Dan Wodarcyk's Profile
Where can I buy authentic Spanish chorizo please?
Agreed on Fatted Calf's Spanish chorizo.
Suggestions for tea?
Up until now, we've ordered tea, in small bulk, from Seattle Teacup. Great variety, but going out of business. Is there a good tea shop, leaf, that anyone suggests? Black flavored/spiced is the preference. Here in Napa we've got Tillerman, Peets, but not up to the quality of what we ordered from Seattle. Anywhere in the Bay area works. Thanks.
Where can I find the best sushi in San Francisco?
"Fresh" is a given, what cuts did they serve?
Kuruma Zushi vs. Shinbashi vs. ?
Made it back to Yasuda last week, first time since he left, and it was as good as when he was present. To the original poster's request, though late last year, very much on par with Sushi Zo in LA.
good sushi party platter in berkeley/oakland?
"Sushi and platter" go together as well as "sushi and buffet"
Where can I find the best sushi in San Francisco?
Ino in Japantown. Strictly nigiri. Farther afield, Hana in Rohnert Park is my favorite as far as variety, cutting technique, rice prep. NY and SF sushi do not compare. Places like Yasuda and Gari, 15 East, are much better. LA has the best in my opinion, on the west coast, Zo in particular. When it was open, Sushi Sho in Albany. I prefer Sakai in Burlingame over Sam's.
"Nice" Mexican in SF
La Condesa, St. Helena....no where near the city but the best upscale Mexican I've had outside of Frontera Grill....deep tequila list, which many of the above do not have
Napa Wineries Near Downtown?
Not familiar with the Coombsville area? Very close to downtown, still in the town of Napa and showing off some great terroir. Charmless? Maybe, but stellar wines.
http://www.calwineries.com/explore/regions/napa-valley/coombsville
http://www.palmazvineyards.com/
http://www.ghosthorseworld.com/#home
5 Days in NYC on a budget
As I said, you can dine at Noodle Bar for $50 for 2, sans drinks.
5 Days in NYC on a budget
For $50, without wine/beer, you could do well at Momofuku, Noodle Bar. Just went tonight and dined very well for less than $100 including drinks for 2.
-----
Momofuku Noodle Bar
171 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Jiro Dreams of Sushi - the movie.
Not at all. It wasn't until after I saw the film that I learned that non Japanese speakers are not welcome at his restaurant, if that's true.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi - the movie.
Saw this a few weeks ago at the Napa Film Festival. It was beautifully filmed and inspires one to go there, or I guess as a foreigner to his son's place. As a sushi lover and having been to a few of the best in the US, it didn't teach me anything new about sushi, rice, types of fish, but it did offer more than a glimpse of his process. The scenes at Tsukiji were great.
Lobsters at 99 Ranch ...... $7.99/lb
Million dollar? Are they of good quality/taste? I've paid double the cost and had poor quality.
Hatch Chiles back
I've seen mixed recipes regarding the seeds. Keep all seeds, dispose of all seeds, keep some? Certainly adds to the heat, but I disposed of the bunch of seeds at the top near the stem yet kept the rest, in the salsa I made. Suggestions?
Hatch Chiles back
Found them at a Napa Lucky's today (north). Last year Nob Hill carried them. Scored the last 2 pounds (.97/pd) and wasted no time roasting them. More coming in tomorrow they told me.
Napa dinner picks- need suggestions/advice to narrow down the shortlist to 5!
There's high quality everything in NYC. I recommend Oenotri over Bottega. The tasting menu at MW was very generous. There is no way I could do a French Laundry tasting menu one night and Meadowood the next. So yes, for me it is a lot of food, 8-10 courses or so, which I cannot do that often. But worth the experience.
-----
The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Bottega
6525 Washington Street Suite A9, Yountville, CA 94599
Oenotri
1425 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
Napa dinner picks- need suggestions/advice to narrow down the shortlist to 5!
Quite a list. Reading your New York list makes me want to go back soon! Love Momofuku and 11MP. Have you been to WD50? I digress.
I agree, Meadowood for your bday dinner. Will be a special experience. I did the chef's tasting with wine pairing. 2nd best meal I've ever had in Napa, only to French Laundry.
Also agree that you should try Oenotri. Best restaurant in downtown Napa hands down.
Redd
Ubuntu
Ad Hoc
If you have a chance, check out the Oxbow Public Market. Fun selection of small places to try for lunch, including Hog Island Oyster. You might want to consider Bistro Jeanty in Yountville, possibly over Ad Hoc. But with those 5 you'll be very happy.
-----
Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558
The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Ad Hoc
6476 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599
Bistro Jeanty
6510 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Oxbow Public Market
610 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
Oenotri
1425 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
Best Pizza in San Francisco?
