From the Beat Generation of authors and poets to the counterculture movements of the 1960s, San Francisco has always been brimming with creative spirit, and the city has long been at the forefront of artistic and literary movements. More recently, the American city has become synonymous with technological innovation, with today’s global giants – Apple, Google and Meta – all born in the Bay Area.
It’s an entrepreneurial and daring zest that has also permeated the city’s captivating food scene. San Francisco recently received accolades in a nationwide study by Datassential, which looked at 1.4 million restaurants in the US, with San Francisco coming out on top across the country for emerging food trends, diversity of cuisines and gastro novelty. “San Francisco does not shy away from ‘new’ and ‘different’,” explains Aaron Friedman, who has worked as a food expert and tour guide at Dylan’s Tours in the city for more than six years. “We encourage restaurants to try something new and take that risk. Particularly through pop-ups, we are seeing more restaurants being given the opportunity to try unique dishes at a lower overhead cost. San Francisco has always embraced the dreamer and the high flier when it comes to new ideas and that also includes our food scene.”
According to Michele McQueen, head chef and owner of Town Fare restaurant in the Bay Area, cultural diversity has also contributed to the rich food scene in the region. “The Bay Area has such a diverse population with people from all over the world, so we end up with cuisines that represent these areas,” she says. “We also have a strong sense of community that appreciates and celebrates those cuisines.”
San Francisco certainly offers up more culinary diversity than your average American city. It is home to one of only three remaining Japantowns in the US, which is also the largest and oldest in the country. The city can also claim one of the biggest Chinatowns in the US, alongside a number of other districts that cover (but are by no means limited to) South Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Italian, Peruvian and Guatemalan cuisines and cultures.
Touring the city’s diverse food scene
Travelling through the city’s many neighbourhoods, the first must-visit place while visiting San Francisco is the Mission District. The area gets its name from the Spanish missionaries that arrived in the area in the 18th century and is now a predominantly Hispanic neighbourhood known for its unique boutiques, outdoor murals and diverse cuisines. Mexican restaurant La Taqueria is a must-visit when you’re in this part of town. “While some may argue that Southern California has better Mexican cuisine, I would beg to differ and choose a taco in the Mission District over anything else in the State,” says Friedman. La Taqueria is owned by Miguel Jara, who moved to the US from Mexico when he was only 16 years old. Now in his eighties, Jara and his team are known for serving up some of the best tacos and burritos in the city.
The menu is kept simple, the setting casual and the place has been busy since it opened its doors more than 50 years ago. Further north is the historic Chinatown, which houses the aptly named House of Dim Sum that is worth a visit to try its freshly made hot savoury dumplings. Nearby is the city’s famous Chinese Cookie Factory, which has been hand-making cookies in the district for more than 60 years. Here, you can embark on a foodie tour, or pick up your own batch with diverse flavours, including green tea, chocolate and strawberry.
Along with Chinatown, Little Italy remains one of the most prominent districts in the city, with Italian flags painted along the sidewalks reminding visitors of the area’s cultural heritage. Not that they’d easily forget where they are, with must-try spots such as Tony’s Pizza around. The menu can compete with the best pizzerias in Italy and includes a unique range spanning American and Italian traditional pizzas. Of course, with the most expansive Japantown in the country, it would be a shame to leave the city without trying one of the many excellent restaurants in the neighbourhood. Kusakabe, named after the restaurant’s acclaimed chef, Mitsunori Kusakabe, leads the way in the city’s Japanese food scene. The sushi specialist offers several different menus, including a la carte and a highly recommended omakase, or chef’s tasting menu.
Venturing out into the Bay
An anecdote that local chefs and foodies like to share is that the city’s famous Golden Gate Bridge was built to satisfy the need to get food produced quickly – and in bulk – into the city from the farms in the north. “We are spoiled rotten with fresh, high-quality vegetables,” explains Sam Levy, the co-owner of Fern Bar and Shady Creek Flower Farm in Sonoma County. “There are so many farms producing amazing produce. The fruit, veggies and meat are unlike what 99% of the world’s population gets to enjoy,” Levy adds.
California alone produces enough food to feed the entire US, which explains the early popularity of farm-to-table cuisine in the region. Plenty of restaurants in the Bay Area champion local, seasonal produce. The rich seafood options from the coastal area are also popular, as Friedman explains, “The Dungeness crab in the Bay is known as some of the best crab you can get, and our local oysters are world famous.” To experience it, make the day trip from San Francisco to Bodega Bay, where you can find popular local eateries such as the Fishetarian Fish Market, a seafood restaurant serving local dishes with panoramic Pacific Ocean views.
For those who are interested in the farm-to-table movement, it is worth visiting Sonoma County. Unlike some of the bigger neighbouring counties, many of the producers in Sonoma are still smaller, family-owned and many focus on bio-organic farming. Local producers also offer visitors cheese tours and also cover other ingredients.
Another day trip worth making while in San Francisco is across the Bay Bridge, where you will find yourself in the heart of Oakland’s up-and-coming food scene. “In Oakland, we have an amazing cultural food scene and even more amazing fusion food scene,” explains McQueen, whose restaurant Town Fare champions southern fusion cuisine. “The Bay Area is very focused on local, sustainable and fresh foods, and we really champion the ‘fresh is best’ movement. We strive to offer our guests the best quality foods that are truly full of incredible flavour,” says the chef.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
WHAT IS GRAPHENE?
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But when they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Huddersfield Town 0
Chelsea 3
Kante (34'), Jorginho (45' pen), Pedro (80')
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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