Meal service in Berkeley or North Oakland?

My kitchen is going to be mostly out of service this coming week and it is going to be a crazy week for my family. I want to do a little better than burritos and pizza each night and try to get some healthy food in the door to help keep us sane. Unfortunately I need to start on Monday, otherwise I'd wait till Weds and get Three Stone Hearth.

Are there any other services, take-out options, delivery, etc along the lines of Three Stone Hearth? I'm just seeking some healthy ready-to-go food options for dinner for 4-5 nights.

Thanks!

ilikepopcorn in San Francisco Bay Area

Palm Springs for 4 days / 3 nights, including New Years Eve

We're staying at the ACE in Palm Springs (no kids this trip) and we're looking for some fun dining spots...

[1] For New Years Eve we'd ideally try something special, maybe some avant-garde or new/different cutting-edge stuff. We'd prefer not to travel too far, and expensive is OK.

[2] For all other meals we're open to suggestions of all varieties. Fun lunch spots. Where to pick-up nice sandwiches for a day-trip to Joshua tree, interesting moderate priced restaurants, etc.

[3] And finally, where do we find the best coffee in the area?

Thank you!

ilikepopcorn in California

in search of fun/group dinner in lower manhattan

Thursday night. Four people. $25 or lower for the entrees.

ilikepopcorn in Manhattan

in search of fun/group dinner in lower manhattan

Four from SF in NYC for business this week and will need to get out of midtown for a fun, interesting dinner experience. Here's the catch, expense account is doesn't get us too far so we need something that isn't terribly expensive-- $$ or $$$ -- entrees in the $15-25 range ideal.

Anything south of Midtown is fair game. We have a San Francisco sensibility but not a San Francisco or NY budget for this meal.

So send us your favorite off-the-beaten-path, neighborhood, mom-and-pop, underground, hip, spots. We need help and want to have a fun, delicious time of it.

Thanks

ilikepopcorn in Manhattan

Need recs for Berkeley/Oakland Takeout on 4th of July

Can't thank you enough for this rec. Went to Zaki, picked-up a rotisserie chicken, a shawerma sampler plate, and several side dishes for the family tonight and we all LOVED it. Had never heard of Zaki before but it is a new favorite. Thank you.

ilikepopcorn in San Francisco Bay Area

Need recs for Berkeley/Oakland Takeout on 4th of July

Looking for a good place to order in dinner from tonight. All the regular faves are closed -- Gregoire, Poulet, etc. Welcome any thoughts you have or places you know of that may be open and that you recommend!

ilikepopcorn in San Francisco Bay Area

Seeking a rec for a good bar in the West 40's...

I welcome all suggestions. I'm looking for a full bar, not just wine. Things we don't like: frat boys, big crowds and tourists. Things we do like: cool atmosphere/decor, fun/interesting drinks, a place to sit and talk where we can hear each other. Bonus: good bar food.

Thank you!

ilikepopcorn in Manhattan

Meal Gift

I'd like to give the gift of a meal and order a nice delicious meal to get delivered to parents of a newborn and 1.5 year old. Any suggestions for restaurants that will package up a nice meal or anything of that variety? I wouldn't be opposed to suggestions of home chefs preparing meals too however I realize that is for another board -- so mostly here I'm interested in any delis, restaurants or stores that will prepare this kind of meal?

ilikepopcorn in San Francisco Bay Area

Need lower midtown/chelsea rec

I'm staying at a hotel on 34th tonight -- don't know the cross street. I'm looking for a place to go for a solo meal -- something fun, interesting, delicious but not over the top expensive. This is a last minute trip so I didn't have time to research beforehand -- I'm open to all sorts of cuisines so send any recommendations my way.

ilikepopcorn in Manhattan

Seeking rum cake/cupcake recipe

I'm hosting a party and I want to make cupcakes that have a rum-cake base with some sort of lemon accent. Maybe rum-cake with lemon frosting or maybe just rum-cake with some lemon zest and vanilla frosting. I'm hoping for a super moist and boozy cake and I would love your recipe suggestions. Thank you.

ilikepopcorn in Home Cooking

Looking for help with mushroom pasta dish....

