The House is a Home Run. Grand slam, actually... when tied at the bottom of the 9th at the World Series...

This weekend I found myself on an impromptu girl date with fellow foodie Brooke W. She graciously let me choose the venue and since I've only heard her rave about this place say, 15,000 times, I definitely wanted my first time to be with her (hehehe). Without a reservation, we were promptly seated at a cozy two-top by the front door. While the tables are packed to the rafters, I still felt a sense of privacy.

I relinquished all ordering rights to Brooke and didn't even glance at the menu. I did notice, however, that one of my all-time favorite wines - Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc - was on the menu and snatched that up right away. Out of the gates strong. First to be delivered was a small plate of asparagus with a sesame sauce. I don't normally go out of my way for asparagus, but found myself reaching back for more and more of these. The waitress then brought out the two appetizers: a Crab Cake and eel with avocado sushi rice. Where do I find the words to describe?? First, the crab cake is not a cake - it is a tower. A tower shaped like a large bell. The bell shape lends itself to a perfectly fried exterior AND a generous serving of moist crab meat in the middle. In my experience, most crab cake bites are 75% fried edge and 25% crab meat; not so at House. Best crab cake I've ever had.

I was getting a little flustered between the bites of Crab Cake and the the eel sitting next to it. The eel itself doesn't stand out too much in my mind but the avocado sushi rice it rested on will be etched in my memory forever. Creamy avocado rice - savory and sweet. Moist with a little crunch. Heaven.

At this point I actually thought we were done and was declaring Top 5 All Time candidacy. And. then. waitress. brought. sea. bass. This sea bass is a close-your-eyes, the world-stops hunk of fish. How a fish can taste this buttery is beyond me, but just a gentle poke of the fork and it divides like a warm stick of butter. It's complimented with a garlic-ginger soy sauce and a side of thick noodles. I remember the noodles being different (thick and non-pasta-y) but was so entranced by the fish I forgot to finish them. Or because I had just blacked out from food happiness.

The service, ambiance, noise-level, company, etc could have been terrible and I'd still recommend this place. But, you guessed it, all the accouterments only enhanced the happiness in my stomach. As you're mulling your New Year's Resolutions, I beg you to add The House to the list.

We are ho hum about Town Hall

Upon my arrival at Town Hall for lunch, I was stopped at the door by a perky greeter with “how are we today?” Somewhat entertained by her over-the-top enthusiasm, I smiled and replied I was doing great. Three strides later, I was stopped by another seemingly high hostess and asked “how are we doing today?” Now, I’m getting annoyed; I am fine - but you would have to ask my parents how they’re doing to determine how “we” are doing collectively. Shrug it off, Corinne. Enjoy yourself, darn it.

We took our seats in Town Hall’s main dining room; a space I sat in for lunch about two years ago with mixed results. Town Hall is a place people rave about and seem to go out of their way for. My first visit left me with no such inclination but I was willing to give it another shot. I walked in knowing exactly what I wanted - the fried chicken* - so was somewhat thrown when it wasn’t on the menu. The waiter then approached and - you guessed it - asked how “we” were doing today. I decided to speak for the table and assert we were doing well, thank you. Yes, I am dwelling on this “we” issue but their delivery struck me as pretentious and non-genuine. Our waiter reminded me of that weasel from Mad Men. I felt uncomfortable.

Since fried chicken wasn’t an option, I told the waiter “we would like the BBQ meatloaf.” My dad went for the burger and my mom ordered the pulled chicken (blonde moment of the day- I asked if pulled chicken was like pulled pork but with chicken? Uhh, yes - great deductive reasoning on my part). Our plates came out in record time - maybe ten minutes tops - so quickly that my dad was still noshing on his first piece of bread and butter. I enjoyed my meatloaf: it tasted a lot like sausage (yum!!) and had the sweet and savory combination that makes breakfast sausage so irresistible. It was served over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and lightly sautéed vegetables. Like I said, I liked it - but I also saved half for later which means I could stop myself. My mom was pretty under whelmed with her pulled chicken; I had a bite and I could understand. There simply wasn’t much flavor to it - a sandwich you could get at a deli for the half the cost. My dad demolished his burger but he does so with canned applesauce with hot sauce on top (true story) so that’s not a great gauge. His fries were solid but nothing to write home about; in fact they were a little cold.

People love Town Hall. It’s in a very neat building and the interior is special. As far as the food goes, it may be unfair for me to judge since I have not been there for dinner. But based on my two lunch experiences, we will not be going out of our way to get back anytime real soon.

*After two months as a vegan I jumped ship about two weeks ago. It was a great experiment for me and my eating habits have definitely changed - but I no longer adhere to a zero tolerance policy toward meat and dairy.

A Marina Girl in the Mission

Like all major cities, each San Francisco neighborhood has its own distinct identity and is quite dissimilar from one another. Food is a major component driving what distinguishes the Marina from the Haight and the Financial District from the Richmond. And, based on empirical research, the restaurant scene seems to drive the kind of people that live and patronize the neighborhood. My visit to Monk’s Kettle in the Mission turned my theory on its head.

I had prepared myself for a very Mission-y night: dinner and drinks at Monk’s Kettle (16th & Valencia) followed by a live show at Café Du Nord (Market & 15th). The second I walked into Monk’s I turned to Sarah and said “did all these folks get lost on their way to the Marina?!?!” Popped collars and polo shirts were aplenty while not a skinny pant leg in sight. We arrived about 6:30 on a Thursday night and the narrow bar/restaurant was already bursting at the seams. After about a five minute wait – perfect timing to peruse the menus – we took our seats at the bar.

Monk’s Kettle is known for two things: beer and the pretzel. Obviously, Sarah and I had both. The giant pretzel (accompanied by mustard and cheese sauces) is on SF Top 100 list and with good reason: it came out piping hot and covered in thick salt rocks. The dough is a perfect doughy consistency. It’s large – perfect for two people split before the main course. With my pretzel I enjoyed the Au Naturale – American Blonde Grand Teton Brewing (yes, I picked it because of the ‘American Blonde’ part). For the main course, Sarah was a total sport and split the veggie burger with me. Having just downed half the pretzel and a tall beer, half of the burger was just the quantity I needed. Sarah and I both agreed it was thick and tasty – “I don’t even wish it was beef!!” At $8 (pretzel) and $11 (burger) this place is easy on the pocketbook as well.

To revisit my opening theme, Monk’s is a fun spot and absolutely worth re-visiting. But for some reason I can’t get over the fact that it does not have that authentic Mission feel. I didn’t feel like I scoped out unchartered territory; Monk’s would prosper (and attract the same crowd) on Chestnut Street or alongside Washington Square Park in North Beach. Does this matter? Probably not. But it’s what I’ll remember about it (that, and what a fun night it was with Sarah!)

Are you sure there's no cheese in that?!!?!

I hope you’re sitting down for what I am about to write. For the last six weeks I’ve been a vegan. A pretty damn good one, if I might add. I haven’t cheated or broken down (that I am aware of – I am sure butter or eggs have snuck in somewhere at some point but I’m not going to be neurotic about it); in fact, I’ve used the last six weeks to experiment with new recipes, buy fresh vegetables at the farmer’s market, and give my Crock Pot some love. I initially wanted to try it for two weeks but have found it much more pleasurable than I ever imagined. My thoughts about the whole concept are many and diverse – the stuff marathon training runs are made of. Crap, I really am turning into an SF liberal!

Now that you have some context, I can explain the reasoning behind my visit to Green Chile Kitchen. I had actually been there before and remember thinking it was high-quality, low priced Mexican food. Add to that bar seating, unpretentious wait-staff, and mellow atmosphere – and we have ourselves a winner! Veganism drastically limits dining-out options, but GCK’s menu caters to hearty carnivores and picky plant-eaters alike. For the first time in six weeks, I had multiple enticing options to choose from but ultimately settled on the vegetarian burrito (I could have gone for tacos, chilie, etc). Truly one of the better burritos I’ve had. My greatest fear about dairy-less burritos is the dryness factor as there is no cheese or sour cream to glue the main characters together. I cannot tolerate a dry, crumbly burrito. This burrito was large and moist; stuffed with (organic) refried beans, brown rice, fresh vegetables, and guacamole. No cheese and no guac but I really wouldn’t have noticed the difference – in fact I exclaimed to my friend “are you sure there isn’t cheese in there!??!” multiple times.

I walked out feeling like I had eaten a healthy meal, ie no bloating, no stomach aches, or none of the pitfalls of a greasy Mission burrito. To top it off, the burrito was cheap ($6) and I had a few bites leftover for a midnight snack.

