catwood10's Profile
Bread Pudding-East Bay
The Jewish delicatessen, Saul's, makes a mean version of bread pudding. They use challah and big chunks of chocolate, doused in some heavy cream.
Saul's Restaurant & Deli
- www.saulsdeli.com
1475 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
Authentic Neapolitan Style Pizza
For a more Roman style pizza (thinner and crunchier crust), try out Beretta at 23rd and Valencia. It's very scene-y and busy, but their kitchen is open until 1AM, so if you go on the later side you can avoid the crowds.
Best chicken mole in SF - where?
The mole at La Oaxaqueña is top notch and very reasonably priced. Oaxacan style mole is thick, dark with a deep smoky chocolatey finish. If you go there, try the chicken mole tamales --- made both in the traditional corn husk or, for a large tamal, in a banan leaf
A16 or Delfina?!?
If you're willing to make the trek to the e. bay, I'd also suggest Pizzaiolo --- cheaper and, I'd argue, as yummy pizzas. Still a scene, but I suppose that's a bit inevitable.
Veal or lamb stew in the pressure cooker- Help!!
this is a recipe for veal stew with peppers, a southern italian (calabrese) specialty. i've found that the longer this cooks and simmers the more the flavors blend and the meat tenderizes:
http://italianfood.about.com/od/beefvealstews/r/blr0994.htm
Best Thai in SF? Best Thai in Financial District?
I'd def. encourage people looking for good, authentic and inexpensive thai food to go to Manora Thai on 12th and Folsom. The menu is extensive and doesn't just stick to your basic pad thai and green curry staples. Try the squid appetizer.... a light combo of lime juice, chili, fish sauce and delicately (not rubbery) cooked squid.
China Village,Little Sichuan and the Whole Sichuan Thing
I lived down the street from Grand Sichuan in NYC and ate there often. One of my favorite chinese restaurants in the city. In all honesty, I prefer some of the food at China Village to Grand Sichuan. Grand Sichuan certainly had its share of sichuan cuisine, but it also had a bounty of other chinese restaurant fare. China Village's menu is primarily sichuan food, without drowning the flavors in too much chili oil. I'd say the food there is, at the least comparable, and sometimes better. If you go, be sure to order the dumplings in hot oil, the fish stewed in pepper and broth and to paruse their list of sichuan hotpots.
China Village,Little Sichuan and the Whole Sichuan Thing
the owner at china village said that all of the chefs and cooks there are from Sichuan. i've always found their food pleasantly hot - you still taste the underlying flavors of whatever's been cooked (meat, fish, tofu) underneath a spicy kick. the heat actually enhances, without drowning out, their flavor. china village's menu primarily features dishes you won't find on a hunan or cantonese menu.
Jayakarta -- Indonesian in Berkeley!
Bali Chicken - a crispy sweet and savory grilled outside and very moist inside
Beef Rendang - the blend of chili, coconut milk and lemongrass, accompanied with beef that falls apart in your mouth, make this dish must
If you don't know anything about Indonesia food and you want to leave very full, consider getting the Rijstaffel - which is plethora of appetizers, soup and entrees for about $22 a head.
Vietnamese
I'm not sure if this is north or south vietnamese style... what I'm thinking of is pho with a rich beef broth, definitely flavored with star anise, served with thin shaved raw beef which cooks in the steaming broth. The rice noodles are secondary to that, for me.
Vietnamese
Normally with an intensely flavored broth and thin slivers of beef... not really keen on the beef ball kind.
Afghan food
When I was living in NYC, I used to love a nearby Afghan restaurant. Does anyone know of any in the Bay Area? Especially one that serves pumpkin samusas...
East Bay Dim Sum
I'm looking for an authentic Dim Sum place in the East Bay. Any ideas?
Turkish restaurant(s) in Berkeley/East Bay?
There is a Turkish restaurant on University Ave in Berkeley...going towards the highway but before San Pablo.
after one week in the east bay...came from LA
Berkeley:
Brunch and Lunch: La Note - provencal cooking, homey brunches with absolutely scrumptious pastries, inventive salads and filling warm sandwiches.
Indian: Udupi Palace on University. It's South Indian, vegetarian, extremely reasonably and always tasty. Try the Dosa - South Indian crepe-like pancakes seasoned with spices and filled with vegetables.
Japanese: Cha Ya on N. Shattuck. Vegan japanese but makes you wonder why you'd ever need to eat meat.
Deli/Brunch: Saul's on N. Shattuck. New York-Style Jewish deli with a California twist. Great for an enormous pastrami sandwich or for brunch.
Rockridge: La Farine Bakery.
Sushi: Kirala, without a doubt. A bit on the expensive side and there is always a wait, but it is worth it.
Pizza: Zachary's... you should avoid the one in Rockridge, since it is smaller and busier than the one on Solano.
Italian: Adagia, on Bancroft (next to Cafe Strada)... amazingly good Italian food, I lived in Italy for a year and this is the closest I've found. Their lunch menu, for the flavors you get, is incredibly reasonable.
Latin Fusion: Funda on Solano. Mexican tweeked with French flavors.
