jsteingarten's Profile
What's the deal with restaurants in Palo Alto?
I'd just like to give a shout out to Palo Alto Sol (on California Avenue). Others may disagree, but the people from Mexico who I've taken there have enjoyed it and thought it was at least authentic to some part of Mexican cuisine.
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Palo Alto Sol Restaurant
408 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Do I need a wine cooler/fridge?
Thanks for your advice everyone! I don't buy expensive wine anyway (
Do I need a wine cooler/fridge?
I keep my wines in closet that never goes about 75 degrees and drink most of my wine within six months. Recently, I've been thinking about getting a wine cooler or fridge, but I can only afford something for $300 or under. With that budget, is it even worth getting one? I've been reading such mixed reviews about the cheaper models and for that amount of money, it seems like I could only buy a fridge that will store 30 bottles max. Your advice is greatly appreciated!
Bakesale Betty's (Uptown) WTF?
Bakesale Betty's has a sign up saying that they are closed indefinitely with a reopening date TBD. Anyone know what's going on?
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Bakesale Betty
5098 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Absinthe - Has the service improved?
I went to Absinthe about a year ago and was horrified by the service (the waitress nearly yelled at me). A follow-up email to the owner was unreturned. I told myself I wouldn't go back until the service improved. Michael Bauer just gave the place a good review (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/21/DDFQ1FQ5S9.DTL&type=food) in the Chronicle, but did not address service, which was his big issue last year (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/26/DD2816G8HA.DTL&type=food). Does anyone know if the service has improved?
Thanks!
Looking for an Oakland restaurant that will accommodate 35 people
I'm looking for a restaurant in Oakland (preferably in the Uptown, Downtown, Jack London Square, or Piedmont Avenue areas) that will accommodate 35 people for lunch. My preference is to either have a private room or be able to rent out the entire restaurant space for roughly $3000. In the past, we've used the now defunct Franklin Square in Uptown. Any suggestions? Thanks!
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Jack London Square
70 Washington St # 207, Oakland, CA
5 days in D.F.-critique my itinerary please!
I just returned from Mexico City. Highlights from the trip included fried quesadillas filled with chicharron and huitlacoche from the quesadilla market in Coyoacan. The tasting menu paired with Mexican wines at Pujol played like a modern love song to traditional Mexican cuisine. The flavors were clean, worked harmoniously, and made me want to weep for the Mexican childhood I never had. My hands down favorite dish was the huarache topped with a carpaccio of Wagyu strip steak. I also had a fantastic meal at Jaso, where the foie gras ravioli with black truffles had to have been the single most seductive dish I've eaten in years. Take your sweetie there if you can. The margarita and martini service at the San Angel Inn was everything you chowhounders promised. There is nothing more relaxing than a mid-afternoon martini in a rose garden filled with music from a live and talented trio. Ironically, Pancho Villa and General Zapata, who once met at the San Angel Inn and were defenders of the working poor, would have been livid to see Mexico's upper crust blithely asserting their class privilege on these revolutionary stomping grounds.
Aside from the fried empanada stuffed with plantains and beans, El Bajio was disappointing. Their carnitas and mole de olla were nothing special (the mole de olla tasted of powdery, uncooked spices), and the prices smacked of highway robbery given the meal's mediocrity.
This was a great trip. Thanks for all your advice and recommendations!
Authentic Gorditas
I recently ate a terrible and indifferently prepared gordita at a San Francisco farmer's market that sparked a debate as to what constitutes an authentic gordita. Being neither Mexican nor someone with a lot of experience with Mexican food, I feel ill-prepared to judge this, so can someone give their thoughts on what an authentic gordita is? Does it have to be stuffed or can the meat (or whatever other stuffing) simply be piled on top? What should the taste and texture of the "bread" part be like?
More importantly, since I'm going to Mexico City soon, can someone tell me where to get a good gordita?
Thanks!
5 days in D.F.-critique my itinerary please!
Thanks for all your suggestions.
I'm actually planning to go to the Anthropology Museum on my first day.
Can you explain the 9pm B-team equation? When does the A-team work? I thought people in D.F. eat late?
Leftover creamed spinach and sour cream--what to do with it?
Hello Chowhounds,
I have some leftover creamed spinach and sour cream that I'd hate to waste. Does anyone have any creative ideas on how to repurpose them?