I haven't starved to death

It's been a chunk since I updated and the break doesn't mean I've been deprived of delicious food! In fact, the past few weeks have been jam-packed with memorable dining experiences. But if one stands out, it was my evening at Acquerello. If dreams could dream, they would fantasize about dining here. I've always referred to it as the unsung hero of fine dining in San Francisco. It's supposed to be as good as Michael Mina and Gary Danko, yet most people haven't even heard of it. It's location (buried next to a auto shop on Sacramento at Polk) adds to its under-the-radar status. Yet, it has received a coveted Michelin star rating and countless other awards.

I walked in and upon finding my chair, the maitre d' asked approached me with a black napkin to see if I would prefer it over the white one already on my lap (presumably to match my pants? or to make lint less visible?). He also brought over a foot chair, so god forbid, my Nordstrom Rack purse wouldn't touch the ground.

Diners can choose between three, four, or five courses from the menu. With the bread, various "surprises from the chef," and complimentary truffles at the end - three courses is plenty. I started with a chilled melon soup, then moved to a pasta with foie gras, black truffles and Marsala; and closed with a Monkfish. The soup was like a five star smoothie - refreshing, flavorful, and not something I have access to often (ever since I had the chilled melon soup at Jean George in NYC, I've always been drawn to them). The highlight was the pasta. I am not a big pasta eater at all, but this dish may turn me into a convert. The pasta was so perfect, I could imagine the chefs in the kitchen carefully crafting each rigatoni ring; add in the sauce - which tasted like a slightly savory carmel sauce - and I was in heaven. To be brutally honest, the monkfish wasn't a homerun for me but I blame it on bad ordering. Monkfish is, by nature, mild and thus the flavors didn't pop like the previous two. No fault of the restaurant.

The service is what transforms this from a simple meal into an experience. Each diner at the table has a personal waiter who brings her the plate and explains exactly what's going on. The dining room is large and open, yet I felt like I was the only one there. Lastly, the waiter brings a truffle cart with about six different varieties and lets you pick out the ones you want to try (you can try all if you want to!). Oh, I was also brought out a small gift box on my way out (home-made biscotti for the road).

As you may imagine, this stuff ain't cheap - it is a "once a year" type of place. Only 345 days to go....

Ozum-O Yes!

Craving something different than our normal sandwich/pizza/pasta Friday lunch fare, I chose Ozumo for a little taste of Japan. I ate there roughly two years ago and remember being pleased but not blown away. I also distinctly remember how massive the restaurant space is. This time around, the vicinity is still as big and the food is better.

We entered through Spear Street and traversed through several dining areas, passed multiple bars and private dining rooms to finally find our seats overlooking the Bay Bridge. As I scanned the menu, I was torn among all the sushi, bento box, noodles, soup/salad combo options. Everything looked good and tempting! I finally settled on the Mifune Bento box under terms of agreement with my mom that I could have a few pieces of her tempura. The Mifune ($18.50) includes Tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and shrimp nigiri with a California roll and spicy tuna roll. I’m trying to pinpoint exactly what I liked so much about it, but the adjectives are hard to come up with (not to confuse with “speechless” just difficult to describe). I suppose everything tasted fresh; and the combination of sticky rice and fresh fish isn’t something I put away on a daily basis. I am one of the few people I know that does not crave sushi. I probably eat it 5 times a year.

My mom and dad liked Ozumo more than most. My mom had the Tempura Bento box – the Japanese sure do a great take on fried! The dipping sauce was sweet and tasty and the accompanying salad had a unique dressing. My dad had a seafood noodle bowl and a serving of pot-stickers – both bowl and plate were squeaky clean when he was through with them.

As I alluded to earlier, I was struggling to identify why exactly I liked Ozumo so much. I queried my parents who pointed out the variety. In a single Bento Box, I had nigiri, two kinds of sushi, a small serving of noodles, and fruit. Add to that the variety of dipping sauces and samplings of my parents’ dishes – and I had covered a lot of ground! Furthermore, much like Slanted Door*, the flavors are simply not something we encounter very often; there’s something to be said when the waitress brings a quaint teapot of a Japanese dipping sauce and not a bottle of Heinz catchup. Lastly, as we walked out, we couldn’t get over how full we were. We stopped by Specialty’s for a cookie to top things off and – a few hours later – the cookie still sits untouched on my desk (check back with me about 7pm tonight, however…)

*I like Ozumo more than Slanted Door - but that is for another post.

Déjà vu

After two years of passing by it on the bus to work, I finally made it to Sam’s on Bush Street (not to be confused with Sam’s in Tiburon – verrrrry different). When I walked in, I immediately thought of Tadich Grill: older male waiters in white tuxedos, box-car style seating, focus on fish, old-school San Francisco vibe. While Tadich was better, Sam’s was still a pleasant experience.

First impressions are important and Sam nails this one. Check out the bread waiting! And four pats of butter. Once the excitement of the sourdough bread died down, the rest of the experience was pleasant but nothing to write home about. The menu is extensive and has something for everyone – soups, salads, steaks, fish, vegetarian, pastas, and ranges in price from about $12-25. I love calamari, so I opted for the marinated calamari salad (realized breading and frying makes a big difference). My dad ordered the Salisbury steak while Mom-aroo went for the veal. Everyone seemed pleased and pleasantly full – if I were a teacher, I’d give Sam a B.

These are the hardest reviews to write – there was no single event or aspect to harp on, joke about, or recommend to others. I should point out that the noise level was optimal and the service was attentive without being overwhelming. But what restaurant wants to be remembered for its “optimal noise level”?

Going Green

The big bro turned the big 2-9 and to honor his final year as a twenty-something, the family met for a late lunch at Chez Panisse in Berkeley. For those of you unfamiliar, Chez Panisse was founded in the 1970’s by Alice Waters and, to me, pretty much epitomizes Berkeley. To this day, Alice still runs the show and has made famous the organic, locally-grown, grow-what-you-eat, etc. approach to fine dining. I distinctly remember a recent 60 Minutes segment featuring Alice in which she casually prepares an egg (cage-free, of course) for Leslie Stahl by sticking it on a long wooden paddle and warming it in her stone oven over open coals. ‘Cause that’s what we all do when we’re craving the Over Easy, right? Alice doesn’t own a microwave or a toaster (the disgrace!). It’s a nice concept but I wonder how feasible it is for the rest of America to install an open-air, million dollar stone oven in our kitchens…

Anyway, onto the meal. The menu changes daily to emphasize the freshest ingredients. Not feeling terribly hungry, I opted for two appetizers (supplemented with generous servings of free bread and butter, of course). My dad, brother, and I started with a roasted tomato and eggplant soup, which was fresh and flavorful. As one would expect, Alice’s stuff doesn’t taste like it came from a can of Campbell’s. I followed the soup with local halibut tartare; again the ingredients taste fresh and of high quality. My mom raved about her grilled halibut. My dad was pleased with his pesto pasta and my brother finished his steak.

If you don’t mind paying a premium for fresh food this is the place for you. We dined in the more casual upstairs “café” where lunch entrees run about $20-25 a pop. Dinner is prix fixe and run $75 each. I can definitely taste the difference in really high quality ingredients but I don’t really care all that much to spend twice as much.

To celebrate Adrienne’s birthday, four of us gals ventured 45 minutes southwest to The Moss Beach Distillery. MBD came recommended to me from a wise SF native currently residing in NYC; she claimed this restaurant is her top priority when she is back in town (I love tips like that). Half Moon Bay may be less than an hour away, but the rural and serene atmosphere makes it feel more like a few million miles away. We dropped our cars at the hotel and made our way to the cliff-side spot known for its ghost named Kate. I cried “Bull S&*%” each and every time one of the waiters or owner told us of a personal encounter with Kate but, admittedly, was pretty entertained to see adults passionately speak of possessed silverware or subliminal messages from the resident spirit.

Enough about ghosts, time for true stories: Moss Beach is tucked away on a cliff over-looking the bay. One can sit inside next to a window to enjoy the view or on a patio outside, where they provide blankets and fireplaces to combat the perpetual fog. If it weren’t 40 and misty, I might have been game to do the outdoor thing.

The menu could have been written for me: burgers, fish’n’chips, sliders, crispy fish tacos, fried calamari, salmon club, coast sliders. We split the fried calamari to start, which was solid but I have seen better (only red sauce option, bordering on lukewarm). It was painstaking, but I finally decided on the slider trio: bacon-cheddar, jack cheese-grilled onion, gruyere-sautéed mushroom. I am not exaggerating when I say the first bite nearly took my breath away. The beef was perfectly rare (a few drops of blood), the mini-brioche rolls soft and sweet, and the toppings paired to perfection. It helped that I hadn’t had a burger in several weeks, which made the victory all the more sweet.

