Category: San Francisco

Posted in Food, San Francisco

Michelin Rated and Swanky To Match

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

Luce restaurant is located in the new InterContinenal Hotel on Howard St. in San Francisco. It’s sleek, modern, sophisticated. It’s like the W Hotel, but without the focus on being trendy or hip. It’s all about sleek sophistication here.

The restaurant was recently rated with a Michelin star;  something given to only the best restaurants in the world. Luce had all their ducks in a row the evening I went with my girlfriends for dinner. The drinks were perfect, the decor and lighting were perfect, the presentation of all our dishes were perfect.

The chef sent out a beautifully presented amuse bouche that had a surprisingly complex yet subtle flavor. It was a taste of lentils, perfectly tender octopus with a chorizo consume and topped with a small egg. It was probably the highlight of the meal, honestly, because it was such a surprise in its well suited combination of flavors.

We started with the kona kampachi tartare and the roasted bone marrow with grilled bread and roasted garlic. Both dishes were excellent and elegantly presented. The bone marrow was rich and fatty, but it was delicious, especially with the garlic. It was perfect on the grilled bread, both as textural contrast but also to mellow out the fattiness of the dish.

The tartare was simply prepared and another textural winner with the baby green cauliflower and diced pickled apples. Fresh and delicious. The perfect opposite to the rich marrow.

For the main course we ordered the shortrib and wild mushroom pappardelle and the slow cooked beef tenderloin. Again, beautiful and uncomplicated presentation. The flavors were again, rich and delicious and the ingredients were obviously of superior quality.

The biggest thing lacking at this perfection striving restaurant,was the service. Though it was seemingly casual and friendly, our waiter was aloof and disingenuous. He barely paid attention when we spoke, unless to order. He just plain didn’t care. And that shouldn’t exist in a restaurant with such praise.

Luce on Urbanspoon

Posted in Events, Food, Peninsula, San Francisco

Sunday Brunch, Revisited

Posted on by virgoinwonderland
Courtesy of http://www.boogaloossf.com

It’s hard to find good, inventive, interesting brunch spots in the city and beyond.  I realize this every time I try to book a brunch reservation for myself and some friends.

A brunch post I wrote in the Spring of 2007 still remains one of my most popular posts of all time, especially around Easter.  Since it’s now a little outdated, I decided to do a new and improved 2010 post on the same subject.

When choosing the places for this list, I tried to avoid the ones with the “typical” brunch menu of just a few egg dishes and the obligatory french toast.  The ones I picked have a little bit more culinary creativity for their Sunday afternoon menus.  I haven’t been to all of them but I have heard good things about all of them, so you’ve been warned.

SPQR (SF) – Things may be a little different here now that Chef Nate Appleman’s gone, but the brunch menu still includes some interesting items like Fritto misto of rock cod & vegetables and Crispy pig’s ear.  This is a casual spot where the tables can be close together, so it’s not the best place to take Grandma.

TI COUZ (SF Mission District) – This is one of my fave lunch spots of all time, if I can ever get a freakin’ table!  But if you do, it’s worth it!  Super casual atmosphere (and sometimes ambivalent service) here.  Rustic French buckwheat crepes (you have to be a fan of these or don’t even bother going) and big bowls of coffee give this place charm.  I love having a scallop, cheese and mushroom crepe with mushroom sauce and a hard pear cider.  Yummers!

BOOGALOO’S (SF Mission District) – This casual, funky restaurant was my fave spot to grab breakfast/brunch when I was in college.  Why?  A dish they call the “Temple o’ Spuds.”  It’s a decadent, delicious mound of home fried potatoes with sour cream, cheese, salsa, scallions and even a fried egg on top if you ask for it (you need the protein, I guess).  They’ve also got some very inventive twists on old brunch favorites.

BUSHI-TEI (SF) – This is where Asian and American cuisines fuse.  The brunch 2-course prix fixe menu is a revelation at just $25.  Even the traditional dishes are done with a twist of sophistication and whimsy.  Very elegant.

BERETTA (SF Mission District) – Prepare for the parking hell that is the Mission. But there’s an extensive menu of antipasti of all kinds, risottos, and pizzas.  All very fun, fresh, and good for groups.

