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Check Please!

Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Honor Kitchen & Cocktails, De La Torre's Trattoria, Ichi Sushi

Check, Please! Bay Area
28:00
Check, Please! Bay Area finds exceptional cocktails and delightful bar bites in Emeryville, classic Italian ambiance in Pleasanton, and seasonal Japanese cuisine in San Francisco.

Watch More of Season 14


Check, Please! Bay Area Season 14 episode 8 airs Thursday, May 30 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Our first restaurant, Honor Kitchen & Cocktails in Emeryville, is an esteemed bar and restaurant with exceptional cocktails, delightful bar bites and films projected onto the walls. Up next is De La Torre’s Trattoria, a classic Italian neighborhood eatery in Pleasanton. Our final stop is Ichi Sushi in San Francisco, known for its fresh ingredients, seasonal menu and commitment to sustainability.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 14 episode 8.
Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 14 episode 8. (Grace Cheung)

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Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine
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 will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine, beer, and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

Delamotte Brut Rosé Champagne, France $65  
Those of us who adore Champagne can tell you that Delamotte is an insider’s secret. As sister property to the legendary Champagne Salon, Delamotte ranks among the best Champagne producers with prices that astound. The Maison has been producing sparkling since 1760 and their Chardonnay-based Champagnes are classics. The Pinot Noir-based Brut Rosé from Delamotte may be lesser known but is an affordable luxury. An elegant pink that utilizes the saignée method (a rarity in Champagne) to gain color and structure, this is Rosé Champagne at its finest.

2017 Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, California $27
Frog’s Leap holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the first Napa Valley producers I’d visited in Napa Valley several decades ago while learning about wine. They have been farming organically since 1988 before most others knew what that meant, and their commitment to doing what’s right for the environment has never wavered. Reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel may be their flagship wines, but I’m a fan of their crisp, complex Sauvignon Blanc. A wine to pair with oysters, salads or just a sunny afternoon.

2018 Susana Balbo Signature Rosé, Valle de Uco, Argentina $20
When we talk about female vintners that changed the wine world, ranking high among them is Susana Balbo. In 1981, she was the first woman in Argentina to receive a degree in enology. For two decades she worked shaping other people’s wines as a consultant and then in 1999 her own winery dream was realized. Susana now has her family involved in the business and crafts wines of expression and character. This pink is just one example of her finesse with fruit. A blend of Malbec and Pinot Noir, it’s a succulently dry Rosé to please all palates. Beautifully packaged, it’s a wine that overdelivers in quality and taste.

2016 Domaine Carneros Estate Pinot Noir, Carneros, California $44
Known for their sparkling, Domaine Carneros is also in the still business. Still wines, that is. As their sparkling wines utilize the grape, Pinot Noir, it makes sense that their flagship red would be made using the variety. The aromas are intense with red-berry fruit notes while the texture drapes across the palate like silk. A beautifully crafted Pinot to drink now or cellar for a few years (if you can wait that long).

Wine and spirits that guests drank on the set of season 14 episode 8.
Wine and spirits that guests drank on the set of season 14 episode 8. (Grace Cheung)

Thirsty for more beverage advice? You can find some of my wine, beer and spirits tips for you here. 

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