Napa Nosh

Road trip Friday. To Napa, a town that's slowly being built into something...Not sure what yet. But there is a nice restaurant there called Ubuntu, beautifully designed even down to the restrooms, and there's a dining patio scented with jasmine. Four of us shared six dishes (all the food is meatless): Marcona almonds with lavender sugar and salt; a salad sourced mostly from the nearby organic garden and sprinkled with beet powder; artichokes and some sort of leafy succulent over pesto; braised chickpeas in a haunting broth; grits with a farm egg; mushroom pizza with a rich goat-cheese topping. Oh and the lemonade! Best I've ever tasted.
We strolled First Street, bought cupcakes at a sweet little place called Sift, and treated ourselves to pedicures. On the drive home, we stopped at Oxbow Public Market and ogled the goodies. For a final perfect nosh, try the olive bread at Model Bakery, just bursting with kalamata beauties. Then leave this sunny place and get back to the fog, where you belong.

Quiero Mole

Mole is one of the most complex and soul-satisfying foods there is. If you love it like I do, but you don't eat meat, head to the vegan-friendly Papalote and indulge in a tofu mole burrito. The rice and beans are lard-free; the salsa, pleasantly spicy with a smoky edge, house-made. (Also, their guac may be the finest in town, but perhaps a better match to soyrizo or prawns...) Oh, you can cut it in two and intend to save half for tomorrow, but the mole will win out. Go to the dark side and eat the whole thing.

Basil = Summer

One of the farmers at the Noe Farmers' Market was selling some basil tops. They were cheap little sprouty things, and I took a bunch. See, a fistful of basil won't go bad in the produce drawer. It will just make everything taste better...Like summer.
There were grilled shrimp - basted in lemon juice, olive oil and minced garlic - left over from last night's dinner, along with half a grilled red pepper. I tore a sprig of basil so that each mouthful was flecked with green velvet. And be sure to tear with your fingers, not your knife...The lovely scent of basil will stay on your skin like summery perfume.

Embarrassment of Noshes

Yesterday, not so much (although I did score some blueberry pancakes, not too shabby, at a place I've already egg-strapolated on).
Today the sun came out for Memorial Day. Ms M and I took advantage of this by walking up to North Beach, where I had a nice, slightly oily and altogether satisfying veggie focaccia sandwich at Mario's. It's got eggplant, roasty red peppers, onion, tomato sauce and Swiss cheese, all melted together in a cute little pizza oven. You can eat it with knife and fork, or pick up each piece (they thoughtfully slice it for you) and let the greasy goodness dribble where it may.
Ms M and I continued on to Russian Hill and there, on Polk St., encountered the dessert destination of my dreams: Loving Cup. If you like - nay, love - rice pudding, go there. Now. And it's healthy stuff, made with just rice, eggs, sugar and nonfat milk...plus a few well-chosen ingredients, such as Madagascar vanilla, or cinnamon and raisins (my choice). Someone please open a branch here in Noe!
And as you nosh, a moment of thanks for the veterans. My Dad was one, and I'm thinking of him now.

Rosy Glow

We are cold when we arrive at Front Porch, bundled in coats, scarves and hats against the wind. It's too chilly to repose on said porch, in a rocking chair, drink in hand. But venture inside the dark, crowded room with its tin ceiling and old-timey decor and you'll warm right up. Most especially if you order one of their delightful cocktails, like the rose sangria with guava puree. Sip it slowly, if you can, through the accompanying straw. Save a bit to put out the fire of the cute yet spicy corn-shaped cornbread that arrives before the meal. The food's okay but I sure could use another sangria to put the roses back in my cheeks.

'Wichy Woman

The blogging gods were against me last night.

First, evil Comcast decided that too many people in my neighborhood were logged on, so I could not use the interwebs.

Next, two very evil kittens converged on my lap and proceeded to snorgle and snore in such a way that I grew…very…sleepy…

OK, all to say I missed a blog. But I have a nice nosh for you, today. This is especially good if you work in downtown S.F., as the place is on New Montgomery, a block down from Market. It’s The Sentinel, cheffed by the same guy who runs Canteen on Sutter (and apparently is a one-man band, even making his own ice bowls for chilled dishes). This tiny corner operation has grown quite popular, for good reason. I was tantalized by the smoked salmon/fresh salmon sandwich, which is laced with dill, fennel and creamy avocado. Although the counterperson assured me that white bread “presents better”, the wheat bread was a beautiful shiny roll that was sweet and fresh. Alongside this dreamy sandwich was a half dill pickle rolled in paper and a chocolate mint hard candy.

I ate this sammy very, very slowly, wishing, as I do when reading a great book, that it would not end. But I’ll be back, Sentinel. A herd of kittens couldn’t keep me away.

Warm Nosh/Cold Night

Really, you would not know it was in the 80's just a few days ago. The Kimster and I rode BART to cold, windy Glen Park for some special pizza, and wound up shivering on a bench outside Gialina for a good hour before our cozy table was finally ready.
Worth it? Yes. We shared the arugula salad with ruby beets, goat cheese and lots of pistachios; bruschetta with a lovely green fava puree, marinated anchovies and shaved radish; the Atomica pizza, seriously thin-crusted and blistery around the edges, lightly cheesed and topped with portabello slices and red onion. Even the crusts got eaten. And I daresay we could've had dessert as well, but it was getting late.
Kimster commented that it's amazing how sometimes the simplest food is the very best. Wiser words were never spoken...not in this blog, at least.

