Support Season 15 Restaurants From Home
Check, Please! Bay Area Season 15 episode 3 airs Thursday, April 16 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other
television airtimes. And never miss an episode by
subscribing to the video podcast.
Out in the wide-open space of low-key Livermore, hyper-seasonal California cuisine gets the star treatment at the stylish
Range Life. Across the bay in Millbrae,
Royal Feast serves critically acclaimed Sichuan and Tangia cuisine, including the best Peking duck outside of Beijing. Finally, in Oakland’s quiet Montclair neighborhood,
Daughter Thai Kitchen explodes with festive energy centered around next-generation southern Thai dishes and a colorfully dream-like ambiance.
Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 15 episode 3. (Anthonia Onyejekwe/KQED)
Get Restaurant Information:
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Range Life (Livermore)
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Royal Feast (Millbrae)
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Daughter Thai Kitchen (Oakland)
Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)
My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I’m the
host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.
Faustino Rosé Brut Reserva, D.O. Cava
Spain, $17
As a bubble lover, I can attest to the fact that cava from Spain is the world’s best sparkling value. A venerable producer with century-old Rioja roots, Faustino’s fizz is one to put on your shopping list. Their rosado is made from red garnacha grapes, imparting a deep pink hue. Fruity but dry in style, the reserva is a pairing for spring salads, grilled fish and relaxed Sunday brunch.
2018 Clif Family Winery Viognier
Napa Valley, California, $32
If you’re thinking the name sounds familiar, you’re right. The owners of this Napa Valley-based operation, Gary Erikson and Kit Crawford, have family ties to the Clif Bar energy food empire. The wines reflect a commitment to their philosophy of respecting natural resources and enjoying wine with simply prepared, healthy meals. This lovely, limited-edition viognier captures the white grape variety’s floral aromatics and spicy finish. It’s ideal paired with curry dishes and creamy cheeses.
2017 Ponzi ‘Aurora Vineyard’ Chardonnay
Chehalem Mountains, Oregon, $65
The Ponzi family is celebrating 50 years of making wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Their ancestors helped create the Oregon wine industry, and now second-generation family members Luisa and Anna Maria run the business. With multiple tiers of wine, from affordable (try their pinot gris) to esoteric (arneis, anyone?),