pamf's Profile
A Trader Joe's Care Package
Since your friend cooks, add in some items from TJ's spice aisle. They have different spice blends and salt in the container with a built-in grinder among other things. Some of those things might be hard to find and/or very expensive where she lives.
It's a lot of fun to put together a personalized box. Reminds of when I used to bring TJ's packages to my friends in the Midwest when I visited from California. But time marches on and they now have a local TJ's of their own.
Best whole roasted chicken in Sf
The Roli Roti truck chickens are delicious, they are at the various farmers' markets. $13 for a whole chicken last time I bought one. They will also sell halves and quarters.
What cookbooks have you bought lately? Springtime edition, part 2
I've had Honey from a Weed for many years. It's an excellent read, a memoir as well as a recipe book. It significantly changed the way that I thought about food and cooking.
Does anyone actually like Sandra Lee?
I think you may be getting SL mixed up with another cooking host. Her "semi-ho philosophy" is that 70% of your food should be packaged goods with 30% fresh.
If people are flustered in the kitchen then watching Sandra's disjointed preparations and trying to understand her inarticulate descriptions of what she is doing is not going to be helpful.
Sandra also presents a lot of misinformation. She likes to throw around words like "healthy" and "organic" but then still ends up adding CreamOf soup and seasoning packets to everything. On her money saving meals show, her methodology for cutting the grocery budget is to use cheap cuts of meat with a huge pile of carbs. Hey, who cares what kind of nutrition you're providing for your family, it's only $3.95 per person.
There are quite a few other cooking hosts who can provide better guidance and clear instruction for those who are getting started in the kitchen. Kelsey Nixon (there's a recent thread on her here), Sara Moulton (no longer on FN but now on PBS), and even Rachel Ray all do a better job of presenting the basics.
Does anyone actually like Sandra Lee?
The Kurtain Kraft business ultimately failed. Then she married Bruce Karatz, multi-millionaire CEO in Los Angeles and that's how she got access to the media and TV people to get started with the cookbooks and TV show.
What Lidia Bastianich cookbook should I buy?
I have Lidia's Italy (2007), in which each chapter features the dishes and typical ingredients of a different region of Italy. There is a wide range of recipes here and it is a lovely book with lots of appealing dishes.
I also have Lidia's Family Table (2004), which features a more basic set of recipes with a home cooking focus. The book also offers a lot of instruction, including many sections with detailed step-by-step photos of basic techniques, such as pasta making, cutting meat, etc.
Both are excellent books, just a matter of what you are looking for .
Paso Robles - Trip Report [Long]
Yes, all of the tasting rooms we visited allowed dogs.
We do check the wineries web sites to see if they say they are dog friendly, and we always ask again before we bring him in.
If we are visiting someplace where are not sure about the dog policy we will ask and if they say no, we can always go on to the next one.
Overall Paso Robles was very dog friendly.
Paso Robles - Trip Report [Long]
I took a short tip last week to Paso Robles. I have been meaning to
visit this area for quite a while. My SO and I are fans of Rhone
Rangers so we have become acquainted with many Paso wineries and
wanted to visit.
We drove down from the Bay Area on Wednesday morning. Stopped for
lunch in King City. Looking for tacos, we chose Tacos La Potranca De
Jalisco, mostly because they had outdoor picnic tables and we were
traveling with our dog, so that worked out very well. In fact the
entire trip worked well with dog-friendly spots.
La Potranca has a short menu with the usual taco/burrito choices, also
tortas and quesadillas. We tried the al pastor, asada and cabeza tacos
and they were all quite good. I thought the meat was a little dry but the
salsas were very tasty. Tacos were $1.15 each. There are three or four
other taco shops within a two block area of the main street in King
City (Broadway, just a couple of minutes off of 101), so there's
potential there for a taco crawl.
Arrived in Paso about 2pm, so we had time to stop at a couple of wine
tasting rooms before checking into our hotel. We stayed at the La
Quinta which is on the east side of 101. It is a chain hotel, but they
are dog-friendly and do not charge an extra fee or deposit for pets.
It's a new hotel and their rooms are nicely appointed, refrigerator and
microwave, etc. Reasonably priced.
The wine tasting rooms on the east side seem to all be new, with very
large and impressive structures. We visited Eberle, EOS, San Antonio,
and Vino Robles. Eberle was friendly and low key and did not charge a
tasting fee. EOS charged a $5 fee, which was not credited towards
purchase and they also offered to give your your tasting glasses for
$3 more. We really liked their Rousanne. Vina Robles had a great
Sauvignon Blanc.
