say that my husband and I haven't met a fish here that we didn't like.

We recently discovered that they don’t like to do substitutions which created a minor hiccup when we took our kids there for dinner last week. My son wanted to have white rice instead of mashed potatoes (they call it potato salad) with his chicken teriyaki, but they said they couldn’t do a swap. So, we ordered a bowl of rice on the side. And, their chicken comes with a sweet chutney rather than classic teriyaki sauce which my son wasn't too keen about. He and my daughter were both happier with the tempura.

Again, if you focus on goodies from the sushi bar, you are bound to go home happy. This is a nice place to go with a group of friends for dinner. Just note that parking can be difficult in the neighborhood, especially on weekend nights, and it can be tough to get a table if you don’t plan ahead. Be sure to make reservations and give yourself extra time to park.

Koo. 408 Irving Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), San Francisco, CA 94122. 451.731.7077. Closed Mondays.

Social networking sites => burgeoning street food phenomenon

Thanks largely to Web 2.0 technology, street food is the hot new trend here. Savvy entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the benefits of pavement fare over the traditional restaurant model, including ever-important factors such as lower overhead and labor costs. They are stocking carts, trucks and even bicycles and creating buzz for free by using tools like Twitter and Facebook. And, these social networking sites enable mobile businesses to instantly shed light on their whereabouts for their loyal following everyday. What's so exciting about this breed of purveyors is that they are not just serving tacos - and don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with tacos - but unique and diverse food can be found, from frog legs and artisan salumi to pho and curry. Here are some street beat eats you can follow on Twitter around the Bay Area.

Amuse Bouche SF - muffins and chai tea

Bike Basket Pies - mini rustic pies

Boccalone Salumi Cycle - panini sandwiches filled with artisan salumi

Cookie Wag SF - homemade cookies and ice cream sandwiches

Creme Brulee Cart - various flavors of creme brûlée

Gobba Gobba Hey - various flavors of round cakes with cream filling

Left Coast Smoke - BBQ

Magic Curry Cart - chicken and tofu curries

Mobile Pho Truck - Vietnamese noodle soup

Roli Roti - rotisserie meats

Sexy Soup Cart - organic soups

SF Moo Moo Cakes - organic ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, ice cream

Spencer on the Go - upscale French (Chez Spencer)

Thai Shaved Ice - shaved ice

Urban Nectar - juices

Tuesday tidbits: Bar Crudo reopens, Absinthe features Top Chef soup, adieu to Jeanty at Jack's

Since yesterday was a holiday, I didn't post my usual "Monday morsels" article, but in case you were missing your weekly scoop, here are your Tuesday Tidbits...

Bar Crudo has reopened in its new Divisadero digs for dinner. Look for lunch service in the near future. They tell me they will start taking reservations on Monday. 655 Divisadero between Hayes and Grove. 415.409.0679.

Chef Jamie Lauren sent a Tweet that the chilled corn soup with mint and chili oil you saw on "Top Chef" is now on the menu at Absinthe! 398 Hayes at Gough. 415.551.1590.

Sadly, we have to bid adieu to Jeanty at Jack's. Philippe Jeanty closed the doors of his unique Downtown locale on Friday, after a seven year stint. The good news is that you can still get his amazing tomato soup in puff pastry, coq au vin and cassoulet at Bistro Jeanty in Napa. And, if you go to the Bistro Jeanty web site, you can download the tomato soup recipe and make it at home!

Chapeau! - once is enough

I had high expectations about this place since so many people have raved about it, but unfortunately, our dinner experience was less than impressive. I know Michael Bauer eats at a restaurant three times before he writes a review, and my hat goes off to him since in instances like this, I have absolutely no desire to return a second or third time. They pack so many people into such tight quarters, I don't understand how it can be enjoyable.

My husband dropped me off while he looked for parking, and despite being seated promptly between a couple of two-tops within a short handshake distance from me, all of the waitstaff proceeded to ignore me. There I sat, for nearly 10 minutes, without anyone acknowledging my presence. No one offered me a glass of water or a menu while I waited. It wasn't until my husband walked in and joined me that I suddenly became visible.

Then, when we did order, the server had to shout in order for my husband to hear him across our tiny table. The din was so loud that the server bellowed deafeningly over my right shoulder. Later, I asked the server to switch to my other side and I plugged my good ear while he talked. I kid you not. And, as another server cleared a dirty plate from a neighboring table and turned around, he clipped my husband in the head!

The food was good, but was lost amidst the hot, noisy, claustrophobic bustle.

I know they recently took over Clementine, one of our favorite spots on Clement Street, but I've been wary to return, for fear that they have doubled the seating to replicate the Chapeau! experience.

Juban - fun, do it yourself grilling in Japantown

This yakiniku, or "grilled meat" joint is a good place to take people for an interactive eating experience. Bigger kids especially love being able to cook their own food. There are 16 grills at the tables and 8 more built into the circular bar at the center of the large dining room. That's a lot of cooking going on at the same time, but it never gets too smoky or hot which is a huge plus. They have a pretty extensive Asian menu with a la carte meats, veggies, seafood and accompaniments which are served family style. They also have a handful of soups, and rice and noodle dishes. If you prefer, you can opt to have the prix fixe menu for $62.25 or $82.75 which feeds two to three people each.

