chezchristine's Profile
Hotel Bar in Paris?
We will be in Paris right before Christmas and always enjoy having a drink at one of the luxury hotels in Paris just to soak in the atmosphere, even though we know the drinks are exorbitantly expensive. Which hotel bar is worth going to, both for people watching and for holiday decorations? We've been to the Georges V and The Ritz's bars.
TIA!
Indonesian Lunch at Borobudur
Link:
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Borobudur Restaurant
700 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Lard at Berkeley Bowl West
Thanks, that's exactly where it is, in a green box. Definitely very hardened and different from the lard I've seen in Mexican grocery stores.
Where to buy skate?
Saw it today at Berkeley Bowl West, $4.99/lb
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Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA
Lard at Berkeley Bowl West
Does anyone know if they sell it there? If so, what department would it be in?
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Berkeley Bowl West
920 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA
Sapporo Ramen @ Ozumo in Oakland
I had a similar tea experience at the one in San Francisco. Upon being seated, I was asked by the server if I would like tea. Thinking it would be a cup of tea on the house or for a minimal charge, I agreed and was brought a tea pot that I believe was fairly expensive. Looking back, I should have spoken to management, as the tone the server took asking me was very similar to when they ask you about your water preference.
ISO: Pork Liver in San Francisco
Where can I find this? In Chinatown or on Clement St?
Most regular grocery stores do not carry pork liver, or they have to special order it (Golden Gate, Falletti's). I know a lot of the Asian grocery stores carry pork blood, have never searched for the liver.
Thanks!
ISO White Rice Flour, Preferably in Bulk, Preferably in East/North Bay
The berkeley bowl definitely has both white rice and sweet rice flour, as well as Mochiko (Japanese rice flour). They are all packaged and I'm not sure if they sell it in bulk...
Looking for a "ladies who lunch" spot for this weekend
I think Butler & the Chef would be too casual.
Absinthe is a nice atmosphere, not too stuffy, with a reasonable lunch menu (if you stick to sandwiches), plus Hayes Valley is fun to walk around.
SF: South Park recommendations?
In South Park:
Butler & the Chef: great breakfast or lunch, very rustic French café
Caffe Centro: since I don't drink coffee, not sure about how it is, but the sandwiches and salads are a good value and made to order; lots of office workers there at lunch
Mexico au Parc: heard it's not a great burrito but not bad for the area
Little Skillet: not in South Park but a few blocks away. Fried chicken from a takeout window, currently trendily popular
Town's End: inexpensive, solid California cuisine
Delancey Street: they call themselves an ethnic bistro, has outdoor tables
Other than that, there are mostly sports bars and places relying on ballpark traffic.
picnic in san francisco.
ACME bread (pain Epi, baguettes), Andante cheese (outside), whatever fruit is in season from the farm stands.
If you want cured meats, some are available at Boccalone, Golden Gate Meats, or Molinari (old school salami). There is also a smoked fish stand at the back of the outdoor market.
There is a wine store inside that also sells beer (and plastic wine glasses), chocolate from Recchiuti for dessert or Scharffenberger as a more inexpensive substitute.
My favorite place within walking distance of the Ferry Building is Levi's Plaza Park, hidden behind some high bushes near Embarcadero and Battery. It's a little less windy there and there are wonderful benches and grassy areas to sit on. Remember that the weather can be unpredictable so dress in layers! Have fun.
Mini burger/slider buns
The La Boulange brioche ones are at the Berkeley Bowl West. They were giving out samples outside of another brand which I couldn't remember, but I couldn't seem to find them inside the store.
As for the Costco ones, the dinner rolls someone mentioned are $3.99/36 - a great deal, but quite dense and not as soft as the brioche ones.
The demise of american breakfast (and chicken fried steak.)
I like chicken fried steak at Jim's Coffee Shop, around the corner from Ole's. Hasbrowns are frozen but usually crisp. They do a decent job for breakfasts, and there is still bit of small-town charm to the place, even though they do a brisk business and have a surprisingly large dining room.
Grand Cafe for Beouf Bourguignon, SF report (Theatre District/Union Square)
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2009/08/hungry_for_julias_boeuf_bourgu.php
It says it's through the end of August.
Favorite SF Chinatown Happy Hour / Tea Time Deals?
I've noticed Hing Lung has $2.99 specials from 3-6 on weekdays, 4-6 on weekends. When I asked a server at breakfast, she said you could even get the items as takeout (thought I've yet to try it - can anyone confirm?)
Just wondering what other places in Chinatown are offering similar things, and what dishes are recommended.
Fifth Floor - downhill or still good?
