Sauce is not worth the price on any night, DAT or not. The food is subpar.

Thanks for giving me perspective Cher Martin. Best advice I've heard :).

BTW, I did snag a "reservation" at L'Atelier Joel Robuchon, but will leave the rest to our whims. Thanks everybody! (Yes, I know I'm in for a wait at Robuchon.)

To each his/her own.

I actually take my orzo and boil it in chicken broth, not water. This infuses it with some wonderful flavor and you can use it in a frittata recipe or even a pasta salad. It makes it taste wonderful.

For a great pasta salad, boil the orzo in chicken broth until done (just follow the directions on the package. It looks like rice but cooks like pasta, so don't worry). Then drain and let cool. Make the dressing with some olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and fresh lemon juice. Toss with the orzo, along with some halved cherry tomatoes, canned corn, chopped scallions, and chopped basil. It stores well and can be served at room temp or chilled. It tastes fresh, not heavy at all. You can also add chopped chicken or canned tuna for extra protein if you wish.

I love his new show. It's shot so beautifully and they've done a wonderful job of making it feel personal, intimate, and natural. So different from all the overproduced, cheesy cooking shows that are on the Food Network right now. I'm frankly surprised they decided to air something like this! And Jamie's dishes are unpretentious and look delicious.

I say more shows like this would be a welcome change for the FN! But I hear that's not the direction they're going in. What a shame.

I've always believed Mesa was overrated and their service terrible. This confirms I'm not alone. How many times can you hear about Flay using blue corn or chipotles?

I'll be heading to Paris for the first time and have seen fpur restaurants/cafes repeatedly in guide books. I'm not looking for an overpriced & overhyped tourist spot, but an authentic, enjoyable, elegant experience that won't break the bank.

Are these worth all the hype?...Or should we skip them for someplace else?... I'm staying in the 18th Arrondisment but plan on hitting St. Germain de Pres and other areas.

- Les Deux Magots
- Laduree
- Cafe de Flore
- L'Entrecote

And any suggestions for restaurant(s) that "cannot be missed"?

We headed to Jack Falstaff for lunch and were pleasantly surprised with the service, food, and decor. We had a wonderful Leek Soup, Fried Chicken Breast w/Braised Cabbage & Barley, and finished with Cinnamon Sugar Donuts w/Creme Anglaise and Raspberries.

The walls were covered with beautiful mint green suede and dark wood accents. We had a very nice lunch experience there.

Our first choice was One Market for DAT, but after seeing their menu, we were totally uninspired to go... http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/din...

So, we headed to Jack Falstaff instead, which we never would have considered otherwise. We were pleasantly surprised by the service, DAT selection, and decor. I'd highly recommend it.

(The Fried Chicken Breast w/Barley & Braised Cabbage is pictured.)

Well I can only speak about Perbacco and I whole-heartedly agree. It's an exceptional restaurant. The list also inspires me to try out a few restaurants that weren't already on my radar. Would love to try SPQR.

The Counter has far and away, the worst service I've ever experienced at a restaurant. And for the price, the food is definitely not worth it and way overpriced. Go with Jeffrey's. Their service and food are great.

I would stay away from LuLu since it's loud there no matter where you're sitting. And E&O's food is lackluster. Have you thought about Incanto (private room and a celebrity chef), Presidio Social Club (good parking situation), or even Foreign Cinema? All have better food and a better atmosphere IMHO.

In general, and as evidenced with this thread, northern Chinese dishes are more "doughy" with noodles, bao (buns), dumplings, and richer braised dishes with meats. Southern Chinese food is more stirfries and rice based.

As Pincho mentioned earlier in this string, the Pinole councilmember was recently getting some bad press for his personal association with the restaurant he reviewed on the show.

All the more reason for the producers to do a little more homework on "special" guests before deciding to book them. There IS a difference between a higher profile guest than many of us ordinary folk.

Pincho posted earlier about the Pinole city councilmember's/former mayor's part in some financial issues surrounding the restaurant he reviewed on the show, so that gives another reason why local "celebrities/well known" types should be used with caution. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

Pincho: "You'd think they'd at least make sure the guests don't have financial/personal connections to the owners before moving ahead on a selection." Another bad move on the part of the producers.

Thanks for the tip Karen! I wonder if the one in Hillsdale has the same deals. Guess I'll have to go and check it out :).

I constantly question the "guests" they've chosen to appear on the show. So many of them are possibly biased or are television personalities. (Like the former mayor of Pinole that has been mentioned, Stanley Roberts from KRON, and Liam Mayclem from KPIX.) The whole point of this show was to have regular "common-folk" come on the show and casually discuss opinions about their fave eateries. Higher profile people who already have a built in larger audience like local politicians and television personalities should be used on this show with great caution. It's because of it that I've stopped watching and no longer trust the production value of the show at all.

I am so disenchanted with this network. Everyone is an "entertainer" as opposed to being a true chef. It's gone so far downhill. I guess it's time for them to move on beyond Emeril (and Mario's gone too), but I don't have much hope for what they've got coming... (Especially if it's got anything to do with Guy, Sandra, Rachael, Bobby, or Paula.)

Here's an idea... Highlight the food, concentrate less on the obnoxious "talent!"