Queen of Caffeine

That's the name of a poem I wrote, oh, fifteen years ago. I used to write poetry a lot, now I have my blog. It's something.
But caffeine is my drug of choice, and besides, as I might've mentioned in the Ritual piece, coffee tastes pretty damned great. Sometimes, the siren song of Peets lifts me up from my desk, away from the cube farm and across the street, to partake of an afternoon beverage. It's a welcome break but can get expensive after awhile. So I was pleased to discover Adina bottled coffees, truly a little taste of heaven. My favorite: Adina double espresso Ethiopian coffee. It's made of good things like fair trade coffee; lowfat milk; cane juice and vanilla (all organic). Cold, creamy, slightly sweet...It's a tiny vacation in the middle of your work day.
In honor of a fading art, this haiku:

Eyes closed, head thrown back
Dark slow river of sweetness
I'm drunk with coffee

Feeling My Oats

The mini heat-wave continues. It is sunscreen and sundress weather; I wear both out to breakfast. Too hot, really, to want a plate full of eggs, toast and potatoes; too hot for my beloved pancakes. What I want is a nice, simple bowl of oatmeal. And yet, simplicity does not guarantee quality; I've had many an inferior bowl, mushy and overpriced. One place that does right by its oats is Savor. They use these very small oats which retain their texture, even while melting into a creamy porridge. Toppings include sliced bananas and golden raisins, as well as brown sugar (order it on the side, you'll only need a few sprinkles). I don't believe they charged me for the side pitcher of soy milk, either.
And out on the sidewalk, braving the wall of heat, I did not feel heavy or weighed-down. Just a bit wistful for the mimosa that could have been. Damned cabana boy...

Hot Damn

It's hot for San Francisco. 80's kind of hot. A little breeze here and there, but mostly the kind of day you want to lay still, drink something with ice cubes and eat a salad.
Lately, when the salad jones gets ahold of me, I gravitate to spinach. Not just any spinach: Bloomsdale spinach. I don't recall trying this leafy wonder prior to this year, but it's become my go-to green for many reasons: the curly texture is so much fun! It kind of snaps in your teeth, firm and crunchy. The taste is sweet; sometimes I'll just eat the washed leaves out of the colander, no dressing required. Although if you like a drizzle of oil and vinegar, or some good fancy Ranch dressing, the Bloomsdale won't mind. It's a perky little devil, unlike me in this heat. Now where's the cabana boy with my mojito...

Hunan Healing

Jews often refer to chicken soup as Jewish penicillin. Well, hot and sour soup may be the next best thing for what ails you. Me and the sickie ventured down Church Street to the newish Henry's Hunan to test the healing powers of their H&S, and found it to be quite spectacular. You know how some places serve hot and sour that has that viscous quality? Not Henry's. It's just thick enough, spicy but not fiery, with bits of egg and tofu and vegetable shreds. The pretty green bowls and spoons didn't hurt, either.
Sickie had a smoked ham dish with green beans, and I got a huge plateful of wok-fried veggies, fresh as all get-out (beans, broccoli, cabbage, peppers, carrots, onion...) in a black bean sauce, otherwise known as Eight Delight Vegetables. Brown rice too, steamed to perfection and more than enough for two. The servers were awfully nice in that neighborhood restaurant kind of way.
We have leftovers, sure, but all the soup got eaten. I think maybe their secret is an extra splash of vinegar. Go, try, eat...you'll feel better. And call your mother.

Nosh-a-rito

So there are days when one cannot nosh. Yesterday was one of them, and I failed to blog. But I'm back to eating, and sending my thoughts out to whoever might care to read them.
Once a month, on a Wednesday or Thursday, lucky San Frannies can use a coupon (ripped from the back of the phone book) to get 20% off at Rainbow Grocery. Today we took advantage of this chance to indulge in some fine vegetarian delights.
I was craving a burrito, but time didn't allow for a trip to one of the favorite taquerias. Luckily, Rainbow carries the excellent La Cascada brand of 'ritos, wrapped in white paper printed with a man in a sombrero. Most of the offerings are vegan though some have cheese or egg (the breakfast version). My current favorite is more on the fusion-y side; it has rice, carrots, peas, tofu and curry sauce. The soyrizo/potato is another winner; I have not yet tried the picante veggie. They come in a nice whole wheat wrap and taste great after a quick visit to the oven/microwave. Plus they're made by a local company.
There was a very nice ginger-blood orange-limeade, too, which fell into my shopping cart along the way. It tastes like summer, which should be here just as soon as the gale-force winds make their exit.

