Eating Out part V

Deoji bulgogi - Jang Su Jang

2012-02-25T16:51:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 52

So we had an early start today and went to the Gilroy Outlets to do some shopping for the cruise. I don't even want to add up all my charges but I ended up with 3 pairs shoes, 6 pairs of socks, 2 polo shirts, 1 tank top, 1 belt, 1 pair of swim trunks, and 2 pairs of underwear. Omg, I got a little out of hand. Then we stopped by Jang Su Jang on the way back home. Papa Chang recommended this restaurant and I'm glad that we went because it was SO good! It's in the middle of a shopping area on El Camino Real, but it's actually really nice inside. The service was friendly, the prices are great, and the food is of great quality. Go try it!

Spicy marinated pork with sliced onions and green onions, served with rice and broth. $13.99
Jang Su Jang, Santa Clara CA

Omg, this was so good! I love spicy pork bulgogi and this was a amazing, sizzling plate of it. This version was fancier because they also served you a big bowl of crusted rice with peas and a bowl of soup broth. I've never been served the broth with bulgogi before so I wasn't sure how to eat the whole thing.

We ended up just piling on spicy pork on top of the rice and pouring some of the broth over everything. Don't know if that's the right way, but we didn't worry too much about it. We just stuffed our faces, lol!

This broth was very flavorful, and it had slices of cooked radishes.

When the check arrived, it came with these cute bottled drinks. I'm not sure what they were, but they tasted great. It had a kind of citrus, fruity, flowery flavor. It says "Frozen Dessert" on the outside but it's some kind of juice.

The damage! We were SO full!

Toffee chip cookie - Anthony's Cookies

2012-02-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

I think this is my favorite flavor at Anthony's - it's SO nommy! I love the soft, chewy, sticky texture of this thin buttery cookie. Yes please! $1.25
Anthony's Cookies, San Francisco

Marinated grilled calamari - Fish & Farm

2012-02-25T09:56:00.000-08:00

With orange zest, garlic, shallots, parsley, olive oil, arugula and frisee. $12
Fish & Farm, San Francisco

This was SUPER good! When I read the menu item, I thought it was going to be more like calamari a la planxa - something whole and more dry. I was pleasantly surprised when this more salad-y dish arrived! I will say that there was A LOT of dressing on the squid, but I really didn't mind because it was so good. It's some of my favorite flavors and I'm gonna admit that I even used some bread to soak of the leftover dressing at the end, lol! The squid had a nice texture that wasn't rubbery and the dish was quite large for an appetizer portion, heck yeah! I would definitely order this again.

Bread and butter. Complimentary. Crusty bread with real butter = happy me!

Spicy ma po tofu - Xiao Long Bao Kitchen

2012-02-25T08:45:00.000-08:00

Tofu cubes with carrots and peas in a chili sauce. $6.95
Xiao Long Bao Kitchen, South San Francisco CA

Omg, this wasn't spicy AT ALL! I was so disapointed! And because they lined the container with some kind of fragrant leaf, everything started tasting like it. Yuck, I didn't like the smell of that leaf and the resulting aftertaste in the food. This dish sucked!

Classic chocolate chip cookie - Anthony's Cookies

2012-02-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

Ah, you really can't go wrong with a well-executed classic. This chocolate chip cookie is soft and chewy and oh so good! I swear there's a stick of butter in there! $1.25
Anthony's Cookies, San Francisco

Eggwich with ham - Posh Bagel

2012-02-24T12:05:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 51

It's Friday, Friday! Walked to Bart from Silverfox's this morning. I like that walk. It takes about 30 minutes to complete but it's a nice way to wake up and get the blood flowing in the morning. The only bad thing is that 16th Street in the Mission can smelled awfully funky in the morning, lol! It's gonna be a good day today, I can feel it. It's sunny and will get moderately warm, it's Friday, and I'm feeling good. I just hope the work day doesn't kill my positive mood.

Everything bagel sandwich with "scrambled" eggs, ham, and cheddar cheese. $4.59
Posh Bagel, San Francisco

This was pretty good and large, but I think that it's priced too high. I don't think anyone else charges almost $5 for a bagel sandwich. I always think that the microwaved eggs have a weird texture, but I kinda like it.

Autumn salad - Fish & Farm

2012-02-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

Red endive, frisee, red pear, candied walnuts, pomegranates, and Humboldt Fog goat cheese with mustard vinaigrette. Menu says $11 but receipt says $12 - BOO, LAME!!!
Fish & Farm, San Francisco

So the price discrepancy is totally lame! I don't know if the menu wasn't updated or out server was completely brain dead. I did mention during dinner that our server wasn't very good compared to the server at the next table. Ours didn't even give us the specials before we ordered. I didn't even know there were specials available until the server at the adjacent table told her guests! Whatevs, our server was definitely "slow", if you know what I mean.

This salad was tasty, but not very original.

Red bell pepper soup. Complimentary. I really liked this shot of free soup. It was hot and very flavorful.

Egg flower soup - Xiao Long Bao Kitchen

2012-02-24T07:13:00.000-08:00

Hot soup with egg and seaweed. Complimentary with lunch special.
Xiao Long Bao Kitchen, South San Francisco CA

This was a new one for me! I've never had a Chinese egg drop soup with seaweed in it. It wasn't bad, but just different. There was nothing else in there - no tofu or vegetables. Kinda weird, but not untasty.

Cookies and cream cookie - Anthony's Cookies

2012-02-23T17:41:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 50

So I biked to work this morning, and I was stupid and didn't eat anything after I got to work so I ended up being super tired and lethargic all day. I really should remember to eat something after an hour-long morning ride. And another downside was that I gave in to temptation and stopped by Anthony's Cookies on the way home. I was SO hungry!

I think this is their most popular cookie, and although it's very good, it's not my favorite. There's something about the texture that I don't particularly like. Or perhaps it's the extra greasiness of the cookie bits. You should try this, but I think you'll find that you like the other flavors better too. $1.25
Anthony's Cookies, San Francisco

With a small carton of 1% milk. $1.25

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2010, 2011, 2012

General Tso's chicken - Xiao Long Bao Kitchen

2012-02-23T15:32:00.000-08:00

Battered and deep fried chicken pieces in a special suace, with carrots and broccoli. Includes daily soup and steamed rice. Lunch special $6.50
Xiao Long Bao Kitchen, South San Francisco CA

Mmm. This totally fulfills my random cravings for salty, fatty, deep fried food. This was pretty tasty and the batter to chicken ratio was decent - more chicken than batter per bite. And you can't beat the price!

Vegetable deluxe - Sai Jai Thai Restaurant

2012-02-23T10:13:00.000-08:00

Sauteed fresh broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, and fried tofu with oyster sauce. We requested that they add chicken. $7.95
Sai Jai Thai Restaurant, San Francisco

Silverfox wanted something on the healthier side, so we ordered this vegetable dish and had some chicken added to it. It was pretty good but nothing spectacular. Hadn't eaten fried tofu in a while so this was a nice treat.

Tom yum gai - Sai Jai Thai Restaurant

2012-02-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

Spicy and sour soup with chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion, lemongrass and lime juice. $6.95
Sai Jai Thai Restaurant, San Francisco

This was tasty, but it arrived at our table barely warm! Not good. There's not as much flavor when it's cold and it starts tasting more sour for some reason. Also, I thought it was weird that the huge pieces of mushrooms and tomatoes were completely raw.

Salt cod fried rice - Mission Chinese Food

2012-02-22T15:11:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 49

Wow, it's finally warming up outside! I didn't have to wear a vest or jacket while out during the day today. Heck yeah! Now I'm totally motivated to kill it at the gym and to bike to work tomorrow morning. Papa Chang, Rapunzel and I are also gonna bike during lunch. I will get that cruise bod yet!

With escolar confit, Chinese sausage, egg, scallion. $10
Mission Chinese Food, San Francisco

Yum! But then again I like most things from Mission Chinese Food. I love the saltiness of this dish and the fatty sausage. It's kinda hard to find the fish (escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) among all the other ingredients but you can definitely taste it.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2012

Kao pad kor moo yang - Sai Jai Thai Restaurant

2012-02-22T12:47:00.000-08:00

Fried rice with egg and onion topped with grilled pork shoulder and chopped cilantro. Served with sliced cucumbers and a sweet chili fish sauce. $7.25
Sai Jai Thai Restaurant, San Francisco

This dish isn't what I expected. I thought that the pork would be cut up into little pieces and incorporated into the fried rice. Thank god it wasn't! This dish was SO good and it's really all about the pork. The the thick slices of grilled pork shoulder were SO flavorful and juicy. You can put it on top of anything and I would eat the entire plate. Noms!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2011, 2012

Caramelized olive oil cake - RN74

2012-02-22T11:12:00.001-08:00

With huckleberry, ginger, tarragon, olive oil ice cream. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

I didn't enjoy this dessert as much as I thought I would. I think there was too much olive oil flavors everywhere. I did like the huckleberries and the nice crunch of the yellow flake things. I wasn't a fan of the olive oil ice cream, but the olive oil cake was pretty good.

Meyer lemon cremeaux - RN74

2012-02-22T08:08:00.000-08:00

With pistachio streusel, kaffir lime meringue, citrus wedges, coconut-shiso sorbet, micro Thai basil. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

I enjoyed this dessert very much. It was very different and fresh tasting. I think my favorite components were the kaffir lime meringues and the cremeaux. It was mostly citrus flavors but the pistachio streusel helped to neutralize the acidity. I'm still on the fence about the coconut-shiso sorbet. Maybe that was a little too out there for me. Perhaps the flavor wasn't intense enough so it faded into the background.

