melkor

I've been to the Bouchon Bakery far more times than could be considered healthy. I started a thread about it when the place first opened. It really is a great bakery - not sure about their cakes though, I don't think I've ever had any cake from them. Citizen Cake in SF is my favorite source of cakey-goodness in the bay area.

I've been to the Ali Baba at Valencia & 19th, it was great three or four times in a row - then on the most recent visit (maybe six weeks ago) the shawarma was pre-cut and sitting in a steam tray. Maybe that was just a fluke but it got me thinking I should check out what else was in the area. Now I need to check out the other Ali Baba location...

Della Fattoria breads are for sale in a few markets in Napa/Sonoma - I prefer the Acme breads, but I haven't had the Della Fattoria breads sold at their shop. I'll have to go check it out, it looks far better in that picture than at the grocery store.

I've also gotten excellent post-sales support from Chris Coffee. I'll add Sweet Maria's to Owen's list of places to check out. I've also been extremely happy doing business with them for the past few years.

They had that exact machine at two of the places we stayed on our recent trip to asia, though I was only able to use one of them (the other place insisted on making the drinks for us). While it's possible to make an acceptable drink using it, but it's very inconsistant and they are never great. You'd be far better off with the Rocky/Silvia combo.

I spotted this thread in the NY forum asking much the same question, but it's a bit much to travel to NY for shawarma (though the thought has crossed my mind). Where in the (SF) bay area can good shawarma be found?

Are you thinking of the Rancho Gordo tortillas that are available in Marin and at the Ferry Plaza FM?

Perhaps, but just think of all the fish that died to make those cherries! Oh, and your wrong, they aren't good.

White truffle season is pretty much over. Black truffles should still be available for another month or so.

Check out d'artagnan for mailorder. I'd avoid the frozen/preserved ones.

I'd skip preserved truffles, they are a poor sub for the real thing.

Your right, though I don't think much of the stuff I buy at the farmers market comes from San Diego.

Georgia?

The summer produce at the grocery stores here in Northern CA looks like crap compared to what was for sale on the streets all over southeast asia last week. I can't bring myself to buy any of it. Since we've gotten back from the 30*C weather in asia we've had roast chicken, mushroom risotto, potato leek soup, cuban potroast, etc. I'll wait until summer for my tomatoes, berries, melons, and pears. Maybe there isn't a difference between cherries shipped from Washington to NY and from Chile to NY but there certainly is a difference between the ones we can buy on the side of the road in the spring here and the ones that get here from Chile. Besides - meyer lemons, valencia oranges, celeriac, cauliflower, broccoli rabe, leeks, mushrooms, apples, and root veggies are a nice change from the oppressive amount of summer veggies we need to consume when the garden is in full swing.

Yeah, I know, but do they offer mud baths? ← This time of year you can get a mudbath anywhere in California...

I guess I misunderstand something. Krys plainly stated at the beginning of this thread, "This is list of shops that sell the best food in San Francisco and the Bay Area." That's why I don't get the references to "acceptable" food, etcetera. ← I completely understand. Krys changed the text of her initial post after I posted all that stuff. The previous post made no mention of the best anything, the new text should make the thread far more visible in google. Aside from making part of my post look out of place, it's an entirely positive change.

For egg based fresh pasta I always use 100g semolina, 1 egg, and a pinch of salt. That makes enough for two people, double/triple/etc works fine. Mix in a bowl and run through the rollers (I use a hand-crank machine).

The root of the problem seems to be that all the tourist rags and tv shows consider the entire area in Northern California that has vines growing in it "Napa". As much as that must irritate the folks in Sonoma, I suspect the people in Lodi like it even less.

Let's continue this discussion on the thread Krys started here.

I think D&D is too expensive, like Williams Sonoma, if not downright sterile and snooty. I much prefer the crowded joy at Oakville Grocery. (Though D&D does sell Rancho Gordo stuff, so they can't be all bad.) It's just a question of personal preference, both are quite expensive. The cheese and wine selections at D&D are far more diverse than what's available at the Oakville Grocery. I don't get it. Why recommend a place for a "must know" directory that you're already basically apologizing for? "Hardly worth the effort"? "Acceptable food"? ← Angele isn't bad, it's worth a visit once or twice if you live here. I only mention Tuscany because they have a line out the door most nights during the summer, a must know directory in my mind would include warnings of places to avoid.