Thanks!
Good Dining in or near Daly City
You might also try Porridge King on Southgate in the Ranch 99 complex for Chinese comfort food.
5 days in D.F.-critique my itinerary please!
My husband and I will be spending 5 days in Mexico City in May, arriving on a Thursday afternoon and leaving on Monday afternoon. We're staying at the Camino Real. I have a proposed eating/sightseeing schedule, but I could use more local advice. My husband is from Mexico originally, so language should not be an issue. Please critique!
Thursday:
Lunch: Maria Bonita (for ant eggs?) or El Fogoncito (what to order?) or any other suggestions near our hotel?
Sightseeing: Anthropology museum
Dinner: 9p reservations at Pujol
Friday:
Breakfast: El Bajio
Lunch: Contramar (what to order?)
Sightseeing: National Museum (Diego Rivera murals), Templo Mayor
Dinner: 9p reservations at Izote
Saturday:
Teotihuacan
Lunch: Gruta
Dinner: 9p reservations at Jaso
Sunday:
Lunch somewhere, maybe the market in Coyoacan
Sightseeing: Frida Kahlo museum, Diego Rivera/Frida Kahlo House
Margaritas at San Angel Inn (do I need reservations for margaritas?)
Dinner: 9p reservations at Solea
Monday:
1p reservations at Tezka
Thanks in advance for your advice and suggestions!
Best Butcher/Meat Market in SFBay?
Just out of curiosity, why would you avoid Whole Foods?
Desserts @ Zibbibo?
I had their profiteroles a while back, the best I had had in a long time.
Camino Real-Mexico City-restaurant recommendations?
My husband and I will be staying at the Camino Real in Mexico city in May, and I'm looking for restaurant recommendations. We already have reservations at Izote, Pujol, and Solea, but we are looking for more suggestions. I heard that Aguila Y Sol is closed. Anyone know if it's still closed? Also, anyone have any input on Le Cirque and Bice Bistro, which are located in our hotel?
Thanks!
Where to buy calf's liver?
Anyone know where to buy calf's liver? Does Prather Ranch carry it? Anyone have an idea of how much it costs?
Thanks!
Dessert wine pairing with lemon olive oil cake?
I'm not a wine expert and need help with a dessert wine pairing with lemon olive oil cake that I'll be serving. Can anyone help? Bonus points if the dessert wine is sold at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or BevMo.
Thanks!
What to do with sun-dried tomato paste?
I accidentally bought sun-dried tomato paste rather than regular tomato paste. Does anyone know what I can do with it?
Thanks!
What to do with canned foie gras?
Hello: I brought back some canned foie from France, and now I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Bday dinner in downtown Detroit on a Sunday?
At the MGM, they have Wolfgang's, Bourbon Steak, and Saltwater. All are probably worlds better than Rattlesnake.
6 nights in SF
For yummy and inexpensive, you may want to try Tu Lan (Vietnamese). It's a little dirty and kind of a hole in the wall, but the imperial rolls are really tasty and it is consistently a go-to place for cheap eats. If you find yourself in the Mission, try La Taqueria on Mission and 25th. Best tacos (for beef head) and burritos.
leftover cilantro and scallions
Please help. I have too much leftover cilantro and scallions, and I'm not sure what to do with it all. Any suggestions?
Need Dim Sum help
Just be forewarned that Yank Sing is considered a 'white people restaurant' by Chinese people. If you want to eat where the Chinese eat, go to Koi Palace in Daly City.
Five Guys vs. In-N-Out
I don't think that I can be confident (but I'm glad that you can be) about the quality of their meat, since they only ask that suppliers sign an agreement that they won't inject downer cattle into the foodstream. That suggests that they aren't doing on-site inspections of suppliers and just taking their word for it. Nonplussed.
Five Guys vs. In-N-Out
I used to love In-N-Out, but that was before I discovered that their beef came from places that put downer cows into the food stream. Although they stopped buying meat from that supplier, it made me question the quality of their beef product.
help me register for the best food processor
Thanks for the advice! Sadly, just checked w-s and it doesn't look like they carry a ka food processor. What exactly is the difference in performance? If it is huge, then maybe I should take it off my registry entirely and buy one somewhere else.
