OneMoreCindy's Profile
Cooks illustrated question
I stopped renewing a few years back. Last week, I received a CI magazine with an "Order Confirmation/Invoice" included. I almost threw it out but I was suspicious. I called the 800 number (had to find it through this board) and they told me I had filled out a subscription card and mailed it in authorizing the subscription. That is patently false. I told them they were thieving liars who went through their old subscriber lists and sent out invoices to them in order to trick them into paying, and that I would report them to the BBB and FTC. I asked for a copy of the so-called subscriber card and they said they would send it next week. We'll see if they REALLY cancel my subscription, and if they REALLY ever send that mysterious card. Fortunately, they no longer have my credit card info, so they could not just auto bill me. I never game them that info, and now I am very grateful for that decision. Ugh -- I liked this company, but they are behaving reprehensibly!
Anyone tried newly opened Bisou in the Castro?
Sent a msg to the moderators to correct the spelling - sorry to have caused confusion! There are reviews on Yelp for Bisou, and they are very positive, especially with respect to service.
Anyone tried newly opened Bisou in the Castro?
Sorry I spelled it wrong - it is Bisou. Still no comments from Chowhounds that I can find.
Anyone tried newly opened Bisou in the Castro?
I don't see any reviews on Yelp or on this board, but I think Bisou opened two weeks ago. It's from the same folks who run ChouChou. Tell me what you think if you've been there. Thx!
What to serve with Aviation Cocktail?
Ah gougeres! There is a bakery near my house with gougeres dough ready to bake in the refrigerated case! Brilliant! Thank you.
What to serve with Aviation Cocktail?
Planning on making an Aviation tonight using the following recipe:
2 oz gin (Plymouth)
1 oz lemon juice (meyer lemons from my tree!)
1 t Luxardo maraschino liqueur
1/2 t creme de violette
1/2 t simple syrup
lemon twist
DH doesn't do oysters. Sigh. I'm in San Francisco, so I can pick up just about anything around here. Would love some tasty suggestions. Thanks!
Steak dinner in SF for Anniversary - thoughts?
Thanks! I thought so. Less of an issue with non-steakhouse restaurants, but it does seem that steakhouses are outrageously priced for many reds under $200.
Steak dinner in SF for Anniversary - thoughts?
Thank you! Very helpful! Particularly the 2nd and 3rd links. I hadn't thought about Kokkari or Florio, and I've had wonderful meals at both.
-----
Florio Bar & Cafe
1915 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Steak dinner in SF for Anniversary - thoughts?
Made reservation for 11/21/09 for our 15 year wedding anniversary. I'd prefer Boulevard, but hubby likes steakhouses. Was going to go with Morton's, but older posts here recommend Harris' for dry-aged beef (I've eaten there before and liked it). Questions:
1) Am I missing anything really special that could double as a great anniversary spot where hubby is guaranteed a great steak experience without being a steakhouse?
2) I am annoyed by high wine prices at steakhouses and plan to BYOB of red (will order a glass of white btg for 1st course). Does etiquette dictate that I peruse the wine list first so that I do not bring something that is already offered on the list? Willing to spend $80 - $120 at retail for a great bottle of red and pay the corkage fee.
Thx!
Bistro 24 - Noe Valley? Anyone tried it?
Wow. I think that's a record for that space. Sigh.
Bistro 24 - Noe Valley? Anyone tried it?
Popular when Miss Millie's occupied the space, it has now become the restaurant graveyard of 24th Street. Has anyone tried it? Any stand-out dishes?
Arancini: savoury balls of goodness in the City?
Canyon Market in Glen Park sells them in their cold case if you feel like picking up food to heat and serve at home.
Need French Bistro Rec in SF for Friday BD Dinner
Went to L'Ardoise instead. See review above in thread.
Need French Bistro Rec in SF for Friday BD Dinner
Sorry for the long delay in reviewing... We went to L'Ardoise since it was so close to our house. They gave us a great table by the window, and the service was very good - they kept a close eye on the water and bread, and were helpful in choosing wine. They even put a candle in hubby's dessert (I indicated BD on OpenTable). I had the lamb chop special, and they accommodated my change from the regular pommes frites to their special potatoes in duck fat. Hubby had the hangar steak, which he loved. I only had 2 complaints -- the aioli they served for the fries/potatoes was way too salty (and I am a salt fiend, so that's saying something). Also, my lamb was extremely fatty -- I had to cut huge pieces of fat away to get to the meat. A little fat is divine, too much fat is unappetizing. I am inclined to check out some of the other places mentioned before going back, but I would certainly try L'Ardoise again.
Need French Bistro Rec in SF for Friday BD Dinner
Thanks! It's for this Friday. I booked Le Charm and asked for a quiet table. My Parisian neighbor loves L'Ardoise -- says it is her favorite French place in the city. Bon Apetit!
Need French Bistro Rec in SF for Friday BD Dinner
When we lived in D.C., our favorite place was Les Halles. Relaxed, unhurried, great food. Husband likes a good steak frites, I love a hangar steak. Prefer not to be seated on top of the people next to us. Please advise of your favorite French bistros in the city, and your favorite dishes at each. Thanks!
