friscofrog's Profile
Great Japanese Curry: Where?
I lunched at On The Bridge today mainly because of this thread. I had passed the place a million times on my way to Mifune but never stopped in until today, but that won't happen again. I opted for Udon Curry on the special lunch menu which included one side or beverage. I chose salad. The salad arrived first, a small bowl of seasonal greens with a few chunks of out-of-season tomatoes. If there were any salad dressing I couldn't tell it was so bland, a dire foreboding of things to come. The udon arrived in a large soup bowl with a fried egg floating in the middle sunnyside up. More chopped tasteless tomatoes garnished the side of the bowl. I had ordered the curry extra spicy for which there was a $0.45 surcharge. And I also asked for a side of fukujinzuke, an additional $1.25. The curry was not at all fiery....rather tepid in, fact. The fukujinzuke were undersalted slightly acidic shavings of what looked like pink colored daikon. Comfort food indeed! I left rather discomforted by the experience, and $11.50 the poorer.
Castro bread place
I live in the neighborhood and just noticed the place yesterday so I stopped by to investigate. The friendly woman running the place told me they opened about four weeks previously. They do not bake on the premises but get most of their baked goods from a family owned and operated facility in South SF. In addition to various flavored breads, they had a few Danish pastries and several varieties of croissants. I opted for a plain butter croissant. It was the largest croissant I have ever seen, and at $1.89 seemed like a bargain. When I got home I heated it up for a few minutes at 350 deg. in my toaster oven. It was very flaky and buttery but the interior was drier than I like. However slathered with additional butter and marmalade, it made a wonderful addition to my Saturday brunch.
San Wang Report - Japantown, SF
My favorite too! Also like the green mussels in hot sauce. Yum!
Chowdown Report: Bow Hon in San Francisco
The fish salad was the star of the meal for me! What a wonderful combination of contrasting flavors and textures. it was so light I could eat a half order all by myself. My second fave was the ong choi with fermented tofu. This was the first time I had this version of ong choi and loved it. Maybe I would like stinky tofu too...but not here. I enjoyed the pigs feet clay pot. The meat was black from the black vinegar and included big chunks of ginger which I relish. The meal was a terrific value at $13 a piece and the service was exemplary. I am sorry I could not participate in the post meal Chinatown tour. Obligations at home precluded that, but it sounds like I really would have enjoyed that too.
Salinas Chowdown Report: Venimos, Vimos, Comimos Tacos
I am kind of late chiming in here, but as a member of the Pasilla team I thought better late than never. After the rather long ride down from SF our team was so hungry I was not surprised that we were predisposed to love the first taco truck we visited. Mister Taco did not disappoint. I never had trippas before and was overwhelmed with how scrumptious it was. Piled high on a lightly griddled tortilla were tiny bits of crunchy, but not overcooked, offal. Unlike the other teams we chose to order individually rather than try to share each taco. Besides we were ill equipped, lacking the tools for such a dissection. Mister Taco's trippas were so good that I ordered another before leaving his truck. His was the only truck that impelled me to go back for seconds. I loved the buche taco from El Grullense and the wonderful accompanying grilled onions. After a slew of meaty tacos at other trucks I welcomed the refreshing ceviche de pescado at El Kora. The crispy tortilla was covered with a mound of icy cold minced fish, onions and tomato swimming in a very tart lemon/lime marinade. As I remarked to one of my nearby companions, this served as a kind of sorbet to refresh my palate for the next round of taco trucks. The most entertaining time was at Julio Valdez hot dog stand. While I did not indulge with that specialty, I did enjoy a perfect sweet corn tamale. Mr. Valdez had a hard time locating the corn tamales mixed in, as they were, with the piña and currant ones. He erroneously opened three or four of them before finding the corn one. Tacos Colima provided my final tacos, chicharrones and birria. The latter being the better of the two.
I thank Melanie for arranging and organizing this event so perfectly. The maps and instructions were easy to follow and no one got lost ;)
Chowdown Report: Lucky River and Marco Polo
Thanks to Melanie and Nancy for arranging this delightful Chowdown. I agree with the other posters that the salted fish, eggplant dish was the star of the evening. I never had anything quite like it before, though I have had salted fish with steamed chopped pork. The melding of the eggplant with the ground chicken and the salted fish was truly inspired. The spareribs were scrumptious if a bit on the sweet side. One diner at my table commented we won't need dessert after tasting this dish. I agree that the one small fish was inadequate for the twelve folks at our table, only providing a smidgen of a taste for each of us. The portions for the rest of the items were enormous and we had two whole lobsters to go around. Of the cold appetizers I particularly liked the pork hock stuffed with forcemeat. I commented to Cynsa on my right, that is must be the Chinese version of mortadella, and a good one at that. I have frequently gone to Marco Polo in the past, but not last night. My favorites there are Lychee, Rum Raisin and Chestnut. All told a wonderful evening with great food and great company.