I know this sounds obscure, but of all places, I've found some harder to find (but totally lower end dime store-ish) candy bars at Wishbone in San Francisco on the corner of Irving and 7th Ave. I know they're a fun gifts store, but they've got some great retro candies. I always head there when I'm in the mood for some Fruit Stripe gum or Charms fruit candies. They may have Necco wafers and I bought a SkyBar there once.

-----
Wishbone
601 Irving St, San Francisco, CA

For those of us poor saps who love dairy, but our bodies don't (allergic or lactose intolerant), we can once again enjoy egg nog!!!

I just tried the Silk brand Soy Egg Nog, and it's just fantastic. It's creamy, spicy, and delicious hot OR cold. It tastes almost like there's a chai element to it.

They also have a Pumpkin Spice flavored nog, but it tastes more like the pumpkin pie's crust than the pumpkin filling.

Anyways, feel free to share if you too have tried it. Yay!

I LOVE NapaStyle's Lavender Honey. It's so fragrant, floral, and brings a great flowery note to everything you add it too. I know lavender honey is no big revelation, but this one is worth noting. So wonderful in tea. NapaStyle is Michael Chiarello's brand. www.napastyle.com

And I'm going to Paris next year and can't wait to go to the Maison du Miel (House of Honey). I've heard great things about that place. Anyone been?...

Zabars! If you're not from NYC, they are an institution there! Fabulous lox and bagels too, and it's all available through their mail order catalog and online. And their rugalach is fresh baked and terrific. You can't go wrong.

www.zabars.com

I have always adored Town Hall, but there are certain dishes that are better than others. Love the ham and egg toast with jalapeno cream to start, fried chicken entree, and butterscotch/chocolate pot de creme. You have to LOVE super rich comfort foods (nothing delicate here) and be prepared for a noisy, lively experience because of the space.

If that's not your thing, go to Sociale, which is my other fave restaurant in SF. Their ambience is relaxed, classic, and food is very tasty. I'd suggest sitting outside (they have heat lamps and it's covered) for maximum effect. The place is known for their outdoor atmosphere and it's just lovely. I have a hard time believing they have no more tables, so check out www.opentable.com like others have suggested, and give them a call as well.

I wrote reviews on both restaurants on my blog:

http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2007/03/18/my-new-favorite-restaurant-original-post-jan-28-07/

http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2007/0...

If you're willing to drive up to San Mateo, Heidi's Pies on El Camino does every pie you can think of, including Pumpkin. And they do many of them very very well.

I usually don't have a trouble with street parking during dinner, but I'm not sure what the area will be like for lunch.

Fried Olives are a must order for an appetizer. Bone Marrow dish is another option for a more daring appetizer.

Their pastas are really good because I believe their housemade. The Spinach Fettuccini and Pappardelle are really good. The chef uses a lot of what's in season, so it'll always be fresh and tasty.

Check out this link to Open Table's Thanksgiving reservations. All sorts of restaurants in the Peninsula are highlighted.

http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?m...

Ristorante Don Giovanni in Mountain View on Castro is also serving their annual Free Turkey Meal on Thanksgiving from 11am-4pm. They've done it for 5 years as a thank you to their customers, and yes, it's absolutely free.

Agreed, I would recommend clay pot dishes and cantonese BBQ deli meats like roasted duck, char siu, and soy sauce chicken, roast pig. All those dishes, when done well, over rice or rice noodles, are some of my favorite lunch options.

And clay pots (like the classic salted fish with chicken and tofu or other meat) are great on a chilly evening with a bowl of rice. One of my faves.

And once you've gone through all those...there's always Shanghainese food (love it!!!).

I feel your pain... I have a few suggestions...

Take to heart the suggestions others have provided regarding sheep and goat's milk cheeses. I can't eat cow's milk cheese (boo), but have settled for goat's milk cheeses instead. It has a totally different flavor, but can be used to substitute cow's milk cheese in some recipes.

Secondly, Lactaid pills don't do the job for me (I do indulge occasionally and pay for it!). So I'd suggest natural enzyme digestion pills. You can find these at Whole Foods in the supplements section. They also have natural papaya enzyme digestion pills, which help break down foods that are harder to digest. Both these options are all natural and have worked wonders for me. Take 2 pills right before you eat.

And lastly, I have just discovered the best yogurt alternative in the world! I love this stuff better that regular milk yogurt! It's soy yogurt! And not just any brand because some of them are nasty. Try the Silk brand of soy yogurt. You'll love it! Great creamy texture, great subtle flavor, affordable (you can find these at Whole Foods for less than a buck), and you get those active cultures that are good for someone who has lactose intolerance!

There is life with "cow's milk" intolerance... Just takes a little work and shopping at stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and other alternative stores with a better selection than classic chain grocery stores. And "cheating" only from time to time, isn't a sin :).

More power to you Fuser! I totally love food and call myself a foodie, but I'm not a drinker for various reasons. True, I may be missing a different element of fine dining, but I don't ever feel like I'm missing out or that I'm not a foodie because I don't do a wine pairing. And don't let others tell you different!

You get a kitchier menu and decor at Ana Mandara. Bong Su is much more sophisticated and a more modern innovative menu. Depends on what you're looking for. But my preference is Bong Su.