rfneid's Profile
Wine Country: Ubuntu or Bistro Don Giovanni for dinner?
I keep reading about these tiny portions & leaving hungry & I just don't get it. On our last visit my wife & I spent about $70 (no wine) & left stuffed. I am a big eater, but not a vegetarian. There was plenty of food. And it was superb!
Name Change!! La Cenaduria de Ana = Santo Coyote
Thanks, Sarvey - on your recommendation I'll give it another try.
In response to Rachel Ray thread
Regardless of whether cellulose & potassium sorbate are chemicals or natural additives, green can "parmesan" is crap!
More CH demographics
Hipquest - You're dead on about the tomatoes. I've had good tomatoes - even real good - but not what I'd consider superb tomatoes since leaving the south. In addition to growing up in SC, I lived in Arkansas for about 14 years before moving to CA in 1986. I had a small (20 acre) farm in the Ozarks & grew superb tomatoes - as well as other produce. My wife is tired of hearing about the damn tomatoes.
Need Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Recs
I can't recommend any in SF, but my favorite is at Portumex on 23rd St. in Richmond. It's in a clear broth - shrimp I believe. I like the pulpo & camarrones combinacion.
Name Change!! La Cenaduria de Ana = Santo Coyote
It's really sad to hear this. As I said earlier, dishes could be a bit uneven, but this sounds beyond just uneven - it sounds like a major downhill alert. I'm particularly sad about the refritos & tortillas - they were always so delicious. I guess I won't go back.
More CH demographics
Candy -I've made the Rutledge recipe from HJ's cookbook also, & found it delicious. I think I have probably idealized Granma's spoonbread beyond the possibility of equaling it, so I suppose I should just enjoy the Rutledge Awendaw. Columbia is my hometown. I left in the early 60's, but returned a few years ago for the first high school reunion I'd ever been to. I took the opportunity to stock up on Anson Mills grits. They do set the standard. Hipquest - I remember the wonderful produce growing up in Columbia. There was a man with a horse & wagon that came through the neighborhood weekly. The wagon had tiered bins on each side filled with fresh produce from his farm. It was a sad day when he gave it up. There was a huge farmers market in downtown Columbia. My mother, grandmother, aunt & cousins used to go every fall & buy a variety of produce - okra, butter beans, green bean, etc. Then we'd all spend the rest of the day shelling beans, blanching things & getting everything ready for the huge freezer chest we had. It was not until I moved the the SF Bay Area that I found produce like that again.
sea salt on tables
I just shake a bit of salt from the dish into the palm of my hand & then sprinkle it with my fingers.
More CH demographics
I'm 64. I grew up in South Carolina. We lived with my grandmother when I was little. She was the cook - and an excellent one. I started hanging out in the kitchen with her when I was 5 or 6 years old. I've been cooking ever since. Being the oldest grandson, I was a favorite of hers & she loved having me in the kitchen. My regret is not having a record of her recipes. Her spoon bread was incredible. I've tried other recipes since, but haven't found anything that comes close. Maybe it's one of those false memory things - not really as good as you remember it being.
Name Change!! La Cenaduria de Ana = Santo Coyote
One day when I was there for lunch, two young men came in - one with a violin, one with a guitar. They played & sang (beautifully) while I was there. They never passed the hat, so were obviously doing it for fun. It was quite a treat.
I must say that Ruth's experience is not surprising. As with the fish, I've had other things (don't remember what) that were less that sterling.
Name Change!! La Cenaduria de Ana = Santo Coyote
You're right about the refried beans. They're wonderful. I love it that they give you a little bowl with your chips & salsa. I've had excellent mojarra frita there also. It's been a little uneven though - occasionally a bit over-cooked.
Wood countertops and This Old House
Check out the link below for great prices on maple tops.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/searchresults.aspx?q=workbench+tops
Do kitchen appliances really need to match??
I am in the high end residential construction business. It's rare to find clients who want all matching appliances. Most people (myself included) that we work for like to get exactly what they want in each appliance rather than getting something because it matches something else.
Coffee - American Roast?
Peet's roasts are very dark as a rule - almost burnt. If you're looking for a light roast I'd look elsewhere.
Requiring credit cards to confirm resos: is this common in SF? [moved from San Francisco board]
I can't recall ever being asked for a credit card number at Chez Panisse. I haven't been there in a few months. Is this new?
Online source for kitchen sinks?
We bought a Blanco Diamond silgranite sink from www.VidaVici.com. The price was less than from Expo (Home Depot's high end store), with shipping included. When it arrived is was damaged. I emailed them about the damage. They got back to me immediately, sent me a return shipping label, arranged to have the damaged sink pick up & shipped me a new sink - all within about a week. I highly recommend them.
Barbecue: let's dispel some myths
I couldn't disagree more. I grew up in South Carolina where the sauce is mustard based & very vinegary. I love it. And I'm far from alone in loving it. I can accept your not liking a vinegar based sauce - it's simply not your taste. I intensely dislike sweet BBQ sauces, but certainly understand that there are people who prefer them.
Water Cooler / Dispenser? [Moved from Not About Food board]
I would recommend an under-the-sink filter also. We installed an Aquasana filter (highest rated by CR at the time) a few years ago, & as you say, a couple of filter changes per year & that's it. Aquasana has a program that automatically sends you new filters every six months, which also serves to remind me to change them. We're much happier with it than the bottled water we had previously (& I don't have to lug those heavy bottles in from the front porch).
Blancodiamond Silgranit Sink - comments?
We put one (charcoal color) in this fall during our kitchen remodel & love it. We just clean it with a sponge. It doesn't get as nasty looking as our old SS sink did. I think you'll be very happy with it.
Pomegranate - Berkeley
We've had a number of really enjoyable meals at Pomegranate. One dish that stands out was a celery root stuffed with a lamb/rice mixture. God, it was good. I've never seen it since. I asked the owner about it & he said he had trouble getting the proper size celery roots. That seems unlikely, but there you go. If you ever see it on the menu, get it.
Best Service You Ever Had
The best I've ever had was at Commander's Palace in New Orleans. It was almost like slight-of -hand. Our wine glasses stayed full without our realizing someone had re-filled them - that sort of service. I think we had 3 servers, but you really didn't realize they were there. It was absolutely seamless.
Looking for fried catfish in the East Bay
I've only been able to find fried fillets locally. In the south, where I grew up (particularly in Arkansas where I lived for many years), the standard is fried steaks. There's no comparison in succulence. Anyone know a place that serves fried catfish steaks?
03/08 I'm A Cindy Groupie but We won't return to Mustard's? Oh nooo, Mr. Bill....
Opinionatedchef.....hmmm - appropriate handle. After reading your Ubuntu post, I'd appreciate a review of a place you actually like. That would be valuable for comparison purposes.
Ikea dutch oven - steam escaping
If no steam could escape the pot would explode. A little steam is fine.