Huh? What are cambo tubs??? ← Cambro tubs, as andiesenji rightly points out they are spelled. We use them for dry storage, for food storage, and to transport stuff - they are almost indestructible also. They should be available at any restaurant supply place.

I much prefer Dean and Deluca for winecountry picnic supplies if they are to be gotten up-valley. Otherwise Vallergas in Napa is an excellent choice (there are three of them - the one at Imola and Jefferson is the best of the bunch). There's also a Mexican grocer/taco in Rutherford, across from La Toque - pretty good take-out Mexican food, good for a picnic nearby, less good if it's going to sit in the car for a long time. Someone else can chime in with the name, since it slips my mind at the moment. There is also a grocer in Angwin, a few others in Napa, and Calistoga, but I'd still recommend Vallegas and D&D as the two best options. As far as restaurants go in the Napa Valley: Foothill Cafe - 2766 Old Sonoma Rd, Napa (707) 252-6178 (California) Near the outlets on highway 29, in Napa itself. Serving fairly standard California cuisine, the best thing about the restaurant is that it's off the beaten path and serves reasonable quality food. It's a great choice if you want a good meal on the way to or from wine country and don't want to be packed in with a hoard of tourists. Zinsvalley Restaurant - 3253 Browns Valley Rd, Napa (707) 224-0695 (American) Another good option should you be seeking refuge from your fellow tourists. In addition to being out of the way, serving good food, and having a great patio to enjoy your dinner outside, Zinsvalley has the added bonus of not charging corkage. Bounty Hunter Rare Wine & Provisions - 975 1st St, Napa (707) 255-0622 (American) While it's hardly surprising that a wine shop in Napa would be selling a huge variety of high-end California wines, they do sprinkle in a fair number of interesting old-world wines as well as a handful of goodies from the rest of the world. Not content with being a wine shop, the Bounty Hunter is also a restaurant serving american comfort food - anyone willing to put beer can chicken on their menu here has got to be serving damn good beer can chicken or the khaki wearing masses that trample the valley every weekend would revolt. It's easy to enjoy a good meal at the Bounty Hunter including a bottle of wine without spending much money at all. Tuscany - 1005 First St, Napa (707) 258-1000 (Italian) While the food at Tuscany is better than you'll find at a place like Pasta Pomadoro, it's hardly worth the effort to eat there given the number of options available in the area. Angele - 540 Main St, Napa (707) 252-8115 (French) Acceptable food, nice setting. The restaurant isn't great by any stretch of the imagination, but it's in a nice area, the outside seating is great in the afternoon. A much better choice than Tuscany a few blocks away. ZuZu - 829 Main St, Napa (707) 224-8555 (Spanish) While this isn't a great spot to eat if you live here, it's an excellent place to visit if your visiting from out of town. They have a great wine list, good service, and nice people - my only complaint is the menu only changes a few times a year. Julia's Kitchen - 500 1st St, Napa (707) 265-5700 (California) The restaurant at Copia, the food/wine/art museum in downtown Napa - good food and reasonably priced, it's just a bit out of the way for most people as it's in a strange part of town. They have a locals night on Thursdays which includes free corkage. Bistro Don Giovanni - 4110 St. Helena Hwy, Napa (707) 224-3300 (Italian) This is one of my favorite places to have lunch, good simple food and good service. During most of the year you can eat on the patio. The whole fish cooked in the wood-fired oven is always excellent. Cole's Chop House - 1122 Main St, Napa (707) 224-6328 (steak) Cole's serves better steaks than anywhere else I've been in Northern California. The wine list is full of trophy wines, but there are some good things to be found on it if you look carefully. First Squeeze - 1126 1st St, Napa (707) 224-6762 (breakfast) The perfect way to start off a day in Napa, excellent breakfasts, good coffee, lots of options for smoothies/juices. (this is a work in progress)

Cambo tubs.

This is an excellent start. Thanks for getting it going. The idea of having a reference document like this for each region is a great one.

You are back Melkor. We meet at last (so to speak) What dishes do you like in particular at these restaurants. ← Back indeed, at Pho 84 I'm in a rut - I either order pho or the spicy beef and eggplant dish. Both are great comfort food, an iced coffee is also a required part of my lunch there. It's good to have you contributing to the forum, I'd welcome you but it's clearly a bit late for that