nerdigrrl's Profile
Report: Newish Alameda Breakfasts
have you tried Blue Dot on Encinal and Chestnut?
They have a wide selection of housemade baked goods (I'm crazy for their sweet and savory scones, the most tender I've ever purchased!). They also have egg plates when one is hankering more substantial breakfasts.
Marshmallow swirl in ice cream--need a recipe
I've tried Alton Brown's marshmallow recipe (sugar & gelatin, no eggs) and thought they were easy and great! I remember thinking while whipping the sugar it looked like "fluff" and was not convinced it would solidify to cut into cubes. (it did, after cooling overnight)
Can you substitute agar agar for the gelatin, and maybe only use half the amount to have a less solid product?
Where to buy a whole pig?
Cash n Carry in Oakland had a sign for whole pigs for sale (a variety of sizes too, I think). Maybe this is not particular to just the Oakland store.
Filipino Bakery on Peninsula
there's a place in Daly City, on Mission, south of John Daly Blvd.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/742162
ISO of Giant Cupcake in San Francisco
how about Berkeley?
http://www.virginiabakery.com/specialtycakes.php
Need Chinese or Asian lunch rec's near new job in West Berkeley
If you're venturing to Oak Chinatown, then I'd head a little farther south to the Jackson exit and get pho at Ao Sen. They have a tiny parking lot. Get there early though--they get a big lunch rush.
Best milkshakes in the Bay Area?
i really dig the combination flavors at Pearl's: mmmm...chocolate, peanut butter!
Philly Express opens in Alameda [split from Yo Philly thread]
a new cheesesteak shop has opened up in Yo Philly's spot: Philly Express. I haven't tried it yet, but the menu looks pretty similar.
Philly Cheese Steak?
Yo Philly's imports its bread and has Little Debbie's snack cakes. Their sammies are much better than the Cheesesteak Shop.
Crema, West Berkeley
The update as of yesterday is that they are aiming for mid-Feb, 2011 for Alameda's opening.
I've been stopping in for a coffee and breakie on my way to work and am happy to report that they have restarted baking savory breakfast pastries: chedder and scallion muffins and pine nut and basil scones. Their cooked breakfast menu looks yummy, but it takes 5-10 min (even the oatmeal) for an order so make more time than you would for BBW's cafe. However, you can call ahead so that your order is ready when you arrive.
Their menu is on their Facebook page. I keep trying for their potato pancake breakfast, but it sounds like they're not prepped for it until ~8.30am
Looking for a Puerto Rican Sandwich de Churrasco
ooh...I also saw that episode and began drooling.
any one? esp, East Bay?
Patio Filipino Review (San Bruno)
they only had Pancit Bihon or Canton (or a mix of the two) available.
Patio Filipino Review (San Bruno)
Had a great meal there this past Saturday.
The decor was nice without trying too hard to be upscale. Service could be more attentive-- pretty much had to wave waitstaff over for everything aside from the menus. Plus I thought reasonably priced for the food quality and atmosphere.
Starters:
chicharon bulaklak--the chicharons were delish. Very crispy and well paired with the vinegar and onion sauce. I wish I could get past the whole intestine thing though.
tokwa't baboy--the tokwa't baboy was also great. Good acid and bite in the vinegar and soy sauce with onions and chiles. Also the first of many dishes topped with the salty goodness of lechon-like chunks.
main:
bangus sinigang--yummy! great balance of umami (patis?) and sour (tamarind)
adobong kangkong--great texture still on the kangkong (tender, yet still toothsome) but I thought the adobo sauce was overkill, plus I didn't like the gelatinized texture of the sauce. This dish also included chunks of lechon.
kare kare--very nutty (YUM!!). maybe they use ground peanuts rather than overly sweet, commercial peanut butter. the beef was very tender. and the bagoong was not straight out of the jar--not overly salty or funky, probably sauteed with onions and pork.
escabeche--fish fillets were nothing special, but the sauce was nice with a light bite of spice from the chili peppers
pork sisig--my husband was disappointed that there was no eyelashes to be found (he prefers the more authentic version with the whole head). It was moist and salty. I think the egg provided that texture the offal can give the dish without (my) fear of chomping down on non-muscle bits. We would have liked more onion and chilis.
binagoongan rice--I was so excited to top my bagoong craving with this rice dish. As to be expected, it's pretty intense so I had to eat twice as much rice throughout my meal. This one to savor on its own, and plain steamed rice to accompany the sauces of all the other dishes. Unfortunately, I do prefer the version on Tribu Grill--more toppings and more sporadic bites of funk (mmm...) rather than throughout. (plus, dish #3 topped with lechon)
Bottom line: great meal. definitely exciting menu. nice space, but make reservations because it's quite busy (nice to see non-Filipinos enjoying the food). definitely want to come again and tour more of the menu. and I may suggest skipping ordering lechon, you'll still get your fix of salty, crispy, "buttery" pork via other dishes.