P.S. I took home the head of our table's chicken as a souvenir :)
Looking for Scottish Kippers In SF
For the past several weeks I have been looking for smoked Scottish Kippered Herring. Usually sold two to a vacuum-sealed plastic package in the refrigerated section of a market. I have not found them at the large supermarket chains, Safeway, Mollie Stone's, Andronico etc. I have an intense craving for them boiled in milk with sliced onions and served with eggs and potatoes for a weekend brunch. Anyone know of a source in S.F. or the nearby bay area?
Everyday Beijing Chowdown
Thanks to Yimster and Marlon for arranging this event. Though there certainly was an enormous amount of food presented, only a few of those dishes truly delighted my palate. These were the pig ear strips with their crunchy texture, the thousand year egg/tofu combo with the tofu mollifying the strong ammonia flavor of the eggs,and the lamb dumplings whose intense lamb flavor brought to mind a similarity in taste and texture to some sauteed lamb testicles I had at a Lebanese restaurant on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn NY many years ago. The fish head soup was flavorful, but my portion included two huge bony segments devoid of any fish flesh. A thoughtful chef, I would have expected, would have removed those bones before serving. The stewed cod, too, was particularly bony requiring deft fingerwork to separate the edible from the inedible. It was a hot evening, and the servers did continually replenish the huge pitchers of water on our table. I, myself, must have consumed more than one of them. I was disappointed there were no poultry items served. I had hoped for some duck. Since I seem to be in a complaining mood I might as well add one other. I detest dining with paper napkins....so much so that I keep a cloth napkin in my car just for occasions like this chowdown where paper napkins were the only option. The best part of the meal for me was the charming company of the folks at my table.
Tea Smoked Seabass gone at Louie's
Not having had the smoked seabass at Louie's and having read glowing reports of it here on Chowhound, I made a trek to Chinatown for lunch today in the hope of having some. I had that dish at a Chowdown in the East Bay last year and though very delicious there, the consensus was that it was better at Louie's. Well folks, those who enjoyed it at Louie's previously should cherish the memories. It is no longer being served and, according to my waitperson, it is not coming back. When this occurred is hard to say. The lunch menu posted at the entrance door lists $8.99 specials with that dish listed among the choices. However, the lunch menu presented to me at the table substituted a steamed fish dish on chinese greens. The price for the specials dropped to $7.99 but you only now get one entree choice. I asked to see the dinner menu and was surprised to see the tea smoked seabass still listed. When I brought this to the attention of my waitperson she insisted that was an error and it is not being served at lunch or dinner. Disappointed, but still hungry, I opted for the Szechuan scallops on the lunch special, or should I say the Szechuan scallop, the portion was so small I don 't think even one large scallop was included in the melange of practically raw onions and green peppers ensconced in a totally bland sauce (marked "hot" on the menu). The only thing on the plate that saved it from being a total disaster was a delightful sweet/sour daikon radish pickle sprinkled with black sesame seeds. I don't think I will be going back.
How about it Chowhounds. Are there any other restaurants in SF that are serving the tea smoked seabass? Please post if you know of any.
Best paella in SF?
I had the arroz negra at B44 recently. It was OK but underspiced for my taste and the portion was too small for the price. I left still hungry :(
In search of lekvar
I suddenly have a yearning for lekvar, otherwise known as prune butter. Specifically I am looking for lekvar filled pierogies, but will be satisfied to find a source of the lekvar somewhere here in San Francisco so I can make them myself if need be. When I lived in NYC many years ago there was a place called "Lekvar by the Barrel" on upper First Avenue. In addition to bulk lekvar, they had a variety of bulk paprikas and other Hungarian goodies. Alas, the owner H. Roth called it quits long before I left NYC and I have never found a place like it anywhere else.
Schroeder's Update? Pinkelwurst on Nov 10th
Pinkelwurst? Seem like haggis, jirtnice and pinkelwurst have a lot in common...grain and meat stuffed in a casing. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating jirtnice perhaps the pinkelwurst at Schoeders will satisfy my craving ;) Didn't find it listed in the menus posted on their website. I will call ahead rather than show up and be disappointed.
Jitrnice in the Bay Area?
I had haggis for the first time last night at the Edinburgh Castle Burns Night event and it struck me how similar this dish was to the Czechoslovakian Jitrnice. Both involve minced offal and grain stuffed into a casing (Sheep's stomach for haggis, and intestine for jitrnice.) I haven't had jitrnice since I left NYC many years ago, and even there it was available only from the now defunct Praha restaurant and their source, also defunct, a butchershop in Astoria. Although I have found several recipes online via the internet I found no source either in a restaurant or from a purveyor to do at home anywhere in California. Does anyone know where I can get this delicacy within a reasonable distance from San Francisco?
Scottish Meat Pie Company
In my quest for haggis in honor of the upcoming Robert Burns birthday I found this "bakery" in Dixon, CA near Davis which makes haggis and various meat pies. Has anyone had any experiences with them? Is it worth a trek out to Dixon? Since Noble pies vanished from Oakland I have not found a source of reliable meat pies.