Coffee. $3.50 per cup. Very cute service.

Cascade Mountain arctic char - RN74

2012-02-21T15:34:00.000-08:00

With sauteed pork belly, French green lentils, brussels sprouts, parsnip veloute. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

I think this was my least favorite dish of the evening. The arctic char was fine, I just forgot out oily of a fish it is. Also the pork belly was ALL fat, I expected it to have some meet on it. Oily fish plus a cube of pork fat really didn't work for me. The other components were pretty good. I loved the lentils and the veggies were also tasty.

Dry cherry ice cream - Xanath Ice Cream

2012-02-21T12:15:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 48

Boring day today so far. Not much planned, just WGL. Ok, maybe not laundry. I gotta really focus on my eating habits from now until the cruise. I'd love to lose at least some of my belly fat. I guess eating ice cream isn't helping, lol!

Organic dry cherry ice cream. I finally made it to Xanath! It's a super small ice cream shop on Valencia, next to Dosa. They have a nice selection of flavors and the service is friendly. It's not too busy in there so you don't feel guilty trying out different flavors. They have a couple benches in front of the store and its also next to a dinosaur parklet. Heck yeah! The ice cream was good, but little on the dense side. I do appreciate that they use organic ingredients. I'd return and support this neighborhood shop. Child scoop $1.99
Xanath Ice Cream, San Francisco

Grilled center cut prime beef rib eye - RN74

2012-02-21T10:12:00.000-08:00

With braised short rib, sunchokes, grilled romaine, bone marrow bordelaise. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

Wow, this was very large, rich, and all the components were filling and decadent. The only complaint was that the rib eye was ordered medium, but this was way rare! That's a thick cut and the center was still cold and bloody. The short ribs was delicious as was the bone marrow. They should give you some bread to spread it on though otherwise you're left spreading it on the beef which is was to rich. We used the house bread, but what if we had already finished it or we didn't want any in the first place? That said, I still enjoyed the dish.

Sea urchin and Dungeness crab parfait - RN74

2012-02-21T08:11:00.000-08:00

With avocado, green apple, pistachio, trout roe. $10 supplement. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

I think there's also pea shoots in there! This was very good and very different. Most of the textures were soft and creamy, but the crisp apples were a nice contrast. The avocado was almost like a mouse and they put it on the bottom of the bowl. The sea urchin tasted clean and fresh and the trout roe added a little saltiness. Very tasty!

Smoked salmon scramble - Chloe's Cafe

2012-02-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 47

Silverfox got back from Palms Springs today, yay! So I hit the gym this morning then grabbed brunch with him around noon. We both have Presidents Day off work so we've hung out, done a little shopping, and we might go to happy hour later.

OMG, I almost lost my iPhone again today! I left it at the store and realized that it was missing when I got outside. Thank god it was found and turned in. Customer Service had it when we got back inside, phew! This current iPhone is the 3rd one I've owned since May 2011! I lost the first one and the second one was stolen. Argh! I'm really bad with phones - maybe there's a support group I can join.

Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, served with a cup of fresh fruit (strawberry, banana, orange, cantaloupe, honeydew melon), 2 slices whole wheat walnut bread, Darigold butter, and raspberry jam. $10.50
Chloe's Cafe, San Francisco

This was actually very tasty and a great value. You get a lot of scramble, a generous portion of fruit, and bread! I couldn't finish the entire thing even though I was hungry. The eggs were cooked a little on the well side, but they were still good. I loved the whole wheat walnut bread, SO good! The service is also very friendly. I've always wondered why this place always has a line in front of it. Answers: there's not a lot of brunch options in Noe Valley, there's limited seating, the food is yummy, the service is great, the prices can't be beat. A winner!

Coffee. $2.50

Chestnut risotto - RN74

2012-02-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

With celery root, parmesan, black trumpet mushrooms. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

This was very rich, creamy, and delicious. I like the bits of chopped chestnuts, they provided great texture and flavor. The black trumpet mushrooms were also delicious. I think the white dollop on top was mascarpone.

Roasted beets - RN74

2012-02-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

With butternut squash, quince, arugula, olio nuevo olive oil, chestnut vinaigrette. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

This was tasty! I love the combination of sweet, earthy beets and peppery arugula. The vinaigrette and diced toppings were also lovey.

Bread and butter with salt. I love real butter, SO good!

Cocktails - RN74

2012-02-20T10:47:00.000-08:00

It was our first time here at RN74, and it's super cute! I loved the old school train station board that lists the wine prices every hour or so. The service was great, but we were seating in a tight row of 2-tops so Silverfox got a little annoyed and claustrophobic. We tried a few of their cocktails and they were pretty good!
RN74, San Francisco

Pimm's 74 - housemade Pimms, campari, ginger beer, prosecco. $10
This came in a huge wine glass and it was fun and fruity tasting!

Manhattan with Maker's Mark bourbon, vermouth. $10
Pretty tasty.

Frisco Fizz - rum, port, lemon, egg white, seltzer. $10
This was very interesting. It tasted dark, rich, and slightly sweet.

Pad eggplant - Siam Saigon

2012-02-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 46

It's a long 3-day weekend for me and I don't feel motivated to really do much. I haven't just relaxed at home for a while and I'm enjoying it. I did have to go into work for a couple hours of OT but that wasn't too bad. Besides that I've just been going to the gym, catching up on DVR, cleaning, cooking, and playing games on my iPhone. I think that's some quality relaxation time if you ask me!

Sliced chicken breast, eggplant, basil, bell peppers, and bamboo shoots in a mild curry sauce. $9
Siam Saigon, San Francisco

This is a new one for me. Siam Saigon serves both Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, nice! I was on my way to the Mission Safeway and I was starving so I ducked into this place because I had never noticed it before. I think it's new. It's a small space but the service is friendly and efficient (when they're paying attention). This dish was pretty good. I liked the large slices of tender chicken, and all the vegetables were also large and chunky. The curry sauce seemed too timid at first, but after a few more bites the flavor came through.

Chicken porridge - Out The Door

2012-02-19T14:18:00.001-08:00

Rau ram (Vietnamese coriander), crispy shallots, black pepper, topped with sliced Chinese donuts. $9
Out The Door, San Francisco

This was SO good! This had an amazing, intense chicken flavor and I liked the texture of this porridge better than most congees I've tried. And for $9, shut the front door! This is a must try.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2010, 2011, 2012

Willis Ranch lemongrass pork - Out The Door

2012-02-19T11:38:00.000-08:00

Over broken rice, pickled vegetables, pork and crab quiche, spicy soy. $15
Out The Door, San Francisco

The pork had a great flavor, but DAMN it was salty! When I say something wa salty, then it must have been super salty because I'm a frickin' salt monster! Thank god there was a pile of rice there to cut some of the saltiness. I loved the beautiful pickled radishes.

Pork and crab quiche with cellophane noodles. This quiche was actually better than the pork even though it was just a garnish. It had a great crab flavor. SO nommy!

Vietnamese coffee - Out The Door

2012-02-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

You can't go wrong with sweet, warm Vietnamese coffee, but this was too fancy for me. It came out already in the glass. The best part is supposed to be waiting for it to trickle down through the grinds and pouring the coffee yourself then stirring to incorporate the condensed milk! $3.50
Out The Door, San Francisco

Sparkling wine - Out The Door

2012-02-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

Avinyo reserva cava nv, Spain. Brunch is not complete without some bubbly! $10
Out The Door, San Francisco

Saturday oyster outing - Tomales Bay Oyster Company

2012-02-18T22:22:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 45

I finally made it to Tomales Bay for a weekend oyster social with some co-workers. My Babygirl sidekick and I arrived shortly after 10 am to find that Huff and his bf had snagged a perfectly located picnic table near the oyster stand. It was a nice relaxing day hanging out with friends and eating delicious oysters and clams. Although the weather was a bit chilly at times, the sun eventually came out and warmed us all up. Ah, this is why we live in the Bay Area, folks!

Tomales Bay Oyster Company, Marshall CA

Papa Chang brought fixins' to make these delicious oyster shooters using the TBOC "small" oysters. The oysters are topped with a quail egg, tobiko, and ponzu with green onions.

TBOC oysters are Pacific oysters farmed at Preston Point in Tomales Bay. The "small" oysters cost $15 per dozen or $50 for a bag of 50.

Quail eggs are so cute! But you need a steady hand to peel away the inner layer, which is tricky when you have wet, oyster fingers. :-)

Kelly and Brent brought these delicious sushi snacks! And I'm told that they're super easy to make. It's a sheet of crispy nori (seaweed), topped with broiled imitation crab mixed with sour cream and mayonnaise, rice, avocado, tobiko, and sriracha sauce. The perfect bite between oysters. NOMS!

There seemed to be about 4 different picnic areas, but I liked our location (on the bottom left of the pic). It was close to the oyster stand and we weren't completely surrounded by other picnic tables.

This is a bag of the owner's special reserve "Golden Nuggets" oysters which are $20 per dozen. These oysters were even smaller than the "small" TBOC oysters, and SO delicious!

This was the first time I've ever shucked an oyster, lol! I bought a random (but decent) oyster knife that I found in the seafood department at Whole Foods the night before. The guys had to coach me to start, but I got the hang of it. Look how clean I got my Golden Nugget!

I brought a mignonette made with champagne vinegar, shallots, lemon peel, parsley, salt, pepper, and sugar. It tasted great on the oysters!