Not wanting to risk rapid weight loss, we ordered the flourless chocolate cake and banana-marshmallow samosas for dessert. The cake tasted more like a dense brownie, which was fine with me. The samosas – fried bananas, chocolate, and marshmallows deep fried in pastry dough – went down just right with the warm chocolate dipping sauce.

Topping off the excellent meal, the restaurant had wonderful customer service. One gets the sense the waiters have been there for years and treat you like an old friend. They brought Adrienne an ice-cream sundae (yes, we had three desserts) and sang Happy Birthday. The manager stopped by to make sure we were happy. They also offer a free shuttle service to any of the nearby hotels, which we readily accepted after toasting Adrienne's entry into drinking age. Oh, to be 21 again!

Shake your money maker

Fun Factoid: Slanted Door was San Francisco’s highest grossing restaurant in 2008 (http://sanfrancisco.grubstreet.com/2009/04/slanted_door_is_sfs_highest_gr.html). Based on how large the space is, the crowds I saw today, and the prices on the menu – I don’t doubt it. The combination of unique food and million-dollar views doesn’t hurt, either.

Back to my gymnastics analogy, Vietnamese food will never be a perfect 10 for me, but I still left SD’s (perpendicular) door with the upmost respect. Each of the four plates I tasted today had something distinct or memorable about it:

- Crispy Imperial Rolls (appetizer): This is fried food where you’re not overwhelmed by the breading and oil and can focus on the substance. The rolls are stuffed with quality pork, shrimp, and peanut bits. It’s only lightly friend (hence “crispy”) – so it’s quite healthy for you, actually. The platter comes with lettuce, noodles, and mint to build a wrap but I found this distracted from the roll itself. (Bottom photo, 90% decimated)

- Crab with cellophane noodles (a dish on 7x7’s Top 100!): It’s not every day I have cellophane noodles. The texture – lighter than a normal noodle – was a pleasant change and the flavors used were equally refreshing. (Top photo)

- Grilled lemongrass pork: As you can see from the picture, this dish is more about the rice noodles than the pork. It also comes with more crispy rolls (yes!) Mint, a flavor I don’t encounter often, infuses the plate. (Second photo)

- Chicken claypot: This was my favorite. It was heartier than the other two meat dishes. The ginger sauce is subtle but flavorful and the chicken chunks were juicy.

One comment about the meat: in both the crab and pork plates, the meat serving was quite small – a few small pieces in each. The crab dish was 90% noodles and 10% crab. I wouldn’t classify this is a complaint but rather as something that surprised me (especially considering the dishes run $18 - $20 a pop).

What I liked most about Slanted Door is none of the dishes are heavy, but the flavors still leave a lasting impression. Strong but subtle (subtly strong? Whatever.). Great place to bring out-of-towners for a classic SF experience – just book your reservation early.

Pleasing a tough crowd

Monday night found me meeting a friend of twenty years (yes, twenty!) downtown for an early dinner at a Mexican joint I had never heard of. According to Lauren, she chose Tropisueno based on several walk-by observations. Good enough reason for me. Lauren and I grew up together eating delicious, hearty Mexican food; neither of us easily fooled by mediocre south-of-the-border fare, so Tropisueno had its work cut out.

When I walked in, my first observation was how delightful the place was. You walk into a decent-sized bar area, which appeared quite lively for a Monday night. To its left is a large, charming dining room. Immediately, I felt like I had walked into one of the restaurants I visited in Mexico earlier this year.

Lauren, a full bowl of chips, and two salsas awaited me in the dining room. The chips were good and addicting, as all good Mexican restaurant chips are and should be. The menu is comprehensive but not overwhelming. I was tempted by several options (a seafood soup, chile verde, and the stand-by combo option) but ultimately decided on something a little different: Camarones Tropisueno. This dish consists of a generous serving of jumbo shrimp swimming in an arbol sauce (best described orange and slightly spicy – almost curry-like) accompanied by Mexican rice, corn tortillas, refried beans, and salsa. The arbol sauce was quite memorable and not something you see every day. I was very pleased.

Onto two critical factors when evaluating Mexican food: portions and prices. Naturally, I managed to find the most expensive item on the menu ($16) but most options are in the very reasonable $10 range. When you consider all the accompaniments that are included with the entrees – rice beans, tortillas – it makes for a very filling meal (sadly, this is not always a given nowadays...ahem, Mamacita). Nothing makes me happier than finding a new Mexican spot that meets my unreasonably high taste, portion, and price standards. I will definitely go back and would highly recommend it to others (especially since Chevy’s is around the corner). Gracias, Lauren!

Globe Easters

Wasting no time to make good on my promise to revisit mediocre places others adore (see previous post), I made my way to Pacific & Battery for lunch at the Globe. I first went about two years ago for lunch with my parents. Context: I couldn’t recall any distinct details about my first visit other than I was totally underwhelmed; my parents walked in today and literally could not recall having ever been there before (they’re old, but not THAT old). On the flip side, my boss liked the place so much, he chose to have his wedding reception there; I’ve had friends say they take out-of-towners there to impress them. Have I teed up the contrasting dynamics effectively enough yet?

Well, one thing did stand out today and, unfortunately, it was not the food. The noise-level was so unbearable I could barely hear my parents talking next to me. The tables are crammed and the brick walls do nothing to soften the chatter. When I walked out after, the ringing in my ears left me feeling like I had just attended an Avril Lavigne concert (sorry, first performer that came to mind – not sure why).

It’s a shame because the food is actually pretty good. I’ve been on a soup kick lately and opted to try their daily soup (some sort of vegan tomato and eggplant puree) with their smoked salmon appetizer. The soup was light and flavorful and paired well with the smoked salmon. I felt pleasantly full but not sick to my stomach as I often do at Friday lunch. My parents each had the rigatoni with pork. They both reported being pleased (if not a little put off by the $17 price tag) and the bite I had tasted good to me.

I passed on the dessert menu because I needed to escape the noise, which was becoming increasingly loud as the place filled up. I realize noise is one of my “things” that I care more about than a lot of people do. So don't let it be a deterrent to Globe if you're oblivious. But if you’re looking for a quiet date or a productive lunch meeting – skip the Globe.

Everyone Makes Mistakes...Maybe?

Every now and then, I visit an eatery that has remarkable word-of-mouth publicity. My friends’ mouths start salivating at the mere mention of these places. Michael Bauer’s words jump off the page when he writes about them in the Chronicle. And then I visit…

I can think of a few places off the top of my head where I am literally the only person I know that wasn’t impressed. I am making a concerted effort now (set, GO!) to re-visit these places and see if maybe I got it wrong the first time around. I will start with Globe (Financial District) tomorrow with my parents. I recall being there about two years ago but can recall more than my feeling of disappointment.

Other anomalies:

-Tacolicious (Marina): To me, this was an over-priced, under-valued Mexican joint (Big No-No). I left thinking more effort was put into achieving trendy Marina status than into good Mexican grub.

-Frascati: This is a beloved SF spot that I am convinced I must have hit on an off night. My roast chicken was dry and the pasta was mediocre at best. I do visit a lot of nicer-end places like this at lunch, which I realize may not be when a restaurant is on its A-Game, but this was a full-blown Saturday night visit. The passing trolley cars and classic SF ambiance is enough to motivate me to re-visit.

-Boulevard: $21 for three ravioli is highway robbery. This was a lunchtime visit and I probably owe it a chance at dinner. Pencil me in after my next raise.
Flour + Water: The New York Times, Washington Post, and Sunset Magazine all fell over themselves for this place. Friends I talk to come close to disowning me when they hear I didn’t care for it. The pizza was good… but no better than Delfina, Little Star, A16, Zachary’s….

Everyone and everything deserves a second chance. Stay Tuned.

Branching out to The Plant

I had been putting off visiting The Plant for months. Its “organic, vegetarian, local, farm-raised, vegan, all natural, zen, unprocessed, anti-George Bush, macrobiotic ” pitch simply wasn’t doing much for my appetite. However, still blocked up from a four-day weekend food-for-all, I was actually in the mood for a salad and a tall, cold glass of …water.

And to clear something up: The Plant actually has meat on its menu. One can choose from chicken, shrimp, (or tofu, of course) in many of the sandwiches and wrap options. To my great surprise, I actually had a harder time than usual choosing what I wanted because so many of the choices sounded interesting and different. The Tikka chicken wrap, pumpkin seed & corn meal encrusted tempeh*, and duck confit pizza all looked enjoyable. Ultimately, my mom and I went in together on the Thai Green Curry with shrimp and the wild mushroom pizza.

The Good: the food tasted fresh and healthy. I didn’t walk away feeling bloated or like I’ll have to hit the gym twice as hard tomorrow. The curry had a pleasant lemon flavor that I’ve never noticed in a curry before. You can’t beat the view (we sat on the patio overlooking the bay).

