stonefruit's Profile
best chocolate chip cookie
My favorites:
- the chocolate chip walnut cookie at Mission Beach Cafe (14th St. and Guerrero).
- the cookie at Citizen Cake (Grove and Gough)
The cookie at Arizmendi Bakery on 9th Avenue between Irving and Judah is also pretty good. Tartine's chocolate chip cookie has oats and is very crispy. I like soft cookies.
What's good at King of Thai Noodles?
I usually order Pad See Ew with chicken and the red curry vegetable dish. Yum!
Dynamo Donuts
Stopped by on Wednesday and they were out of donuts; stopped by yesterday and they only had the chocolate-star anise ones. They were okay but pricey and not very interesting. I'd like to try the bacon flavor, though.
Orson or COCO500?
I've been there twice in the last week -- enjoyed the prawn salad and chicken sandwich. And, of course, the green beans.
Dinner at Piperade, SF
I also had an experience with horrible service there earlier this month. First my partner's menu caught on fire (she was holding it over the candle accidentally), and no one noticed. Then the waiter came and offered me a drink; when I declined he ignored my partner.
When the waiter did finally reappear, my partner ordered several small plates for her meal, specifying the order in which she'd like them to arrive, and I ordered a main course. The arrival of the dishes was all wrong -- all of her food came before mine did, plus the order was totally off -- and we actually sent some of the food back so the timing was more appropriate. (This was a very rare moment - we are NOT high-maintenance diners at all.) The waiter was totally clueless about the fact that the food came out at the wrong time, never came to check whether we were enjoying our food, and never offered us more drinks. We blew off dessert because the service was such a nightmare; we were eager to get out of there. To their credit they did comp us a drink because of the service issue, but really -- this restaurant is too well-established, and the service issues are too well-known, for there to be any acceptable excuses.
Too bad it was our 10th anniversary.
Seeking quiet, mellow SF restaurant for 8
I like Incanto but fear the food may be a bit out there (too much offal, unusual ingredients etc.) for some of the people... Is EOS quiet? I can't remember it being particularly quiet. I've always wanted to try Colibri, and the menu looks great. Anyone know if it's quiet?
Thanks!
Seeking quiet, mellow SF restaurant for 8
Parents and in-laws are meeting on May 17 for the first time, and I'm looking for a good spot for 8 adults, including a couple with hearing on the decline. Ideally I'd like a restaurant with a round table, since that'll make hearing one another easier, but those are hard to come by. A loud place is not going to work for this group; it's important that people can hear and get to know one another.
Some other criteria/issues:
Cuisines: We like pretty much everything, though are not inclined to do fancy French, German, or another very heavy food. An all-sushi place would not go over well, nor would a place that relies heavily on corn products, as one of us has a corn allergy.
Price: Prefer places with entrees $25 and under.
Location: San Francisco proper, preferably on the eastern, central, or southern sides of the city. Mission, SOMA, Noe Valley, Glen Park, downtown, Castro would be great, but if the perfect place is in the outer Richmond, it's a contender.
- Fanciness: Not too. Think NOPA and Delfina more than Michael Mina and Gary Danko. We may do a less expensive ethnic restaurant, too (Indian would be great, as would Mexican, Thai, or Chinese.). Some members of this group love the Slanted Door, SPQR, and Town Hall, and others tend more toward Chinatown dim sum, Chaat Cafe, and La Taqueria. It would be great to find a place where everyone felt comfortable.
We have considered:
- Tadich Grill, for the fun factor. But I'm concerned it's too loud. Food would be perfect. Or a steak house?
- Delfina. One of my favorite restaurants, and I've considered booking the back table on the patio. I'm still concerned it'll be hard to hear.
- Chenery Park. It's close to home, a nice selling point. Was thinking the upstairs area might provide a quiet space. Not my favorite, food-wise, but totally serviceable for this crowd.
I've looked on Open Table, but I'd love this community's input as well. And I would be happy to book a private room if I could find one that isn't too large; 8 seems on the small size for that. Worst case scenario: take-out for 8 in our dining room.
Thanks to everyone, in advance, for your thoughts.
Gotta have an orange
The organic navel oranges at Rainbow Grocery in SF have been excellent.
