zachschef's Profile
Best English Breakfast Tea?
Hi Hounds,
Does anyone have recommendations for a great stop for tea? We enjoy Samovar and even Lovejoy's -- wondering if there are others?
Also, I am looking for a great brand of English breakfast tea (bag, not loose). Someone in the UK recommended Pratt's brand to me, but I have no luck in finding in it.
Suggestions are much appreciated.
Guests Visiting with a Variety of Food Allergies
Hi Chowhounders,
I have guests coming for a visit -- first time to San Francisco -- and they've thrown a kink into the usual rotation of restaurants I take friends. Their teenage children have several allergies: corn, rice, oats, soy, citrus fruit and tomato. Technically, one of them is also allergic to wheat, but can apparently abide it in a pinch.
Any ideas for a couple of good restaurants come to my mind?
Many thanks.
Smoked Whole Turkeys?
Someone suggested Dittmer's in Mountain View and I am going to give them a try. Wolfe, I called Willie Bird and they had their answering machine on!
Smoked Whole Turkeys?
Anyone know where to buy a smoked whole turkey in the Bay Area? I was considering Yat's fried turkey for New Years -- but have heard some very inconsistent reviews of those.
Would appreciate any direction towards a smoked bird. Thanks.
pannetone
Thorough Bread on Church @ Market has excellent panettones -- would call and check as they make a fairly limited supply.
Mijita, Mijita.
We ate breakfast at Mijita in the Ferry Building on Saturday and I have to say, it will be our last visit to this restaurant. When it first opened, I was a big fan. It was fresh, fast (despite the lines) and the Huevos Rancheros were quite good.
Something has changed drastically there. We went a few weeks ago and I thought "well this isn't the good food I remembered." This past visit, we ordered huevos, fresh chips, guacamole, etc. When the cook said "order's up." We waited. Waited a bit longer and I pointed to the dish only to be admonished, " can you see we're busy?" Should have been the only tip I needed. but we sat down and the beans were cold and watery, the eggs undercooked and the chips were burned. I don't do this very often, but I took the dish up to the counter, explained (nicely). Without a word, the cook took it away with no explanation. After standing there a moment, I returned to our table. When it came back out it had been nuked in the microwave and the eggs were hard as rocks.
Nope. Not again. There are too many other good places to eat in the Ferry Building who care about what they are serving.
Dinner @ Canteen, 8/5
We had a spectacular dinner last night at Canteen. The menu was prix-fixe and we made reservations for the night because it was lobster and corn night. This was our second visit.
We started with a splendid chopped heirloom and herb tomato salad with hunks of fresh tuna, basil chiffonade and Boston lettuce. Refreshing, generous and it set the palate for what was to come...
Just before the entree arrived, we were presented with piping hot rolls (Parker House/yeast) and butter. I could have eaten 10 of them.
The lobster and corn entree was truly memorable. Creamy polenta as the base with fresh corn tucked under it and bits of lobster floating through the polenta. Topped with a very rich lobster stock reduction, more substantial pieces of lobster, roasted onions and dill. Absolutely delicious and satisfying and the server placed another roll on our bread plate to sop up all of the delicious lobster sauce.
Dessert was a vanilla rice pudding (not always a big fan of this) that was so perfect for the end of the meal. The pudding was topped with sweet, warm grilled peaches and raspberries.
We sat at the bar and I was thoroughly impressed with the efficiency of that tiny kitchen. We will definitely be back again soon. I'd like to try brunch there. Looked at a sample menu and it looked wonderful as well.
Cheers.
Good Eats in Monterey
Apologies if this has been covered (I ran a couple of searches and didn't turn up much).
We're going to the Monterey Aquarium next weekend looking for recommendations on restaurants for lunch. Seafood would be nice -- but any good restaurant suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Hounds!
Luna Park????
So glad you enjoyed Chow -- I have a 4-year-old myself and he's quite a fan of their mashed potatoes. We haven't been in a couple of months -- but plan to go Thursday.
