Dana B's Profile
Medjool vs. Slanted Door
Thanks for filling in the locations/links.
Probably about 12-15.
-----
A16
2355 Chestnut St., San Francisco, CA 94123
Medjool vs. Slanted Door
I need some help.
A friend is celebrating his 50th soon.
He is having a bunch of friends and family fly to SF to meet him to party it up.
He wants it to be smashing, good food, cool room, SF vibe.
Loves everything from Gary Danko to Nopa.
He started with Cotogna, Quince, Spruce and Slanted door on his list.
Quince and Spruce got nixed because of being too formal and a bit too expensive.
Cotogna couldn't handle the number of people and had no room.
Slanted Door has a room and I know is good— and I heard about Medjool having a great atmosphere, but I haven't been myself.
Knowing the criteria-
Which would get your vote?
-----
Slanted Door
Ferry Slip, San Francisco, CA 94111
Nopa
560 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Medjool
2522 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Gary Danko
800 N Point St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Cotogna
490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Where have all the favas gone?
Yes, they are definitely late this year. Mostly because of the weather.
I grow them and usually they have podded out by now, but mine are still in the flowering stage.
what's the BEST THAI in san francisco
Actually, Basil Canteen on Folsom (not the original Basil) has some more "authentic" (whatever that word means anymore) thai ingredients.
Whole lychees as part of a stir fry, whole peppercorns still on the branch, and some great noodle dishes that I haven't seen elsewhere.
-----
Basil Canteen
1489 Folsom Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Produce District Market - Have you been and who was your favorite vendor?
I've been wanting to go to the SF produce market for years now and never made it happen.
Now I'm serious!
Has anybody been recently?
at what time did you go?
who is happy to sell to individual customers versus businesses?
any other tips?
Thanks
Dana
Food Shopping in Cambria
We are heading to Cambria for a long weekend, staying in a rental house.
I am trying to find out what supermarkets are around the immediate vicinity so that we can stock up.
I only found this Cookie Crock listing.
Does anyone know what is in that central coast vicinity with great offerings?
We'll try to hit the farmer's market but may not make it.
Gourmet Group - Theme Idea - need feedback
Good to hear the feedback. Thank you.
In thinking of it, does peach seem the best contender, seeing it is at the height of it's season?
or does someone have another suggestion?
Gourmet Group - Theme Idea - need feedback
We are going on our 8th year in my gourmet cooking club. We always do it potluck style, with the host setting the theme and making the main dish.
The format has gotten a bit stale, mostly in the picking of countries as the theme, so we have agreed to spice it up a bit.
I host next and had two theme ideas that are similar in concept.
Similar to Iron chef, we would all have one ingredient that we would have to use in our dishes.
My thoughts for that would be
Peaches(or other stone fruit), cinnamon, tomato, chocolate, or some sort of cheese
I feel like all of these (except maybe tomato) can easily translate to app, side, first course, main and dessert.
The more challenging theme would be iron chef meets chopped (or whatever)
Each person would have one common ingredient and two other ingredients (random) that they must use.
i.e.
- Peaches, onions, basil (for app)
- Peaches, mint, milk (for side)
- Peaches, pork, leeks (main)
- Peaches, cinnamon, st. andre (dessert)
Any thoughts about these as themes?
Preference? Other suggestions for a main ingredient?
Love to hear feedback before i shock the group!
thanks
Dana
Recommendation for new place to take parents
Thanks for more good recs.
I had Moss Room on my list, but the open table reviews were not great. Almost all complained about rude waiters. Have you been personally? And what was your experience.
I was at 1550 a long time ago, but remember it being small...is that correct?
Small and quaint or small and rubbing elbows?
Recommendation for new place to take parents
Thanks Mick.
I like the look of that quite a bit. Not too far, as we are very close to the Golden Gate bridge.
Is the inside pretty spacious? I can only see the patio on their site.
Recommendation for new place to take parents
An unusual pair, my parents.....great at complaining, but willing to try unusual things.
Always difficult, because they may love it or hate it.
They are coming this weekend (short notice) and I am to find a new place "with great atmosphere" says my mom.
Places I have taken them that were successful:
- Aziza
- Incanto
- Kokkari
- Canteen (see what I mean....)