FARMER BROWN (SF) – This place is in a VERY shady part of town.  But if you’re a fan of fried chicken and biscuits with gravy, this is your kind of place.  The Sunday brunch buffet is chock full of food-coma inducing foods that’ll stick to your ribs.  But it’s a very hip, urban, quirky place.  And they’ve got LOUD live music (it’s good, though) and tasty strong cocktails.  Great for a good time, not for intimate conversation.

ABC SEAFOOD RESTAURANT (Milpitas & Foster City) – Why not dim sum folks?  It’s the quintessential Chinese lunch when getting together with family and friends.  And they’ll always accommodate a large party.  The food here is fairly reliable.  Like with any dim sum joint, arrive before noon or after 1:30 to avoid the long waits and always call ahead if you have a large party.

ASTARIA (San Mateo) – They have the usual brunch subjects, along with some lovely “comfort food” entrees like Shepherd’s Pie or Buttermilk fried chicken.  This is a good family option with lots of different choices for everyone.  FYI, I used to work here back when it was still a Lark Creek property. 😛

Posted in Food, Peninsula, San Francisco

I’m Just Not That Into You

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

Ike’s Place has gotten plenty of hype lately.  It’s been on the Food Network, it was mentioned on 7×7’s list of things you need to eat before you die, and now they’re expanding like crazy.  So much so they actually ended up opening one in the Redwood Shores area.  Close enough for me to visit during my lunch break.

I visited them on two occasions.  The first time, I tried the “Name of the Girl I’m Dating” (#9).  It’s chopped Halal chicken breast with avocado, pepperjack cheese and honey mustard, dressed with their famous dirty sauce (which is a mixture of mayo, garlic, and herbs).  It was good, but way too over the top.  It was total excess.  It was not the kind of good you’d tell your friends about or dream about going back for.  I felt like telling them, “Stop trying so hard!”

So I went back for something I usually crave: Chicken Fried Steak.  They have a sammie called “Forty!?” that has chicken fried steak, dirty sauce, and cheddar cheese.  Can’t go wrong, right?  Wrong!  The meat was greasy and flavorless.  So greasy that the oils had soaked into the bread, mixed in with the oils in the dirty sauce, and became one big gloppy mess.  It wasn’t worth ordering again, for sure.

So this is a classic example of hype over substance.  There are far better sandwich joints in the area (Lorenzo’s), or even out of the area (Bakesale Betty, Roli Roti, Kitchenette).  Now, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and say that perhaps I need to go to their flagship restaurant to get the true experience.  But if you’re going to expand like gangbusters, you’d better make sure your product doesn’t suffer.

Ike’s Place – 555 Twin Dolphin Dr., Redwood Shores – Other locations throughout S.F. and the Bay Area

Posted in Food, San Francisco

Oysters, Anyone?

Posted on by virgoinwonderland
Courtesy of http://www.waterbarsf.com/food

So my recent fabulous excursion with my regular group of “Foodinista” dining pals (@lickmyspoon, @joanneisafoodie, @istelleinad, @veradevera, & Nicole) inspired me to write about a couple of stellar San Francisco deals for those of you who love downing oysters like I do.

We ventured to Zuppa Restaurant on 4th Street in the city where they have a fabulous menu of happy hour specials (M-F, 5-7pm), including their ridiculously affordable deal of 50 cents an oyster (with the purchase of one drink minimum and no more than a dozen per person). The girls and I ordered a dozen each. Yup, we had 60 oysters at the table and we weren’t shy about it. That’s what happens when you eat with the Foodinistas. We know what we want and we eat what we like.

We also shared an order of the Salsicca ($5), Rigatoni ($10) and a couple of Margherita Pizzas ($7 each). They’ve also got $4 beers and $5 margheritas, pinot grigio and chianti. All the food was pretty good and a definite deal for the price. We were definitely a very lively and happy bunch of foodies that evening. 🙂

Another joint making news for their oyster specials is the Waterbar, also in San Francisco. Their “Come Unhinged” happy hour specials run from 11:30am-6pm, everyday. What can you score? Try $1 oysters! I have yet to go, but trust me, it’s on the list. And M-F, 3-6pm, you can enjoy special $5 cocktails, featured wines, and $3 featured beers.

This is definitely a good time to be an oyster-lover. And if you’re not, get on board!

Zuppa Restaurant – 564 Fourth St – San Francisco
Waterbar Restaurant – 399 The Embarcadero South – San Francisco

Posted in Events, Food, San Francisco

7×7’s List of Ultimate SF Eats 2010

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

I usually don’t comment on “Best of” lists, but I made an exception.