San Antonio is more of a gift shop than a winery tasting room. They
seem to represent several properties and some Italian wines. No fee,
but not very interesting wines. They did have some intriguing stuff in
the store, like expensive Italian grappas. It was across the street from our
hotel, so we stopped in.
The La Quinta offered an evening happy hour with complimentary wine.
As a long time business traveler, these happy hours can be pretty bad,
but this hotel actually served some OK bottles, all from local Paso
wineries. The hotel employee who was pouring the wines actually took the time to talk about them and describe them for guests.
We started our first full day at the Grocery Outlet in Atascadero
(about 15 minutes south of Paso). My SO is a Grocery Outlet aficionado
and he was really hoping that there would be great finds in the wine
department here. Sadly, this was not the case. But we did pick up a
few more snack items for picnics, like Dagoba chocolates and Nutella
to go packs.
This day was all about the west side. The properties here are smaller
and more grounded into the landscape. It's easy driving, not long
distances, so we were able to visit quite a few places.
Chronic Cellars, has a style all their own, but they make great wine. Loved
their Zin and most everything else, lots of unusual blends. The tasting room staffer was very informative and it also helped that we were the first visitors of the day. While we were there the winemaker dropped by and joined the conversation. The wines are reasonably priced too.
http://www.chroniccellars.com/
The tasting room guy at Chronic recommended that we visit Tablas
Creek, since they were the originators of the Rhone style in Paso.
Excellent wines, very classy, they clearly have been here for a long
time and they also have a partnership with Beaucastel in the Rhone,
where they got most of their original root stock. We got a couple of
bottles of their blends, on the low end of their price list. Even though we we not big spenders, they waived the tasting fee and gave us the glasses. We took advantage of their patio to have a little lunch with some cheese and sausage that we brought with us.
Also visited Adeledia. I was surprised that I really loved their Pinot
Noir (not what I was looking for in this area). That was something of
a splurge purchase and will be put aside for a special meal.
After lunch, we stopped at Opolo, liked their Cab Franc, and Dover
Canyon for Zin.
After all that, and a nap, we were not interested in a big dinner. We
stopped by the Hotel Cheval, where the Pony Bar offers light
appetizers (and has outside tables, dog-friendly), but the kitchen was
already closed. It was late and we needed outside seating, so we ended
up at Red Brick Pizza near the hotel. Not bad for a snack, pizza and
salad. The interesting thing was that they had a selection of local
wines, including half bottles, and even though it was in a strip mall,
our server came out to check on us and pour our wine. This was the second time that we found a local business that was really supporting the local wines.
Friday, and the weather was heating up, we stopped in downtown at the
Anglim tasting room. They make a Rhone blend rose that is very dry and
perfect for summer. Also, a lot of other Rhone varietals and blends. When
we mentioned that we were thinking of having lunch at Bistro Laurent,
the proprietor offered to call the restaurant for us to make sure that
we could be accommodated with our dog.
Bistro Laurent has a shaded patio that is a lovely place for lunch,
they only allow dogs at the two tables that are adjacent to the
street, and the dog has to be outside of the fence on the sidewalk. Oh well, Tiny dog
still got plenty of tasty bites. We humans really loved Bistro
Laurent, steak frites and a croque monsieur, were delicious. They have
a wine shop next door to the restaurant and their list features French
wines as well as the local product. I enjoyed a lovely Sancerre, which
they offer by the glass. BL has a pre fixe dinner with wine pairings that is quite reasonable. I would love to return for a full dinner next time I am in Paso.
Overall, it was a great trip. We encountered great service and friendly, helpful folks everywhere we visited. There is plenty more to be explored on future visits.
The wine prices, overall, were a little higher than I expected. I suppose that I am a few years too late. Paso Robles is already well established as the luxury tasting rooms on the east side demonstrate. However, there are also plenty of charming spots with excellent wine nestled in the western hills.
Mother's Day Brunch near Pier 39?
Either the Hillstone or Fog City Diner would be great choices, but you better get a reservation ASAP because you will be there on Mother's Day. They are very close to the cruise ship dock.
Two other places close by are Il Fornaio, they have a brunch menu. Pier
23 is kind of a dive bar, but they are open for brunch, and, if it's a nice day they have outdoor tables right on the water. The food is pretty basic.
The Ferry Building is a mile or so from your pier, along the Embarcadero, it's a pleasant walk, but maybe a bit far for the kids and seniors. The F Line streetcar runs right along the Embarcadero, so that is an option. There are also cabs and those bicycle cabs for a quick lift.
When traveling to an unfamiliar area, I use google maps to find the location and then use their "search nearby' feature to see where restaurants and other things are located.
