Seven Stills & Stanford Court Hotel Review

Hi there, 

Well if you know Craig and I at all, you know we love a good hotel and brewery! So why not try out the newest one on the block. Seven Stills Brewery popped up in San Francisco starting with a small brewery and growing to gain a partnership with Stanford Court Hotel on Nob Hill. 

The Stanford Hotel on Nob Hill was contained in an older tall building but as soon as we walked into the lobby we were hit with modern style and an open floor plan. Around the circumference of the lobby were horses painted like they were just running around the expanse and to the right a blue tinted reading area. 

Straight ahead was the Seven Still Bar/Lounge, which greeted us with wonderful aromas.

After a quick check in we went into the old green elevator and went up to the 8th floor. I really loved how the hotel was completed...there were modern flares but with old fixtures and sconces. It really made for an interesting hotel.

 

Immediately walking into our room it was so spacious I was surprised...very minimalist that it seemed European looking. Instead of a closet they had a kind of rolling cart that was stationary to hang up your jackets and put your shoes. Such a neat idea that I hadn't seen in any American hotels yet. The bathroom was gorgeous...I'm always a sucker for a marble bathroom! Also, they actually had a tub which was a plus. Another more European feature was the heated towel rack! The last time I saw one of those, was in Ireland!

The furniture and interior design that they had up we're all based out of San Francisco and you could tell that they tried to keep things pretty local. They had complimentary water which I rarely ever see and on the desk there was a paper mat that showed all the different events going on during the month. Perfect for a guest visiting the city for the first time.

Once settled we made our way back down the long hallway into the old elevator to check out the Seven Stills eating area. The space was open and very relaxed looking. Everything on the menu had a bit of a twist to it and nothing was boring looking. Craig went for one of their craft beers which smelled fruity but didn't taste that way, which was a surprise to him! The beer was delicious and so different from what he was used to.

We ordered a light dinner...some chicken wings, salad and some brussel sprouts. The wings were good (according to Craig) but messy he he. I expected the salad and sprouts to be a bit more decadent but they were a little basic. But that's alright...I had my eye on their dessert menu. Seven Still had the most delicious looking triple chocolate mousse. This masterpieces had a dark chocolate layer, white chocolate layer, dark chocolate layer and an oreo cookie crust on the bottom. Plus chocolate flakes on top and yummy raspberry sauce on the side. Needless to say I ate the whole damn thing. No regrets!

Craig tried a beer float which to our surprise was actually kind of gross tasting...sorry Seven Stills and I've never seen Craig not finish a drink or a dessert but he couldn't do it. Something about their signature Chocasmoke whiskey with their ice cream just did not quite mix well. I gave it a sip to and did not enjoy it at all. I'm not that into bitter food but it wasn't just bitter. It was earthy and a bit like a bad version of those round barrel root beer candies. Craig kindly ordered a whiskey to cut the taste he he! 

The rest of our night was lovely but I have to mention one thing...the bed wasn't the best. From the hotels vibe I expected to melt into the mattress and never want to leave but that wasn't the case. The frame creaked a lot and definitely distracted from certain things...LOL! We also noticed that they offered different pillows to try, since Craig sleeps with a memory foam pillow at home he asked to try the service. But no one ever showed up :(

The next day we headed to the Seven Still Brewery a short distance from Nob Hill. 

There we enjoyed a tour and whiskey tasting. I don't want to give too much away but it was such a nice experience. Staff were friendly and eager to teach us about their work. Each whiskey was so original, being that they were all small batch. Craig's favorite was the Four Legs Good.

The brewery held a chill vibe with a hint of humor all mixed with serious brewing magic! We would totally recommend a visit. This place is gonna get big!

Thanks for reading my review. 

Cheer, Bunny

Outlander Apple Fritters

Outlander is BACK! 

We waited for what seemed like hundreds of years for Claire and Jamie to come back to us. To celebrate I opened up my Outlander Kitchen Cookbook courtesy of Theresa Carle-Sanders and whipped up some whisky soaked apple fritters. 

To start mix together:
1/4 cup whiskey
1/4 cup whole milk 
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Zest from one lemon 
1/4 cup of sugar 
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp ground ginger 
A sweet whiskey lemon flavor filled the kitchen as I whisked letting me know, already, that these were going to be delicious. Next peel and cut up about 3 Gala apples into cubes and add them to the mixture to soak. I let them absorb every bit of goodness for 30 mins then drained the apples, saving the marinade into a bowl for later.

Next, making the pancake-like batter! 
In a bowl stir together:
1 cup flour 
1 1/2 tsp baking powder 
1 tsp cinnamon 
1 tsp salt 
Then whisk in both eggs, 1 tablespoon melted butter and half of the remaining marinade juice. Fold in the apples, making sure to coat every piece, and you are ready to cook!

Heat up a few inches of oil in a sauce pan, on high heat, and drop in spoonfuls of batter. Don't crowd the pan and fry until each side is golden brown. Once cooked, remove and drain on a paper towel. While still warm, serve with sprinkled powdered sugar. Voila! Perfect bites or yummy.

 As the Scottish melody opened the new season I took my first bite of fritter heaven. Dusted with some powdered sugar they came to life inside my mouth and I couldn't get enough. Such a savory and sweet combination. I will have to make these again! Thank you Outlander for coming back to us and Theresa for making such an amazing recipe.

Thanks for readin! 

-Bunny

Laoghaire's Whisky Sour

Morning Outlander Fans!

Saturday night I watched the finale (of Outlander) and it still sits heavy with me today. Such a beautiful episode. My eyes filled with tears at Claire's memories and their dance toward the stones. I could see the emotion and love as they were forced to part. Sam and Caitriona did a wonderful job! I still can't believe the season is already over BUT I do have the cookbook to keep me company. Thank you Theresa he he!

Feeling a bit sour about the end, I thought it perfect to start with Laoghaire's Whisky Sour, it just sounded yummy and I was correct! 

Start by stirring together 2 tablespoons of hot water with 2 tablespoons of honey until it's dissolved, then add 2 oz of whiskey and 2 tablespoons of lemon, freshly squeezed. In the OK cookbook it says to use bourbon...but online it says whiskey...unsure about what to use, we chose one of Craig's favorites, Green Spot Irish Whiskey(I hope Theresa won't mind). Then I add crushed ice and a lemon curl and there you have it! A slightly sweet and rich Whiskey Sour. Craig liked it very much and said it was better than any Whiskey Sour he has ordered at a bar. The lemon and honey were perfect! 

As Theresa Carle-Sanders adds: "The perfectly naturally sweet, lightly sour whisky cocktail for a hot summer's evening, whether you shot someone that day or not." he he!

Cheers! Thanks for reading...next, a lovely almond cream pastry!-Bunny