salome_st_john's Profile
Aziza, Chapeau!, or The Richmond?
While I love Aziza and absolutely recommend it without reservation, I don't think a meal there is necessarily the more memorable one. I had a dinner at Chapeau! earlier this year that still makes my heart beat a little faster - my skate in brown butter was possibly one of the best pieces of fish I've ever had. The service was impeccable while still being warm, charming, and welcoming, and despite the low lighting and close quarters of the nearby diners it still felt romantic. I absolutely love that restaurant.
That being said, I also adore Aziza. The cocktails are out of this world wonderful - not just inventive, they're smooth and beautifully balanced. Much the same can be said for most dishes I've had. A friend and I went there very early the other night for a leisurely dinner. Sure, the space is funkier (be careful of the floor in the middle room, especially if wearing heels) but I like it, and the service was wonderful and very attentive. We shared a variety of appetizers - we were particularly happy with the scallops and the chicken wings (boneless, more like a confit). And while I was disappointed the burnt honey ice cream was not on the menu (truly one of the best ice creams I've ever had), the goat yogurt granita with melon soup and beet sorbet was a revelation. So good I tried to pry the spoon out of my friend's hand so she would stop eating her share. Must find weaker friends.
Truly, you can't go wrong with either one.
san francisco help from fellow philly chowhounders? - moved from Philadelphia board
I'm not a Philly Chowhounder, but I am an SF Chowhounder born in Philly, so I can't keep my big mouth closed. I recommend you head out to the Richmond District. I live here and it's great. It's not as much of a "destination" as many of the neighborhoods in this city but we have an embarrassment of riches. You've probably heard of Aziza, and there's much more to explore.
Plus we have a lot of the pretty beaches over here.
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Aziza
5800 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94121
Inner Richmond Favorites?
No, it's true - Inner Richmond is pretty much Arguello to Park Presidio. But I figured that since people had been throwing Central/Outer Richmond options into the pot, what the heck.
I live in Central/almost Outer Richmond, so for me it's all a walk/bike ride/hop on the 1 away.
Inner Richmond Favorites?
I know these are not Inner Richmond but I'll throw them in anyway, since there have been mentions all the way up to 32nd or even Balboa/36th, and really our little pocket is only a quick bike ride or pleasant walk away:
I am a big fan of Um Ma Son on Geary at 23rd. Wonderful Korean food, run by the nicest lady. The fried chicken and macaroni and cheese at Hard Knox Cafe have been given a thumbs up by my Nashville friend (and the prices have been heartily endorsed by her frugal boyfriend). PPQ Dungeness Island has great imperial rolls and cabbage salad. We love Pho Clement/Pho Clement 2. And my boyfriend says Mescolanza is great.
Also, am surprised no one has mentioned Pizetta 211!
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PPQ Dungeness Island
2332 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121
Pizzetta 211
211 23rd Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Mescolanza
2221 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121
Hard Knox Cafe
2448 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121
Um MA Son Korean Restaurant
5850 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121
Inner Richmond Favorites?
Eats isn't so much a greasy spoon anymore - it's been taken over by the Burma Superstar empire. They've re-done the interior - it's cozy - and the food is more brunch-y than straight greasy spoon-y. The little scones you get at the start of the meal are delicious. I've been only once and I wasn't thrilled with my scramble. My boyfriend's bacon waffle had too much stuff piled on top to be able to taste anything (I remember preferring the bacon waffle at It's Tops years ago) but it was pretty good. I'd go back to try again.
Inner Richmond Favorites?
Do you mean Bella Trattoria? I haven't been there in years, altho when I went (twice) in the '90s it was wonderful. I still remember the wild boar dish I had (both times). I keep meaning to go back and see how it is now.
Appalling Saul's
Pastrami sandwiches should certainly be rich and fatty. However, I too had a WT pastrami sandwich that was so greasy I didn't want to finish it. Yes: greasy, not fatty. WT is wonderful in lots of ways but I found the pastrami sandwich to be way, way overrated. And greasy.
Fonzie's Peruvian Chicken
Weird that you found the sauces bland! I was just coming by here to report that I went by yesterday with friends specifically for fries and sauces, and we found all of them terrifically flavorful. Best of all, I know what each one is.
