redchair's Profile
Asian Noodles in East Bay
My food-obsessed son wants to celebrate his 15th birthday by going out for Asian noodles (he isn't more specific about type of cuisine, though he really likes Vietnamese.) We live in Berkeley. What are the recommendations for good food in a location that's something above a hole in the wall, since it is a birthday celebration.
How to encourage tourist or first time hound to use the search function on Chowhound?
As a sometime user of Chowhound, I think that a lot of people just want to sample a few "Best of" lists compiled by reputable posters. These are not easy to track down in the Search function. Is there a way to make some of those available? I love rworange's list below, for example, but how do I find it if I'm from Toronto and want to eat well in SF?
SF Woman Dining Alone, Dinner Rec Midtown
What would you recommend if I were willing to go a little further afield? Many thanks!
SF Woman Dining Alone, Dinner Rec Midtown
I'm flying in from San Francisco on a Friday night, staying at the Sofitel on W. 44th. I would love a nice NY Italian dinner and a half bottle of wine at a place where I would not feel weird eating alone, somewhere not too far from my hotel. Any suggestions? (Favorites in SF for guidance: Zuni, Nopa, Bar Tartine, Aziza).
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Tartine
253 W 11th St, New York, NY 10014
Trying to Decide on an Oakland/Berkeley Restaurant for Christmas Eve
I would choose Bay Wolf. Their service is warmly professional and the atmosphere is worthy of a Christmas Eve meal. They would also roll with the infant. I have a meat-and-potatoes teen who likes Bay Wolf a lot -- there is always something on the menu that suits him.
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Bay Wolf Restaurant
3853 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611
Post Berkeley Rep?
Corso, Zatar and Venus are all within walking distance, and all very good. Check to make sure that they serve late. Cesar definitely stays open late, though it's a short drive away.
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Zatar
1981 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Fabulous Sunday Lunch -- Need Suggestions
I am coming to Seattle next month for a meeting, and will fly in a day early (from Oakland) so that I can meet up with my best friend who moved from Oakland to Portland a few years ago. She's picking me up at the airport, and I'm staying downtown. We're hoping to explore the new sculpture garden and walk around, but good food is also important. Not looking for fancy, but a convivial place where we can enjoy good food and talk. We both live in good food towns, so our standards are high (in the Bay Area, love Pizzaiola, Chez Panisse, Boot & Shoe, Flora, Zuni), and we know that Seattle can deliver. What do you suggest?
Service Matters: Chez Panisse Cafe
Thanks for the advice, rworange. I appreciate it and will write the the restaurant as you suggested.
Service Matters: Chez Panisse Cafe
I have been a faithful patron of the Cafe at Chez Panisse for more than fifteen years, but I have been very disappointed in the service the last two times I have been there. Just the other night, two friends and I went there to celebrate a 50th birthday. We were looking forward to sitting down, toasting one another with a glass of champagne and discussing the menu. We were seated almost immediately, but waited 25 minutes before our waitress paid us a visit. Instead of apologizing for ignoring us for so long, she simply asked, "Do you have any questions about the menu?" We explained that we wanted to order drinks. She took our drink order, and disappeared again. One of our party spoke to the Maitre d', who apologized and brought olives. Nice gesture, but we really wanted our drinks. Finally they came, a full 35 minutes after we had been seated. By then we were hungry and ready to order, but the pace of the meal felt off kilter after that.
Mistakes happen, but it makes a big difference if people own up to them and apologize. This experience came not long after another CP Cafe meal of missteps and mistiming (salads arrived before wine, entrees arrived before salads were done, and the birthday boy's dessert order was first forgotten, then arrived after a reminder but without the ginger cookies on the side that had been the reason for the order.)
Am I being too picky? I am not inclined to return any time soon, especially for a special occasion.
Dinner and a Movie
Thanks, everyone. Some great ideas here. I agree that the Piedmont Theater/Dopo combo is the best -- especially if you go on Saturday night, the guy does the raffle with the ticket stubs, and then you are greeted by the warm and gracious Graham at Dopo. It's a peak neighborhood experience.
Dinner and a Movie
Ideally, when I go out to see a movie and have dinner, I want to be able to park my car once, see a good movie and enjoy a decent meal that I can walk to afterwards. My movie selections are definitely influenced by the nearby restaurant selections. Some of my East Bay favorites are:
Piedmont Theater/ Dopo, Cesar or Xyclo
Elmwood Theater/ Wood Tavern (though too hard to get into most of the time)
Albany Twin/ Vanessa's
Grand Lake/ Sidebar
What are others' favorite dinner and movie combos? I have a preference for independent movie theaters, but recognize that there are times when the overwhelming AMC in Emeryville is unavoidable. I refuse to eat at California Pizza Kitchen, so I violate my one parking space rule and eat at Rudy's Can't Fail before or after AMC. Any other ideas?
High Altitude Cake Dilemma
Here is the challenge: I need to bake a birthday cake for a dear friend and 14 others this weekend. We will be in a remote location near Lake Tahoe, at a relatively high altitude, Because of the remote location, I will need to bring all of my ingredients, pans, etc. with me from Berkeley. Any thoughts, tips, recipes for fabulous yet foolproof cakes? Because of the season, I am thinking that a white cake with buttercream icing, decorated with fresh berries would be nice. But I'm open.
Nopa?