The reduced prices are correct. We were there last Friday and ate in the lounge, very interesting menu and well-executed. Cocktails were also quite good and reasonable, with summer cocktails starting at $8. You can also get the full dinner menu in the lounge.
The stellar point of the evening, however, was the service. Although we were walk-ins at the bar/lounge, we were greeted and talked to by everyone, from the hostess to the managers and even servers from the main dining room. It was out first time there and we don't tend to try to attract attention, but once they knew we were really interested in the food and ingredients, took the time to answer questions and explain things. We will be back.
ISO: Fried wonton skin strips
Actually I'm a West Coaster and just prefer the taste of them to fried noodles. Normally I would make them myself, but when catering an event for 50+ people, a garnish like that eats up a lot more valuable time than I'd like. Hopefully someone has a source, but if not the fryer will come out! I've seen places that have jook serve them.
ISO: Fried wonton skin strips
I'm looking for fried wonton skin strips, usually used in Chinese chicken salad.
I'm NOT looking for the fried chow mein noodles that are brown or the fried white rice noodles, and most stores I've searched in only have the noodles. Stores that don't seem to have it: Safeway, Berkeley Bowl, Ranch 99.
Any other locations? San Francisco preferable, but would travel to East Bay. I know I can make my own, but prefer not to.
TIA!
San Francisco, Millbrae and Ferry Building on a Sunday
The Ferry Building definitely dies down after 5PM. Also remember the Asian Art Museum, if you go on a free Sunday (1st Sun of the month), has incredibly long lines even when it opens. If you end up skipping the museum, all the FB shops are still open and well worth a walk-through if you haven't been there before.
Arancini: savoury balls of goodness in the City?
Americano has them. 2 balls a little larger than golf balls for $7.
Ferry Building's best on a weekday? Food sampling tour suggestions please!
I would definitely try to go on a Tuesday or Thursday between 11-2. Both days have farmer stands, and the peaches right now are really good.
Tuesday: farmer's market, stands outside selling tamales, hamburgers from Prather Ranch
Thursday: smaller farmer's market, more stands selling prepared foods like wood-fired oven pizzas, tacos, hot dogs, and Korean tacos. Great for grazing with a family, tables set up outside.
Inside, Scharffenberger usually has a lot of samples out. Rechiutti sometimes has one or two. You can taste olive oils and gelato.
If you would like to picnic, the suggestions that people have already made are right on the money, with the addition of Blue Bottle for coffee and hot chocolate for the kids. For beer, maybe Hog Island would have a decent selection?
Birthday Lunch for 1?
Thanks for the advice, but I actually live near the Ferry Building so frequent some of the more casual places often.
I'm thinking more sit-down, especially at a nice bar. All your recs are great though!
Kitchenette & Poc Chuc, SF
Went on Friday, surprised they were open on July 3rd.
Indian-inspired fried chicken sandwich was as good as the first time I had it, the salad with heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, artichokes, asparagus, and dilled yogurt sauce was fresh but turned soggy quickly.
My main complaint after 3 visits is the slow service. If I wait 20 minutes to order with only 5 people in front of me, then wait another 20 minutes for my food, I expect it to be piping hot (which it was not). Having one person taking orders but also packing & handing out food (most of the time when I'm there) seems to be inefficient. The food also seems to come out of the kitchen in spurts, which I understand for the sandwiches but don't understand for the cold salads, especially when we were there a little before noon. Maybe I happened to go on off days, anyone else experience this? I could tell people around me were being patient but also getting a little frustrated. The Sentinel's speed and service are light years better, here's hoping Kitchenette ramps up a little more.
Birthday Lunch for 1?
Where would you treat yourself out to for lunch if your birthday was tomorrow? Looking for San Francisco, no preference for type of cuisine but not a formal 3 hour lunch. Would love to hear what dishes you would order!
Cliff House reservations?
You probably would still need one on the weekends.
Upstairs at the bistro, they do not take reservations.
Downstairs, they take reservations, but they also have a bar area that has a few tables that is first-come, first-serve. The bar does not face the water, and the tables there are not by the window but are elevated so that you still can look out.
Berkeley Bowl West - The promised land ... west of Eden
Does anyone know if the hours are same as the other Berkeley Bowl?
Eastern Standard
I've had the chopped salad too and liked it, but the wooden salad bowl didn't work when they put large pieces of chicken i(shouldn't it be chopped?!?) in there that you have to cut with a fork and knife. The bowl they use isn't stable enough and was wobbly unless you cut very gently - just a little pet peeve of mine.
Banh Mi variations?
Can you describe the bacon? I was there last week and saw it. Is it smoky?
