About me… The Complex Amateur

Restaurant and drink appreciation through quarantine and beyond

I really enjoy cooking, but am not a professional chef (even though I might think that in my head). I happen to live in San Francisco, and have the insane benefit of hundreds of world class restaurants all within a few miles of each other. Anything from hole in the wall taquerias, to Michelin Star restaurants, SF is so dense there is something here for just about anyone.

So why this blog? Well most restaurants are closed. Some forever. During this downtime I have been having some serious nostalgia of going to my favorite restaurants and bars, so I want to set out to and show what goes into actually preparing the amazing dishes and drinks world class chefs/bartenders prepare everyday, which is more preparation than us amateurs expect. I want to showcase signature dishes and drinks from famous SF restaurants (to start) to the best of my capabilities to display to the everyday cook that they are able to cook amazing meals with a little effort at home (ok, maybe a lot of effort).

Keep in mind, a lot of these recipes are going to take you (and me) out of your cooking comfort zone. But that’s okay. When you start to understand the amount of preparation and planning that goes into the dishes at your favorite restaurants, you achieve a greater appreciation for food a drink. Some of these recipes take multiple days, so I will be sure to chronicle how much items cost and where I got them, the time and items needed for everything, and everything in between.

I look forward to the continued posts and look forward to hearing from readers about any questions that you might have along the way!