angevin

Thanks rlibkind and chef for all of the great information - I'm getting quite an education from asking a simple question. Which of course is the beauty of forums like this one.

Oysters are high in zinc and iron, which I guess is what is responsible for the metallic taste.

"It seems that there may be a confusion between basic taste categories and tasting. You can identify "chicken" on your tongue, but that does not mean there is a basic taste called chicken." There's two components to flavor: basic taste and aroma (or more specifically, aroma-in-the-mouth). If you can smell it, it's an aroma in the mouth, not a taste. The majority of chicken flavor comes from its aroma, combined with maybe a little umami and a smidgeon of salt on the tongue. I still maintain that there are other minerals besides salt whose taste we can discriminate on the tongue, although the jury's still out on that. I can't smell zinc but I know I can taste it.

"Heat" or "burn" falls in the sensory category, trigeminal, along with cooling (menthol) and carbonation. These are not considered basic tastes. I think there is a greater variety of basic tastes than the ones identified so far. Various minerals other than sodium can surely be detected. Zinc (think of those cold lozenges) and potassium chloride (Mrs. Dash) are definitely perceived on the tongue.

Contrary to what doctors and the American Heart Association would lead you to believe, this is a very controversial topic. High cholesterol is correlated with heart disease, but it has not been proven to cause it (or plaque build up for that matter.) In fact, some communities have been discovered where both very high serum cholesterol and unusual longevity are both prevalent. The one that comes to mind is in Italy. But even more shakey is the correlation between dietary intake of cholesterol and serum levels. If you're a part of the high-LDL-cholesterol-is-a-killer camp, there are some ways that show promise is raising the HDL levels to improve the ratio. Drink lots of red wine, lay off the processed carbs, exercise, reduce stress and most of all ENJOY LIFE!

Thought I scanned the dairy cases at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, but I'll check again with a more focused eye. Thanks!

Thanks wkl - at least I have a visual now when looking. DiBruno's said they sometimes bring it in, but as of yesterday they weren't carrying it. Special K - when I had it, it had some coarse sea salt stirred in. If your butter is unsalted, you might want to try that. When spread on bread, the bit of crunch is intriguing. BTW - I LOVE Seattle!

I had this at fish. , loved it, but can't find it. I've tried the Reading Terminal and DiBruno's with no luck. Anyone know who carries it?

I'd like to add one: Supermarket Sushi.

That's it!! What the chains lack - soul.

I went last Sunday, but to be honest, already had my mind made up. When hankerin’ for pizza, why in the world would you choose a Starr restaurant? That’s like going to El Vez for Mexican! But here I was, in front of the place, hungry and alone. So I took my bad attitude inside for a sampling. I ordered the spinach pizza and a glass of the house wine. As I waited, warm and toasty in front of the oven, I couldn’t help but notice the “chain restaurant” feel to the place. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it has something to do with everything seemingly precisely staged. The service was warm and attentive, but maybe a little overboard, bordering on phony. All of the pizzas going out looked identical, the size and shape of the flame in the wood oven unchanging. I know, why complain? Who doesn’t value consistency in a restaurant? But there’s a difference between a place that is consistent as a means to excellence, and one that values consistency for the sake of…consistency. Wine arrived in a tumbler, which I know is part of their schtick, but even the simplist of wines deserve a decent glass. Plus it was warm! I don’t drink my reds chilled, but a little cooler than 90 degrees please. The pizza was good; the crust was a smidgeon thicker and drier than I like it, but there was nothing to complain about regarding the topping. The bill, for a tumbler of plonk and a small pizza, was close to $25 with tax and tip. I guess I’m not Stella's target customer, but next time I want pizza, I’ll just grab my $10 bottle of Barbera and head over to Paolo on Pine, where two of us could eat better and for less than I did, alone at Stella. I really don’t think they’ll miss me.

I'm from Philly and am fairly new to the forums. I'll be in San Francisco for two nights and am wondering where to eat. I think I'll check Florio out. That picture is pure Food Porn. Now 'scuse me while I spend a few minutes alone...

http://www.fishphilly.com/

Thanks so much guys - especially for the pictures! I didn't see the crudo on the menu during my visit, but I did the Octopus. I refrained from ordering that because I do find, like you, octopus to be a bit bland unless it's chargrilled with lots of salt and olive oil. I will return!

I’ve been a lurker here for some time now, but decided to join and finally chime in. Last night I decided to pop into Fish at 17th and Lombard (previously the Astral Plane location) for an impromptu supper at the bar. I started with a Prosecco and ordered oysters – 2 each of 3 different kinds that I asked my server/bartender to choose for me. Unfortunately, I can’t remember which ones were served up, but 2 were East Coast and 1 West. They were delicious and all different. My only complaint was that I wasn’t told that the condiments served with the oysters would be on the oysters; the Banyuls Mignonette overpowered them. Far better was the Cucumber-Lemon Mignonette, but I’ll remember to ask for both on the side next time. Along with a glass of Chardonnay, I ordered the Lobster Bolgnese with cavatelli, which was on the appetizer list. It was pretty good, but not much lobster and much tarter in flavor than I would have expected. I also ordered a side of brussel leaves, sautéed with pancetta – bright green, tender and absolutely wonderful. Another highlight was the goat’s milk butter that was served with the bread. This was pure white, light and fluffy, with a slight hint of what I would describe as a coconut flavor. It was deliciously salty – I think they may have added some crystals of sea salt. The bill with tax and tip was $65 – a bit steep for what I’d consider little more than a hearty snack – I could see spending close to $100 for a full meal. However, the atmosphere was nice with a cool vibe. And service was excellent. I’d love to hear from others to know whether I should go back for the...well... fish.