kzukor's Profile
Best ice cream 2011
It's not ice cream, but Scream Sorbet in Oakland is amazing. The spicy pecan chocolate, the peanut sesame, the rhubarb, the guava ...
Scream Sorbet
5030 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, CA 94609
(510) 394-5030
Seeking Eggplant Sandwich in East Bay
I would like to have an eggplant sandwich for lunch in the Berkeley/Oakland area. I would particularly like roasted eggplant, but would be willing to try other variations.
Suggestions?
Jury Duty in Hayward - Where to eat lunch?
My husband has been sentenced to jury duty at the Hayward Courthouse ( 24405 Amador Street,
Hayward, California 94544.) Any suggestions of where to eat lunch nearby?
One Great San Francisco Fine Dining Experience?
I would go to Atelier Crenn. The techniques are one part of what makes it such a different dining experience. It's not hype; they are actually using different methods, things that you can't easily do at home. The wine pairings are also good and interesting.
Please help us get excited about SF again! (a little long)
My two best meals were also at Cotogna and Atelier Crenn!
What happened to Rocky's Hamburgers?
Rocky's is still closed, now through lunch on Wednesday. No explanation is posted beyond the note from last Friday. Phone is answered by a recording just giving hours and location.
What happened to Rocky's Hamburgers?
I tried to go to Rocky's Hamburgers tonight (2929 Shattuck, Berkeley), and it was closed during its normal opening hours. There was a small sign in the window dated Friday saying it was closed, but nothing mentioning any other days. Anyone know what happened? Will it reopen?
Pomegranate molasses in SF?
Pomegranate molasses is available at Berkeley Bowl (east.)
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Berkeley Bowl
2020 Oregon St, Berkeley, CA 94703
Old Jerusalem or Truly Mediterranean?
I want to eat Mediterranean food in the Mission on Monday night. Old Jerusalem or Truly Mediterranean? I like baba gnoush, hummus and falafel.
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Truly Mediterranean
3109 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Old Jerusalem
2976 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Cotogna review
A friend from out of town specifically asked to go to Cotogna, so we went last night. My overall impression was very good. The dishes were all good, and the gnocchi were the best I've ever had.
We started with the house made ricotta with wild mushroom crostini. The ricotta was to die for. My companion ended up wiping out every little last bit with his finger, because it was too good not to. How did they do it? Special high fat producing cows? Where has this ricotta been all my life? It was nicely complimented by the mushrooms and bread.
Then we had the rosemary gnocchi with braised duck. The best gnocchi ever. They were so pillowy, you wanted to take them home and sleep on them. The accompanying simple duck sauce was great with them. We like this dish so much, we considered ordering another round, but (barely) managed to contain ourselves.
Next up was the garganelli with rabbit, chanterelles & artichokes. This was a very nice pasta dish, with a nice sauce. In another meal, it might have been a stand out, because it really was quite good, but we were so smitten with the ricotta and the gnocchi, it was hard to get our attention.
However, the spit roasted pork with wild fennel & hot pepper managed to grab us. It was again a question of how did they do it? How did they manage to get all that fennel flavor to perfectly blend into the pork? Did they feed not only the pig itself, but its mother and several generations of pigs back solely on fennel? And how did they know that fennel and pork go perfectly together? There was not one thing wrong with this dish. I want to eat it again right now.
Some restaurants don't really seem to get dessert. It's just an afterthought for them. The bònet with caramel & amaretti crumble was OK, but why not just call it almond flan, and get on with your day? They were already out of the panna cotta by 8:30, and the gelato of the day was vanilla. So, Cotogna, some work could be done in this department.
Generally, really good, though! Two thumbs up!
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Cotogna
490 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
Where to buy Calvados in the East Bay?
Thanks! I went to Ledger, got my Calvados, and lived happily ever after.
Where to buy Calvados in the East Bay?
Where can I buy Calvados (the apple brandy from France) in the East Bay?
Thanks!
Suggestions for a Fondue restaurant in Paris?
Where exactly did you have that "best fondue ever" ? (I am presently in Geneva.)
Where to buy Ceylon cinnamon?
My health nut father insists on Ceylon cinnamon (aka cinnamomum verum, or cinnamomum. zeylanicum), which he consumes daily. He says most cinnamon is a different plant. Where can I get this "real" cinnamon, preferably near Berkeley?
Valentine's Day Dinner in East Bay?
Thanks everyone! It turns out that restaurants whose web site says they are closed, are actually open. I scored a reservation at Eve in Berkeley, which I have been wanting to try. But I appreciate all the suggestions. (By the way Digs is also full.)
Valentine's Day Dinner in East Bay?
B (and Eve in Berkeley) are usually closed Sundays, and nothing on their web sites indicates an exception. But I'll look into Hibiscus. Thanks!
Valentine's Day Dinner in East Bay?
