weinoo

The somewhat abrupt ending of the post above? I forgot something was on the stove, almost boiling over. As a solo diner, I hit Yank Sing one day for lunch, and had a nice assortment of dim sum. The caveat at Yank Sing? Don't order everything from the first cart that comes your way...they're pushy! My other solo lunch was at old favorite, after wandering North Beach a bit (and popping into City Lights)... And having an old-school espresso at Cafe Grecco, wasn't here... But here... (Y'all thought Sam Wo, huh?). No, Brandy's, along with Henry's Hunan, was where my first exposure to Hunanese food in the US took place. Both restaurants were around 35-40 years ago, and visited extensively. On this gorgeous SF day, I had the lunch special... Which included the starters above. Hot and spicy soup, cold noodle and cucumber salad, and a fried big dumpling...followed by a spicy stir-fry. All in around $20. After lunch, I walked to San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art (reciprocal entry with Whitney Membership!). They have a nice Warhol collection, including this Dolly: A Brancusi... Quite a few Calders: And a Robert Arneson, a local Bay-area artist, and a leader of the Funk Art movement. That one is called Smorgi-Bob, The Cook. And I thought it apropos. Our final dinner - thanks to @Margaret Pilgrim, was at a place in Dogpatch - Piccino. Dogpatch might be a little out of the way if you're staying out in the Richmond or Sunset or Noe Valley, but it's practically a hop skip and jump from where we were on the Embarcadero. A nice California melon salad, with obligatory flowers. House-made pasta with sausage and greens was good (I might've cut back on the bread crumbs), and should've been shared. Oat and berry crumble desert topped it off just right. Lovely meal, another place with lovely service as well. Early flight home the following morning...

Significant Eater had a business trip to San Francisco recently; I decided to tag along, and we went a couple of days prior, which gave us nearly a full week. First couple of days were AirBnB'ed in the Castro, then moved over to a hotel just off the Embarcadero. Had a couple of old-fashioned breakfasts those first couple of mornings... Orphan Andy's, followed by the following morning at The Cove. Both fine for breakfast. Took a drive out to Tomales Bay/Marhall for lunch with a friend: Northern Cal's best. Tomales Bays and Humboldt Bays, at Hog Island...via Tony's seafood. First two dinners: one at Delfina, the night was arrived, was okay. And easy. Then State Bird, which is really good (and which I probably posted about previously). Met a friend there, and cranked up the bill. Some nice wines, some excellent food, and the sweetest service west of the Mississippi; I love that staff. Our final night in the Castro, a nice find, recommended here or by previous hosts, was this place on Castro St. No res - we waited about an hour after writing our name on the white board - and they close early (like 8?). It's just the kind of food I want to eat when local... Crab. Just...crab. A really excellent wild shrimp dish. Which may have been a special, or based on the entree? Main course was a special: a piece of local rockfish of some sort, mash, butter, lemon. Kind of a perfect San Francisco meal for me, with sweet service, easily drinkable wines, and 2 blocks from our AirBnb. The Castro could turn into my favorite neighborhood in San Francisco. Moved to a hotel for her work related trip - view from our barely openable window on the 8th floor: Once Significant Eater started dealing with work, I was able to go off on some adventures. I climbed the fucking Filbert Steps. I'm old. I hadn't climbed the Filbert Steps in a decade (or maybe more). It was warm, as the most beautiful time of year, at least in the Bay Area, tends to be the beginning of football season, and for the next month or two. Above - iykyk. Climbing to get here... For some pictures - the fog cooperated: In every which way. Our hotel was just off the Embarcadero, around the corner from Boulevard, where I'd reserved the bar area. The menu is a la carte, and the food is good. Especially the California Abalone Roll: Sig Eater's first night was a work dinner, so I met a friend at Angler...this took place before the above dinner at Boulevard. We shared: The whole wood-oven roasted chicken. Perfectly brined and a delicious bird, along with that Carolina-style vinegar and mustard barbecue sauce. More to come.

Regalis is my favorite place to order specialty products such as mushrooms, truffles, etc. https://www.regalisfoods.com/collections/2023_category-mushrooms-wild-edibles

I think in a restaurant setting, leaving stock out all night and then serving it to customers (no matter what you’ve done to it) might get you fired.

The usual plating disaster: Seared yellowfin tuna (dusted with La Boite's Lula blend) over a market salad (lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, sweet onion) with a soy/ginger house-made vinaigrette. Fancy Japanese rice.

Gave it the old college try this morning... With chives and parsley or half fines herbes. Needs some help in the final shaping.

Oh yeah it does!

Are you not planning on including any vegetable tapas; artichoke hearts/baby artichokes are great stewed in some stock/sherry/etc. And there are always some sort of mushroom dish in tapas bars.

Maybe try Midwood Smokehouse? When we visit my sister in Greensboro this coming Thanksgiving, I plan on driving to Lexington for the BBQ there...I've had some darn good 'cue in various NC locations!

Actually... Wine Doggy Bag State Laws

Keller’s a pain in the ass.

As has been mentioned, good year for tomatoes. So why not have them for breakfast? é Open-faced heirloom tomato sandwiches. A few slices of good Comté alongside.

It's a pretty good tomato (and corn) season here in the Northeast. Pasta w/raw, small heirloom tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella.

California's Rice Royalty is Stepping Down When I read the news, I had to go down the block and pick up a bag...

That's a pretty nice restaurant price on the bottle of Lauer Riesling.