lamster's Profile
Quiet place for a group of 20?
I wonder if Henry's Hunan (near 2nd and Mission) or one of the Osha locations would work. Henry's at night is pretty quiet and they have a private room in the back I bet you they wouldn't even charge extra for.
Best ham, roast beef, meatloaf, turkey or roast chicken sandwiches in the Bay Area
Have you been to Cafe Taboo in the Mission? Its on 18th and York. They roast their own chickens and turkeys and the sandwiches are amazing. Also comes with a salad or potatoes, or half and half.
Also available, are their roasted chicken dinners.. served with sides and corn tortillas.
Jardinier, San Francisco, Fixed Price Menu each Monday Night
I have been at least 4 times and its always been great. I am not a drinker so I generally don't do wine pairings because its a waste of money but since its included with the cost here, its nice to be able to take a sip or two, and have the taste experience that the chef is going for.
Its a cheap way to experience the restaurant.
Zapp's Potato Chips at Cost Plus
I was at the Walgreens on New Montgomery and Mission today and happen to notice a few bags of 5.5 ounce Zapps Spicy Creole Tomato (spiked with Tobasco) for $2.99. Not sure if this is a recurring item or not. Bottom shelf, in the chips aisle.
Zapp's Potato Chips at Cost Plus
I stopped at cost plus in daly city and they had a mardi gras display with various local new orleans items, including four types of Zapps chips. Voodoo, tabasco, spicy Cajun and one more.
I also checked out Queens and they also carry Zapps but they are smaller bags.
Thanks everyone.
Zapp's Potato Chips at Cost Plus
Does anyone know if any stores in the Bay Area still carry Zapps? Its been a few years since the original post but I'm crossing my fingers that its a recurring product at Cost Plus?
How to store salami (local) at home?
I buy the exact same salami you do, from Costco, and what I've been doing is:
- I only peel off as much paper as I plan to be slicing
- I then roll the remaining salami in wax paper and twist at the ends - like candy
- when I open it back up, sometimes the sliced end is a little dried out so I throw away the first slice.
I can usually keep the large Molinari Salami for a few months in the fridge. Also, there are two kinds - the dry and the hot. It seems to me that the dry salame keeps better and longer. The hot is a little more moist and will tend to go bad more quickly.
Looking for a recommendation for a hip dinner spot near the Four Seasons in San Francisco
My vote would be for Town Hall but another good option could be RN74?
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Town Hall Restaurant
342 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94105
RN74
301 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
"The Best Thing I Ever Ate" in the Bay Area
Another item that was mentioned on "best of..." was the donut muffin from Healdsburg bakery, also available at their stand at the Ferry Building Farmer's market. Totally worth the hype.
Need an inexpensive SF restaurant idea for a work party (budget in mind) for about 150 people.
What about Tres Agaves? They have a huge private room in the back and it comes with its own bar. I know they don't charge a room fee, which is helpful when you're on a budget.
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Tres Agaves Restaurant
130 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107
October 2009 Grocery Outlet
If you're still looking for the musubi gift pack, you might want to check Costco. I've seen it in years past, when they start stocking up for the holidays.
Fra' Mani Polenta at Costco!?
I went to the South San Francisco Costco location this weekend and they were giving out samples of the Fra' Mani Polenta. Tasted ok though I don't think it was warm enough. Had it been warmer, I think it would have tasted better. Seasoning was ok, but better than any other packaged polenta I've tried. I also spotted the Fra' Mani turkey meatloaf and italian sausages - neither were available for free samples. We had the turkey meatloaf for dinner last night - delicious! The sauce is the best part.
Fra'mani "savory meatloaf" at SF Costco
Went to Costco this weekend and found the savory meatloaf, cooked sausage and polenta. I bought the meatloaf as I am a fan of it from last year. I also grabbed a package of the sausages but I haven't tried it yet. I would have been tempted to get the polenta too but they were giving out samples and I wasn't a fan. Not enough flavor and was on the cold side - though that's a problem with the Costco worker, not the actual product itself.
The meatloaf though... we had it last night and it was turkey meatloaf. I think last year, it was beef? Can someone confirm that for me? Both versions are good though I think I prefer the beef.
Hunting for the best Fried Chicken In San Francisco
There's also this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/569401
Jardiniere Monday Prix Fixe
I've been several times over the last few months and I also posted in the thread that wolfe mentions above ... I think the key is to choose the right Monday night for you. Everyone has their own tastes so be sure to look up the menu ahead of time because that's the only option on Monday nights. I'm not a drinker but I do taste the wines that come with the prix-fixe and they have always been great. It really is a great deal.
what are the finest brands for oyster sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce? and where is one stop shop to buy best brands in manhattan?
We have the same soy taste! --- Maggi and Golden Moutain are my two favorites for taste as well.
Range or Firefly
About the Fried Chicken at Firefly, you can call them and ask. They have a "fried chicken email list" that you can sign up for and they notify you when it comes back on the menu. I'm a member of that list and the last night they had the FC was August 25th. Probably won't be back for a while. Love both restaurants but like the coziness of Firefly more.
Fra'mani "savory meatloaf" at SF Costco
I was buying the Fra'mani meatloaf from Costco for a while but then they stopped carrying it. LOVE IT. Perfect size for 2 people for dinner, and some left over for lunch.
Anyone seen it recently?
Salt House now serving breakfast
For those of you that work near 2nd and Mission, Salt House is now serving breakfast . You can either take it to go or if you choose to eat there, I think you still order at the counter and then pick your own table. Available Mondays through Fridays.
