cakebaker's Profile
Just For You Cafe in the Dogpatch
Beignets definitely. Any egg dish with their green chile sauce made from roasted chiles they have shipped every year from New Mexico...spicy. Don't miss paying a visit to Mr and Mrs Miscellaneous across the street on the opposite corner on 3rd. They have the best ice cream IMO.
Searching for Leaf Lard in East Bay
I'm a bit confused. Robert states correctly that all pork fat once rendered is lard. The leaf fat is specific to fat surrounding the kidneys and is the purest fat for rendering. I am only aware of Prather rendering leaf lard as a product so are you sure it was not simply a confusion in labeling what I assume was a 1lb tub? I don't want people to be discouraged from seeking it there since it so hard to find in particular rendered in small quantities.
Buying a small prime rib
I totally agree that a smaller roast is much more likely to be overcooked. I offered that in case anyone really wanted a smaller roast but all your info will no doubt help many who have cooked few if any standing rib roasts. What is the longest you've dry aged it in the fridge? I'm always trying longer and longer.
Buying a small prime rib
FYI...re: Costco ...I found out something today...the cut based on a price minimum so in Prime grade they had several 2 bone roasts as they are priced high enough to meet their minimum. In Choice they cut only 3 or 4 bone.
Some Really Really Good Peanut Brittle?
Mr and Mrs Miscellaneous. Not only do they have amazing ice cream but really fresh wonderful peanut brittle!
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Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous
699 22nd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
Where Can I Find Pink Pearl Apples (or something close)?
Pink Pearls are in season in August. they are one of the earliest apples. If you had it recently it must have been in cold storage.
Perfect Eggs Benedict in SF?
I too love Zazie's Eggs Benedict. I personally order the one with white cheddar and bacon. It seems every table I see has a version of their EB. I also love the back patio for seating.
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Zazie
941 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Onion Rolls? SF/El Cerrito/Berkeley/Oakland/Albany?
If your local Safeway doesn't work I think they have them at The Junket at El Cerrito Plaza but call first.
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The Junket
235 El Cerrito Plz, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Is Danielle Forestier still making bread in the Bay Area?
She was an owner of Feel Good Bakery in Alameda but don't know if she's still involved.
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Feel Good Bakery
1650 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501
looking for flats of tomatoes
I second the Mariquita Farm suggestion. they offer san marzano's for canning through their buying club but haven't this year yet due to the lack of heat but they should be coming soon I'd imagine.
NOTE: I just checked their website for the ladybug buying club and the last update shows "late August as well as Sept. at $28 for 20#.
You can also try finding dry farmed early girls at various farmers markets. they are great for canning as well.
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Mariquita Farm CSA
142 Linden Rd, Watsonville, CA
Traditional Waffles in the Bay Area
Ole's Waffles Shop in Alameda is the only traditional waffle that comes to mind. Not real maple syrup nor great coffee but a good waffle.
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Ole's Waffle Shop
1507 Park St, Alameda, CA 94501
Hatch Green Chiles back at Raley's/Nob Hill - $1 lb
I just saw "New Mexico chilies" at Nobhill in Alameda. they are $1.49 lb and the checker said they would be roasting them Sunday..didn't know the times. The sign this year doesn't say Hatch as it has in years past and he didn't know what heat level they were but thought they were all mild which makes sense so early in the season.
Henry's Hunan--did it used to be...
Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. They have 2 cold chicken salads...one with glass noodles and one that I got by mistake with wheat noodles that with the same ingredients but a very different salad...I though possibly you were referring to that one since I was surprised by it. I have found both the smoked ham and the cold chicken salad (with glass noodles) to be consistent since the 70's. The only caveat is that some of the cooks in some of the branches are much better than others. I have never found either the Sansome location nor "Jeff and Eddy's" to be anything but what I remember. While a small point, I did start ordering the chicken salad with the dressing on the side a few years back as it keeps it from getting soggy so quickly.
Henry's Hunan--did it used to be...
Not to challenge your memory of the chicken salad but which one are you referring to? I didn't know they also do a chicken salad with a thicker wheat noodle that I got a few years back by accident and was nothing like the chicken salad I've had hundreds of times at all of their places that I love.
Henry's Hunan--did it used to be...
