Stu-i-moto
-
Posts
80 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Store
Help Articles
Posts posted by Stu-i-moto
-
-
What are your favorite places for decent "Pan Latin" or Mexican food?
Oh - I guess I'll stick to the hole in the wall/basic spots. They cover me just fine, especially the lesser known Salvadorean places (Pupusas anyone?). It's kinda like going to New York City and eating pizza at an upscale place when there are great pizza places everywhere you look. Why pay more, when you can get just as good food for less?
Now I will say this: the now closed Alma that used to be at 22nd & Valnecia was my exception to that rule. They had a brined, grilled pork chop (yes, a pork chop) that was one of my favorite entrees in the city. Johnny Almilla (the chef/owner) is now snowboarding up in Tahoe (he checked out) and he did open a place called Sol y Lago up there, but I haven't tried it.
-
Semi-refined/yuppie-type places
Miss Millies (24th St @ Castro) - always love those fresh churros. Many items on the brunch menu tend to be new twists on old classics, such as gingerbread pear waffles and lemon ricotta pancakes. You'll definitely spot a crowd waiting for tables outside on weekends.
FYI-
Unfortunately, Miss Millie's is closing; due to the cost of doing business in San Francisco, they have decided to move their place to Rockridge (Oakland).
Stu
-
OK - eGulletteers,
I am always in search of good breakfast or brunch places in San Francisco. I have to say that, after living in this great culinary capital for 5+ years, I am consistently underwhelmed by the quality of offerings in the breakfast category. I would roughly group breakfast spots into the following buckets:
- Greasy spoons/ diner types: this description is pretty self-explanatory. What you see is what you get - simple dishes, simple prices, simple service. The basics. Some are greasier than others. Some actually cook and season their home fries; others give you something that could best be described as potato salad before it becomes the salad. There are some I like, but I am always looking for new suggestions;
- Mega-breakfast/Insulin shockers: these places go for the "more is better" approach. Muffins that could feed 100 starving children, stacks & stacks o' pancakes and waffles with copious amounts of whipped cream, butter, etc. Generally mountains of food. Never bring a European friend to a place like this - along with our presidential situation, it only gives them another reason to hate us, unless you learn how to say "I didn't vote for him" in French. I tend to stay away from these places, but maybe there are some that like them, so I'd like to hear favorites as well;
- Semi-refined/yuppie-type places: You've seen these places as well - people line up around the block for scrambled eggs with some smoked salmon and capers tossed in, and chicken apple sausage. Sort of an in-between place between the greasy spoons and the mega-breakfast. Which are your favorites here?
- Brunch-oriented: Self-explanatory as well. Focused on brunch; higher-end and lower-end. Places you take mom on mother's day and stuff like that. Do you like these and where do you go if you do?
- Gourmet breakfast: These are bakeries and/or restaurants that serve breakfast where the focus is on putting out a good product, at a decent price, where the portions are enough to make you full enough to get to lunch vs. full enough to get you to dinner. They know how to do the simple things well, like: scramble eggs, cook potatoes, make a plate of breakfast food look very nice, find fresh fruit, pour a good cup of coffee, juice oranges, etc. I really cherish these kind of places, but have not found many of them at all. I'd really like to hear your thoughts about these spots.
So, let's hear from the group on what your favorites are (if any) in these categories, or if you have other categories to add to the list. And, please bear with my tongue-in-cheek descriptions - they are not meant to offend.
To recap, we have:
Greasy spoons/ diner types
Mega-breakfast/Insulin shockers
Semi-refined/yuppie-type places
Brunch-oriented
Gourmet breakfast
-
There's a new restaurant in the St Regis hotel (which is also new) called Ame. It is owned by the same people that own Terra in Napa - Hiro Sone and his wife, Lissa Doumani. When you read the menu, you might struggle a bit to understand what their concept is, but then you'll understand. The chef is Japanese and cooks a little Japanese (style) and mostly French (style). So it's "calmet" (cal-may = Califormia gourmet) with a Japanese flair.
I felt the dishes were very well executed and the flavors delicate. I was there about a month after they opened and the service was surprisingly smooth (for a place in the ramp-up phase of launch). I would recommend it without hesitation. You would pay a lot more for the same quality food at other places. And there are lots of beautiful people to look at - especially if you go to the hotel bar on the other side of the floor for an after dinner drink.
Here's their site: http://www.amerestaurant.com/home.html
Have fun!
Stu
-
i would have to say that sugar 'n spice is decent. now that i live in new york, it is comparable to new york cake and baking. the supplies are definitely along the "wilton school" line. the store is a little disorganized and some of the product looks a little old and dusty. the service also leaves a lot to be desired...but at the same time, they have some of the things you are looking for that you just can't find anywhere else.
that seems an accurate description from my limited experience (1 visit) -
-
I've been wondering about Sugar 'n Spice myself. I drive by often but has yet to stop by. Have you visited the store? Do they have a lot of candy making supplies? I'm in SF as well but made trips to Spun Sugar because I have yet to find something closer for what I need. I like to hear your impression of Sugar 'n Spice.