The “Ehh”: Everything was kind of bland. “Pleasant” is a good word to describe it. In my stomach’s eye, I see curry as warming, comforting, and potent – this was not. Shouldn’t you be able to pour the curry sauce over the rice? The pizza crust was too thin and the cheese was finely shaved on in fingernail size portions.
I have no doubt many would enjoy this, especially the health conscious. It just doesn’t have me coming running back for more.

*Tempeh is not a characteristic often associated with anger. The waitress definied it as “tofu-like” but nuttier.

Fourth Time is a Charm

Marking our fourth attempt to dine at Barbacco, my parents and I headed to the new-ish California street spot armed with reservations (which seems to be the only way to get a seat after 11:30am). Upon being seated, we ordered the salted focaccia bread to tie us over while we browsed the menu. This isn’t a slight on the rest of food - because the bread is truly one-of-a-kind - but the $1 app was my favorite aspect of the meal. It’s doused in olive oil and topped with flavorful sea salt. Top 3 bread of all time.

Since it’s polite to spend more than $1 and actually order an entrée, I ordered the warm duck confit spinach salad and split the salumi platter with my dad. My dad had the lasagna and my mom the muffaletta sandwich. The salumi platter is what Barbacco is known for and I can see why. The platter consists of several salami and bologna-type selections, bread sticks, and small toasts. By the time my spinach salad arrived, I was closing in on full. I suppose it was wise ordering, as the salad was light and didn‘t make me uncomfortably full. It was tasty but not something I’ll be talking about in a day or two (do salads every ingrain themselves in one’s memory, though?). My dad’s lasagna looked amazing (warm, cheesy, comforting), and the bread in my mom’s sando gives carbs a good name.

I use a gymnastics analogy to describe my attitude toward certain genres of food. Just as there are varying maximum scores on the vault in gymnastics depending on degree of difficulty, some kinds of food are simply not out of a perfect 10 for me. Even if Barbacco were to “stick it,” it’d probably be out of a 9.0; pasta simply doesn‘t have the thrill-factor for me. Burgers, on the other hand, have a max score of 10. That being said, Barbacco probably scored an 8.5 - which means it’s about as good as it can get for me but just can’t compete with the more difficult routines…

An SF Institution Delivers!

For reasons I cannot explain, I have walked right past Tadich Grill for the last three years. It’s across the street from my office and has been around since 1849 (the oldest restaurant in the city!) so I have no excuse. After reading this blog entry, you have no excuse either!

This spot continuously nailed it from the moment I walked into the door to the last bite of bread pudding (and assuredly again when I re-heat the leftovers tonight). We walked in, reservation-less, and were immediately seated in a corner table by the window overlooking California Street (+ 1). Authentic SF sourdough bread was already on the table when we sat down (+1). Room temperature butter on table (+1). Our old-school waiter (think long, white overcoats) brought us our menus and water promptly (+1). Upon his recommendation, we ordered a ceviche appetizer, which appeared before us as we were still perusing the lengthy menu (+1). And probably one of my favorite touches: waiter brings out a large, wide-mouthed bottle of ketchup without us requesting it. Clutch! (+1)

I was torn between the daily Mahi Mahi special and the seafood curry casserole. When my mom said she was getting the Mahi Mahi, I was sold on the curry casserole. The moment I started getting antsy for my plate, the waiter appeared with a glorious dish of baby shrimp, jumbo shrimp, crab, and prawns swimming in a thick curry sauce served over a bed of white rice (see before and after shots). I am a sucker for curry and this was right up there with the best I’ve had. It was everything curry should be: warm, comforting, hearty, and filling! I saved half of it for dinner tonight. Man, that was good! (+100)

My mom had the Mahi Mahi special (see pic) and I was privy to a bite or two. Right away, I could tell this was quality seafood. Moreover, the fillet was large (to the point my mom didn’t finish it). My dad had corned beef hash (I can NEVER predict his orders) and walked away happy (+1 and +1).

Lastly, the waiter mentioned they had bread pudding and we all know I cannot say no. I am always excited to see how each restaurant will approach a bread pudding (bread pudding is like a snowflake - no two are the same). Tadich’s take was unlike any I’ve seen and I was quite impressed. First, it was just barely warm (as opposed to steaming hot like most) and was more like layered pieces of French toast with a thick bourbon sauce. Sometimes bread pudding comes out more on the “pudding” side, but this one definitely comes out on the “bread” side of the spectrum. Upon first bite, I had my doubts, but then I couldn’t stop digging in (+ infinity).

I lost track of the exact score, but Tadich is a winner!

A Healthy Dosa

Last Friday night’s plan consisted of dinner at Dosa followed by a screening of Sex & the City with four of my running gal pals. Having read the reviews of SATC, I was definitely more excited to see how Dosa handled high-end Indian than how Carrie handled the Middle East. Like Mexican food, I’m not convinced Indian should be served in a luxurious vicinity with double-digit prices … but it’s always worth a shot.

With five of us at the dinner table, I rescinded all ordering power to those around me because I’ll try anything and everything on the menu looked good to me. Either it’s hard to find a miss at Dosa or I just found myself some excellent new wing-women! We ordered an assortment of curries, samosas, and Dosas. The highlight for me was definitely the Bhatura, the puffy bread in the picture. Not only is it an unusual site to see on your dinner table, the sweet’n’savory flavoring reminded me of a thin pancake. Give me a little dipping sauce and that’s a happy meal for me.

It’s been several days since Dosa and I’ve done some soul searching about the difference between expensive Indian and take-out. Shalimar – previously reviewed on this blog – is incredible Indian food and one of my favorite take-out spots in the city regardless of genre. One of its greatest virtues is that one can get out the door in under $15 and still stuff two adults. So, is Dosa worth the premium? I say yes, when the occasion is right (for comparison sake, expensive Mexican is NEVER worth it). Take a look at the pictures – the puffy bread and rolled up bread is not something one can order take-out. The presentation of these dishes is an exciting and unusual treat in itself. The serving sizes (again, unlike expensive Mexican) is generous and easily shared among multiple people. Moreover, the Indian staples – curries, samosas, etc – were just as memorable as the stuff you get in plastic take-out ware. Lastly, the first adjective that pops to mind to describe Dosa’s Fillmore location is “luxurious.” Dosa has a lot going for it.

And since this is exclusively a food blog, I’ll spare you the SATC movie review…

Harry saves the night!

5:25PM Text from Sarah G: Happy Hour?
5:26PM ME: YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

45 Minutes later we found ourselves bar-side at Out the Door, which is about 25 feet from my apartment and about 75 from hers. In all fairness, we had some wine and shared a small salad appetizer, so probably not fair basis for a full review. But still, there were some issues about the visit that are still lingering in my mind.

First, I knew OTD had a dish on 7X7’s Top 100 Things to Eat in SF Before You Die list. I actually brought the list with me, but didn’t bother to cross-check it when the waiter told us it was the green papaya salad. Not only was the salad unremarkable, it wasn’t even the dish on the list! Anyone who knows me knows I love a list and I love crossing things off a list even more. Imagine my dismay when I went to check off the green papaya salad only to find we should have gotten something else. Furthermore, we advised the bartender upfront that we were here for a drink and maybe an appetizer. He must have asked us about our dinner order five times. He refilled our waters ten times. “Another glass of wine?” six times. He wiped down the space in front of me. You’ve heard the term “helicopter parent;” this guy was a “helicopter waiter.” Chill out!

Feeling a bit like we put the edge on rather than taking it off, we agreed a pit-stop at Harry’s was our only option. Ah, yes. Redemption. Laugh all you want, but that’s a fun bar with great food. After sampling our friendly bar-neighbor’s sweet potato fries, we placed a small order of our own. $2.95 gets you a big bowl and these suckers are TASTY! The mayonnaise-based dipping sauce hit the spot too.

On to a pun I cannot resist: I won’t be going In the Door at Out the Door anytime soon.

Thursday night’s dinner with Brooke & Jeff at RN74 contrasted starkly with Friday’s parent lunch at Lafitte. I truly believe it is healthy to have a bad dining experience (Lafitte) to make one appreciate the great ones (RN74).

Let’s start in chronological order. Brooke & Jeff asked me to join them at RN74, Michael Mina’s newest outpost in the Millennium Tower, to celebrate an assortment of things. I had been there once for lunch when it first opened but was tickled with excitement to see how Mina does dinner. I remember remarking to B&J that RN74 has one of the neatest interiors I’ve seen in SF; it’s modeled after an old-fashioned train station.