Our table became quickly covered with oysters, clams, condiments and drinks.

We went through a LOT of bivalves! And this was only halfway through our day.

We were situated next to the pier. It's great that they provide each picnic table with a small grill. We used ours to grill oysters, steam clams, and toast bread.

Coffee break - Simple Pleasures Cafe

2012-02-18T19:04:00.000-08:00

Latte and a raspberry shortbread cookie.
Simple Pleasures Cafe, San Francisco

Went here to meet with a couple friends who were visiting town. I wouldn't normally drive this far for coffee, but I missed these girls and really wanted to catch up. The coffee shop was cute and had a great neighborhood-y vibe. The clientele was diverse and they have outdoor seating which was great since it was sunny and warm that morning. The service was friendly and the coffee/espresso was good. The cookies were mediocre.

Coffee and an apricot crumble bar.

Orecchiette with wild boar ragu - Uva Enoteca

2012-02-17T22:12:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 44

OMG! Today I was invited to a birthday dinner at French Laundry next month! I'm SO excited! The timing is a little off since I'm also going to Ohio and on a Caribbean cruise in March and I'm projecting that I'll be spending quite a bit of money as it is. Oh well, what can you do!? I can't turn down an invitation to French Laundry, can I? LOL!

Wow, I'm so fortunate! I've been to a number of exciting restaurants this past year and I'm looking forward to those I'll visit this new year. As much as I complain about my "horrible" life sometimes (lol), I actually really love it!

Pasta with tomato, sweet onions, and parmigiano. $15
Uva Enoteca, San Francisco

I like the wild boar ragu, but they charred the crap out of the top! The whole thing had a gross burned flavor, even inside. That's a shame because the meat sauce was very tasty. My other complaint is that the orecchiette was overcooked. Unfortunate...

This would have been delicious if it didn't smell and taste like embers.

Roasted garlic and broccoli rabe pizza - Uva Enoteca

2012-02-17T12:33:00.000-08:00

With smoked cheese and tomatoes. $14
Uva Enoteca, San Francisco

I wasn't a huge fan of this pizza. I enjoyed the flavors but the whole thing was heavy and clunky. The crust had an odd, dense texture which was surprising since it was thin. It's all about the crust, right?! The pizza was also on the small side. Don't think I'll be ordering pizzas from Uva Enoteca again.

This looks better than it tasted.

Red wines.
Marzemino, Terre Gioia, Trentino, 2009. $10 for 8oz
Merlot, Chopris, Friuli, 2004. $9 for 8oz
They have a nice selection! These are sold by 2oz or 8oz. I like that the 8oz is served in a small, cute carafe.

Carne board - Uva Enoteca

2012-02-17T10:43:00.000-08:00

3 item charcuterie board with hot coppa (San Francisco), salame al tartufo (Utah), and turkey galantine (San Francisco). $15
Uva Enoteca, San Francisco

I learned something new! According to Wikipedia "A galantine is a French dish of de-boned stuffed meat, most commonly poultry or fish, that is poached and served cold, coated with aspic." I'm not sure if this turkey was stuffed and maybe they scraped the aspic off before serving, but it was delicious! And we were surprised by the size of the slab. Of the three items we ordered, the truffled salami was my favorite. I've since purchased some from Whole Foods and secretly snack on it throughout the week.

Bread and mustard.

Chicken curry lunch special - Punjab Kabab House

2012-02-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

Chicken korma with basmati rice and mixed vegetables in a medium spicy sauce, served with naan bread.
Punjab Kebab House, San Francisco

I get it, this lunch special is super affordable and you get a LOT of food and table service, but I wasn't all that impress with the food itself. I did enjoy that the chicken had the bones in because it always has so much more flavor that way. I think that this is worth a try for the great deal and service, but with all the food options in that area I personally won't be returning for seconds.

I wasn't a huge fan of the peas and carrots side. It was too sweet for my taste.

Naan. White flour leavened bread. The piece that they give you is fairly large. I could only finish about half during the meal.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2010, 2011, 2012

Macchiato - Blue Bottle Coffee Mobile Kiosk

2012-02-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 43

Today was pretty uneventful. WGL - work, gym, laundry. I worked another 12 hour day yesterday so I was feeling a bit tired all day. I also felt guilty for missing out on the gym yesterday. It's less than a month until the cruise and I could afford to lose a little extra around the belly, lol! Maybe I should stop eating SO much. Well, that's not gonna happen...

I've decided that I do like Blue Bottle coffee but only if there's some dairy added, so this macchiato was pretty good. They only serve it "for here" at the Mobile Kiosk, but it's nice to sit on their high stools, relax, and watch the Castro crowd walk by. $3
Blue Bottle Coffee Mobile Kiosk, San Francisco

Salisbury steak - Orphan Andy's

2012-02-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Fresh ground beef smothered with mushrooms, grilled onions and brown gravy. Served with a biscuit, green beans, and mashed potatoes and gravy. $11.85
Orphan Andy's, San Francisco

Uh, this was disgusting! It was a really bad version of cafeteria food. You know I love gravy, so I thought it can't be that bad if it's doused in gravy. Yes it can! The gravy wasn't good and everything was SO bland and disgusting. This was an ordering experiment that should not be repeated!

Side of minestrone soup. Obviously from a can and not even heated well.

Chicken fried steak and eggs - Orphan Andy's

2012-02-16T11:12:00.000-08:00

Deep fried chicken patty thing (lol) with country pork gravy and scrambled eggs. $12.45
Orphan Andy's, San Francisco

Why do I torture myself? This is my 2am go-to meal and it's frickin' amazing! But I've come to learn that it's not that amazing when you're sober and having a real brunch, lol! Ugh, how many of these have I eaten in my lifetime? Too many!

Coffee.

Biscuits and gravy - Orphan Andy's

2012-02-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Side option for the chicken fried steak and eggs.
Orphan Andy's, San Francisco

My arteries groan just looking at this thing. But it's still SO yummy! I admit that I crave biscuits and gravy every now and then, and I'll actually act on these cravings. I must be stopped! Even when the biscuits and gravy are bad, I still love them, lol.

Orange juice. Very pulpy (which is a good thing).

Prosciutto pizza - Firewood Cafe

2012-02-16T09:22:00.000-08:00

Thinly sliced Colosseum prosciutto with tender baby arugula and cheese. $10.50
Firewood Cafe, San Francisco

I'm gonna come and out say it - Firewood isn't fine dining (I mean, you have to order at a register and take a number) but I REALLY like their pizzas! It's nice to have a more casual option that's fast and consistent and has pretty decent food that's familiar and crave-able.

Prosciutto and arugula, how can you go wrong? I love their thin crusts!

Marinated olives. Complimentary.

Cocktails - Fish & Farm

2012-02-16T08:27:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed these cocktails at Fish & Farm but I don't think they were worth $12 a pop. You can get delicious, more intricate cocktails and other places for less money. And you'll get larger pours!
Fish & Farm, San Francisco

The Scofflaw. Classic Prohibition Era cocktail. Templeton rye, dry vermouth, house-made grenadine, fresh squeezed lemon juice, Reagan's orange bitters, orange peel garnish. $12

Basil Blush. Hangar One vodka, fresh lime juice, agave nectar with a fist full of basil and freshly Watkins cinnamon shaken and served up. $12

Taylor Street Margarita. Herradura Blanco tequila, cointreau, fresh lime juice, and agave nectar shaken hard and served on the rocks. $12

Pama Manhattan. Woodford Reserve bourbon, Pama pomegranate liquor, chilled and served up, garnished with a brandied cherry. $12

Banana chocolate scone - Four Barrel Coffee

2012-02-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 42

It's only Wednesday, argh! This weekend is going by so slowly. :-(

Had a great Valentine's dinner last night at Fish & Farm. When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that we didn't have to take their Valentine's pre fixe option but we could order from their regular menu too - heck yeah! After dinner we went and grabbed a drink at Aunt Charlie's because Silverfox had never been there. I wish there could have been an actual drag performance so he could have experience to the full effect but it was early and I'm not even sure which nights they have performances. I'm psyching myself out so I can kill it at the gym tonight since I'm feeling kinda fat. Ew!

I made went back to Four Barrel this morning because I spent the night at Silverfox's and this was on the way to Bart. I know that they overcharged me last time, so I wanted to see if they've finally trained all their workers properly (that's only partially a joke). Anyway, the girl who helped me was super sweet and friendly despite the store being barely open at 7am. And she didn't overcharge me, yay! The coffee was so-so, but this scone was very good! I loved the banana and chocolate combo. It wasn't super sweet so that's another bonus! $3.50
Four Barrel Coffee, San Francisco

Coffee. $2

Chicken adobo - Patio Filipino

2012-02-15T11:39:00.000-08:00

Braised chicken in soy sauce, vinegar and garlic with fried plantains. $11.95
Patio Filipino, San Bruno CA

I loved this version of chicken adobo! It tasted rich and flavorful and I love the additional of the fried plantains. SO yummy! The chicken was super tender and you have to spoon all that delicious sauce over your rice. Noms!

Steamed rice. $1.75 per person

Pork sisig - Patio Filipino

2012-02-15T08:25:00.000-08:00

Diced pork with onions, green onions and jalapenos mixed with egg. $12.95
Patio Filipino, San Bruno CA

I'm not sure I've ever had pork sisig this way before. The diced pork had to have been deep fried because there were delicious crispy bits mixed in. The dish was tasty and fattening, hehe. You could definitely taste lemon juice in there, which was probably added to help cut through all the fatty fried pork.

