elise h's Profile
Costco's Kirkland brand skinless boneless salmon?
how is the current canned salmon? what brand is it, size, and price? thanks in advance
Ku’u up – More Comida Yucateca in San Francisco
We had:
1. cochinita pibil-stewed pork with achiote and citrus. Ok
2. Tzic-shredded beef, radishes, onions, with black bean puree. Ok
3. Pipian-pork with pumpkin sauce. Very bland
Portions were huge and prices very reasonable. However, I prefer the fresher and more interesting flavors at Poc Chuc.
Costco Kirkland pepperoni pizza-wow!
Pepperoni pizza is not my preference, but Costco's Kirkland pepperoni pizza surpasses 95% of all pizzas. Self-rising crust is carb goodness. It's about 50% fluffier than the Kirkland cheese pizza crust (that frozen pizza is also a big winner). Sauce and cheese harmoniously balance the 2 kinds of pepperoni. One kind is sliced in rounds; the other is in strips. Your home will smell like a bakery when the pizza gloriously browns in the oven. I put the pizza on top of foil on a baking sheet as I prefer a softer crust. Each package contains 4 frozen pizzas for about $11 or $12. Each pizza lasts 4 meals for me. Hope hounds enjoy it as much as I do!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
I love mango lassi, but found the TJ lassi just didn't taste right. Something is off. The TJ pomegranite and strawberry lassis, though, are superb!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 2nd quarter 2012
Perline Pasta with Proscuitto. Big yea. Purse shaped pasta stuffed with a harmonious blend of veal, proscuitto, vegetables and bread crumbs. Cooks quickly in 2 minutes. I'm not a proscuitto expert and some may prefer a stronger flavor. But at $4 for multiple servings, combined with parmigiano and heavy cream, this is simple, fast, and flavorful. What other fresh TJ pastas do CH prefer?
Unsweet potatoes
Last week I bought yellow sweet potatoes. When I baked them (just tossed them into the oven with skins on), they carmelized, producing a sweet, natural, perfect treat. Sugary goodness oozed outside of their skins.
This week, I went to a different store and bought a lot of yellow sweet potatoes, looking forward to the same delight. Unfortunately, none of them carmelized. No sugary ooze. Completely dry and boring. These are unsweet potatoes and I have a lot.
Why were the first bunch sweet and the second not? The baking method was the same. How do I choose sweet potatoes to ensure they are sweet?
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
I was a little skeptical about TJ prepared sandwiches in the refrigerated section. Surprise! TJ's tarragon chicken salad wrap is great! white chicken meat, celery, almonds, parsley, tarragon, romaine lettuce in a whole wheat tortilla. The flavor is on the mark. The lettuce is still crispy. The whole wheat tortilla is healthy. $4 for 2 smallish servings, each a whopping 340 calories (seems high!) What other TJ sandwiches do chowhounds love?
Rajjot: Sweets & Snacks
Mishti, thank you belatedly for your excellent recommendation. Rajjot is now a priority for me. My maiden voyage to Rajjot Sweet and Snacks included: mooli (radish) paratha and the 3 dish combo: chicken curry, cauliflower curry, chili chicken, bread that came with the combo (cannot remember the name), raita. Total around $9.50 - this could serve two people.
The place is at first a little chaotic until you know the drill. Menus hangs above the steam table. LIne up and order at the steam table. The woman who takes your order could simultaneously be on the phone receiving a take out order-that's just part of Rajjot's popularity. Pay the same woman. Credit cards okay if your order is around $10+. She dishes out your order in styrofoam containers (don't complain, this is not Amber India) on a tray. Your breads will be delivered to you at your table, fresh and piping hot. How the servers know which bread goes to whom is a mystery. Self-service water and utensils at a small separate table.
I loved the cauliflower curry most, followed by the curry chicken, then chili chicken. Spice level was moderate, by my experience. The paratha was good, although I'm used to more buttery parathas. I will definitely try the other parathas. There seem to be about 8 different kinds. My friends ordered in addition to their combos garlic naan and samosas, which they devoured and pronounced wonderful.
Ask the servers for container lids, foil, and a bag to carry home your tasty leftovers and they will graciously help you.
What else do chowhounds enjoy at Rajjot? I could not find a menu on the web. The next time, I will order the goat curry and make my way down the list of parathas.