Juban is not a fancy place, but it's a fun spot for casual celebrations like birthdays. I also like the little touches, like special plastic kids' dinnerware and utensils (my daughter was thrilled to get a Winnie the Pooh set) a small bucket of ice to keep my bottle of sake chilled, and wet napkins at the end of the meal for everyone.

Two favorites are the miso salmon ($9) and sea scallops ($11). The beef tataki ($7.50) actually tastes better heated up and cooked through on the grill; it brings out the nice, strong ginger flavor and makes the meat more tender. The onmen ($7.50),hot somen noodles with egg, spinach and shittake mushrooms, is apparently a favorite among young children, but the beef broth was very subtle and proved to be too bland for my preschooler. She enjoyed the grilled items over rice much more.

They didn't have lobster tails the night we went, so my son ordered the rib eye ($9.50 instead and was very happy with it. He also ordered the green tea mochi for dessert but they didn't have it, so he got green tea ice cream ($3) which he enjoyed. They do carry top of the line Wagyu beef which we will have to try the next time we go.

Juban Yakiniku, Japantown, San Francisco. See web site for other locations.

Sundance Kitchen's manager keeps Island spirit alive

I've mentioned this before, but not in so much detail. I was saddened when Honu's in Buchanan Mall closed, but excited to discover that former owner Pat Da Silva-Fong manages Sundance Kitchen next to the Sundance movie theater. She has infused Hawaiian influences in their menu and brought live entertainment to the new venue on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 9:00 p.m. Granted, it's not the same as Honu's - it's a lot bigger and thus not as homey, and it's pricier. Still, it's nice to see that the Island spirit that made Honu's such a favorite still lives on, just around the corner from Pat's old digs. One of the pluses about the new spot is the full bar makes a mean green tea cocktail with top shelf vodka.

Here are a couple of our favorite dishes:

Kobe beef sliders($11.95) - a trio of yummy, beefy burgers with arugula, carmelized onions and tomatoes.

10" Ultimate Hawaiian Pizza ($11.95) with kalua pork and pineapple - a great take on this style pizza - salty, sweet, slightly greasy, cheesy goodness.

My son was pleased to see that they kept the recipe for kalbi short ribs ($14.95), although now they serve it with kimchi fried rice, a little too spicy for his taste. They are cool about substituting white rice, though.

La Terrasse - French fare in the Presidio

One of our favorite places to go for Sunday brunch is La Terrasse, a French eatery nestled in the historic Presidio. They have a lovely patio with umbrellas and heat lamps with a scenic view of the Bay. La Terrasse offers simple, satisfying, consistently good food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Our three year old daughter enjoys coming here after her swimming classes nearby because the greet her with a big, warm welcome, often give her a coloring book with crayons and sometimes turn their bar TV to the cartoon channel. She loves their wood fired mozzarella pizza, sans basil, as well as their French toast smothered in maple syrup.

At lunch and dinner, this place makes delicious classics including rainbow trout almondine over spinach, nicoise salad with grilled ahi tuna, and mussels in garlic/butter/white wine Pernod sauce.

They make interesting cocktails like the Golden Gate ($10) which has champagne, cointreau, brandy and orange and lemon juices.

Some of their best dishes:

Smoked Salmon Benedict ($14). This is my favorite kind of eggs benedict here although the crab and California (bacon/tomato/avocado) are good, too. The salmon is plentiful and topped with tobiko caviar. Underneath sits a large poached egg sauteed spinach, the perfect amount of Hollandaise sauce and a soft brioche.

French Toast ($12). The crunchy, chewy bread makes this dish so unique. I'm not even a big fan of French toast in general, but this one is absolutely addicting. The batter consists of Brandy, sugar, milk, and vanilla. It's sweet but not too sweet, and leaves you wanting more, even if your brain tells you you're full.

Huevos Rancheros (I don't recall the price). They added several Mexican style brunch items a few months ago. This tasty one has two eggs prepared your way with black beans, salsa, diced potatoes, cheese and two flour tortillas (I substitute corn tortillas).

Cheeseburger ($15),$13 without cheese. A big beef patty on a hearty bun with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and your choice of gruyere or roquefort cheese. It comes with french fries which can be substituted for a small green salad.

Kokkari - Greek fare good enough for the gods

Several years ago, when I was still working in an executive briefing center for a high tech company, my friends and I used to meet at Kokkari from time to time and have dinner before heading out for late night dancing and drinks. It was always bustling with attractive people, the food was consistently tasty, we loved the rustic and inviting atmosphere, and it was spacious enough to accommodate our larger numbers without feeling cramped.

It had been awhile since I'd been back, but last week, my girlfriend and I met there for lunch since she works nearby. Immediately, the friendly hostess and warm Saloni, or front room, with a large stone fireplace and dramatic bar, beckoned me. We were seated at a cheery table by the oversized window along Jackson street in the Kouzina, or kitchen dining area, with high ceilings. Although two different people asked us what type of water we wanted, the rest of lunch service was seamless. The food was better than I remember.