Another navigation note. In SF, the odd-numbered piers are all north of the Ferry Building and even-numbered ones to the south. Therefore Pier 35 and Pier 34 are not next to each other, but actually quite a distance apart. That has tripped up me up in the past.
tall order from my Japanese client: "typical" san francisco seafood restaurant, not terribly inconvenient from SFO, maybe Pacifica?
I used to work near there too. I had no idea you could rent a boat. How cool!
The other nice thing about Fish Market is that when you first walk in you pass their retail counter, so you get to see all the fish they have fresh that day.
tall order from my Japanese client: "typical" san francisco seafood restaurant, not terribly inconvenient from SFO, maybe Pacifica?
I haven't been back to Moonraker since my previous post. The reviews on the other website are not looking very good, lots of complaints about the food. They still don't offer a good variety on their menu and nothing that screams local or seasonal.
They have added an early bird pre fixe menu and Sunday brunch.
Wouldn't recommend it to the OP. Too risky and more expensive than it should be.
The OP didn't say where his guest is going after dinner. The Fish Market in Foster City would be a good choice, but it's the opposite direction from the City. Old Clam House is an easy on/off of 101, but your guest would have to be a bit adventurous or they might be put off by that neighborhood.
Dinner in Millbrae?
Also in San Bruno, Cafe Grillades, in the shopping center at San Bruno Ave. and Cherry, by Mollie Stone's. It has North African and French influences and they also do American standard sandwiches, salads and breakfat. It's small and usually quiet.
Their dessert crepes are really popular and they have gelato.
http://www.cafegrillades.com/menus.html
Mission Bowling Club Burger [split thread]
Are you referring to the SF Layover episode? That was Danny Bowien not Myint.
Walnut Grove/Galt/Ione/Plymouth
It's been three years since visiting Amador, so I hope these recos are still up to date.
There is a large concentration of wineries on Shenandoah Road just northeast of Plymouth. You can visit quite a few in a short time, literally going from one driveway to the next in some stretches of the road. In this area we liked Dobra Zemlja, a Croatian family winery, with hearty red blends (no whites at all), some sold by the jug, reasonably priced. Their tasting room is in a cave and they have pretty grounds for picnics. We also liked Deaver, Dillian and Vino Noceto.
While most wineries will have a variety of wines, the best things in this region are the old vine Zinfandels, and the Italian varietals like Sangiovese and Barbera. But keep your eye out for the unusual specialties you may find.
This is a map that gives you an idea of where things are located.
http://amadorwine.com/new/pages/winery_map.cgi
Story winery was frequently recommended to us, so we visited. It is located at the top of a hill, which gives it great views, and it is known for it's picnic potential. However, the wines weren't that good and it was one of the most crowded we encountered on that trip.
If you are coming from Sonoma, then you may not want to travel south towards Amador City, but that is where we stayed on our trip. It's an old gold mining town and quite charming. We stayed and had dinner at the Imperial Hotel. It's an 1879 building with a very modern restaurant and charming guest rooms. We really liked Drytown winery down in that area. Their tasting room was in a barn and the proprietor was doing the pouring. I like that sort of thing.
i am sure you will have a great trip.
Chopped All-Stars, Part 2, 04/15/12 (SPOILER!)
I agree Arti can be quite annoying, she giggles a lot too. Squealing "chicken feet, oh gross" was very unprofessional in this context. Marcela on the other hand came across as calm, focused and very clear about the dishes she was making.
I suppose it is ultimately up to the editors and producers to determine what clips make it on the show, but the contestants give them the material to work with, good or bad.
desperately seeking duck bacon
How is the duck bacon used in your recipe?
Fabrique Delice has smoked duck breast and duck prosciutto.
http://www.fabriquedelices.com/smoked.htm
There products are carried at many local markets and they have stands at some farmer's markets. Although the link to a list farmer's markets on the web site does not seem to be working right now.
Grimaud Farms also makes smoked duck breast, their products are at Mollie Stone's and other markets.
http://www.grimaudfarms.com/purchase.htm#retail
2 Nights Only in San Fran - Where to Eat?
+1 for what DavidT said.
After you have read the recent posts, if you have some specific questions about a restaurant or type of cuisine, please post again and ask. People can be a lot more helpful if you give more details about what you are looking for.
Weird/Bad Food Related Dates
I think the main point here is finding out about ingrained behaviors that will likely show up the first time you sit down to a meal with a person.
If there is a lapse on a later date, for example, your date suddenly says something rude to a server, when they had always been polite before, I think you should know them well enough by then to question it. "Have you had a bad day, because you were really harsh with that waiter?" Then go from their response to see if there might be a problem or if it just was a mistake.
