SF Waterbar’s Parke Ulrich dishes on seafood, the 49ers and the Taste of the NFL

San Francisco chef Parke Ulrich knows what it means to guide a staff — not of running backs and receivers, but pastry cooks and line cooks. Their version of victory? Delicious dishes, with an emphasis on sustainable seafood and nearby develop, served at Ulrich’s Waterbar, EPIC Steak and Mersea on Treasure Island. We recently spoke with the chef about serving the Bay Place sporting activities scene, additionally what to eat whilst observing the major recreation.

Q First items first: Are you a soccer admirer?

A I’m a Philadelphia Eagles fan. That is wherever I grew up. And I’m a 49ers admirer — that’s what my son is now. We have gone to many games jointly.

Q You ended up included with Style of the NFL 2020 — a culinary event at the Super Bowl that raises money to fight starvation — as the 49ers’ consultant. How else are your dining places concerned in the Bay Spot sports scene?

A Flavor of the NFL was an extraordinary expertise. You’re dealing with Corridor of Fame players and All Stars from all more than the state, seeking to represent your group and metropolis with regional cuisine. The camaraderie among cooks is very entertaining. The calendar year we were being in Miami, we served Dungeness crab fried rice.

We’re really involved, both equally EPIC Steak and Waterbar, with sporting activities figures. Which is how we got concerned with Taste of the NFL, fostering interactions with coaches, entrance office personnel and gamers. EPIC hosted the Toronto Raptors and the L.A. Lakers a number of occasions for get-togethers. We did a large amount when the Super Bowl was below. The U.S. Women’s Open was just a couple of months back — there were loads of golfers in city. Again in 2013, we were being the home base of hospitality for Group New Zealand throughout the America’s Cup. We’ve experienced some Formula A single drivers.

Every person is often a tiny superstar struck when you have these athletes in. The cooks are enthusiastic to explain to their mates: “I cooked for this man or woman!” Each and every year the pastry chefs at both equally places to eat will develop gingerbread properties of distinct San Francisco landmarks. A person calendar year we did what is now Oracle Park.

As a restaurant, we’re a group. We use athletics references to make analogies to what we do. Operating together, serving to each and every other out — recognizing that every person is striving to do their finest, but their finest is unique every day.

Q Say I ended up to appear to a Sunday tailgate or video game working day celebration at your home. It’s fall in the Bay Place. What forms of sport-observing fare might you serve that draws on what is in time in this article?

A Right here, it’s our Indian summertime, the finest time of 12 months, so it may possibly still be tomato salads and corn on the cob into Oct. Soon after that, you’re switching around to come to feel-good winter season heat. Pumpkins and hard squashes are good. So are Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. I enjoy vegetable dips with chimichurri or distinct aiolis.

With activity looking at, it’s usually a crowd, and you’re standing up and sitting down down a good deal — so it is ideal to do heaps of minor bites in its place of a official food. Upscale potato skins are a favored of mine — you can fill them with anything at all, including crab. I have hardly ever satisfied a wing I did not like, but I’m not going to fry wings at my property for the reason that of the mess that it will make.

Q Strategies to integrate nearby seafood?

A Chowder can be built out of just about anything: Men and women normally assume of clams, but it can be crab or salmon. Chowder just means bacon, potatoes and for me, usually cream — New England design and style as opposed to a crimson Manhattan model — with chunks of fish or shrimp.

You can also make smoked salmon dip to scoop with chips or pitas. And ceviches or tartares are constantly pleasurable.