We shared grilled lamb riblets ($9.25) lightly seasoned with oregano and lemon which were hearty, finger-licking starters. We split dolmathes ($7), a plate of grape leaves stuffed with rice, dill and mint. I loved the lemony flavor and dill. We also had the oven roasted prawns ($12.75) with creamy tomato sauce and a nice little zing from feta cheese. My friend had the colorful Kokkari salad ($8) with arugula, cherry tomatoes, super crunchy Cretan rusk croutons and myzithra cheese in a vinaigrette. The croutons had a characteristically dry and hard texture which I imagine would be good for teething babies to gnaw on. Nevertheless, my friend enjoyed her salad. My charcoal-grilled octopus salad entrée ($14.50) with Greek peppers, frisée and white wine vinaigrette was fresh, filling and flavorful. The octopus was plentiful, had nice smoky flavor and tender, chewy texture.

They have a number of good wines by the glass, like a dark, deeply fruity, deliciously easy to drink Melville syrah ($13) from Santa Barbara.

This is still a wonderful place for both personal and business dining. They have multiple seating arrangements including: a grand hand-carved, wooden chef's table that seats 24 in the Kouzina; a 30-seat private Oenos, or wine room, adjacent to the Kouzina; and a lovely Hania room that seats 10 just a short elevator ride downstairs. Even their restrooms, located beyond the Hania room, are charming, although I wouldn't recommend dining there.

For more info: Kokkari Estiatorio, 200 Jackson Street at Front, San Francisco, 415.981.0983. Their sister restaurant, Evvia Estiatorio, is located at 420 Emerson Street in Palo Alto.

uber dinner II at supperclub San Francisco

On Monday, June 1st, supperclub will showcase the culinary prowess of Jennie Lorenzo from Michelin-rated Fifth Floor and Jamie Lauren from Absinthe and Top Chef fame. These renowned chefs will collaborate with supperclub SF's executive chef Guus Wickenhagen, and create special courses for this prix fixe dinner ($125) which includes wine pairings from Quintessa, Veramonte, Faust, Pommery, and Francis Coppola. Limited seats available, call 415.348.0900 for reservations.

Hot diggity Woeuf dog

Forget breakfast sandwiches, go for a Woeuf Dog at Let's Be Frank on Steiner Street this weekend. Only on Sunday and Monday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, you can fill up on a frank, brat or "hot" dog with griddled onions, scrambled eggs, Devil Sauce, and maybe a slice of bacon for good measure, all tucked into an Acme organic bun. They also have Party Packs in three sizes for your Memorial Day barbecue. Become a fan on Facebook to receive special deals including a free jar of Devil Sauce when you buy three 12-oz. packs of dogs or brats this Saturday through Monday. 3318 Steiner Street between Chestnut and Lombard.

High on the Hog at Epic Roasthouse

On Saturday, June 27th, head to Epic Roasthouse to swing to the bluegrass beats of Nell Robinson and the Red Level Band, swirl your glass with Pinot provided by local wineries, and sink your teeth into swine being prepared by chef Jan Birnbaum on the grill. Jordan MacKay, 7x7 Wine and Spirits Editor, will be signing copies of Passion for Pinot. Festivities run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Epic patio. Pig roast and wine tasting, $50/person.

Freebies at P.F. Chang's, half price at Luna Park and Blue Plates at Broadway Grill

How's this for recession friendly fare?

Thanks to PGA pro Briny Baird, P.F.Chang's is giving away free lettuce wraps. Go here.

"Mint julep" is the password at Luna Park tomorrow. Tell your server and get 50% off your entire check.

Broadway Grill in Burlingame is serving Blue Plate Specials every Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays = spaghetti and meatballs for $10, Wednesdays = chicken pot pie for $11, Thursdays = meatloaf for $12, and Fridays = fish and chips for $11.

Take advantage of these deals while you can!

Test your food knowledge and play Edible Pursuit at ACME Chophouse

Edible San Francisco is hosting its third Edible Pursuit at ACME Chophouse on Sunday, June 7th. The Tablehopper's Marcia Gagliardi will be emceeing this fun, food-themed trivia game night. Purchase tickets to participate in teams of two to five players and test your knowledge of the San Francisco food scene, kitchen know-how, food politics, and more. Players will vie for prizes including restaurant gift certificates, artisanal goodies and cookbooks. There also will be prizes for the cream of the crop in categories like "Best Team Name" and "Best Team Uniform." Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and Edible Pursuit begins at 7:00 p.m. Get your tickets http://ediblesanfrancisco.com/wordpress/2009/05/01/purchase-tickets-for-edible-pursuit-for-june-7-at-acme-chophouse/.

Wine and cheese tasting and Monday Night Suppers at Bar Bambino

Bar Bambino, one of the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants, is hosting a wine and cheese tasting for those who are curious about how the perfect pair are made. This educational afternoon will be led by owner Christopher Losa and Head Cheese Monger Colin Shaff on Sunday, May 31st, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., $45. To reserve your spot, email events@barbambino.com or call 415.701.VINO (8466).

Starting June 1, Bar Bambino is introducing Monday Night Suppers from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Their prix fixe family-style menu ($35) will change weekly and include a red or white wine option for an extra $10.