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Patio Filipino
1770 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066
Tribu Cafe
6501 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94608
ISO Cha Ca in/near Oakland
Now living in the East Bay, we no longer can make it to Bodega Bistro nor Turtle Tower for their Cha Ca. Do you have a place I can sooth my craving for Cha Ca Hanoi?
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Bodega Bistro
607 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Turtle Tower Restaurant
631 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109
Ippuku - Izakaya in Berkeley
do they take reservations? does anyone have their phone #? i can't find it on their website.
Best to-go fried chicken in Oakland / East Bay?
Culina's in Alameda's Marketplace also has fried chicken. Though, they only fry once in the morning, so it won't be hot. I love it cold still. And you should place an order ahead of time to guarantee your needs.
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Culina
1650 Park St, Alameda, CA
Fried chicken in Oakland?
FYI, Scends is only open afternoon/evenings--so no lunch chicken.
I have to also throw in my 2 cents for the fried chicken at Culina Deli (in Alameda's Market Place). Unfortunately, it's only fried in the morning (so they can fry those awesome onion threads, etc during lunch and dinner service) but they hold up well in the frig and reheat well in the toaster oven. Plus to differ from BSB's sammie, they have a fried chicken sandwich fried to order, topped with cheese and ham.
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Culina
1650 Park St, Alameda, CA
Pondering the French Laundry--what season to go?
Figuring I'll only have one chance in my lifetime to dine at the French Laundry (expense and effort), I'm thinking the time to try is for my 40th bday! However, then I was thinking perhaps early September is not the best time of year to savor the artistry of ingredients. So then should I instead push for my life's one visit to be in spring (mid-April) for our 10th wedding anniversary? (haha, clearly I'm considering the FL to be a special occasion restaurant)
My question to you Chowhounds--those who've dinned at chez Keller and those who are informed on the seasonality of the land and sea--which is the more flavorful and/or interesting time to dine at the French Laundry? Spring or late summer/early fall?
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The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Lard at Berkeley Bowl West
Mi Tierra has the brown, rendered pork lard. Check butcher section
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Mi Tierra
2096 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA
Need Ideas for East Bay Event
how about Pacific Coast Brewery in Old Oakland? beer and food!
ISO fruit pie in Berkeley
Help! In an attempt to counter the gloom of this stormy Monday, I need an anti-depressent in the form of a fruit pie. Can you recommend a good bakery in the Berkeley area that I might swing by after work?
Lard at Berkeley Bowl West
ooh...on second thought, I may have seen it in the refrigerated cases across from the butcher counter--where the lox and sausage are displayed.
Lard at Berkeley Bowl West
don't know if it's at BBW, but I'm sure I've seen it just north at Mi Tierra on San Pablo near University.
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Mi Tierra
2096 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA
Chilaquile Tour --> SF and East Bay.
I like the chilaquiles verdes at Mi Gruillense on Fruitvale (the restaurant and bar, not the truck), just east of International. They're wet but not runny. yummm...
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mi-grullense-restaurant-and-tequila-bar-oakland
Source for *real* Canadian bacon (back bacon) or Irish bacon in San Francisco?
I used to get back bacon from the butcher section at Tower Market (nee Molly Stones) on Twin Peaks/Diamond Heights years ago.
Good eats in Alameda?
If you're going to leave the island for pho, my favorite is Ao Sen on 2nd and International. Delicious, rich, clean broth. Their Bun Bo Hue is also amazing. Plus this place has a few northern dishes (bun cha Hanoi) that aren't widely available.
Where to get white wine vinegar (bulk) for pickling in SFBay Area?
nope, at least the Oakland/Jack London Sq one is open to the public. I go often for party shopping.
Non-Vietnamese places with good Vietnamese Iced Coffee
I enjoy the iced coffee from The Beanery in Alameda's Marketplace. Strong, rich, and fast.
Where to get white wine vinegar (bulk) for pickling in SFBay Area?
or Cash and Carry. They had Four Monks vinegar.
Cheez Waffies at Yo Philly in Alameda
no tables. maybe those tiny counters against the window?
