Grubalicious SF

The Eater (wannabe) Blog

2010-02-27T08:59:00.000-08:00

FiDi Radar
Credo – Chef Mario Maggi’s Milanese-inspired menu goes beyond run of the mill pizza and pasta. TastingTable recently cited the 14-oz. whopper of a bone-in pork chop as particularly noteworthy, as is Maggi’s risotto which “needs no fleshly assistance (a reference to osso bucco). His is suffused with the musky edge of saffron and fortified with the unconventional addition of asparagus. If you've always equated risotto with rice gruel, Maggi will explode your preconceptions.” For those looking for the lighter side, rest assured that Maggi loves you, too, offering items such as: Paper thin ahi tuna carpaccio encrusted in aromatic herbs and topped with shaved cucumber; lightly dressed grilled salmon salad with crisp green beans, tomato, Kalamata olives and hard-boiled egg; and spinach salad with pancetta, goat cheese, pine nuts and tomatoes with either shrimp or chicken as add ons. Service, albeit a tad forgetful – as in, the spinach salad with shrimp arrived at the table sans shrimp during a recent lunch visit – is not lackluster enough to warrant skimping on the tip. Speaking of which, take a look at this story about a woman who was banned for bad tipping. [TT]

The Dish
1)Oakland: GrubStreet has a copy of the menu at SR24 which opened in Oakland yesterday. If you're feeling a little forelorn after rocker Tyler Grady got booted off of American Idol this week, then perhaps a bowl of chowder, buttermilk fried chicken with mashers and gravy, and Nana's chocolate cake might provide some comfort. [GS]

2)Palo Alto: It’s the Baume- Michelin-starred chef Bruno Chemel has opened Baume, named after the French chemist Antoine Baume, bringing molecular gastronomy and modern French fare to Palo Alto. The 41-year old Frenchie whose most recent stint was as exec chef at Chez TJ now serves lunch and dinner in a prix fixe format in his intimate 22-seat resto. [EaterWire]

The Downside of Success
According to the NYT, there's a bit of a brouhaha over Ike’s and Bi-Rite Creamery. Residents in the Castro and Dolores Park, respectively, are tired of the congestion and noise caused by patrons clamoring for their Fat Basturds with extra dirty sauce and salted caramel cones, compelling both establishments to respond. Ike’s now closes at 7:00 p.m. and Bi-Rite is expanding and adding seating. Ike's and Bi-Rite have Yelpers largely to thank for the boom in business, and in this economy, bursting at the seams is a pretty nice problem to have. But it's probably not the last they'll hear from the neighbors about that. [NYT]

Eaterwire - A16 Salutes Women, Nombe Demystifies Sake and Incanto Goes Head to Tail

MARINA - A16 will celebrate International Women's Day, or Festa Della Donna on Monday, March 8. Exec chef Liza Shaw and pastry chef Lori Rich will prepare specials in addition to their regular menu that wine director Shelley Lindgren will pair with wines produced by female winemakers. Sunny yellow mimosa flowers will be plentiful to commemorate the occasion. Profits will go to La Cocina and the Red Cross for Haiti. [EaterWire]

MISSION – Nombe, which recently earned 2 1/2 stars from Michael Bauer, has announced that its inaugural monthly Sake Tasting and Food Pairing Event will take place on Thursday, March 18. It will explore the world of Namazake, "one of the most straight-forward, clean and refreshing types of sake available, and therefore a good place to begin one's sake journey," says chef and co-owner Nicolaus Balla. He will prepare four dishes to be paired with sake hand-picked by Nombe co-owner and sake sommelier, Gil Payne. Payne just might be able to demystify sake for the average Joe, one sip at a time. Kanpai! [EaterWire]

NOE VALLEY—Incanto's 7th Annual Head to Tail dinners are confirmed to take place on Monday, March 22 and Wednesday, March 24. Lamb mincemeat pie with lavender-hay ice cream, anyone? The rest of the preliminary menu is up now. [EaterWire]

Week in Reviews
The Chron gives two stars to Mythos in San Carlos, saying that its Greek-Cali menu offers "blessedly straighforward" food in cozy environs covered in "dusky lemon walls," with "dark wood accents and black marble bar." Good to know for all those Silicon Valley-ites who are always looking for new places to send visiting clients north of Palo Alto. [SFChronicle]

The Examiner recently dined at the two-week-old Ristobar (Emporio Rulli reborn) in the Marina and had good things to say about the food and service. [Examiner] (Note to Editor: Just to be clear, I would never engage in this type of self-promotion if given the job).

The Junior Set
SusieCakes bakery is treating young athletes to complimentary treats starting Monday, April 5th through the end of the month. Every child under 12 who shows up clad in their school or community team uniform will receive a free, personalized "Frosting-Filled" cupcake in favorite flavors such as peanut butter and chocolate mint. Sounds like a potentially enticing post-game destination if you're in or around Greenbrae. [EaterWire]

Healthy, easy, peanut-free lunches for your preschooler

2009-08-01T16:31:00.000-07:00

From time to time, I will write about my passion for cooking, using fresh, healthy, seasonal ingredients. Some of you have expressed an interest in seeing recipes on my blog, and your wish is my command! I hope you will find some of these food-related posts inspirational in your day to day cooking.

As the mother of two school-age kids, I am constantly trying to make lunch a meal that the children enjoy and that I can feel good about giving them. By spending just a few more minutes each week, planning, grocery shopping and preparing meals in advance, kids can have a healthy meal everyday. All of my meals are peanut-free since one of us has a life-threatening allergy to all peanut products. We make it a rule to not stock items in the house that have peanuts outright or may be cross-contaminated. My older son attends a peanut free elementary school so these menus which were originally created for my three-year old daughter have come in handy on days when my son opts to bring a lunch rather than eat cafeteria food.

Here are some of my kids' favorites which can be easily mixed and matched, and swapped for seasonal ingredients. I always pack either milk or 100% fruit juice slightly diluted with water. They love apple, white grape, cranberry and pomegranate sweetened with a little stevia, acai, and strawberry-banana. Be sure to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold in appropriately insulated containers.

In future posts, I will share my recipes for several of the items listed below. I often cook with gluten-free products so you will see these indicated accordingly.

1. -soy nut butter sandwich, (jam or thin banana slices optional)
-fresh fruit cup using your child's favorites e.g., grapes, oranges,nectarines,
strawberries, peaches, blueberries
-string cheese

2. -ham and spinach pinwheel with onion and chive cream cheese spread, cut into thirds
-small container of barley soup
-a couple of strawberries with chocolate chips

3. -broiled salmon teriyaki atop brown rice
-steamed broccoli florettes
-dried fruit such as craisins, pineapple, prunes

4. -grilled cheese sandwich, (thin slice turkey or ham optional)
-baked sweet potato chips
-apple slices, (caramel sauce optional)

5. -turkey and Swiss slices with crackers
-boiled egg
-applesauce

6. -Chinese chicken pasta salad
-trail mix using peanut-free items such as almonds or walnuts, cereal (Rice Chex
and Cheerios work well),raisins, dried mango, banana chips,chocolate covered
sunflower seeds, flax seeds

7. -fried rice loaded with your kid's favorite vegetables
-cherries
-yogurt

8. -homemade macaroni and cheese with cauliflower florettes
-zucchini and blueberry bread

9. -baked pasta with turkey meatballs
-small container of black olives and Gherkin pickles
-blueberries

10.-bagel with your child's favorite cream cheese flavor
-apricot

11.-sliced ham and pineapple lightly tossed with your favorite BBQ sauce and broiled for 5 minutes, atop rice - carrot and jicama sticks, (Ranch dressing or hummus
optional

12.-sliced, roasted chicken (my kids love rosemary-garlic-lemon) with orzo pasta or
better yet, quinoa (add vegetables such as corn, diced red bell pepper)
-cottage cheese with fresh fruit

13.-homemade chicken noodle soup with crackers
-banana
-popcorn

14.-veggie sushi rolls - try cucumber, takuwan, avocado
-small slice carrot-raisin bread
-nectarine

Darla's - kids eat free on Tuesdays

2009-06-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

Darla's is a traditional American eatery in the Inner Sunset that offers burgers - 'possibly one of the best in SF' - sandwiches, salads, soups, and breakfast items like omelettes, pancakes and breakfast burritos served all day. For dinner, they have comforting plates of prime rib, pork chops, chicken fried steak and fish and chips which all come with salad, fresh vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes and are priced between $10 and $16. They make homemade milkshakes and rootbeer floats, too.

Every Tuesday past 5:00 p.m., Darla's serves up to two kids under the age of 12 free off the kids' menu with the purchase of an adult entree. If your child brings in a colored picture from their web site, he or she gets a free kids' meal any day of the week with the purchase of one adult entree. Youngsters can enjoy classic kiddie fare such as corn dogs with french fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, and mini burgers. They can have milk, apple juice or lemonade to wash it all down.

There's a patio in the back which is nice when it's good weather. And, how about that little signature chocolate chip brownie that comes with your bill? How cute.

For more info: Darla's, open 7 days a week. 822 Irving Street at 9th Avenue. 415.753.3275.

Foreign Cinema: A year-round favorite in the Mission

2009-06-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

For years, my husband and I have loved the unique Cal-Med style food, professional service and "industrial chic" environs at Foreign Cinema. We've enjoyed romantic champagne brunches - they carry one of my favorite bubbles, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé - many a dinner with friends, and a few family meals with the kids. After 10 years in business, this place still impresses.

It was around 1:00 p.m. when we arrived last weekend and both the dining room and courtyard were packed. Good thing we had reservations. The hostess, coffee server and waiter were all friendly and performed their jobs seamlessly. The food was great, as always. I like that they change their menu everyday, it keeps each visit interesting and fun. Our three-year-old daughter seemed to enjoy our brunch as much as we did. And, she had a good time drawing with crayons on the white butcher paper they conscientiously placed over our white tablecloth.

During the day, the patio is a bright, cheery space and after sunset, a flicker and glow emanate from nightly films they project onto the brick wall. The dining room has a warm yet urban feel and casual elegance that makes dining here feel like a treat. Whether you sit inside or out, it is a hip place to hang out and break bread with friends any time.

This Mission District destination is also a cool setting for private parties. There are several options, including a spacious art gallery adjacent to the patio, a mezzanine and a small Director’s Table. Lazlo bar located in front of the restaurant is also available for buyouts. My friends and I have often boogied to the grooves of the DJ and enjoyed late night drinks there.

Here is the line up of food we ordered:

Baked eggs in chicken hash ($15) - Oooh, my kind of dish! Two eggs sat atop chicken hash, kale, tomatoes, onions, and chickpeas in a spicy red sauce. I loved all the ingredients and especially liked that it packed some heat. The grilled papad, or thin Indian flatbread, was nice although a hunk of French bread would have soaked up that sauce better.

Madras curry roast chicken ($16) - Another delightfully spicy dish. There was a perfectly roasted half chicken with crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. It was accompanied by basmati rice with golden raisins, red onion raita and broccoli rabe. Mmmmmmm.

Fruit "pop tarts" ($6.75) - There was a choice of apple and strawberry that day and we opted for apple. It looked kind of like a pop tart dusted with confectioner's sugar but tasted much better. Unlike the sickeningly sweet kiddie version, this was like a warm apple turnover.

Kids' portion of French toast with a side of slow-cooked brown sugar smoked bacon - Our daughter had two pieces of baguette French toast with maple syrup and an order of delectable, chewy, slightly sweet bacon. Mommy had no self control and ate half of the bacon, oops! The kids' menu ($10) consists of a three course meal starting with fresh fruit and ending with two scoops of homemade ice cream with whipped cream. Besides French toast, entree choices included scrambled eggs and a grilled cheese sandwich.

I also give them thumbs up for serving delicious decaf coffee from Caffé Roma in North Beach.

Foreign Cinema is always worth the trip to the Mission District.

For more info: Foreign Cinema. 2534 Mission Street, between 21st and 22nd Streets. 415.648.7600.

Crazy for Koo

2009-06-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

No doubt about it, Koo excels at serving wonderfully fresh sushi and sashimi. Chef/owner Kiyoshi Hayakawa (Sushi Ran, Ace Wasabi’s, Tokyo GoGo) turns out impressive quality fish with daily specials from his simple, clean Irving Street sushi bar and restaurant. There are also fusion dishes like shrimp and scallop dumplings with a drizzle of chili oil and mango puree, grilled artichokes, and duck breast salad with a mustard-ginger-pineapple sauce. The latter is our favorite, but overall, the sushi bar items are really their forte. Servers are always courteous and efficient. Koo has a nice selection of sake and my husband likes the fact that they serve Asahi Black which he can't find at many restaurants in town.

One unique and fun dish to eat is appropriately named A Spoonful of Happiness. You actually receive two delicious spoonfuls: one with uni (sea urchin), quail egg, tobiko and ponzu sauce; the other with ankimo (monkfish liver) wrapped with whitefish, ponzu and truffle oil. A shot of dry sake accompanies them. The first bite is smooth and creamy and the second bursts with flavor. Wow, my tastebuds do cartwheels.

A few of our favorite types of sushi here are the wild aji (mackerel) garnished with green onions, the otoro or indulgently fatty blue fin tuna, wild King salmon, and nasu or Japanese eggplant. Rather than rattle off a long list, let's just say that my husband and I haven't met a fish here that we didn't like.

We recently discovered that they don’t like to do substitutions which created a minor hiccup when we took our kids there for dinner last week. My son wanted to have white rice instead of mashed potatoes (they call it potato salad) with his chicken teriyaki, but they said they couldn’t do a swap. So, we ordered a bowl of rice on the side. And, their chicken comes with a sweet chutney rather than classic teriyaki sauce which my son wasn't too keen about. He and my daughter were both happier with the tempura.

Again, if you focus on goodies from the sushi bar, you are bound to go home happy. This is a nice place to go with a group of friends for dinner. Just note that parking can be difficult in the neighborhood, especially on weekend nights, and it can be tough to get a table if you don’t plan ahead. Be sure to make reservations and give yourself extra time to park.

Koo. 408 Irving Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues), San Francisco, CA 94122. 451.731.7077. Closed Mondays.

Social networking sites => burgeoning street food phenomenon

2009-06-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks largely to Web 2.0 technology, street food is the hot new trend here. Savvy entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the benefits of pavement fare over the traditional restaurant model, including ever-important factors such as lower overhead and labor costs. They are stocking carts, trucks and even bicycles and creating buzz for free by using tools like Twitter and Facebook. And, these social networking sites enable mobile businesses to instantly shed light on their whereabouts for their loyal following everyday. What's so exciting about this breed of purveyors is that they are not just serving tacos - and don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with tacos - but unique and diverse food can be found, from frog legs and artisan salumi to pho and curry. Here are some street beat eats you can follow on Twitter around the Bay Area.

Amuse Bouche SF - muffins and chai tea

Bike Basket Pies - mini rustic pies

Boccalone Salumi Cycle - panini sandwiches filled with artisan salumi

Cookie Wag SF - homemade cookies and ice cream sandwiches

Creme Brulee Cart - various flavors of creme brûlée

Gobba Gobba Hey - various flavors of round cakes with cream filling

Left Coast Smoke - BBQ

Magic Curry Cart - chicken and tofu curries

Mobile Pho Truck - Vietnamese noodle soup

Roli Roti - rotisserie meats

Sexy Soup Cart - organic soups

SF Moo Moo Cakes - organic ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, ice cream

Spencer on the Go - upscale French (Chez Spencer)

Thai Shaved Ice - shaved ice

Urban Nectar - juices

Tuesday tidbits: Bar Crudo reopens, Absinthe features Top Chef soup, adieu to Jeanty at Jack's

2009-05-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

Since yesterday was a holiday, I didn't post my usual "Monday morsels" article, but in case you were missing your weekly scoop, here are your Tuesday Tidbits...