Thoughts on Carnelian Room?
Thanks to all who replied. I have cancelled Carnelian. We will start our evening with cocktails in the late afternoon at Top of the Mark. I will consider that our SF experience, then just go somewhere for good food. Good point dinnerout - SF is about dining, so no need to travel to a tired has-been for average food when delicious dining can be found elsewhere. And there is nothing I hate more than paying a lot of money for really average food!
Happy Holidays!
Thoughts on Carnelian Room?
My parents are in town, and we'd like to take them out on Sunday to a restaurant that is quintessential San Francisco. In the past, we've done Yank Sing and Ferry Building. We couldn't get a table at House of Prime Rib, but we did score reservations at Carnelian Room and Harris' Steak House. Is Carnelian worth it at night - in other words, can you see the view? I wasn't pleased with the attitude of the hostess, so I'd hate to drop a bunch of cash for a snooty place with average food.
Any other thoughts? A friend suggested Sam's Grill.
Oh - and it doesn't have to be expensive or fancy either.
And is there dining at Top of the Mark, or just drinks (embarassed to say I live here and have never been).
Thanks!
Need East Bay Mexican Catering/Delivery for party on Sunday
Thanks! They have a great website with photos and ordering info. It is exactly what I was looking for!
Need East Bay Mexican Catering/Delivery for party on Sunday
I'm throwing a pool party on Sunday in Alamo, and I want good food delivered for 30 people (party platter style). I need to order carnitas, beans, and rice -- I'll make the guacamole and salsa myself. I might order tamales if I'm feeling crazy.
I think I used Los Panchos last year, but they say they are closed on Sunday. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Sunday Brunch in SF?
Why not give them a unique San Francisco experience at Harry Denton's Starlight Room? They do a drag show with brunch, and I hear the food is good.
Dim Sum at Yank Sing always impresses the out of towners, and it's good - but pricey.
Best Company Lunch Spot
What about Tommy Toy's? They have a 5 courses for under $25 lunch special, and they are used to handling a business crowd. It's on Sansome across from the Transamerica building.
Lulu's on Folsom? They serve family style, so that might work for a group.
Canton Dim Sum is excellent food, not great ambience, but ambience (think Yank Sing) will cost you.
15 people around one round table? How do you hear anyone?
Is it okay to send back wine because you don't like it?
Absinthe is a reputable restaurant in San Francisco with an extensive wine list and a theatre-crowd clientele that is likely to know wine. I would expect the sommelier to be experienced, which is why we deferred to her (although she did appear quite young). I am totally convinced now that our wine was oxidised, and I regret that I did not insist that she also taste the wine.
Is it okay to send back wine because you don't like it?
Thanks. I sent a note to the restaurant. We'll see if I get a response. At least now I know what oxidized wine smells/tastes like. Blech!
Is it okay to send back wine because you don't like it?
Update - I searched online and could not find ANY description that states a "sherry characteristic" of Meursault. I did, however, find this description of oxidation:
Oxidised - a wine that has had too much contact with
oxygen. It has a sherry-like smell. Oxidised white wine is
curiously dark in colour for its age while red is abnormally
brown for its age. All wines gradually oxidise as they get
older. This is an essential part of the ageing process.
However, some wines are prematurely old. This may be
due to poor handling of the grapes after they have been
picked, faults in the winemaking or because the cork has
provided an imperfect seal.
Is it okay to send back wine because you don't like it?
Thanks. The selection was made by my father-in-law (but the bill was being paid by us). He said he really loved Mersault, and thought we would all really enjoy it. He obviously didn't care for it either, but I think he was too embarassed to stand up to the sommelier and insist that it was not at all like a Mersault he has had before, I had nothing to compare it too, and because I hadn't ordered it, I was loathe to make a big stink about it.
In the future, before investing $109 bucks on a bottle of wine, I will ask to see the sommelier to describe the wine before I buy it.
And yeah - I pretty much thought that it wasn't the restaurant's fault that we chose poorly, but I'm not convinced the wine wasn't oxidized.
Is it okay to send back wine because you don't like it?
We dined at Absinthe on Friday and ordered a bottle of Mersault ($109). It didn't smell corked, so we accepted it, even though our first sniff was unexpected. It smelled and tasted of sherry, and nobody liked it, so we called the sommelier over and asked her to smell it, telling her we just didn't know enough about that wine to know if it was "off". She smelled it, told us it was the characteristic of the wine, and did not offer to suggest something we might like more. Since we had chosen it, we felt like we were stuck with it. Even though our food was good, we left feeling like we hadn't had a great experience.
Two questions -
Is it ever okay to send back wine you don't like?
Is "overwhelming sherry" really the taste/aroma characteristic of Mersault?
Thanks!
Know any Peruvian Chicken places in the city?
In D.C., I used to get a delicious (and cheap!) Peruvian rotisserie chicken with yucca fries and two sauces (one yellow, one green). Anyone know a place in the Bay Area (specifically the city) that makes it?
If you know the Peruvian chicken from D.C., I think it was El Pollo Rico in Falls Church/Arlington, but it's been too many years.
Thanks for your help.
