TapasWalk

TapasWalk has finished the 2011 season. Public tours will start up again in May 2012. Private tours can be arranged for groups of 10. Please contact me if you are interested.

I’ve come up with a wine and food walking tour of downtown San Francisco that I call ‘TapasWalk’.
In Spain the Tapeo is a well loved tradition. Strolling from bar to bar, having a small drink and a snack at each stop along the way while chatting with friends is a relaxing way to start an evening.

I am using the Tapeo concept as inspiration for a wine and food class that includes visits to several of the Spanish styled restaurants that are ever more prevalent here in our corner of the globe.

TapasWalk winds its way through downtown San Francisco stopping in first at Gitane for a taste of dry Manzanilla Sherry accompanied by a few appropriate tapas. Down the street at B44 we will sample some sparkling Cava along with a few bites of Chef Daniel Olivella’s Catalan cuisine. A few short blocks away, at Bocadillos we will taste the Basque white wine called Txakoli alongside Chef Gerald Hirigoyen’s traditional Basque snacks called pintxos. Next up is a trip through Chinatown to the new Madrid style bar called Lalola. Here we will try a little vino tinto paired with a few traditional tapas before heading over to North Beach to finish off the tour at 15 Romolo (the old Basque Hotel) with a small glass of Patxarán (Basque Sloe Berry liqueur) and a light dessert (additional details abou the places we go on TapasWalk can be found in this article from August 2009 in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/16/FDC8195TJK.DTL).

Tapaswalk is a fun, informal way to learn about Spanish wine while sampling the traditional foods of Spain. We will discuss each wine along the way, giving background and context to what we taste.

The class is limited to 10 pre-reserved guests at a time and takes place early in the week (Tuesdays or Wednesdays) at 6 pm and finishes around 8:30 pm. Classes take place once a month or more depending on the level of interest

The cost is $70.00 per person and includes all the restaurant expenses, printed tasting notes on the wines and information about the restaurants as well as the opportunity to purchase the wines afterward at discounted prices.

The route covers approximately 1.5 miles so participants should come dressed for the weather and should wear comfortable shoes.

Registration for TapasWalk is handled by the good people of Kitchen On Fire. Click on the dates below and you will be taken to their site for registration and payment. If you have any questions about the tour please email me at salondelvino@gmail.com.

TapasWalk dates for the 2011 season:

Tuesday April 05

Wednesday May 18

Tuesday June 14

Tuesday July 12

Wednesday August 24

Wednesday September 21

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Autumn Paella & Wine class

July 18, 2009 by salondelvino | Edit

Join me on Monday October 5th at 6:30 pm at Kitchen On Fire in Berkeley to learn first-hand the joys of the Spanish rice dish known as Paella. I will share my knowledge and experience in all things Paella-related. The class will include some hands-on participation to prepare a mixed poultry/meat/seafood Paella that will be consumed at the culmination of the class. You will also get a chance to make and sample some simple tapas while waiting for the Paella to cook. As the the wine buyer for The Spanish Table in Berkeley it is only fitting that I share some Paella-friendly wines as well. Come to class with an appetite for adventure and be rewarded with a plateful of Paella wisdom.

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Spanish Wine Class at 18 Reasons

June 27, 2009 by salondelvino | Edit

Join me for an evening of Spanish wine tasting at 18 Reasons Gallery in San Francisco.

Come along as we criss-cross the Iberian peninsula tasting five different wines, each made in a distinctive regional style. We will try sparkling Cava from Catalonia, crisp white Verdejo from Rueda, several Tempranillo reds, both young and mature, from the famous Rioja region and also some aged Jerez wine from Andalucia. I will share my passion for all things Spanish along with useful information about Spanish grape varieties, wine making techniques and helpful shopping tips on reading Spanish wine labels. Some appropriate snacks from the 18 Reasons crew will compliment the wines. This is a ticketed event; $25 for 18 Reasons Members and $30 for the General Public. Go to the 18 Reasons website for rdetails and reservations.http://www.18reasons.org/