Edible Masterpieces
genius soypower! I appreciated your post and forwarded to other folks right after you posted. Should have responded to your post. Thanks for sharing!
Bangkok Garden Thai Cuisine in Daly City
I actually enjoy somewhat Americanized Thai food. In contrast to most folks on these boards, I've disliked a number of dishes at Ler Roi Thai. Similarly, I'm Chinese and there are plenty of dishes I love and many I cannot stand that are authentic. So I look forward to Bangkok Garden! Thanks for sharing your opinion pamf!
Bangkok Garden Thai Cuisine in Daly City
A few doors down from excellent Korean restaurant Dae Jang Geum in the same small strip mall (201 Southgate) is Bangkok Garden Thai Cuisine. Has anyone tried it?
A friend says the Chinese restaurant King Wah, in the same mall, is quite good (though not as good as Hong Kong Lounge) for dim sum.
Dae Jang Geum, Daly City!
A new addition to my list of regular favorites and maybe to yours. Tastiest, freshest panchan I've had. Included japchae and seaweed. Given the variety and quantity, it could have been a meal in itself. We ordered both the beef and the pork dolsot (bibimbob in a hot stone pot; $13 each). One had crunchier rice than the other (it also took longer to get to our table). Meats were delicious, but somewhat scarce (I've noticed this paucity at several other restaurants too). Raw egg quickly cooks itself in the hot stone pot. Other than meat in the dolsot, generous servings and friendly service.
Dae Jang Geum is located in a strip mall off of John Daly Boulevard. Easy to get to from 280 and big parking lots abound.
235 Southgate Ave.
Daly City, 94015
650 758 1919
Looking for vinegar at good prices
I went to Rainbow for the Turkish mulberry vinegar. It is out of stock. Such a disappointment! The helpful Rainbow worker said it has been out of stock for 2-3 months. She will call me when/if it comes back. I'll post here with news. Thanks Steve G for sharing about this vinegar!
Frozen / refrigerated prepared foods that are no brainers
I've noticed some excellent frozen / refrigerated prepared foods. They have improved over the years in flavor and variety. When you compute the cost of preparing them yourself, both the ingredients and the time, it's a no brainer. Of course, i would love freshly prepared, homemade foods all the time, but that is unrealistic.
For example, Costco's Kirkland sausage and beef lasagne is about $13 and serves 6. I love the flavor, the tomato sauce, the different and generous cheeses, and the hearty meat. That is about $2.25/serving. It would take me at least 4 hours to market for, prepare, and clean up after making a lasagne. How can you beat that?
Other prepared foods I enjoy: Huxtables baked ziti with meatballs (also from Costco), Michaelangelo's eggplant Parmesan, TJ's tortellini with red pepper pesto. Have you found frozen / refrigerated prepared foods that you feel similarly about? Please share!
Bolani coming to SF Costco mid to late Jan 2012
pass the produce section, make a right and there is a refrigerated section with prepared foods. These products change regularly, so it's always a surprise to see what is there!
Bolani coming to SF Costco mid to late Jan 2012
The Bolanis have arrived at the SF Costco!
Best baked BBQ Pork Bun in SF
Thanks mjyang! Yes, the bbq has a really nice flavor and is neither super sweet nor bright red colored. It will be on my regular visits.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 1st quarter 2012 [old]
Costco in San Francisco has a fage variety pack of about 12 individual size servings. I believe one of the flavors included goji berries.
Senior discounts
Applebees offers a 10% senior discount, to be used any time. IHOP offers a senior discount on certain nights. The definition of senior varies depending on the restaurant, but seems to be around 55 years. What other senior discounts do Chowhounds enjoy?
Applebees garlic mashed potatoes
Every once in awhile, your expectations are blown away at a chain restaurant. With friends that are Applebee fans, I had a choice of garlic mashed potatoes or coleslaw. I asked the waiter, "how is your coleslaw?". He said "good!". I then asked him "how are your garlic mashed potatoes?". He said "excellent!". I order the potatoes. They were the best part of the meal - wonderful flavor with small bits of skin, so they were not from dehydrated potatoes. Turns out, a web search shows that many people have tried to replicate the Applebee garlic mashed potatoes. I'll definitely order these potatoes every time I go to Applebees.
Any other gems in the Applebee menu?
