Mother’s Day—Sunday, May 8—is less than a week away and if you’re lucky enough to live close to the lovely lady who brought you into this world, congrats! Here, in the beautiful Bay Area, there are plenty of haute ways to celebrate mom. You could hop in your convertible and take a drive along the coast, then stop for oysters and champagne at Nick’s Cove in Tamales Bay. Or why not take the ferry to Sausalito and enjoy breakfast with an oceanside view? Another idea: book spa treatments for you and mom at the Bardessono in Napa, then spend the afternoon hanging out at the hotel’s rooftop pool. Looking for even more suggestions? You came to the right place. Here, are eight events that will impress haute mothers of all ages.
A Five-Course Three-Star Dinner at Michael Mina
Not everyone loves brunch and if your mother prefers to commemorate the holiday with dinner instead of breakfast, head downtown to the Michael Mina flagship. At the award-winning restaurant, Chef Raj Dixit is serving up a five-course menu with mothers in mind. Optional courses vary from hot-smoked chinook salmon with pickled onions and clementine dressing to spring lamb tortellini with mint to cornish game hen baked in alfalfa hay with buttermilk lovage. For dessert? Passion fruit or chocolate delights. At this sort of establishment, to get the complete multi-star experience, beverage pairings are a must!
Once a Year Brunch at One Market
One Market is only open from Monday through Saturday. However, the restaurant, on the corner of Market and the Embarcadero, unlocks its doors one Sunday of the year, Mother’s Day. To celebrate the most important women in our lives, chef Mark Dommen will prepare a brunch with classic dishes like eggs Benedict, prime rib, and an omelette with seasonal vegetables. If you’re a fan of Dommen’s savory dinner items, now is your chance to experience his sweet and savory take on breakfast cuisine.
New Brunch at Aster
Aster, a restaurant from the Daniel Patterson Group, has been open in the Mission for a year, but it’s only starting to serve brunch now, perfectly timed with Mother’s Day. Chef Bret Cooper developed a cult following for his brunch at Outerlands, so foodies can expect an assortment of scrumptious dishes. The menu is divided into three sections: plates for sharing, savory, and sweet items. Think buttermilk biscuits with honey butter and bacon; asparagus brioche with creme fraiche and salmon roe; porchetta breakfast sandwich with a sunny egg, arugula, and hot sauce; and sourdough bread pudding with cultured cream, cherries and burnt honey. Low proof cocktails made with house-infused spirits are also available at the new brunch service.
Tea at the Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton just celebrated its 25th anniversary in San Francisco and on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, May 7, mothers and daughters are invited to enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in the lounge. With live harp music as the sophisticated background noise, mom can sip on fine pots of tea and nibble hand-crafted finger sandwiches and seasonal sweets. The exclusive Mother’s Day tea menu features egg salad sandwiches with fennel and roasted pepper; cucumber sandwiches with honeydew and fromage blanc; and smoked salmon with lemon ricotta. Sweet offerings include strawberry lemon scones, carrot cake with Greek yogurt frosting, and buttermilk tarts with berry compote. Note that the tea is from 2 to 3 p.m., so seating is limited and reservations are recommended.
A Giants Game and Stay at the Westin St. Francis
If you know a new mom, why not offer to watch her young children and let her and the husband have a weekend away from the kids? They can head to the Westin St. Francis and partake in the Score Big With Mom package. The luxurious two-night stay is filled with fun treats. When they arrive, a chilled bottle of champagne and charcuterie platter will be waiting to welcome them to the specialty suite. Also on the agenda? Breakfast for two each morning, wine tasting for two at the hotel’s Chateau Montelena’s Tasting Room, and two field club tickets to the Giants vs. Rookies baseball game on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. An Uber will whisk them to and from AT&T park and a goodie bag filled with snacks will be waiting in the car. The only thing not included in the package is dinner reservations for the new mom, but the concierge can certainly help with that—Perbacco, Pabu, and Wayfare Tavern are within walking distance of the St. Francis.
Wine Country Brunch at the FARM at the Carneros Inn
Take mom for a weekend getaway at the Carneros Inn in Napa. Spend Saturday trying wines at Artesa Vineyards, Domaine Carneros, and Starmont Winery, which are located within a short drive of the inn. Sleep late on Sunday and head to the FARM at the Carneros Inn for a lavish and leisurely brunch. Chef Aaron Meneghelli is cooking up a family-style meal of seasonal taste treats. Some delicious menu items include asparagus salad with trumpet mushroom bacon, soft poached egg and frisee; local halibut with fava beans and salsa verde; and vanilla panna cotta with fruit compote.
A Luxurious Staycation at the Rosewood Sand Hill
Moms in the Southbay can head to the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park for an impromptu staycation. The mother’s day package includes one night at the hotel, which overlooks the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains. An elegant floral arrangement will greet mom when she arrives. Saturday night she’s invited to meet with Paul Mekis, an advanced sommelier and the hotel’s Director of Wine, at Jazz in the Lounge. Mekis will select a complimentary bottle of wine based on mom’s tastebuds. Sunday morning, mom can wake up and enjoy Sunday brunch in bed. She can order in from Madera, the Rosewood Sand Hill’s restaurant, which is offering a decadent three course meal dedicated to mom. What’s on the menu? Ahi crudo with green strawberries, favas, Japanese cucumber, and trout roe; potato gnocchi with smoked creme fraiche, asparagus, snap peas, and sorrel; and violet meringues with milk chocolate sorbet, lemon puree, aerated jivara, among many other delectable options.
Wine Tasting Brunch at Wente Vineyards
East Bay Moms should plan on going to the Restaurant at Wente Vineyards in Livermore. This picturesque winery is the perfect setting for a brunch followed by an afternoon of wine tasting in the open air. Executive chef Mike Ward has crafted a one-of-a-kind brunch for one-of-a-kind moms. Start with a Wente 75, a tantalizing concoction that consists of Wente Vineyards Brute, elderflower liqueur, and lemon-thyme syrup. The three-course menu has plenty of mouthwatering options such as hamachi crudo with crispy ginger salad and fermented wasabi, bread pudding French toast with bing cherry compote and Vermont maple syrup, and dungeness crab Benedict with piquillo pepper hollandaise. Yum!
