chemchef's Profile
CHOW Tour Oakland, Your Thoughts On Where To Go?
I totally agree. I'm so happy that someone has finally spoken out about this.
Sandwiches in the East Bay
Southie is spectacular!
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Southie
6311 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
ISO eggs from pastured chickens in East Bay
They carry pastured eggs from Soul Food Farm at the Biofuel Oasis (corner of Ashby and Sacramento).
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Soul Food Farm
6046 Pleasants Valley Rd, Vacaville, CA 95688
Good food in Eastmont Hills (Oakland)
Just moved to the area and am desperate for some good food. Recs please!!
Best burgers in the Bay Area 2011
Wood Tavern!
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Wood Tavern
6317 College Ave., Oakland, CA 94618
Looking for Best Yogurt in the Bay Area
Since I like both regular yogurt and "Greek" style yogurt, I usually buy regular (Straus or St. Benoit) and when I'm in the mood for "Greek" just strain some overnight in a coffee filter. It works like a charm, and then I don't have to buy two separate items.
This is also good for making tzatziki in the summer when cucumbers are in season, because it can be too watery if the yogurt isn't strained.
Where can I buy affordable fresh local fish?
I've been on several local (Bay, Farallon Islands, etc) fishing trips, and caught mackerel, so its definitely local (or at least it can be).
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Farallon
450 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
This week at Rivoli
We, too, had an amazing meal at Rivoli last night. I'd been wanting to take my husband there for quite some time now, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. My husband had the asparagus appetizer with hard boiled eggs and croutons, the pork chile verde with corn spoonbread and the hot fudge sundae. He loved it all and had only one, very minor, complaint: he wished that the chile verde had just a bit of heat. However, the flavor of the tomatillos was deep and rich and citrusy- everything one would want in chile verde. The pork was fork-tender and the spoonbread was light, corn-y and only very slightly sweet; a great compliment to the chile verde. He also had the Navarro grape juice cocktail. I had the portabello fritters, which I always love, and the aioli was so good I wanted to lick it off the plate. I also had the steak, which was amazing. I can't believe I'm describing top sirloin as amazing, but it really was. The peppercorn crust was perfect, as were the light, ethereal gnocchi. I've never had any that good, even in an Italian restaurant. I had a glass of wine and ended with the apple crisp. All that for right around $100. We were very pleased (and stuffed)!
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Rivoli Restaurant
1539 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707
Carnitas in the East Bay?
Don't know how I missed this post, but my husband and I regularly go back for the carnitas at Dona Tomas. They are TO DIE FOR! And, they will make them extra crispy for you if you want. OMG, so good. Take it from somone who just made carnitas yesterday, these are well worth it!
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Dona Tomas
5004 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
4th of July - Temescal farmer's market
Does anyone know if the Temescal farmer's market will be going on tomorrow?
Summer Kitchen Bake Shop - Elmwood
FYI, the owners are friends of David Lebovitz. So far, I've only had the fried chicken, and even cold, it was very good... crispy, well-seasoned, and juicy inside. My husband can't wait to try the coffee cake muffins, but they've been sold out by the time we've gotten there on the last 2-3 occasions.
Need recs for Berkeley/Oakland Takeout on 4th of July
For next year, Bakesale Bette's was open until 5:30pm and had fried chicken sandwiches going. We got one around 5pm and it was as good as ever. Plus, ordered a strawberry shortcake to share and while we were eating it outside, they brought us a large piece of peach pie on the house!
Berkeley Pizza Slices: Yay
Yes!! We often leave Berkeley just for Rotten City's amazing pizza.
Favorite dishes at T-Rex
THE BEEF RIB!!
We usually order a 3-way, and have lots to take home. I love their fries, and cole slaw and the beignets are TO-DIE-FOR.
Bakesale Betty -- June 2009 report
Ruth,
I completely agree with you on both accounts. I am an ex-professional baker, and I like my banana bread, chocolate chip cookies and other items better, but her strawberry shortcake is delish! I've never actually bought it, so I don't know about the value factor, but I've been given it twice for free, and my husband and I shared it both times because it was so huge.
Great source for ground beef?
I bbq'd some Prather Ranch burgers over the weekend, and my husband and I both thought that they were awesome. Juicy, flavorful, delish!
The best place to beat the heat?
Anything!! Especially considering tomorrow's expected to be almost as hot!
The best place to beat the heat?
East Bay preferred. Already had dinner, but wouldn't mind a little coffee and/or dessert.
Lamb Stock - or Lamb bones to make stock
Three Stone Hearth in Berkeley sometimes sells lamb stock, and also excellent beef stock which also makes delectable pot roast.
If you want to make your own, I'm pretty sure the guys at Ver Brugge on College would sell you lamb bones.
Cowgirl Creamery at Temescal Farmers Market 5/24
I talked to them today and they said that this was their first week, but that they will be continuing to come back. They had a pretty nice selection, and were giving samples of everything.
Rotten City Pizza in Emeryville?
That is an awesome story! Will have to try the meatball sandwich. Every time I go in thinking I will try it, the pizza gets the best of me. Seriously, my husband and I have concluded that they must put crack in their pizza b/c we are ADDICTED to it! Right now, its my favorite pizza in the area (we live in Berkeley).
Scream Sorbet at Marin Farmer's Market
The Oro Blancos I've bought at the farmer's markets this year were not particularly flavorful either, so that might explain it. Hazelnut sounds great! I've only tried the pecan and almond.
San Francisco fish suggestions, moderately priced?
I'll third the Woodhouse Fish rec.
Scream Sorbet at Marin Farmer's Market
They are also at the Sunday Temescal farmer's market. Every flavor I've tried has been very good to great. Particularly good are their nut flavors.
Where to find Echire (or similar) butter in SF?
I think you're referring to Spring Hill Cheese, who I recommended above. Very good butter and cheeses.
Where to find Echire (or similar) butter in SF?
Spring Hill Cheese makes wonderful butter. Also, if you want cultured butter specifically, Three Stone Hearth carries Sierra Nevada Organic Vat Cultured Butter, which is also great.
Mesquite Flour
They do have it; I buy it there frequently. Its in the bulk section (but in the jars, not the large bins). Ask if you can't find it. They're the only ones I know who carry it.
OP, what are you planning on using it for? I only know of one recipe that calls for it and I'd love to try some others.
Where to buy acorn meal?
I don't know why the link I posted above doesn't work anymore, but I wanted to make these:
http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2007/10/19/foraging-for-the-apocalype/
I'm also not sure that acorn starch is the same as acorn flour (the same way that corn starch is not the same thing as corn flour).
vegetables & herbs you really ought to grow from seed
How do you deter critters from eating your seeds? I lost most of my seed-sowed vegetables last year, but the purchased transplants survived. I was so disappointed. I don't really want to have to deal with growing my own plants in containers and transplanting them later... too lazy for that!
Where to buy acorn meal?
NO! I never found any... waaaaaaaa! If anyone knows of any leads, do tell, please!