“7×7’s The Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Try Before You Die” list for 2010 is intriguing because they single out some of the best dishes they’ve had the pleasure of eating as opposed to highlighting just the establishment.  After reading it, I’ve also realized how much farther I have to go!  I swear, a foodie’s job is never done ;).

Here’s what I’ve been fortunate enough to try and L-O-V-E on their list:

4. Fried chicken and waffles at Little Skillet
12. Porchetta sandwich at RoliRoti
13. Soup dumplings at Shanghai Dumpling King
20. Salumi misti plate at Perbacco
21. Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina
33. Prime rib at House of Prime Rib
47. Ceviche on the patio at La Mar Cebichería Peruana
58. Chicharróns from 4505 Meats
61. Egg custard tart at Golden Gate Bakery
88. Buckwheat crepe and a French cider at Ti Couz
90. Korean taco at Namu’s market stand
95. Ube ice cream from Mitchell’s

Here’s what I’ve tried on the list that’s simply overrated IMHO:

31. Guajillo-braised beef short-rib taco at Tacolicious
40. Cheeseburger with sweet potato fries at Taylor’s Automatic Refresher
62. Dim sum at Ton Kiang
66. Pig parts at Incanto
87. Sesame balls at Yank Sing
89. Lettuce cups at Betelnut
100. Menage a Trois at Ike’s Place

And of course, what I’m dying to try:

1. Roast chicken and bread salad at Zuni
8. Morning bun at Tartine Bakery
11. Pork sugo with pappardelle at Delfina
14. Beef brisket sandwich at Il Cane Rosso
16. Katsu curry from Muracci’s Japanese Curry & Grill
17. Samusa soup at Burma Superstar
18. Oysters on the half shell at Swan Oyster Depot
19. Lobster pot pie at Michael Mina
22. Vietnamese roasted pork sandwich at Saigon Sandwich
42. Fried-shrimp po’boy at Brenda’s French Soul Food
60. The Little Star at Little Star Pizza
71. Scottish egg at Wexler’s
74. Corned-beef sandwich with Gruyère at The Sentinel
75. Fried green beans at Coco500
85. Pulled-pork sandwich at Roadside BBQ
86. A cheese slice at Arinell Pizza

I would LOVE to hear what you’ve tried, want to try, love or even hate on the list…

Posted in Events, Food, San Francisco, Street Food

Not Too Shabby for a Second Choice

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

Despite the herd of family and events over the holidays, I was able to carve out an afternoon to the San Francisco Ferry Building Street Food Farmers Market. This is my favorite place in the city for just wasting an afternoon enjoying the people, the view, the architecture, and the food, of course.

I was on a mission to get me some porchetta sammies from Roli Roti. I’ve been dreaming of them ever since the FoodBuzz food event late last year, and it’s been hard to get a hold of one ever since. Of course, once we got there at 1:30, they had JUST served the last sandwich. I was pissed, to say the least.

But since there were so many other vendors around, there had to be some other good eats. I picked up a Margherita pie at Pizza Politana, which served as a good appetizer. That’s when the hubby ordered some Korean tacos from the guys at Namu.

I should’ve known to come here from the start. They catered our final dinner at the big FoodBuzz event last Fall and the menu was was fresh, lively, inventive and surprising.

We ordered some Korean Tacos which had chopped up bits of Korean marinated shortribs (kalbi), short grain sticky rice with scallions, daikon, kimchee, and a bit of sweet soy and mayo. Oh…my…gawd. These things are the real deal! Forget all the other Korean taco posers that drive around in their trucks. These guys mean business! All the ingredients are super fresh, organic and melded together on two sheets of seaweed (nori) to create this fantastic Californian/Asian fusion “taco” that was just out of this world!

And as a side dish we also ordered the Korean Fries that were on special that day. They were tasty too, topped with the same shortribs, scallions, Asian inspired sauce on top of some wonderfully fresh fried potatoes.

Now, the porchetta sammie will always be the first reason why I make it down to the Ferry Building on Thursday or Saturday, but the guys at Namu have made it damn hard to say no to their fare if I ever get down there again.

And word has it, their actual restaurant has some killer Monday and Tuesday night specials, as well.