Stylish pizzas, beer and oysters

So GQ's Alan Richman has announced his Top 25 Pizzas in the country which include the Bay Area's own Pizzeria Delfina (#3), Gialina (#14), and A16 (#17). What do you think, is he on the money?

Feeling the post-Bay-to-Breakers-blues? I bet 21st Ammendment's Beer Appreciation Day might cheer you up. Sign up for a Master Class in brewing ($25) at 5:00 p.m. or Beer Through the Ages ($65) at 7:00 p.m., or save $10 by signing up for both.

Personally, I'm going through oyster withdrawals, SF Oyster Fest was such a blast. For those of you who are craving more, CitysearchSF tweets that Woodhouse Fish Co. started serving $1 oysters at 4:00 p.m. Gotta run!

Dine in casual elegance at Zinnia

Chef Sean O'Brien, who developed a loyal following at Myth, opened Zinnia with his wife Patricia last October. They offer delicious New American cuisine, including some Myth favorites like potato gnocchi, rigatoni with foie gras cream, roasted black cod, oysters in the half shell and his signature dish, seared sweetbreads. Located where Cypress Club, 500 Jackson and Scott Howard used to be, Zinnia is an upscale but unstuffy spot to grab cocktails and dinner.

The interior is spacious, simply adorned and warmly lit, with a relaxed, loungey feel.

They have fun specialty cocktails like the Jalisco Sour ($10) with tequila, lemon and orange juice, egg white and bitters; and The Secret Garden ($12) with Square One organic cucumber vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur and Prosecco. They make a pretty good Pimm's Cup ($10) with Pimm's No. 1, lemon-lime soda, ginger, mint and cucumber. My husband and his buddy are always happy whenever they see Trumer Pils ($5) and Chimay Red Label ($9) on the menu.

We love (exclamation point) the Hood Canal Oysters ($13), half a dozen Washington oysters presented with slurpalicously good lemongrass and lime juice topped with Yuzu tobiko. The poached Jidori egg ($11) is a winner, too, especially because I enjoy breakfast/brunch items any time of day, and this one is tasty. The egg sits atop chicken hash surrounded by beech mushrooms with chicken jus. The large crackling lends the perfect amount of salt and decadence to finish the dish. Another star on the menu is signature seared sweetbreads ($12), which are plated with bacon, sherry vinegar and haricot verts. They are addicting, and I could devour them by the bowlful.

The pastas and dishes from the sea come in two sizes. Rigatoni ($13/19) with foie gras cream, maitake mushrooms, and Marsala is nice although the foie gras is very subtle and the dish itself is surprisingly less memorable than the rigatoni they made for my daughter which had a rich and creamy, cheesy, buttery sauce reminiscent of mac and cheese. Seared Tasmanian trout ($15/26) in saffron sauce has a nice crispy skin with tender meat that is a pretty pink color similar to salmon. It comes with heirloom carrots and turnips. Scallops ($17/28) are seared to perfection and served with pioppini mushrooms, fennel, crispy potatoes and lobster sauce. You get two scallops with the smaller portion and three with the large.

The item that is just so-so is proscuitto wrapped escargot ($12) with crispy fennel, mache and rouille. They are salty little nuggets that could be anything, really, because you can't tell there is escargot in it.

The staff at Zinnia are impressively accommodating to the toddler set. We think their cozy booths by the window along Jackson Street provide a perfect, kid-friendly corner. When we ate dinner there recently, the hostess doted over our daughter and gave her a big box of crayons with a notepad to keep her occupied. Our server promptly sent out warm bread and butter for our hungry youngster to nibble on while the kitchen prepared her half order of rigatoni. And, they brought my daughter's food out along with the adult appetizers, so everyone was happy.

Zinnia may not be affordable everyday, but it is certainly a nice place to go on occasion. If you want to sample their fare at smaller prices, check them out during Halfsy Hour in the lounge and bar. From 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on weeknights, they offer half price specialty cocktails, wines by the glass and premium beer, along with signature half portions of dinner menu items.

Monday morsels: Gnomes, frog legs, Sweet 16 and more!

Today, "Flavors of San Francisco" kicks off Small Business Week at City Hall, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Great networking along with nibbles from restaurants like Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Chez Papa Resto, Meze's Taste of Greece, and Nectar Wine Lounge. Registration required.

Suppenküche is celebrating its Sweet 16! In honor of this occasion, they are hosting Gnome Gnight, a costume ball on Thursday, May 21st, from 5:00 - 11:00 p.m. Dress up like a gnome and enjoy beer and food specials, music and dancing.

There were several exciting openings in the past few days, including Flour + Water where they are turning out fresh pastas and pizzas; farmerbrown's sibling little skillet, bringing you comfort food like chicken and waffles; and Chez Spencer's new French take-away truck, Spencer on the Go, where you can get fancy snacks like frog legs and curry, escargot puffs and truffle boeuf bourbuignon terrine. Looking forward to checking them all out.

Have a lovely week, people!

Fun in the sun at SF Oyster Fest and Uncorked! Wine Festival today

Aww shucks, I know you don't want to miss O'Reilly's 10th Annual Oyster Fest today at The Great Meadow, Fort Mason. All sorts of fun is lined up, including an oyster shuck and suck competition, an oyster pairing room, and cooking demos. The cool music line up includes Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Greyboy Allstars, Poor Man's Whiskey, Ignus Verma and Shantytown. Opens at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $23 in advance, $30 at the gate, $60 for reserved seating and kids under 14 get in free.