Best baked BBQ Pork Bun in SF
How easy is it to get a few buns to go, as this is a restaurant? Looking forward to the excellent bbq flavor!
Best baked BBQ Pork Bun in SF
Thanks Asianstamp for this great recommendation! I loved the bbq pork bun. At first, I thought there was too much dough, but the dough is nice and a bit sweet. Still would prefer 25% more meat though! Wish they made a whole wheat version and I would eat it more often!
What else do you recommend at You's? How are the bamboo wrapped sticky rice zhong zu?
Eagerly waiting your advice!
Hachiya Persimmon Lovers Rejoice
Some of the persimmons I bought almost 2 months ago are still not ripe. They are soft, but they lack the translucency, both exterior and interior, of a truly ripe persimmon. When eaten, they are okay, but not right. I suspect that if a persimmon was picked too early, it will never ripen properly. The longer it stays on the tree, the better it will be. Let's look forward to next year. Let us know if you had other successful hachiya ersimmon sightings!
Hachiya Persimmon Lovers Rejoice
I went and bought a lot. This is the end of the season. I asked if they had more and they said no. Unclear whether it is finished for the season or for the time being. They said the fuyu's were already out of season. Hachiya lovers, remember this place for next year!
Looking for Chinese/Asian Restaurant in Richmond/Sunset of SF open for lunch and serving crab!
Quan Bac between 5th and 6th and Geary, north side of street. Delicious and fabulous deal.
The special meal is:
Vietnamese chicken salad
Garlic noodles
Crab in garlic butter
fried bananas and ice crea
Serves 2-3 generously for a whopping total of $29.99.
Hachiya Persimmon Lovers Rejoice
HHC, I've eaten almost all of them already. I'm going back tomorrow for more! This is instant gratification hachiya-an oxymoron!
Hachiya Persimmon Lovers Rejoice
Many hachiya persimmon lovers have waited over a month for their persimmons to ripen. Some of the fruit ripens nicely, some don't. It's a test of patience.
Today, at the produce market at Geary and 4th (south east corner of intersection; I think the name is something like Farmer's Market), they were selling large, absolutely ripe, ready to eat hachiyas for $.69/pound! After I had 5 pounds in my basket, the nice produce guy told me he was putting out more, but the season is coming to an end. So run over there soon and feast on the hachiyas!
Malaysian Street Food Cooking Class for Eight -- by Azalina
I emailed Azalina and yes she gives classes! Here is her response:
"For private classes, the class size usually is less than 10 people, so it is interactive and hands on.I usually make Malaysian classic dishes using sustainable, local ingredients found in California without compromising the flavor. I ask clients what they are interested in - street food, home style, or classic hard to make dishes.
The class can be at my commercial kitchen or at your home.
The fee depends on the level of technique, ranging from $65 - $85 for 3-5 hours."
Anyone interested in organizing a class?
You can contact Azalina at: azalina@azalinas.com
Crestfallen at Shanghai Flavor Shop
With high expectation for shen jian bao, I went to Shanghai Flavor Shop in Sunnyvale. Reports in 2009 and 2010 praised their sjb. I arrived at 6:15 and oddly was the only customer. I ordered the sjb and shredded pork & noodle with green onion sauce.
The sjb dough was tough, the tops were dark brown (overcooked), and they were coated in oil that had bits of residue (burned food?). The meat tasted odd. I cook a lot of ground pork and I know what it should taste like. There was a lot of empty space between the meat and the dough (airspace was 3x the volume of the meat). The one positive characteristic was a lot of juice (although it wasn't tasty).
The noodle sauce was flavorful but hardly had any meat. I actually asked the waiter if the noodles were vegetarian. If the meat were increased by 3x, the dish would have been more satisfying. The noodles were okay, but could have been more toothsome.
The 2 employees were very friendly. There were 2 other people in the kitchen. Something is wrong when there are more employees than customers at the height of dinner time. I wanted this place to become a favorite. Such a disappointment. When I had almost finished, one person stepped in for a takeout.
I'll stay with Dumpling Kitchen in San Francisco for sjb. Never been disappointed there.
If chowhounds know of other good sjb places, do share!
Bolani coming to SF Costco mid to late Jan 2012
Their products were at some of the Costco's as a result of their roadshows. The products were there until the samples ran out. So now they are "coming back"to certain warehouses as a regular supplier. I'm so glad that we can get bolanis at Costco!
