lainielou's Profile
Petaluma: Lala's Creamery - The old-fashioned ice cream parlor reborn - phospates, parfaits, black cows, Straus cream
Thanks for pointing me towards this report, rw. This sounds right up my alley! Can't wait to have a lazy Sunday to drive up north and eat ice cream! Am excited that they have phosphates.
I also really appreciate that you said that you prefer baskin robbins to Ici! I feel that way about other high end places sometimes. . just give me a scoop of gold medal ribbon and I am happy!
One night off in Berkeley
Had a great meal recently at Corso - the chicken sauteed in brown butter is particularly good. It's a place I want to return to sooner rather than later which is rare.
PUPUSAS!
The best pupusas with loroco I've had were at La Santaneca . . i've only ever been to the one up Mission Street near Daly City. . .their curtido is very good as is their licuado de guayaba. The loroco in the pupusas is abundant. . more than I've ever had in a pupusa - very good.
Looking for CHs to vote for mom's surprise 60th birthday dinner
In order of preference:
Ritz Carlton - superb food and service; your mom would definitely have a memorable meal for a milestone birthday.
Fleur de Lys - great food but the service can be spotty.
Michael Mina - has personality problems as in charges a premium for fine food but isn't quite sure what it wants to be - I find the lighting, the decor and the music quite lacking.
Aqua - beatiful room but have been underwhelmed by the food time and again. . .altho I must admit to not being a fan of fish so I am missing out on a integral part of their menu which may be where they shine.
"One Hit Wonders" - restaurants you only go to for 1 or 2 items?
Robert - chan is an agua fresca made from seeds of a shrub native to El Salvador. I had never heard of it before I went to Los Cocos. . .it is very refreshing . . it reminds me of the taste of fresh prickly pear cactus. I've had it at Los Cocos and at Balompie but both places have it only sporadically. I have tried to find the seeds to make it myself but have not been able to. It is addicting.
SF dinner suggestions?
I am a big fan of Bodega Bistro. Yes, it's in the tenderloin but it's great food.
Suggestions:
The Papaya Salad
The Fried Calamari
Squab
Pho Ga
Shaking Beef
Tiger Prawns
Actually, I haven't had anything I didn't love here. . .it's a simple restaurant, not too fancy, service is polite and efficient and the bill is always a surprise. . a happy one!
Report on Quetzal Farms' giant spicy pimientos de Padron
I also find the larger ones almost too bitter so I will stick with Happy Quail's. And yes, the larger ones are definitely hotter. we had a large bowl of freshly fried, lightly salted peppers and a large group eating them and out of about 12 peppers, one person got the hot one . ..and the hot is otherwordly . . .it just hits the mouth differently than any other pepper. Russian Roulette with peppers! So worth it!
Sancho's Taqueria, RWC report (w/ pics) It's true: Carnitas Super Burrito is AWESOME!
Thanks for the info and the pictures! Looks great and thanks to you I won't waste my time with the tacos. . .I actually volunteered to take someone to SFO so I could make a side trip to try the burritos here! Thank you!
ISO of Chicken Soup in Bernal/Mission are
Caldo de Res at Los Jarritos (or sopa de albondigas on Tuesday) or the chicken soup at Balompie. Both will bust a cold . . or at least make you feel like living. :-) Hope everyone feels better soon!
Ici n'était pas mémorable
I think Ici is just getting it's footing and I will give it another month or so to fully realize it's potential.
I am partial to Sketch. Not only for their wonderful ice cream but because of Eric & Ruthie. . .they make the experience there a little sweeter. Right now, they have a fresh fig cake that is beyond phenomenal. . I dream of this cake! Try it plain with a cup of Blue Bottle or get it slathered with the Yogurt Ice Cream . . heaven. The cake is only around a short time so get it while you can!
Also, as stated, peach season is done. The last of the season Indian Reds were really poor this year. . .too much rain! They were mealy and pale in color. If you see Blossom Bluff Orchards at the Berkeley Farmers Market and they still have Flavor King or Elephant Heart Plums, get some . . .they have been glorious!
