Phillip Basone Eats Out

Phillip Basone Eats Out

A few weeks ago some boys started asking me if I knew who the hot new chef was in town from New York City. I put down my nail polish and made a few calls to investigate who this guy was. Phillip Basone is originally from Connecticut, his culinary career got on track when he went through the doors of Barbuto, a Greenwich Village restaurant owned by Jonathan Waxman – one of the pioneers of California Cuisine. When I lived in NYC during the late 80’s – it was Waxman’s restaurant Jams on East 79th that I dreamt of cooking at – but fate had me head in a different direction and I ended up under the aprons of some very hot French chefs. I know what tough work it is in a kitchen, especially when you are as talented as Phillip.

I recently stopped by  Waxman’s in Ghirardelli Square where Phillip is spending most of his time while in San Francisco to introduce myself and have dinner. It’s all true – he is even more handsome in person then the boys say and welcomed me with the warmest hug and smile. Dinner was fabulous and the kitchen executed Waxman’s signature dishes to perfection – especially the JW Chicken & Potatoes! I don’t know how much longer Phillip will be in town, so get your butt down there to get a glimpse of him in his chef whites and eat soon. I’m not promising any hugs though.

Phillip answers my foodie questionnaire here:

What is your favorite dessert?
I hate to admit it but I just love Oreos dipped in peanut butter…..

What restaurant would you call your home?
Barbuto! It is where I started my career at 18 and have been working for Jonathan Waxman on and off for the last 6 years.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?
I am a extremely picky eater so for strangest I don’t even know where to begin. As far as most inspiring I would honestly have to say this one meal a friend of my father prepared for me. It was pernil, which is so simple yet so delicious. It really set me on this path of incorporating more Latin flavors into my food and relishing in the simplistic beauty of some cuisines.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?
Smacks!

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?
Chicken fingers with french fries and a bacon, egg & cheese. Extra ranch please!

Jackson getting a good sniff of Phillip at Waxman’s.

 

Roasted Frog Hollow Peaches, Rosemary Biscuit & Creme Anglaise at Waxman’s

Dan Fettig Eats Out

I’m sure you’ve asked yourself a dozen times what’s the best way to make friends with a hot-tattooed ginger guy. Well, I can only tell you how to do it from experience. First, help them get an apartment in San Francisco when they decide to leave The Big Apple – then invite them over to your place for a Naked Cocktail Party. That’s just what I did after Dan Fettig reached out to me on Facebook looking for housing. He has over 24K followers on Instagram and by the looks of the pics on his profile you would think he was born wearing only a jockstrap and a pair of heels. I recently got him tuxedoed up when I  invited him out on a fancy date.  We did some shopping together with Jackson at Sui Generis Consignment – let’s just say I carried my ‘Sugar Mama’ purse. He cleaned up real nice, was the perfect date and won me over with his smile and giggle –  both which could break your heart – so be warned gays.

Image by Darren Ankenbauer

Dan answers my foodie questionnaire here:

What is your favorite dessert?

Pie with rocky road ice cream – DUH!!!

What restaurant would you call home?

There was this place in Chelsea that was my go-to, no matter how terrible the dates were the food was always amazing – Pepe Giallo on 10th Avenue.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

Eating shark was definitely a different one.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

Oreo O’s – DUH!!!

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?

This is gonna sound gross – but I usually have pickles and drink the juice! It’s good to get that sodium back and I’m usually alone – so the smell isn’t an issue.

Tuxedo shopping with Dan and Jackson.

Dan and I at Powerblouse at Powerhouse. Image by Shot In The City

Rod Thomas (Bright Light Bright Light) Eats Out

Musician Rod Thomas (Bright Light Bright Light)  is coming to San Francisco to play at The Independent on Friday, April 10, 2015. The last time he was in town we took Jackson for a walk and ended up sitting at Farm Table talking about life, travel and our love of food. His voice just bursts with hope and joy on his new work Life Is Easy. So many of our mutual friends are part of his great sound including Del Marquis, Xavier Smith, Bridget Barkan and oh yeah – Elton John. His debut album Make Me Believe In Hope won him critical acclaim and this second offering looks set to be his best work yet.

Rod Thomas (Bright Light Bright Light) answers my foodie questionnaire here:

What is your favorite dessert?

Most people’s dream desserts feature chocolate it seems, and most places I go the most interesting dessert always has chocolate. It seems to blow people’s minds but I don’t eat chocolate, but I still love a good dessert. My favorite is usually something more classic, like a vanilla cheesecake, or a really good hearty crumble – rhubarb of blackberry – with some custard, or ice cream. For all its “boring” connotations, put the word vanilla in a dessert recipe for me and you’ve got me.