Fonzie's Peruvian Chicken has three sauces that I know of. Or three sauces that I tried yesterday, anyway. I don't think they're mayo/sour cream based, at least not if they're made according to more "traditional" recipes. They are:
Huancaina (yellow) - probably the most well known; the thickest of the sauces; cheese and milk-based and brightly colored/flavored with aji amarillo
Huacatay (green) - this was the sauce the OP had and was unsure of; thinner/looser than huancaina but also made with milk and I think some cheese, as well as some spice (maybe aji amarillo but maybe a different pepper); spicier than huancaina
Rocoto (red) - consistency somewhere in the middle of the other two; definitely spicier; made with the rocoto pepper; also had (to me) more of a "dressing" flavor (hard to explain - I couldn't put my finger on the mix of herbs but it kept tasting sort of familiar and then the heat would kick in)
The best part was that while all of us loved the sauces, there were three of us, and each had his/her favorite sauce. They complement the fries so well.
And reading how you couldn't get enough of the fries makes me wish I had a whole new order of them, even now. Sigh.
Fonzie's Peruvian Chicken
That's too bad about the chicken - I wonder if the difference was that when we went, the whole place was full and there was a group ahead of us who had placed an order for what must have been a party. Something like 10 full chicken/fries/salad combos. So they had put the chickens in just before we got there, giving us the requisite "chicken will be ready in 10-15 minutes" when we arrived. Which, of course, meant 40-60 minutes. Our chicken was really freshly rotisseried so perhaps that was part of the reason it was so flavorful and ridiculously juicy? Either way, it's too bad that happened, and I agree - at least the chicken should be consistent. It would make sense after all.
Or maybe they should just change the name to Fonzie's Peruvian Fries. Because the fries, right? The fries. Oh God, the fries.
I want to go back to figure out which sauce is which, because I think there are three. Clearly, I should go back and eat more fries. I mean sauces.
And as regards the service and ambiance, I think I should have said that you should go in to "enjoy" the "experience." I mean, I liked it but I think that's because it honestly reminded me of some great memories of my trip to Lima.
Fonzie's Peruvian Chicken
Actually the alfajor eater's tastes run Peruvian. The single best alfajores she ever found were in Lima, at La Casa del Alfajor (http://www.lacasadelalfajor.com.pe/). She does like the Chilean alfajores from the lady at the Alemany flea market but (sorry, Chilenos) not as much as those from Peru. But definitely more (lo siento, Mi Buenos Aires Querido) than the classic Argentine version.
Also at Fonzie's: helado de lucuma! I plan on trying it next time. Mmm, lucuma. They also have chicha morada and Inka Cola. There is no "mmm" for Inka Cola from me, however. More like OH GOD INSTANT BLINDNESS FROM INSULIN SHOCK
And yes, don't go for delivery. Go enjoy the full Fonzie's experience.
Maritime East - Awesome Cheeseburger.
I went on Sunday night and the burger was $10.50. That included fries.
Was thinking of posting a full report of all the dishes we had - or as full a report as I can, given that I forgot to grab a menu/write everything down. Oysters, littleneck clams, wood oven pizza with pork belly and saba, sweet pea ravioli, burger, and the famed (or should be, anyway) pea tips and Brussels sprout hash. What a fantastic meal we had. I just can't understand why it's not busier.
Bourdain in Singapore - help!
I agree! This one made me write down more locations and addresses and go scrambling for more recipes than any other. I have yet to see the HK ep, but one day...
Best Burgers in the Bay?
The absolute best burger I have ever had in my life was about three weeks ago at Maritime East. A cheeseburger with Neuske’s bacon and avocado and shoestring onion rings, loaded onto the ideal bun–soft but substantial enough to withstand the burger and all its juices without disintegrating, perfectly toasted, and just the right flavor to complement the burger. Which, did I mention, was cooked perfectly medium rare. The burger also came with fries (onion rings AND fries, oh heaven).
I'm still thinking about it.
Seriously. Single best burger ever.
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Maritime East
2826 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA
Bourdain in Singapore - help!
Thank you thank you thank you. Seriously, x1,000,000. It was making me a little crazy, not being able to figure it out.
Bourdain in Singapore - help!
I've watched it twice now (on regular TV - I don't have TiVo or DVR or a blank VHS lying around), and I still can't catch the name of this one dish that has for some reason caught my fancy.
When A.B. goes to the photographer's house and the photographer's wife makes that gorgeous-looking Chinese noodle soup/dish, what is it? And does anyone have a recipe I can approximate, including with all the glorious condiments?
The broth is both shrimp and pork based, which is ladled over noodles, sprouts, greens, pork, prawns, and fish cake. The condiments she served were sliced red peppers in light soy, crispy fried shallots (or some sort of mouth-watering shallots), a garlic paste, and ground spices.
Thank you!