Also happening today is the Uncorked! Wine Festival at Ghiradelli Square. From 1:00 - 6:00 p.m., enjoy wine seminars, live demonstrations and music for free. Chef Alicia Harper of Rose Pistola, chef David Lawrence of 1300 on Fillmore, and chef Kasey Passen of Cellar 360 are doing wine-centric cooking demos. Over 55 local wineries are participating. Tickets are $50 for wine tasting.

See you there, people!

Tajine - solid Moroccan food in disco environs

The other night, my husband and I joined a couple of foodie friends for dinner at Tajine which reopened on Thursday on VanNess at Pacific. We were in the mood for something casual, inexpensive and relatively kid-friendly since we were bringing our three year old daughter with us. We had never eaten at Tajine’s previous locations but had heard good things about the food.

Let’s see. There’s friendly staff including chef/owner Mohammed Ghaled personally welcoming us at the door? Check. You can bring your own wine without a corkage fee? Check. They have decent, if not large, portions of affordable Moroccan food? Check. Kid-friendly? Check.

Those are the pluses. The decor and seating configuration, on the other hand, reflected more of a lounge vibe and was not very conducive to having a relaxed, liesurely dinner. Or maybe I’m just an old, forty-something fuddy-duddy. There were black and silver couches, orange ottomans, disco balls, spotlights and a glowing, neon-lit bar. My husband and I sat on the sofa and towered over a very low standing table to eat while our friends sat opposite us on round ottomans that were better suited to the height of the table, but were seemingly not very comfortable. My friend said it reminded her of the way people crouch and eat at street vendors in Asia.

Tables around us were literally folded up and rolled away just before 10:00 p.m. to make way for the nightclub that Tajine transforms into on Friday and Saturday nights. It was a little off-putting to see and hear the staff putting away furniture as we tried to finish our meal. I imagine it would have been better if we sat on the floor on pillows, because we all would have been at the same eye level with each other and it would have felt a tad more homey.

That night, it appeared that more emphasis was placed on the Heights nightclub aspect than on the restaurant itself. It’s unfortunate because most of the food was delicious. We all agreed that one of the highlights were Merguez sausages which were flavorful, slightly spicy sausages atop cucumber slices. It was the perfect size to share between two people and whet our appetite for the entrees. We also enjoyed the lamb tajine, succulent pieces of lamb, that were moist, tender, and falling off the bone. Prunes added sweetness and brightened the dish. The chicken with olives and preserved lemon was a winner, too. There were really tender pieces of chicken bursting with flavor from the briney olives and tangy preserved lemon. You have to soak up the sauce with the bread they pass out, delish! Our friends also thoroughly enjoyed the chicken bastilla which was enormous! It was made of phyllo stuffed with ground chicken and sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon.

The two dishes that fell short were my lamb couscous which had generous portions of couscous and vegetables but no so much lamb and was pretty bland overall; and the lamb kababs which also came with couscous and veggies. The two skewers looked good but were overcooked and dry.

I might go back with a group since it’s inexpensive, you can bring your own wine and it’s kid-friendly, but not on a Friday or Saturday night.

Cafe Nordstrom has good, quick eats

I just got back from running errands at Stonestown Galleria and grabbing a quick bite at the cafe at Nordstrom. I have been craving their caesar salad with salmon lately and I finally got my fix.

It’s always clean, efficient, and consistent here so when my kids want to eat at the food court, my husband and I order food to go from the cafe and bring it over there. My husband likes their tuna melt on marbled rye bread. One of these days, I want to try their French dip sandwich and the lime & cilantro chicken salad. But for now, I always find myself ordering that same citrus salmon caesar salad – guess I’m a creature of habit. It's refreshing and satisfying and always has the right amount of dressing.

It felt nippy out this morning so a cup of tomato basil soup sounded good. It was nice and hot, and had a rich and tangy tomato flavor. It was served with a big piece of cheesy, crusty bread which was perfect for dipping. I tend to like my tomato soup a tad sweeter and with a bit of melty cheese on top so that’s why I can't rave about it.

In addition to their regular menu, they serve breakfast all day and have a kids’ menu with familiar items like macaroni and cheese, a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, chicken breast tenders, a turkey sandwich, and buttered noodles.

They also have a dessert menu featuring carrot cake, chocolate turtle cake, New York style cheesecake, tiramisu and red velvet cake.

They’re open Mon-Sat from 11:00am to 7:00pm and on Sundays, they close at 5:00pm.

Oyaji - sushi and izakaya style fare in the Outer Richmond

There's a little gem tucked across the street from the Lincoln Park Golf Course on Clement Street that serves good izakaya style dishes and sushi. I like the hot towels they pass out when you sit down, and enjoy eating in their cozy, semi-private booths. They have a killer crab and cucumber salad (kani su), delicious skewered chicken meatballs (tsukune) and great nigiri. My son loves the shrimp tempura as well as the Oyaji beef which is grilled rib eye with sauteed onions and Oyaji sauce served on a sizzling platter. It's not on the menu, but my daughter usually starts with a takuwan roll. She enoys the skewered duck (aigamo), too.