"One Hit Wonders" - restaurants you only go to for 1 or 2 items?
Otaez, Oakland - Caldo Tlalpeno
Boulevard Cafe, Daly City - macaroni & cheese
Los Cocos, Oakland - Chan - to go!
LoCoco's, Oakland - Inferno Pizza
Real Mexican Home-cooking in the East Bay.
Otaez has gone steadily downhill since they opened their other outpost in Alameda.
El Huarache Azteca is very close to food served in Mexico City. . .I recommend their tinga de pollo on anything. . it is delicious. On weekends they have many specials most notably their barbacoa de borrego. . .bbq'd lamb served with the rich broth and thick corn tortillas. Delicious.
La Cenaduria de Ana Rosa on International and 48th is a little hole in the wall with specialties from Jalisco and it is very good. . .I especially like her enchiladas and posole rojo. . .make sure to check the specials boards as they usually have one or two gems on them.
Pho Ga Dac Biet in SF?
So sorry you're feeling under the weather. Vietnam II has Pho Ga Dac Biet and it's just as you describe. I am a chicken (no pun intended) and like the very simple Pho Ga at Bodega Bistro. . .it's white meat with great broth but a friend had the Pho Ga Dac Biet at Vietnam II and pronounced it delicious. . .hopefully you can get your fix and you'll feel better. I hope so.
italian food for birthday dinner
Il Borgo sometimes has chicken piccata as a special. It's casual but cozy and they have very good gnocchi.
The only caveat. . they are cash only.
Chronicle burrito roundup topic pointer
I really do agree with him about lettuce in burritos. . .so, so wrong!
I do not agree with him about Cactus. . .no depth to their food whatsoever. . .bland.
Taco trucks around Oakland Airport
The taco truck at High/880 behind the inexpensive gas station (not the one in the gas station . . YIKES!) . .. it's from La Pinata and while I am not a fan of the restaurant on Park Street in Alameda, the taco truck is very good. Great carnitas. EXCELLENT sopes. . . I suggest one carnita and one al pastor. . .a wonderful meal. If you get a burrito, make sure you tell them that whether or not you want whole beans or refried . .otherwise they will put in whole beans. Nice, friendly folks, too. 9-8 M-F 9-5 sat/sun.
The taco truck at 98th near the DMV makes really good Tortas. I don't know the name of the truck but it keeps strange hours. Maybe in keeping with those at the DMV.
El Novillo taco truck is good. . . the guys at night make a better burrito than the crew during the day and the best part is that the truck is open at least until 2am. . . good carnitas burritos and tacos. Not crazy about their carne asada only because it's sometimes really chewy.
Boulevard Cafe-Daly City
they make a fine macaroni and cheese. . that and salad is a marvelous meal .. altho the portion for the mac and cheese feeds two (i'm not complaining!).
Service here is always excellent.
Watermelon sorbetto at Gelato Milano
I had this gelato on Friday night .. . it was very, very good. I also had the mango and pineapple. . .their sorbettos are otherworldly . . .the fruit but better. . if that makes any sense. I really love this place. The flavors are delicious and the texture is perfect.
Sunday Brunch East Bay where reservations work
No view but Citron in Rockridge has an outdoor patio that is lovely; they serve a delicious brunch and take reservations.
Old Town Oakland - La Borinquena Mex-icatessen – New Mexican chicos, New Mexican roasted green chile & tamales
I love to go to this store. . .the family that owns it is lovely, especially the mom who makes guest appearances here and there. . .it's also nice to see her daughters and grandchildren all working together - they are a beautiful family.
They sell chicharrones by the pound . . .they are crispy . .deadly but delicious and really wonderful ground up and used in frijoles borrachos. . .
LARD is their friend and so that makes me theirs. .. the only complaint I have is that when they make the nachos, they don't use their wonderful, thick chips. . .they use a bag o' chips that looks like one of those bags from costco. While the nachos are made with nacho sauce. . they do truly hit the spot sometimes . . with the meats, salsa, sour cream and guac. . .not pretty but delicious. . I just wish they'd use their fabulous chips.