I've been going to Henry's since the 70's. I do think there is a difference between some of the restaurants now. The location on Bryant is not great since Jeff left to open the Church St. branch. I would go to either the big one on Sansome St. but if you can go to the Church St. location run by Henry's two grandsons...Eddy and Jeff. Eddy used to be at Natoma St. and as mentioned, Jeff was at Bryant St. I think the food is the best there and they go out of their way to make you feel welcome. They also have the best cooks in the family in my opinion.
If you're really nostalgic...you can look for a copy of Henry's cookbook which is long out of print but has his recipes...Green Apple Books often has one albeit expensive.
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Henry's Hunan
1708 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94131
Bodega Bistro recommendations?
Interesting...come to think of it this is the first time I didn't see Jimmie there. I didn't know he had a new place. I know I have never had a bad imperial roll there and the last time as I mentioned the oil was running out of them. I didn't know enough about nut allergies to speak to the oil issue when the mgr mentioned it but he said he thought they were going back to peanut oil since they've had so much trouble regulating the heat with canola. I'll mention the rice bran oil when I'm there next.
Bodega Bistro recommendations?
Apparently they had numerous requests due to nut allergies and wanted to find a neutral oil.
Hatch Green Chiles back at Raley's/Nob Hill - $1 lb
I asked the Alameda mgr yesterday and his response was "The season is late this year...we're getting them and roasting them but not sure when yet."
Bodega Bistro recommendations?
Shaking beef at BD remains the best to me. However, they recently changed their cooking oil from peanut to canola and have been having problems getting the temp right. I mention this if you ordered Imperial rolls for instance which have always been excellent..check with the mgr re: this before ordering. I have never had a bad dish at BD except recently which is due to the oil problem so check beforehand.
Modern or unique dim sum in San Francisco?
Not new or innovative I understand...but I'd still rec Dol Ho for chicken rice. It is, to me, a totally San Francisco must. Not fancy...but very cheap and wonderful. I take all out of town guests there.
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Dol Ho
808 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
ISO Potato varieties in SF: Nicola, Linda
I know he doesn't list Nicola on his website but I assure you he grows them. I buy them from him regularly when they are being harvested.
ISO Potato varieties in SF: Nicola, Linda
Nicola is grown by David Little at Little Farm in Petaluma. He dry farms amazing potatoes including Nicola...I think my favorite potato. He sells at the Ferry market as well as Marin and some east bay markets. Potato harvest will begin late August. These are very special potatoes!
www.thelittleorganicfarm.com
Where in SF can I buy key limes?
While most mexican markets have them...I've found them to be very uneven for baking. I'd use persian limes or nellie's bottled juice or a combination of the two.
Favorite East Bay CSA, as of July 2010?
I also like River Dog farms..they have exceptional veggies but you still must purchase their eggs from the markets. I also of course love Soul Food farms for chicken and eggs both available through their CSA.
www.riverdogfarm.com
www.soulfoodfarm.com
What's Up With Crepes in SF?
Have you been to Ti Couz? one of my favorite places anywhere for crepes. Amazing.
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Ti Couz Creperie
3108 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Sour cherries
Fresh sour cherries are still at CJ Olsen's in Sunnyvale as of yesterday. Just saw really large jars of sour cherries as Richmond Costco today.
ISO freshly grated coconut in the Bay Area
The Ranch 99 Market carries a large selection of fresh frozen grated coconut and milk in 1# bags that I use often. You can squeeze out the milk from the grated and it's fairly close to what you'd have if you did it yourself. hope this helps
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99 Ranch Market
3288 Pierce St, Richmond, CA
Blenheim apricots in 510/SF-415 Bay Area?
blenheims' should be done in all but the south bay farms. they start north and work their way down as far as picking goes. the apricot growers just started picking in Hollister this week but it only lasts a week or 2 so don't wait. you didn't say how much you want. if stores have them now they've been in cold storage if that's important to you. here's one grower that goes to a number of south bay farmers markets:
www.apricotking.com
Dry ice in Oakland/Berkeley?
although it may be too late...the Lucky's at El Cerrito Plaza sells dry ice.
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El Cerrito Plaza
San Pablo Ave and Fairmount Ave, El Cerrito, CA