PETA members, pig-lovers, and animal-rights activists – please overt your eyes now. As an appetizer, I had the sautéed pork belly & manila clams. Pork belly: fattier and thicker version of bacon. Jackpot. Jeff also got the maitake mushroom tempura for the table to share (fried – ‘nuff said). For my main course, I had the bacon-wrapped pork loin (like I said, not a good day for Babe). Let me say, this place is pricey but the servings are generous. These are not two-bite meals (appetizers included) like many high-end restaurants. In fact, I only ate half of my main and packed the rest for the weekend. Everything was delicious, but when I’m on my deathbed, I will remember that pork belly. Ya can cut it with a fork and it melts in your mouth. All this washed down with a good glass of wine – how did I get this lucky? Seriously.

Fast forward approximately 18 hours to lunch with the parentals along the Embarcadero. On my weekly waterfront runs, I noticed a new restaurant popped out – literally – of the north end of Pier 5. The space is an enclosed outdoor dining patio (check out the website for better visuals). Anyway, the place is called Lafitte and is about six weeks old. My diagnosis here is the chef is trying to be clever and innovative with his menu options – but it just totally backfires.

Parents both ordered the “Dagwood” sandwich. Take a look at the picture: WTF is that? Let’s just say anchovies, bacon, pork pate, and four pieces of bread were involved. I’m really glad I didn’t order it because:

-I had a few bites of mom’s and it was dry
-I honestly didn’t know how approach it
o pick it up?
o Eat it as two different sandwiches?
o Knife and fork?
o Four separate pieces of toast?

I ordered the seafood chowder (still blocked up from RN74) and out came a bowl consisting primarily carrots and potatoes. Sorry to be harsh, but an $18 bowl of soup should have more than two pieces of shrimp. Oh, and I used my fork to eat it. Huh?

Thank you Brooke & Jeff for providing me with such a special treat. Thanks Mom & Dad for hanging in there during an unfortunate SF showing. We’ll get ‘em next time.

The burden of expectation

Frascati has some of the best word-of-mouth publicity I can think of in this city. Everyone I talk to who has been to the Green & Hyde spot nearly falls over him/herself at its mere mention. Sorry to say, I’m not one of them. I will try my best to articulate why. Bread pudding is involved..

There was a very strong disconnect between price and value. Entrees range from roughly $22-28 per plate and apps are in the mid-teens. For me, this is the definitely the higher end of what I normally spend when I go out to dinner. My companion and I shared the Roasted Half Chicken and a penne dish. To evidence the level of an impression the pasta left on us, neither of us can remember what was in it. Monday morning GChat:

ME: “Did it have meat in it?”
Response: “I don’t think so?? Maybe? It was red.”

It was described as spicy on the menu, but I don’t recollect that part, either. The chicken didn’t fare much better. I distinctly remember thinking the $7 roast chicken at Safeway is moister and juicer than what was on my plate at Frascati.
Lastly, the bread pudding. Multiple sources (friends, websites) billed this as the best in the city. Good, yes. Great, no. Not even on the same spectrum as the bread pudding served at Luna Park. It reminded me more of a piece of moist chocolate cake than anything else.

To end on a positive note: Frascati is located on one of my favorite blocks in the city (Hyde & Green). Cable cars are rumbling by and white Christmas lights wrap the tree trunks year-round. It’s a classic SF view, which is not something I ever take for granted. The restaurant itself is charming and cozy. Service was well above average – friendly, knowledgeable, and well-paced. Just wish the food was as impressive as the setting.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I was browsing through my blog entries and starting to feel like all I do is gush over every place I eat, so my experience at Georges will prove that I don’t I don’t automatically pee in my pants about a restaurant as soon as I walk through the door.

Don’t get me wrong, Georges was good and I had a nice time. It was a solid choice for my mom’s 61st birthday. The service was attentive (less one minor “huh?” moment), the setting was pleasant, and the food was nothing to complain about. The place is only 6 weeks old, so a return visit in 6-12 months could very well call for a change in undergarments.

Georges is all about fish. My dad ordered the grilled halibut sandwich (“just for the halibut” of course), my mom the salmon & penne, and me the fish tacos. I was gravely tempted by the fish & chips, so was overjoyed to see the fish in the tacos was fried. I have had some good fried fish tacos in my day (ahem, Nick’s Crispy’s…) and these simply didn’t measure up. I think the first bite into battered fried fish should almost burn your mouth and the breading should yield a crunch sound. Georges’ fried fish was lukewarm and soft. The consistency of the fried breading wasn’t too different from the fish inside. I wasn’t upset about it; in fact, I realize I’m spoiled in the fried fish arena (The Ramp is another place that does it extremely well) so the bar was placed high.

There was one minor slip-up, but maybe I’m the only one who would consider it one? The server brought us the bread. Just bread. No oil. No butter. No nothing. Bread is great, but isn’t that akin to bringing French fries sans ketchup? When we asked for oil, butter – anything – he looked confused and finally dug up some oil (no vinegar, but let’s not get greedy).

If Ain't Broken, Don't Fix It (especially when it comes to burgers)

How do I say this delicately? “If ain’t broken, don’t fix it” seems like an appropriate idiom for Spork. Spork, an upscale diner in the Mission District, had been waiting patiently on my to-do list for months. I found myself in the ‘hood (Valencia & 22nd-ish) Saturday night around 7pm and was quite surprised to find the place half-empty (I just noticed I instinctively chose to write “half empty” rather than my normal “half full” – perhaps an indication of my true feelings toward the place??? Freud, eat your heart out). My companion and I bellied right up to the diner-style bar (think plastic stools and paper napkin dispensers). Spork is known for its inside out burger, so that pick was a no brainer.

Back to the idiom. As you can see from the photo, Spork’s approach to the burger is to switch the buns with beef patties and the patty with a bun. It's a clever idea and I’m not afraid of a lot of meat. For various reasons, it fails miserably. Here is a list of my problems:

1. When asked how I wanted the beef cooked, I responded with my normal response (“mooing.”) I have never seen beef cooked so thoroughly. Strike 1.

2. The “bun” in the middle is totally absorbed by the meat to the point of disappearing, creating more of a meatloaf result.

3. The $3 bacon add-on is an insult to pigs around the world. It had the consistency of a relish – spreadable. Again, they tried to get clever on a staple and it totally backfires.

4. The Fries – can a girl just get a plate of freakin’ French fries?! Not at Spork. The “fries” are really four cutesy potato blossoms. Do not ask about the ketchup serving size. It will make me upset.

To recap, Spork tries to get creative in their delivery and it backfires on three fronts (Burger, bacon, and French fries). I *guess* I’m glad I went to see what the fuss is about, but when the burger craving strikes, there's no chance I will be returning to Spork.

One thing Spork has going for it: it’s three blocks from Luna Park (home of the best bread pudding in the world). And yes, the bread pudding is as good as ever. Best ever. Ever. Ever!!!!



EVER.

I Ordered Soup

Noon-time on Friday found my parents and me at Embarcadero 4 for lunch at Sens Restaurant, a Mediterranean spot offering gorgeous views of the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge. I still remember exactly what I ordered there two years ago (lamb burger), which is probably the highest compliment I can offer a restaurant.

Fighting the overwhelming urge to order the lamb burger again, I did something I haven’t done since the last time I had the flu: I ordered soup. To be fair, I also ordered the eggplant flatbread appetizer for a sense of balance. The soup du jour (insert Dumb & Dumber joke here) was described to me as some sort of Moroccan lentil/vegetable concoction. Here I go with the superlatives: this was the best soup I’ve ever had. In spite of being tomato based, it was thick, rich, and filling; comparable to chili. I can’t tell the difference between spices and flavors (beyond “chocolate” vs. “vanilla”), so your guess is as good as mine when it comes to which components created such a heart-warming bowl of goodness. The flatbreads were equally comforting: warm, chewy pita topped with pesto, cheese, cherry tomatoes and eggplant. Quite a generous serving for an $8 appetizer, too.

My dad described his lamb burger as unique (“there are chunks of other things in this patty”) and my mom raved about the salad on the side of her chicken wrap even more so than the wrap itself. Everything served at Sens has a distinct Mediterranean feel; lots of lemons, olive oil, and yogurt flavoring.

I have a policy about ordering bread pudding when out at restaurants. It’s not something you can have at home or pick up quickly at a bakery. Thus, it must be ordered when available. Continuing its amazing run, Sens offered a banana bread pudding with brown sugar ice cream and caramel sauce. The dessert was at the same level as everything else, thus making this a Sens-ational meal from start to finish.

Neither Here Nor There

This is a tough entry to write because Café Claude wasn’t overwhelming good nor it was it exceptionally terrible. It’s … just a French spot hidden away on Claude Lane (a small alley between Pine and Bush). I won’t go out of my way to return but certainly won’t turn my nose up either. You get the point. (Call me if you want more ways to describe “middle of the road.”).