I feel like Nopa isn't getting its due here. It's quite good, and has a very sophisticated/fun vibe. I was there the other night, and had a fabulous duck leg with cranberry beans and escarole. Our waiter could not have been nicer and more professional, with knowledgeable suggestions on food and wine. We had a reservation, but arrived early, and they seated us early.
Best stuck-in-the-past restaurants?
Alfred's is the spot. They might no longer do table-side Caesars, but they do offer at least one dessert that is in fire. Nothing like a a flaming, alcohol-soaked dessert to follow your martini and steak as you sit in a red leather(ette?) booth with your date.
Dinner before Berkeley Rep?
Where do you recommend we have dinner before seeing a play at Berkeley Rep? I would like to be able to eat near the theater so that we don't have to rush and find parking before the show.
Downtown Restaurant is okay, but I've had a couple of bad service experiences there. I like Zatar, but they are only open on limited nights. What am I overlooking?
Dangerous Boys in Tucson
My friend and I are taking our three 12-year-old boys (one set of twins) on a road trip that will start in Tucson. They all like to eat, and one is a budding chef. We live in Berkeley, California, so these are sophisticated pre-adolescent gastronomes, not your typical chicken-finger-eating kids. They have opinions about chard vs. kale. Where should we go to explore some of the fun food locations in Tucson?
My fantasy trip to gourmetland, CA
If you come to Berkeley, you must visit the Berkeley Bowl. More produce, and more varied produce, than you can believe. Just don't wander around aimlessly blocking the aisles -- the people who shop there mean business, and the place is busy and crowded.
The Cheeseboard in Berkeley is another mandatory stop. Come by at lunchtime for a slice of fabulous pizza.
And for your out of town trip, I would suggest going to Pt. Reyes Station in Marin. It's the home of Cowgirl Creamery and some other good places, and it's not on the usual tourist path. It's also a beautiful place to go hiking and work off the cheese.
Sonoma over Napa. Try Healdsburg.
Have fun. September is the perfect time to visit. You should have excellent weather and excellent food.
Plum Ice Cream
Having enjoyed Ici's Santa Rosa Plum ice cream, I wanted to make some at home. Does anyone have a recipe to suggest? I'm not looking to make sorbet.
Bakesale Betty - It's all true!
Betty is the best! I'm only worried that success will go to her sweet blue-haired head, but somehow I doubt that it will happen. Not only is her food fabulous, but the vibe is unmatched for sincerity and kindness. If you come to the Farmer's Market at Temescal (DMV parking lot on Claremont Ave.) Sunday mornings, you will receive entire cookies or scones as samples from the Betty acolytes...and you will be so overcome with gratitude that you will buy far more than you can eat. If only the entire world operated by the Bakesale Betty Principles of Life, what a beautiful placce it would be. We love you, Betty, and we are eternally grateful that you selected our neighborhood to grace with your presence.
Looking for a fun place to eat IN SF
Ditto on the dim sum; I have a 14 y.o. boy, and he loves it. It's also probably not something widely available in Texas. We go to Ton Kiang. Also try Taylor's Refresher for a burger at the Ferry Building, or Cha Cha Cha in the Haight, or Tartine for fabulous baked goods.
It would be helpful, though, if you were more specific about what you and your nephew are looking for. Kitsch? Views? Hard Rock Cafe? Only in SF? Good food of some kind?
Valentine's Day dinner out -- bad idea?
If you have the reservation and have been looking forward to it, by all means go! But in the future, I suggest that everyone boycott the mindless rush to eat a romantic dinner on Valentine's Day. Make your own romantic day, January 27th or September 1st, and forgo the battle to get a reservation on the day that we are told we must spend with our one true love. Who says?
Personal chef west side?
I am looking for a personal chef who makes deliveries of delicious meals that can be heated up in the Culver City area. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Meal Delivery in Culver City
I have a dear friend who will be undergoing chemotherapy, and I want to have delicious, premade meals delivered to her home for her family. She lives in Culver City, but I am out of the area and do not know what is good. What do the chowfriends recommend?
Knife Sharpening in East Bay?
I'm always looking for an excuse to run errands on 4th St. at lunchtime and get a couple of fish tacos at Tacubaya while I'm there. Thanks, Jess.
How long do knives last?
I received my knives -- mostly Wusthof -- 15 years ago as a wedding present. What is the life expectancy (for the knives, not the marriage, which is going strong)?
Knife Sharpening in East Bay?
I followed the discussion about knife sharpening a little while back, but did not find any references to good services in the East Bay. Does anyone have a recommendation in Berkeley or Oakland?
Do you have a "Liquor Cabinet"
We have a butler's pantry in our old house, in the walkway between the kitchen and the dining room. In one of those glass-fronted cupboards, we keep vodka, gin, etc. Truth be told, we break it out once in a blue moon. We and our friends usually drink wine.
However, we did have a couple of cocktail parties for retro fun, and served a signature drink. (The Pink Pussycat, a grapefruti juice/vodka/splash of grenadine -- goes down way too easy.) Even though we are all grownups, it felt pleasantly Cheeveresque to serve cocktails to friends and neighbors.
seeking NOT trendy but tasty, in SF
Zuni. Nice service, very Californian, and they have valet parking.
Red Lentils?
I bought some red lentils because the color is so lovely (to go with a nice onglet and brussels sprouts cooked with mustard seeds and lemon zest), but now I'm wondering if there is any difference between cooking red lentils and the usual green or brown. Any suggestions would be welcome.
