$2.89 at Berkeley Bowl. I agree with consensus that they do not seem as sweet as last season, but since satsuma season is waning, perhaps in a few weeks a later crop of satsumas will be the best--but priciest--citrus available.

Melanie:

Is the newish Ramen Shop near Rockridge BART on your to-slurp list? I'd be interested to see how this updated ramen version fares in your ranking.

Market Hall (Rockridge, Berkeley) just announced receipt of a new shipment of Mariage Frere, including the varieties you mention and many, many more.

BigWoodenSpoon:
Which store for the Sausal?

BANH MI

Also at the Ferry Building are Boulette's Larder and Miette (permanent shops indoors). Tout Sweet on the third floor of the Union Square Macy's (opened by Yigit Pura, last mille feuille left standing in first season of Top Chef Desserts).

The housemade loaf at Pizzaiolo in Oakland is very similar to the wonderful Tartine loaf and a generous portion is available during P's morning service, toasted, with butter and excellent preserves on the side. Other breakfast pastries also excellent and include savory options. Cafe Oliveto also has a fine pastry chef; the puff pastry they use for their sweet and savory items is among the best I've had (delicately flaky--neither crunchy like Tartine nor wimpy like La Farine has become of late).

Not a cheese, but creme fraiche is splendid with smoked trout.

BANH MI

Indeed, it was reported some time ago that Lahlou would be moving Aziza to Jackson Square, but I've seen no indication of a move in progress.

To my palate (essence of fruit, unusual varieties, e.g. yuzu, restrained sugar), June Taylor's are the finest:

http://www.junetaylorjams.com/

Other options are Frog Hollow and Blue Chair.

Ruth, was that Oakland GO? Have you tasted the Cypress Grove yet?

Monterey Market is a possibility, but call first.

I've read that the kosher turkeys from Empire are excellent, permit harried cooks avoid the brining step. First, is it so? Second, is there an East Bay source for Empire turkeys?

Why did it close? The place was bustling each of the last few times I'd been there, and the food was great.

For me (small in both size and appetite), Commis is perfect (I went home from Gary Danko with three take-out boxes of leftovers, including dessert), but please identify the "lot of other places" you had in mind--comparable in price, inventiveness, execution, quality of ingredients. Good to keep in mind for my companions with bigger appetites.

Crispy, moist, huge fried chicken wings with little tubs of hot sauce on the side (and a menu with many other great-looking Southern and soul food dishes, but I can't get past the chicken wings):

Scend's
3627 San Pablo Ave (between 36th St & 37th St)
Emeryville, CA 94608
(510) 547-9238

My kind of loaf--three crusty "heels" rather than the usual two.

Do the bags indicate roasting date?

Oliveto is close to the Berkeley-Oakland border, has well-executed California/Mediterranean menu and "upscale" dining room ambiance and service (prices to match).

In a moment of frenzied kitchen gadget acquisitiveness, I bought a Camerons stainless steel stovetop smoker as a "gateway drug" that may ultimately lead to investment in a costly Big Green Egg. Any great recipes or techniques you can offer for this device (it's the large size, 15" x 11")? I love smoky flavors in fish/poultry/vegetables but have never attempted to replicate at home.

Which GO, please? And any chance they had the Biscoff spread?

definitely Mission Chinese (check the SF board for passionate discussion of preferences, counter-preferences)
Bar Tartine (new incarnation)
Canteen
Lers Ros on Hayes (second outpost, spiffier ambiance, but I still prefer the funkier Larkin St. location)
Perbacco/Barbacco

R.I.P. Anywhere else to get cold rice noodle rolls with lots of cilantro?

I agree that execution at Bodega Bistro is better, esp on the classic dishes. Which are your other favorite Vietnamese places? Are you referring to Vung Tao on Telegraph Hill or the one in San Jose or ?

Perfect chowdown (and many thanks to Pane and Windy for organizing and guiding selections from a huge menu) and to recording secretary Thomas): opportunity to order many dishes; everyone gets a good-sized taste of each and opportunity to order more of the favorites (in this case, we ordered more of the 4#. Banh Khot and #6. green papaya salad); major topic of conversation is the great meals we've had, the wonderful meal we were then having, and detailed anticipation of planned future meals.

My favorites were: #6 papaya salad: beautiful shreds of papaya and savory bits of dried beef (sounds strange but so good) in a sweet/funky (in a good way, of course) sauce. I would have liked a bit of heat or more umami-type flavors in this one, but of course that would have made it a different dish. #32 Noodle soup with crab, shrimp, pork. I didn't get any discernible pieces of crab, shrimp or pork in my serving, but the broth and noodles had a rich, complex flavor. #4 Banh khot was an unusual treat, meant to be wrapped in lettuce leaf with cilantro and other greens and drizzled with sauce, but flavors were quite subtle and I realized I probably overdid it with the greens in a feeble effort to take care of my vegetable course for the evening.

Least interesting to me were the #1 fresh shrimp rolls--skimpy on the pork and shrimp and better done at many take-out places, #16 the "egg meat pie" component of the dish had a quiche-like texture (not necessarily a bad thing but portending blandness) and little flavor.

They have the pig knuckle but not the porchetta at the Heart of the City Farmers Market, UN Plaza on Wednesdays.

Wood Tavern is open for Sunday dinner but not for lunch.

We went to Kingdom of Dumpling at 5:30, hoping to avoid the Lunar New Year crush in this tiny (15-20 seat) place. By 6:00 the wait was out the door and hovering over the diners inside.
The XLBs were markedly inferior to Shanghai Dumpling King--smaller, wrappers flimsy in texture and not nearly as artfully pleated, filling not as flavorful. But they do have a vast selection of non-soup dumplings, and the pork/shrimp/chives version was very good. My favorite dish was the stuffed Shanghai pancake--like a conventional onion pancake but lightly filled with vegetable and savory items, then pan-fried--a Shanghai quesadilla.

But thanks to Chowhound XLB enthusiasts, I now have a list of additional places to try.

I'm hoping to introduce out-of-town (indeed, out-of-country) guests to the wonders of XLB, but Shanghai Dumpling King is closed on Tuesday, our only free evening together. Any other recommendations in the City and what other dishes do you suggest for those recommended places?