Bar Crudo has reopened in its new Divisadero digs for dinner. Look for lunch service in the near future. They tell me they will start taking reservations on Monday. 655 Divisadero between Hayes and Grove. 415.409.0679.

Chef Jamie Lauren sent a Tweet that the chilled corn soup with mint and chili oil you saw on "Top Chef" is now on the menu at Absinthe! 398 Hayes at Gough. 415.551.1590.

Sadly, we have to bid adieu to Jeanty at Jack's. Philippe Jeanty closed the doors of his unique Downtown locale on Friday, after a seven year stint. The good news is that you can still get his amazing tomato soup in puff pastry, coq au vin and cassoulet at Bistro Jeanty in Napa. And, if you go to the Bistro Jeanty web site, you can download the tomato soup recipe and make it at home!

Chapeau! - once is enough

2009-05-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

I had high expectations about this place since so many people have raved about it, but unfortunately, our dinner experience was less than impressive. I know Michael Bauer eats at a restaurant three times before he writes a review, and my hat goes off to him since in instances like this, I have absolutely no desire to return a second or third time. They pack so many people into such tight quarters, I don't understand how it can be enjoyable.

My husband dropped me off while he looked for parking, and despite being seated promptly between a couple of two-tops within a short handshake distance from me, all of the waitstaff proceeded to ignore me. There I sat, for nearly 10 minutes, without anyone acknowledging my presence. No one offered me a glass of water or a menu while I waited. It wasn't until my husband walked in and joined me that I suddenly became visible.

Then, when we did order, the server had to shout in order for my husband to hear him across our tiny table. The din was so loud that the server bellowed deafeningly over my right shoulder. Later, I asked the server to switch to my other side and I plugged my good ear while he talked. I kid you not. And, as another server cleared a dirty plate from a neighboring table and turned around, he clipped my husband in the head!

The food was good, but was lost amidst the hot, noisy, claustrophobic bustle.

I know they recently took over Clementine, one of our favorite spots on Clement Street, but I've been wary to return, for fear that they have doubled the seating to replicate the Chapeau! experience.

Juban - fun, do it yourself grilling in Japantown

2009-05-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

This yakiniku, or "grilled meat" joint is a good place to take people for an interactive eating experience. Bigger kids especially love being able to cook their own food. There are 16 grills at the tables and 8 more built into the circular bar at the center of the large dining room. That's a lot of cooking going on at the same time, but it never gets too smoky or hot which is a huge plus. They have a pretty extensive Asian menu with a la carte meats, veggies, seafood and accompaniments which are served family style. They also have a handful of soups, and rice and noodle dishes. If you prefer, you can opt to have the prix fixe menu for $62.25 or $82.75 which feeds two to three people each.

Juban is not a fancy place, but it's a fun spot for casual celebrations like birthdays. I also like the little touches, like special plastic kids' dinnerware and utensils (my daughter was thrilled to get a Winnie the Pooh set) a small bucket of ice to keep my bottle of sake chilled, and wet napkins at the end of the meal for everyone.

Two favorites are the miso salmon ($9) and sea scallops ($11). The beef tataki ($7.50) actually tastes better heated up and cooked through on the grill; it brings out the nice, strong ginger flavor and makes the meat more tender. The onmen ($7.50),hot somen noodles with egg, spinach and shittake mushrooms, is apparently a favorite among young children, but the beef broth was very subtle and proved to be too bland for my preschooler. She enjoyed the grilled items over rice much more.

They didn't have lobster tails the night we went, so my son ordered the rib eye ($9.50 instead and was very happy with it. He also ordered the green tea mochi for dessert but they didn't have it, so he got green tea ice cream ($3) which he enjoyed. They do carry top of the line Wagyu beef which we will have to try the next time we go.

Juban Yakiniku, Japantown, San Francisco. See web site for other locations.

Sundance Kitchen's manager keeps Island spirit alive

2009-05-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned this before, but not in so much detail. I was saddened when Honu's in Buchanan Mall closed, but excited to discover that former owner Pat Da Silva-Fong manages Sundance Kitchen next to the Sundance movie theater. She has infused Hawaiian influences in their menu and brought live entertainment to the new venue on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 9:00 p.m. Granted, it's not the same as Honu's - it's a lot bigger and thus not as homey, and it's pricier. Still, it's nice to see that the Island spirit that made Honu's such a favorite still lives on, just around the corner from Pat's old digs. One of the pluses about the new spot is the full bar makes a mean green tea cocktail with top shelf vodka.

Here are a couple of our favorite dishes:

Kobe beef sliders($11.95) - a trio of yummy, beefy burgers with arugula, carmelized onions and tomatoes.

10" Ultimate Hawaiian Pizza ($11.95) with kalua pork and pineapple - a great take on this style pizza - salty, sweet, slightly greasy, cheesy goodness.

My son was pleased to see that they kept the recipe for kalbi short ribs ($14.95), although now they serve it with kimchi fried rice, a little too spicy for his taste. They are cool about substituting white rice, though.

La Terrasse - French fare in the Presidio

2009-05-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite places to go for Sunday brunch is La Terrasse, a French eatery nestled in the historic Presidio. They have a lovely patio with umbrellas and heat lamps with a scenic view of the Bay. La Terrasse offers simple, satisfying, consistently good food in a relaxed atmosphere.

Our three year old daughter enjoys coming here after her swimming classes nearby because the greet her with a big, warm welcome, often give her a coloring book with crayons and sometimes turn their bar TV to the cartoon channel. She loves their wood fired mozzarella pizza, sans basil, as well as their French toast smothered in maple syrup.

At lunch and dinner, this place makes delicious classics including rainbow trout almondine over spinach, nicoise salad with grilled ahi tuna, and mussels in garlic/butter/white wine Pernod sauce.

They make interesting cocktails like the Golden Gate ($10) which has champagne, cointreau, brandy and orange and lemon juices.

Some of their best dishes:

Smoked Salmon Benedict ($14). This is my favorite kind of eggs benedict here although the crab and California (bacon/tomato/avocado) are good, too. The salmon is plentiful and topped with tobiko caviar. Underneath sits a large poached egg sauteed spinach, the perfect amount of Hollandaise sauce and a soft brioche.

French Toast ($12). The crunchy, chewy bread makes this dish so unique. I'm not even a big fan of French toast in general, but this one is absolutely addicting. The batter consists of Brandy, sugar, milk, and vanilla. It's sweet but not too sweet, and leaves you wanting more, even if your brain tells you you're full.

Huevos Rancheros (I don't recall the price). They added several Mexican style brunch items a few months ago. This tasty one has two eggs prepared your way with black beans, salsa, diced potatoes, cheese and two flour tortillas (I substitute corn tortillas).

Cheeseburger ($15),$13 without cheese. A big beef patty on a hearty bun with onions, tomatoes, lettuce and your choice of gruyere or roquefort cheese. It comes with french fries which can be substituted for a small green salad.

Kokkari - Greek fare good enough for the gods

2009-05-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, when I was still working in an executive briefing center for a high tech company, my friends and I used to meet at Kokkari from time to time and have dinner before heading out for late night dancing and drinks. It was always bustling with attractive people, the food was consistently tasty, we loved the rustic and inviting atmosphere, and it was spacious enough to accommodate our larger numbers without feeling cramped.

It had been awhile since I'd been back, but last week, my girlfriend and I met there for lunch since she works nearby. Immediately, the friendly hostess and warm Saloni, or front room, with a large stone fireplace and dramatic bar, beckoned me. We were seated at a cheery table by the oversized window along Jackson street in the Kouzina, or kitchen dining area, with high ceilings. Although two different people asked us what type of water we wanted, the rest of lunch service was seamless. The food was better than I remember.

We shared grilled lamb riblets ($9.25) lightly seasoned with oregano and lemon which were hearty, finger-licking starters. We split dolmathes ($7), a plate of grape leaves stuffed with rice, dill and mint. I loved the lemony flavor and dill. We also had the oven roasted prawns ($12.75) with creamy tomato sauce and a nice little zing from feta cheese. My friend had the colorful Kokkari salad ($8) with arugula, cherry tomatoes, super crunchy Cretan rusk croutons and myzithra cheese in a vinaigrette. The croutons had a characteristically dry and hard texture which I imagine would be good for teething babies to gnaw on. Nevertheless, my friend enjoyed her salad. My charcoal-grilled octopus salad entrée ($14.50) with Greek peppers, frisée and white wine vinaigrette was fresh, filling and flavorful. The octopus was plentiful, had nice smoky flavor and tender, chewy texture.

They have a number of good wines by the glass, like a dark, deeply fruity, deliciously easy to drink Melville syrah ($13) from Santa Barbara.

This is still a wonderful place for both personal and business dining. They have multiple seating arrangements including: a grand hand-carved, wooden chef's table that seats 24 in the Kouzina; a 30-seat private Oenos, or wine room, adjacent to the Kouzina; and a lovely Hania room that seats 10 just a short elevator ride downstairs. Even their restrooms, located beyond the Hania room, are charming, although I wouldn't recommend dining there.

For more info: Kokkari Estiatorio, 200 Jackson Street at Front, San Francisco, 415.981.0983. Their sister restaurant, Evvia Estiatorio, is located at 420 Emerson Street in Palo Alto.

uber dinner II at supperclub San Francisco

2009-05-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

On Monday, June 1st, supperclub will showcase the culinary prowess of Jennie Lorenzo from Michelin-rated Fifth Floor and Jamie Lauren from Absinthe and Top Chef fame. These renowned chefs will collaborate with supperclub SF's executive chef Guus Wickenhagen, and create special courses for this prix fixe dinner ($125) which includes wine pairings from Quintessa, Veramonte, Faust, Pommery, and Francis Coppola. Limited seats available, call 415.348.0900 for reservations.

Hot diggity Woeuf dog

2009-05-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

Forget breakfast sandwiches, go for a Woeuf Dog at Let's Be Frank on Steiner Street this weekend. Only on Sunday and Monday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, you can fill up on a frank, brat or "hot" dog with griddled onions, scrambled eggs, Devil Sauce, and maybe a slice of bacon for good measure, all tucked into an Acme organic bun. They also have Party Packs in three sizes for your Memorial Day barbecue. Become a fan on Facebook to receive special deals including a free jar of Devil Sauce when you buy three 12-oz. packs of dogs or brats this Saturday through Monday. 3318 Steiner Street between Chestnut and Lombard.

High on the Hog at Epic Roasthouse

2009-05-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, June 27th, head to Epic Roasthouse to swing to the bluegrass beats of Nell Robinson and the Red Level Band, swirl your glass with Pinot provided by local wineries, and sink your teeth into swine being prepared by chef Jan Birnbaum on the grill. Jordan MacKay, 7x7 Wine and Spirits Editor, will be signing copies of Passion for Pinot. Festivities run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the Epic patio. Pig roast and wine tasting, $50/person.

Freebies at P.F. Chang's, half price at Luna Park and Blue Plates at Broadway Grill

2009-05-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

How's this for recession friendly fare?

Thanks to PGA pro Briny Baird, P.F.Chang's is giving away free lettuce wraps. Go here.

"Mint julep" is the password at Luna Park tomorrow. Tell your server and get 50% off your entire check.

Broadway Grill in Burlingame is serving Blue Plate Specials every Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays = spaghetti and meatballs for $10, Wednesdays = chicken pot pie for $11, Thursdays = meatloaf for $12, and Fridays = fish and chips for $11.

Take advantage of these deals while you can!

Test your food knowledge and play Edible Pursuit at ACME Chophouse

2009-05-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Edible San Francisco is hosting its third Edible Pursuit at ACME Chophouse on Sunday, June 7th. The Tablehopper's Marcia Gagliardi will be emceeing this fun, food-themed trivia game night. Purchase tickets to participate in teams of two to five players and test your knowledge of the San Francisco food scene, kitchen know-how, food politics, and more. Players will vie for prizes including restaurant gift certificates, artisanal goodies and cookbooks. There also will be prizes for the cream of the crop in categories like "Best Team Name" and "Best Team Uniform." Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and Edible Pursuit begins at 7:00 p.m. Get your tickets http://ediblesanfrancisco.com/wordpress/2009/05/01/purchase-tickets-for-edible-pursuit-for-june-7-at-acme-chophouse/.

Wine and cheese tasting and Monday Night Suppers at Bar Bambino

2009-05-22T12:57:00.000-07:00

Bar Bambino, one of the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants, is hosting a wine and cheese tasting for those who are curious about how the perfect pair are made. This educational afternoon will be led by owner Christopher Losa and Head Cheese Monger Colin Shaff on Sunday, May 31st, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., $45. To reserve your spot, email events@barbambino.com or call 415.701.VINO (8466).

Starting June 1, Bar Bambino is introducing Monday Night Suppers from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Their prix fixe family-style menu ($35) will change weekly and include a red or white wine option for an extra $10.

Stylish pizzas, beer and oysters

2009-05-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

So GQ's Alan Richman has announced his Top 25 Pizzas in the country which include the Bay Area's own Pizzeria Delfina (#3), Gialina (#14), and A16 (#17). What do you think, is he on the money?

Feeling the post-Bay-to-Breakers-blues? I bet 21st Ammendment's Beer Appreciation Day might cheer you up. Sign up for a Master Class in brewing ($25) at 5:00 p.m. or Beer Through the Ages ($65) at 7:00 p.m., or save $10 by signing up for both.

Personally, I'm going through oyster withdrawals, SF Oyster Fest was such a blast. For those of you who are craving more, CitysearchSF tweets that Woodhouse Fish Co. started serving $1 oysters at 4:00 p.m. Gotta run!

Dine in casual elegance at Zinnia

2009-05-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

Chef Sean O'Brien, who developed a loyal following at Myth, opened Zinnia with his wife Patricia last October. They offer delicious New American cuisine, including some Myth favorites like potato gnocchi, rigatoni with foie gras cream, roasted black cod, oysters in the half shell and his signature dish, seared sweetbreads. Located where Cypress Club, 500 Jackson and Scott Howard used to be, Zinnia is an upscale but unstuffy spot to grab cocktails and dinner.

The interior is spacious, simply adorned and warmly lit, with a relaxed, loungey feel.

They have fun specialty cocktails like the Jalisco Sour ($10) with tequila, lemon and orange juice, egg white and bitters; and The Secret Garden ($12) with Square One organic cucumber vodka, St. Germain elderflower liqueur and Prosecco. They make a pretty good Pimm's Cup ($10) with Pimm's No. 1, lemon-lime soda, ginger, mint and cucumber. My husband and his buddy are always happy whenever they see Trumer Pils ($5) and Chimay Red Label ($9) on the menu.

We love (exclamation point) the Hood Canal Oysters ($13), half a dozen Washington oysters presented with slurpalicously good lemongrass and lime juice topped with Yuzu tobiko. The poached Jidori egg ($11) is a winner, too, especially because I enjoy breakfast/brunch items any time of day, and this one is tasty. The egg sits atop chicken hash surrounded by beech mushrooms with chicken jus. The large crackling lends the perfect amount of salt and decadence to finish the dish. Another star on the menu is signature seared sweetbreads ($12), which are plated with bacon, sherry vinegar and haricot verts. They are addicting, and I could devour them by the bowlful.

The pastas and dishes from the sea come in two sizes. Rigatoni ($13/19) with foie gras cream, maitake mushrooms, and Marsala is nice although the foie gras is very subtle and the dish itself is surprisingly less memorable than the rigatoni they made for my daughter which had a rich and creamy, cheesy, buttery sauce reminiscent of mac and cheese. Seared Tasmanian trout ($15/26) in saffron sauce has a nice crispy skin with tender meat that is a pretty pink color similar to salmon. It comes with heirloom carrots and turnips. Scallops ($17/28) are seared to perfection and served with pioppini mushrooms, fennel, crispy potatoes and lobster sauce. You get two scallops with the smaller portion and three with the large.