Namu – SF Ferry Building Farmers Market – Thursdays, 10am-2pm

Posted in Food, San Francisco, Shopping

English Sweet Treats

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

IMG_3923There’s something about modern candy shops that sends even the most jaded adult into a child-like state. They’re complete with retro decor, walls lined with jars of colorful treats, and pastel colored packaging.

I’ve admitted before that I’m not a huge sugar fiend, nor am I the kind of person who dreams of chocolate. But the candies and candy bars I DO enjoy, I enjoy greatly. They’ll send me into a nostalgic state complete with memories of  my youth (Fruit Stripe gum, Charms hard candies, bubble gum “cigarettes,” Charleston Chews and Jolly Rancher Stix), or of when I was living in Toronto or Hong Kong.

fionas-logoBecause both places have connections to Queen Elizabeth, common English candies and chocolate bars were easy to find at your nearest supermarket. That’s why I found Fiona’s Sweetshoppe just off Union Square in San Francisco to be delightful. It’s a tiny little shop opened by a British native who missed her favorite English sweet treats.

IMG_3925 They were stocked with sweets I haven’t seen in a while, like the full line of Cadbury chocolate products, Flake, Bounty, Aero, Smarties, Malteasers (both milk and white chocolate), the original Mars bars (which they don’t sell in America anymore), Rowntree Fruit Gums and Pastilles, and Fruittella chews. They also carry bulk candies that aren’t made in-house but shipped in from England.

Now, the English may not be known for their culinary genius, but they make some damn fine candy.

And though I was disappointed to see they didn’t carry my fave Coffee Crisp candy bars, I walked out with my pink bag full of sweet treats feeling like a kid in a…well, you know…

Fiona’s Sweetshoppe – 214 Sutter St., SF – www.fionassweetshoppe.com

Posted in Food, San Francisco, Shopping

A Top Chef Master’s Low End Venture

Posted on by virgoinwonderland
Image courtesy of http://www.rickbayless.com

I’m excited for the upcoming season of Top Chef Masters. There’s no word on who will be competing yet, but I had a blast rooting for Hubert Keller and Rick Bayless last time around.

Trips to Keller’s Burger Bar and Fleur de Lys will have to wait (though they’re on my list of restaurants to try), but Rick Bayless doesn’t have much of a presence around these parts.

He does, however, have a gourmet takeout joint in the cellar of Macy’s Union Square in SF called Frontera Fresco. His obsession with Mexican food and culture, along with his attention to detail told me that the place couldn’t be THAT bad. The man has a reputation to uphold. So my hubby and I gave it a try after a day of post-holiday retail returns.

We went for the Chipotle Chicken and Roasted Vegetable Salad with goat cheese, shredded chicken, and roasted zucchini and peppers. We also had the Pulled Pork Tacos and a Pulled Pork Torta, grilled panini style. (Can you tell pork is the new black around culinary circles? Not that I’m complaining.)

Everything was delicious. The flavors were surprisingly fresh for a takeout place. This stuff was better than most salads or sandwiches you’d get at a sitdown cafe. The pork was stewed and flavored nicely. It wasn’t bland or dry or too greasy either. It actually tasted like it had been cooked for a long time with a lot of care. Pretty impressive for this type of place.

And my husband LOVED his salad. There were no brown lettuce leaves or wilted arugula here. Every piece was fresh, crisp, and bright. The chicken and roasted zucchini gave great flavor and texture contrast to the crisp romaine.

The best part is that this place doesn’t skimp on portions or overcharge just because a celebrity chef’s name is attached to it. Now, of course, it’s not one of his famous restaurants in Chicago, but you could DEFINITELY do worse if you’re looking for a quick, easy, affordable takeout option.

Bayless’ attention to detail and respect for Mexican food really comes through. And fortunately, his reputation has not been compromised.

Frontera Fresco on Urbanspoon

Posted in Food, San Francisco

A Sea of Blue

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

The decor and color scheme of La Mar along the San Francisco Embarcadero waterfront is stunning. Bright crystal blue water tones, white, silver, and a stunning view of the bay make this restaurant a hip, sophisticated yet soothing place to dine.

And thankfully, the food was nothing to scoff at either. And the presentation for many of the five dishes we had was beautiful.

Super fresh seafood is the star here, obviously hence the name of the restaurant, which means “the sea”. This is the first American outlet of this Peruvian chain restaurant. But that doesn’t mean quality and service suffer for it.

