tooearly

Agreed: the soba is just like Japan. Le Guignol: walked by it the other night on the way to the opera: have not been there for 15 years: wondering how it is: now i know: thanks!

During the first rise, if one covers the container tightly with saran wrap, should that make a difference? Is more O2 needed?

The past year has seen a veritable boom of Japanese restaurants, from Oden to soba, to Yakiniku, to tofu, and lots of others in between.... Anyone care to share any favourites in this crowd of newcomers... I have tried: tsukenya and ichiriki, both not bad at all but wont bring me back anytime soon...

Thanks for the Souvaly idea: never out that way but a great fan of thai food and will try it if I ever am....

Can anyone point me to a better understanding of the part about "shaping the dough into a ball"? I am intrigued of course by those who say this seems totally unnecessary... Why let it rest for 15 before shaping? I have been shaping it with some success, but I think i need a smaller dutch oven than 5-6 quarts as everyone has been saying... making my 6th loaf as I type...this is a lot of fun! And tasty too> cant remember the last time I actually felt I would want toeat a whole loaf at a sitting!

Can anyone tell me : in the original recipe it called for folding then setting aside for 15 minutes before forming a ball: are there really two steps? There were not in the video? How does one form a good ball?

NOt much activity on the Hawaii thread these days...no one has been wowed lately for new places or old ones turning the corner?

Can one not use a pizza stone in a gas grill with good results?

In Short, Hilo ROCKS and Honolulu is 5 years away from its quality! I was really blown away by the changes in Hilo since I had been back there 2 years ago. The range price and quality of organics is getting very good. Hope we can catch up

worst sushi i ever ate bar none

concur on new pataya: a smoky, hole int he wall, KB style, with great food

Kimo: any updates? I am on my way next month....

nonbei is da bomb in honolulu. nothing else comes close in my opinion in consistency, fairness of price, quality....

it is sad that we dont have a truly wonderful thai restaurant, but i agree the places mentioned are enough to remind me at least of what really good thai food is all about. and make me homesick for the real mccoy

any idea why we dont have a trader joes yet?

this is just the thread I wanted. Thanks and keep it up. I like Tamuras for specialty items and wine. i like Chinatown for somme Asian produce. For Japanese Marukai. Produce can be a good at Daei I would love better bread readily available.

I wonder if such a thread exists already.... I would love to know where every goes for their favourite: produce, meats, fish, specialty items, etc etc..... The one thing I hate about living here is the need to chase all over town to make a meal....wish we had a Berkeley Bowl look alike.... dreaming.....

I ate at Kabuto last week. Can honestly say it was the worst meal i ever ate in SF. I had read so many glowing reviews, and was very very dissapointed. The proprieter never even greeted us though we sat immediately in front of him. No wimper of an "Irrashae".I was told by the waitress that she would take our order as the itamae was too busy. (never have i heard that at a counter) He lloked and acted angry the whole time. The food was rather tasteless. The prices average to high average. It was nosiy, filled with young people who seemed to love it (there is no accounting for taste.)

Has anyone been back since the restaurant re-opened? How was it?

Great meals at La Maison Du Jardin: simple, elegant, classic tastes with slight refinements and good value; Le pre Verre: very creative and unusual use of spices which worked 98% and with incredible results:at first we were put off by the menu thinking it may be pretentitios but nothing of the kind! It was fantastic: go and try his bananas with hot pepper mouse and reductio of mangoe and lilikoi ! Incrdible. First night had a decent tradiitional meal at Le Petiti Riche: good but not great. Thank you allfor the fine recomendations What a city it is !

Just back from Vancouver. Brief thoughts: Fabulous city. really and truly the nicest urban place i have visited inyears. food: good to great. not the maturity of say San francisco, but trying much harder (too hard?). good meals at Rodneys (not exactly what I call a hole in the wall), Fish Cafe, and Lumiere. Fresh ingredients, smart service, and friendly the lot of them.

please DO NOT post that you can eat liver of fugu....lest someone mistakenly take your advice. yes, researchers are working on it. A licensed chef in Japan would lose his license to serve liver if it were public knowledge.

why would anyone elaborate in response to a shellacking like that? did you here anyone complaining about life in Hawaii?

too bad indeed!

Nice to see folks on this thread know the truth about Thai food: the very best is found in places you would wander past 99 times out of 100 and never think to step into. Sometimes really and truly amazing cooking comes out of these places. (brings tears to my eyes thinking of it). I can think of a simple Guaythiow noodle shop south of HadYai that was dark and dusty, and made the most inncredible bowl of noodles I have ever tasted, anywhere, for about 40 cents. wish i was ther now..... try the Som Tam in the food court of Chatuchak market: reputed to be Thailands best.