Stir-fried pork jowl and winter radishes - Mission Chinese Food

2012-02-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 41

Happy Valentine's Day! Silverfox dropped by after work last night and dropped of a beautiful vase of roses, aw! They're absolutely beautiful and you can view them below. Tonight we are having dinner at Fish & Farm. It'll be our first time dining there so I'm pretty excited. We looked at a few other restaurants and all of them seem to be doing a pre fixe, and some of them a little too spendy for us right now. Fish & Farm's pre fixe includes 4 courses and a glass of champagne for $75 per person. Not too bad.

With fermented black bean, mint, red perilla, served with steamed rice. $11
Mission Chinese Food, San Francisco

Red perilla refers to some of the greens (or reds, hehe) in this dish. (Most of the green you see is actually the radish tops though.) They're also known as red shiso and these appear to be young sprouts. This dish was very tasty! It had a pungent odor from the radishes and leaves which was somehow familiar to me. The porl jowl, although super fatty, were so good and the whole dish was warm and comforting. Perfect for the cold weather.

SO good!

Roses from my lovey!

Lumpianitas - Patio Filipino

2012-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

Shanghai style lumpia filled with pork and shrimp. Served with sweet and sour sauce. $9.95
Patio Filipino, San Bruno CA

I've never heard these called lumpianitas, but whatever. They're just small lumpias to me, or Shanghai lumpia. I guess the only difference is that they also have shrimp inside. Most of the time it's only pork. These were very good and our table gobbled them up pretty quickly! Yay for Filipino food!

"Little Dragon" dumplings - Betelnut Restarant

2012-02-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

With pork, shrimp and black ginger vinegar. $11.50
Betelnut Restaurant, San Francisco

This was described by our waittress as a soup dumpling (xiao long bao), but they weren't very soupy. I guess it's trying to be an upscale version, but it just didn't work. The filling was super heavy, the wrapper was too thick, and there wasn't enough soup inside! I'll pass on this next time.

Black ginger vinegar (and another random dipping sauce).

"Xinjian" cumin lamb buns - Betelnut Restaurant

2012-02-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

Superior Farms lamb with chilies, raita, cilantro and warm sesame buns. $9.88
Betelnut Restaurant, San Francisco

There are many variations to Xinjian style lamb but they usually include chilies, cumin, and Szechuan peppercorns. This was my favortie dish of the night. The lamb was SO tasty! Add the warm, buttery bun and the raita and you have a total winner! Noms! It was also fun to fill your own bun and stuff your face with it. :-)

Green papaya salad - Betelnut Restaurant

2012-02-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

With shrimp, grapefruit, herbs, and "nuoc cham", topped with chopped peanuts. $9.95
Betelnut Restaurant, San Francisco

Nuoc cham is a Vietnamese sauce usually made with chilies, garlic, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar. It's salty-sweet and so yummy. This green papaya salad was good, but I think it was too watery. I loved the addtional of grapefruit though.

Ube ice cream - Mitchell's Ice Cream

2012-02-13T12:36:00.001-08:00

Project 365: Day 40

It's been an uneventful day thus far, besides it sporadically being super windy and rainy outside. I was on the highway earlier and I swear that the car was occasionally being blown into the other lane, scary! I'm looking forward to a great gym workout after work. I gotta work off all that fried Southern food from this weekend and I don't want to feel bloated for Valentine's Day tomorrow!

Purple yam flavored ice cream. Junior size $2.20
Mitchell's Ice Cream, San Francisco

I love all the tropical flavors at Mitchell's! I'd say that Halo Halo is my favorite, but Ube is also delicious. I love that it has chunks of purple yam in the ice cream and I think the color is particularly pretty.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2011, 2012

Cecilia's minced chicken - Betelnut Restaurant

2012-02-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

With black mushrooms, lup cheong (Chinese sausage), green onions, pine nuts, and iceberg lettuce cups. $11.88
Betelnut Restaurant, San Francisco

This was pretty tasty but I expected it to be so much better. It didn't come off as very special, but I did like the flavors and how the lettuce cups were trimmed and stacked.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2010, 2011

Cocktails - Betelnut Restaurant

2012-02-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

This was a random choice for a Christmas eve dinner, but I'm not traditional in many ways, lol! The food was hit or miss, but the drinks were very good overall. I loved the creativity!
Betelnut Restaurant, San Francisco

Betelnut's famous mai tai. Myers's rum, orgeat and the "cabin sink". $9.25
Sweet and delicious! Makes me wanna be poolside.

Mao-jito. Betelnut's take on the classic mojito. $9
A little too sour for my taste.

Phuket gimlet. Hendrick's gin with lemongrass and thai basil. $8.50
The lemongrass and thai basil combo makes this drink very refreshing.

Burma sour. The classic sour made with Bulleit bourbon, fresh orange and lemon juice. $8.75
All you need is a warm beach and a beautiful sunset!

Fried catfish combo - Roux Louisiana Kitchen

2012-02-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 39

Drove down to San Jose today to have brunch with a couple of Silverfox's friends. I was super excited to go since I never go there and I'd get to try new restaurants, but the place we went to totally bombed. The service was horrific (SO slow) and the food was mediocre. We shopped around Santana Row and Westfield Mall afterward and I was able to buy a few t-shirts so the trip wasn't a complete bust!

Omg, can't wait for the Grammy's tonight! Actually I have to head into work but I'm recording it on DVR. I still am a little in shock that Whitney Houston died yesterday! I know she was a complete mess at the end, but she was SO beautiful and SO talented. What happened to her was an utter tragedy. We watched her sing the national anthem on Youtube a couple times this morning and she was spectacular. She hit every perfect note SO effortlessly and she looked fresh and full of life. I'm saddened by her loss. I told Silverfox that this hits me more than the loss of Michael Jackson (or Heath Ledger actually). I grew up with her songs and enjoyed listening to her amazing voice. She was a bright light in the lives of so many people and she will be missed.

Cornmeal crusted, fried catfish with macaroni and cheese and a biscuit. $13
Roux Louisiana Kitchen, San Jose CA

The catfish fillet was really large, but it wasn't all that good. The crust was a little greasy and it didn't have a lot of flavor. I had to drown in it Crystal's hot sauce! The biscuit was also dense and lackluster. It was a disappointment after the cornbread. I liked the macaroni and cheese but it was also very greasy. I know that mac 'n cheese can sometimes be greasy, but this was out of control. You could see the bread crumb topping just dripping with it, gross!

Cornbread with honey butter. Complimentary. This was one of few yummy items and it was quite large!

Sparkling wine - Hog Island Oyster Bar

2012-02-12T11:08:00.000-08:00

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blanc Brut, Napa, 2006. $8 per glass
Hog Island Oyster Bar, San Francisco

I love weekend brunch at the San Francisco Ferry Building. I know that it's super touristy but there's a lot of great food there too. You just have to ignore the crowds and enjoy the food. On a bright, sunny day it's hard not to enjoy yourself.

Had a light brunch here with Silverfox. We really only had this sparkling wine, bread and oysters but that seemed to satisfy us! I've always liked Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine. I've been to their Napa winery a couple times and it's absolutely beautiful. Their sparkling wines are reasonable priced and are delicious!

Bread and butter. Complimentary. This was yummy!

Argentine empanda - Pisco Latin Lounge

2012-02-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

Estancia ground sirloin, golden raisins, pimiento stuffed olives. $3
Pisco Latin Lounge, San Francisco

I think I like the chicken empanada better, but this was also tasty! I somehow liked the powdered sugar on top. It was a nice flavor contrast to the ground beef and olives inside the empanada. I need to learn how to make their super buttery, flaky empanada crust! It's SO good!

Cheeseburger and sweet potato fries - Gott's Roadside

2012-02-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 38

Had a slow and lazy morning - perfect! Went down to the Ferry Building to get some food and peruse the Farmers' Market. Ended up at Gott's for a heavier-than-I-wanted-but-sinfully-delicious lunch. I hit the gym afterward and it felt good after eating burgers. Now doing laundry and general cleaning before meeting friends for drinks and dinner later. My life is SO difficult, lol!

Fresh ground Niman Ranch beef patty cooked medium well, a little pink inside when served with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and a secret sauce on a toasted egg bun. $7.99
Chili spice-dusted sweet potato fires served with house-made ranch sauce. $3.99
Gott's Roadside, San Francisco

This was SO good! The burger was tender and juicy and I love their secret sauce. It kinda tastes like a nicer version of Thousand Island. Some people don't like egg buns because it has a propensity to soak up too much juice and get soggy, but I like them! I think the soak-age helps concentrate the flavors, lol! The sweet potato fries are thinner than most, but very crispy and flavorful. The house-made ranch is pretty delicious which is dangerous because I end up eating the whole thing!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010

Tacos de pescado - Pisco Latin Lounge

2012-02-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

Jerked red snapper, Brazilian mango, cabbage, serrano-tomatillo salsa. Garnished iwth arugula and lime wedge. $8
Pisco Latin Lounge, San Francisco

Another tasty bite from Pisco Lounge. They know how to make delicious snack food for when you're hanging out with friends and having drinks. The fish was nicely cooked and the salsa was bright and fresh. They were a on the small side so if you're super hungry, I'd order the empanadas instead.

Peruvian empanada - Pisco Latin Lounge

2012-02-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

Grilled chicken, queso fresco, aji huacatay. $3
Pisco Latin Lounge, San Francisco

This tasted amazing and I loved the aji dipping sauce. The empanada was nice and crispy/chewy on the outside and the chicken and queso were so flavorful. And for only $3 each, you can't go wrong!

