Pork buns would be preferred but I am up to try anything...

My wife and I are heading to SF and Napa in a month or so and I have a strange obsession with Bao. Any great places besides "Out the door" in the Ferry Building?

My copy of Modernist Cuisine at home will be here tomorrow, and after reading through Under Pressure I am going to break down and purchase either an Immersion Circulator or Sous Vide.

I was wondering is any fellow chowhounders have any suggestions? I am not sure if the Sous Vide Supreme is going to be big enough? And is an Immersion Circulator is worth the extra expense. Any help would be great!

Thanks!

This is where we ended up thanks to everyone's help!
Thur Quartinos
Friday potbellys ( we are from the west coast and have long had an affair with potbellys when we can find one)
For dinner after Schwa canceled we ended up at GEB
Sat xoco
Dinner at the publican
Sunday grahmwhich/ wow bao ( dinner was not till 10:00 we needed as snack)
Dinner Next
Monday purple pig
Dinner Girl and the Goat
Tuesday we drove to Milwakee had lunch as Winconsin Cheese mart and Frozen Custard that was amazing!
Dinner at brewers baseball park
Wednesday Hot Doug's
Dinner El Ideas
Thursday blackbird and got to meet the Mayor
Dinner Alinea
Friday Big star
Dinner white sox game and a Comisy dog

Everything was amazing except big star but we were in the area and the place looked packed as I walked by, but it was not terrible. Can't thank everyone enough.

Just want to say thanks to all the chow hounds that helped me plan a great trip! I think we got a good taste of Chicago, even got canceled on by Schwa but everything else was awesome! Thanks again

Just face value for the cost not even a need for a $10.00 transfer fee because it is a shared table.lol. Let me know snowbordinglife@aol.com

We have dinner at Schwa on Friday and are taking a cab there was was wondering if we are going to have a hard time getting a cab from Schwa back to our hotel?

Also we have two extra seats at our table at Next Sunday 10:15 if anyone is interested. No pairing but can be upgraded at dinner if you wish.

Thanks everyone for the help we will hit up Porillos for lunch one day and Quartino when we fly in.

Thanks again

Our flight does not get fly into Midway until 9:00 and we will be looking for a place in the direct area of our hotel Dearborn/Ontario for dinner. Maybe something gimmicky and casual. Both Harry Caray's and Portillos are close and was thinking one of them. Does anyone have a preference of one over the other or any other suggestions.

Thanks!

I was able to get all the reservations that I wanted for this trip, below is what I was able to piece together. I have one Saturday open and a few lunches? Any suggestions would be great!

Friday Aug 17th Schwa
Sat Open
Sunday Next at 10:00 (We have two open seats if anyone is interested)
Monday Girl and the Goad
Tues Driving to Milwaukee Brewers Game
Wed El Ideas
Thur Alinea
Fri White Sox Game

Lunches
Hot Dougs
Blackbird
Frontiera Grill
Purple Pig
Tavernita
Grahamwich?

When I made the reservations at El Ideas I asked what to bring. I was told that tap water/ tea would be available and that anything would be acceptable (Two liter and sparkling water). When I made the reservations at Schwa I did not ask because I was so excited they called me back and have no idea what they have.

My wife and I have reservations at El ideas and Schwa and have never been to BYOB. To complicate matters further we do not drink and have no idea what to expect or what to bring to drink. Typically at restaurants we order diet coke or sparkling water? Any other ideas of what we should bring? Two litter of diet coke or bottle of water? Big gulp? LOL. Any help would be appreciated.

My cousin is graduating from High School next week. She is a huge Desert/Pastry freak and is going to culinary school in the fall to follow that dream! I would like to get her a cookbook for a graduation gift but am unsure of which one? I am a huge fan of The French Laundry Cookbook but was not sure if that was the way to go. Any ideas on suggestions would be welcome!

Sage is a good option so is Le Cirque. LatEleir and e inside Jaleo are great but might be a bit more. Picasso in bellagio is a solid choice too.

If you want to stick inside the Cosmo scarpetta is good, so is comme ca. We also loved Jaleo and if you want to splurge "e" inside Jaleo is some of the most fun you will ever have eating! Twist in MO is really good also.

My wife and I love Chinese buns? Any suggestions in the Chicago area?