They're using Ritual Coffee and Illy for espresso. Menu is somewhat limited but I think there's something for everyone. There's the heartier option of scrambled eggs & crispy chicken hash sandwich on a sage biscuit. There's also steel cut Irish oatmeal, organic yogurt, scones, muffins, and a selection of bagels from House of Bagels with different spread options.
This morning I stopped by for the first time and I got their banana bread (my own cute little loaf) and a cappuccino for $6. Nice to have a sit down breakfast option in the neighborhood.
Vietnamese Catering on the Peninsula?
I ordered Vietnamese spring rolls about a year ago from Pho Quyen 2 in Cupertino. Their menu includes prices for party trays but the specific roll that I wanted didn't have a party tray price so I just asked. They were happy to do it for me. (I got 40 rolls of Goi Coun Thit Nuong for I think only $55.)
They also serve Bun (and Banh Hoi too!) so I don't see why they wouldn't do it for you if you asked for everything seperate. Back when I lived in SoCal, all the restaurants down there would do it.
If you want to see a menu, they have a snapshot of it on yelp.
Town Hall, Salt House, or Anchor & Hope
I have been to all three several times and I would pick Town Hall over Salt House or Anchor & Hope any day.
Anchor & Hope has generally good food though prices are high and service is always really slow and bad.
Salt House is good but doesn't really generate any excitement in me. I don't have any specific complaints but I don't remember any standout dishes either.
Town Hall has several great dishes -- the shrimp starter, egg toast jalapeno thing (don't remember name, but its delish), the fried chicken... Atmosphere is always nice and with a party of 3, you will be able to hear each other just fine. Save room for dessert.
Banana Split
This is going to sound completely random but at Le Colonial, they have a banana split dessert that we have gotten several times to share with a group. Its very large but delicious! I think the best part of this one is like Bi-Rite, they caramelize their bananas.
Banh mi near ballpark / Caltrain?
I worked across the street from the ballpark for 2 years and didn't find such a place. My office recently moved to 2nd and Mission, where I found "Muffin Muffin." They sell various breakfast items and banh mi. I stop often for breakfast but I'm not a fan of their banh mi. It is, however, walking distance to the ballpark. Maybe this is the place you heard about?
banh hoi
If there is any place in SF to buy sheets of banh hoi, I haven't found it. I did see it on the menu at Yummy Yummy. I didn't get a chance to try it there but I'm sure you could call to see if they will sell it to you in sheets.
Seeking great Vietnamese appetizer place (esp TOM HOA TIEN / Rocket Shrimp)
I just tried Yummy Yummy this weekend in the inner sunset area. I didn't see Tom Hoa Tien on their menu, but they do have banh xeo, banh cuon, and a few other finger food options that I don't normally see up here in SF. btw -- I've been to Brodard Restaurant and I love all the roll options they have there. I haven't found anything remotely close to that up here.
The only thing I was able to try at yummy yummy this weekend was the banh cuon, which was really good.
Thanh Long vs. Crustacean
Its been a while so I had to look up their menu... the following are things that I've ordered and are tasty, but not "OMG, you have to order it" --- traditional vietnamese salad, shaking beef, eggplant, sizzling claypot catch of the day. I seem to remember getting a beef carpacio but I don't see it on their menu anymore.
Recommendations for Large Group Dining in SF
Quince is way out of your price range... I just went on Sunday night and 4 courses is $75 and 7 courses is $120, without wine parings. Its one of my favorites in this city but I don't think its the place for 12-15 people on a budget. Also, getting reservations there would be impossible for a group that size.
Yank Sing... great food but be careful of ordering anything remotely special. Anything that the waiters bring by on a tray is going to cost you more than the stuff on the carts... you can easily spend $40 per person without beverages.
Foreign Cinema has great food too but is very close to the high end of your budget. You might want to call them as they do have private rooms for a party your size.
You might try Maverick (dinner or brunch.) Its similar to Range, but smaller. Town Hall might be possible as well. Reservations for a party this size is going to be difficult at most places.
Thanh Long vs. Crustacean
I've been to both and I prefer Thanh Long but here are some of my observations...
- The building that Crustacean located in is sort of gross. Its run down, vacant mall feel does not make me feel safe about walking around outside by myself.
- Crustacean itself seems sort of run down inside as well as outside. The smell of the crab seems to attack you when you enter. This is not a good thing.
- Thanh Long has much more of a neighborhood feel to it. Parking can be a real pain though so you'll likely have to valet.
- We had a bad experience at Thanh Long once where one of the water glasses chipped right into one of the diner's mouth! We told them about it and no apologies whatsoever - they just gave him a new glass of water. We didn't expect to be comped dinner, but being a little nicer about it would have been helpful.
The menus are pretty much identical and the food quality doesn't seem to differ. Once in a while, I get a real garlic noodle craving and we go, but otherwise, we don't bother. Stick with the roasted crab and garlic noodles but be prepared to get messy.
I just bought a durian. Now what do I do???
I used to help open and package durian with my mom. Supplies you will need: big knife, big garbage bag, plate for the durian, and old newspapers.
Lay out newspapers on the floor in the kichen. (Don't do this on the counter. Last thing you want is the durian to fall and land on your feet!)
Look for any type of opening in the durian, sometimes at the stem or the other end. Durian is made up of wedges with withe real meat of it in between. Once you find a split, nudge it open with a knife or your fingers. If no splits are found, use your knife to open it a little.
Once you make the first split, you will find that the wedges are relatively easy to push apart by using your hands to press down on each side of the big wedges to open up more parts.
To freeze, we always wrapped up single portions in plastic wrap. Eating it frozen is better to me.. it becomes a sort of frozen cream.