The item that is just so-so is proscuitto wrapped escargot ($12) with crispy fennel, mache and rouille. They are salty little nuggets that could be anything, really, because you can't tell there is escargot in it.

The staff at Zinnia are impressively accommodating to the toddler set. We think their cozy booths by the window along Jackson Street provide a perfect, kid-friendly corner. When we ate dinner there recently, the hostess doted over our daughter and gave her a big box of crayons with a notepad to keep her occupied. Our server promptly sent out warm bread and butter for our hungry youngster to nibble on while the kitchen prepared her half order of rigatoni. And, they brought my daughter's food out along with the adult appetizers, so everyone was happy.

Zinnia may not be affordable everyday, but it is certainly a nice place to go on occasion. If you want to sample their fare at smaller prices, check them out during Halfsy Hour in the lounge and bar. From 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on weeknights, they offer half price specialty cocktails, wines by the glass and premium beer, along with signature half portions of dinner menu items.

Monday morsels: Gnomes, frog legs, Sweet 16 and more!

2009-05-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Today, "Flavors of San Francisco" kicks off Small Business Week at City Hall, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Great networking along with nibbles from restaurants like Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Chez Papa Resto, Meze's Taste of Greece, and Nectar Wine Lounge. Registration required.

Suppenküche is celebrating its Sweet 16! In honor of this occasion, they are hosting Gnome Gnight, a costume ball on Thursday, May 21st, from 5:00 - 11:00 p.m. Dress up like a gnome and enjoy beer and food specials, music and dancing.

There were several exciting openings in the past few days, including Flour + Water where they are turning out fresh pastas and pizzas; farmerbrown's sibling little skillet, bringing you comfort food like chicken and waffles; and Chez Spencer's new French take-away truck, Spencer on the Go, where you can get fancy snacks like frog legs and curry, escargot puffs and truffle boeuf bourbuignon terrine. Looking forward to checking them all out.

Have a lovely week, people!

Fun in the sun at SF Oyster Fest and Uncorked! Wine Festival today

2009-05-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Aww shucks, I know you don't want to miss O'Reilly's 10th Annual Oyster Fest today at The Great Meadow, Fort Mason. All sorts of fun is lined up, including an oyster shuck and suck competition, an oyster pairing room, and cooking demos. The cool music line up includes Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Greyboy Allstars, Poor Man's Whiskey, Ignus Verma and Shantytown. Opens at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $23 in advance, $30 at the gate, $60 for reserved seating and kids under 14 get in free.

Also happening today is the Uncorked! Wine Festival at Ghiradelli Square. From 1:00 - 6:00 p.m., enjoy wine seminars, live demonstrations and music for free. Chef Alicia Harper of Rose Pistola, chef David Lawrence of 1300 on Fillmore, and chef Kasey Passen of Cellar 360 are doing wine-centric cooking demos. Over 55 local wineries are participating. Tickets are $50 for wine tasting.

See you there, people!

Tajine - solid Moroccan food in disco environs

2009-05-14T18:19:00.000-07:00

The other night, my husband and I joined a couple of foodie friends for dinner at Tajine which reopened on Thursday on VanNess at Pacific. We were in the mood for something casual, inexpensive and relatively kid-friendly since we were bringing our three year old daughter with us. We had never eaten at Tajine’s previous locations but had heard good things about the food.

Let’s see. There’s friendly staff including chef/owner Mohammed Ghaled personally welcoming us at the door? Check. You can bring your own wine without a corkage fee? Check. They have decent, if not large, portions of affordable Moroccan food? Check. Kid-friendly? Check.

Those are the pluses. The decor and seating configuration, on the other hand, reflected more of a lounge vibe and was not very conducive to having a relaxed, liesurely dinner. Or maybe I’m just an old, forty-something fuddy-duddy. There were black and silver couches, orange ottomans, disco balls, spotlights and a glowing, neon-lit bar. My husband and I sat on the sofa and towered over a very low standing table to eat while our friends sat opposite us on round ottomans that were better suited to the height of the table, but were seemingly not very comfortable. My friend said it reminded her of the way people crouch and eat at street vendors in Asia.

Tables around us were literally folded up and rolled away just before 10:00 p.m. to make way for the nightclub that Tajine transforms into on Friday and Saturday nights. It was a little off-putting to see and hear the staff putting away furniture as we tried to finish our meal. I imagine it would have been better if we sat on the floor on pillows, because we all would have been at the same eye level with each other and it would have felt a tad more homey.

That night, it appeared that more emphasis was placed on the Heights nightclub aspect than on the restaurant itself. It’s unfortunate because most of the food was delicious. We all agreed that one of the highlights were Merguez sausages which were flavorful, slightly spicy sausages atop cucumber slices. It was the perfect size to share between two people and whet our appetite for the entrees. We also enjoyed the lamb tajine, succulent pieces of lamb, that were moist, tender, and falling off the bone. Prunes added sweetness and brightened the dish. The chicken with olives and preserved lemon was a winner, too. There were really tender pieces of chicken bursting with flavor from the briney olives and tangy preserved lemon. You have to soak up the sauce with the bread they pass out, delish! Our friends also thoroughly enjoyed the chicken bastilla which was enormous! It was made of phyllo stuffed with ground chicken and sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon.

The two dishes that fell short were my lamb couscous which had generous portions of couscous and vegetables but no so much lamb and was pretty bland overall; and the lamb kababs which also came with couscous and veggies. The two skewers looked good but were overcooked and dry.

I might go back with a group since it’s inexpensive, you can bring your own wine and it’s kid-friendly, but not on a Friday or Saturday night.

Cafe Nordstrom has good, quick eats

2009-05-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

I just got back from running errands at Stonestown Galleria and grabbing a quick bite at the cafe at Nordstrom. I have been craving their caesar salad with salmon lately and I finally got my fix.

It’s always clean, efficient, and consistent here so when my kids want to eat at the food court, my husband and I order food to go from the cafe and bring it over there. My husband likes their tuna melt on marbled rye bread. One of these days, I want to try their French dip sandwich and the lime & cilantro chicken salad. But for now, I always find myself ordering that same citrus salmon caesar salad – guess I’m a creature of habit. It's refreshing and satisfying and always has the right amount of dressing.

It felt nippy out this morning so a cup of tomato basil soup sounded good. It was nice and hot, and had a rich and tangy tomato flavor. It was served with a big piece of cheesy, crusty bread which was perfect for dipping. I tend to like my tomato soup a tad sweeter and with a bit of melty cheese on top so that’s why I can't rave about it.

In addition to their regular menu, they serve breakfast all day and have a kids’ menu with familiar items like macaroni and cheese, a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, chicken breast tenders, a turkey sandwich, and buttered noodles.

They also have a dessert menu featuring carrot cake, chocolate turtle cake, New York style cheesecake, tiramisu and red velvet cake.

They’re open Mon-Sat from 11:00am to 7:00pm and on Sundays, they close at 5:00pm.

Oyaji - sushi and izakaya style fare in the Outer Richmond

2009-05-14T11:37:00.000-07:00

There's a little gem tucked across the street from the Lincoln Park Golf Course on Clement Street that serves good izakaya style dishes and sushi. I like the hot towels they pass out when you sit down, and enjoy eating in their cozy, semi-private booths. They have a killer crab and cucumber salad (kani su), delicious skewered chicken meatballs (tsukune) and great nigiri. My son loves the shrimp tempura as well as the Oyaji beef which is grilled rib eye with sauteed onions and Oyaji sauce served on a sizzling platter. It's not on the menu, but my daughter usually starts with a takuwan roll. She enoys the skewered duck (aigamo), too.

We've happily devoured the fried whole flounder (karei karaage), eyeballs and all. Cabbage rolls, stewed pork belly (butano-kakuni), and steamed clams in sake (asari no sakamushi) are pretty tasty, too. I always have saba sashimi, it's my favorite.

Last night, we tried skewered chicken gizzard (sunagimo) which, all I can say is, truly an acquired taste. The crunchy texture totally threw us off. I can't say that I'll be ordering that again anytime soon. We also sampled sautéed squid in butter and soy sauce (ika sauté) which my husband devoured - I got one little bite. The cha-shu ramen had great chewy noodles and tons of tender pork but was a little salty.

Oyaji always seems to be bustling, even on a weekday night. Last night, there were a mix of locals and Japanese people in business attire. Take a look at the photos of all the food we ate. Our bill came to a respectable $66.80 - it also includes tea and a soda.

For more info: Oyaji Restaurant

5A5, San Francisco's first 'steak lounge,' opens today

2009-05-12T09:40:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, my family and I went to the soft opening of what was then called A5, a new steak lounge in Jackson Square named after the highest grade of beef. This is where old-school steak house meets modern cocktail lounge. It was a fun experience for the whole family.

Their renovations weren't complete yet and they gave us feedback cards since they were still formulating their menu. One of the owners (Circolo and Bin38) came out and chatted with us for a while which was nice. My son particularly got a kick out of being able to submit his comments about the food, service and ambiance. He talked about our server who was super friendly, but forgetful. He gave two thumbs up on the lamb lollipops which he's glad to see is on their new menu. He also mentioned how spooky dark it was in their co-ed bathrooms downstairs.

We enjoyed many of the items we tried. In addition to the tasty lamb chops, we are pleased to see that the hamachi shooters, macaroni and cheese, and truffled fries also made the final cut. There used to be a delicious beet salad with blood orange but now they have a version prepared with capers, mache and Caciotta al Tartufo. They have added delicious sounding small plates including king crab legs, lobster tempura, beef tataki and Hokkaido scallops.

The one kink that we hope they have worked out is timing - all of our beef entrees came out room temperature instead of hot. And, I wonder if they still cut the beef into dainty slices for you. Personally, when I eat steak, I prefer to cut it myself. We'll just have to go back and see how the whole project has turned out.

For more info: 5A5 Steak Lounge

Monday morsels

2009-05-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

7x7 highlights Laïola's Sciabica olive oil dinner on May 13th. Chef Ron Pei is preparing a four-course meal for $75 including olive oil poached tuna conserva, braised pork shoulder with candied olives, and an olive oil cake with lemon-rosemary ice cream. This feast includes Spanish wine pairings with each course. Call now to book your reservation. 415.346.5641.

It's Wild Game Week again at The Big 4 Restaurant starting tomorrow, through May 16. Some highlights include Brazilian piranha "ribs," wild boar "crispy tacos," pan seared rib eye of llama, and buffalo short ribs. 415.771.1140.

Don't forget that SF Cocktail Week kicks off at Le Colonial tonight, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Do you have fun noshing and imbibing plans around town? Share them with me at grubalicioussf@gmail.com. I love getting your emails!

What's Cooking? Breakfast at Ad Hoc

2009-05-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

Breakfast is now being served at Ad Hoc, Thomas Keller's casual eatery which earned three stars from Michael Bauer. Befitting its relaxed approach, you won't find anything too fancy, just the kind of comfort food you would share around the family table at home.

Every Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., they serve two courses for $24 with classic American breakfast items such as oatmeal, chef Keller's breakfast of choice, prepared with brown sugar, Marshall's farm honey, spiced apricots and raisins. Another core item is their "Sourdough Waffles" with maple syrup, apple compote, whipped cream, Fatted Calf breakfast sausage and slab bacon. And, there is the "Classic American" with two eggs any style, scallion potato cakes, Fatted Calf breakfast sausage and slab bacon.

Everyone starts off with a yummy assortment of pastries and muffins from chef Keller’s Bouchon Bakery, in addition to a seasonal yogurt parfait.

What's more, Chef de cuisine Dave Cruz will create weekly specials. Think Snake River Farms corned beef brisket with Yukon gold potatoes and poached hen eggs.

Finally, fresh squeezed juices, sangria, mimosas, and a variety of Champagnes and sparkling wines are on the morning beverage menu.

Early morning road trip, anyone?

Mom eats for free, all you can eat pizza and family style dinners for ten bucks

2009-05-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

Luna Park has a great deal for Mother's Day brunch and dinner tomorrow. Just have your mom bring in a family photo, and she gets to eat free! That's right, an appetizer, entree and dessert are on the house. You just spring for drinks.

Enjoy all you can eat thin crust pizza at Good Pizza in Soma for just $10! They serve four kinds of pie nightly, Monday through Saturday, 6:00 p.m. until closing. Good for dine-in only, through May 31st.

Henry's, Berkeley's first gastropub, has Sunday Night Suppers for only $10! This family-style deal was originally designed to rescue UC Berkeley students from "dorm dining fatigue" but is now available to everyone!

Mother's Day Brunch recipes from Butterfly chef Rob Lam

2009-05-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

On Mother's Day, Butterfly chef/owner Rob Lam is preparing a delectable prix fixe brunch menu at his innovative Cal-Asian waterfront restaurant. Imagine starting with an "amusement" of house smoked salmon and strawberry salad roll; then having a green papaya and mango salad with Vietnamese carmelized shrimp; moving on to a main course of smoked salmon scramble with white and green asparagus, tobiko caviar and Texas toast; and finishing with "mom's home baked cookies and créme brulée." Chef Lam has also created a vegetarian menu just for the occasion. Both are $45.

And, here's something special. Chef Lam is sharing two Mother's Day brunch recipes so that you can prepare his dishes at home! You'll definitely want to add these to your recipe collection.

Butterfly's Green Papaya and Mango Salad with Vietnamese Carmelized Shrimp (yields 4 servings)

Green Papaya and Mango Salad

1 green papaya, peeled and julienned

1 ripe mango, peeled and sliced into 12 pieces

2 cups micro cilantro

2 shallots, peeled, julienned, and fried

Method: Peel the green papaya, cut in half and deseed. Use a mandolin with a julienne attachment to make fine shreds that are not too thick but not so thin that you lose the texture. Try to attain something in the shape of angel hair pasta. Set aside and chill.

Peel and cut the mango into two halves. Slice some of the extra fruit off of the seed to make total use of it and set aside. Slice the two halves of mango into equal portions, about eight slices per half. Set aside and chill.

Nuoc Cham Dressing

2 limes, juiced

½ cup white vinegar

½ cup sugar

½ cup fish sauce

1t garlic, minced

1t ginger, minced

1T Sriracha or hot chili paste

Method: Mix all ingredients and taste. Add more sugar or chili paste to taste. Set aside and chill.

Vietnamese Caramelized Shrimp

½ T olive oil

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

20 shrimp, peeled and deveined

1T sugar

1T fish sauce

½ t black pepper

Method:

In a hot, seasoned pan add oil, garlic and shrimp. Sear one side and then add sugar, fish sauce and black pepper. Cook until the sugar is dissolved and shrimp is cooked through. Get ready to plate.

Plate Up:

Combine green papaya and mango scraps in a bowl and dress with Nuoc Cham. Check for seasoning. If necessary, add more dressing. On a rectangular plate, place four slices of mango across the plate at 1 inch intervals. Top the slices with a line of green papaya salad. Top that with 5 pieces of the caramelized shrimp. Top the shrimp with the micro cilantro and finish the plate with a drizzle of Sriracha sauce and some fried shallots.

Butterfly's Smoked Salmon and Strawberry Salad Rolls (yields 8 rolls)

1 pk. large rice paper

½ pk. rice noodles, blanched

1 pt. strawberries, sliced

¼ lb. smoked salmon, sliced

¼ bunch cilantro, cleaned and roughly chopped

¼ bunch mint, cleaned and roughly chopped

2 heads butter lettuce, cleaned and roughly chopped

Method: Use a bowl of warm water large enough to soak the rice paper in. Working one paper at a time, dip the rice paper into the water and let drain on a cutting board. Make sure you run your hand over the paper to get an even distribution of water. This should make the rice paper soften up like a really thin tortilla. Working like you are making a burrito, place one layer of smoked salmon down, top it with some sliced strawberries, top that with the herb and butter lettuce mix, and finish it all with a layer of rice noodles. Roll it up and let rest for fifteen minutes before slicing. Serve with a classic Vietnamese Nuoc Mam sauce, see recipe below.