Edinburgh Castle Pub
January 25 is Robert Burns birthday which is celebrated by Scots around the world with a "Burns Supper" Apparently in SF the Edinburgh Castle Pub is doing one Jan 20. Has anyone been to this place before or, better yet, to this event at this place? I hear haggis is part of the menu.
Herring
I, too, was disappointed when Costco discontinued their carrying of the large jars of Vita Herring some time ago. I haven't found it anywhere else at that price :( However, Smart and Final does carry large jars of herring. In the past they carried the Vita brand but now I think they switched to another whose name eludes me. I never did care for the Lasco brand.
Ngu Binh - new Vietnamese @337 Jones, SF (former site of Hung Ky)
Hung Ky gone? What a bummer! Just when I got to be well known to the lady owner. I particularly liked those oily fried shallots they had in a little jar on every table. I never found them at any other Vietnamese restaurant I have tried. If Hung Ky opens somewhere else I hope someone will let us know if they spot it.
Asia Pearl Banquet Chowdown
Kudos to Marlon and Yimster for arranging this lovely banquet.I agree with previous posters that the service was exceptional. Tea and water were constantly replenished throughout the meal, and plates were frequently changed between the courses. Anyone who knows me knows I am a freak about having cloth napkins at a restaurant, even going to the extent of bringing my own just in case. No need to worry here, cloth napkins provided and paper only appeared during the crab course which was also accompanied by a sealed wet nap (oh for the days of the hot wet towels I use to remember from NY when served such finger food.)
My favorites for the evening were the beef and mushrooms, minced duck with lettuce cups, the sea bass, and the tofu with crab and tobiko garnish. The abalone was tender but bland, the accompanying steamed pea shoots were wonderful. I thought there was too much fat and meat left on the duck skin course but the novelty of using Pringles instead of pancakes was amusing. I only learned from a previous poster that there was supposed to be dried scallops in the rice dish. In my previous encounters with them the flavor was much more assertive, here it was subtle to the point of being undetectable to me.The salt and pepper crab was the least satisfying for me. I thought the crab was too difficult to get out of the shell and too dry when you did finally accomplish that task. The crisp corn fritters with sweetened condensed milk proved to be a welcome ending to this feast, but wait, we had sweet tapioca and corn soup as the ultimate concluding offering.
I enjoyed the company of the guests at my table, and look forward to future food adventures with them.
farmerbrown chowdown
I, too, enjoyed the company of the other Chowhounds at the first "seating." I thoroughly enjoyed my fried chicken dinner platter.These three perfectly fried pieces were the crispiest I have ever encountered while still maintaining a juicy interior. I liked the fresh watercress garnish and mac and cheese side. I agree with Windy, the Watermelon margarita was disappointing despite the novelty of a cayenne/salt dip on the glass rim. Kudos for that incredible pecan pie. I couldn't stay for the later seating, but would appreciate more comments about the seafood gumbo and the trout.
Bay area source for fresh Epazote?
This is so funny. I just arrived in the Bay area in the early eighties from NYC where epazote could be found growing wildly in Central Park! And yet I could find none of it in any of the local SF parks. Then on a trip to Russian River I, too, stumbled upon fields of it along the banks of the Russian river.
July 16 - National Ice Cream Day
I celebrated with a carmel-praline butterscotch sundae at Shaws in Milbrae after a wonderful lunch with Chowfun and Limster at Ming Tai across the street. Chowfun should be filling the details of that meal in another post.
Bay area source for fresh Epazote?
I have seen the fresh variety regularly at FoodsCo at 14th and Folsom in SF and the dried herb at Rainbow. The dried version works well in soupy dishes like black beans but not so well with quesadillas and such.
Little Star pizza coming to the Mission
I hope they leave the juke box behind at their Western Addition branch. The sound level there was obnoxiously high making conversation impossible.
Winterland - Happy Hour Redux ...or, Play It Again, Sam
As a relative newbie to the Chowhound routine, I was delighted to join nine others at Winterland last night. I can hardly believe we spent two and a half hours there enjoying each others company and the procession of interesting food offerings. The pacing was perfect giving us ample time to appreciate and dissect each dish. My favorites from this evening were the tripe, the poached egg and that incredible brioche with the browned butter ice cream surrounded by deliciate dabs of lemon marmalade with thyme garnish. I, too, am looking forward to the special meal at the end of August.
Winterland closing!!
Cynsa and Meatball, we are meeting Friday but I think 5PM is too early. The website says the place opens at 5:30! Chowfun might join us.
Mortadella from Fatted Calf
Ah ha! So that is why I couldn't get any mortadella at FC last Saturday. I had some a couple of weeks ago and returned only to be disappointed when they ran out. I tried their pork rillettes but didn't care for it too much....underspiced and the wrong texture....much too creamy.
South America Board
Maybe they should change the title to "South of the Border Board" :)