- Mandalay (we always go, in the hood)
- Troya (when it was good....not now)
- Alegrias
- Boulevard
Places I'm thinking about - with hesitations
- Perbacco (more for atmosphere than unusual food)
- Coco500 - may be too loud
- Nopa - they would like the food, may be too loud, can't get in anyways
- Town Hall
Suggestions are most welcome! What am I forgetting about?
Aziza for Dinner - Recs and Advice por favor!
The lamb meatballs with grilled grapes, as an appetizer, are a must. I have gone back just for that. It is served with a lovely jicama salad, that I have tried to recreate, unsuccessfully.
Yum.
Shabu Prime Rib on 5th Avenue
Just read that this was opening, by the same people who run Isa.
Has anyone been or heard more about it?
Recs for a NEW restaurant
Looking for a new place to try for dinner tonight. Since becoming a mom, I don't get out as much and every dinner must count! Great food, not too fancy, reasonable prices.
I would go to Nopalito but I'm not willing to wait tonight.
Would love to try a new place, without going downtown.
Where have you been lately that opened in the last six months?
Dinner in Portrero Hill
Anyone been to Baraka lately?
Trying to decide between that and Universal Cafe for dinner before the show at Brava Theater.
Will have parents with me, and they are adventurous but picky.
Any other recommendations welcome.
does anyone know when the next village imports/made in france warehouse sale is?
Can anyone go to this or do you have to be on their list?
anything you would report as a must have?
Oyaji visit - Finally
oh no....
I didn't meet Oyaji????
really?
Who was this guy then...he certainly seemed like the head of the place?
we liked him a lot!
Now i really have to go back soon....
Oyaji visit - Finally
Hapa Izakaya
but I don't remember if it was the one on Robson or Yew.
Recommended by someone who lived there, that I met on a seaplane from Victoria.
Have you been there?
Oyaji visit - Finally
It's quite amazing when you finally visit a place you have read about for over a year.
It's amazing because your mind has an image of it, and it doesn't always match reality.
My husband and I visited Vancouver a couple years ago and izikaya had really taken off there. I hadn't known or read much about it before that visit, but we went to one place on a recommendation that was out of this world and we saw several other restaurants advertising izikaya.
When we got back to SF, I looked around a bit to see if I could find a restaurant that specialized in it. Read a few posts here and kept hearing about Oyaji.
We even visited O Izikaya a few weeks back, good....but this post isn't about that place.
So, as I was saying I had this image in my mind about Oyaji. I figured it was a place where we must drink alot....and I mean, a lot....and be ready to party. I thought the "old man" would be very old...and very drunk. I thought the place would be a bit dingy. I thought the sushi would be mediocre....and I figured I better be ready to eat offal.
If you have been there, then you know...that this isn't the case.
We did have some to drink, but i would have loved this place even stone cold sober!
We went in and were a few of just the handful of white folk there....always a good sign.
It was packed, families, kids, grandparents, you name it. The atmosphere was great. Clean, lively and fun!
Took a seat at the bar and looked at the sushi chef who must have been "the old man", only to find that he wasn't so old...he was young and quite handsome.
I was happy to start talking with him when I ordered a glass of sake which he said "oh, good one, good choice". I asked him what was good, what we should try.
The sushi was fresh and delicate. Expertly cut. Nice hit of wasabe.
He gave us a couple special pieces, slivers of halibut muscle in a soy sauce with onions. A spicy tuna concoction. Excellent!
We also had a bunch of the izikaya dishes.
We started with the ankimo. One of my favorite dishes in general. This held up.
Wonderful pork belly recommended by someone on this board.
Great beef oyaji. cooked perfect.
Spinach with sesame, as recommended by the chef.
Deep fried eggplant - oily but good.
hmph. i guess no offal.
That means I will have to go back. shoot....
My only regret was not buying the chef a cup of sake, which another patron next to us did. Next time, next time.
How does it compare to the place in Vancouver? Not sure it does. That place was really out of this world...it ws bigger, more upscale, absolutely flawless food. But it didn't have the "old man". Sometimes in life, there are tradeoffs.
Dinner with Folks
Would rather stay in the hood if possible.