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Paella & Wine Class

June 15, 2009 by salondelvino | Edit

Join me on June 22nd at 6:30 pm at Kitchen On Fire in Berkeley to learn first-hand the joys of the Spanish rice dish known as Paella. I will share my knowledge and experience in all things Paella-related. The class will include some hands-on participation to prepare a mixed poultry/meat/seafood Paella that will be consumed at the culmination of the class. You will also get a chance to make and sample some simple tapas while waiting for the Paella to cook. As the the wine buyer for The Spanish Table in Berkeley it is only fitting that I share some Paella-friendly wines as well. Come to class with an appetite for adventure and be rewarded with a plateful of Paella wisdom.

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Salondelvino is Berkeleywine on Twitter
- New dates for 2010 season: TapasWalk Spanish wine/food walking tour of San Franciscohttp://salondelvino.wordpress.com/tapaswalk/1 minute ago
- The menu for my clay cazuela class Feb 8 is up! Garbanzos con Morcilla, Almejas y Tocino en Sidra, y mas!http://salondelvino.wordpress.com/27 minutes ago
- Patxaran: sweet anisette infused with endrinas (sloes) and spices. Served over ice, it makes me smile.http://yfrog.com/323kcj 4 days ago
- It is now 8:55pm PST. 5 minutes till Patxaran.4 days ago
- The Raventos i Blanc Cava guys are getting ready to rock the twitter! @ignasi_raventos@FrancescRiB This should be great. 5 days ago
- Pulled pork, brisket, mac&cheese, greens @PhatMattsBBQ in OAK for lunch. Leftovers made a second meal at dinner. Tasty stuff, that. 1 week ago
- Success! My brother got the 1960 Krohn Colheita Port I sent him by mail (not broken, not frozen!) for his 50th B’day. http://bit.ly/4HRtNE 1 week ago
- NYTimes has good info today on following the Jamon Iberico de bellota trail:http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/travel/17journeys.html 1 week ago
- Barlata redux: more from Albert Assin of Pinotxo in BCN: Atun en Escabeche (w/piquillos & frisee). Chuletillas tambien! 3 more days of this. 2 weeks ago
- Albert Assin at Barlata in OAK. Callos, setas, chipirones. It’s like a quick trip to the Boqueria market in Barcelona. Manzanilla to drink. 2 weeks ago

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19 Comments »

19 Responses

on August 16, 2009 at 7:46 pm | Reply Lynda Chatcuff

Hi Kevin,
What a pleasant surprise to read that you’re doing the tour! I’m specifically interested in the Oct. 14 tour date and have e-mailed several friends to see who wants to join. I love Gitane and look forward visiting the other restaurants. I may have gone to the one in Chinatown. Big hello to Cathy Lynda
on August 17, 2009 at 6:27 pm | Reply Hi Kevin,

My husband and I love San Francisco and tapas. We’d love to take the tour, only my husband doesn’t drink alcohol. Is the tour mainly focused on wine or do you talk about the food as well?

I don’t think he would feel comfortable with a group of folks doing alot of drinking.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Julie
- on August 18, 2009 at 4:12 pm | Reply salondelvino
  
  Hi Julie-
  Of course you would be welcome on TapasWalk. Drinking is not a requirement. The class was set up as a wine tasting event, but non drinkers are welcome and the experience itself is still quite fun. It is a small group, just 10 participants per tour, so the price is the same for everyone.
  TapasWalk is not a booze cruise, but if you would rather not be with people drinking wine you can still consult the list of locations in the SF Chronicle and put together your own private tapas stroll whenever the moment strikes you.
  Either way you go, it is a lot of fun!
  Cheers,
  Kevin Hogan
on August 18, 2009 at 1:50 am | Reply Luis Moya

Kavin,
I am taking a minute from my vacation to congratulate you…
I am happy to see that you are getting some press.
Aloha
Luis
on August 19, 2009 at 3:48 pm | Reply Chelsie St James