Does anyone know any tricks to get reservations at Schwa? I have called a bunch of times but only get a message that says that I can not leave a message. Anything would help!
Thanks

Good list, I would recommend the ferry building the ninth for lunch and then either Benu or mission street food for dinner also sushi zone is good. Enjoy French laundry!

If you can get into French Laundry it is a must , my wife and I had dinner there about a year ago and it was one of the best meals I have ever had. If you can't get in Redd is good, Ad hoc is fun. Graces Kitchen is great for breakfast. The oxbow market is fun also in napa. In SF for fancy I would recommend Gary Danko which is good and Benu( I have not been but has been getting rave reviews) the ferry building is great if you are there on farmers market roli roti is a must and worth the line for a porchetta sandwich. If you are looking for something more casual flour + water and mission street food are wonderful. If you like sushi, sushi zone is one of the best in town but show up earlier or expect to wait.

I agree with LVI breakfast at the Wynn tower suites cafe( may be called Tableau now) is one of the best I have had. For diner Sage is great. Jaleo is one of my favorites if you like tapas also local Firefly is great. For fish American Fish in aria is good also RM seafood in Mandalay bay. If you are looking at something a little fancy, Both Joel RoBuchon in MGM are amazing, Picasso in bellagio, Twist at mandarin oreintal. And if you are looking for one of the most fun dining experience you can have try and get into e inside Jaleo.

Does anyone have an idea when tickets will go onsale for Next's Sicily Menu?

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I seem to be a little light on lunch options any ideas? Street Food? Trucks? Sausage?Anything that is a must in Chicago? I have the following if I am lucky enough to get in.

Alinea
Next
Girl and the Goat
Schwa
El Ideas
Grace/ One Sister Inc.

Lunch
Blackbird
Purple Pig
Frontera Grill
The Publican / North Pond.
Anything good to eat around US Cellular Park?

Thanks again for all your help

Thanks for the great suggestions!!!! Below is the dream list if we can get in. Let me know if we are missing something great. My only worry is that all of these options are similar, am I wrong?

Alinea
Next
Girl and the goat
El ideas
Grace if open
One sister inc
Blackbird(lunch)
Schwa

One question about schwa, I have never heard of a restaurant canceling dinner? Why??? Any back up options that except walk-ins just I case they cancel?

Thanks again

My wife and I will be spending a week in Chicago third week in August. We are looking for the best restaurants Chicago has to offer. All cuisines, atmosphere's, and prices are ok. If we can get in we are already planning on "next" and Alinea. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!!

My wife and I are staying in San Francisco but are taking a day trip to hike Muir Woods a crossed the Golden Gate. We would like to take a picnic or lunch with us before we go. And ideas where we can pick something for lunch before we head a crossed the Golden Gate?

I would pass on Mix, we went there about a year ago and was not impressed. The view is great, I would suggest to go there for drinks but that is about it. If you are looking for a couple other suggestions I would go with a local place "Firefly" and Jullian Serano in Aria. Both are small plates tapas and very good. If you are looking for another super high end place Guy Savoy which is very enjoyable. Two great spots for lunch are Olives a Bellagio and Todd English PUB at Aria . Have fun.

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Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV

If you are having a hard time getting in and really want to go I would recomend calling andasking the concierge at the hotel you are staying to see if they can get you in. Also Olives at Bellagio is good also if want something casual Todd English Pub is open at city center which I hear is good.

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Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV

My wife and I are going to the Vegas Uncork'd Grand Tasting this Friday. This is our first event of this type. Does anyone have any suggestion or tips we should know?
Thanks

If you are looking for great food B&B very good pick and you could get out for $100.00/PP . Delmonico and N9NE is good. L'Atieler and Alex will be more than $100.00/PP. If you are looking for a fun vibe and good food I would recomend TAO the girls will love it and that would be about $100.00/PP

Hope this helps

I agree Wing Lei is not worth the money. If you are looking for a decent place at Wynn I would recomend Tableau or Okada. For Steaks I would recomend Prime Steakhouse at Bellagio, The place is stuffy but the food is great. If you are looking to go off the strip I would recomend Firefly (tapas). This is cheap and great. They also have a location Downtown Vegas

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Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV

Wing Lei
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Okada
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109