We've happily devoured the fried whole flounder (karei karaage), eyeballs and all. Cabbage rolls, stewed pork belly (butano-kakuni), and steamed clams in sake (asari no sakamushi) are pretty tasty, too. I always have saba sashimi, it's my favorite.

Last night, we tried skewered chicken gizzard (sunagimo) which, all I can say is, truly an acquired taste. The crunchy texture totally threw us off. I can't say that I'll be ordering that again anytime soon. We also sampled sautéed squid in butter and soy sauce (ika sauté) which my husband devoured - I got one little bite. The cha-shu ramen had great chewy noodles and tons of tender pork but was a little salty.

Oyaji always seems to be bustling, even on a weekday night. Last night, there were a mix of locals and Japanese people in business attire. Take a look at the photos of all the food we ate. Our bill came to a respectable $66.80 - it also includes tea and a soda.


For more info: Oyaji Restaurant

5A5, San Francisco's first 'steak lounge,' opens today

A couple of months ago, my family and I went to the soft opening of what was then called A5, a new steak lounge in Jackson Square named after the highest grade of beef. This is where old-school steak house meets modern cocktail lounge. It was a fun experience for the whole family.

Their renovations weren't complete yet and they gave us feedback cards since they were still formulating their menu. One of the owners (Circolo and Bin38) came out and chatted with us for a while which was nice. My son particularly got a kick out of being able to submit his comments about the food, service and ambiance. He talked about our server who was super friendly, but forgetful. He gave two thumbs up on the lamb lollipops which he's glad to see is on their new menu. He also mentioned how spooky dark it was in their co-ed bathrooms downstairs.

We enjoyed many of the items we tried. In addition to the tasty lamb chops, we are pleased to see that the hamachi shooters, macaroni and cheese, and truffled fries also made the final cut. There used to be a delicious beet salad with blood orange but now they have a version prepared with capers, mache and Caciotta al Tartufo. They have added delicious sounding small plates including king crab legs, lobster tempura, beef tataki and Hokkaido scallops.

The one kink that we hope they have worked out is timing - all of our beef entrees came out room temperature instead of hot. And, I wonder if they still cut the beef into dainty slices for you. Personally, when I eat steak, I prefer to cut it myself. We'll just have to go back and see how the whole project has turned out.

For more info: 5A5 Steak Lounge

Monday morsels

7x7 highlights Laïola's Sciabica olive oil dinner on May 13th. Chef Ron Pei is preparing a four-course meal for $75 including olive oil poached tuna conserva, braised pork shoulder with candied olives, and an olive oil cake with lemon-rosemary ice cream. This feast includes Spanish wine pairings with each course. Call now to book your reservation. 415.346.5641.

It's Wild Game Week again at The Big 4 Restaurant starting tomorrow, through May 16. Some highlights include Brazilian piranha "ribs," wild boar "crispy tacos," pan seared rib eye of llama, and buffalo short ribs. 415.771.1140.

Don't forget that SF Cocktail Week kicks off at Le Colonial tonight, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Do you have fun noshing and imbibing plans around town? Share them with me at grubalicioussf@gmail.com. I love getting your emails!

What's Cooking? Breakfast at Ad Hoc

Breakfast is now being served at Ad Hoc, Thomas Keller's casual eatery which earned three stars from Michael Bauer. Befitting its relaxed approach, you won't find anything too fancy, just the kind of comfort food you would share around the family table at home.

Every Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., they serve two courses for $24 with classic American breakfast items such as oatmeal, chef Keller's breakfast of choice, prepared with brown sugar, Marshall's farm honey, spiced apricots and raisins. Another core item is their "Sourdough Waffles" with maple syrup, apple compote, whipped cream, Fatted Calf breakfast sausage and slab bacon. And, there is the "Classic American" with two eggs any style, scallion potato cakes, Fatted Calf breakfast sausage and slab bacon.

Everyone starts off with a yummy assortment of pastries and muffins from chef Keller’s Bouchon Bakery, in addition to a seasonal yogurt parfait.

What's more, Chef de cuisine Dave Cruz will create weekly specials. Think Snake River Farms corned beef brisket with Yukon gold potatoes and poached hen eggs.

Finally, fresh squeezed juices, sangria, mimosas, and a variety of Champagnes and sparkling wines are on the morning beverage menu.

Early morning road trip, anyone?

Mom eats for free, all you can eat pizza and family style dinners for ten bucks

Luna Park has a great deal for Mother's Day brunch and dinner tomorrow. Just have your mom bring in a family photo, and she gets to eat free! That's right, an appetizer, entree and dessert are on the house. You just spring for drinks.

Enjoy all you can eat thin crust pizza at Good Pizza in Soma for just $10! They serve four kinds of pie nightly, Monday through Saturday, 6:00 p.m. until closing. Good for dine-in only, through May 31st.

Henry's, Berkeley's first gastropub, has Sunday Night Suppers for only $10! This family-style deal was originally designed to rescue UC Berkeley students from "dorm dining fatigue" but is now available to everyone!

