The only thing better than visiting Alcatraz is visiting it with a buzz

Laganga, ganjanade and ganga ganoush at Denver's pot spot

Andrew Templar, co-owner of The Bell House, regularly draws huge crowds to industrial Gowanus with an impressive rotation of indie bands. Just as popular are the bar’s monthly meetings of The Secret Science Club, which Templar founded along with natural science writers Margaret Mittelbach, Michael Crewdson (co-authors of the taxidermy tome Carnivorous Nights) and radio producer Dorian Devins. SSC events, which feature Nobel laureates and other scientific luminaries, range from science-based film screenings to lectures on the genetics of longevity. But the group’s signature happening, which this year attracted 500 fans, is the annual Carnivorous Nights Taxidermy Contest, in which artists, amateur taxidermists and groupies come out to sip on cocktails called “Wet Specimens” and to compete for the Order of Carnivorous Knights Grand Prize, for the best artfully stuffed dead animal.

The hype behind the four-wheeled food trend

● Absinthe (Hayes Valley) - While they’re only available at brunch, Absinthe’s deviled eggs are anything but traditional breakfast fare. Looking deceptively familiar with a dollop of egg yolk swirled into perfectly hard boiled whites, Top Chef alumna Jamie Lauren belies expectations by topping the potluck favorite with salty smoked trout, and as if that weren’t enough, a sprinkling of another kind of egg -- osetra caviar. ● The Alembic (The Haight) - Known for its cocktails, Alembic divides its drink menu into “old school” classics and “new school” elixirs like the Strawberry Alarm Clock, which marries strawberry puree with whiskey, vermouth, and a dash of Tabasco. Libations like these require bold but not overpowering bar bites to accentuate the flavors of the fresh ingredients, and an order of pickled quail eggs fits the bill. These gorgeous pink orbs of briny lusciousness are smooth and rich, with the perfect amount of salty punch to whet your palate for another drink.

● Mission Beach Café (Mission) - A favorite among hip neighborhood lushes for post-booze-fest brunches. Pretty young things, some still clad in their PJs, searching for comfort in decadent biscuits and gravy, Prather Ranch beef brisket hash, and of course pomegranate grapefruit Mimosas. ● Home (The Castro) - Bloody Mary preferences say a lot about a person. Do you take yours spicy or mild? With celery or olives?? Home’s Build Your Own Bloody Mary bar, which includes all of the standard accoutrement plus wasabi and a whole bevy of hot sauces, allows you to express your individuality while downing oversized omelets and crunchy cornflake French toast. ● Zazie (Cole Valley) - To compensate for the indelicacies of last night’s festivities, atmosphere of subtle French refinement can help you regain your sense of dignity. Shade your sensitive eyes under an umbrella in this small Cole Valley bistro’s back garden and sip on a cranberry or mango juice mimosa, forgetting last night ever happened.

Old-school food carts vs. Twittering trucks

The only downside of gourmet food cart explosion is that it's sometimes hard to find your favorites. Fortunately, more and more roving carts are picking up on Twitter as a way to broadcast their whereabouts. Here's a rundown of the ten best in San Francisco, complete with Twitter feeds and a hints on their typical turf.