Top 10 Tastes of California
If you don't get into TFL, consider Cyrus in Healdsburg. Not only is that a wonderful meal with some of the best service you'll ever have but there is some great food to be had in Healdsburg the highlights being salumi and gelato/sorbetto from Bovolo and/or any ice cream from Downtown Creamery.
I highly recommend Cyrus.
Salvadoran restaurants? gracias
I am partial to Balompie - just have been going there for years and really am comfortable and familiar there. Their Pupusas are very good as is their curtido and the escabeche they have. I also like their pasteles de puerco and their caldo de pollo. They also sometimes have Chan, which I am crazy for so am always happy to have that.
La Santaneca (the one towards top of the hill Daly City) has very good pupusas. Everything else is only okay. . .altho the tamales they serve are very close to nacatamales and I have a friend who just loves them.
Panchita's on 16th Street has great sopa de albondigas when they have it. . which is when they feel like it. Their pupusas are also good but the service there is so poor and the neighborhood so sketchy that I've stopped going - not into being accosted for a "bite of my food" by the locals.
Panchita's #3 is nice. It's "upscale" salvadoran food. . .it's kind of a trip . . same food as Panchita's with just a little more flair and a cloth napkin. I like this place 'cause the locals hang out at the little bar and are a fun bunch of folks.
El Zocalo on Mission near 30th is good. . .their soups aren't so great but the pupusas are very well made.
Il Borgo report (SF/Hayes Valley)
I second the Bolognese. .it is pretty good. They also make fine Gnocchi.
Healdsburg: Bovolo gelatos
I dream of Bovolo's gelatos .. .they are absolutely wonderful. I am sad and at the same time grateful I live too far from there to have it often. The charcuterie and gelato. . .made by the same person and absolutely perfect.
Best SF Thai or Vietnamese?
Thai House Express on Larkin is definitely the best Thai in the city. I have never had anything there that as not stellar. It's a simple but clean place with great food. Good prices as well.
Bodega Bistro is wonderful as is Pagolac down the street (famous for their beef 7 ways and wonderful claypots).
I would avoid Mangosteen. . .I had a truly subpar experience there . . .
Best gordita in the Bay Area?
I like the gorditas at El Huarache Azteca. .. they look like the picture of the example of a El Tapatio one. Puffy and fried. Sometimes I like them stuffed with just cheese and I put a little of their delicious tomatillo salsa on it. Sometimes I ask for it stuffed with tinga de pollo. . .their tinga is very, very good.
24-hour or EARLY morning donut shop in Oakland?
found one . . .Colonial Donuts on Lakeshore Ave. . .does anyone know if they are any good?
Mexican Birthday in Fruitvale
I used to be a loyal Otaez patron but it has recently gone down hill. They DO have margaritas now as they have a full bar. But it really isn't great.
El Huarache Azteca is good - I highly suggest anything with the Tinga de Pollo . .. you can have it on a sope or tostada and it is truly one of my favorite things. The masa items stand out - I really like their gorditas as well. They only have beer and I don't think I've seen any mariachis there.
Guadalajara is no bueno.
24-hour or EARLY morning donut shop in Oakland?
I am looking for something along the lines of Bob's on Polk Street in San Francisco. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Farmer Joe's in Oakland?
The new Farmer Joe's Market Place is a mini-Berkeley Bowl/Whole Foods. It just opened on Saturday and I went on Sunday. I am lucky enough to live around the corner from this new gem and am so happy to have it in my neighborhood. It is a little bit of a madhouse right now but I think once the dust has settled it will be a wonderful place. I would give it a week or two until you visit. It has bakery, a meat counter, a fish counter, a grill (to be opened soon), a large selection of lovely looking produce and shelves full of not usual suspects items. I found a childhood favorite .. . Flicks. . . and while my palate has matured, it was a fun walk down memory lane.