Burgers and coffee, that's elf food, apparently -- your thoughts solicited
Terminal 3 is pretty large, so there are a lot of food options.
Here's a list for the entire airport:
http://www.flysfo.com/web/page/atsfo/shop-dine/dine/
The pre-security options in the International Terminal are good, if you have enough time to walk between terminals. It's not really that far to walk. But if you don't have extra time and/or the security lines are long, then the options within T3 are not bad. Yankee Pier is part of a regional chain, never tried their airport location. If you just want a lighter meal there is a food court area in the middle of T3 with lots of counters to pick and choose from. Firewood for little pizzas, Just Desserts for treats. I also like Emporio Rulli (not in the food court a little walk away) for pannini and a better than airport-average wine selection.
Burlingame Hyatt Regency for a day and a half
The Burlingame Trolley will take you to the downtown area near the Burlingame commuter train station (California Drive/Burlingame Ave). The few blocks around this area comprise a nice walkable neighborhood with many restaurants and shops for browsing.
Mingalaba (Burmese/Mandarin) gets good recommendations.
http://www.mingalabarestaurant.com/
A couple more that come to mind are Il Fornaio, Stella Alpina Osteria, and Straits. There are also many more smaller casual spots.
When I travel to a new area for business I always use the Search Nearby feature in google maps to get a feel for where things are located near my hotel or work location.
If you need a quick lunch, Max's Restaurant is basically across the street from your hotel. It's a regional chain, upscale deli/diner style food. Should be good if your going out with a group.
All-In-One fajita pack
Fresh & Easy always has an assortment of partially prepped meal packs in their fresh meat section. I am pretty sure I have seen fajita preps with the meat and veggies included. The selection changes pretty frequently so they might not always be available.
F&E also has a lot of pre-cut vegetable mixes in the produce section, so you might find the the peppers/onions there and buy the meat separately.
Trader Joe's used to have a frozen fajita kit, but I have not noticed it lately (or looked for it).
top 100 restaurants 2012
>>Was there a reason he felt compelled to add Gialina AND Ragazza, when there were >>already a plethora of such restaurants on his list?
Just a technicality, but Bauer combined Gialina and Ragazza into one listing, or one spot in the 100. He did the same thing with Perbacco/Barbacco and a couple of others.
Cheese pairings for a sweet wine tasting party
The new SSF Grocery Outlet has several varieties of Quely Tapas crackers from Spain (Mallorca specifically). They are made with olive oil, taste is similar to water crackers, but they are thicker, like little pillows.
Restaurant recommendations for an upcoming visit
Take a look at Grand Cafe, it's at Geary and Taylor, 2 blocks from Union Square, in the Hotel Monaco.
http://www.grandcafe-sf.com/
They have weekday happy hour 3 -7pm with drink specials and a small appetizer selection.
What's the April Le Creuset outlet deal
Sorry it this is too late for you. The April deal is 20% off Coastal Blue cast iron, stoneware and teakettles, and 25% off stainless steel cookware.
If you are invited over to friends' home for dinner...
Or, point her to the vase and flower cutters and let her do the arranging.
Easter Brunch near airport
The Millbrae Pancake House is a local business that's been around for over 50 years. It's not fancy but they will have all the breakfast basics.
You might want to double check that they are open on Easter, but their web site says that the only day they close is Christmas.
http://www.millbraepancake.com/about/
Fish & Chips
I think Cordelia is technically part of Fairfield. It's the area around the 80/680 interchange.
Help This BC Hound fine-tune his SF culinary escapade
The Palace Hotel is lovely and conveniently located. But it is also in the Financial District and a lot of the places that busy during the work week are closed on weekends and evenings. Even the Starbuck's and Walgreen's in that area close early on Saturday.
You should probably pack some snacks with you for Saturday night. Or take a look around at the airport before you leave, there are some good vendors there.
One place that should be open on Saturday night is House of Shields, right across from the hotel's main entrance. It's a historic SF bar that has recently been updated.
GO Opening In South SF This Saturday
Stopped by this morning and it was predictably packed. No grocery carts available and the checkout lines were snaking throughout all the aisles. So it was pretty difficult to do any shopping. I was happy to find my pup's favorite Buddy Biscuit natural dog treats @1.99. Plus a couple of other household items.
My SO hit the wine section where he got:
Renwood Barbera 2008 @ 3.99
EOS Zinfandel Port from Paso Robles @ 5.99 375ml
and a few other misc bottles.
Overall the store looks really good and well stocked. It is not a large space by supermarket standards. The parking lot is also on the small side and shared with the other businesses in the strip mall. I will have to stop by again (not on the weekend) in a couple of weeks once the grand opening festivities settle down.
