IrishCream

Makes me hungry. But why is Chinese food so bad in SF? It makes no sense to me.

Aye aye aye.......my dream demolished. I finally move to AW terrain and find out her restaurant is seriously flawed? Sigh...but thank you for the warning.

Dear Chef Forley, I hope you don't mind an unsophisticated cooking question. My garden is currently filled with greens. I am being overwhelmed by ..... 2 distinct types of arugala, romaine, 2 different mesclun mixes, mizuna, radicchio and many herbs. I have been serving them raw as salad. But I also have broccoli raab, Swiss chard, bok choi and more. I have been sauteeing them with garlic. I am getting bored! I know you are a vegetable expert and I wonder what you would do with a surplus of greens. Any suggestions?

Long live James Villas. I enjoy his writing thoroughly, old-fashioned though it may be. I'll never forget his description of the young French socialite (in a trendy bistro) who orders sardines and proceeds to savor them, alternately slathered with butter and mustard. I had never eatan a sardine, but that passage inspired me...just as MFK Fisher inspired me to try my first oyster on the half shell.

My nominee for most obnoxious current Food TV host? Rachel Ray in her dishonest $40/day series. For months the series never included tax or tip in the total cost of the meals. Finally, last week's episode did (but her tips were stingy...not even 10%). One episode in an expensive city showed her buying a picnic lunch of a bottle of supposedly decent wine, cheeses, olives, a pate?, bread, etc....total cost around $10...yeah, right! Worse, her acting is abysmal..she comes across as completely fake. Her annoying and constant giggle is nerve-grating. She ranks (is rank) right up there with Bobby Flay and Gordon Elliot. Just my opinion!

I am surprised none of the Houstonians have mentioned Marfrelies. It is shocking and FUN to discover a total dive in River Oaks, the old wealth area of Houston. But this place is such a dive they don't even have a sign...you have to know it's there to find it. The entrance is an unmarked, obscure backdoor in a strip shopping center. When you enter and the door closes behind you, you are immediately thrust into almost total darkness....and there is a step! The source of many laughs I am sure. The downstairs looks like a typical dive...but the upstairs is what supports this bar. Not tables but couches (which I am sure have not been replaced since 1960...ouch) and little private alcoves where couples do their thing in the murky dark. Not a pick-up bar...just a dive for couples. One of many stories: during the rodeo a few years ago, a man who introduced himself as "Big Tex" came into the back alcove with 2 obvious, but attractive, hookers on his arms. He offered my date $50 if we would change couches with him (ours was bigger and we were just sitting there talking). My date said no! So they sat on the smaller couch opposite from us and proceeded to.......it was wild. I was laughing and gasping at their performance and whispering to my date, "Oh my God...can you believe they are doing that?" He was not reacting and I was starting to think he was just a conservative bore but finally he said, "Goddammit, I don't have my glasses! Stop torturing me! I can't see a thing!"

Lizziee...thanks for the review. I'm thinking about going to one of the truffle tastings offered around town...I'll certainly skip that one! But one comment confused me...that you felt like the staff resented you for being there on Saturday night......Did you not have a reservation? Did they just resent all the diners?

Thanks, Mrs. Meadow...you have been helpful to me on several topics! But is Cheeseboard, which is never open when I want cheese (or when I have the time to get there), the best?

Can anyone recommend a great (or good or decent) cheese seller in the Bay Area? I am looking for one who imports genuine European cheeses and sells them when they are ripe (or about to be) or at least in healthy condition. I actually live in the East Bay but don't mind at all going into the City to make purchases. I have tried going to the Cheese Board in Berkeley twice (once on a Sunday and once on a Monday), and it has been closed! It looked pretty murky through the windows. I just moved here and I know I need to find a cheese specialist, but I must say that I am shocked by the lack of quality and diversity in the cheese selection in chain grocery stores (except perhaps Andronico's which seems grossly overpriced). My local "HEB" in Houston stocked things like Vella Jack...my local "Safeway" here does not. Clearly, I need help!

Elizabeth......Thank you. What a valuable response to my cry for help. Quite an effort and I appreciate it. Now I can make reservations with some confidence. And welcome! Your first post is very impressive! I hope it starts some conversation among the SF members who seem to be rather reticent. I would love to hear your recommendations for restaurants that are not participating in the January thing. And I wish you were still living here! How did you end up in Holland? I am off to camping in Big Sur....living in the Bay Area is tough. Thanks again, Irish

Fondue is definitely back. We finally seem to be recovering from the "fat is demon spawn" 1980s and 90s. Fondue is fun and convivial. I have been using the recipe for Swiss fondue from "The Vegetarian Epicure", by Anna Thomas, for years. It has never failed me.

Thanks and help! I just moved to SF. If this is for real (and I am not sure from the website about the discounts), then it's a great chance for me to experience some of SF's restaurants. But which ones? I have no idea. I have read reviews but who knows how accurate they are? I would sure appreciate some help!