Philip's Profile
new Fatted Calf brick and mortar location in SF
Taylor says they will open in September (hopefully).
Sour Cherries at the market
Lagier had them the past two Saturdays. They doubt they will have them for a 3rd week, though.
Japanese Green Tea in SF?
Any ideas for stores that sell high quality sencha or gyokuro tea in San Francisco? I'm looking for loose-leaf tea.
Used to get my tea from White Crane Tea in Japan Center, but they closed, and their website is also shut down.
Thanks.
retirement for Sumi
Yes. Went to dinner there last Wednesday for the Dine Around. Fairly quiet at 6, but by 6:30, it almost full with lots of regulars there to wish Sumi a happy retirement.
There's an ownership change sign on the window saying that it will become Sumi Sushi.
Cherry Blossom Festival, SF
Forgot to mention that there was free sake on Saturday - on Post Street near the Peace Plaza. Not the best stuff, but a nice (and unexpected) treat to get free booze at a street festival. But, none on Sunday as Post Street was cleared of all booths for the parade.
Cherry Blossom Festival, SF
I tried the unagi bento for $6. The unagi was tender and a good-sized piece. The bento, or donburi if you will, was still warm at 11:30. Not a bad deal for $6.
May try the a yakisoba today, though I saw few people walking around with very appetizing teriyaki rice plates yesterday.
Cherry Blossom Festival, SF
The Cherry Blossom Festival is this weekend and next in Japantown in San Francisco. I tried the takoyaki (4 pcs of $2). Frankly, I couldn't tell if it was tako in there or not. Lines weren't bad at 11:30.
I'm volunteering there next weekend as well, so I'll have a chance to try some other stands (many run by community and church groups). So far, I saw sushi, spam musubi, soba, udon, unagi bento, teriburger and shave ice.
For dessert, I opted for a strawberry manju at Benkyodo (they don't have a booth, but the store is at Sutter & Buchanan).
Hamantaschen in SF?
Don't try the ones at Moscow & Tiblisi Bakery at Geary & 20th. The one I had was leaden (and probably, stale too).
Wagashi - San Francisco ?
Just returned from spending New Years with family. Among the traditional New Years foods (ozoni, sashimi, sake, etc.), someone brought strawberry manju. Wow. So, I already checked with Benkyodo, they will make it when strawberries are in season. Can't wait.
I tried three varieties of their manju: two filled with adzuki beans, one with lima beans. All great and fresh.
Golden Natural Foods
Stopped by quickly yesterday. Spent the most time looking over the chocolate selection. Vosges bars were the most expensive @ $5.99. There was one with bacon in it.
Picked up a Charles Chocolate bar (crystallized ginger in 65% bittersweet choc). They have 5-6 varieties of CC bars. Mine was $3.99.
Restaurants with good tea service
I agree with pane's Modern Tea recommendation. Solid food. Their buttermilk cake (or was it pudding?) with a pot of tea is a great dessert. Gets busy with the pre-Opera/Symphony crowd at dinner.
Dragon fruit
Phan Farms at the Civic Center Farmer's Market sells dragon fruit. $7/lb.
New Kebab place on Polk Street
I thought my kebab was tasty, though I'm not an expert on Afghani-style kebabs. The pumpkin dish was bland, but I think that's what it was supposed to be like (to complement the spicier meat). I though the salsa accompaniment was strange, though.
Thanks for the link, Melanie. That's the place. I'll have to try the chapli kebab next time.
New Kebab place on Polk Street
Ate at a new kebab place on Polk Street last night - sorry I don't have the exact name (something like Da' Afghanistan?) or the exact address (on Polk around Bush?) - since a friend suggested the place. Limited menu (teka beef, ground beef, sirloin, lamb, chicken kebabs, and a few appetizers). I had the teka beef kebab, which was juicy and a little spicy. Served with rice and salsa. Split the pumpkin appetizer which was drizzled with yogurt sauce. Some flat bread arrived before the food. Most kebabs around $8-$10, except the sirloin which was higher.
Cheap between-class places to eat near UC Berkeley?
And if your gf is around in the evening, the Desi Dog cart at Bancroft & Telegraph has $1.50 dogs between 5-8 PM Not Top Dog quality, but the price can't be beat.
My walk to the Mission & back - Jocelyn's Bakery, Farina, Dapple Dandy Pluot Sorbet & Gustofino
Decided to do some snooping and tasting on my walk today.