Chard and mozzarella focaccia - Arizmendi Bakery

2012-02-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 37

I made it through the week and having to work two 12-hour days. They asked me if I wanted to work around long day today, but I politely declined. I'm tired and want to spend time with Silverfox. I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend. Gonna hang out with old friends and meet new ones. And of course, EAT!

Swiss chard, mozzarella cheese, red onions, bread, flour, starter salt. $3
Arizmendi Bakery, San Francisco

Yes! Arizmendi continues going back up my nommy bakery list. The last focaccia I had at Arimendi wasn't so yummy, but this was really delicious! I love mozzarella cheese, and the chard and red onions added a flavorful sweetness. It tastes even better warmed up in the toaster oven!

The Ultimate 7x7 Big Eat SF List!

2012-02-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Roasted chicken and warm bread salad, Zuni Cafe, #167 on list

I love following 7x7 Magazine's Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Try Before You Die because I love to eat and because I'm totally obsessive! Since 2010, the lists have been a great way to explore San Francisco, try dishes I wouldn't normally order, and venture to "out-of-the-way" neighborhoods.

I've compiled the following list that combines all the dishes from their 2010, 2011, and 2012 lists. The resulting list is alphabetized by restaurant for easy reference. It's fun to see which dishes have made the list each year. For instance, San Tung's dry-fried chicken wings is the only item that has been dropped from the list and subsequently re-added. And Ti Couz is the only restaurant on the list that has since closed (sadly).

Happy eating!

THE ULTIMATE 7x7 BIG EAT LIST

4505 Meats (Ferry Building) – Chicharrones 2010
4505 Meats (Ferry Building) – Hamburger 2011, 2012
A16 – Maccaronara with ricotta salata 2010, 2011, 2012
Absinthe – Housemade hot dog 2010
Absinthe – Soft garlic pretzels 2011, 2012
Alembic – Old fashioned 2010
Alembic – Bone marrow 2012
Alfred’s Steakhouse – Onions strings 2010, 2011
Anchor & Hope – Angels on horseback 2010
Anchor Oyster Bar – Clam chowder 2011, 2012
Anthony’s Cookies – Cookies and cream cookie 2010, 2011, 2012
Arinell Pizza – Cheese slice 2010, 2011, 2012
Aziza – Meatballs with grapes 2010
Baker & Banker – Potato latke with pickled beets 2012
Balompie Café – Pupusas 2010, 2011, 2012
Bar Crudo – Seafood chowder 2012
Bar Jules – Benwaffles 2012
Bar Tartine – Burger 2011
Bar Tartine – Langos 2012
Benu – Thousand year old quail egg 2011
Benu – Faux shark’s fin soup 2012
Beretta – Nuestra Paloma 2010
Betelnut – Lettuce cups 2010, 2011
Betelnut – Malaysian curry laksa 2012
Bi-Rite Creamery – Salted caramel ice cream 2010, 2011, 2012
Bix – Tuna tartare and gin martini 2010, 2011, 2012
Blue Bottle Café – Gibraltar 2010
Blue Bottle Café – Belgian waffle 2011
Bluestem Brasserie – Hawaiian hangover cake 2012
Bob’s Donuts – Apple fritter 2010, 2011
Boulettes Larder – Breakfast eggs 2012
Brenda’s French Soul Food – Fried shrimp po’boy 2010, 2011
Brenda’s French Soul Food – Crawfish beignets 2012
Boxing Room (Thursdays) – Duck and sausage jambalaya 2012
Buena Vista Café – Irish coffee 2011
Burma Superstar – Samusa soup 2010
Cart in The Mission – Bacon wrapped hot dog 2010, 2011, 2012
Chairman Bao Truck – Steamed pork belly bun 2011, 2012
Chilango – Tortilla soup 2011
COCO500 – Fried green beans 2010, 2011, 2012
Comstock Saloon – Pickled egg with a Manhattan 2011, 2012
Contigo – Calamari with chorizo and black rice 2012
Cotogna - $24 pre fixe 2011, 2012
Curry Up Now Truck – Tika masala burrito 2012
Delfina – Pork sugo with pappardelle 2010, 2011, 2012
Deli Board – Munsoned 2012
Don Pisto’s – Hamburguesa 2011
Dosa – Paper masala dosa 2010, 2011, 2012
El Farolito – Super carne asada burrito 2011, 2012
El Huarache Loco – Huarache with cactus salad 2010, 2011, 2012
Ella’s – Chicken hash 2010, 2011
Fatted Calf – Meatloaf sandwich 2011, 2012
Fish & Farm – Burger 2010
Flour + Water – Whole wheat pasta with hen and liver 2012
Foreign Cinema – Bloody Mary with brunch 2010
Foreign Cinema – Fried chicken 2011, 2012
Four Barrel Coffee – Spiced chocolate doughnut and coffee 2010, 2011
Four Barrel Coffee – Kouign Amann 2012
Frances – Lumberjack cake 2011
Frances – Chicken liver on toast 2012
Golden Gate Bakery – Egg custard 2010, 2011, 2012
Gott’s Roadside – Cheeseburger with sweet potato fries 2010
Gott’s Roadside – Ahi tuna burger 2011
Grubstake – 3 a.m. bowl of caldo verde soup 2010, 2011
Heaven’s Dog – Shanghai Buck 2010, 2011
Hog Island Oyster Co. – Clam chowder 2010
Hog Island Oyster Co. – Sweetwater oysters 2011, 2012
House of Prime Rib – Prime rib 2010, 2011, 2012
Humphry Slocombe – Secret breakfast ice cream 2010, 2011, 2012
Ike’s Place – Menage a trois 2010
Il Cane Rosso – Beef brisket sandwich 2010
Il Cane Rosso – Warm egg salad sandwich 2011, 2012
Incanto – Pig parts 2010, 2011
Incanto – Spaghettini with tuna heart 2012
Izakaya Sozai – Tonkotsu ramen 2011, 2012
Katana-Ya – Chasu ramen 2010, 2011, 2012
King’s Bakery – Coconut buns 2010, 2011, 2012
Kingdom of Dumpling – Soup dumplings 2012
Kiss – Omakase menu 2012
L’Ardoise – Steak frites 2012
La Ciccia Restaurant – Spicy baby octopus stew 2011, 2012
La Mar Cebicheria Peruana – Ceviche and a pisco sour on the patio 2010
La Taqueria – Carnitas taco 2010, 2011, 2012
La Torta Gorda – Pierna enchilada torta 2010, 2011, 2012
Leopold’s – Chicken soup with dumplings 2012
Lers Ros Thai – Duck larb 2011, 2012
Liguria Bakery – Foccacia 2010, 2011, 2012
Limon Rotisserie – Rotisserie chicken 2010, 2011
Little Skillet – Fried chicken and waffles 2010, 2011, 2012
Little Star Pizza – The Little Star 2010, 2011, 2012
Lucca Delicatessen – Sandwich no. 1 2011, 2012
Magnolia Pub – Blue Bell Bitter from the cask 2010
Magnolia Pub – Strong beer 2011
Marlowe – Fried chicken sandwich 2012
Michael Mina – Lobster pot pie 2010
Miette – Ginger snaps 2010, 2011, 2012
Mijita – Albondigas soup 2010, 2011, 2012
Mission Chinese Food – Ma po tofu 2011
Mission Chinese Food – Salt cod fried rice 2012
Mitchell’s Ice Cream – Ube ice cream 2011, 2012
The Monk’s Kettle – Belgian beer 2010, 2011
Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous – Peanut brittle cookie 2012
Muracci’s Japanese Curry & Grill – Katsu curry 2010, 2011, 2012
My Tofu House – Tofu soup 2010
Namu (Ferry Building) – Korean taco 2010, 2011, 2012
Nojo – Nojo sundae 2012
Nopa – One of Neyah White’s shrubs 2010
Nopa – Custard French toast 2012
Nopalito – Carnitas 2010, 2011, 2012
Out The Door – Chicken porridge 2010, 2011, 2012
Outerlands – Eggs in jail 2011, 2012
Oyaji – Cold sake 2010
Pagolac – 7 courses of beef 2010, 2011, 2012
Papalote Mexican Grill – Chips and salsa 2010, 2011, 2012
Park Tavern – Deviled eggs 2012
Perbacco – Salumi misti plate 2010, 2011, 2012
Piqueo’s – Fried chickpeas 2010
Pizzeria Delfina – Pizza margherita 2010, 2011, 2012
Prospect – Green goddess salad 2012
Punjab Kabab House – Chicken curry lunch special 2010, 2011, 2012
Quince – Agnolotti 2010
Ragazza – Amatriciana pizza 2012
Range – Coffee rubbed pork shoulder 2010, 2011
Rickhouse – The Laphroaig Project 2011
RN74 – A bottle of Burgundy 2010
Roadside BBQ – Pulled pork sandwich 2010
Roli Roti – Porchetta sandwich 2010, 2011, 2012
Rosamunde Sausage Grill – Beer sausage 2010, 2011, 2012
The Rotunda – Popovers with strawberry butter 2010
Rye – Basil gimlet 2010
Sai Jai Thai – Papaya salad with salty crab 2010
Sai Jai Thai – Pork shoulder fried rice 2011, 2012
Saigon Sandwich – Roasted pork banh mi 2010, 2011, 2012
San Jalisco – Pozole 2011, 2012
San Tung – Dry-fried chicken wings 2010, 2012
Sandbox Bakery – Curry bun 2011
Sandbox Bakery – Rice burger 2012
Scream Sorbet – Any seasonal flavor 2010, 2011, 2012
Sebo – Omakase menu 2010, 2011
The Sentinel – Corned beef sandwich with gruyere 2010, 2011
Shanghai Dumpling King – Xiao long bao 2010, 2011
The Slanted Door – Crab with cellophane noodles 2010, 2011, 2012
Smitten – Kelvin-made ice cream 2012
Smuggler’s Cove – Puka punch 2011
Spruce – Burger and fries at the bar 2010, 2011, 2012
Swan Oyster Depot – Oysters on the half shell 2010
Swan Oyster Depot – Cracked Dungeness crab 2011, 2012
The Taco Shop at Underdogs – Nick’s Baja-style fish tacos 2010
Tacolicious – Tuna tostada 2010, 2011
Tadich Grill – Sand dabs 2010, 2011, 2012
Taqueria Cancun – Super burrito 2010
Tartine Bakery – Morning bun 2010, 2011, 2012
Tartine Bakery – Loaf of bread 2010, 2011, 2012
Ti Couz – Buckwheat crepe and a French cider 2010, 2011 *CLOSED
Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant – Margarita 2010, 2011
Ton Kiang – Dim sum 2010, 2011, 2012
Tosca Café – House cappuccino 2010
Truly Mediterranean – Lamb schawerma 2010, 2011
Turtle Tower – Pho ga 2010, 2011, 2012
Universal Café – French fries 2010
Venga Empanadas – Argentine beef empanadas 2012
Wayfare Tavern – Popovers 2011
Wexler’s – Scotch egg 2010
Yank Sing Restaurant – Sesame balls 2010, 2011, 2012
Zare at Fly Trap – Pistachio meatballs 2011, 2012
Zazie – Eggs benedict 2010, 2011
Zuni Cafe – Roast chicken and bread salad 2010, 2011, 2012

