Joan Kureczka's Profile
Local Chinook Salmon in San Francisco (for the 2012 season)?
Prices from Shogun and the other fish seller at the Ferry Plaza Market were around $24/lb for filet pieces.
Local Chinook Salmon in San Francisco (for the 2012 season)?
Both Shogun and the newer fish seller over on the side by Acme and Downhome Bakery had relatively local salmon. Shogun's was from Half Moon Bay and the other was from Monterey Bay.
Gilbreth's Rotisserie and Grill -- looks like this is the first report [San Francisco]
The menu was slightly different from this, although not by a lot. No alligator and chips that I recall, and the tartare preparation has been changed to a ceviche.
Gilbreth's Rotisserie and Grill -- looks like this is the first report [San Francisco]
No, but they are also different style. Gilbreth's are a thicker cut -- more like UK chips -- but quite flavorful and sufficiently crisp. The chipotle aioli was tasty too. Chez Maman of course has the skinny frites that are pretty hard to beat when hot.
Gilbreth's Rotisserie and Grill -- looks like this is the first report [San Francisco]
I'd seen a few notices that this place had recently opened, below our Potrero Hill location on 3rd, between 20th and 22nd. Initial reports sounded decent so I decided to try it with a friend from out of town. We liked what we had so much, I dragged my DH down there this evening to even better effect.
The food is a pan-Latin mix of things with a heavy emphasis on smaller plates, but not exclusively. The menu is divided into "finger foods," "Small Plates," "Salads," and "Mains". The finger foods are the smallest servings, while the Small Plates and I assume all the mains -- we only had the excellent burger, of which I'll say more later, but it was large and easy enough to share.
There is an interesting wine list, mostly South American, and an excellent sangria with blueberries as well as the more usual apples and oranges. They make a few of their own non-alcoholic sodas and other drinks, and there is also a short selection of beers.
The first trip, we started off with the friend cauliflower with romesco and the wild boar picadillo empanadillos. My companion liked the heavily spiced cauliflower, but I felt the spices were on overkill, especially with the (excellent) romesco. The empanadillos -- which were fried -- were very tasty, if a little simple in flavor, even with the shredded cabbage and lightly pickled onion shreads.
The real winner was the burger, which was a mix of about 2/3 lamb and 1/3 chorizo. It was very moist and extremely flavorful, topped with gruyere and served with lettuce, tomato and pickled onion on a brioche bun. It was large enough to share, and was brought to us cut into quarters. It was also accompanied by excellent fries and a smoky chipotle aioli, as well as with house lightly pickled vegetables. I don't usually like sweeter pickles, but these were excellent, especially the crunchy, raw pickled beets.
The second trip, we again went for the burger, this time with cauliflower pickles among the mix, and the empanadillos. But we also tried the excellent gratin of lima beans seasoned with oregano and cheese. these big beans were delicious and definitely a large portion.
Prices are very reasonable with only one item on the menu (a wagyu steak -- don't recall the cut -- with spanish fries and chimichurri - for $18. $The Burger was only $12 and a large plate. Other offerings include various offal dishes (grilled heart, a trip dish, chicken livers) as well as game meat sliders: ostrich, venison and alligator, a jack ceviche, quail stew and others. Most of the small plates ran $8-10, with sides ranging from fried potatos, to plantains, to sweet potato fries for $4-$6.
The room is set up very attractively but clearly will have sound problems when the crowds start coming due to cement ceiling and floor, plus other hard edges. But it's worth checking out.
Good red meat place in SF
I'd also suggest Chez Papa (Bistro). Hadn't eaten there in a while, and was extremely pleased with the meal we had last Saturday. Some of the best food I can recall from that kitchen in several years. Excellent steak frites but there's also several other red meat offerings on the current menu.
booking a dinner for tonight - Credo? Zare? The Plant? Serpentine?
Ditto for us re the pistachio meatball and crispy risotto. Also had a fabulous goat cheesecake with date sauce. Only thing so far we haven't liked there are their fries. Interesting wine list too.
London pub recs?
Anchor & Hope may not count as a traditional pub, but as others here have said, it's an excellent gastropub (some of which are more restaurant-like than gathering place-like).
London pub recs?
Haven't been to Blackfriar's in years (mostly just because we've not been near by) but it is certainly worth seeing. Nice to hear that the beer selection is better than it used to be -- will have to check it out on one of our next trips.
London pub recs?
There are great food pubs and great beer/atmosphere pubs, and they aren't always the same. You'll get some excellent food recommendations from others here, but some favorite places of ours I'd recommend for the beer and/or atmosphere include The Churchill Arms on Kensington Church St , Dog and Duck on Frith St., Soho; the Market Porter by Borough Market, The Victoria (near Hyde Park at Lancaster Gate), The Grenadier in Knightsbridge; The White Horse at Parsons Green, the Lamb on Lamb's Conduit...
The Layover really didn't discuss any pubs particularly noteworthy, IMO. And ordering Guinness in London -- come on, really!
Good Persian food for Narooz?
If you want something more modern/fusiony but still Persian, Zare has a special Persian New Year menu at the Fly Trap:
http://www.zareflytrap.com/images/Persian_New_Year.pdf
Are there any good real spanish tapas bars in the SF area.
Actually I find it about average quality overall -- but focused on classic tapas not particularly adventurous stuff. The noteworthy thing is that they have a larger number than usual of vegetable tapas. The grilled artichokes are absolutely a favorite and would be a standout anywhere, IMO.
London Restaurants for Single Women
Barrafina, over in Soho -- great tapas with seating at one long bar (actually 2 sides of a square) only. Fresh grilled seafood a specialty.
Authentic Mexican ( y mole!) in Tucson?
