By Liam P. Mayclem–

Brian Boitano — Olympic Gold Medalist, TV Host, Author, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Inspiration for a South Park song – is one of San Francisco’s most famous and generous residents, and he’s home for the holidays.

Every year for 29 years, Brian has hosted a holiday party at the Yerba Buena Ice Rink in San Francisco. The 500 guests are invited to come with a toy for children in need. Her nonprofit, Youth Skate, also gives children the opportunity to ice skate, most for the very first time. Some 10,000 children participated in the Youth Skate program in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District.

Brian knows how crucial this is.

“I like to give back and do things for the community,” he said to me. San Francisco bay weather. “To see a child skate for the first time is incredibly special. For a little while, they have the chance to escape and leave their worries and their cellphones behind, ”he added with a smile.

I asked if a future Olympian could be one of these young skaters. He replied: “You never know. But it’s so good to get the kids moving, on the ice and out of their heads and in the moment.

A dedicated mentor, Brian is a powerful role model. As for his athletic life, he is a three-time Olympian who has won more than 50 titles, including 23 international gold medals, two world titles, two Pro / Am titles, 16 professional titles, four national titles. Americans, as well as the aforementioned Olympic gold medal. And what a moment for viewers, perhaps one of the greatest in the history of Olympic skating. The performance was electrifying, with its palpable emotions at the end shared by many spectators.

Brian has been inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame, the United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and the Italian-American National Hall of Fame.

After turning pro, he dominated competitions in the professional ranks, winning 10 consecutive titles, half of which were at the Professional World Championships. He even won an Emmy for the TV special. Carmen on ice, and animated two seasons of What would Brian Boitano do? on the food web. His cookbook of the same name is top notch, revealing his impressive cooking skills.

Also a champion behind the bar, Brian prepares medal-worthy cocktails. Several appear on the bar menu at Boitano’s Lounge in Lincoln, Nebraska (https://tinyurl.com/3snt638u). As Yelp reviews write, the drinks are “exceptional”, “well designed” and simply “great”. Seriously, Boitano’s Lounge is worth a visit in Cornhusker State. (Editor’s Note: Our team members have stopped here on trips across the country and loved it. The landscapes of Nebraska are epic and the locals have been incredibly welcoming and friendly.)

Brian shared a tasty and creative seasonal cocktail recipe with the San Francisco bay weather called “Hello Gord-geous.”

“The cocktail contains sugar, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, canned pumpkin, lemon juice with chocolate bitters and tequila reposado,” a-t -he declares. “It’s Christmas in your mouth.”

This multitalented man loves the holidays and has shared a few of his favorite things about being home this season in San Francisco. Here are some of our recent conversations:

Liam Mayclem: What is important to you this holiday time of year?

Brian Boitano: The holidays are about family and friends and reflect on the year that has passed; and be grateful.

Liam Mayclem: What gets you in the holiday mood?

Brian Boitano: Union Square with the Christmas tree. Macy’s holiday ice rink and magical storefronts.

Liam Mayclem: Favorite restaurants?

Brian Boitano: I love them all because I have a lot of chef friends. However, Gary Danko is special for the holidays and I love Mourad any time of the year.

Liam Mayclem: Favorite bar?

Brian Boitano: I have a regular boys’ night out and we love going to the Big Four; and Whitechapel is great for gin; Comstock Saloon for the whiskey and the old school vibe. For beers, go to Standard Deviant in the mission.

Brian added: “What’s most important to me is to sit with friends in a place with a good atmosphere, a good cocktail and to enjoy a good conversation, with a lot of laughs.”

Happy Holidays!

Hello Gourd-geous
(recipe courtesy of Brian Boitano)
2 ounces of tequila reposado
1 ounce of pumpkin syrup (see recipe)
1/2 ounce of lemon juice
4 dashes of chocolate bitters
lemon zest for garnish

Shake all the ingredients in a shaker filled with ice cubes. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Garnish.

Pumpkin syrup
1½ cup of water
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup dark brown sugar
3 to 4 cinnamon sticks
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ cup canned pumpkin

Combine the water and sugars in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Stir until the sugars dissolve, then reduce the heat to low. Add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and pumpkin. Whisk to combine. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Make sure it doesn’t boil. Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Filter through a fine colander and store in the refrigerator. Freezes well.

Brian Boitano Youth Skate
http://brianboitano.com/youth-skate

Brian Boitano Lounge
https://tinyurl.com/yat99emj

South Park: “What would Brian Boitano do?”
https://tinyurl.com/wr8hm6tr

Union Square skating
https://unionsquareicerink.com

The big four
https://tinyurl.com/4aebtzk5

Comstock sedan
https://comstocksaloon.com

Whitechapel
https://www.whitechapelsf.com

Standard deviant brewery
https://www.standarddeviantbrewing.com

Gary Denko
http://garydanko.com

Mourad
https://www.mouradsf.com

Emmy Award-winning radio and television personality Liam Mayclem is featured regularly on KPIX as well as KCBS, where he is the popular Foodie Chap. Born in London, Mayclem is now at home in the Bay Area, where he lives with her husband, photographer Rick Camargo. For more information: https://www.bookliam.com/

Posted on December 16, 2021