sensi63's Profile
Pizza Margherita/Pizzaiolo--where else?
I agree that I have never had a better Margherita than Pizzaiolo's. Pizzeria Delfina is equally good imho. Never been to A16. The tomatos are so good right now, the last hurrah before the winter...
Berk Farmer's Mkt Peaches, Run, don't walk
There is a guy from Star Valley Farms selling Spring Crest Peaches. They are organic, the farm has been organic since 1984!. The peaches are perfectly ripe and sweet and full of peach flavor, the best of the market and perhaps the best I have ever tasted. Certainly as good as any...
The man selling them is a deep soul, and his peaches reflect the love and care he puts into growing them. $4.00 a pound for the perfect peach. Go now before its too late. Hope he is there next weekend if you can't go today!
birthday dinner in the east bay?
They take reservations after 3pm. I strongly suggest you make them.
Enjoy.
birthday dinner in the east bay?
Have you been to Pizziaolo? It qualifies as a place with quality, fun ambiance, good food and drink.
Dinner suggestion for Oakland/Berkeley for Saturday evening?
Pizzaiolo on Telegraph in Oakland is excellent. Go to the Berkeley Farmer's Mkt Saturday morning and you will see Charlie the owner picking out your vegetables for the same day. It is casual, the food is top notch, and they take reservations now.
Delicious (Cheap) eats in Florence, Monterrosa, Positano, and Rome?
I treat anybody who recommends Aniticofattore as suspect. I am italo american, have spent a great deal of time in Firenze, went to antico on this boards rec with my family last time I was there. It sucked. I would not go there if you comped me my meal. Mediocre and overpriced at best. And full of tourists, nary an Italian in site except for the waiters...
If you want a good meal for cheap in florence, go to Trattoria Da Mario on via Rosina. It is one of the best restaurants I have been to, an authentic trattoria. They don't have a fridge. They are across from the market, and cook everything fresh. They are open only for lunch. You are a fool if you miss it.
Pizzeria I Ghibellini Piazza Di S. Pier Maggiore, 8 is good and not expensive, full of locals, good pizza and meat and a nice outdoor setting.
Finally, there is an outdoor restaurant off of piazzale michelangelo, off to the right as you face away from the city. (Not Onice the expensive fancy place to the left) called Bar Michelangelo, that is really good, very inexpensive, looks out over the old walls of the city. Family run, full of regular Italians, and very good
Fatted Calf Knockwurst
They are delicious. I mean like a hot dog is supposed to taste like. Steamed with
a 50/50 mix of beer and water. Plus, they are not that expensive (6 for around 12 bucks)
You can pre order them from their website for pickup at the mkt on Saturday.
Also incredible at the Berk Farmer's Mkt right now is the Asparagus, and the seafood
guy sells amazing cleaned crab and the best shrimp. The shrimp are from so-cal.
He trades crab for shrimp as far as I know. If you eat these shrimp,
the farmed crap will never taste the same again.
Making cider at home
No sulfites/additives per the farmer's mkt lady who sold it to me. pure apple. Somewher I remember reading that if i let it sit out 5 days it turns hard...is that possible? Am I trusting in the variety of wild yeast here in Berkeley?
Pedro Ximenez tasting--advice sought
The stuff is so sweet, I can't imagine tasting more that a sip or swig of each one. Somewhere I read that you can serve it over ice cream and it still stands up...
I purchased some 1937 Pedro Ximenez from Premiercru for around $17 a bottle, and it is AMAZING, but i can only drink a swig at a time it is so sweet.
Making cider at home
I recall reading somewhere that if you leave out unpasteurized apple juice like I purchased at the Farmer's Mkt today, it will naturally ferment to @5% alcohol cider. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks
Oliveto or Chez Panisse?
My new favorite Ebay restaurant is Pizzaiolo. I would go there before either Chez or Oliv.
Best Indian food in Berkeley?
Kabana. Have you ever had the tandoori catfish and chicken or lamb karahi. You must be very adept
at yoga if you can sit comfortably in those chairs at Indus Village.
East Bay/SF cheap ethnic food
Kabana on University just above San Pablo. The best Pakistani food. Great eggplant, chicken or lamb karahi (spicy) yellow daal and tandoori catfish that is shockingly delicious. Moist and full of flavor.
Pizzaiolo, why did it take me so long...
I guess since I don't like to wait to eat, and they just recently started taking reservations, it took me a while to make it, despite the good reviews I have read on the board.
It was beyond good. It was awesome. They service was very good, super friendly, the "vibe" was just right. Pumping fun jazz music really nice wines and wow, the food. Cardoon and beet salad, endive ceasar, an amazing pizza with olives, anchovies and chili peppers, no cheese, that was a peak eating experience. Delicious fried chicken in spicy chickpeas, squid baked in the oven, roast pork. The squid and the pork were so good that they were gone before I even got a taste, I was so absorbed in my chicken...
I found the desserts good, especially a rosemary flavored ice milk, really interesting and a terrific way to finish. I enjoyed the food as much or more than my last visit to the Chez Panisse cafe, and the vibe is much more fun, upbeat and casual. I will be back again and again and again...