Whole turkey breasts in the city?
I've bought whole turkey breasts at Trader Joe's (9th and Bryant) -- Aaron's kosher turkey. Since it's kosher, it's as if it's pre-brined. Very tasty and very affordable.
Le Petit Laurent update
Had dinner there last night. We loved the onion soup -- I thought it was some of the best I've had, and I enjoyed my beef bourguignon, though I wish it had come with more mashed potatoes. My partner had the lamb, which was very tasty but also quite salty, and a nice glass of pinot.
Tiny restaurant, nice people, cozy place.
Fish & Farm
Four of us ate there last night. We had:
- fried oyster and pumpkin salad
- market salad (beets, endive, jack cheese, almonds)
- grilled calamari with butter beans and harissa
- house-made pappardelle with mushrooms
- grilled salmon with potato gnocchi, pancetta, and kabocha squash
Everything I had was delicious -- most plates were completely empty when cleared. The squid reminded me of a Moroccan version of Delfina's calamari salad, one of my favorite dishes in town. The salmon was excellent, and its accompaniments were well-conceived. My parents enjoyed their wine, and the service was good. We wanted more vegetables, so the kitchen made us a side dish of greens that wasn't on the menu, which we appreciated. They have an amazing corkage policy -- just $5 if you bring a California bottle of wine; $10 if it's from outside California.
One of the owners came by and spoke with us, and they seemed very happy to have us there.
I think the main downside to Fish and Farm is the location -- we parked on Jones Street and walked down O'Farrell -- areas that are a living example of the city's failure to deal with the homeless. It was a depressing way to begin the meal for my 60-something parents.
How can I save my bland pumpkin soup?
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I sauteed a big onion, some garlic, and a bunch of ginger. Added the soup, re-pureed it, and added milk, butter, salt, and a tiny amount (1/4 tsp) of curry powder.
Much improved! Thanks again.
How can I save my bland pumpkin soup?
I made a modified version of the Chez Panisse Vegetables roasted pumpkin soup recipe yesterday, but it tastes really bland. Here's what's I did:
- roasted 1 sugar pie pumpkin
- meanwhile, sauteed 1/2 an onion, a handful of carrots, four garlic cloves, and thyme in oil until they were soft.
- scooped out the pumpkin and put it in the pot with a quart of chicken stock, brought to a simmer.
- added salt, pepper, about 1/2 tablespoon of butter, and more thyme.
- pureed the whole thing
It's still really bland. The original recipe didn't call for the carrots and onion, but I thought it would be too boring. And it is. Here are some thoughts I have for fixing it:
- add some sauteed onions, garlic, and some ginger
- add cream
- add something acidic -- orange juice?
Suggestions welcome!
Lots of heirloom tomatoes - what to do?
Got an organic box this week with a bunch of heirloom tomatoes. Our two-person household can't possibly eat all of them fresh. What to do? They're yellow, red, and green (don't know the specific varieties).
Some possibilities:
- tomato sauce to freeze
- salsa (to freeze?)
- gazpacho (how will that freeze?)
I also have a bunch of sweet red peppers. Think I can roast them and store them somehow?
Whole Foods Market Potrero Hill - Opening Date
I was there on Sunday. I was rushing, so I can't provide a complete report, but it's a nice-looking store. They have a good-sized meat and fish counter. Right now there are some good deals on meat -- they were selling whole Rosie organic chicken for $1.99/lb.
The produce department seems smaller than the other two SF stores, as does the prepared foods section.
I found street parking easily, and they also have a lot. I'm sure I'll be back there often.
Vegas report: Craftsteak, Mon Ami Gabi, Rao's...
Just got back from a three-day trip to Vegas. Here's a report on the places we tried:
1. Craftsteak: Top Chef host Tom Colicchio's ode to flesh at the MGM Grand. Nice space, bad music (death to smooth jazz!), and good food. The menu's oddly written: lots of stuff to choose from, but very little explanation. Under salads: Persian cucumber, baby beets, etc. Cooked how? Served with what? I appreciate the effort to avoid describing every ingredient in a dish, but this went too far in the other direction. Turned out the Persian cucumber salad, served with watercress, was tasty; the Caesar salad was underwhelming.