Nuoc Mam Sauce

1 cup lime juice

1 cup fish sauce

1 cup sugar

3 garlic cloves, minced

½ T ginger, minced

2 T Sriracha

Method: Combine all ingredients and taste. Reduce the amount of Sriracha if it is too spicy. You should get a flavor balance of sweet, spicy, and sour with the aroma of garlic and ginger.

If you want to enjoy these dishes without doing all the work, there's still time to call and make your reservations.

For more info: Butterfly, Pier 33. Also check out Rob Lam's latest project, Eastside West.

A special gift for your foodie mom on Mother's Day

2009-05-06T10:43:00.001-07:00

What could be more perfect than treating your mom to a Spring Bonnet Cake from chef Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery? Surprise her at Mother's Day brunch with this individual sized dessert ($9) that comes in two yummy flavors: Lemon cake with fresh blueberry compote and almond streusel; and Vanilla Angel cake with fruits of the forest and almond streusel. It's the ideal gift because it's adorable, edible and affordable.

In addition, Bouchon Bakery has Cinnamon Twist Bread, house made briochette infused with cinnamon and streusel ($12.50). Mmmm, I can practically smell it from here. It's delicious simply on its own but can also be used to create a tasty twist on classic French toast for a lovely Mother's Day brunch at home.

For more info: Bouchon Bakery, Yountville. Open daily 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 707.944.2253. Visit other well-known Thomas Keller eateries.

Craving tofu at Doobu

2009-05-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

One of the nice things about having a toddler who likes to take late afternoon naps is that my husband and I get to enjoy liesurely meals, and by liesurely I mean two to three hours, while she snoozes in her stroller. Earlier this week, we headed over to our favorite Korean restaurant, Doobu, nestled in the heart of Japantown.

When you walk in, you notice the clean, simple decor with wooden booths on one side and tables on the other side just before the bar. A literal layer of warmth emanates throughout the place, an indication of the piping hot dishes being prepared in the kitchen. Servers are courteous and acknowledge familiar faces like ours. They bring out a myriad of side dishes including a whole fried yellow croaker for each of us, pickled cucumber, kimchi, fishcake, seaweed salad and vermicelli salad.

We order the kimchi tofu soup, with beef and medium heat. The cast iron pot is filled to the brim with silky soft tofu, bits of beef and kimchi, and the pretty red chili flecks characteristic of kimchi. We quickly stir in the raw egg while it's hot. It's so good over rice which soaks up the flavorful broth. The rice, by the way, is a light purple color as a result of combining both white rice and black rice together. We've had the corned beef soon tofu before but the kimchi version is tastier.

We also share the seafood bibimbap loaded with mussels, clams, squid, baby shrimp, assorted vegetables like mushrooms and onions, and an egg yolk all piled on top of white rice which has a delicious crispy layer coating the bottom of the sizzling pot. The only thing that doesn't seem to mesh with the other ingredients is the imitation crab. Nevertheless, it is very satisfying.

Doobu is the perfect warm-you-up-from-the-inside-out place for a cold, foggy San Francisco day or night. They give you such heaping portions that it's best to go when you are really hungry, and even then, you will leave stuffed and possibly with leftovers. One of these days, maybe my daughter will be awake and actually have a chance to enjoy their food. My son is a big fan of kalbi so we will have to bring him, too.

They are open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For more info: Doobu, 1723 Buchanan Street (between Post and Sutter). 415.292.6002.

Monday morsels: Cinco de Mayo, SF Cocktails Week, hotdogs, Mother's Day and more

2009-05-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

Pacific Catch, one of my family's favorite spots for fish and grilled artichokes, is keeping busy this month. In the Corte Madera location, live island music performed by Ka'ala returns every first and third Saturday of the month on the patio, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For Cinco de Mayo, you can find specials for $5.55. At 9th Avenue and Corte Madera, get a taco with a Pacifico or Corona, an agave margarita, or Baja shrimp ceviche; at Chestnut Street, get a taco with a Pacifico or Baja shrimp ceviche.

In preparation of Strawberry Week which celebrates this seasonal favorite fruit, Pacific Catch will present their strawberry mojito and strawberry halibut ceviche at 9th Avenue and Corte Madera on Mother's Day. They will have strawberry mimosas on Chestnut Street. If you can't make it this Sunday, don't worry. Stop by 9th Avenue from May 14th through May 24th, and taste executive chef Chandon Clenard's strawberry halibut ceviche, strawberry mojito and Thai pancake which are featured in the Strawberry Week Commemorative Cookbook. Pay for your meal with your Visa Signature Card and receive a complimentary copy, while supplies last. Go here for a list of other restaurants participating in Strawberry Week.

That's not all. During the entire month of May, receive a free baja shrimp ceviche when you order an entree valued at $12.95 or more. All you have to do is subscribe to their e-newsletter, print out the May issue and present it to your server.

Finally, when you order dessert at any location this month, Pacific Catch will donate $1 to the World of Children organization.

The third annual SF Cocktail Week kicks off on May 11th and runs through the 18th. You can purchase tickets to a myriad of fun events including a kickoff gala at Le Colonial's upstairs lounge; the U.S. Bartenders' Guild National Competition at Harry Denton's Starlight Room; Ferry Plaza Farmers Market inspired cocktails in the CUESA kitchen; cocktails, spirits and bartending classes from the Bay Area's top mixologists; drinks and snacks at Epic Roasthouse; a North Beach historical cocktail and bar crawl hosted by Tablehopper's Marcia Gagliardi; a stop at one of my personal favorites, The Alembic, on Haight; and a closing party at Jardinière.

Hotdogs sure are the rave these days, and today, Let's Be Frank opens on Steiner near Chestnut Street, not too far, interestingly, from What's Up Dog on Filbert Street. Just look for the mustard yellow and ketchup-y red exterior. UrbanDaddy mentions that the interior has finer features including wood and steel accents designed by Cass Calder Smith who also did La Mar's swanky digs.

Urban Tavern at the Hilton in Union Square is introducing their First Annual Mother's Day Brunch Buffet on May 10th. Special items will include mincemeat stuffed Niman Ranch pork loin, sautéed California halibut, wild mushroom quiche and sourdough French toast with warm strawberry-rhubarb jam. They will also have a three-course prix fixe dinner menu for $29.95 with an optional wine pairing for $19.50 more. Complimentary five-hour parking with brunch or dinner. They are also launching their kids' program for 4 to 12 year-olds. They have a new menu that includes an entree, starch, veggie and dessert for $10, plus they loan out portable DVD players so your children can watch shows like Scooby Doo and Felix the Cat while they eat. In addition, they are running monthly art contests for your aspiring Rockwells and Warhols. Winners will receive a pair of tickets to the Academy of Sciences and their artwork will be showcased in the restaurant's window for a month. At the end of the year, one lucky child will win two tickets to Universal Studios and a weekend stay at a Hilton property.

Have a lovely week, people!

Kingfish serves Creole-inspired food in a cool setting

2009-05-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

Executive chef Tony Flier is running the kitchen again at Kingfish and last week, the San Mateo eatery launched his new, all-day menu. It is more focused and has fewer items than before but the way the menu is laid out, it seems like there's tons more. During my single days, I used to head over there after work with friends for happy hour. But after I left my job in Silicon Valley, I just stopped going there, for no particular reason other than there were so many other fun places closer to home in San Francisco. Yesterday, my girlfriend, her three-year-old son and I met there for lunch and it was nice to see that the space, decorated throughout with colorful, whimsical art, still has its Southern charm and lively vibe.

My girlfriend is a healthy eater, she's studying to become a registered dietician and used to be my personal trainer. So I exerted some self-control and opted to go on the lighter side - I figured I'd save the gumbo and blackened catfish with cheesy grits for when I'm alone and feeling skinny. We both ordered from the "warm and field good salads" section of the menu. She got the King Louie Salad ($16.50) with poached shrimp, Dungeness crab, boiled egg, cucumbers, radishes, capers, red onions, and watercress in classic louie dressing. She substituted other greens for the iceberg and asked for dressing on the side. I had Tony's Grilled Calamari Salad "Goombah Style" ($12.95) with cannellini beans, oven ripened tomatoes, frisse, mache and watercress in a lemon vinaigrette.

My friend enjoyed her dish which looked good; light and fresh. Unfortunately, I didn't care for mine. The calamari was soft, almost mushy. And there wasn't very much of it, which in this case, was a good thing. The rest of the salad was mediocre because the ingredients didn't seem to mesh well together. I also had the grilled artichoke ($8) which came with two types of Creole remoulade. The artichoke was steamed to perfection but lacked smokiness from the grill. One dressing was like a sweet relish that was too chunky to spread onto the artichoke leaves, it kept falling off. The other looked like classic tartar sauce but was milder. It may not be fair to compare, but I have to say that Pacific Catch on 9th Avenue is still the one to beat for great grilled artichoke, especially because it comes with that yummy basil aioli. But that's another story.

Our server brought my friend's son a mini sketch board to keep him occupied as he waited for his order of corn bread ($6). They do have a kids' menu, but my friend decided to share her shrimp salad with her youngster. When the corn bread arrived in its cute cast iron pot, our little eater dug right in with gusto. But halfway through, he scrunched up his face and exclaimed that it was too spicy. When my friend took a taste, she realized that it did pack some heat. Oops, it would have been nice if our server had mentioned that when we placed our order. Nevertheless, our server was super nice, conscientious overall, and quick on her feet. She immediately brought a small cupful of maraschino cherries which cooled down the young tyke's tastebuds and brought a smile to his face.

Some prices seem a bit high - a couple of the fish dishes that caught my eye range between $21 and $27, a tad too steep for lunch. But, they do have a slew of lower priced items such as po' boys between $12.50 and $19.50, bowls of beer crab bisque and clam chowder for $9.50, steamed mussels and clams for $14, and sushi rolls for $9.50 to $11.50. They also have a bunch of affordable appetizers like potato skins with a tasso ham-jalapeño fondue ($8.50), filet mignon potstickers ($8.50), salt and pepper calamari ($9), three lil' boys hamburgers ($10) and crawfish dumplings in coconut curry sauce ($9.50).

Based upon today's samplings, I have to say I was a little disappointed but I will most likely be back. The thing is, I want to like the place because it's a pretty cool spot and holds special memories of good times spent with friends. Besides, what's not to like about a restaurant whose motto is "Eat like a King, Drink like a Fish" and boasts an artsy setting with cozy booth seating, an oyster bar with a TV, three cocktail bars with sports TVs, occasional live music, a private Estate Room perfect for smaller dinners, a pretty King's Room and spacious Mezzanine upstairs? Since they are only a week into their new menu, I'll cut them some slack and revisit them down the road.

Kingfish will have a Mother's Day brunch buffet from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., $35.95 adults, $12.95 children; and buffet dinner 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., $39.95 adults, $12.95 children.

Local reopenings and specials you won't want to miss

2009-04-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

The choices are endless in this gastronomic paradise we call the Bay Area. It's always so hard to decide where to eat next. Well, here is more food for thought that may help you pare down your "must-try" list throughout the weekend and into early next week.

This Friday, Mustards Grill reopens after clean up from the fire that closed it down in February and reportedy caused nearly $100,000 in damages. If the wine country is too far to travel, try the newly redone Grand Cafe. With executive chef Mauro Pando at the helm now, they have a new Brasserie menu featuring items from their wood-burning oven and a slew of dishes from land and sea.

On Saturday, May 2nd, Picán is hosting A Taste of the Kentucky Derby starting at 1:30 p.m. Bourbon and Burgoo-a-plenty, for sure.

Sundays are kids' night at Luella. Children under 10 can enjoy items off of the little luella menu like Shirley Temples ($1.50), mac and cheese ($4), chicken pot pie ($6), Margherita pizza ($5) and ice cream sundaes ($4).

Globe hosts Sunday Dinner from 6:00 p.m. until midnight showcasing fresh, local products from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market each week.

At Luna Park on Sunday through Thursday nights, there are "Blue Plate Specials," literally served on a blue tray. Ranging in price from $10 - $12, you can get comfort food that changes weekly but includes items like meatloaf, chicken fried steak, beef stew and vegan cassoulet. And, buy $5 drink specials like signature mojitos or sangria in...you guessed it...blue glassware. By the way, if you become a "fan" of theirs on Facebook or follow them on Twitter, you'll find out about cool promotions like their recent mustache night, wear your favorite hat night or password night where you can get special deals on food and drinks.

In keeping with the blue color scheme, I wanted to tell you about The Blue Plate Restaurant which is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout the month of May with a three-course dinner for $25. You bet they're serving their famous meatloaf, and if you're a vegetarian, don't worry, they have an option for you. The meal will also come with a seasonal salad and dessert, and will be served during their early seating from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If it's super popular, they may offer this special throughout the rest of the evening. They have new hours starting Sunday and will be open for dinner seven days a week. Monday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For Cinco de Mayo, pop into Tres Agaves for beer and drink specials, live mariachi and a DJ all night. They open at 10:00 a.m.! Mamacita is adding special items to their menu just for the occasion and will have a traditional style mariachi band. They will be open from 3:00 p.m. until whenever the fiesta is over. If you're in the Peninsula, Hola! in Burlingame and Belmont will have drink specials, music, giveaways and their website says the Cuervo and Corona girls will be there. Doña Tomás in Oakland will offer their regular menu and stay open later than usual to accommodate revelers.

Tell me about your favorite dining adventures at . I'd love to hear from you! Happy eating!

La Mar is popularizing world-class Peruvian food one plate at a time

2009-04-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday was date night with my husband and we had 9 o'clock dinner reservations at La Mar Cebicheria, Gastón Acurio's first San Francisco project at Pier 1½ next to the Ferry Building. I had read about Acurio, he is a heavy hitter in Peruvian cuisine. He owns many restaurants, has published cookbooks and is a celebrity TV chef. Beyond that, I didn't know what to expect.

We took a cab to the Embarcadero and were immediately drawn into the spacious, vibrant space, accented in blue, green and burnt orange hues. We were a tad early so hubby and I sidled up to the bar and grabbed a Cristal Peruvian beer ($5) and pisco sour ($10), respectively. My cocktail, made from distilled grapes with lime juice, simple syrup, egg whites and bitters was so refreshing. It was a perfect combo of tart, sweet, bitter and creamy. We decided to share the empanadas de ají de gallina ($10) while we waited. Two big, savory pockets filled with tender hen arrived with a small salad tossed in a sweet vinaigrette. It was delish! We were really excited about the rest of the meal.

As soon as we were done, the hostess led us past the bustling lounge and raw bar showcasing beautiful, fresh octopus, and into the main dining room where my seat offered a good view of the open kitchen. We shared a bunch of things, starting with the cebiche sampler. It consisted of four plates of fish briefly marinated in different types of "leche de tigre," or chili peppers and lime juice. The clásico featured California halibut and red onions in habanero pepper leche de tigre with Peruvian corn and yam. In the mixto, there was Mahi Mahi, calamari, octopus and habanero pepper in ají amarillo leche de tigre, with cilantro and red onion. In the nikei, ahi tuna was the star, with red onion and Japanese cucumber, in tamarind leche de tigre with avocado. Finally, the chifa consisted of Mahi Mahi with peanuts, scallions, ginger, pickled carrots, daikon, habanero pepper, wonton strips and cilantro with sesame leche de tigre. As many of you know by now, I don't do peanuts, so I had the chifa without, but it was still excellent. We enjoyed each kind immensely, and my husband says it was the best cebiche he has ever tasted. The fish was incredibly fresh and the flavors really popped. Just beware of those thin slices of habanero pepper hiding beneath the cilantro leaves, unless you like setting your tongue on fire.