Hi, I would like to reserve 4 spots for the Sept 16th tour & I really looking forward to it!
Please advise.
Chelsie
on August 20, 2009 at 12:11 am | Reply Erica Mogannam

Hello- please add my group to Chelsie St. James’ group reservation for September 16. + 3 people, please confirm this is still available, thank you!
-Erica
on August 20, 2009 at 12:22 am | Reply Erica Mogannam

sorry, nevermind, I just sent you an e-mail, thanks!
-erica
on September 24, 2009 at 6:20 am | Reply Cary & Kimmy

Hi Kevin,
Thank you for the wonderful Tapas Walk evening. We truly enjoyed the 5 Spanish restaurants that you took us to. The wine and food was great and the education that you provided along the way made it a very unique outing for us in the city. We had a fantastic time and hope to do it again sometime.

~Cary & Kimmy Noel
on September 27, 2009 at 11:27 pm | Reply BarryJ

I sent an email four days ago inquiring about the Oct 7 date and have not received a reply yet. Hope to hear from you.
Barry
- on September 30, 2009 at 10:22 pm | Reply BarryJ
  
  Glad to learn that two spots opened up. I have sent payment via PayPal and we look forward to the walk. We did one in Madrid (run by a Brit) a couple of years ago and enjoyed it very much.
  Barry
on October 9, 2009 at 10:48 pm | Reply Patricia

Hi Kevin,
I just wanted to thank you for a great TapasWalk!! Everything was beyond my expectations….Excellent restaurants, amazing wines. The people at the restaurants we visited welcomed us and made us feel like their special guests….I had a great time. I will recommend it and would love to do it again if you change/add restaurants or have an East Bay version of it next year.
Cheers
Patricia
on November 27, 2009 at 11:45 am | Reply insiderioja

Hi! I just came across your site and this fantastic post.

Here in Rioja, tapas walks are a way of life and a frequent topic in my own blog.

Congratulations on a great idea!

Tom Perry

http://insiderioja.wordpress.com
http://www.greatwinecapitals.com
on December 13, 2009 at 5:38 pm | Reply Marcia Zeigler

I am interested in your Tapas walk if you resume them in 2010. Four of us will be in the San Francisco Jan 18-22 if anything is possible around those dates….

We are VERY interested and love to cook and eat!!

Thank you,
Marcia
- on January 9, 2010 at 7:18 pm | Reply salondelvino
  
  Thanks for your interest in TapasWalk. Sorry for the delayed response. My retail duties have kept me away. TapasWalk is on hiatus until the arrival of warmer weather and evening sunlight. On the other hand, the places we visit are open and ready to serve up some tasty tapas and wine. You can create your own tapas tour by simply following the itinerary mentioned on the original blog post. The guided tours will start up again in April. Meanwhile I will be happy to answer any other questions you have on this subject.
  Cheers,
  Kevin H.
on March 23, 2010 at 6:11 am | Reply joan chamberlain

hi, i would like to reserve for 3 of us for your april 28th tapas walk.
looking forward to this after reading all the responses.
thanks, joan
on May 23, 2010 at 7:09 am | Reply David Schmidt

I’m signed up for the Tapas Walk on May 26. Has anyone been on Kevin’s tapas tours this year (2010)? Would be interested in hearing your reviews.
on July 29, 2010 at 8:08 am | Reply Love Sms

hmm…it seems interesting
on August 4, 2010 at 4:07 pm | Reply Michael Rasmussen

Hi Kevin,

We had a great time with you yesterday on the TapasWalk. Thank you for introducing us to some wonderful new foods, restaurants, and wines. My family had a great time. We learned so much about Tapas and the Spanish culture. It was an experience we will never forget! We look forward to going back to some of those restaurants.

Thanks again for everything! Keep it up.

Michael
on August 12, 2011 at 5:03 pm | Reply Judy

Hoping to get into your August 24 Tapas Walk. A great way to spend our anniversary–please let us know if there’s an opening for 2!!