Atomica's Profile
Best SF Breakfast
I've seen Willie Brown eating in places I didn't think were any good. Actually, he wasn't really eating so much as socializing. Besides, I didn't realize he was a taste-maker when it came to food. One thing I want to address is that the people you see lining up outside of Sears are not locals!
One more thing...SF farmers market
"Going to Alamany, you will see your standard supermarket varieties of produce whether that is Safeway or some huge Asian market."
I would say this is not inaccurate, nor is it all that accurate. I would love to know if you've been to Alemany in the last few years. There are vendors with really unusual citrus, Phan Farms has these purple sweet potatoes really consistently that are unusual and delicious (I've never seen them anywhere else), there is the hot Russian hippie chick with the best apples/apple cider imaginable (SE end of the market), the wonderful alfajores mentioned above, and some great hot food vendors so one can have brunch. Just to name a few specifics, and I'm not even a fan of the place w/the biggest line, Panorama breads. It tends to be cheaper because many are in transition to organic status and not organic yet, a long process. So, I hope this endorsement won't engender a s**t storm. Just my opinion from going there frequently. Alemany has changed some for the better in the last 2 years even.
Recommendation for date night? Ideally in the Mission.
Incanto or La Ciccia? Those are are both fairly cozy and (for me) serve creative food.
Best SF Breakfast
The price at the Palace Hotel is certainly a splurge. It's not a bad buffet, but it's not overly exciting by any means. But of course the atmosphere is grand and can be fun sometimes.
Our new favorite is Radish in the Mission. I've found all of their dishes (breakfast and lunch) to be nicely prepared, full of flavor, and just the right size and price.
can't find restaurant name on Food Network [Broken Record]
I don't know what's particularly weird about it. And it doesn't hamper their ability to attract lots of customers.
can't find restaurant name on Food Network [Broken Record]
It's in the Excelsior, which is a couple miles south of the Mission.
Pastores Vacation
I live 2 short blocks away. I've never noticed regular hours, EVER, in the past 6 years. This is not a complaint or criticism, just a statement of observation.
Buttariga (Bottarga) and other Sardinian ingredients in Bay Area?
Confirmed. $8 for about 3.5-4.0 ounces. Brand is Smerelda from Sardinia. I bought the last one Avedano's had. You could call to see when they're getting more. On Amazon, it's actually $89 for 1 pound. Smaller piece for $31 or something like that.
Buttariga (Bottarga) and other Sardinian ingredients in Bay Area?
Sorry, wolfe. I didn't see your note until now. I'll probably be ducking into Avedano's tomorrow and I'll take a look. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I'll let you know!
Buttariga (Bottarga) and other Sardinian ingredients in Bay Area?
I saw bottarga in the cooler at Avedano's on Cortland in Bernal Heights a couple of weeks ago. $8.
Winter openings and closings
Tablehopper and Eater SF both do a really job with just this thing.
Any place one can buy Kouign Amann in SF?
I've now tried Starter Bakery's and Belinda Leong's. I definitely like Starter Bakery's better, but hell, they're both really delicious.
Suggestions for premium chocolate gelato?
Lucca on Valencia was selling some really rich chocolate gelato that I thought was pretty great. I don't remember the brand name at all.
Where do I find cake flour in (western) San Francisco?
Many Safeway stores simply do not stock it. The horrible one (Mission & 30th) near my house never has in the past 7 years I've lived here. In fact, last time I inquired about "cake flour for baking cakes," they told me to go to the floral department.
Are restaurants open late in the Bay Area? What time do most places to res until?
VERY, VERY DENSELY POPULATED. A lot of people crammed into a small-ish city. Giant amount of stop signs. Giant amount of no left turns. An actual rush hour (or more). That is San Francisco. Everyone is one stacked on top of one another like cordwood. I sometimes take my family out to early (5:00) dinner on Fridays after picking up husband at work at Hunter's Point. It can easily take me an hour to drive 5 miles over to the Richmond.
Are restaurants open late in the Bay Area? What time do most places to res until?
I'm also a tiki nut, so I'm glad to hear you are one too. So please don't call it "kitsch." You should check out the beautiful Trader Vic's in Emeryville.
Are restaurants open late in the Bay Area? What time do most places to res until?
I completely agree. And where is the spontaneity? You are going to spontaneously not be able to get to a movie or three on time, I'm very sure. Is it fun to gulp down your food every night in anticipation that it's not going fast enough? Heck, I'd rather sneak a really good sandwich into the movie with me (Rhea's Deli in the Mission, OMG). Traffic happens, and progress through the city can be slow at 5:00/6:00. It's a city of a very dense population, millions of stop signs, and no-left-turns.
Are restaurants open late in the Bay Area? What time do most places to res until?
Super Duper Burger on Market in the Castro uses excellent ingredients and the food is really good. It's order-at-the-counter, but I think it's quite pleasant. Just a block or so from Castro Theater. Another place in the Castro we go all the time is Woodhouse Fish Co.
Chicken Pot Pie/ Berkeley or Oakland Area
Funny, I always thought their absolute weakest product was the scones. Undercooked and gummy. I've liked pretty much everything else a lot.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
I think most of TJ's cookies have something in common--too much sugar overpowering any other flavors. That said, the Bistro Biscuits are really good.
The lemon cookies--I didn't like the taste or the texture at all.
Suggestions or restaurants to avoid?
If you *really* love Italian, I would put La Ciccia way high up on your list.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
Thanks for posting the pumpkin butter/plain yogurt idea. That sounds great!
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
I, OTOH, did not like those lemon heart cookies at all.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
Oops, I messed up in that post last night. There is sugar already in the pumpkin bread/muffin mix. You add eggs, oil, and water.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
Thanks for the tip on the arugula. Didn't realize they were offering that. I don't know what the fuss is over spinach salads. Arugula over spinach any day of the week for me.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
You might like these muffins, then. Not too spice-laden. If they had been, my 6-year-old probably would have turned her nose up, but she really likes them. I would probably add less sugar than called for, and they took longer (in my oven) to bake than the box indicates. And for those who like extra spices, those can of course be added.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
Yay on the Pumpkin Butter. But I would *never* make the soup from it they suggest on the jar. Ack ptui.
I haven't used a cake or muffin mix in eons, but the pumpkin muffin mix called out. We LOVED the muffins. Repeat buy. Will be making a whole bunch for a children's after school Halloween party.
Help! Need recs for restaurants with yummy abundant mussels in SF.
Woodhouse Fish Co.