The anticuchos de pulpo ($13), or grilled octopus skewers with herbed mashed potato with chimichurri sauce and ají panca, is a must. It's amazing. You get large pieces of tender octopus boasting a nice smokey flavor with a slightly sweet hint.

The causa limeña ($12) came out next. It had whipped potato with Dungeness crab, avocado puree, quail egg, cherry tomatoes, ají amarillo Huancaina sauce with basil cilantro oil. It was like a dressed up crab salad, tasty and creamy, but didn't wow us as much as the other items we sampled.

Our server was so enthusiastic about the anticuchos de corazón ($11), or grilled beef heart skewers, which he claimed were so reminiscent of the ones he found while traveling in Peru, that we had to give them a shot. We did this, despite our misgivings, having recently eaten duck heart elsewhere that was really tough and tasted like iron. Well, right on, Nick, you called it! It was surprisingly good, with a texture somewhat similar to a filet. The red rocoto sauce packed a lot of heat, wow! But fortunately, it was on the side so we could use as much or little as we wanted.

The complimentary basket of potato, sweet potato and plantain chips was good which is a testament to how well food is seasoned and prepared here. My husband isn't a big fan of potatoes, but he actually liked the potato chips the best. The chips were crispy, perfectly salted, cut on the thicker side and not all greasy. They came with three sauces: huancaína with ají amarillo, rocoto, and ocopa with peanuts. To boot, my husband also enjoyed the potatoes prepared in different ways in the rest of the dishes; what a nice surprise.

We were too full for dessert, but next time, I may save room for the rollitos de arroz con leche ($10), a rice pudding spring roll topped with homemade ají amarillo and orange marmalade with passion fruit sorbet. We'll see, because first, I want to try other items including tiraditos, sopas, salads, rice plates and main entrees. They also have an interesting wine list with varieties from South America, Spain and California which needs exploring. My husband and I finished our drinks, then rolled out totally content.

Our hostess and server were very friendly and attentive, and we appreciated it when the manager stopped by our table to see how we were doing. We loved the airy space and lively atmosphere, it felt celebratory. It would be great to return to La Mar during the day to take in the Bay view on their 80-seat patio which is decked out in breezy all-white furniture. If our second visit is as good as our first, then I wouldn't hesistate to recommend this place for a date, happy hour, girls' night out, a work event or private party. I'm guessing that Acurio will soon succeed in making cebiche as ubiquitous as sushi around town.

Monday morsels: feasts, festivities, free food and fresh spots

2009-04-27T06:43:00.001-07:00

Zagat says One Market chef Mark Dommen is preparing a special five-course dinner highlighting fresh ingredients from local purveyors. Feast on signature items including Dungeness crab salad with avocado, cucumber and a lemon grass sorbet, Alaskan halibut cooked sous vide, and beef cheeks braised with...oooh... Guinness! Pastry chef Patti Dellamonica-Bauler will do, what else, dessert. The cost is $59/person before tax and tip, plus $15 for int'l beer pairing or $25 for wine pairing. Call 415.777.5577 to reserve your table!

Today, a new sushi place emerges in Hayes Valley, sharing company with the likes of Domo and Sebo. It is called Otoro Sushi, named after the tasty, melt-in-your-mouth, top-of-the-line bluefin tuna. In my book, there can never be too many sushi-izakaya style restaurants to satiate me. The big test will be the saba...205 Oak at Gough. They will be open for lunch (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) and dinner (5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., last call at 10:30 p.m.), Monday through Saturday, and for dinner only on Sundays. 415.553.3986.

Get your free KFC! Their latest "unfried" recipe is making its debut. Step into any location today and sample a piece of the Kentucky Grilled Chicken for yourself. The concept of grilled food at KFC sort of puts my head on tilt, but okay, I'll try it, especially if it's on the house.

I poked my head into Bistro Gambrinus last week and interrupted a meeting long enough to find out that they will open their doors at the end of the month. They are still working on their menu and applying finishing touches, but from the looks of it, there may be a new watering hole worth trying to find parking for on Fulton near Masonic.

Have you heard about Jamba's School Bananananza '09? Jamba Juice is donating 20% of sales to local schools until May 24th. See the website for more info or call your nearest location for a list of participating schools.

Not sure where you're going to celebrate Cinco de Mayo next Tuesday? Here is what's happening at several places in the city. Mercedes - Hair of the Dog Cantina will be open for lunch from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. so you can start whooping it up early. They will be closed for a private function in the evening. But, how about heading over to Tommy's Mexican Restaurant next? Yes, I know they are usually closed on Tuesdays, but they will be open, open, open from 12 noon until 11:00 p.m on this festive day. There's also T.G.I.Friday's which is offering some 5¢ appetizers to go with their blackberry margaritas, 4-7 p.m. Chevys will serve their regular menu, but remember, kids eat free on Tuesdays with the purchase of a regular priced entree. I'll list more spots as Cinco de Mayo nears, so be sure to come back to my page soon!

Straits: a slice of Singapore in San Francisco

2009-04-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

I took my friend out for a belated birthday lunch today, and since she works at Nordstrom, we decided to try Straits in Westfield Shopping Center. It has a Singaporean menu which reflects that country's cultural diversity. Four of the major culinary influences are Malaysian/Indonesian, Chinese, Indian and Nonya. There are many small plates, salads and big plates to choose from, so to get optimum sampling in, we shared a few things. We had the Roti Prata, a crisp, buttery, griddled Indian flatbread with a yellow curry dipping sauce ($7). It had an interesting texture that was crisp, chewy, and flakey and it was definitely buttery, kind of like a pressed croissant. The Poh Pia are freshly made "spring rolls" filled with jicama, carrots, prawns, Chinese sausage, ground nuts and egg served with a spicy plum sauce ($9). We enjoyed them sans nuts with the plum sauce that I actually found mild and fruity, not at all spicy.

The Fuji Apple and Prawn Salad was piled high with julienned apple and jicama, cilantro and three poached prawns in a light lemongrass-mint vinaigrette ($12). It was refreshing, but it would have been nice to have one or two more pieces of shrimp. My favorite item was the Ahi Tuna Tower, chopped ahi tossed with ginger, onion and kaffir lime leaf served with cassava chips, wasabi and black pepper ($15). I liked how the light crunch of the chips balanced the softness of the sashimi, and the clear-your-sinuses kick from the wasabi brought the dish to life, in a good way. My friend had a mango flavored Singapore Soda ($4) and I tried their house-mixed lemongrass and mint beverage ($4) which was sweeter and less minty than I expected, but I guzzled it down nonetheless.

Everything was attractively presented and service was great. While none of the food I tried knocked my socks off, I can see Straits as a fun change of pace once in a while when you need to refuel while power-shopping or want to meet friends for drinks and a bite to eat in that neighborhood. Tip: Bring your movie ticket stub from any theater the same day and get 10% off lunch or dinner (not including alcohol). See their website for other locations including Burlingame and Santana Row in San Jose.

For more info: Straits Restaurant

Cure the thirst, Spring lamb, new digs and something for mama

2009-04-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

Haven't you worked up a thirst from this recent heat wave? Happy hour at Jeanty at Jack's just might quench it. Monday through Friday, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., they feature $3 beer, $7 wine and best of all, $1 Hog Island oysters. Stay for dinner, too, since their food is so good!

Speaking of satisfying one's thirst, how about heading to Suppenküche for a few cold brews? They have valet parking now from Wednesday through Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., $7/car. For those of you who love their hearty German fare like I do, you can find recipes for their braised beef rolls with spätzle and marinated red cabbage online. Don't miss their anniversary party which is tentatively slated for May 21st; they should be able to confirm the date next week.

Next Wednesday, April 29th, Coco500 chef Michael Morrison celebrates Spring by preparing a four course tasting menu ($65) of central valley lamb. If you like, pair it with the newest releases from A Donkey and Goat, a wife and husband owned and operated winery in Berkeley ($30). Visit their website for the menu.

Did you know that Bar Crudo's last day on Bush Street will be April 25th? But don't worry, they are reopening at 655 Divisadero on May 1st!

The tablehopper notes that Chef Charlie Kleinman (Fifth Floor and Fish & Farm) has embarked upon a new project slated to open in the FiDi in June. It's focus? I bet you won't guess,...barbecue! I'll keep you updated as I get more info.

Don't forget that Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 10th. You can go to opentable to book your reservations.

Dining Out For Life: dine out, fight AIDS on April 30th

2009-04-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

On April 30th, you can take part in Dining Out For Life, an annual dining fundraising event for HIV and AIDS organizations in the United States. More than 3,500 restaurants participate and nearly $4 million dollars is raised each year. Over 100 local restaurants will donate 25% of their food sales, and some will donate 25% of food and liquor sales. Some San Francisco restaurants include 2223 Restaurant and Bar, Amici's Pizzeria, AsiaSF, Butterfly, Catch, Chaya Brasserie, Destino, Foreign Cinema, Fringale, Lime, paul K, Pres a Vi, RNM Restaurant, Sauce and Slow Club. For a complete list, click here. All you have to do is make a reservation and enjoy a meal at your favorite participating restaurant, and the restaurants will do their part. Pretty cool, huh? Go here for a list of local sponsors.

Monday morsels

2009-04-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Finally! This Friday, Michael Mina's new project, RN74, opens for dinner in the ground floor of the Millenium Tower on Mission Street. This wine bar and restaurant is named after Route National 74 which passes through Burgundy, France. Executive Chef Jason Berthold (French Laundry, Per Se) and wine director Raj Parr (Rubicon, Mina Group) have collaborated closely to ensure that their 80-some page wine list pairs well with their affordably priced menu which is divided into three sections: fish and shellfish, garden vegetables and hand-rolled pasta, and meat and poultry. Priced between $14 and $17, items include Japanese Big Fin Squid Salad, Spring Garlic Agnolotti, Liberty Farm Duck Confit, and Sauteed Pork Belly. Lunch service begins on April 28th. 301 Mission Street at First. 415.543.7474.

Mid-June, Postrio will stop serving dinner as it undergoes a remodel, along with the rest of the Prescott Hotel. Personally, I think it's about time that this Wolfgang Puck eatery gets updated. It used to be one of my favorite restaurants in the '90s, but then the food and service started going downhill. Michael Bauer only gave it 1.5 stars last December. Look for the new, and hopefully, improved version in 2010.

Today is National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day!

2009-04-20T07:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that today is National Pineapple Upside-down Cake Day? Pineapples are a tropical plant and fruit native to South America. In 1903, Jim Dole began canning this edible bromeliad. Although recipes for the pineapple upside down cake date back to the 1920's, the Dole company is credited for popularizing the cake in the 1940's. Traditionally made on top of the stove in a cast-iron skillet, these cakes used fruits like cherries and apples before the pineapple version was introduced.

In honor of this special day, I asked my friend, Mike Amoroso, to share his crowd-pleasing recipe with all of you. Mike is a San Francisco native and 10-year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department. When he is not baking scrumptious treats like this, Mike enjoys cycling and spending time with his wife and two children.

Mike's Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Topping:
1/3 cup butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 T to 1/4 cup of light rum, to taste
1 can sliced pineapple, drained (reserve liquid for the cake)
chopped walnuts (optional)

Cake:
1 package of Butter Recipe Golden or Yellow Cake Mix
1 stick of butter, melted
3 large eggs
reserved pineapple juice
whole milk, as needed to bring total amount of liquid to 2/3 cup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 10" cast iron skillet, melt 1/3 cup butter in the oven. Remove skillet and with a fork, stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon and rum. Smash the lumps until smooth and spread the mixture evenly on the bottom of the skillet. Arrange the pineapple slices so that one is in the center of the skillet and the rest are around the edges. Optional: Place walnuts in the center of the pineapple slices.

Put the cake mix into an electric mixer. Follow the instructions on the package to make the cake including butter and eggs, but substitute the water that the recipe calls for with the reserved juice from the canned pineapple. If needed, add whole milk to equal 2/3 cup total liquid. Be sure to stir the juice into the cake mix separately from the milk to avoid curdling. Blend on low speed for one minute, stopping once to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat at medium speed for two minutes, then scrape again. The batter should be creamy and smooth. Pour the batter into the prepared skillet on top of the pineapple slices. Smooth out the top with a rubber spatula and put the skillet in the oven.

Bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed. Remove the skillet and run a sharp knife around the edge of the cake. Carefully invert the skillet onto a large heatproof serving platter. The cake should release freely onto the plate. If not, run the knife around the edge again and let the skillet rest on the plate until the cake releases. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy!

The recession: the impact on the Bay Area restaurant scene - Updated

2009-04-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

Upscale eateries have scaled back their hours. Michael Mina is now closed on Sundays and Mondays, and Aqua has suspended lunch service. Jack Falstaff, Two and Manresa have also abandoned lunch.

Other businesses couldn't survive the economic downturn and closed earlier this year. A partial list of casualties includes Atrium, Azie, Baraka, Bong Su, Deep Sushi, Frisee, Gigi, Honu's, Lark Creek Inn, Lola's, Lou's, Mecca, Medicine Eatstation, La Vinoteca, Midpoint, Mustard's Grill, Pancho Villa, Pita Pit, Tansitaro Michoacan and Voda.

Another sign of the times is that many restaurants are running food and drink specials to draw customers. There are $9 dinners at Jovino, 5 for $5 at Two, half-portions with half-priced drinks at Zinnia, and so on. It presents an exciting, wide array of affordable dining options for those of us who enjoy going out.

Amazingly, the number of restaurants that have opened this year is greater than the number that have closed. Several newcomers include Heaven's Dog, Contigo, Midi, Pizzanostra, Cafe Altano, Picán, Adesso, Bar Lata and The Tipsy Pig. The Washbag reopened and Woodhouse Fish Company added a second, larger location. What does that mean? Restaurateurs and their investors are willing to take risks, betting that the Bay Area is still filled with die-hard foodies who will flock to the next soft opening, perhaps with slightly tightened pursestrings but the same zeal as pre-recession days. Many restaurant owners are demonstrating their flexibility and understanding of the market today by opening more relaxed spin-offs like Bushi Tei Bistro, Nopalito, La Folie Lounge and RN74 (Michael Mina's newest project opening Friday). Catering to people who continue to dine out, but on a more modest budget, seems like one of the smartest things to do.

And what is the most compassionate thing to do? Give. Many local restaurants have donated, and continue to donate food to the hungry during these hard times. Everyday, more than 150,000 people go hungry in the city of San Francisco alone. Since 1987, Mary Risley, founder of Tante Marie's Cooking School in San Francisco, started Food Runners to alleviate that hunger. Every week, Food Runners delivers 10 tons of food to the 300 soup kitchens, shelters, low-income residents, senior centers, childcare centers and group homes throughout the city. Restaurants like Aqua, Frisson, and Kokkari donate their surplus. In addition, participants in the Planned Overage Program including Amici's East Coast Pizzeria, Coco500, Delfina, Fog City Diner, Green's, Kokkari, Le Colonial and Piperade prepare weekly meals for 25-30 people for Food Runners to deliver to shelters.

Sources: San Francisco Business Times, San Francisco Food Bank, Eater SF, Thrillist, Foodrunners
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Update on April 19, 2009: Aqua has re-opened for lunch on Fridays, here is their menu. The above article misstates Manresa closing for lunch, they have always offered dinner only. Thank you, Greg, for alerting me. I have also learned that Enrico's suspended lunch service and has no future date for reinstituting it; they are open at 5:00 p.m., seven nights a week.