We enjoyed the New York strip steak, grilled (16 ounces was plenty for two) and side dishes of Romano beans (in a tomato-y sauce) and grilled Maui onions. A liquid chocolate cake, this one studded with chopped hazelnuts, was decent, but this dish is pretty much a cliche at this point, and better versions exist. Great cocktails, though I wish they'd arrived before we were halfway through our first course.
2. Cravings: The buffet at the Mirage. It's a buffet, and a lot of it was just okay, but the chocolate Catalana dessert (like creme Catalan, I guess) was delish. Seriously.
3. Mon Ami Gabi. A French Bistro at the Paris that's known for its steak frites. If you go, don't get the regular preparations of steak (served with one of a few different sauces); opt for a better cut of meat. After going to Craftsteak the night before, I was spoiled. The frites were good, and my partner loved her mussels in white wine and scallops gratineed. The haricot vert side dish was nice and fresh, and desserts of profiteroles (with excellent chocolate sauce) and bananas foster crepe were very good. Fantastic service (the waitress with short blond hair was great), and the view from the patio of the Bellagio fountains, even in 100 degree heat, was lovely.
4. Agave. This is a funky yupscale Mexican place on Charleston Blvd. on the way to Red Rock Canyon. Beautiful interior -- some may complain that it's gaudy, but the doors and ironwork are truly beautiful. We enjoyed excellent chips (blue corn and regular) with three salsas, and our taco platters (we tried fish, chicken tinga, skirt steak, and goat) were quite tasty. The tortillas -- some flour, some corn -- seemed homemade. Good margarita, too. Thumbs up.
5. Rao's. Far and away the dud of the trip. You can't get into the NY outpost, so we thought we'd try the one in Caesar's Palace. Our appetizer was described as sauteed octopus served over sauteed broccoli rabe and cippolini onions. The greens were good, the onions were good, but the octopus? Not so much. First it was grilled, not sauteed, and second it was way overcooked -- burnt and tough. We actually discussed whether to send it back -- and the only time I've ever done that in a restaurant was when chicken was served raw. Trust me, I am NOT a high-maintenance restaurant customer.
We stuck it out with the octopus and then waited an incredibly long time for our pastas (entire tables nearby were served and finished their giant veal Milanese during the time we twiddled our thumbs and munched on bread). The gnocchi Bolognese didn't seem a classic Bolognese (typically cooked in meat and milk), this was way more tomatoey than classic preparations, and the bountiful sauce was tasty but a little sweet. The gnocchi were pretty good, though they can't compare to the incredible gnocchi at Giorgio Baldi in LA.
The orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe was tasty enough, but absolutely swimming in olive oil. I estimated, conservatively, that there was a quarter cup of olive oil in the bowl. Now, I've made this dish from the Rao's cookbook many times, and it does call for a quarter-cup of olive oil -- for a POUND of pasta, not a single serving. The olive oil was tasty, but there was far too much of it.
If we'd been served this meal at another restaurant -- say, one that didn't have an entire room of the restaurant dedicated to selling its sauces, cookbooks, t-shirts, and other schwag -- I wouldn't be as harsh. But if you're going to tout yourself as God's gift to Italian food, then you're asking for it. Avoid this restaurant.
6. Bouchon. This outpost of Thomas Keller's Napa Valley bistro offers a lovely breakfast. I loved my incredibly sinful pecan sticky bun with custard inside, and the boudin blanc with eggs was tender and yummy. Also enjoyed great coffee and the smoked salmon on baguette. Try the raspberry jam on the table; it's excellent. If you're planning to drink water, spring for bottled; the tap water today tasted terrible.
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MGM Grand Hotel & Casino: Craftsteak
Las Vegas, NV, USA, Las Vegas, NV
Bouchon
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Rao's
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Mon Ami Gabi
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Cravings Buffet
3400 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Agave Restaurant
10820 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89135
Restaurant recs before theater in SF?
I saw Avenue Q a few weeks ago and ate at 2223 Market St. in the Castro beforehand. There isn't much on the menu that's healthy (at least at lunch, when we went), but the food is good. I couldn't think of anywhere I wanted to eat within walking distance of the Orpheum, particularly because the neighborhood is a bit gross. Within walking distance you could try Ananda Fuara, a funky vegetarian place on Market Street.
