Ah, San Francisco. Just saying the name conjures up memories of panoramic views, perfect weather, fresh seafood, clam chowder, sourdough bread and, wait for it… oxtail! Yep, that’s right. Oxtail.
I am fortunate enough to have friends and family that live in really cool places. From London to San Francisco, from Dallas to LA, from Chicago to DC and a bunch of cities in 
between, there’s always a place for me to crash. Over the last few months I had the pleasure of hanging out in San Francisco twice, and on the last trip my friend took me to the spectacular and luxurious Claremont Resort in Berkeley. It was like a hidden oasis nestled in the Berkeley Hills, and the views of the San Francisco Bay were simply majestic.
Once we recovered from the shock of the unforgettable views, we had to have a cocktail and a bite to eat to celebrate our new find. So we headed to one of the onsite restaurants, Paragon (in case you thought I forgot, this is where the oxtail comes in!)
The lively modern, yet casual restaurant and bar features American brasserie-style cuisine by Chef Charles Crossley, a large selection of hand-shaken cocktails, outdoor deck seating and live jazz on Fridays and Saturdays. We each settled on a Manhattan, said “cheers” and then ordered an ecclectic selection of small plates: Ahi Tuna Tartare “Tacos,” Garlic Fries with mustartd aioli, and Oxtail Marmalade with bacon fry bread.
The Oxtail Marmalade was one of the best dishes I have ever had. The meat was so tender, succulent and full of flavor I kept going back for more. I litterally”licked” the plate clean. (With my finger of course… I’m not that gauche). Honestly, it was so good I barely remember eating the other two items.
So the next time you’re headed to San Francisco, check out the Claremont in Berkeley, and order the oxtail. It’s worth the side trip!
Claremont Hotel Club and Spa
41 Tunnel Road
Berkeley, CA 94705
800-551-7266 ext. 1 (Hotel reservations)
510-549-8585 (Paragon reservations)