Luna Park????
LP is very average in my opinion. We order delivery from it occasionally -- they do have a splendid coconut cream pie -- but entrees are very average (to below average) and it certainly wouldn't be a place I sought out on a visit to SF. If your objective is finding something for your 7- and 9-year-olds, I would try Chow which is at the same price point. Chenery Park also has a kid's menu on either Monday or Tuesday night.
Cooking with glucose?
Thanks to everyone -- sorry for putting this in the wrong spot. I'm going to try Spun Sugar in Berkeley. Corn syrup won't work for this particular recipe as a replacement (I've tried it and the finished product is not as smooth as it should be -- something to do with the crystals I am sure -- and the taste if off a bit). Many thanks again.
Cooking with glucose?
I have an ice cream recipe that calls for using glucose. As I understand, it's commonly used throughout Europe much like we might use corn syrup in certain recipes -- but the two are not interchangeable.
Has anyone had any experience cooking with glucose and does anyone know where to find it in the Bay Area?
Thank you.
Best Butcher/Meat Market in SFBay?
I would at Guerra's Meats on Taraval in SF to the list as well.
Saturday Ferry Building Farmer's Market - What not to miss?
If you're into them -- I would say freshly-shucked oysters from Hog Island.
Has anyone tried the new Chez Papa Resto in the Mint Plaza?
We were there a couple of weeks ago for dinner before a show. We were more rushed than I ever like to be at dinner, but here are my thoughts:
1. Our server listened to us when we mentioned we had an 8:00 curtain and reassured us in a delightful, playful way a couple of times through the meal. In my opinion, that's excellent service. He watched the clock, so we didn't have to.
2. For starters, we had the foie gras with pears and a fig compote. Excellent, wonderful. Also started with the mussels in (can't remember, so I am guessing) saffron, vermouth and fennel. Very good, but a little too spicy for an appetizer for me.
3. Entrees included lamb daub in red wine reduction (the only real miss for me; the lamb was flavorful and tender, however the reduction was a bit greasy and I felt it was a dish I could prepare at home myself). Partner had pan fried filet and it was fantastic -- mellow, light and sumptuous.
3. We had the panna cotta, which was very ordinary.
4. The room itself is beautiful and atmospheric. As mentioned, the service was standout. Server brought us each a glass of muscat to end the meal.
Will definitely go back.
Any deals on Almond Paste?
Depending on the quantity you need, Boulette's has a very good, very fresh almond paste. I bought 2 lbs @ Christmas for $10 and I thought it was better than any I've ever used.
Saturday Brunch West Portal?
rln -- I have to say that Manor is my guilty pleasure as well before a movie in West Portal. I like their slaw and I like their fried shrimp -- it appeals to me in the same way a Sonic Drive-In appeals to me. The shrimp are just frozen, breaded shrimp -- but I crave them a couple of times a year. The slaw, is actually very good -- not swimming in mayonnaise -- but lightly dressed and crunchy. More than a few barbecue places in SF (and elsewhere) could stand to learn that particular lesson.
Dinner near Orpheum Theater
Hi Hounds,
We're going to see Wicked next Wednesday night and looking for a suggestion for a restaurant near the theater for an excellent pre-show meal. My first thought was Canteen, but their seating times disagree with our babysitter! Because of some time constraints, we would like to walk from restaurant to theater. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Tartine Bakery - best time to visit
Hi Moymoy, I am a Tartine regular and I can tell you that Sunday mornings are the worst time --regardless of the weather. I would suggest Monday morning about 10:30 to 11:30 after the breakfast rush and before lunch hours begin. You also will not run the risk of supplies of favorites being depleted. Happy hounding -- hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Enjoy your trip to San Francisco.
Boulangerie Review - Below Average Food and Bad Service.