Jocelyn's Bakery (20th Street @ Lexington) - looks like a standard pandareia. The baked goods looked dry (and probably were very sweet). Didn't try anything here. There was also a sad looking selection of fruits and vegetables in one case.
Farina (18th Street betw. Valencia & Guerrero) - looks like a newish Italian place. The menu lists a lot of pastas and foccacia sandwiches. Just stuck my head in the door. Prices look moderate.
Bi-Rite Creamery (18th Street betw. Guerrero & Dolores) - after looking over the selection, I decided on Dapple Dandy Pluot sorbet. This was a winner! Nice tangy/sweet flavor. Extremely generous single scoop serving for $2.95. Nice to savor in a cone on a peek-a-boo sun Sunday through the Mission.
Gustofino Cafe and Market (Church Street betw. 15th & Market) - there was a sign on the closed Just Desserts shop advertising this place. The windows are papered over, and I couldn't tell when this place will open. They will offer Italian food and feature Blue Bottle coffee. From the description, it will be similar in concept to A.G. Ferrari.
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Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Farina
3560 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Jocelyn's Bakery
3566 20th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Finally: Tu Lan
Well, the one and only time I ate at Tu Lan was over 10 years ago, after several co-workers raved about it. So, three of us went for lunch. I don't remember what we ordered, but I remember the heat! We all had sweat literally pouring our faces, even the guy from Singapore who really knows (and loves) spicy food.
Never again.
Delica RF clones?
I think butterfish is the same as gindara (aka black cod & sablefish).
Aloha Festival at the Presidio August 4-5
Most of the food vendors at the Aloha Festival are selling plate lunches (teriyaki, kalua pig, loco moco, lau lau). The Academy of Hawaiian Art is the only vendor is selling malasadas, 6 for $4. Though their sign just says teriyaki, they have malasadas, too. I didn't try them as the lines were long (one to place your order, and another for pickup).
The other booths sell arts & crafts, including cookies, snacks & jams. The cookies didn't look or taste appealing, the sample I had was overly sweet & dry (your basic commercial product). One vendor had a decent selection of jams (I think it was booth 87 & 88, there was no name). I bought a jar of Maui Poha jam.
Aloha Festival at the Presidio August 4-5
I'm going to check out the food and entertainment at the Aloha Festival this weekend at the Presidio in San Francisco. 10AM - 5PM both days, admission is free, though parking is $5. This is the annual Pacific Islander culture festival.
I'm specifically looking for malasadas (the lines were huge last year) and unusual jams and jellies (hopefully I can find poha). I'll report back if I find anything good there.
http://www.pica-org.org/AlohaFest/index.html
Foraging for berries in SF?
Do you know of some great spots (though not somebody's yard) to forage for blackberries (or ollalieberries) in San Francisco? I'd like to make something this weekend, but don't want to spend $$ on fruit.
Thanks!
Any ideas for sour cherries and dark chocolate?
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Adrienne, I forgot that chocolate-covered cherries are my mom's favorite (though she prefers milk choc). Would you use sour cherries as is, or sweeten then with sugar & alcohol (brandy, cognac, etc.) before dipping?
Any ideas for sour cherries and dark chocolate?
I bought too many sour cherries this weekend for my pie baking. So, there's still about 1/2-3/4 pound of fruit leftover. I was thinking about some sort of cookie/brownie. Would the fresh cherries make the cookie too wet?
Any ideas?
Thanks!
dim sum specifically in SF Chinatown
Food seemed greasier than I'd remembered, but my ordering is different when I go with my Chinese friends (my most recent meal there) than with my gaijin ones (meal there several months ago).
Zapp's potato chips and Hobnobs
Ruth,
Thanks for the report on Cost Plus. I'll definitely check out the British sweets selection. I've been intrigued about British candy bars recently.
For my money, I'll hold off on buying potato chips until I see Maui Kitch'n Cook'd brand somewhere.
dim sum specifically in SF Chinatown
I ate at City View last week. It's also gotten more expensive, too. $46 for 3 people without tip.
Sour Cherries in SF
I bought some from the Berkeley Bowl on Friday. $4.29 per pound (not organic at that price). These were loose cherries, not pre-packed.
Best take out roasted duck in San Francisco?
It's been several months since I've purchased a duck in Chinatown, but I went to New Moon (I think). The duck was great, and they didn't bat an eyelash when I brought an empty jar to get some extra jus. They weren't skimpy about it either. I got over a pint.