What restaurant would you call your home?

I used to have a place in Soho (London) called The Blue Room that I went to all the time. The owner was the kindest woman in the world and they always made you feel so at home. She even used to play my CD in the place sometimes. I remember the night it closed I went in and she was so upset. She was so sad to leave the cafe because it really felt like a huge part of my life in that city at the time had been cut off. These days, in Brooklyn, I really love a place in Prospect Heights called Sunshine & Co. The staff there are really, really lovely (and good), the food is great and the cocktails are dangerously good. It has such well appointed decor, and a really welcoming atmosphere. I love that place.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

My friend Adam’s lasagna. We lived together for my first year in London. We all used to cook together and his trademark dish was a lasagna with really avant-garde ingredients. Potatoes, parsnips, swedes, mushroom soup, sunflower seeds (in kernels) instead of cheese was a truly unique stroke … so I guess he inspired me to be a little less conservative when it came to ingredients in a recipe. Thing is, it always tasted great!

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

I remember that I used to pretend to like slightly more adventurous cereals to get the cool free toy that often came inside, but I remember really, really loving simple Cornflakes or Rice Crispies with ice cold milk. When I first went to Momofuku Milk Bar they had a cereal ice cream with cornflake crunch and I was taken RIGHT back. So simple, so delicious.

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?

OMG a bagel with turkey, swiss and bacon. It’s my favorite thing in the world. Like you need all that after drinking for hours right … but it’s perfect. I can’t resist.

Rod and his Christmas turkey.

Kim Ann Foxman Eats Out

Kim Ann Foxman Eats Out

i-D Magazine – Photography – Collier Schorr / Styling – Holli Smith

Kim Ann has been setting the world on fire with music. As DJ and producer she is making dance floors sizzle everywhere she goes. Her style is by far – more than trend-setting. That new buzz cut she’s sporting these days by hair stylist Holli Smith is the cut for the summer. We met in San Francisco in the late 90’s and will forever remain enamored with each other. During a hot Pride Sunday years ago a big group of us dressed up as animals and paraded around Civic Center. We’ve spent a few Pride’s together since then. This year Kim Ann is coming back to San Francisco to be a part of my annual Pride Event which is benefiting the SF LGBT Center. Kim Ann’s Soundcloud is on constant play at my place and I think you should listen-up and press play too. Here’s a link to an exclusive mix she did for I-d Magazine.

Kim Ann has been an influential part of the musical group Hercules And Love Affair and most recently released the track Creature on the label Mr. Intl Records.

What is your favorite dessert?

Pumpkin pie and I also love mochi with all my heart.

What restaurant would you call your home?

Westville in New York City. Its literally across the street and its so good. I pretty much eat there all the time.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

The strangest thing I have ever eaten – which I really loved are called percebes, otherwise known as goose barnacles. They look so freaky – like weird claws. I was pretty scared to try one. They are quite an expensive delicacy in Spain because they are very hard to collect. They grow on rocks where the waves are crashing – so its really dangerous to harvest them. You have to twist their weird tube and suck the edible part out, but its tastes really good!!

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

Honeycombs

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?

Pizza!

Kim Ann Foxman – Image / Daniel Riera

Matthew Robbins Eats Out

Matthew Robbins Eats Out

Matthew Robbins

Matthew Robbins is creative director of his namesake business Matthew Robbins Design in New York City. It has become the go-to place for planning weddings, events and celebrations of all sorts.  They specialize in doing it in the most unique and personal way. When Matthew lived in San Francisco I was the lucky recipient of many special floral deliveries. Matthew’s smile has always brightened my day. And, I feel very honored that he took time out of his busy schedule to answer my foodie questionnaire. A few  years back I celebrated my birthday at his showroom in NYC – he really took the time to make the event look and feel like me. Our theme was pink – my favorite color.

Matthew and I on my birthday in his NYC showroom. Image / Jack Meyers

He writes an ongoing blog for the Martha Stewart Weddings website, The Huffington Post, and StyleList.com and has given classes and lectures around the world, including South By Southwest and the upcoming Engage!12. He has been a regularly featured guest on both Martha Stewart Show and Martha Stewart Living Radio. He most recently published Matthew Robbins’ Inspired Weddings – a great guide to your queer or straight wedding.

Matthew answers my foodie questionnaire here:

What is your favorite dessert?

So hard to pick just one. I think my favorite dessert is still a delicious, classic almond torte. I could have this for breakfast, after lunch or dessert. Sort of amazing with an espresso. My second choice would have to be Juanita’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake…. so awesome! I like simple desserts. When they get complicated they lose their magic.

What restaurant would you call your home?