We started with a basket full of housemade sweet potato, potato, and banana chips accompanied by three creamy and very different dipping sauces. What a way to start a meal! I’m a chip fiend so I loved this alternative to the boring bread basket, and so did my dining companions.

They are known for their cebiches (or ceviches, as know them) and our shared ahi tuna version was delicious. Big chunks of raw fish swam in a wonderful vinegary sauce with red onion and a touch of avocado. Ironically, however, the ahi lacked any exciting fresh taste of the sea that I was hoping for. It was fresh, but lacked character. But the dish was still delicious.

Our second starter was the “tiraditos”, or basically a sushi roll. Ours had fresh crabmeat, ahi tuna, and a passionfruit and honey sauce drizzled over it. It was fine, but again, the ahi lacked any clear strong flavor of the sea, and the dish was overall pretty boring. Nothing different from your standard sushi fare.

Our entrees included the antichucho de carne (skirt steak skewer), the causa limena (Peruvian whipped potato with dungeness crab and quail egg), and the stewed chicken empanadas. Everything was good, but nothing exceptional…except for the causa limena. The presentation, alone was impressive. But for me, the dish was my fave of the afternoon. There was real texture and flavor contrast and all the different elements just worked together. It was exotic, sophisticated, and yet somehow a comfort dish that was decadent.

Dessert was a wonderful revelation as well. We ordered the orange glazed chocolate beignets with banana passionfruit ice cream. I’m usually not into rich desserts but this was perfect! Not cloyingly sweet and the dark chocolate had real depth, almost a nutty flavor that wasn’t too bitter at all.

Service here was wonderfully friendly, yet expert and unobtrusive. I look forward to going back, hopefully on a warm sunny afternoon so I can sit in the large patio area out back and just look out on the water. Ahhh…

La Mar Cebicheria Peruana on Urbanspoon

Posted in Food, San Francisco

Top 100?…Really?

Posted on by virgoinwonderland

Bar Bambino has been on the San Francisco Chronicle’s list of Top 100 Restaurants for the last two years. And since it’s close to BART, it was the perfect place for a get together between foodies. So, I met Jo (Taking Over the World One Bite at a Time), Stephanie (Lick My Spoon), and Danielle (Bon Vivant) for dinner and good conversation on a weekday night.

We started with a lovely small bowl of calamari dressed with a light lemony dressing that was delightful and studded with celery for crunch. Nice mix of textures. It went well with the pomegranate sparkling wine we all had.

We shared the pork belly with braised lentils and the chicken livers bruschetta to start. I was surprised by both, but in very different ways. The pork belly was seared for a crisp exterior, but it was boring, unimaginative and even slightly dry! Almost impossible for a piece of fatty pork belly. I was disappointed that it wasn’t more inventive. And the lentils were a little too “al dente” for my taste.

However, the chicken livers bruschetta was wonderful. I have to thank Steph or ordering this because I would never have otherwise. It was flavorful, not gamey, and the bread it was on was the perfect partner for the soft and flavorful livers. It was actually the highlight of the evening.

For entrees we ordered the pappardelle with braised rabbit, tagliatelle with bolognese, bucatini with cauliflower, panchetta, raisins and pine nuts, and the roasted and pan fried chicken.

Both the pappardelle and the tagliatelle were probably the highlights of the meal for me. The pastas were housemade, buttery and delicious. The meats were braised well and had a good flavor to them. However, the rabbit was less tender than I expected and I actually would’ve liked more sauce.

The bucatini was a good effort but it was a little discombobulated. And like with all the pastas we had, I think a larger portion, just slightly, would’ve been nice. This dish had great elements, but together, it didn’t quite work.

The chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside. I LOVED the exterior. It has the perfect texture and was more like fried chicken on a more gourmet level. However, the interior was dryer than I’d like and the was lacking flavor. A common problem with ordering chicken breast, but since this is a Top 100 restaurant, I expected a whole lot more. Again, great elements but overall, a failed dish collectively.

That was basically how I felt about the restaurant and the food. Service was off, as well. They were professional enough but not friendly or personable. There was something missing or lacking with just about everything. It was almost like the restaurant was doing what it knew well, but the food and the service had no soul.  Maybe it was an off night, but I don’t believe I’ll ever be back.

Bar Bambino on Urbanspoon