As for Sweeney Todd: if it were me, I'd eat at King of Thai Noodle House on Geary, which I love. That may be too adventurous for your parents, so perhaps you should try the always-reliable Cheesecake Factory in Macy's. Everyone can find something to eat there (and they offer a whole lot more than cheesecake). Good Chinese chicken salad.
Shopping at Ferry Plaza on $3 a day … and other observations – bombolini?
I had the nutella one today and it was excellent -- incredibly indulgent, bulging with nutella, and addictive. I'm not even much of a donut person, and I could have gone for a second one.
Ethnic/local dinner in San Francisco
Pazzia, a cute Italian place on 3rd between Folsom and Howard, might work. (You say "ethnic": what does that mean? Not American?)
Some people like Bong Su, a fancy Vietnamese at 3rd and Folsom, but I think other places are better.
Chaat Cafe is a decent casual Indian stop at 3rd and Folsom, and there's a Chinese place called Canton Restaurant on Folsom between 2nd and 3rd. Someone else on here recommended Yank Sing, but I don't know if they're open for dinner.
I also like TWO, a fancier restaurant serving mostly American food (but it's good) on Hawthorne Lane between Howard and Folsom.
Private Dining - Financial District/SOMA
Town Hall has a private room upstairs. It's about five blocks from the Palace Hotel.
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Town Hall Restaurant
342 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105
Where is Fatted Calf?
Fatted Calf doesn't have a shop in the Ferry Building -- they have a stand at the farmers' market there on Saturdays. You'll find their stand on the south side of the Ferry Building, near Rose Pistola, one of the Ritual Coffee stands, and the Prather grill.
SF dim sum--not too pricy or crowded
I'll disagree with Lichee Garden. Went there two weeks ago, and six of us waited more than 30 minutes. What's more, the selection was strange -- at first nearly every single dish they offered us had shrimp in it. I like shrimp, but I wanted more variety. It seemed like the Chinese families there were eating regular dishes, not dim sum.
Instead I'd recommend City View restaurant on Commercial. The food is tasty, it's not as expensive as Yank Sing, and it's large enough that you might not have a wait there.
Good Eats in the Castro, SF
Actually, I had quite a nice meal at Tangerine on Saturday night. Our party loved the sea bass in black bean sauce, and my short ribs with bok choy and mashed potatoes were quite tasty. We also liked a mixed green salad, the steamed mussels and clams, and the tangerine yam cakes.
Best Ethiopian in San Francisco
I like Assab, on Geary near Masonic. South side of the street.
Poleng Lounge - What Should I Order?
Don't get the papaya salad -- it's all wrong. The miso-marinated fish is good, and the fried chicken drumsticks are tasty. Last time I had the green beans, they were undercooked and underseasoned, and I love green beans.
I've been to Poleng twice -- once in March and once last year, and I liked it a whole lot better the first time.
Peaches at FP Market
Kashiwase Farms, on the west side of the market near the south end, has a fantastic variety of peaches, nectarines, and plums/pluots. My favorite is Arctic Glo, an acidic white nectarine that's divine. Usually shows up around this time of year.
Breakfast near AT&T Park, weekday
Not a lot of old time diners around there, but you might try Town's End restaurant, . The view is lovely, and it's quite close to the ballpark.
Craving a good bagel with lox in SF
(For the purposes of this discussion, a good bagel is not available at Noah's or Posh.)
Where between Glen Park and Mount Zion can I find a good, fresh bagel with good-quality lox? (The salmon at Manhattan Bagel kind of scares me.) Anyone had the salmon at Katz' bagels recently? Anyone had the salmon at California Street Deli?
Thanks.
Ports Seafood has left the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market
Thanks for posting that -- I'm disappointed! They had excellent smoked salmon (lox-style), much less expensive than the salmon people down the aisle.
Glen Park Changes
What's curious about the French bistro is that the space housing the former bar is very small. I don't understand how a restaurant with a kitchen and 45 seats (as the proprietor told the Chronicle) will fit there without kicking out Higher Grounds.