I feel super happy and at home when I’m at Blue Hill Stone Barns in New York. Only thirty minutes from the city but feels like you are hours removed from the craziness. They always create the most beautiful, inspired and delicious things with vegetables…especially in summer! I love the people who run the restaurant and I feel like part of the family when I’m there.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

I will go for most inspiring as I’m not into strange food. The simplest, inspired by the countryside, most amazing thing ever has to be handmade Umbricelli pasta in Italy with freshly shaved black truffles all over! So good I could just cry thinking about it.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

As a kid I lived for Honey Nut Cheerios. I would drizzle more honey on top and add banana…perfection! Loved the crunchy oat flavor with the mushy banana.

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?

My absolute favorite, being out late, drinking too much, being crazy food is a good batch of yummy, thin and salty french fries. Combine with good champagne and you are really in heaven!

James Beard Honors Jones Bar-B-Q

Someday when I travel to Arkansas this will be the first place I stop to eat. The prestigious James Beard Award of America’s Classics went to Jones Bar-B-Q in Arkansas. James Jones is both owner and pitmaster, a one-man whirlwind in a tiny two-table restaurant. Jones Barbecue diner dates back to at least 1910 and it may be the oldest black family-owned restaurant in the south. James Jones says, “The way it’s going for some reason it’s not gonna last long.”

Pulled pork sandwich on Wonder Bread

Justin Bond Eats Out

Justin Bond and I met in the early 90’s in San Francisco. At that time it seems a lot of us were finding ourselves in our community as artists. Justin has always been the perfect example of the arts . Talent, smarts and captivatingly  beautiful – it’s no wonder Justin has been dubbed “The greatest cabaret artist of (v’s) generation” by  the New Yorker’s Hilton Als.

Justin Vivian Bond

A couple of years back I got to hear Justin cover Bambi Lake’s “The Golden Age of Hustlers” – it was a truly magical moment.

If you haven’t already done so – get a copy of Justin’s latest adventure “Dendrophile” today. It was a joy to have Justin answer my foodie questionnaire.

What is your favorite dessert?

Personally, I love sticky toffee pudding. I’m not a big chocolate person. I like caramel and cake and I like it to be damp and hot. I like just about anything damp, hot, and spongy, preferably with a little cool cream on the side.

What restaurant would you call home?

There’s an italian restaurant here in the East Village in NYC called Lavagna, where I eat first thing upon my return to NY after a tour. The food is delicious, the wine is excellent, and it’s very unpretentious. Usually, I’ll show up with two or three people and end up with a party of ten or twelve. I’ve turned so many people on to it, and everybody loves it. My favorite dish is their Fresh pappardelle with braised rabbit, fresh thyme and Moroccan olives.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

I always get very excited when dishes include flower essences, like rose or lavender. I particularly enjoy Indian desserts with rose water, even though I far prefer savory dishes to sweet ones.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

Hands down, Captain Crunch. Not with crunch berries, not peanut butter crunch, just plain Captain Crunch. Followed closely by Fruity Pebbles, and Frosted Flakes.

Lady Bunny Eats Out

Lady Bunny is most famously known for founding, organizing and hosting Wigstock, the outrageous festival of drag and music that delighted up to 40,000 New Yorkers every Labor Day for nearly 20 years. For you youngsters – you’ll probably best recognize her as a judge  on RuPaul’s Drag U. But it’s the political Bunny that I’m most fond of. Her view and voice are much smarter than many politicians these days. If she was to run for president I’d support her all the way. Lady Bunny answers my foodie questionnaire here. She surprisingly eats more than carrots.

Lady Bunny loves carrots

What is your favorite dessert?

Either coconut cream pie or German chocolate cake. That Magnolia Bakery of Sex And The City fame is in my neighborhood and their german chocolate is better than my momma’s!

What restaurant would you call your home?

New Yorkers eat out so much that it’s hard to choose. But on my block I love Benny’s Burritos, which is a local chain which based the “Bay” style burritos I first tried at Pancho Villa in San Fran. It’s tasty without being overly greasy and there are healthy options like brown rice and whole wheat tortillas. I’m far from a health nut–as you can see–but I don’t like to eat white rice or white flour tortillas and end up with a belly full of fiberless, nutrition-free glue. Are you hard yet?

The Lady Bunny

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

I’ve been cooking a lot recently and trying to avoid white sugar. I recently shocked myself by making this not delicious and overly-fattening dessert: sliced fresh peaches, unsweetened shredded coconut, a little coconut sugar, a small handful of unsalted cashews and just enough of a splash of almond milk to make a dressing.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

Captain Crunch original–I hated all of that Crunchberry madness.

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?
“Tube steak” with extra “head cheese”!