I adore Little Poca Cosa, Sandra and Marcella. Favorite place to go by far when we're in town for the Gem Show, and thoroughly agree about the mole as well as the barbecoa and their breakfast eggs with machaca.
"Nice" Mexican in SF
While it's an informal little place, I love Papito -- especially the Friday and Saturday specials (one appetizer, one main and one dessert) which are among the best Mexican dishes I've had. Plus the weekend posole (Sat and Sun).
Honeymoon Itinerary: In need of Critiques
If you want tapas type food, you might head back downtown to Bocadillos for modern Basque tapas, near the Transamerica pyramid. I second that comment that Cha Cha Cha is not that good. I've also recently liked the offerings at B44.
The Best of Tucson
Little Poca Cosa is one of our favorite places in town, usually for breakfast and at least one lunch each February. We like it better than big sister Cafe Poca Cosa.
The Best of Tucson
Yes -- quite a decent tapas place, with a large assortment of things and perhaps the best patatas bravas I've had anywhere -- offered for free at the bar, too. You can usually even get a tapas sized portion of any of the mains and they do quite a few specials each day.
OMG special at Etcetera -- foie gras flammenkuche!
We haven't tried too much other than the flammenkuchen. The one with the mushrooms, arugula, parmesan, etc was exceptionally good. The charcuterie boards looked very good and the cheese selection is quite decent, if not unique.
OMG special at Etcetera -- foie gras flammenkuche!
It was fired with the crust, and so varying from slightly to quite melted slices, with a couple of chunks more intact.
OMG special at Etcetera -- foie gras flammenkuche!
Headed over to Etcetera last night, and found they were offering a special: a flammenkuche with house-prepared duck foie gras for $16. OMG this was good and more than a bit rich. A special -- if pricey -- offering to match was the 2006 Domaine Weinbach Altenbourg Gewurtztraminer, at $20 per glass. Definitely a killer way to kick off Christmas weekend. Not sure how long this will be available, but it's worth the indulgence.
Visiting London next week
Yes, that's it.
Frankly I prefer Lebanese over Turkish if you are indeed considering between the two.... although I've been to neither Ishbiliya or Noura. But if you are just looking for a decent place near the BM, TAS will certainly be better than many of the other options. We used to stay just around the corner when in London before we gained access to our friend's flat in Nottinghill.
Visiting London next week
In Bloomsbury, the Turkish place on the corner near the BM is also a better suggestion IMO than Wagamama. Can't remember the name, but part of small local chain. Good mezze.
SF Dogpatch & Bayview places to eat
Actually, I now provisionally take that back. Ordered sushi here tonight for the first time in ages. Rice was very good. Must be someone else now making it. If it is equally good next time I will totally revise my opinion/recommendations.
Etcetera (new wine bar on Valencia) - REAL Flammenkuche
Got word of a new wine bar on Valencia near 19th with an Alsacienne owner from Ribeauville, where she had word for the local wine co-op, the oldest in the region she says.
I figured that someone from Ribeauville would likely know their tarte flambee/flammenkuche, and indeed they are making the real thing as one offering, along with some more creative, "regional" variations. If you are thinking this is pizza --don't. The crust is thinner, stretchier -- more like a cross between a thin crust pizza and a strudel dough than even a thin crust pizza. With excellent double-cut smoked bacon, onions, and a bit of creme fraiche, the Alsacien version reminded me of some good ones from that region, if a bit paler in the bake than the ones from the wood-fired ovens there. We had two, and will definitely be back for these; if not the best rendition, certainly the most authentic by far in the Bay Area. Alexandra, the owner, says she even has the pastry shipped in from Alsace as she can't get the right flour here.
The wines -- an excellent and long list of interesting world wide selections, including several from the Ribeauville Coop to represent Alsace. Many bottles under $30.
Other food ranged from the aforementioned internationally influenced flammenkuches, a daily selection of tapas (all $4.95), charcuterie plates, a long cheese list, and a small selection of other starters, salads, and a pasta and ristotto for "large plates".
Nice room -- long bar, plus a number of sofas, low tables and other comfortable seating. When we arrived for the first hour there was even live jazz guitar softly playing.
Nice, we'll be back.
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Etcetera
795 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
2011 - Let's talk turkey
We had the Diestel Heritage bird last year from Golden Gate Meats and it was probably the best turkey I've ever had. Even my husband who isn't wild about turkey liked it quite a bit.
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Golden Gate Meat
Ferry Slip, San Francisco, CA 94111
Ham
I am quite partial to the Framani Little Ham. Whole Foods does sell this, sliced to order from the deli case -- not packaged. IMO, it's the best ham I've had short of baking and slicing your own.
Salzburg and Munich for a night each
If you do a search here on Munich you'll find lots of recommendations. That being said, our three "must" stops are:
Der Pschorr -- maybe the best food, nice non-touristy beer hall. Beer from the keg.
Weisses-Brauhaus -- favorite wheat beer, great building, okay food (although menus are looking more interesting on the specials again)
Andechs am Dom -- amazing, best Helles beer, good food, friendly outdoor patio (heated).
All are in old town area of Munich: Der Pschorr, near Victualienmarkt; WB on Tal just down the street from the Marienplatz; AaD behind the famous church.
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Der Pschorr
Viktualienmarkt 15, Munich, BY 80331, DE
Biergarten opening tomorrow, Oct 19
Got an email this evening from Suppenkuche that their long-delayed Biergarten is opening tomorrow. Hours are 3-9 Tues-Sunday. Limited menu of salads, pretzels, brats, sandwiches, pickles and a couple other things. 6 beers on tap.
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Suppenkuche
525 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94102