Have sitter, now need reservation. Can you recommend a good place for a dinner on Valentine's Day (Sun Feb 14)? Lots of places I called are already full. (Rivoli, Oliveto, Lalime's, A Cote, Wood Tavern) We live in Berkeley, and don't want to drive too far.
Thanks!
What are the most popular, limited-supply food items in SF?
Just found this old thread. I can't believe no one mentioned Berkeley Buns at the Cheeseboard! Only made on Tuesdays. They start coming out at about 10 AM, and are gone by 11:30.
Cheesy, curry, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and always hot (because the minute they out them out, people pick them up.)
Pre-theater dinner in Mill Valley Sep 3rd
Berkeley couple going on a rare, kid-free jaunt to Mill Valley for a pre-Throckmorton theater dinner on Thursday September 3rd. Where should we go? We're willing to splurge. We like fish/poultry (not so much beef or pork) and eat all kinds of food. Proximity to the theater a plus, but food quality much more important. (So we don't have to find two places, and have a little more time to eat.)
East Bay Calamaretti Fritti?
I've been craving calamaretti fritti (fried calamari), and live in Berkeley. What's the best place to go? I'd prefer not to drive across the bridge.
Karen
Blackberry honey at Berkeley Bowl
The excellent California Blackberry honey is back at Berkeley Bowl! I hadn't found it in months, and I happened to be out of honey, so I was doubly lucky.
Karen
ISO Wildflower Honey
Berkeley Bowl does (at least sometimes) have "California Honey Blackberry" in medium sized plastic bulk containers (not in a dispenser.) It's complex and strong. I really like it. Mine is dated 3/20/08.
Where should my family eat near Green Valley, AZ?
Two adults (adventurous eaters) and two children (sadly unadventurous) will be staying in Green Valley to attend a nearby family reunion. Where should we eat? We are willing to drive 20 minutes or so.
Foodie from Berkeley, CA
What to Order at Bakesale Betty's
After reading about it here, I went to Bakesale Bettty's this morning. I found it a little disorienting. Is there a menu or board listing what they have? Yes, there were some paper signs arbitrarily placed on the walls or windows listing individual items, but nothing coherent. Are those the specials or is that really how you find out what they have? Since I could see them there in front of me, I had a pear ginger scone and a walnut chocolate chip cookie. The scone was great. The cookie was dry. But I suspect my order didn't to the place justice, so I turn here for guidance.
Karen
challah in the Tiburon or Bay Area
The best challah in the Bay Area is at Acme Bread in Berkeley. They make it on Friday and Saturdays. (and I've tried Semifreddis', the Grand Bakery, the Cheesboard, and even my own ;-)
1601 San Pablo Ave
Berkeley, CA 94702
Green Valley (near Tucson) Restaurants?
We will be staying in Green Valley (near Tucson) in late April. The boards list all kinds of recommendation for Tucson proper, but most are far from Green Valley. Any recommendations for Green Valley or the surrounding area? We are two adults and two kids, but are open to a variety of cuisines and price levels.
Karen Zukor
Report on Canteen and Rivoli
Canteen: Well, it's cute and they're really trying, but it's not quite there yet.
Starters:The pumpkin seed soup was creamy and delicious, but the quail with quince and lentils was a disappointment. The lump of quince puree and the quail pieces were just plopped on top of the lentils, but the flavors didn't really mesh. Also, the quail looked anemic, not nicely browned, as it should be.
Entrees: The ling cod with fennel was amazing! The crispy, vibrant, tangy almost citrusy flavor of the fennel perfectly complimented the impeccably cooked fish, with the lovely jus soaked up by the bright green chard. The fennel cod was the outstanding dish of the meal. But our other main was a flop. It was lamb, but the chunks lacked any lamb flavor what so ever, were uniformly gray (Canteen just didn't seem to know how to brown meat.), and tough. They were accompanied by sauce, vegetables and olives, in some unmemorable, arbitrary combination, and a maybe couscoue that I am happy not to recall too clearly.
Dessert: We ordered the hyped vanilla soufflé, and learned what we should have known. Vanilla soufflé is bland. The chocolate mousse-like desert was fine, but standard. Our thought was: good, finally some flavor.
Rivoli: A really lovely meal.
(We skipped the starters.)
Entrees: Lamb, the way it should be. Medium rare, browned crust, but a with a juicy pink center so tender you could cut the slices with the side of your fork. The lamby flavor nicely mingled with the pomegranate sauce. The potato pouf was meaningless, but hardly mattered, and was the only element of the meal I would quibble with. Our second entree was the butternut squash torta with chestnuts and mushrooms. The rich preparation of the sweet squash and earthy mushroom combined into just what you wanted to eat on a winter night.
Dessert: The chocolate budino was also just what I wanted, warm, melty and chocolatey. Not anything new perhaps, but I am a sucker for chocolate. The sorbets were also nice, but also standard. But Rivoli's standards are high!