I was not in a sandwich mood (a rare occasion for me) and was looking to eat something I don’t get to try very often. I ended up with the steak tartare. Now, that is how I like my beef cooked! As you can see from the photos, the dish consists of a decent portion of raw steak and crostini-style bread, some seasonings, and a small raw egg. I think steak tartare is inherently mild and not something that will blow your mind. My dad and I also shared potato gratin. Again, it was tasty but not mind blowing.

My mom went with my second choice – a bacon, egg, and cheese quiche. I had a bite, and a part of me wish I had ordered this one instead. Chewy/flakey crust: Check. Bacon: Check. Rich, gooey cheese: check.

Interestingly, the restaurant is hidden away in nondescript alleyway, yet is a pretty large space once you walk in. In spite of the generous square footage, Café Claude packs its diners to the rafters. This creates a noisy dining room and some agitation for those with claustrophobic tendencies.

Bottom line, in a city with such stellar dining options, Café Claude can wait.

A Non-Mission Mission Spot

Sarah G FINALLY joined the 25 Club (ok, one day after me…) and to celebrate five of us ventured to the place of her choosing, Andalu. Located on 16th between Guerrero and Valencia, this place is smack dab in the middle of a hoppin’ Mission district block. As I stepped inside the door, I was overwhelmed with the aroma of quality fried food. I got pretty giddy as I eyed the plates as I made my way to the upstairs table.

Andalu’s shtick is small plates, and not of one specific genre or geographical region that I could glean. The menu is bordering on overwhelming (but only because I wanted all of them): tartars, short ribs, sliders, mac’n’cheese, fondues, salads, fries, bacon wrapped pork, fish… the list goes on and on; each averaging about $10 a pop. The server advised 2-3 plates/person which I would disagree with; the small plates – to Andalu’s credit – or more “medium” in portion and 1-2 per person is plenty.

The ladies and I shared about six plates. Once the “ooohs” and “ahhhs” died down and the eyes returned from the back of the head, I took a straw poll about the favorites. The fondue (served with sliced pear and crispy bread) and the Mac’n’cheese came out tops. Did you know you can bread and deep fry mac’n’cheese? I did not. Picture a mozzarella stick filled with mac’n’cheese and you have an idea of how Andalu does it. Entirely unexpected and so delicious.

I’ve gone on many a rant about the Mission district but Andalu gives me renewed optimism about the neighborhood as a whole. As home to such destination places like Delfina, Range, Beretta, and others, the “professional” food critics devote all their admiration and attention here. My opinion is that, generally speaking, the hot Mission spots we read about daily in the Chronicle offer pretty much the same thing at the same quality in the same atmosphere. Before I get carried away (again), I want to conclude by saying that while Andalu does follow the small plate trend, the offering is entirely different than its neighbors and exists in a category of its own.

Lastly, as we walked out, the birthday girl stated Andalu was Top 5. As her friends, we could not have asked for more.

My Cup Runneth Over

What better way to spend a sunny, 65 degree day than at a downtown lunch date with my dad? With the sun shining and the bay glistening, I met my dad at The Cosmopolitan (Spear between Mission and Howard). I recall being quite pleased with my initial visit two years ago, and the urge to return had been nagging at me for weeks.

Wow. Talk about underrated. Forget One Market or MarketBar! Few have heard of this place, despite its prominent downtown location and all-around gastronomic excellence. This is the perfect location for a business meeting, a girls-only lunch, date, or Happy Hour. The lighting is advantageous, the noise-level is conversational, service is excellent, and the fries – as my dad exclaimed – are “extraordinary.” I probably don’t need to continue (but I will).

My dad started with the $5/2 Martini lunch special (not a type-o) and I ordered a glass of Sauv Blanc. Upon their prompt delivery, I ordered the daily special (grilled Ahi tuna/Avocado sandwich with onion rings) and my dad the beef brisket sando. Sandwiches are by no means the only option; it was an extremely tough call between the chicken pot pie and the assortment of appealing fish options. Something for everyone. We also pre-ordered the sourdough-toffee bread pudding for dessert, as the menu wisely advised of the 25 minute preparation time.

I’ve found Ahi often falls into the trap of being too bland, but this one was grilled and seasoned to tasty perfection. The bread was soft and chewy – complimenting the delicate fish rather than overwhelming it. I didn’t taste my dad’s brisket sandwich, but by the look on his face he was a happy camper. I DID gather an ample sample-size of my dad’s fries and they were the stuff Top 5 lists are made of. I didn’t have the chance to ask how they were prepared, but my guess is they are double fried and/or fried in a special oil. Throw some garlic and herbs on top of that – speechless.

Just as I started to think “hmm, some dessert would hit the spot about now,” out came the bread pudding. It wasn’t quite Luna Park- good, but it was a unique preparation. (That is what I love about bread pudding – you never know how it will come out). It was extremely chocolatey and served with a dollop of coffee ice cream.

Not a single aspect of this dining experience missed a single beat. The food, the service, the location, the prices – they all added up to a top-notch meal. I don’t care who you are with or what meal you’re eating – book The Cosmopolitan pronto!

A new favorite

After a second failed attempt to dine at Barbacco (totally booked at 11:45am and doesn’t accept reservations…), the parents and I headed toward the Transamerica building for Italian fare at Aventine. As they say, “when one door closes, another door opens:” Aventine was surprisingly delightful. I have been there a few times for drinks, but have never eaten anything there, and was actually a little apprehensive about the portion sizes. Several factors – location, ambiance, genre – contributed to my hunch that portions would be “delicate.”

I was wrong. We started with the Bruschetta Trio ($8) which came with 8 large pieces, each several bites. Two were topped with tomatoes, two with mushrooms, and two with a mixed vegetable slaw. I ordered the muffaletta sandwich and actually had to remove some of the meat so I could better appreciate the perfectly toasted Italian bread. I only ate half and bagged the rest for dinner! My dad thoroughly enjoyed his ham & cheese sandwich and my mom was impressed with her chicken nicoise salad.

For reasons I am not sure, Aventine was pretty much empty. It’s a small space, so it didn’t feel awkward, but in the hour we were there, there were probably about six other diners. Normally, by 12:30pm on a Friday, everywhere in the Financial District is packed to the rafters, especially on a sunny day like today. This atypical situation translated to a peaceful ambiance and attentive service.

Very highly recommended. Aventine will stand out in mind above the rest.

"Credo" I would go back

After a brief hiatus from the dining scene – conscious about $$/stomach pooches before impending Paris immoderation – I joined the parentals for lunch at a new spot in the Financial District called Credo. “Credo” is Italian for “I believe” and the walls are aptly adorned with famous statements beginning with the phrase (think Martin Luther King…). So, not a bad spot to take a boring companion, as you can depend on about 100 famous names and quotes on the wall to spur conversation. In fact, after my mom had run out of questions about Paris, when I’d land, does Jennifer know I’m coming? Have you packed? Are you going to the Louvre? Flying direct? SFO? Oak? Won’t you be jet lagged? Will your iPhone work? Long term parking or cab? What’s the weather report? April in Paris is supposed to be beautiful! Does your boss know you’re out next week?... I could finally take a look at the fun, historical quotes on the wall.

Anyway, that was way too much non-food dialogue. All in all, the food value to price ratio was extremely favorable. The menu – not surprisingly – is chock full of Italian classics like Pizza Margherita, lasagna, various paninis, and pasta dishes. Prices range from $10-15. My chicken pesto Panini was one of the better I’ve had. You know the bread is fresh and authentic. One memorable moment was when I asked the waiter for ketchup: “vee don’t have cashup…” Huh? I am all about authenticity, but no ketchup? I have my boundaries! As Lloyd says in Dumb & Dumber, the waiter then “totttalllllllly redeemed himself” by bringing a spicy aioli dipping sauce. Crisis averted. My mom’s prosciutto Panini was the weakest of the bunch (too dry). My dad licked his lasagna clean.

One observation we all made was about the noise level. Toward the end, we were leaning in just to hear each other. It didn’t ruin the experience, but certainly one of the noisier lunch places I’ve been to.

Highlights (and one lowlight)

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an actual review and I it has been an extremely good stretch on the food front. There was one doozy, but I suppose there’s a bad apple in every barrel (and it makes you appreciate the goodies even more). For the sake of attention spans and volume, I’ll try to keep my reviews brief:

Ella’s: This is the number one brunch spot in the city, bar none. This was my third or fourth visit, and I had the pleasure of dining with two Ella’s virgins (Sarah G and her sister Julia), so I felt like I got to experience the novelty all over again. I nearly called Chief Justice Roberts to help make the decision on what to order, but finally settled upon one banana pancake and one strawberry ricotta pancake. Ella’s pancakes set the standard for what a flapjack should be: thick, slightly undercooked/doughy, served with a creamy butter side. Sarah G walked away a different person after her smoked salmon scramble experience. I don’t like going to the same place over and over again, but Ella’s proximity to my apartment, reasonable prices, and incredible brunch fare make it an exception.