Iron Chef me....

We bought some morels and porcini at the farmers market with the aim of making a mushroom pasta. I also have some hot italian sausage and all the other necessary accoutrement: garlic, white wine, shallot, olive oil, butter....

I already have some ideas on how I might attempt to assemble this dish but because I've never worked/cooked with fresh morels and porcini before, I'm really open to ideas and suggestions. So far all the morel recipes I've glanced at online have cream sauces and I don't have any cream in the house (I could go out and get some if it is necessary but would prefer not to).

Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions/advice you might have for assembling this dish.

ilikepopcorn in Home Cooking

Stymied on Sunday evening in Berkeley/Oakland

I have a friend coming over to my side of the bay for my birthday dinner tonight and I'd figured we'd either go to Dopo or PIzzaiolo but to my surprise they're both closed Sunday nights. I wanted a fun place to split some delicious dishes. Then I thought about picking up a Cheese Board pizza and just hosting our get together in my backyard. They're closed on Sunday too! Now I feel sort-of at a loss. If all else fails perhaps we'll go to Cesar but I'm wondering if anybody has some recommendations based on what I had in mind -- for places that might brave a beautiful summer Sunday evening. It doesn't have to be pizza but something about a pizza/salad/salumi combo sounded especially good to me.

Thanks in advance for your recs/

ilikepopcorn in San Francisco Bay Area

Need dinner rec. near 46th and 6th

Stranded in midtown by the storm, hoping to get an early flight out tomorrow, but in the interim need something near my hotel for dinner. I had Becco last night -- Italian and am looking for anything BUT Italian tonight. I like smallish places that take good care of diners -- Becco was great for this. Any other local gems?

Thanks!!!

ilikepopcorn in Manhattan

La Mediterranee - soup

I'm sure most everyone in SF and Berkeley is familiar with this establishment: http://www.cafelamed.com/

It has very decent Mediterranean food at even more decent prices. It isn't haute cuisine -- I mean the menu hasn't changed in the 11 years I've lived in the Bay Area, but it is consistent and good and my husband and I grab a salad and filo combination plate from them to share about once a week.

I recently fell in love however with their lemon, chicken, rice soup. There is something comforting about it without use of heavy cream or anything terribly artery hardening. I like when something can taste this good yet still maintain some integrity as a healthy item.

Does ANYBODY out there know how to make this soup? I mean there are some obvious ingredients and perhaps after a few tries I could figure it out. But it would be so much nicer if someone just has a recipe?! It's cold season and I can't help but think that a few cups of this lemony, chicken love would knock a cold right outta ya.

thx!

ilikepopcorn in Home Cooking

Chinese restaurant in South Bay that might also cater?

I'm looking for a restaurant or caterer that can deliver Chinese Chicken Salad, Lo Mein (possibly served individually in those cute take out containers) and dumplings/dim sum for about 25 guests.

Would love recommendations for good Chinese restaurants OR caterers in the area that might do this.

Thanks!

ilikepopcorn in Los Angeles Area

Need rec. for caterer and/or restaurant?

Hi:

I'm going to Rancho Palos Verdes to throw a baby shower for a childhood friend. I want to give it an Asian flair/theme and hang lanterns around the backyard, put rice crackers and shrimp chips on the tables and maybe even do fortune cookie centerpieces.

I'd love to find a reasonable restaurant or caterer who could do a lunch of dumplings (dim sum), vegetable lo mein (i love it when it is served in little take-out boxes) and a chinese chicken salad.

Any recommendations? The restaurant or caterer can be in San Pedro, Palos Verdes, Torrance or Redondo Beach -- any of those areas should be pretty close and convenient.

Many thanks!!

ilikepopcorn in Los Angeles Area