Whole roasted gulf prawns - RN74

2012-02-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

With winter citrus, Hawaiian hearts of palm, ginger, aromatic herbs. New Year four-course tasting menu $80
RN74, San Francisco

2nd course. This was my favorite dish of the night! The prawns were perfectly cooked and oh so flavorful. You HAVE to suck the heads becuase they're the best part! I don't know why some people are afraid to suck shrimp heads - they're definitely missing out on a little piece of eating heaven. I loved the composition of the plate and everything worked together perfectly. Noms!

Chelsea gems oysters - Hog Island Oyster Bar

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Pacific oysters. Eld Inlet, WA. Served with a mignonette and lemon wedges. 6 for $16
Hog Island Oyster Bar, San Francisco

Of the two types of oyster we ordered, I like these better! These oysters had a great flavor and they were nice and small just the way I like 'em. These were perfect and I'd order them again in a heartbeat!

I thought that the two mussels attached to this one were cute!

S'mores creme brulee - The Creme Brulee Cart

2012-02-10T00:45:00.000-08:00

Chocolate creme brulee, torched marshmallows, topped with graham cracker cereal. $5
The Creme Brulee Cart, San Francisco

This was the second time I've gotten something from The Creme Brulee Cart and it was delicious! The Cart is sometimes parked at Market Street and Castro Street so I'll grab something on the way home from the gym. When I saw the S'mores creme brulee on the their sign, I had to have one. They torch the marshmallows to order and you can let them know how charred you want them. I thought the graham cracker cereal was cute. Everything tasted amazing togther, not quite like real S'mores but delicious nonetheless.

Lengua taco - El Farolito

2012-02-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 36

It felt good to be back at the gym this morning. It's Thursday and I really want it to be Friday! At least the weather is getting nicer. Hopefully it'll be great for the weekend. Gotta plan dinner with the boys on Saturday. Papa Chang also recommend some Asian restaurants down in San Jose for Sunday - can't wait!

Regular taco with beef tongue, two soft tortillas, hot salsa, onions and cilantro. $2.25
El Farolito, San Franciso

This was delicious! I love the dark, rich flavor of beef tongue. It was super tender, juicy, and fatty - just the way I like it! They also pile on the meat and top it off with yummy toppings. Messy, but amazing!

Mixto ceviche - Pisco Latin Lounge

2012-02-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

Mexican mahi mahi, habanero, baby octopus, tiger prawns, tomato, meyer lemon, avocado. $12
Pisco Latin Lounge, San Francisco

This was very tasty! Maybe a little on the citrus-y side, but it had lots of flavor. I love the pieces of octopus tentacles, they were fun to eat. I didn't like that it was served in a martini glass though, especially one with such a small base. It's always difficult to pass around and I'm always afraid that I'll tip it over since it's so top heavy.

Pad makuer tofu - Lers Ros Thai

2012-02-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

Stir-fried eggplant and tofu with red bell peppers and carrots in a garlic chili sauce. $9.25
Lers Ros Thai, San Francisco

I usually love eggplant dishes, but I could have done without this forgettable version. The eggplants were SO undercooked and the tofu was bland despite it swimming in garlic chili sauce. But I guess since the garlic chili sauce was bland to start with, it couldn't impart much flavor to this sad dish.

Kai pad pak - Lers Ros Thai

2012-02-09T08:04:00.000-08:00

Stir-fried chicken with cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and bean sauce. $10.95
Lers Ros Thai, San Francisco

Yet another bland offering from Lers Ros Thai. This was supposed to be a chicken dish, but perhaps the price of chicken had sky rocketed that day so only a few scrawny pieces ended up on the plate. Unfortunate.

Koong priew warn - Lers Ros Thai

2012-02-08T21:18:00.000-08:00

Thai style prawns stir-fried with sweet and sour sauce with carrots, red bell pepeprs and bamboo shoots. $11.95
Lers Ros Thai, San Francisco

This was OK. The portion was actually pretty small so it wasn't worth the price. I like simplicity of the dish, but it lacked a lot of flavor. Lame. Besides the duck larb, the dishes here seemed like watered down versions of real Thai food. I've spent almost a month traveling around Thailand and their food is anything but bland and watered down.

Bacon wrapped hot dog with everything!

2012-02-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

"With everything" comes with grilled onions, jalapenos, ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard on a toasted bun!
The Mission, San Francisco

I know, I know! This thing is a heart attack served on a bun, but it's SO frickin' good after a long night of clubbing. There are carts throughout the city, and it's anybody's guess where they'll be on any given night, but The Mission always seems to have the lion's share on weekends! I grabbed this on the way home from a late night out and I had to be careful not to squish it in the car, lol! (Don't worry, I wasn't driving.)Mmmm, so gross and so good at the same time!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Sweetwater oysters - Hog Island Oyster Bar

2012-02-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

Pacific oysters. Tomales Bay, CA. Served with a mignonette and lemon wedges. 6 for $15
Hog Island Oyster Bar, San Francisco

These small oysters are surprisingly meaty! I'm slowly becoming more of an oyster fan and these were pretty good. I definitely liked the Chelsea Gems better though!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2011, 2012

Larb phed yang - Lers Ros Thai

2012-02-08T17:12:00.000-08:00

Chopped roasted duck mixed with rice powder, red onion, cilantro, chilies, chili powder and a lime based salad dressing. Served with iceberg lettuce cups. $9.95
Lers Ros Thai, San Francisco

This duck larb was AMAZING! I've never had duck larb before, and this was delicious. I envisioned the duck being minced like chicken larb, but it was chopped into chunky pieces instead. It had the traditional larb flavors, but the addition of the dark flavors from the moist and tender duck put it over the top! This was the highlight of our meal at Ler Ros Thai. The other dishes fell flat. :-(

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2011, 2012

Egg custard tart - Golden Gate Bakery

2012-02-08T17:07:00.000-08:00

Buttery, flaky tart shell filled with warm, creamy egg custard.
Golden Gate Bakery, San Francisco

It took me 3+ months and four visits to finally get these! The first time I went, there was a festival going on and I waited in line but all they were selling (or I thought) were mooncakes! I got a pineapple mooncake and left but immediately saw that other people were ordering these from the back area. Argh! There was NO way I was going to wait in that long line again! The second couple of times the bakery was closed because they were on vacation. That's all the sign said! It didn't say when they were coming back either, lame! Finally, on the fourth trip I was able to snag a couple of these and there wasn't even a line, score!

These egg custard tarts were worth it! They are probably the best egg tarts I've had! I'm not even a fan of these, but I really like Golden Gate Bakery's version. The crust is super buttery and flaky, very different from others I've tried. And the egg custard filling is amazing! These tarts are larger than most so there's a LOT of filling but I didn't mind because it tasted so good.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Habanero salsa - Papalote Mexican Grill

2012-02-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 35

Slept in this morning since I had to work til midnight last night. It's ok that I skipped the gym since I did pushups in the sunroom anyway, lol! Hopefully I don't have to work another 12 hour day today.

I know it's only Wednesday, but I'm super excited about the weekend already. Having dinner with the boys going on the cruise on Saturday, then headed down to San Jose on Sunday. Not really excited about SJ itself, but I am happy to try out some new restaurants!

Fire roasted tomatoes, fresh onions, expeller pressed canola oil, habanero peppers, cilantro, green onions, fresh garlic, salt, citric. $6.99 per jar
Papalote Mexican Grill, San Francisco

"Habanero. Papalote Roasted Tomato Salsa turns up the heat. The intense spirit of habaero brings new bright and lively colors to our classic salsa. HOT." - From their sign in the store.