Looking for 4 dozen oysters tomorrow--Berkeley Farmers Market perhaps?
I have never seen oysters st the Berkeley Farmer's Mkt. Monterrey Fish has nice oysters that you can pick out yourself.
Brunello vs. Ribera
Just Brunello, and it is (I think) and exaggeration, but you still want to give it at least an hour or two. Taste a sip as you first open the bottle, and then have a sip after one hour and then after two if you have the time. By two hours it should be ready.
Brunello vs. Ribera
Drink them at the same time to compare the flavors. You must decant the brunello and let it breathe for at least 2 hours for the full effect. (In Italy they say an hour per year)
Help Me Experience Spanish Wine -- PLEASE!
http://www.spanishtable.com/wineclubpage.html
Thats a link to the spanish table's wine club page. Whether you belong to the club or not, there is a wealth of information about spanish wines on the site. The newletters go back to 2005 and you will learn everything you need and more. I know they do ship the wines out. I belong to both the valor (value) and privada (nice bottles) clubs, and the selections are always interesting and tasty. Over a year and 30 plus bottles only had one bad one (an oxidized 1982... but the place is an awesome resource for spanish wines, which imho are the best bang for the buck out there right now in terms of variety quality and value.
Best Sushi???
I think Sushi Ran compares favorably to Nobu, though certainly not as formal or expensive. The sake and wine selection there is actually better than Nobu imho.
Restaurants you've been to repeatedly?
When I order sushi at Kirala2, I watch them make it, it only takes 10-15 minutes, and I mostly get uni, nigiri and sashimi and oshinko rolls which are not premade. But I must say, the turnover on the stuff in the freezer looks very high, as they do a brisk business around dinner time. If I was not satisfied with something I purchased, I would return it.
Restaurants you've been to repeatedly?
For special occasions and with out of town guests, Chez Panisse Cafe. We go about 4 times a year, and they always treat us like regulars. Really nice.
For cheap to go, Chaat Cafe for chicken curry onion naan and eggplant on sunday nites.
For spicy delicious cheap but divey, Kabana on University. The tandoori catfish and Karahi chicken, yellow daal and eggplant are as delicious as anything anywhere. Mr Choudry is very nice.
For the great wines by the glass and cool vibe, Cesar. The servers are always knowledgeable about the wines, they give us tastes, though I am starting to tire of the food...
For tasty udon and the yummy pancake/omlette O Chame on 4th. Always friendly service, you can make a same day reservation and its relaxing.
Kirala 2 for really good sushi to go. Go in and order it and they make it to order, take it home and eat. Much cheaper than getting it at the restaurant because beer and sake are cheap at home!
Place I want to go to more, having been for the 1st time last week A Cote. Really loved it. Yummy mussels, alot of wines by the glass, the nicest bartender (he let us have multiple tastes...
Pimientos de padrone
The season is definately past. Spanish table had some tired looking ones last month, they said they are last of the season, so it will be awhile. Cesar always has them on the menu.
1989 Chateau Haut Brion
http://www.wine-searcher.com/
For all of your wine pricing and searching needs. I have no interest in the site, other than using it because it is awesome.
Is it possible to match wine to Vietnamese hot and sour soup? Or should we just stick with beer?
http://www.wineloverspage.com/randysworld/asiamatch.shtml
This is a really fine article about matching wine to hot/sweet/sour/salty flavors of asian food.
I too drink beer, but to each his or her own. It can certainly be done.
vintage blanc de blanc- what to eat?
Peters in my favorite champagne (other than Krug, but that is too expensive)
The wine is really clean tasting, and goes well with anything.
The official Champagne Wines website lists the following foods for B de B (They refer to the B de B as champagne with spirit. Whatever.) It tastes good with anything imho.
http://www.champagne.fr/en_accords.html
Oysters Natural and chilled. In aspic or covered in crushed ice and sea-water
Shellfish Steamed like dim sum infused with herbs. In tempura.
Duck or goose foie gras Steamed or with a herby vinaigrette.
Served with green vegetables: artichokes, Swiss chard or cabbage.
Goose foie gras Uncooked or spiked with fresh truffles.
Salmon Marinated with fresh herbs. Served as a carpaccio.
Cut into thin strips and placed in a salad. As sushi
Poultry, geese, pigeon, duck Cold in aspic. Served as a cold meat with a hot gravy.
Citrus fruits In mousses, soufflés, tarts, sorbets and salads
1990 René Collard Cuvee Reservee Millesime
Did you try it? Thats a good price for a 1990...
Moderately priced Brunello?
It would be foolish to drink the 2001 now. I bought 3 bottles pre release from premiercru for 30 dollars a bottle! That was before the wine spectator rating. Would that I had bought a magnum or two...
When searching for any wine, always check
wine-searcher.com. It is an incredible resource.
any place to Spanish turron, in San Francisco?
I am certain you should be able to find it at an italian deli under the guise of Torrone.
Amsterdam - brown cafe with good food for late lunch?
Cafe ZeeZicht
Torensteeg 7, open 8-18:30 mon-fri, 9-18:30 sat/sun
The best apple pie. Great other stuff, cool vibe