I think you've hit upon what hounds are reacting to here. It's not defense of Boulangerie so much as surprise that it is anything other than it is -- fairly average with some standouts (quiche comes to mind) and some really ho-hum bakes. For me, it;s the sort of establishment that will do in a pinch, depending on my wants at the time (I will say you can find decent size brioche loaf there) -- but certainly fairly far down the list for most things.
Tartine Bakery Review - Impressed!
The cookbook is fantastic. I am such a fan of this bakery, but was a bit worried about their being able to translate recipes -- but I am happy to report it is a stellar book. I've made the deluxe double-chocolate cookies (fantastic, easily the best chocolate cookie recipe ever), the chocolate friands, gougeres and pecan maple pie with kumquats. Excellent, excellent. I wish every cookbook in my library had so many useful recipes.
Let the good times roll - where are you eating on Fat Tuesday?
Here are the specifics on gumbo, coming from a long line of cajuns on my father's side: the darker the gumbo the more intense the flavor, the more layering of flavor. People shortcut this because, well, a dark, amber-colored roux for a gumbo takes a long time to prepare and is difficult (if it burns even a little, you start over). Darker gumbos traditionally are used in all seafood gumbos. A lighter, caramel-colored roux is for chicken and other poultry gumbos. Anything lighter than a caramel roux and you are essentially making a bisque or some other soup, but you are not making gumbo.
The ingredients for gumbo, now those are up for grabs, as there are many, many variations and almost anything that tastes good is acceptable. Some people insist on okra, others hate it. File is a matter of personal preference as well as how much tomato (people often use more tomato to make up for a lesser-roux).
Hope that helps!
Po Boys in the Portola
I've never understood why SF wouldn't support a very good cajun restaurant -- I've seen many come and go over the past decade -- but I've never a truly fantastic one. Yat's is about as authentic a flavor as I have seen appear here in some time. I will try the gumbo and report back.
Po Boys in the Portola
That's a shame -- I've had this on my radar for a while. As for Yat's poboys, I'm inclined to give them a hesitant thumbs up. Split both an oyster and a shrimp poboy both times -- bread is delicious. Both times, I found the oysters plump, the breading excellent, but the sauce just not hitting quite the right note. But far superior to the Hayes Valley version at the Farmer's Market in my opinion. I am looking forward to trying the gumbo -- would love to find a dependable purveyor of that delicacy so that I don't have to spend an hour over the burners making a roux twice a year!
Dynamo Donut, Mission, SF
Exactly. Very well said. I had a lemon and thyme version as well that I forgot to mention -- not completely my cup of tea, but very interesting.
Dynamo Donut, Mission, SF
I have visited Dynamo four times -- and find the combinations hit and miss, but they are certainly original and I like the experimentation. The bacon/maple is the best I've tried (twice!) and that donut alone could be the justification of Dynamo's existance -- fluffy, light, salty, sweet -- wonderful; the caramel/fleur de sel is quite good as well. A miss for me was the Meyer lemon/vanilla bean -- don't know if the vanilla beans were sub-par or what, but the after-taste -- oye.
baby blues bbq opening in SF. any word?
Minnies actually offers two types of sauces -- or at least did. The beans are fine. I find the greens bitter and they are not tender (too many tough stems which I expect accounts for the bitterness) and the potato salad a bit watery. The last time we tried the sweet potatoes and were disappointed to find them swimming in syrup.
baby blues bbq opening in SF. any word?
I lived in Memphis for a few years before moving to San Francisco. Memphis Minnies is on par with many of the good barbecue joints in that region. The ribs are pretty consistent -- the sides are a problem, but SF blue plate restaurants typically do not do a very credible job of duplicating Southern sides like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, greens, etc. However, the ribs are very good.
I'll be interesetd to try Baby Blues.
Eating in Noe Valley & the Castro
IMO, the Noe Valley Farmer's Market is not worthwhile. The produce is extremely limited and, in my experience, quality not great. That said, if I lived within an easy walk, we might journey there for the children's guitar player. My son loves that and I wish the Ferry Bldg had something as intimate for children.