Omg, I walked into Papalote the other day and they now have multiple flavors of their amazing salsa! I grabbed the habanero flavor and it definitely had some heat to it. I wish it was a little spicier, but it was nice that it had some at least. It's a limited edition flavor so I'm glad that I got to try it before they discontinue it. The jar didn't last very long at my house - I can eat this stuff like soup!

Papalote salsa has such a distinct appearance. I served some at a party once and a guest immediately recognized it by its texture and consistency. Now that's what I call a brand!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2011, 2012

Nutty buddy mini cupcake - Noe Valley Bakery

2012-02-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

Vanilla cupcake with vanilla and chocolate cream, dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with toasted peanuts. $2
Noe Valley Bakery, San Francisco

Another delicious treat from my neighborhood bakery, noms! I love the addition of peanuts on top and the chocolate mouse inside. Yummy in my tummy!

DQ'd mini cupcake - Noe Valley Bakery

2012-02-08T10:15:00.000-08:00

Vanilla cupcake with vanilla cream, dipped in chocolate. $2
Noe Valley Bakery, San Francisco

This mini cupcake is SO cute and is the perfect size for a quick, less-guilt treat. The cake is light and airy and the nostalgic shape is adorable!

Roasted chicken and bread salad - Zuni Cafe

2012-02-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

From the wood-fired brick oven. Roasted chicken for two with warm Tuscan-style bread salad. Approximately 1 hour. $48
Zuni Cafe, San Francisco

This is hands-down the best chicken I've EVER had! It was definitely worth the hour long wait. You better be dining with someone you like because you have plenty of time to chat while you wait for this amazing plate of food! The chicken is SO moist and flavorful and the warm bread salad soaks up all the yummy juices and drippings. I'm not sure what the greens were, but it was a hearty variety and held up nicely to the rich chicken and bread salad. I greedily ate a portion and nibbled on some more before getting the rest boxed up. Silverfox picked off the skin because he's a healthy eater, so I helped myself to it, lol! The skin was the best part!

I think the portion is way too much for only two people, but a table of two guys near us quickly devoured theirs! They must have been super hungry, hehe. It's a whole chicken so each person gets a breast, thigh, leg and wing.

And let me tell you, it even tasted amazing warmed up the next day, lol! If I could have this once a month, I would be such a happy person. I think I've found my last meal if I ever end up on death row!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Crab cake - Whole Foods

2012-02-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 34

Woke up and got ready for the gym early today since I had to stop by Whole Foods for lunch and dinner food and cook it before leaving for work. Got in a very good workout and I tried to buy healthier options at the grocery store.

I ended up roasting some vegetables (broccoli, brussels sprouts, eggplant, garlic) and baking some homemade chicken strips. I used some organic bread crumbs, flour, cornmeal, and threw in a bunch of herbs and spices that I thought would taste good. I used very little salt and oil for both items. I also bought a couple of crab cakes at the seafood counter because they were on sale.

Codes is also flying back home today. It was great seeing him but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't also happy to be getting my bed back, lol!

Large, pre-made crab cake from the seafood counter at Whole Foods. To be healthier, I ended up baking these in the oven until they were fragrant and became golden brown. $4.99 on sale
Whole Foods, San Francisco

I was surprised by the amount of crab inside! Most grocery store crab cakes usually skimp of the actual crab. These were also super moist!

Pacific oysters - Zuni Cafe

2012-02-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

Crassostrea gigas. Pacific Hog Island (Tomales Bay) top left, Marin Miyagi (Tomales Bay) top right, and Drake's Bay (Point Reyes) bottom. Served with a lemon wedge and mignonette. $2.50 each
Zuni Cafe, San Francisco

I'm finally developing a taste for oysters! I never liked them growing up and I'm still hesitant at times, but I find myself ordering more often these days. I still prefer the smaller varieties because the large ones gross me out still.

These were SO good. The Drake's Bay, which are the largest two on the bottom, were actually my favorite!

Bread and butter. Simple and yummy.

Marinated olives - Zuni Cafe

2012-02-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

We had a lot of time between our oysters and the roasted chicken (which takes an hour) so we ordered some delicious marinated olives. They were bright with herbs and smelled of citrus. Noms! $5.75
Zuni Cafe, San Francisco

Cocktails - Zuni Cafe

2012-02-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

Finally made it to Zuni Cafe for Sunday brunch. I've been here before but only for a quick meal. We had reservations for when they opened and there was a line outside when we arrived. I think people who didn't have reservations decided to come early to see if they could get a table. We were seated upstair at a table for 2 in the corner. I loved it! We were next to the window and there was some privacy where we were. The table next to us wasn't even seated until near the end of our meal, score!

The service, of course, was great and the food was absolutely amazing! We had to have mimosas and a few other cocktail, lol!
Zuni Cafe, San Francisco

Balsamic bloody Mary with spicy pepper-onion relish. $11.50
You'll never see me ordering a bloody Mary, but Silverfox had this and it was VERY tasty. I actually really liked it and would order it for myself next time. It had a great kick and the balsamic vinegar gave it a great flavor. Noms!

Aperol cocktail. $10.75
Aperol is an orange flavored Italian apertif. Not sure what else they put in the cocktail, but it was super tasty!

Mimosas. $8 each
A Sunday brunch standard. These were a lot nicer than the ones I usually get for Sunday Funday bottomless mimosas. They must use real orange juice in these and better quality champagne.

Sweet and sour spareribs Shanghai style - Xiao Long Bao Kitchen

2012-02-06T17:26:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 33

My liver hates me right now! Since Codes has been here, I've been going out and drinking too much. This must come to an end! I've seriously thought about not drinking for the next few weeks and see how long I can actually last.

I also got a street cleaning ticket this morning - $55! So lame, I totally forgot that the car was parked on our side of street. Money down the drain. :(

Went to XLB Kitchen to celebrate Mats' birthday. Rapunzel and I ordered the lunch combination again with an order of xiao long bao and it was SO much food. We didn't finish everything.

Pork spareribs in a sweet and sour sauce with sesame seeds and steamed broccoli. 2 person lunch combo $14.95
Xiao Long Bao Kitchen, South San Francisco CA

These were ok. I liked the sauce and how fatty they were, but they were also dry, over-cooked, and tough. Don't think I'd order these again.

Banana cream tart - Tartine Bakery

2012-02-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

Dark chocolate and caramel coated flaky pastry shell filled with sliced bananas and cream, topped with shaved chocolate and powdered sugar. 9" tart $40
Tartine Bakery, San Francisco

Wow, this tart was amazing! Messy, but AMAZING! If you love bananas, you'll absolutely love this tart. I'm not a huge banana fan, but I will eat this tart any day! I brought this to a Christmas party and it was a big hit. You can never go wrong with bringing a tart or cake from Tartine!

In the box just waiting to be eaten!

The pastry shell was pretty thick and because it was chocolate and caramel coated, it was fairly difficult to slice through. But after you did, you received a great surprise as the sliced bananas came pouring out. Amazing!

Wheat bread loaf - Tartine Bakery

2012-02-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

Freshly baked loaf of bread. The kind of bread changes daily and they're only available after 5pm Tuesday through Sunday . This was a wheat bread and it was VERY good. I slowly ate it over several days and it kept very well stored in a plastic storage bag. $8.75
Tartine Bakery, San Francisco

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Achiote braised pork belly tacos - Tacolicious

2012-02-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

Thick slab of pork belly, tamarindo-habanero salsa, pickled red onions, cilantro on a corn tortilla. Served with pickled vegetables. $4.95 each
Tacolicious, San Francisco

This was the Taco of the Week. Omg, these were SO frickin' good!!! I could have eaten 10 of these! The pork belly wasn't overly fatty, but it was SO flavorful and tender. It's a little bit pricey for a taco, but I'm gonna say it was worth it. Noms!

Trio of salsas. I love the salsa that came with the taco. They ranged from mild, medium and hot but none of them were really that hot. They were flavorful though and each of them distinct.

Paper masala dosa - Dosa

2012-02-05T15:36:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 32

It's Super Bowl Sunday and I'm not feeling so hot from last night. Drank too much with Codes and friends. Just putzed around at home all morning, then dropped Codes off at Luna Park for brunch. I wasn't up for socializing so I went to grab some Indian food at Dosa then some ice cream at Xanath. Will probably head out to the Castro later to meet up with friends again.

A thin and crispy variation of their savory rice and lentil crepe (dosa), served with coconut and tomato chutneys and sambar, a lentil dipping soup made with vegetables and spices. Masala is a traditional filling of spiced mashed potatoes. $11
Dosa, San Francisco

This thing was HUGE! I was really surprised. And it tasted really good. The sambar was my favorite dipping sauce. I ordered this and an brunchy egg dish and it was WAY too much food. The paper dosa was really fun to eat. I just broke off little pieces, dipped it in the sambar then added chutney and masala. The perfect bites.

I'm glad that they serve it with a large bowl of the sambar, noms!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Albacore tuna tostadas - Tacolicious

2012-02-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

"Contramar-style". Sliced tuna with crispy leeks, chipotle mayo, avocado on a crispy tostada. $10.95
Tacolicious, San Francisco

Very tasty! I love the textures in the this. The crispy deep fried leeks and the crispy tostada with the soft tuna and creamy avocado. Squeeze the lime on top to brighten it up and you have yourself a delicious meal.

Chips and salsa. Complimentary. Dee-lish! The salsa is SO good!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Nopal chupitos - Tacolicious

2012-02-05T09:49:00.000-08:00

Cocktail with tequila, prickly pear cactus, citrus. Four for $12
Tacolicious, San Francisco

The prickly pear ingredient intrigued us so we chose to order this flavor of chupito. It was pretty tasty and refreshing, but not very strong. You know me - I'm a drinker! I like the idea though of having multiple shots throughout the meal.