Perbacco: Dined here for lunch with my mom, dad, and Jac. I didn’t really need to look at the menu to know I would be ordering the short ribs. I like beef – any meat for that matter – that does not require a knife to cut it. Just the aroma of this dish is filling. The short ribs are served on top of home-made tagliatelle pasta and define “comfort food.” So warming and filling. The bottomeless focaccia bread is the best I’ve ever had as well. Perbacco is a place I try to get to at least once every six months.

Tipsy Pig: No, that’s not my new Friday night nickname. Ha!! I was at the Pig Thursday and Saturday nights last week after having been there several times before only for drinks. The food is LEGIT. I had heard very good things about the macaroni and cheese via the Chronicle’s Michael Bauer and I now understand the hype. I don’t normally crave mac’n’cheese, but how shall I say this…. Hmm…oh yeah, it’s served with bacon bits. I also give a stamp of approval to the pretzel twist and cheese sauce, sweet potato fries, and sliders. But if you can only try on thing, it has to be the mac’n’cheese.

Osteria: This old-person spot in Laurel Heights was host to a Salesforce girls’ night out. When I walked in and saw only grey hair and bald heads, I got a little nervous our group of eight 20-somethings would overwhelm them. Not so. Joanne (our server) was taking pictures with us, entertaining us with jokes, exchanging email addresses – all while serving delicious Italian food with impeccable timing. I had so much FUN at here. A date spot it is not (bad lighting, all old people) but it is a great spot to bring family from out of town or meet the in-laws. Oh yeah, the prices are totally reasonable for the quality and quantity.

Tacolicious: Sigh, no city is perfect. I have always resisted high-end Mexican food (Mamacita, Mexico DF = FAIL) and here again is proof. Half the stuff on the menu didn’t appear to be Mexican (spare ribs?!) and my “taco platter” was something I could have made at home for half the cost. They brought me a plate of a few taco shells, ground beef, shredded lettuce, and cheese. Give me a break! I also ordered the ribs and they were too spicy for me to eat. Every time I walk by, the place is packed, but they won’t be getting anymore of my business.

I Digress...

Two years ago I was going through a dark time in my life and really needed to do something significant to pull myself out. Thus, my quest to try every Ben & Jerry’s flavor was born (I’m kidding about the dark time, but do absolutely believe B&J is a good cure for the everyday blues!). Since then, I’ve tasted 37 flavors and have 35 empty pints in my cupboard to prove it (an ex-boyfriend got to keep half a Vanilla Heath…jerk… and my Mom threw out Choc Macadamia).

Here is a list of every pint I’ve cleaned out, in alphabetical order. It goes without saying a Top Five list ensues, plus a few additional anecdotes for your ice cream consuming pleasure.

Completed:
American Dream
Banana Split
Cake Batter
Cherry Garcia
Chocolate Fudge Brownie
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Chocolate Macadamia*
Chubby Hubby
Chunky Monkey
Cinnamon Buns
Coffee Heath Bar Crunch
Creme Brulee
Dublin Mudslide
Everything but the...
Ginger Snap
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Half Baked
Imagine World Peace
Karamel Sutra
Key Lime Pie
Magic Brownies
Maple Blondie
Milk & Cookies
Mint Choc Cookie
Mint Chocolate Chunk
Mission to Marzipan
Oatmeal Cookie Chunk
One Cheesecake Brownie
Peach Cobbler
Peanut Butter Cup
Pistachio Pistachio
Pumpkin Cheesecake
S'mores
Strawberry Cheesecake
Triple Caramel Chunk
Vanilla
Vanilla Heath*

To Do:
Chocolate (too boring, no chunks! Wait for sale!)
Peanut Brittle (New!)
Dulce Delish (New!)
Mud Pie (New!)
*need pint

This challenge would be pointless without a Top 5 List. The list is easy:
1. Cinnamon Buns: No words. No words...
2. Mint Chocolate Cookie: This is cookies’n’cream but with a minty twist. The Oreo cookie chunks are monstrous and the minty flavor is just so darn… refreshing.
3. Oatmeal Chocolate Cookie: There’s something so satisfying about this flavor. The cookie chunks are chewy and plentiful while the oatmeal bits create an unusual and pleasing ice cream texture.
4. Mission to Marzipan: I didn’t know what Marzipan was before I tried this flavor. I’m still not too sure, but my mind’s eye sees lakes of cinnamon-y swirls and, again, chunks of cookie.
5. Cookie Dough: Good old fashioned cookie dough! I actually held off on trying this for a long time because it’s so… typical. But B&J nail it. It’s far more than your average cookie dough ice cream. Such a delightful surprise.

Random Anecdotes:
-There are three flavors I have given up on halfway through and washed out with water: Cherry Garcia, Pistachio, and Mint Chocolate Chunk (not to be confused with Mint Cookie!). I do NOT understand the Cherry Garcia following. Boring. Not worth my calories. Ditto for the others …my calories are simply better spent elsewhere.

-If you haven’t picked up on it already, I love CHUNKS. The more gobs of cookie, chocolate, swirl, nuts, peanut butter stuffed pretzel, you name it – the better. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by Vanilla. There. I said it. I liked Vanilla. It has a very pleasing texture and vanilla itself is quite soothing. Not sure I’ll buy it again soon, but I definitely happily finished the pint.

-I once bought another pint of Cake Batter because I forgot I had tried it already. Not good.

-There were FOUR new flavors at Safeway yesterday (Meltdown on Aisle #3): Mud Slide, Milk & Cookies, Dulce Delish, and Peanut Brittle. At one point I had three in my basket, but ultimately walked away with M&C. Serious Top 5 Potential here.

-It’ll be a warm day in the Sunset District before I start the FroYo and lowfat line. Sorry. I’d rather have half the serving of the real stuff.

And THAT is the scoop!

**BURGER ALERT**BURGER ALERT**BURGER ALERT**

Finding the perfect burger is a never-ending pursuit for me. And actually, when I try to think of my favorite burger in SF, there isn’t one that sticks out. Until last night.

Jac and I decided to do a girl date at Bix, located in a tucked-away alley in the Financial District. Everything about Bix is classic San Francisco: patrons are all locals, the bartenders have been behind the bar since its inception 20 years ago, renowned chef, ingredients mainly from the local farmers market, etc. I’d been to Bix twice before for lunch and I’ve always sung its praises. In fact, when my job re-located from SF to San Mateo in 2008, I chose it to be my last Friday lunch with the parents since it harbored such fond memories for all three of us.

Bix’s burger has always been a part of my “very solid” grouping (Lil’s, Brazenhead, Fog City are among the others) but it leapt decisively into a league of its own. The “Bix Burger” comes with bacon and cheddar. In a single mouthful, my taste buds couldn’t decide if they should dance to the music of the beef, the bacon, or the cheddar. The bun – often a party crasher with its overwhelming presence – provided a wonderful dance floor for these flavors to harmonize. It’s a rare and beautiful thing when all the components of a burger: the bun, the toppings (in this case, an incredible smoky bacon), the cheese, and the condiments all jive flawlessly together. The burger ain’t cheap ($19) but after just one bite, you know why.

Already on a natural high from the burger, I approached Bix’s (and Marin’s Picco) head chef of seven years, Bruce Hill, for a quick chat. I must have asked him how he makes such a masterpiece, because next thing I know, I’m in his kitchen to see his magic burger press (coming to a Williams-Sonoma near you this spring). I still don’t understand the technology behind it, but something about it being multi-compartmental? Who cares, I was in Bix’s kitchen with the chefs! I also could not resist the opportunity to ask Bruce where HE likes to eat. His answer of Nombe surprised me. First, I had never heard of it and secondly it’s an Asian Fusion spot in the Mish. I guess when you cook American classics all day long, you’re inclined to venture for a change when you’re not in the kitchen. Bruce also told me that when he’s at the local farmers market every week, he always sees the chefs from Range and Incanto buying fresh ingredients also. I feel so in the know!

Three by Three

You know those nights where you meet up for a “quick drink” with a gal pal and the next thing you know it’s midnight and you know tomorrow is going to be a loooooooooong day at the office? Had that last night. But totally worth it: Three new spots with two fun people.
Sarah G and I kicked the evening off early at Nectar, a wine and nibbles bar in the Marina. I did a flight of whites and she a flight of reds with a cheese plate to absorb the alcohol. Sarah (and I know you’re reading this), would you agree, in a few years you’ll remember that creamy cheese??? MMM. I would go back just for that cheese. Not to mention, between Sarah’s cool coupon and the HH specials, our grand total was $2.41. Cha-ching!