Taking Comfort

We all have ways to comfort ourselves. Like, I'm wearing a sweatshirt that belonged to my Dad; that's as close as I can get to a hug from him. He got really small before he died because this sweatshirt fits me perfectly.
Comfort food is another universal thing. One of my big ones is pasta, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Who doesn't love them some noodles? The big comfort dish my Mom would make, when I was little and had a sore throat, was egg noodles with butter and cottage cheese. It was wonderful. Sigh...
Tonite I made a fancy-ass version of the beloved cheesy mac. First I boiled some radiatore (my favorite shape) till al dente, then drained it and tossed it with olive oil, freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano and some walnuts I'd chopped and toasted on the stove. Simple and quite soulful.
Dad's favorite comfort food was soup, but I think he would have approved.

Can't Trust That Day

Yeah, it's Monday. I'm back at work and not happy about it. A perfectly good reason to indulge myself with lunch at my favorite salad bar, Wildflower Cafe. See, on Monday, when you get to feelin' draggy and blue, what you need is a nice, heaping helping of kim chee. And you can get it at Wildflower: napa cabbage, chili oil, garlic, scallions and just the right amount of salt. Not too spicy, mind you, but with enough of a kick to get you out of your funk.
Sure, there's plenty of other dishes to distract you: slippery Korean glass noodles; roasty little brussels sprouts; soba with spinach; braised tofu; fat glossy chunks of avocado...But be sure you grab some 'chee. You can mop up the good red grease with a chunk of wheat bread which, I'm happy to report, is on the house.

Now Scram

It is a simple thing, yet few can get it right: the scrambled egg. When done just so, a scrambled egg is a thing of wonder, one of the perfect foods.
This morning, I had brunch at Chloe's, the place that knows how to scram. Moist; not-runny; greaseless; whites and yolks thoroughly combined. I scooped a fluffy yellow cloud onto my whole-wheat walnut toast and sighed; breakfast nirvana achieved.

Drink Me...

As I recall, Alice in Wonderland found a small bottle whose label said 'Drink Me'. She did, and she grew and grew and grew until she bumped her head on the ceiling.
Is a drink considered a nosh? It is in my book. Especially if, by drinking it, I feel like I'm six feet tall and can jump over tall buildings and stuff.
Lucky for me, I live but a fifteen minute walk from Ritual Roasters. I admit it, I am a coffee junkie. And maybe a coffee snob, okay? If it's a warm, sunny day like today, and I'm not at work, you will find me in line at Ritual. There is pretty much always a line. It's fine, there will be some good eye candy and possibly a cute dog or two tied out on the sidewalk. Trust me, the wait will be worth it. My drug of choice is the iced latte. It may not have a pretty design in the foam, but it'll give you the same caramelly coffee tongue rush, and with a little sugar thrown in, you can buzz away happily for hours.
Let's not forget compostable cups and straws, people. And about eight different kinds of vegan bread (fig, persimmon...you get the picture). Come, fall down my rabbit hole...

Do You Furikake?

I was still hungry, after my bowl of vegetable soup. I wanted something...something...and then I remembered! Leftover takeout rice in the fridge! Boring, you say? Not if you, like me, are wise to the ways of Furikake.
My first S.F. boyfriend turned me on to it; he called it "Japanese junk food". He'd grown up in Tokyo so it was a childhood treat. For me, it was a reason to haunt the groceries of Japantown. Furikake is a condiment of sorts, a rice topping that comes in oh so many flavors. Like, my jar is Yasai Fumi Furikake. Ingredients: sesame seed, carrot, spinach, pumpkin, celery, Japanese mustard plant, potato starch, sugar, salt and seaweed.
What's it like? Salty/sweet/toasty/crunchy; I like a dash of sesame oil and soy sauce to gild the lily. Hai!

http://www.quickspice.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/japanesefoodfurikake.shtml?E+scstore

Apricot Lovin'

Today's nosh is brought to you by the letter 'A'. That's right, the first blushing apricots of the season have arrived at my favorite farmers' market, Thursdays at Crocker Galleria. http://www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/M9080

Oh sure, I knew about the strawberries and asparagus, and there's a special place in my heart for the guy who hands out fat Medjool dates like he's doling out diamonds. But I was surprised to see the little round fruits, mottled a bit but looking like they just fell from someone's backyard tree into the basket that brought them here.

And they are so good. The taste has a hint of rose petal to it. Sweet but slightly tart. I had three for dessert tonite, so Yay For A.

The First Nosh...

OK, I am and therefore I eat. My friends know that eating is a favorite pasttime, even a passion, of mine. But it has to be good stuff, and sort of healthy, and sometimes I cannot wait to tell my friends about the great thing I ate that day.
Hence, One Good Nosh. Each day, if I can keep up the pace, I'll write about one good thing I ate that day. Maybe it's something you'd like to try yourself; maybe not. If you're the type that eats to live...read no further.
Today's nosh:
At a tiny restaurant down the street, i.e. Church Street in San Francisco, I had a salad composed of baby arugula, cubes of golden beet, slices of blood orange, grilled prawns, Israeli couscous and a lovely vinaigrette. It was A Great Salad. (Accompanied by some warmed homey bread dipped in olive oil.)
If you want to eat this, visit Pomelo.
Their menu changes fairly often, so don't wait too long.
Happy eating...