Went to Bar Tartine this weekend. Excellent food, but definitely very loud and a bit cramped. Not great for groups.
Also, pretty unusual offerings, so not great for mom....although she would love it once she put it in her mouth.
We had the most divine bone marrow ever. I am definitely going to have to make it.
Has anyone else had it? I assume roasting for an hour or so should do the trick? (with a garlic parsley topping?)
No one has any thoughts on Incanto?
Dinner with Folks
Thanks for the rec. I was just at Perbacco. Piperade has a private party.
I heard great things about 1550 and the menu looks delish, but reviews say it is a bit cramped and loud? no?
Dinner with Folks
My parents are coming for a visit this weekend and I want to take them somewhere new. I'd even try something new myself.
My dad is up for anything, my mom is a little more picky.
Good food. Nothing too unusual. Good prices....atmosphere counts. Nothing too loud.
I thought they would like Range (which I love) but I can't get in at the time I would like.
Perfect combo of semi casual atmosphere. Good small menu. Great food.
I have reservations at Incanto (haven't been yet) and at Antica Trattoria (or here).
I made the reservations at Antica for two reasons: Incanto may have to much offal on the menu, which my mom won't eat. Is there usually a fish option there?
And, we live in the richmond, so noe valley is a bit farther out.
Where we have been over the years and they liked:
- Aziza
- Chez Nous (when it was here....rest in peace)
- Mandalay
- 2223 Market
- Bistro Aix
- Alegrias
-Greens
-Chez Panisse
Any thoughts? Go to Incanto?
Somewhere on hyde? Town Hall?
Love any input.
A rare night out
Thanks to all...
Ended up with reservations at Bar Tartine.
(that post on chowhound about falling in love with all things tartine was a great advertisement) A little bit of a shlep but hopefully we are up for it.
Haven't been to KISS yet and that is close by so a nice alternative. thanks for the recs.
Dana
A rare night out
no - wanted to get some recs first.
we're going late, so hopefully will have options
A rare night out
Now that we have a baby, going out for dinner is a rare and special treat.
We have a babysitter this saturday, and can't wait to see a movie, in a movie theater - wow, what a concept.
Want to go somewhere yummy afterwards. Doesn't need to be fancy or special, but the food needs to be good and different than what I would cook at home.
Dying to go to Incanto but would prefer to stay on the north side of the city, closer to home.
Last places out were:
Perbacco
Nopa
Kabuto sushi
Any recs?
I could come up with something but would love to get some input....on a "must try - will love" place.
thanks
Dana
Aziza with a baby - will it work?
Hm.....
What other places could folks suggest?
We have a six month old. We were taking him out a lot at first, but now he seems to be awake more than sleeping. How old is your baby and any other places you would recommend?
We do Mandalay all the time (6th and California) and Troya, both of which are in our area.
Recs for great lunch in soma/mission area?
Looking for a new lunch place near work....8th and Mission.
Can drive but not too far. Looking for some nice atmosphere.
Been to Basil, Brainwash, Menorah, all the chinese and japanese places.
Heard about the new soup place on minna, but folks went and said it was a madhouse.
Driven to Tres Agaves, Town Hall, Luna Park, Citizen Cake, Cafe de Stella....
would like to try something new
Anyone have any good ideas?
Fulton Valley Farm chicken
I'm in San Francisco and get the Fulton Valley Farms Chickens here.....and love them....just good flavor overall. I don't think they are pure organic but raised without hormones and antibiotics.
My folks came up for a visit and had some and my mom has been looking ever since. I couldn't find an LA market on their site and wondering if any hounds know where I might be able to find them.
Fulton Valley Farm chicken
Any recommendations on where I can find
Fulton Valley Farm chickens on the westside?
or something comparable....not Rosie's organic or Rocky Jr.
thanks
King of Falafel
We love King of Falafel. (the one on Divisadero, right?)
We have tried falafel many places, Truly Med and Sunshine Deli being the other two places we visit often.
I think King of Falafel is better.
They add more jalapeno making for a spicier falafel and will always fry them up to order.
When we get a dozen, the owner usually takes one and sprinkles it with the falafel flour and hands it to me hot! delicious!
We like their hummus too, but I favor the hummus from Haigs, on clement.