I'm not into candy making or confectionary, but my wife used to teach cake decorating and she really likes Sugar 'n Spice (it used to be located out in the avenues a number of years ago).
I'd say it's at least worth a trip to check and see if they have what you need. They did have a wide selection of things.
-
I have been able to get them from Spun Sugar in Berkeley before.
Thanks - I called Spun Sugar, and they did have the gelatin, but I also asked for a recommendation that was closer to [my] home, and found Sugar 'n Spice in Daly City. They might be the only two stores around that sell this stuff.
My attempts to emulate Thomas Keller will not be in vain...
-
Anyone know where I can buy sheet gelatin in San Francisco or surrounding areas? This is a very common restaurant staple, but impossible to find in retail stores (so I have found).
-
I much prefer Incanto - not just because is it a calm and comfortable place to eat compared to the scene at A16 but most importantly because the food in my opinion is far more interesting and more carefully executed at Incanto. What’s your take?
Those were my thoughts exactly...
A16 is good, but not as good as all the hype would suggest. It's like getting a build up for a highly touted new movie, and then when you actually see it, you're disappointed. You're left wondering what all the fuss was about -
Besides the execution of flavors not being totally there, I felt the pizza (something they are highly touted for), was merely OK. The crust was soggy once you got about an inch and a half in from the crust. I've had much better brick oven pizza in New York (try John's Pizza in the Village) - and I'm not just saying that because I'm a "New Yawka". A16's pie tasted good, but was too soggy for me...
A16 also sounded like a high school cafeteria - and I was there on a Monday night. I couldn't believe it was so loud (and packed) for 9PM on a Monday. No recession here...
Incanto is in a different league, in my opinion. The flavors are well executed, you don't walk out of there feeling bloated and stuffed, and the dishes are different and very creative. You also leave there more knowledgeable about food ingredients (i.e., lots of new ingredient names where you're like "what's that?")
Plus, I love the *free* mineral water at Incanto. It's a nice touch and doesn't make you feel nickle & dimed to death, although they now have a 5% service charge on all tickets. Don't know what that's about, but I'm happy to oblige -
Finally, Incanto's waitstaff seem much more knowledgeable about the wine and food pairings. You can always tell a good server who knows wine & food, because they don't just recommend based on what "tastes good" as a cocktail, nor do they go with the standard red wine with meat, white wine with fish/chicken thing. And they are great at asking about and accomodating your price range.
In the end, I liked A16, but I *love* Incanto. I wouldn't necessarily make a huge effort to go back to A16, especially given how hard it is to get a table there. I would (and have) gone to Incanto *multiple* times...
Stu
-
OK - I have now been to both A16 in the Marina and Incanto in Noe Valley. And I have my opinions (which are *strong*) on which one I prefer. But, I wanted to hear from the rest of the forum on which you prefer and what you like/don't like about these two highly-touted Italian eateries so I can see if I'm off base or on target with the prevailing opinions. Let me hear your thoughts on:
food - overall taste/flavor
food - ingredients
food - execution
service -
atmosphere -
anything else you care to comment on -
Thanks,
Stu
-
L'Osteria del Forno in N. Beach (right on Columbus) is fantastic. It is small, and they don't take reservations, so you have that going for you. The food is good and the atmosphere is quaint. They cook everything using only 2 ovens. You won't be disappointed.
-
Thank You for all the suggestions are there any places to get good Chinese or Dim Sum right in the city because I saw that two places you mentioned were outside?
Try Lychee Garden on Powell (near Broadway) - it's great b/c you will be in an area where you can spend the day walking around. This place is situated more or less between Chinatown and North Beach (Italian section). And it's good - I went on the recommendation of a wise old Chinese man (the father of a good friend) - I found out why he was wise. It's about as authentic as it gets, but no frills (like Koi Palace). It has never disappointed my out of town guests.
After your dim sum induced food coma, go to Cafe Trieste for a double esperesso and a chocolate-dipped biscotti...have fun -
-
OK - here's my rundown on Chinese places in San Fran:
Koi Palace: This is the place where Chinese families go for graduations, weddings, etc. - it is *quite* good (dim sum as well as seafood, from about 30,000 gallons worth of live fish tanks with exotic fish from all over the world - you pay by the pound and they make suggestions on how to prepare). It is also *quite* expensive - only for special occasions...
Brandy Ho - this place is for tourists in the chinatown/north beach area. If you want to do the tourist thing, be my guest, otherwise, there are better places to go -
House of Nanking - tourist of Nanking...
Here's a rule of thumb: if you look into a Chinese restaurant and only see white people in there, that's a good bet that it's a tourist trap, or a place that is designed for "Americanized" Chinese food -
Ton Kiang - good for dim sum, but there is better (and cheaper)
Lychee Garden - this place rocks! It's on Powell (near Broadway). I found out about it from a Chinese friend - her dad was in town and is into finding good places to eat. This is the real deal - down to the fact that no one really speaks English. Just point and eat. And don't be surprised when you spend less that $10 per person to stuff yourself silly...