Fried chicken and waffles - Little Skillet

2012-02-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

2 piece (breast and thigh) fried chicken and 2 waffles with house syrup and powdered sugar. $8.50
Little Skillet, San Francisco

Farmerbrown's Little Skillet location is very cute. It's this tiny little window in the middle of an alley near the ballpark where are the nearby techies go for amazing chicken and waffles during lunch! Noms! The chicken is fried perfectly and SO delicious. The waffles are also amazing. I love combining everything together and eating them in one bite. Gotta have the syrup and some hot sauce in every bite. It's good, people!

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Farm egg scramble - Local Mission Eatery

2012-02-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 31

Lazy morning today. Putz around at home with Silverfox then walked down to the Mission for coffee at Philz Coffee then brunch at Local Mission Eatery. Don't have much more to do today, it'll be relaxing. I won tickets to a showing of Best In Show at the Castro Theater later. That'll be fun! A couple of the actors in the movie are doing a Q&A beforehand. Silverfox has never seen the movie, but I think he'll get a kick out of it. Codes is also arriving this evening and I'm sure he'll want to go out. Thank goodness it's only Saturday, lol!

Soft scramble with red and yellow beets, sliced radishes, greens on top of what I think was a sunchoke puree. $11
Local Mission Eatery, San Francisco

This was super tasty! It wasn't what I was expecting since the menus said that the scramble was gonna come with "brussels, sweet potatoes, goat gouda", but I think that this combination turned out better. I LOVE beets and the whole plate tasted fresh and light. The eggs were cooked perfectly and I loved the composition of the plate with all the beautiful colors.

Chocolate cream puff - Beard Papa's

2012-02-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

A rich chocolate custard cream made from a perfect blend of two high quality European chocolates, topped with cocoa powder. $2.25
Beard Papa's, San Francisco

The chocolate custard in this cream puff always has a chalky taste and grainy texture. I like it enough but I definitely perfer the vanilla flavor.

Batter fried green beans - COCO500

2012-02-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

These were tasty but a little too oily. I was the first person at the restaurant for happy hour so maybe the fryer hadn't come to temperature yet when they made this batch. I was NOT impressed. I did, however, love the dill dipping sauce. $7
COCO500, San Francisco

This was the only mediocre thing I had at the restaurant, though. Everything else was delicious! I sat at the bar and the bartender gave amazing service.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011, 2012

Marinated local sardines - COCO500

2012-02-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

Yum! These sardines were delicious! They're topped with a mixture of what looks like shallots, chives and olive oil. The fish had a great rich flavor but wasn't too overly fishy tasting. I cut the fillets into small chunks and ate them on top of the sliced baguette. Noms! $5 for happy hour
COCO500, San Francisco

Baguette and olive oil. Complimentary.

Apricot bande aux fruits - La Boulange de Noe

2012-02-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 30

It's Friday, Friday! (Sung a la Rebecca Black)

Totally forgot that Codes was visiting this weekend so that should be fun. Don't have to work as of now so it'll be nice to relax and hang out with Silverfox and friends. I had a really good workout this morning and I like to think that people were checking me out, lol! Maybe I was just hallucinating cause I was starving again. Or maybe I just had booger hanging from my nose!

Buttery pastry crust with almond cream (or vanilla cream?) and sweet apricots. $3
La Boulange Bakery, San Francisco

This place is gonna be the death of me! I'm always hungry after the gym and I walk by La Boulange and Noe Valley Bakery on the way home so I'm always tempted to grab something to snack on. This bande aux fruits was SO yummy and I loved the charred apricots on top.

The crust was super soft!

Pretty and nommy!

Lime Rickey cocktail - COCO500

2012-02-03T11:27:00.000-08:00

Gin, lime juice, simple syrup, soda water, slice of lime. Happy hour $5
COCO500, San Francisco

I'm not sure what kind of fruit juice they add to give it a pink color, but this drink was absolutely refreshing! And for five bucks during happy hour, I'm a happy customer!

Chicken enchilada - Tommy's Mexican Restaurant

2012-02-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

One chicken enchilada topped with plenty of enchilada sauce and cheese. Served with rice, refried beans, salad, and corn tortilla. $8.95
Tommy's Mexican Restaurant, San Francisco

Now this was good! I loved the enchilada sauce. It was dark and rich and very mole tasting. The refried beans were also delicious as was the rice. I only order the single enchilada and I'm glad I did because you get a lot of food. It also came with a side salad and a corn tortilla. Add all you can eat chips and salsa and you've got a filling meal! Noms!

Side salad of lettuce, carrots, cucumber, radish and salsa. Complimentary.

Margarita - Tommy's Mexican Restaurant

2012-02-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

100% agave tequila, hand squeezed lime juice on the rocks with salt. $8
Tommy's Mexican Restaurant, San Francisco

This was pretty good, but it wasn't anything special so I"m not sure why it made the 7x7 Big Eat SF list. I just ordered their house margarita so perhaps their specialty margaritas taste better. I'm not really complaining about it because I did enjoy it, but it didn't blow my mind. Tommy's is pretty far out in the Richmond neighborhood so I probably won't be making frequent trip back.

Tortilla chips with red and green salsa. Complimentary. I LOVE chips and salsa! So salty and good, and the red salsa had some heat to it. :-)

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2010, 2011

Pear and chocolate bread puddin' - Arizmendi Bakery

2012-02-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 29

I think I drank too much last night, lol! I was hurting this morning, but thank god I didn't have to work until noon.

Last night we went to the Foodspotting Ball Ball held at their San Francisco office near the ballpark. We arrived a little early so we ducked into District to relax and grab a quick glass of wine. Brooklyn who I know from Cheer SF was working and took great care of us! We were only there quickly but he sat us at a reserved table and gave us great service. Thanks, Brooklyn! I've always liked that guy!

The Ball was ok. We talked to a few people and everyone seemed nice and were having a good time. There was free wine and beer and a few food items. I thought there would be more food though. They encouraged people to bring food items in the shape of balls but I only noticed I person who brought chocolate rice krispy balls. There may have been more people who brought stuff but I didn't see them. Everybody seemed to be gathered around the Beretta table because they were serving their delicious dungeness crab arancinis with a calabrese aioli. Noms! Every time they would bring out a freshly fried batch, the crowd with greedily swoop in and leave the table barren once again. I'll admit I had a couple of them. They were the only thing substantial to eat anyway.

Afterward, under the influence of wine, I had the great idea of going to Badlands for another drink. Bad move! We followed that with another drink at The Edge, then headed home and crawled into bed. Ahhh...

Bread pudding with pear, chocolate, bread flour, eggs, buttermilk, cream, sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, dried fruit, yeast, sea salt, and pecans. $2.75
Arizmendi Bakery, San Francisco

Noms! SO good, Arizmendi and getting back on my nommy list! I think there is coconut in this bread pudding too. I skipped the gym this morning because I wasn't feeling so hot, and of course I ate crap all morning. On my way to Bart I went to Arizmendi and grabbed this bread pudding. Never had it before but it's pretty darn tasty!

Large chunks of chocolate and pear cover the top of the bread pudding.

Probably not the healthiest thing for you, but it's worth the calories (and fat, lol)!

Cracked Dungeness crab - Swan Oyster Depot

2012-02-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Large portion of half crab served with bread and butter and your choice of cocktail sauce, Louie sauce, or butter for dipping. $17.95
Swan Oyster Depot, San Francisco

This place is crazy popular! I arrived before noon on a Thursday and there was already a line out the door! There's limited seating inside, only stools at the singular counter so you must wait until a seat becomes available. I wouldn't recommend going here with a large group because you might be waiting a long time! The wait is definitely worth the wait for the freshest seafood and great service. The guys behind the counter are super friendly and the place just has a very cool, old-school vibe.

The dungeness crab was delicious! They do a great job cracking the shells so it's fairly easy to remove all the yummy flesh. I ordered mine with cocktail sauce but next time I'll try the Louie sauce. That would complete the decadent meal, hehe!

Sourdough bread and butter. Complimentary.

7x7 Magazine's The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die - 2011, 2012

Dungeness crab mustard - Swan Oyster Depot

2012-02-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

This is the guts, innards and fat found inside of the crab shell. I'm not really sure what the proper term for this yellow soup-y thing is, but the best name I found on the internet is "mustard". It was served cold and very tasty! Use the sourdough bread to mop up this delicious yellow, fatty soup!
Swan Oyster Depot, San Francisco

Love this place! This was my first time here, but I'd definitely go back and even brave the long line again.

Anchor Steam beer. $4
So good!

Birthday cake pop - Starbucks

2012-02-01T15:36:00.000-08:00

Project 365: Day 28

It's been a boring day so I needed a little pick-me-up this afternoon. Solution: Starbucks run, lol! Haven't had these cake pops yet so I decided to try one. The pink birthday cake pop was all they had left and it was pretty good. I'm glad that they have something that I actually like. Everything I've tried lately hasn't been very good.

Oh, I'm super excited to attend the Foodspotting Ball Ball tonight! Gonna take Silverfox. I hope there's a lot of yummy food and drinks!

Vanilla cake and icing, dipped in a pink chocolate-y coating with white sprinkles. $1.50
Starbucks, South San Francisco CA

I was surprised how moist the cake was! They must add a lot of butter or dip it in simple syrup before coating.

Tall Americano with milk and sugar. $1.95
I love the new Valentine's Day cup! Very cute.