I have been a Tommaso's fan forever, but tried Tony's for the first time a few weeks ago and was blown away. I believe Robert gave a complete review of the depth of their menu/ovens/flour once, and it was on point. So, Tony's is a must.
going to U2 need decent restaurant berkley/oakland open all day
From the direction I'm coming they're perfect
going to U2 need decent restaurant berkley/oakland open all day
I was thinking Pizzaiolo but not open til 5:30. Cutting it too close? Otherwise Tacubaya or Picante.
-----
Pizzaiolo
5008 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Tacubaya
1788 4th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Picante
1328 6th St, Berkeley, CA 94710
napa alone for diner, where to go?
Sorry, cannot "third" Grace's Table. Many options though, especially if sitting at the bar works for you.
Napa: Zuzu, Morimoto, Angele, Oenotri (though the bar is small)
Yountville: Bistro Jeanty, Redd
St. Helena: Cook and I've heard Bar Terra is good but haven't been
-----
Bistro Jeanty
6510 Washington Street, Yountville, CA 94599
Oenotri
1425 1st St, Napa, CA 94559
Morimoto
610 Main Street, Napa, CA
Grace's Table
1400 2nd St, Napa, CA 94559
Upscale Saturday Lunch
Just returned from an amazing long weekend in New York, with Jean Georges for lunch on Friday. Best lunch deal, perhaps, in the City. The next day we did Bar Masa for lunch, a must stop for me on any trip there. I'm unsure if Yasuda is open on Saturday's for lunch.
-----
Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023
Bar Masa
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019
Rotisserie and Wine
My SO and I just visited Rotisserie and Wine a few nights ago. She loved the red quinoa and beet salad; a carryover from Ubuntu yet a more generous size.For my starter, I had the deviled eggs with the fried oyster, which was great. The cornbread sticks are amazing! I wasn't as happy with the cheese gourgeres, as everyone I talked to had been raving about them. The lamb rib dish was good, great curry flavor, but very rich. We threw in the towel early on that one. On a previous visit the rotisserie chicken was perfect. I should add, with all of the new restaurants in downtown Napa, and the very poor service of late at the big place next door, they've done a great job with their floor staff. Very professional and casual too.
-----
Ubuntu Restaurant & Yoga Studio
1140 Main Street, Napa, CA 94558
Oenotri for kids?
Been there. In and out quick, early is a good plan. They have a great staff to accommodate. I would not call it entirely kid friendly, but if it's your chance to enjoy the place then go for it at that time. Just put in a pizza order when you sit down if needed and then take your time with other courses.
great sushi in the Bay area?
Really enjoyed Sushi Sho and was only able to go once. I'd compare the experience similar to Ino Sushi, including the gruff chef, but both excellent.
All said, I've had much greater experiences with quality, variety, and cut in LA and New York, including Sushi Zo (LA, my newest favorite) and Sushi Yasuda (NY.)
-----
Ino Sushi
22 Peace Plz # 510, San Francisco, CA
SF Chron top 100 restaurants 2011
My thoughts on some that belong, mostly don't, although the do not's are quite good, just not top 100:
First off, anyone have a truck that belongs here? I don't, just curious.
Amber "token" India: there has to be better, same with Dosa
Bistro Don Gio: reliable, consistent, but tired
Angele: great to see back and well deserved
Morimoto: great review last summer, and also deserved, then, but I'm guessing he hasn't been back to see the serious decline in management and service
O'Chame: Oh why?
Sushi Ran: needs to get out of his comfort zone and visit some serious sushi places, like Sakae, Ino, Hana, Sam's
Va de Vi: again, why? has to get a Walnut Creek spot in there
great sushi in the Bay area?
I agree with Eugene that Sushi Monster has put together such a great list, albeit just peninsula, which includes the best, Sakae. In order of preference and having been to each in the past 2 months:
1. Sakae, although the size he was cutting to that day was uncommonly large, quality always exceptional
2. Hana, Rohnert Park, better and better each time I go, and a new sake sommelier who takes the experience to another level
3. Ino Sushi, in Japantown, not Mill Valley
4. Morimoto Napa, although the floor service has gotten worse on every visit. Sit at the sushi bar and deal with their pros
-----
Sakae
243 California Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010
Sushi Monster
955 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA
Ino Restaurant
25 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Morimoto
610 Main Street, Napa, CA
Pliny the Younger sightings, 2011
I'm a fan of their wings with "savage" sauce. Maybe the best ultra hot wings I've had in the Bay Area. Tried Younger for the first time the other day at RRBC and loved it, though I can't say their savage sauce goes well with it (which I know is not the point.)
Annalien Vietnamese in Napa--Review
Yes, I recently heard this. I understand their rent more than doubled, so they walked.