Yank Sing - the place to go if you are intimidated by a place where no one speaks English - good - a standby
Shanghai Dumpling Shop - the best Shanghai dumplings I've had outside Shanghai. In the middle of nowhere, though, in a primarily residential neighborhood.
Jasmine Tea House - I thought this was going to be "my place" - they even have a photo of them standing with Bill Clinton (that's how they got on the map, by the way) - but unfortunately, they use MSG there. MSG is a neurotoxin, and I don't go anywhere that it's used. It gives me headaches. If you go to JTH and get a headache, don't complain to me...
R&G - never been there. But it sounds pretty good.
Due to the migration of Chinese people out of chinatown and out to the burbs, and other areas of the city, the best places are usually not in or near downtown. In the city, check Irving Street (west of 19th Ave), Clement St (tons of places there - all authentic), or Cupertino (about 40 miles south of San Fran) - on Wolfe Rd, just off of 280 is a shopping center with all Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. places. Good food.
That's my synopsis of the Chinese food scene here in San Francisco.
-
I know that Sushi Ran is in Sausalito- but it is my favorite! (not a bad drive either)
Good catch (no pun intended) - Sushi Ran is the best around (if you include points beyond San Fran)
-
Has anyone tried Hamano in Noe Valley (on Castro St.) recently? I mostly order nigiri, and that was my favorite place for a good variety of fresh, tasty fish. I've been away for a couple of years (finally returned, hooray!), and had heard that the place had changed hands and the quality had dropped off.
c
Forget about Hamano - never trust a sushi place that is run by Chinese people. That's not a racist comment, it's just meant to say that I try to buy my sushi from Japanese people, my Chinese food from Chinese people, and so on. There are a lot of sushi joints (I call them "College sushi" because that's where I went before I knew any better) like this in the city.
That said, I'm surprised no one mentioned Anzu - the restaurant at the Nikko Hotel (downtown - near Union Sq). Kaz is the sushi chef there and he is a classicly trained sushi chef (trained in Japan). Pursists will love it - posers won't find any fried tempura rolls here, though. So if that's what you're looking for, go to Blowfish or Deep Sushi. This place is all about straight up sushi, sashimi and simple rolls. Just great fish. But you have to sit at the sushi bar (and make a reservation - there are only about 8 seats there). If you are extra nice, Kaz might even grate some fresh wasabi (from the root, not the powder) - what an experience...
Kiss is good for an overall experience - you'll think the dishes came straight out of Iron Chef. But I agree with the comment that the sushi wasn't all that, compared to other places.
I've tried the other places mentioned, and I've had sushi all over the U.S. (and in Japan), and Anzu is right up there with the best. Nobu still blows them all away though (I went to the one in Vegas and had a tasting menu - wow...). My advice is this: never go cheap on healthcare or sushi. You may regret it...
-
On the issue of shrink-wrapping cheese, I agree with you. Shrink wrapping involves heating plastic which, besides heating the cheese (and causing it to "weep") will also impart a synthetic taste to the cheese (just think of all those volatile gasses that didn't make their way to the "outside" of the shrinking and wrapping. Blech...
In general, the longer a cheese is aged, the more moisture comes out of it, and the less sensitive it will be to being wrapped in plastic wrap (versus wax paper or aluminum foil, for example); i.e., it won't "suffocate" the way a fresh milk cheese will. The biggest enemy of cheese is lack of humidity - and a piece of lacatelli will quickly dry out in your fridge if you did let it breathe. So I handle aged, hard cheeses by wrapping them in plastic wrap, but for any fresh cheeses (brie, fresh goat's milk cheese), I would wrap them in wax paper. Roquefort, or other like-minded sweaty cheeses, I wrap in aluminum foil.
Finally, on the point that gourmet grocers should know this, I think you learned what's generally true - they don't have any more of a clue than other [regular] grocers. They just purchase higher-end product and charge you more for it. You can imagine that they are making a nice margin by shrink wrapping cheese and letting it sit on the shelf for longer (and less labor) than if they had to actually man a counter and actively manage an inventory-
In general, I would suggest that you always go to a specialty cheese shop/cheesemonger. My only exception to that is if your specialty shop also shrink wraps cheese. Then, move to another town...or France...
www.tasteecheese.com
A16 or Incanto?
in California: Dining
Posted
Hmmm...didn't know we had celebs posting here. I'd like to know how you can "walk in" to the F-L and get a table - please run me through that trick, because you better believe I'll try it. If you're Thomas Keller's mom or dad, don't bother telling me your secrets...
As for Incanto, I do believe their food is quite good. The flavors are subtle, textures interesting, and you can always be inspired by whatever fascinating ingredient they have on their menu that day (beef heart, anyone?). It takes guts (literally and figuratively) to put that stuff on any menu. I also like Incanto because as much as I study cuisine, I always learn some new ingredient when I go there that Ihad never heard of before.
Maybe we'll have to agree to disagree on this, but it would be interesting to know what italian places (in SFO) you enjoy.