Mother's Day Brunch recipes from Butterfly chef Rob Lam

On Mother's Day, Butterfly chef/owner Rob Lam is preparing a delectable prix fixe brunch menu at his innovative Cal-Asian waterfront restaurant. Imagine starting with an "amusement" of house smoked salmon and strawberry salad roll; then having a green papaya and mango salad with Vietnamese carmelized shrimp; moving on to a main course of smoked salmon scramble with white and green asparagus, tobiko caviar and Texas toast; and finishing with "mom's home baked cookies and créme brulée." Chef Lam has also created a vegetarian menu just for the occasion. Both are $45.

And, here's something special. Chef Lam is sharing two Mother's Day brunch recipes so that you can prepare his dishes at home! You'll definitely want to add these to your recipe collection.

Butterfly's Green Papaya and Mango Salad with Vietnamese Carmelized Shrimp (yields 4 servings)

Green Papaya and Mango Salad

1 green papaya, peeled and julienned

1 ripe mango, peeled and sliced into 12 pieces

2 cups micro cilantro

2 shallots, peeled, julienned, and fried

Method: Peel the green papaya, cut in half and deseed. Use a mandolin with a julienne attachment to make fine shreds that are not too thick but not so thin that you lose the texture. Try to attain something in the shape of angel hair pasta. Set aside and chill.

Peel and cut the mango into two halves. Slice some of the extra fruit off of the seed to make total use of it and set aside. Slice the two halves of mango into equal portions, about eight slices per half. Set aside and chill.

Nuoc Cham Dressing

2 limes, juiced

½ cup white vinegar

½ cup sugar

½ cup fish sauce

1t garlic, minced

1t ginger, minced

1T Sriracha or hot chili paste

Method: Mix all ingredients and taste. Add more sugar or chili paste to taste. Set aside and chill.

Vietnamese Caramelized Shrimp

½ T olive oil

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

20 shrimp, peeled and deveined

1T sugar

1T fish sauce

½ t black pepper

Method:

In a hot, seasoned pan add oil, garlic and shrimp. Sear one side and then add sugar, fish sauce and black pepper. Cook until the sugar is dissolved and shrimp is cooked through. Get ready to plate.

Plate Up:

Combine green papaya and mango scraps in a bowl and dress with Nuoc Cham. Check for seasoning. If necessary, add more dressing. On a rectangular plate, place four slices of mango across the plate at 1 inch intervals. Top the slices with a line of green papaya salad. Top that with 5 pieces of the caramelized shrimp. Top the shrimp with the micro cilantro and finish the plate with a drizzle of Sriracha sauce and some fried shallots.

Butterfly's Smoked Salmon and Strawberry Salad Rolls (yields 8 rolls)

1 pk. large rice paper

½ pk. rice noodles, blanched

1 pt. strawberries, sliced

¼ lb. smoked salmon, sliced

¼ bunch cilantro, cleaned and roughly chopped

¼ bunch mint, cleaned and roughly chopped

2 heads butter lettuce, cleaned and roughly chopped

Method: Use a bowl of warm water large enough to soak the rice paper in. Working one paper at a time, dip the rice paper into the water and let drain on a cutting board. Make sure you run your hand over the paper to get an even distribution of water. This should make the rice paper soften up like a really thin tortilla. Working like you are making a burrito, place one layer of smoked salmon down, top it with some sliced strawberries, top that with the herb and butter lettuce mix, and finish it all with a layer of rice noodles. Roll it up and let rest for fifteen minutes before slicing. Serve with a classic Vietnamese Nuoc Mam sauce, see recipe below.

Nuoc Mam Sauce

1 cup lime juice

1 cup fish sauce

1 cup sugar

3 garlic cloves, minced

½ T ginger, minced

2 T Sriracha

Method: Combine all ingredients and taste. Reduce the amount of Sriracha if it is too spicy. You should get a flavor balance of sweet, spicy, and sour with the aroma of garlic and ginger.

If you want to enjoy these dishes without doing all the work, there's still time to call and make your reservations.

For more info: Butterfly, Pier 33. Also check out Rob Lam's latest project, Eastside West.

A special gift for your foodie mom on Mother's Day

What could be more perfect than treating your mom to a Spring Bonnet Cake from chef Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery? Surprise her at Mother's Day brunch with this individual sized dessert ($9) that comes in two yummy flavors: Lemon cake with fresh blueberry compote and almond streusel; and Vanilla Angel cake with fruits of the forest and almond streusel. It's the ideal gift because it's adorable, edible and affordable.

In addition, Bouchon Bakery has Cinnamon Twist Bread, house made briochette infused with cinnamon and streusel ($12.50). Mmmm, I can practically smell it from here. It's delicious simply on its own but can also be used to create a tasty twist on classic French toast for a lovely Mother's Day brunch at home.

For more info: Bouchon Bakery, Yountville. Open daily 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 707.944.2253. Visit other well-known Thomas Keller eateries.

Craving tofu at Doobu

One of the nice things about having a toddler who likes to take late afternoon naps is that my husband and I get to enjoy liesurely meals, and by liesurely I mean two to three hours, while she snoozes in her stroller. Earlier this week, we headed over to our favorite Korean restaurant, Doobu, nestled in the heart of Japantown.