Cafe Gibraltar: Mediterranean jewel of Half Moon Bay

2009-04-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

It's sort of funny how we discovered this place. My German friend and his family met a woman from Half Moon Bay while traveling in Arizona a couple of days ago. She spoke highly of Cafe Gibraltar which, as it turns out, has been serving delicious Mediterranean food since 1998. My friend, a former colleague whom I met during my executive briefing center days at Oracle, along with his wife and in-laws, agreed to meet us at that restaurant when they flew into town yesterday. Once you step inside this modest looking building, the warm hues, open kitchen and Moroccan-style seats in the back invite you to come in and relax. Everyone working there is friendly and laid back. Even during a power outage. It was especially gusty in the late afternoon, and when we arrived, the hostess informed us that they had just lost power. However, the chef didn't waver and we were told dinner service would proceed. And so it did, splendidly.

We were seated right away, and during conversation, we enjoyed beer and local wines from their esteemed list which earned Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Award of Distinction in 2007 and 2008. The 2005 Abundance Zinfandel from Mecarini Vineyards (Lodi) was especially nice; fruity, full-bodied and slightly spicy. We shared an appetizer and salad which were personal highlights. The Moussakaa Lubnani is a vegan, Lebanese dish comprised of eggplant, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, chard, and a garlic melange that is slow-cooked in their wood oven. The Ahtapot Salatsi Salad is a well-spiced Turkish style dish made of octopus and calamari which is grilled then sauteed with garlic, chile flakes, lemon juice, green onions and tender herbs, and served warm on a watercress and red onion salad. We dove right in because it looked so good, so my apologies, there are no photos to share. I'll try to demonstrate more self-restraint next time. It proved to be as good as it looked, everyone had seconds and polished it off.

Somewhere along the line, power was restored, but I am not exactly sure when since service never skipped a beat. Our group sampled a variety of other dishes including a few specials. Both the creamed artichoke-corn soup and the ahi tuna entree filled with ingredients like tomatoes, beans, and olives were comforting. My husband's potato gnocchi with mixed mushrooms was tasty although several pieces of gnocchi that stuck to the sides of the tagine were overcooked and tasted a little burnt. From the main menu which is always changing, everything was well prepared and well executed. My friend had oysters, done chef-owner Jose Luis Ugalde's way: three wood-roasted, topped with pimenton aioli and champagne mignonette; and three raw, marinated in a Gazpacho coulis, topped with avocado and baby cilantro. My friend's wife ordered the Turkish housemade goat cheese baked in the wood oven with a slightly spicy tomato puree and pecan-sesame seed crust. There was also the vegan, Tunisian salad with orange segments, fennel, red onion, toasted cumin seed, mint, olives, avocado and a harissa-citrus vinaigrette. In addition, our table had the French-inspired Joue de Boeuf, Wagyu beef cheeks with beets, onions and a horseradish cream garnish. Today, in lieu of that, I see they are featuring Joue de Fletan, braised halibut cheeks with saffron tomato, preserved lemon, sea salt, olive oil and house cured olives which sounds just as lovely. My daughter opted for the familiar off the kids' menu: cheese pizza! Paired with sparkling apple cider, she was a happy camper. When she wasn't eating, she was dancing to the eclectic music playing in the background. Thankfully, none of our guests dining nearby seemed to mind, or at least they pretended as much.

By the way, many of the ingredients used here are organic, from meat and fowl, to vegetables and flour. I was too full to have dessert, but my friend and his wife shared a lemon tart with passion fruit sorbet which looked refreshing and good, if you like sour things. I sipped rosé with my friend's in-laws and my husband drank coffee, while we all chatted about visiting Germany one day, possibly during Octoberfest - but only in the small villages where it can be experienced authentically, not the big cities where the masses congregate by the millions. After dinner, I looked around and noticed that we were the only ones left. The waitstaff was seated at the bar eating their dinner. It was only 9:30 p.m. Just an hour earlier, the place had been bustling with customers. I guess folks turn in a little earlier in this coastal town. Regardless, this is such a great discovery, I will brave that winding, and sometimes sandy and windy road to get there and savor chef Ugalde's culinary magic again. So many dishes are calling my name! If the woman in Half Moon Bay is reading this, thank you, your recommendation was spot on! Others think favorably of this place, as well. Make sure to read some of their reviews.

Magnolia has new chef, service lacks attention to detail

2009-04-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

Last week, Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery announced that sous chef Ronnie New is now executive chef. He has already infused New Orleans and Southern influences in dishes such as these on the dinner menu: Bourbon glazed spare ribs with corn bread and potato salad ($19), Bluenose bass with roasted sunchokes, artichokes and beet relish ($20), pan-fried pork chops with red eye gravy and mashed potatoes ($18) and mushroom ravioli with sage brown butter, dino kale and Grana Padano ($15).

Taking advantage of the fact that our daughter was down for a long nap after a fun Easter egg hunt at a friend's house, and that our son was at Grandpa and Grandma's house for dinner, my husband and I made our way to the Haight last Sunday to check this place out. We were excited to see that their touted housemade sausages were still on the menu ($12 with two sides). We tried the Portuguese linguisa, a salty, slightly spicy thin sausage that paired well with sides of German potato salad and tender rainbow kale. The bratwurst was okay, we had it with roasted sweet potato and sauerkraut.

Oddly enough, the beers and wine on tap seemed a little off. The two beers we sampled - Big Cypress Brown and Dark Star Mild - tasted almost identical and were lacking malty flavor and depth. And I am not a wine snob, but after an initial taste, I had to send back their special Sutton Cellars "Magnolia Blend" of syrah (60%) and carignane (40%) because it was slightly sour. The Tin Barn zinfandel proved to be a bit better.

As far as service goes, both the bar and kitchen had missteps during our meal for which our server graciously tried to take the blame. My first glass of wine came out completely dirty, covered in lipstick and remnants of pulpy orange juice from brunch-time mimosas. Our server said she saw the bartender wipe my second glass clean, but it still had lipstick on it. And after I inquired about the preparation of one of the dishes, our server asked the kitchen. She came back and explained it would be done one way, but to our surprise, it was prepared another. Hmmm. It was at that point that we decided not to try anything more.

I know Magnolia has a loyal following, so for those individuals, there will be a collaboration dinner with buddies from The Linkery of San Diego on May 11th. It is a beer/salumi "simul-dinner" showcasing cured meats from The Linkery and beers from Magnolia, starting at 5:00 p.m. in both places. Also at Magnolia every Tuesday, house beer is $3 all day. They have fried chicken on Thursdays starting at 5:00 p.m. until they run out, and Ronnie's Beer Dinners happen every last Wednesday of the month featuring a three-course dinner with beer pairings.

Overall, the sausages and sides were good, but the rest of the experience was less than impressive. Unfortunately, I'm not going to rush back to try the new menu, sorry chef New! It's sort of like comparing apples and oranges, but if my husband and I were in the neighborhood, we would definitely grab a seat at the bar at The Alembic instead. The food there is amazing, and they have a fun and unusual wine and beer list. But that's another review...

Monday morsels: meet the pizza champ, be a sommelier for a day, go halfsies

2009-04-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, people! Hope everyone had a fabulous Easter. Here are several fun things happening around the Bay Area.

For pizza lovers and kids. On Saturday, April 18th, Tony Gemignani will do a pizza tossing demo and sign his children's book, Tony and the Pizza Champions, at Books, Inc. in Alameda, 11:00 a.m. You may have seen this former world champion pizza maker and eight time world champion pizza acrobat on T.V., he's pretty entertaining. He co-owns Pyzano's Pizzeria with his brother in Castro Valley. In May, doors will open to Tony's Pizza Napoletana and International School of Pizza on Stockton Street in S.F. Housed in the same location, the school will operate during the day while the new restaurant will open at night. Tony will also appear at a booksigning at Kepler's in Menlo Park on Sunday, April 26th, 11:30 a.m.

For afficionados of the grape. A few days ago, UrbanDaddy SF covered Fifth Floor's exciting new program that allows you to become Sommelier for a Day. You get to shadow Master Sommelier Emily Wines (please, no jokes about her name) who is one of just 15 women in the country who hold this title. Sample a multitude of wines as you hone your winetasting skills. If you schedule on a weekday, you will get to meet winemakers and distributors and taste their newest releases. By night's end, you'll sit down and enjoy a meal paired with wine personally selected by Wines. Cost: $250.

Update: Wines just sent this sample weekday schedule to me:

"1:00 pm arrive and tour the restaurant, 1:30 taste through wines with vendors, 2:30 pull wines from the cellar for service, 3:00 staff wine training, 4:00 prepare tasting menu wines and taste sauces with chef, 4:30 family meal and line up with the staff to go over reservations and menu changes, 5:30 service begins, 10:00 late night dining. Typically sommeliers and managers sit down at the end of the evening to taste new dishes. Often I open a bottle of wine for everyone to try as well." Okay, I think I know what I want to do for my birthday next month!

For people who like to dine out but are watching their spending - isn't that all of us? Zinnia, which opened last October, has introduced Halfsy Hour in the bar and lounge. Get specialty cocktails, wines by the glass and premium beer half off while you enjoy chef/owner Sean O'Brien's (formerly of Myth) signature half-portion dinner items from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, Tuesdays - Saturdays. It's located at the Jackson Square site where The Cypress Club and Scott Howard used to be.

If you know of any cool events coming up in your area that you'd like me to mention, please share them with me at !

The Taco Shop at Underdog's is a great sports bar and tacqueria rolled into one

2009-04-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

I recently reviewed Underdog's organic hotdogs, but aside from the common name and Irving Street location, this "Underdog's" eatery is a completely different, and honestly, even more compelling reason to head over to the Sunset if you don't already live nearby. Last September, Nick Fasanella, of Nick's Crispy Tacos fame in Russian Hill, and his friend and business partner Doug Marschke, teamed up to present all the things that a great sports bar and taco shop should have. I'm talking about lots of flat screen TVs; local sports team memorabilia and banners; a dartboard in the front; a coin-operated free throw basketball hoop in the back; several classic arcade games like Ms. PacMan, Galaga and Centipede; a jukebox; high-top tables for adults and wooden picnic tables in the back for families with kids; casual but friendly and attentive service; a variety of Mexican, domestic, imported and micro-brewed beers; margaritas and sangria; and oh-so-tasty Cal-Mex food.

Fassanella, who was trained at the Culinary Institute of America in New York's Hyde Park, sold his namesake eatery on Broadway in 2006 and opened The Taco Shop at Underdog's Sports Bar & Grill, his fifth restaurant venture in San Francisco. Other local projects include Tortilla Heights on Divisadero at Bush which has strong appeal with the single set, and an Italian deli in North Beach called La Spiaggia. Word of mouth is spreading that those beloved taco's made "Nick's Way" - one grilled crispy corn tortilla and one soft tortilla filled with fresh ingredients like steak, pork, chicken, pinto beans, pico de gallo, Monterey Jack cheese and guacamole - can now be found across town. They also have a variety of affordable burritos and quesadillas, tortilla soup, elote con queso (white corn brushed with lime salsa and dusted with cotija cheese and cayenne pepper), nachos, chicken wings, chips and salsa, and a grilled corn and black bean taco salad. Everything is made with local, organic ingredients for under $10, so you get good value for your buck. No wonder this place has such a loyal following already, especially among neighborhood residents and students.

If that's not enough, they have free Wi-Fi, frequent events and special deals. On Taco Tuesdays, grab $1 street tacos from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm. Thursdays are college night, so with school I.D., get $3 well drinks after 9:00 p.m. On Saturday, April 18th, they will televise UFC 97 Redemption at 7:00 p.m., $15 cover. Check their web site for more happenings.

Now I'm craving a Carnitas Taco, Nick's Way. By the way, if anyone has an allergy to peanut products, this place is peanut-free! For more info: The Taco Shop at Underdog's 1824 Irving Street. 415.566.8700.

Tidbits: Spreadable salumi at Boccalone and half off vino at Terzo

2009-04-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, urbandaddysf broke the news about Boccalone's first spreadable, spicy salame called Nduja. The kick comes from Calabrian chiles. You can get this stuff with grilled onions in a panini at the Ferry Building Marketplace. http://www.boccalone.com/

Word on the street is that Terzo in Cow Hollow (sibling of Rose's Cafe across the street and Rose Pistola in North Beach), is having a special now thru May 31st on vino. Get half off bottles $40 and less during dinner time. Sundays through Thursdays. http://www.terzosf.com/

Woodhouse Fish Co. is a great catch in Pacific Heights

2009-04-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

The two brothers behind Woodhouse Fish Co. on Market Street, Dylan and Rowan MacNiven, have opened a second location in Pacific Heights. Just Tuesday, these Peninsula natives opened their doors for lunch, and what a welcome addition they are to the neighborhood. Located on Fillmore Street near Pine, this seafood haven is more spacious and offers a more evolved menu than its sibling. It's a bright, comfortable, simple yet well-decorated spot executed with the help of Jamis MacNiven, their dad. Jamis owns Buck's of Woodside and has built restaurants like the Hard Rock Cafe which used to be on VanNess Street. When you go in, check out the big fish overhead and the framed flat screen featuring a boating and fishing video. Rowan and Dylan, whose middle name is Woodhouse, were friendly hosts who were rolling up their sleeves alongside their employees, greeting, seating, serving customers and answering phones. Gotta love that.

Chef Jon Hearnsberger, formerly of Anchor Oyster Bar, turns out some seriously satisfying grub. My parents and I had a great meal there yesterday. The cup of clam chowder was very flavorful, creamy, and filled with clams. It wasn't as piping hot as it could have been, but the recipe is a winner. The crab cakes were pleasingly light and crispy on the outside, filled with crab and had a nice crunch from chopped celery and green onion. Two crab cakes come with salad greens, tomatoes and beets in a light vinaigrette. The crispy calamari was equally impressive. Again, it had a perfectly light and crisp coating that wasn't greasy or heavy, and the squid was incredibly tender. The Ipswich clam roll and lobster roll were both piled high on a hearty toasted bun and came with thin-cut fries and slaw. Hearnsberger uses local and sustainable ingredients wherever possible so you can feel good about indulging.

Look at their chalkboard for daily fish specials. Yesterday, they featured health-conscious dishes such as halibut prepared in parchment light on the oil, as well as grilled salmon with asparagus. They don't have their wine and beer license just yet, but for now, you can order a make-your-own lemonade to wash down all that tasty goodness.

I can't wait to go back with my husband and kids and try everything else on their menu! They will be open for dinner service soon, once they get that liquor license. And they're not taking reservations right now, so feel free to walk right in. For now, their lot of two-tops and four-tops and 10 stools at the bar are enough, but once word gets out that they're open for business, I can imagine lines out the door.

Woodhouse Fish Co.
1914 Fillmore Street and 2073 Market Street
415.437.CRAB (2722)

Monday morsels: Michael Bauer's Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants and curry at Jovino

2009-04-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

Michael Bauer's Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants for 2009 is out. I'm glad to see some of my favorite spots on the list like Aziza, Bistro Aix, Bix, Boulevard, H.O.P.R., Foreign Cinema, Kokkari, La Folie, Nopa, Perbacco and Slanted Door. Check out which restaurants got the boot to make room for some newbies.

Tonight is vegetable curry rice bowl night at Jovino. Everyday there's a different dinner for $9. Tuesday is chicken cacciatore and polenta, Wednesday is meat or veggie lasagna, Thursday is beef stew, Friday is fried chicken with mashed potatoes, Saturday is spaghetti with meatballs and a glass of house wine, and Sunday is meatloaf with cheddar mashed potatoes.

Specials on drinks and eats for SF Giants Opening Day

2009-04-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

Opening day at the ballpark is right around the corner, and lots of nearby businesses are ready for the excitement. Check out what these places near AT&T Park are doing on April 7th. Go Giants!

Epic Roasthouse: Join fellow Giants fans for the first Epic Launch Party on the spacious patio from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sponsored by Blue Angel Vodka, this BBQ will be grooving to lounge music by DJ BKR and loaded with Executive Chef and co-owner Jan Birnbaum's tasty take on stadium food like grilled sausages and hotdogs, potato salad, and coleslaw. Drinks will be flowing from four satellite bars. If you prefer, settle in at the stately Pat Kuleto designed bar appointed with leather seats and catch the game on two flatscreen TVs. Or, grab dinner in the main dining room from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Epic Roasthouse, 369 The Embarcadero. 415.369.9955.