With wine buzz in full force, Sarah and I left Nectar and ran into Omar, our ridiculously fun work friend.* Now a party of three, we bellied up to the bar and ordered cocktails with fancy names and sampled several of the small plates. Delarosa is a spinoff of Beretta in the Mission (previous positive experience before the birth of the blog) and the Marina location has the same vibe, food focus, creative drink options. Using Omar’s post-exercise appetite as an excuse to pig out, we tried the eggplant appetizer, chicken skewers, gorgonzola/potato pizza, and fried shrimp balls (the menu calls them something fancy). Fried shrimp balls (served with spicy aioli) were by far the best; wish there were more than four of them though. All the plates were enjoyable and I’d be excited to go back and try some of the pasta and other dishes. We all agreed this is a good date spot (great lighting), but only during mid-week as it’s probably Times Square over the weekend.

NOT exercising good judgment on a school night, we then migrated to The Republic for a nightcap (and eventually onion rings and French fries…whoops). For The Republic’s sake, I am trying very hard to forget the banana pudding thingamajig I ordered. Expecting something in the bread pudding family, this came out in a small cup and resembled applesauce. Not good. So not good I felt impelled to order fried onion rings to finish the evening with a better taste in my mouth and memory in my mind. Rings were good. Can’t go wrong with Rings.

My three visits as a group of three absolutely goes down as a 2010 YTD highlight.

*I need to digress from the main topic at hand and address how fast boys can get ready. Omar was walking back to his apartment from the gym but promised to meet us at Delarosa when he was showered. I swear I was still hanging off my coat when Omar showed up – fully showered, changed clothes, and ready to roll. Incredible – girls take note.

Good things do happen in the Tenderloin

I braved the mean streets of the TL this week for dinner and a show at Great American Music Hall. Not only did I live to see Wednesday morning, I came through with a pretty happy stomach as well. Olive is one of the more peculiar places I’ve ever seen in my 24 years: it’s situated in perhaps one of the sketchiest blocks in all of SF, but once you step in, you feel as if you’re in the hippest bar in the Mission.

The drink and food menu are quite clever. I started with a champagne infused mojito while I perused the various options on the menu: baked brie, thin crust pizzas, fish tacos, Monte Cristo, quesadillas, to name a few. Now, anyone who knows me well is aware Baked Brie is in my Top 5. Toward the top of my Top 5. Rarely do I see it on a dinner menu. So, choice was easy: I had baked brie for dinner. I’ve had better home-made baked bries in my day; I prefer the brie to be IN the pastry dough but this was served with a sourdough roll on the side. Not a home-run.

We also shared a spicy tuna roll which exceeded my expectations. The roll is humungous, prepared tempura style (Read: FRIED!!) and was extremely filling. If you’re going GAMH for a show, Olive is the place to be... unless you like Popeyes or the corner store fare.

Las Vegas and Lesbians

I left my beloved San Francisco for four days in Sin City – a town that doesn’t have too bad of a food reputation itself. The first few days I was shackled to my chair in the ballroom of the Wynn (not complainin', just sayin....), but stayed an extra night with G and did not let the opportunity for a good dining experience pass me by.

Sarah G, Scottie (one of my top go-to restaurant advisors), Kevin, and I decided on Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grille (by “we” I mean “me” – thanks guys :). The decision-making process was gut-wrenching… on the one hand, I’m not a huge steak fan and also didn’t want to spend $50 on a slab that I know I’d only be able to eat 25% of and logistically would not be able to doggie bag due to nightclub festivities thereafter. On the other hand, Bobby Flay = STEAK. I felt it’d be a slap in the face not to order one. After several under-the-table negotiations, I opted for the tuna steak (ordered “as rare as you can go but still legal”) on the condition I could sample the guys’ steaks. My tuna steak was perfectly grilled (it must have just barely touched the grill) and I got to sample some juicy, flavorful rib-eye. I honestly don’t think I will ever understand why folks cry tears of joy over a steak, but Bobby’s steak was a step toward compassion.

Sunday night called for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner with my first SF love, Amber. After downing a flight of bubbly at CAV, we marched right on down to the Castro and fit right in with all the other lovebirds at Chow. Chow is related to one of my SF favorites, Park Chow. Just like Park Chow in the Sunset, the Castro location is fun and laid-back and serves decent food. I don’t think I’ll ever rave about these places’ culinary prowess, but I ALWAYS have a good time and would recommend either location to anyone. The servers are nice, the beer is cold, and menu is packed with pleasing comfort food. True love, indeed!

Around the World in Three Days

My voyage started Wednesday night with Jac at Meze’s, a Greek spot in the Marina. Sigh. Pretty simple summary here: not enough value. Plates were $10-12 and constituted about six bites each (you can do the math when you’re sharing with someone else!). The few bites I did have were tasty (particularly the meatballs), but felt slightly robbed when it was time to pay the bill. Glad I went, but won’t be in a hurry to return. Jac: we need to stick with tried’n’true (bar food).

My trip to India (via take-out from Shalimar on Polk) the following evening was a polar opposite experience: cheap, huge portions, and delicious. Just the aroma of the take-out bag had my head spinning. We sampled beef, lamb, and chicken dishes. I’d recommend any of the curry dishes: flavorful, spicy, and comforting. Also, don’t skip the Naan! Despite only being $1 each, one piece is about the size of a Boboli pizza crust (I bought five of them, probably still weary from tiny portions the night before – better safe than sorry!!!!!!!!!)

I ended my trip this afternoon at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion for lunch. The chocolate molten lava cake saved what could have been a pretty mediocre dining experience. I opted for the pecan encrusted Mahi Mahi (still blocked up from the night before); serving size was small, fish was cold, flavor and moisture level left much to be desired. My dad pretended to get his magnifying glass out to find the food on his plate (awesome move, btw). And, no bread for the table (even upon special request). What kind of chain restaurant doesn’t have bread baskets?! The chocolate molten lava cake, however, was warm and decadent and left a much better taste in my mouth.

Enter Food Coma.

The Week I Experienced Luna Park’s Bread Pudding

I went to three good spots this week. When I’m on my deathbed, I probably won’t remember too much about Vitrine or Slow Club. But I will remember the chocolate chip bread pudding I had Luna Park. And I will smile and think “it was a good life.”

Taking full advantage of my No-Booze-Until-Superbowl-Sunday pledge, my dining companion and I hopped in the car and made the trek to the other side of the world – err, I mean city – to the Mission District for dinner at Luna Park. I had Cheese fondue, burger; he had pork chop and Ceaser. It was fine, not Top Five ..blah blah. Nobody cares.

Then…came…the…bread…pudding… I’m still searching the dictionary for a word powerful enough to describe the crispy exterior and gooey, undercooked interior of this gift from the kitchen gods. It was one of those moments where you get sad (and panicky, if you’re me) when you only see a few bites left in the dish – please, don’t let this be over!!! (we asked the waitress for a windshield scraper to get the crispy bits off the side). Did I mention it was chocolate chip bread pudding with a scoop of chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate syrup drizzles on top? Also, did ya know it’s individually prepared in a shallow bowl (not a cut into a piece serving like a cake – barf!). I’ve had many a bread pudding in my day (it’s my go-to restaurant dessert order) and this is easily The Best I Have Ever Had. Easily.

Still on a high from the night before, the parentals and I checked out Vitrine for lunch – an out-of-the-way spot located in the St. Regis Hotel. Hotel restaurants make me nervous. They’re always empty and the food is usually subpar. My anxiety was heightened when the server brought out a “gift from the chef” of ceviche. How do I say this? I ain’t ever seen ceviche consisting of ONE PIECE OF SHRIMP. That’s it. Served in a Peachtree dish. Oh and a few sprigs of parsley . However, I must admit, the rest of the meal was delicious and bizarrely filling. While the portions were small (small rabbit appetizer, four-bite sea bass entrée), I found I was more than satisfied until dinner. Maybe it was the two pieces of buttered bread? Anyway, I won’t go out my way to come back, but won’t trash talk the place either.

Went for a three-peat on Saturday! Sarah G and I decided to get adventurous and do lunch in Portrero Hill. After thoughtful consideration, we settled on Slow Club. I went for fried egg sando while Sarah went for Turkey Hash. We both fell victim to setting expectations too high. The food LOOKED great, we were excited about trying a tucked-away place, etc. The food simply missed that “it” factor. Can’t place it. I’ve done cartwheels walking out of brunch at Ella’s and Zazie. Not the case here. Considering it’s a journey to get to, I probably won’t head back anytime soon. But, the company was great!