Thanks everyone for your comments.

We went to 7th & Folsom Friday night, around 7 pm, but there was no Chez Spencer truck in the neighborhood.

It appears that the truck is stil operating, but may be on temporary hiatus. Chez Spencer's website has a page dedicated to Spencer on the Go, but it's primarily focused on Chez Spencer and its upcoming 10th anniversary celebration. Perhaps, since the chef is responsible for both venues, he's let the truck activities slide for now. Or maybe they've moved to Mission and Duboce.

Thanks, Robert, for the informal foie gras options. They'll be on the to do list before time runs out.

Is the Spencer on the Go food truck at 7th and Folsom every evening, year round? Unfortunately, the chef's recent tweets only refer to Chez Spencer, but not Spencer on the Go.

We are interested in getting some soon-to-be-scarce foie gras tonight without the formal restaurant vibe. Spencer on the Go food truck sounds perfect. It's been on our bucket list for a while, and we plan to be in the neighborhood tonight.

Sodini's very near Grant & Green in North Beach. They don't take reservations, but it's good old school Italian.

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Sodini's
510 Green St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Thanks fellow Chowhounds! As always, you came through with great suggestions.

Hi. Looking for a very good, casual, reasonably inexpensive (<$25) Sunday lunch with minimal wait near San Carlos or somewhere reasonably close (preferably North) on the penninsula. Open to any cuisine: dim sum, BBQ, Mexican, Burmese... A taco truck or other alternative dining option is A-OK.

Koi Palace will probably have an incredible wait.

What about Don Pico's in San Bruno? or Kabul Afgan in San Carlos?

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Koi Palace Restaurant
365 Gellert Blvd, Daly City, CA 94015

Don Pico's Restaurant
461 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066

One other thought for San Anselmo. Heidi Krahling (of Insalata) took over the Eat restaurant (formerly Ted's Bar) on Sir Francis Drake a month or two ago. It's supposed to have casual pub food. Not sure if it's open yet.

Finnegan's in Novato. Voted "best burger in Marin", and I agree. Nice atmosphere, good service. And if you want something sweet afterward, there's a Powell's next door.

Finnegan's in Novato. Perfect every time.

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Finnegan's Marin
877 Grant Street, Novato, CA 94945

Another casual, unfussy option is Market in St. Helena. The owners--until recently--also owned Cyrus in Healdsburg. Very good food, and reasonable prices (especially at lunch).

A second on Dos Hermanos in Vallejo. Was just there again on Saturday. The food is good, and they have picnic tables in the parking lot to enjoy your food. Very good; the carne asada on Saturday was tender and perfectly spiced.

I still prefer La Esparanza in Napa for two reasons: they have fish tacos and chorizo tacos (Dos Hermanos doesn't offer either), and I give cooking talent/edge to La Esparanza.

Agree with Dan. It's La Esparanza on Socol, facing south, very near McKinsitry. Their fish tacos, chorizo tacos are excellent.

You may want to consider Cook's Illustrated's 30-Minute Meals. Tasty dishes for basic--as well as foodie--palates.

You may want to consider A. Rafanelli, just west of Healdburg. Sounds like it would meet both your requirements. High quality Zin, Merlot & Cab, well priced. I'ts a free and private tasting, by appointment only (15 minute windows) in the barn with the barrels. Don't miss your time window, however.

Another spot is Sbragia Family Vineyards. Ed Sbragia is wine maker emeritus from Beringer (30 years or so), who started his own winery with his son Adam. Very good wines, free tastings if you have a Visa Signature card. And the view from the upstairs winery looking over the hillside is very nice.

Can't add the 2nd place link to Sbragga, but it is at 9990 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville, CA. Phone is 707-473-2992.

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A Rafanelli Winery
4685 W Dry Creek Rd, Healdsburg, CA

We were there just after they first opened. It was disappointing. Despite asking for an extra crispy crust, it was limp. A far cry from Pizzeria Picco or Gioia.

To be fair, they had just moved into the place. They may have been working out the kinks with the pizza oven or with new help.

Anna,

There's the Taco Truck (Tacos Sebastopol) near the Corte Madera Town Center - in the back parking lot of the gas station on the NE corner of Tamalpais & Madera. Very good chorizo & carnitas tacos. It doesn't get there until 1 or 2 in the afternoon, though.

There's a nice sushi restaurant in Novato, in the same strip mall as Costco, called Sushiholic. While that sounds like 3 strikes against it, the food is good - fresh and creative. Nice atmosphere inside and attentive service. The owner has another sushi restaurant in the Marina district of SF.

Might be worth a try next time you're at Costco or Target.

Thanks for the help; I'll try to hit them all in the next few months. Has anyone tried Betelnut's laksa?

We tried it once. Kind of an Italian family-style restaurant: lots of kids running around, a fireplace or two and live music. Everyone was having fun. But the food wasn't memorable. If I remember correctly, they serve gummi bears with the check or for dessert.

Cucina in San Anselmo is an oft-overlooked gem. Very good (but not "predictiable") Italian food, reasonably priced, with a terrific wine list. Every so often, they''ll offer a special 6 or 7 course dinner with a different wine paired with each course. Jack (the owner) really knows his wine. It's one of those consistently good neighborhood restaurants.Jack also owns Jackson Fillmore in SF.

Laksa Lemak

Any recommendations on good places for laksa?

A search on the board here only identified two potential spots: Betelnut (SF) and Jayakarta (Berkeley), but the reviews were rather limited.

I haven't had much luck with El Tonayense's tripe tacos.

If you're ever in the town of Napa, the best tripe tacos we've found are at the Tacos La Esperanza truck. They're crispy & perfect. Their chorizo is also very, very good. The truck is on Socal Street, facing south, about 1 block north of 1st street (not far from the ever-controversial Oxbow, Copia, etc.).

Yoshi's San Francisco might also be a nice spot.

Thanks! They both sound delicious; exactly what I was looking for.

Braised sribs are always popular - even the Top Chefs seem to make them a lot on the show.. You can do them ahead, and just warm them. They always taste better the second day.

We're going to a party this weekend, and the host has asked everyone to bring a tapenade for a blind taste-off. Being competitive, I'd like something that has a chance to take home the prize.

I just tried out a recipe that sounded great, but unfortunately, it wasn't anything special. Interestingly, all but one of my "go to" sources (plus the one I tried) have nothing on tapenade.

Have you been eating differently lately because of the economy?

A friend who works at one of those high-end cookware shops in an upscale neighborhod,says that sales are "going through the roof", Why? Because people have decided they don't want to spend money on/feel they can't afford the small luxuries of a fancy coffee drink or lots of restaurant meals. Instead, they're buying coffee/cappucino makers, slow cookers and waffle makers so they can treat themselves at home.

Has that been your experience?

Tacos Garcia does caterining. The truck is usually parked in Napa facing North on Soscol Ave, just North of 1st Street. The owner is Mario Medina, and his phone is 707-815-0443,

In addition, the southbound facing truck directly across the street, Tacos La Esperanza, may also do it (I have a slight preference for them over Tacos Garcia, but both are good). The owners are Rene & Erika Gonzales; their number is 707-246-4908

Scuffin is their "invention": part scone, part muffin.

Finnegans or Grazie! on Grant St in Novato OR Bombay Garden or Vin Antica on 4th St. in San Rafael.