Momo's: The bar and kitchen will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. They will offer a condensed menu. When the Giants are away, they will bring back their $4 martini happy hour with $3 appetizers, Monday - Friday, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. They will also feature $4 beers on tap, wines by the glass and shots. By the way, Thursdays are Singles Night from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Enjoy Martini Hour specials plus $1 oyster shooters and $1 Jell-O shots. Momo's, 760 Second Street. 415.227.8600.

Paragon Restaurant & Bar: They will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., serving their full menu all day and bar menu from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. They will have a satellite bar on the patio which seats about 50. Go for $9 mojitos and large selection of vodkas. Paragon Restaurant & Bar, 701 Second Street at Townsend. 415.537.9020.

Tres Agaves: This purveyor of Jalisco-inspired cuisine and tequila, tequila, tequila is taking over three Mexican food concessions formerly run by Compadres at AT&T Park. In addition, they will serve their Opening Day bar menu all day in "La Plaza del Agave" in the rear of the restaurant. It offers two bars with two 10' TV screens and items like their bacon-wrapped all-beef hotdogs and tamales. To accommodate the anticipated crowd, they are also setting up a tent in the parking lot with a satellite bar. Did you know Tres Agaves is opening in Roseville later this month and in Las Vegas in 2010?! Ole! Tres Agaves, 130 Townsend Street at Second. 415.227.0500.

21st Amendment: For those of you who are really hard core, the bar opens at 9:30 a.m. and the kitchen opens at 10:00 a.m. Don't miss the release of their "Opening Day IPA" which they only brew once a year. View the Opening Day menu along with the rest of their menus on their web site. Of course, the ever-popular Build Your Own Burgers are featured on all but the brunch menu. Open until midnight. 21st Amendment, 563 Second Street. 415.369.0900.

Waterbar: Take a seat at this Pat Kuleto and Mark Franz project (Epic's sibling) and sip "A Spa in Cabo," their special $5 happy hour drink made of Jose Cuervo Reserve tequila, lime and cucumber. Happy hour is from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can also get $1 local oysters from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and enjoy a Down the Line prix fixe dinner for $40. Add a bottle of red or white wine for $20 more. Waterbar, 399 The Embarcadero South. 415.284.9922.

2009-04-05T15:21:00.001-07:00

No trip to Japantown would be complete without a stop at Benkyodo, a coffeeshop run by brothers Ricky and Bobby Okamura in Buchanan Mall. This is no ordinary coffeeshop. Ricky and Bobby are third generation manju makers, part of a dying breed of artisans who make these traditional confections by hand each day. Benkyodo celebrated its 100th anniversary in June 2006. If you stop by on a Saturday, be prepared to wait in line and go early because they can sell out fast. It's kind of amusing to see how East meets West here, for my kids often look forward to ordering a hotdog with their kuri goma manju, baked manju with smooth white beans and sesame seed garnish. When I'm there, it's hard to resist my childhood favorite, dorayaki, a pancake style manju filled with whole red beans. Benkyodo also has fun flavors like strawberry, peanut butter and chocolate marshmallow mochi! Benkyodo Co.,1747 Buchanan Street. 415.922.1244. Monday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays.

Another popular place is Sophie's Crepes in the Kinokuniya Building. Especially in the evenings, crowds converge to watch the simple yet mesmerizing wonders of their paper-thin crepe being made through the storefront window. They have lots of savory and dessert varieties. My kids love the one filled with vanilla ice cream, strawberries and whipped cream, both with and without chocolate sauce drizzled on top. Sophie's Crepes, 1581 Webster Street. 415.929.7732. Tuesday - Thursday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday - Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Closed Mondays.

If Sophie's Crepes is too crowded, try Belly Good Cafe & Crepes next to May's Coffee Shop in Kintetsu Mall. They make deliciously soft crepes. Belly Good Cafe & Crepes, 1737 Post Street. 415.346.8383. Open 7 days a week.

Don't forget the Yasukochi's Sweet Stop, a little gem tucked away in Super Mira market on Sutter Street between Buchanan and Laguna. It is run by Thomas "Moses" Yasukochi and his wife Hatsy. They make an assortment of treats, including guava cake and their famous coffee crunch cake. They now have a chocolate crunch cake, chocolate cake and whipped cream covered with chocolate crunch. Here's a cool fact: Moses was one of the original members of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo which is the oldest and largest professional taiko group in the Western world led by Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka. Yasukochi's Sweet Stop, 1790 Sutter Street. 415.931.8165. Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays.

At Murata's Cafe Hana in the Kintetsu Mall, you will find beautiful pastries, chocolates and a variety of ice cream flavors including green tea. They also sell stuffed animals, candy and small gifts, and make lovely floral arrangements. There has been exciting news for owner Carol Murata recently. In February, she unanimously won a bid with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission to run the concessions at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. I can't wait to see how she infuses her traditional Japanese touches and artist eye to the garden! Murata's Cafe Hana, 1737 Post Street. 415.567.9133. Monday - Thursday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday - Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

There are several other places to satisfy your sweet tooth in Japantown, but these are our family's favorites. Make sure to save room for dessert while you're taking in the Cherry Blossom Festival over the next two weekends. 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, April 11 & 12, 18 & 19, 2009. Queen Program, Saturday, April 11 and Grand Parade, Sunday, April 19.

2009-04-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

As a native San Franciscan and Sansei, or third generation Japanese American, the Cherry Blossom Festival holds special meaning to me. I look forward to those two weekends in April when Japanese, Japanese Americans and the greater community gather together in San Francisco's Japantown to celebrate cultural heritage and pride. During childhood, I participated in the Cherry Blossom Parade as a student at Morning Star School and girl scout in a Japanese American troop. When I was in my 20's, I had the pleasure and honor of representing Northern California as the 1991 Cherry Blossom Queen. That year was filled with invaluable learning experiences, including a goodwill trip to San Francisco's sister city, Osaka, and meetings with key individuals and companies in Tokyo. It spawned new and meaningful friendships, greater self-confidence and interpersonal skills, and a deeper appreciation of my ethnic roots.

This year, the Festival takes place on April 11, 12 and April 18, 19th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Highlights include the Cherry Blossom Queen Program on April 11th at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, a Karaoke Song Festival, cultural exhibits, an anime costume competition, and live entertainment including taiko performances and martial arts demonstrations. On Sunday, April 18th, the Grand Parade starts at 1 p.m. at the Civic Center and ends at Fillmore Street in Japantown. Actor George Takei, most recognized for his role as Mr. Sulu in Star Trek, will be the Grand Marshall. Of course, there will be plenty of food booths. A total of 29 groups will sell snacks including BBQ ribs (Asian American Recovery Services and Asian Firefighters Association), Teri Burgers (Kimochi, Inc.), pineapple hotdogs (Cherry Blossom Festival), gyoza (Miwa Kai Dance Group), shaved ice and fried mochi (Kagami Kai).

If you're looking for more of a sit-down experience, try these casual spots that are easy on the wallet for lunch or dinner. For traditional soba and udon, Mifune in the Kintetsu Mall is the place to go. They have slurpable bowls of noodles in tasty broth with various toppings. You can also get shabu shabu, sukiyaki, donburi and crispy korroke, or Japanese potato croquettes. My kids love the cold zaru soba and unagi don. Admittedly, service can sometimes be lackluster, unless you get Maya who is a sweetheart, but remember you're there mainly for the food. Mifune's sibling, Mifune Don, is located in the Miyako Mall upstairs and has a similar menu but also serves good okonomiyaki, savory Japanese-style pancakes. Izumiya in the Kinokuniya building is also known for their okonomiyaki. There is piping hot ramen that hits the spot at Tanpopo in Buchanan Mall. They have assorted shoyu (soy sauce) and miso ramen as well as some non-noodle dishes like mackerel and gyoza. You can eat at the counter and watch Japanese TV. The only unusual thing about this place is that they don't serve hot tea unless you order it from a can or bottle which is displayed on the counter. They will heat it up for you and serve it in a teacup. It's odd, but I can overlook it since the ramen is so satisfying. If you're craving sushi, Fuku-Sushi is open for dinner in the Kinokuniya building. Toraya across the street from the Japantown Mall on Post Street also serves good, fresh sushi. Nothing fancy, in fact, it has been there since I was a kid and could really use a facelift, but it serves decent traditional fare and is relaxed and spacious enough for larger groups and kids. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this article which will cover desserts!

For more info: 42nd Annual Northern Cherry Blossom Festival. (Photo of cherry blossoms courtesy of AP/Haraz N. Ghanbari).

Coming up: gala dinner and tasting event - Taste of the Nation San Francisco

2009-04-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

On April 23rd, enjoy great food, spirits and wine from some of the most exciting chefs and mixologists at Share our Strength's Taste of the Nation event to end childhood hunger in the U.S. The Tasting Reception ($75) includes sweet and savory bites from more than 20 of the Bay Area's best restaurants plus signature cocktails, wine and beer in the Field Club Lounge at AT&T Park. Some participating chefs are Charles Phan (Slanted Door, Heaven's Dog), Mark Sullivan (Spruce), Jason Fox (Bar Tartine), Michelle Mah (Midi), Jordan Grosser (The Alembic), Scott Youkilis (Maverick), Liza Shaw (A16),and Tasting Event host Jamie Lauren (Absinthe). Participating bars include Elixir, 15 Romolo, Beretta, Bourbon & Branch, Conduit and Heaven's Dog.

Tickets to the VIP Gala Dinner and Tasting Reception ($250) include early admission to the tasting event and a multi-course dinner at ACME Chophouse hosted by Traci Des Jardins (ACME Chophouse, Jardiniere, Mijita). The impressive line-up of dinner chefs also includes Chris Cosentino (Incanto), Iron Chef Michael Symon (Cleveland's Lola/Lolita), Gavin Kaysen (NYC's Cafe Boulud), Koren Grieveson (Chicago's Avec) and Host Chef Thom Fox (ACME Chophouse). Chef Elizabeth Falkner (Citizen Cake, Orson) will provide dessert.

This event benefits Foodrunners, Children of Shelters and Sports4Kids San Francisco. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised over $70 million to make sure kids in America don't grow up hungry. For more info: Share our Strength.

La Folie opens Russian Hill lounge today!

2009-04-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

One of my all-time favorite special occasion restaurants is opening a lounge adjacent to its upscale Russian Hill eatery, and I can't wait to check it out! La Folie Lounge opens today from 5:30pm-1:00am and will serve French-inspired cocktails and nibbles. Thrillist got a copy of their bar bites menu which isn't posted on the La Folie web site yet. Mmmm, it looks like this will be a great way to enjoy chef/owner Roland Passot's exquisite cooking without putting too much stress on the pocketbook. I am counting down the hours until they open!

La Folie Lounge, 2316 Polk Street. 415.776.5577.

Moveable Feast showcases collaboration between local chefs and farmers

2009-04-01T13:54:00.000-07:00

Every first Tuesday of the month, Moveable Feast showcases a farmer from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and two local chefs. There are five remaining multi-course, seasonal dinners out of a series of six. The first event took place on March 3rd at Luce in the InterContinental San Francisco, hosted by Luce's executive chef Dominique Crenn and Chris Krenner, formerly of Slow Club and Serpentine. They showed early spring produce from Louis Iacopi of Iacopi Farms.

On April 7th, One Market's executive chef Mark Dommen and Lark Creek Inn's executive chef Erica Holland-Toll will combine talents at One Market, highlighting farmer David Retsky of County Line Harvest.

On May 5th, Bruce Hill, executive chef of Picco and Bix, will team up with Ame executive chef Greg Dunmore and David Evans of Marin Sun Farms at Picco in Larkspur.

On June 2nd, executive chef Mark Sullivan of Spruce and guest chef Loretta Keller of Coco500 and The Moss Room will join Kristie Knoll of Knoll Farms at Spruce.

On July 7th, executive chef Mourad Lahlou of Aziza and James Syhabout, formerly Chef de Cuisine of Manresa and soon to open Commis, will focus on farmer Jesse Kuhn's produce from Marin Roots at Aziza.

The final dinner will take place on August 4th at Americano with its own executive chef Paul Arensam and Incanto's guest executive chef Chris Cosentino, featuring Joel Schirmer of Dirty Girl Produce.

Tickets for each event are $80/person, $100/person with wine. A percentage of each ticket will benefit CUESA, the Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture, operator of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. All dinners start at 7pm. Purchase tickets here.

For more info: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

Poggio features special dinner deals to celebrate Easter and the coming of spring

2009-03-31T16:03:00.000-07:00

Next week, Chef Peter McNee of Poggio Trattoria is preparing Spiedo Misto della Pasqua, or a variety of spit-roasted meats including rabbit, goat, young pig and assorted game birds for $19. Poggio, which means "hill" in Italian, is appropriately named since it has a hillside garden overlooking the San Francisco skyline where they grow organic herbs and vegetables such as radicchio, kale, watercress and peppercress. They also make their own pastas, burrata, mozzarella and house-cured salami. Dine in casual elegance at this classic Italian trattoria located in the Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa in Sausalito. Spiedo Misto della Pasqua will be served April 7-11. 415.332.7771

Where to have a kid-friendly Easter

2009-03-31T15:54:00.000-07:00

Looking for someplace both you and the kids will enjoy for Easter? Here are a handful of places that have family friendly offerings. Whether you have a hankering for something savory or sweet, you will undoubtedly have a hopping good time!

18th Annual Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter Parade, Marina. Sunday, April 12th, 10am-5pm. Parade starts at 10am. Numerous Union Street restaurants will be serving food in an outdoor bistro setting. There will be a petting zoo, pony rides, jumpers, a climbing wall, kids' rides and games and costumed characters.

Park Chalet, Sunset. Sunday, April 12th, 10am-3pm. Brunch buffet, $35 for adults and $18.95 for children. Bottomless champagne for adults and the Easter bunny with an egg hunt for the kids at 11:45am. A live, kid-friendly band will perform from 11am-1pm.

Foreign Cinema, Mission. Sunday, April 12th, 11am-3pm. They will have a special three course meal, $40 for adults and $15 for children.

Easter Bunny Brunch at McCormick and Kuleto's, Ghiradelli Square. Saturday, April 11th, 10-11:30am. Take your own pictures with the Easter bunny. Adults: $30, children 6-12: $20, children under 6: $5. Advance reservations are required.

Old Fashioned Spring Egg Hunt at Dunsmuir House, Oakland. Saturday, April 11th, 12-3pm. Kids can greet the Easter bunny, go on age-appropriate egg hunts, play games, see tap dancing bunnies and watch puppet shows. Go on a tour of the mansion and bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy on the estate. Adults: $5, children 5 and up: $2, children under 5 are free. Family price: $12. Tour and games included.

Brunch with the Easter Bunnies at the Jelly Belly Factory, Fairfield. Saturday, April 11th, 10:30am. Meet Mr. Jelly Belly, Wendy and Wendell Bunny, and Kelly the Clown. Adults and children 3 and up: $19.99, children under 3 are free.

Charles Chocolates Factory and Store, Emeryville. Saturday, April 11th, 1-4pm. Paint your own chocolate Easter bunny. They will be giving samples away of their Easter chocolates. Bunny $9.75 plus $3 to paint with colored cocoa butters.

Go to Opentable.com for more restaurants, About.com for a list of Easter events , and Kiddie Koncierge for Easter egg hunts all around the Bay Area.