When you walk in, you notice the clean, simple decor with wooden booths on one side and tables on the other side just before the bar. A literal layer of warmth emanates throughout the place, an indication of the piping hot dishes being prepared in the kitchen. Servers are courteous and acknowledge familiar faces like ours. They bring out a myriad of side dishes including a whole fried yellow croaker for each of us, pickled cucumber, kimchi, fishcake, seaweed salad and vermicelli salad.

We order the kimchi tofu soup, with beef and medium heat. The cast iron pot is filled to the brim with silky soft tofu, bits of beef and kimchi, and the pretty red chili flecks characteristic of kimchi. We quickly stir in the raw egg while it's hot. It's so good over rice which soaks up the flavorful broth. The rice, by the way, is a light purple color as a result of combining both white rice and black rice together. We've had the corned beef soon tofu before but the kimchi version is tastier.

We also share the seafood bibimbap loaded with mussels, clams, squid, baby shrimp, assorted vegetables like mushrooms and onions, and an egg yolk all piled on top of white rice which has a delicious crispy layer coating the bottom of the sizzling pot. The only thing that doesn't seem to mesh with the other ingredients is the imitation crab. Nevertheless, it is very satisfying.

Doobu is the perfect warm-you-up-from-the-inside-out place for a cold, foggy San Francisco day or night. They give you such heaping portions that it's best to go when you are really hungry, and even then, you will leave stuffed and possibly with leftovers. One of these days, maybe my daughter will be awake and actually have a chance to enjoy their food. My son is a big fan of kalbi so we will have to bring him, too.

They are open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For more info: Doobu, 1723 Buchanan Street (between Post and Sutter). 415.292.6002.

Monday morsels: Cinco de Mayo, SF Cocktails Week, hotdogs, Mother's Day and more

Pacific Catch, one of my family's favorite spots for fish and grilled artichokes, is keeping busy this month. In the Corte Madera location, live island music performed by Ka'ala returns every first and third Saturday of the month on the patio, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For Cinco de Mayo, you can find specials for $5.55. At 9th Avenue and Corte Madera, get a taco with a Pacifico or Corona, an agave margarita, or Baja shrimp ceviche; at Chestnut Street, get a taco with a Pacifico or Baja shrimp ceviche.

In preparation of Strawberry Week which celebrates this seasonal favorite fruit, Pacific Catch will present their strawberry mojito and strawberry halibut ceviche at 9th Avenue and Corte Madera on Mother's Day. They will have strawberry mimosas on Chestnut Street. If you can't make it this Sunday, don't worry. Stop by 9th Avenue from May 14th through May 24th, and taste executive chef Chandon Clenard's strawberry halibut ceviche, strawberry mojito and Thai pancake which are featured in the Strawberry Week Commemorative Cookbook. Pay for your meal with your Visa Signature Card and receive a complimentary copy, while supplies last. Go here for a list of other restaurants participating in Strawberry Week.

That's not all. During the entire month of May, receive a free baja shrimp ceviche when you order an entree valued at $12.95 or more. All you have to do is subscribe to their e-newsletter, print out the May issue and present it to your server.

Finally, when you order dessert at any location this month, Pacific Catch will donate $1 to the World of Children organization.

The third annual SF Cocktail Week kicks off on May 11th and runs through the 18th. You can purchase tickets to a myriad of fun events including a kickoff gala at Le Colonial's upstairs lounge; the U.S. Bartenders' Guild National Competition at Harry Denton's Starlight Room; Ferry Plaza Farmers Market inspired cocktails in the CUESA kitchen; cocktails, spirits and bartending classes from the Bay Area's top mixologists; drinks and snacks at Epic Roasthouse; a North Beach historical cocktail and bar crawl hosted by Tablehopper's Marcia Gagliardi; a stop at one of my personal favorites, The Alembic, on Haight; and a closing party at Jardinière.

Hotdogs sure are the rave these days, and today, Let's Be Frank opens on Steiner near Chestnut Street, not too far, interestingly, from What's Up Dog on Filbert Street. Just look for the mustard yellow and ketchup-y red exterior. UrbanDaddy mentions that the interior has finer features including wood and steel accents designed by Cass Calder Smith who also did La Mar's swanky digs.

Urban Tavern at the Hilton in Union Square is introducing their First Annual Mother's Day Brunch Buffet on May 10th. Special items will include mincemeat stuffed Niman Ranch pork loin, sautéed California halibut, wild mushroom quiche and sourdough French toast with warm strawberry-rhubarb jam. They will also have a three-course prix fixe dinner menu for $29.95 with an optional wine pairing for $19.50 more. Complimentary five-hour parking with brunch or dinner. They are also launching their kids' program for 4 to 12 year-olds. They have a new menu that includes an entree, starch, veggie and dessert for $10, plus they loan out portable DVD players so your children can watch shows like Scooby Doo and Felix the Cat while they eat. In addition, they are running monthly art contests for your aspiring Rockwells and Warhols. Winners will receive a pair of tickets to the Academy of Sciences and their artwork will be showcased in the restaurant's window for a month. At the end of the year, one lucky child will win two tickets to Universal Studios and a weekend stay at a Hilton property.

Have a lovely week, people!