New manager infuses Hawaiian vibe into Sundance Kitchen

2009-03-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, Pat Da Silva-Fong took over as manager of the Sundance Kitchen located next door to the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas on Post at Fillmore in Japantown. The former owner of Honu's Island Grinds has introduced a new Hawaiian inspired menu featuring assorted appetizers, poke, salads, main dishes and pizzas. Her executive chef Sal Chen, who worked at Butterfly and Honu's prior to Sundance Kitchen, whips up items like Kobe beef sliders and an Ultimate Hawaiian pizza topped with kalua pork and pineapple. Some of Honu's classics like chicken adobo, kalbi short ribs and kalua pig cheese fries can also be found on the revamped menu. In three weeks, they will start serving lunch from 11:30am to 2:00pm. Da Silva-Fong expanded their bar by adding draft beers on tap, including several specialty Hawaiian beers. She has brought island beats to Sundance Kitchen as well. Every Friday and Saturday night, from 9:00pm until midnight, contemporary bands perform live on the upstairs dining room stage.

Dinner is served from 5:00-10:00pm Wednesday through Saturday, and on Sundays from 5:00- 9:00pm. Happy hour begins at 4:00pm. Sundance Kitchen is available for private events on Mondays and Tuesdays. For reservations, call 415.346.3243 after 5:00pm.

For more info: Sundance Cinemas

2009-03-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so The Candy Store isn't a restaurant, but my kids love their inventory of sweet treats so much they would make a meal of it any day. Owners Diane and Brian Campbell showcase a wide-range of products in their bright, clean, well-stocked Russian Hill boutique. For the past two years, they have been bringing smiles to the faces of big and little kids alike and it's nice to see their success on the rise. Here is the latest news straight from Diane and Brian.

"It's a really exciting time for the store! In just the past week, Diane was interviewed on "Dining Around With Gene Burns" on KGO radio (her 4th appearance) and was also quoted in an article about candy on the front page of the New York Times.

Also, Macy's Union Square is about to kick off their 63rd Annual Flower Show, where The Candy Store has been selected as their spotlight boutique (they choose one small business per year). The boutique will be located in the middle of the main floor of Macy's, where they are building out a scaled-down version of our Russian Hill store. In addition, one of their enormous display windows on Stockton Street will be devoted entirely to The Candy Store. It's been a real pleasure working with Macy's Visual Merchandising team - they are really going all out for us, replicating our store's wall of jars and even creating custom wallpaper from our logo. We hope you'll be able to come visit us - we'll be there from April 3rd through the 19th. We'll be selling some great Easter candy (Macy's is offering a "build-a-basket" service) as well as many of our everyday store favorites.

Our Vallejo Street location will, of course, continue to be open its regular hours. Spring is such a fantastic time for candy, and we hope you'll take full advantage of it. We just got in a new shipment of chocolates and other confections from Italy, as well as elegant boxes of Hazelnut Feuilletines made by local pastry chefs (Diane's new fave). Another of our favorites is a selection of amazing truffles made especially for The Candy Store by Oakland's Michael Mischer. And lastly, you won't want to miss the abundance of Easter specialties we have in stock right now - everything from chocolate floppy-eared bunnies to candy-filled acrylic ducks to lovely boxes of Easter marzipan.

We can't thank you enough for your continued support of our store, and we hope to see you soon."

The Candy Store: 1507 Vallejo Street, SF 415.921.8000

Bushi-tei's sibling bistro opens April 1st

2009-03-29T15:57:00.000-07:00

Bushi-Tei Bistro, the long-awaited offshoot of the upscale French California fusion restaurant Bushi-tei, is slated for a soft opening on Wednesday, April 1st. Owner Tak Matsuba says that Bushi-tei's executive chef, Seiji "Waka" Wakabayashi, will run both kitchens. Under Wakabayashi's culinary leadership, Bushi-tei earned a coveted star from the Michelin Guide as well as three stars from San Francisco Chronicle's Michael Bauer. He has worked with Wolfgang Puck at Spago and was the executive chef at Ondine in Sausalito. This more casual spinoff will offer California fusion food with greater Asian influences such as "tonkatsu" or Japanese style pork cutlets, and Thai curry style crab. The average tab per person will be between $25 and $30.

Roughly the same size as its sibling, the bistro can seat up to 130 people and has a private banquet room for 40. Given its spaciousness, affordable prices and proximity to the Sundance Kabuki theaters, it is bound to be a popular spot for many movie-goers. Starting this Wednesday, Bushi-tei Bistro will be open for lunch and dinner service from 11:30am-9:30pm everyday except Tuesdays. Wine and beer. Location: 1581 Webster Street at Post in Japantown.

Underdog's a winner for organic and vegetarian hotdogs

2009-03-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Who would have imagined that you could find an organic hotdog joint in the Inner Sunset? Underdog is a tiny place that offers organic meats and vegetarian sausages, as well as organic salads, desserts, sodas and juices. This busy Irving Street spot has a line out the door on weekends and turns out pretty tasty dogs on toasted buns such as fire-roasted red pepper chicken and turkey, vegetarian bratwurst, and vegan kielbasa. You can pile on the condiments yourself - organic sauerkraut, pickled relish and onions. Their potato salad and tater tots are popular, although the taters are not as crispy as I like them.

There are just two small tables inside, and an outdoor bench with a handful of TV trays for makeshift alfresco eating. It has such a comfortable, casual vibe that people even sit on the sidewalk and devour their meal. And, there's a bucket of chalk for your little crumb-grinder and a bowl of water for your pooch. The next time you have a hankering for a hotdog, try one here.

2009-03-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

In this lively, even noisy FiDi eatery, Chef Staffan Terje and his team turn out delicious Northern Italian dishes that make the din seem like a communal celebration of how good the food is. Perbacco shines with cooking that spotlights the Piemonte region and elements from Liguria and Provence. The slow roasted veal appetizer with lemon and albacore tuna sauce is so tender and tasty, they should seriously make giant sandwiches out of that stuff. While I thought about having the Salumi Misti, house cured meats and salami - after all, it is #18 on 7x7's list of places to try before you die - I opted for the squid which was also impressively tender and nicely accented with lemon and red chili flakes. The folks here make their own pasta daily, and you can taste the freshness in dishes such as the roasted rabbit agnolotti. The Subrich, or Piemontese meatballs, were perfectly prepared, not too dense or mushy, with a rich and savory spiced red wine jus offset by slightly sweet apples and potato puree. Don't forget dessert. They have a lot of chocolatey and nutty decadence on the menu, but they also have interesting items like citrus and vanilla infused rice pudding with a caramel crust, a cross between rice pudding and creme brulee. At noon, the suit set converges upon this place, so be sure to have reservations.

2009-03-26T20:46:00.000-07:00

To celebrate their newly rennovated interior, Three Degrees at the Lodge of Tiburon is having a soft opening tomorrow with dinner service from 5-11pm. On Saturday, they are doing away with brunch and introducing their breakfast buffet menu, all you can eat for $10.95. On Sunday, they are launching their all-day Sunday happy hour. Yes, that's all-day, every Sunday. Drafts are $3, well drinks and martinis are $6. They also have a rotating wine-by-the-glass for $6. About 20 items on their menu will be half off, including classic style clam chowder in a bread bowl for $4, fish tacos for $6, Tavern burgers for $6.50, and braised pork nachos for $6.

What's better than affordable food and libations? Enjoying them on a patio with a firepit or while lounging on the new couch, big chairs and ottomans next to the double-sided fireplace inside. Sounds like this is the place for lunch on Sunday.

Breakfast 7-9am, Monday through Friday and 7-10am on weekends. Lunch seven days a week 11am-2pm. Happy hour 4-7pm, Monday through Saturday; all-day happy hour 11am-10pm, Sundays. Their new menu is not posted on their web site yet so call for more info: 415.435.5996.

Places to catch some rays during Spring Break

2009-03-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

Keep your fingers and toes crossed that the fog stays away so that everyone can enjoy the school break and soak in some sunshine. Here are a handful of alfresco dining ideas. Enjoy, and pack a sweater just in case.

Belden Place restaurants for sidewalk dining in the FiDi, excluding Voda which is not open for lunch: B44, Brindisi, Cafe Bastille, Cafe Tiramisu, Plouf, Sam's Grill, Taverna

Chez Papa Resto - the flavors of Provence with an outdoor patio at Mint Plaza

Chow on Church - comfort food in the Castro with a back patio

La Mar - elegant cebicheria with a patio that boasts views of the Bay and Treasure Island

La Terrasse - the Presidio's French bistro with a heated terrace patio

Pier 23 - casual seafood with an eclectic mix of people on the waterfront deck

Rose Pistola - tasty Italian eats in North Beach with sidewalk tables

Sam's - casual seafood with great people watching on a deck in Tiburon

Sociale - charming Italian eatery with a heated garden patio

Steelhead Brewery - family-friendly environs with California eats and outdoor seating in Burlingame

Taylor's Refresher - good quality diner food with outdoor seating along the Embarcadero

The Ramp - American fare with a patio next to a boatyard by the Bay

Waterbar - upscale seafood spot along the Embarcadero with a terrace that has its own private bar and a great view of the Bay Bridge

Zazie - French bistro with a heated garden patio in Cole Valley

Let me know where your favorite outdoor lunch spots are and why. An updated list will come out in time for summer sun-worshippers. Looking forward to your comments!

Happy eating and don't forget your sunscreen,
Dina

2009-03-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

In December of last year, Anjan and Emily Mitra opened a second branch of their South Indian eatery, DOSA on Fillmore. They brought their executive chef, Senthil Kumar, from Valencia Street to run the kitchen in this bright, spacious building that has been beautifully transformed from its former Goodwill digs.

My father has enjoyed traveling to India, so I invited him to sample DOSA's dishes. Once we ordered, our server gave us a plate of papardam, large black pepper crisps made with lentil butter. We nibbled while listening to an interesting mix of American pop and traditional Indian music in the background. We shared Blackened Sardines ($9.50), a pair of deliciously crispy fried sardines rubbed with green chiles, coriander, cumin, pepper, chopped greens and onions accompanied with lime and a cucumber, tomato and red onion salad. The Chennai Chicken ($9.50) came out next, organic chicken marinated in organic yogurt with coriander and cumin, then fried. It packs a perfect amount of heat from all the spices. It came with a slaw of cabbage, carrot, beet, red onion and spinach lightly dressed with a sweet cilantro vinaigrette. There are a variety of Dosa, or savory rice and lentil crepes, and Uttapam, a slightly thicker pancake version of Dosa, to choose from. Both come with three condiments - a fresh tomato chutney, coconut chutney, and sambar, a warm lentil dipping soup made of assorted vegetables and spices. My father had the Chile and Cilantro Uttapam ($10) with green chiles, onion and cilantro which was tasty but much milder than I expected. I ordered the Spring Dosa ($11), crunchy veggie rolls filled with fresh cabbage, carrots, red onion, peas and typically, cashews, but I opted to go without. They delivered a Spring Uttapam by mistake, but quickly replaced it with a Dosa, and plated it with an extra piece to make up for their error. We tried Coconut Basmati Rice ($3) cooked in a myriad of flavors including coconut milk, yellow lentils, mustard seeds, red chiles, and South Indian drumstick leaves which are mostly strained out before serving. It was interesting, didn't love it, didn't hate it.

Today, DOSA on Fillmore was a sunny, quiet setting for a liesurely lunch, but I hear it packs a weekend crowd who enjoy the dinner and lively bar scene. Speaking of the bar, we each enjoyed a signature cocktail. The Bengali Gimlet ($10) was a refreshing blend of Tanqueray Rangpur Gin, "curried" nectar, Kaffir lime leaf and juice, served up with a lime wedge. I tried the Mood Indigo ($10) with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, jackfruit marmalade, Angostura bitters, chilled and topped with sparkling wine which was fruity with a nice bite from the bitters.

All in all, it was a pleasant dining experience. Despite being a little heavy on the fried treats and a tad steep for everday lunching - our total bill came to more than $70 - this is a fun place to go occasionally with family or friends when you are not in a big hurry. Good variety for vegetarians and wheat and gluten-free eaters. Lunch is served daily from 11:30am-3:00pm.

The Presidio: Old Army Post Boasts Culinary Gem

2009-03-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Tucked inside the historic Presidio is Pres a Vi, an impressively spacious wine bar that offers an eclectic menu of small and big plates. Loosely translated in Catalan, "pres a vi" means "captivated by wine." And captivated they are, with over 300 wines and 16 flights on the menu. Chef Kelly Degala, a native of Hawaii, creates globally inspired food that pairs well with their vino. His Yellow Tail Peruvian 'Teradito' ($15) is a delectably refreshing combination of sushi grade yellow tail, red jalapeno, anju pepper aioli, blood orange oil and micro cilantro. Every time I go, I hoard the dish to myself. I recently discovered that they took the teradito off the lunch menu so you can only get it at dinner - oh the horror! My husband and I enjoy the Duck Buns ($13) - pillowy soft steamed buns filled with savory goodness. Hubby also digs the Rock Shrimp-Avocado 'Lumpia'($12), those crispy little Filipino summer rolls with ponzu and wasabi-orange cream. There is the 8 oz. Wagyu Beef Cheeseburger ($15) made with apple-wood smoked bacon, tomato aioli, and mezzo secco cheese on a brioche roll. While I found it a tad dry, it was tasty nonetheless, and worth another try down the road. Servers there are friendly, knowledgeable, and conscientious about pacing when you order multiple dishes. That's a good thing since my main complaint about this place is that their tables are too small. Located on the Letterman Digital Arts Center campus, this elegant but casual eatery has a heated patio and private dining options. They are open for lunch, dinner and brunch, and are closed on Mondays. It is definitely worth a trip to the scenic Presidio! I want to check out its sister spot, Va de Vi, in Walnut Creek - maybe I'll go the next time I book a hair appt. with Dawn at DiPietro Todd...On the grubalicious meter, this place gets two and a half lip smacks.

Midi is marvelous!

2009-03-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Feeling under the weather, I knew, unfortunately, that having a big dinner party tonight to celebrate my husband's birthday was out of the question, so my three year old daughter and I offered to take him to lunch at Midi instead. What a great idea that was! Midi is a modern yet inviting, two-level California brasserie that opened yesterday in the busy "mid district" areas of the Financial District and Union Square shopping district. This newly refurbished spot in the Galleria Park Hotel, formerly known as Perry's, offers satisfying food in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Executive Chef Michelle Mah was named one of San Francisco Chronicle's Rising Star Chefs in 2006 during her stint as Executive Chef at Ponzu. She uses many local, sustainable and organic products.

We were immediately greeted at the bar and escorted upstairs to the "best table" in the house. Michael, our server, was charming and attentive. From the lunch menu, he highly recommended the papardelle. So for my daughter, I ordered the roasted chicken breast with fines herbes papardelle, mixed mushrooms, baby spinach, pea tendrils and sorrel cream sauce ($16). Of course, mommy had to take a taste and after I did, I didn't want to give it back. The skin was crispy and flavorful while the meat was tender and juicy. Michael was right, the pasta was a great complement, and the sauce was creamy but not overwhelming. They have two types of sandwiches, hot-pressed with fries and open-faced tartines with mesclun salad. My husband and I opted for the tartines. He had the braised sliced lamb with mixed chicory, pinenut-currant chutney and fontina atop Acme bread ($14). He enjoyed the perfectly cooked lamb and chicory and wished there was a bit more chutney for spreading. I had the ham and gruyere with oven-dried tomato and a poached egg ($13) which was good but a tad bland.

When given the choice between savory or sweet, I always pick savory. However, the lemon curd parfait may be the new exception. It was creamy and refreshing with strawberries, a thin meringue-like "crust" and a candied lemon peel wheel. The crustless goat cheese cheesecake with fresh raspberries and raspberry granite was surprisingly light and smooth. All desserts are $7 and mini portions are $4.

Midi is a great place for business lunches, and I will be back soon, either after my next retail therapy spree with my girlfriends or to meet my husband after work for their fun cocktails and bar bites! This food find gets three lip smacks on the grubalicious meter!