Yamwich

Kimster and I shared a truly nosh-worthy snack today: the roasted yam sandwich at Atlas. For a modest fee, you get a toasted baguette filled with sweet yams, feta, diced onion, garlic, a bit of cilantro, and - remember to request this, it makes everything just a bit better - a ruffle of steamed kale. Wow! Vegetarians, try this...thank me later.
Props must also go to JP for masterminding our Memorial Day BBQ. He fired up the grill and lo! there were skewers of mushrooms, peppers, and shallots; grilled onions (which I basted with balsamic); grilled corn (Kimster gets credit for those heavenly ears); fishily perfect grilled halibut; and - genius! - cloves of grilled garlic to squeeze over everything. Summer, we welcome you after a whole big mess of rain. Please pull up a chair and stay awhile.

Long Lazy Lunch

Some days, I remember how lucky I am. I live in San Francisco. I work close to the waterfront. I have great friends. These things merged into a lovely meal today at Plant Cafe, where Scotty and I sat overlooking the water and shared a most righteous pizza topped with sweet roasted garlic, baby artichokes and Pecorino. I did not care about going back to work, and luckily no one noticed I was gone. And as if the crackly pizza, purty view and sparkling conversation weren't enough...Vegan cupcakes! Yes, across the way from the restaurant is a small takeout joint, where I scored a dreamy chocolate 'cake with peanut butter frosting. Back at the office, The Lovely Elise and I devoured our shared treat. Yes, I am a lucky woman.

Easy Orzy

So I had a party to attend last night, and it was a potlucky thing, and I wasn't sure what to bring. Luckily, JP suggested my orzo salad, and that is what I made. You can make it too, without spending much or sweating over the proverbial stove. Here's how:
Buy a pound of orzo. The other ingredients you'll need are fresh basil, fresh Italian parsley, garlic, olive oil, salt and a nice big red pepper.
Chop up a big ol' pile (recipe says cup and a quarter) of basil. Also, a smaller amount (half a cup) of parsley. Finely mince about four or five cloves of garlic. Throw all this into a large bowl; pour in a quarter cup olive oil and quarter teaspoon salt. Mix everything together.
Boil the orzo, maybe nine minutes, till tender. Drain it well, then stir the warm pasta into the other ingredients. Put the bowl into your fridge for several hours and, before serving, stir in the diced red pepper.
Voila! Other than having garlicky fingers, you'll be happy with the results, and people will scarf it down, if my party was any indication.

Dreamy Crostini

A return to Beretta was in order, prior to seeing a wonderful play, The Real Americans, at The Marsh. As expected, the cocktails were intoxicating, both mine ( Il Gitano, made with a digestif and quite fruity/herbal) and Kimster's/JP's (Agricole Mule, rummily delicious with lime and mint). But oh, the fava bean crostini! An oval of perfect toast, a thick spread of fava puree, green as the first bud of spring, and a shower of downy pecorino. One bite and I knew, this was the best thing I would eat all week. And I also knew that one was not enough. But that's what we got, three toasts for three hungry folks. The math is right; the mouth is feeling a bit gypped.

Buri Me

Chilly night. Squirmy tummy. What do I crave? Donburi!
In particular, Yasai Donburi at my beloved Hotei. It's nice and simple, the perfect bowl of food: steamed rice, scrambled egg, all sorts of fresh veggies, tofu and pickles. Stir together, feed yourself, let the warmth travel through your body. Nourished, go home, tuck yourself into bed.
Repeat as needed.

If Life Gives Ya Lemonade

...Then be thankful for the carafe that accompanies your glass of delightful, not-too-sweet squeezed biodynamic lemons and organic sugar. That's what you get at Out The Door, enough lemonade to make you and your dining partner quenched and happy. The fabulous Susan M and I met for brunch at the newish Bush Street location, and while I would encourage anyone to order this fine beverage, I must say that I wasn't so thrilled with my meal. Folks, I love eggs, I love rice, and I sure do love pickles. Don't get me wrong. But the scramble with rice cake was not what I expected. Oh, Fabulous S tried to warn me that rice cake can be a bit challenging. But this, well, this was like little rounds of library paste, coated in spices and pan-fried to disguise the texture. Once eaten, this "rice cake" thingy coats your entire mouth with an oily sticky film that does not go away for hours. NNNNNGGGGHHHHH.
But the lemonade? I try to look on the bright side.

Tiny Likes It

First, apologies for the long gap in blogs. What can I say? I need to get out more. Or be more adventurous. Or earn a whole lot more money...
But anyhow, here's a recommendation for something you will find at your local Trader Joe's...wait, don't close the window yet, I swear it's good! It is the rather holy-sounding Daily Bread (even the font on the bread bag looks kinda Old Testament). What makes it so much better than, say, an English muffin? Well, there are sprouted wheat berries, sesame seeds, sprouted barley, spelt, millet and lentils! It's like Diet for a Small Planet in a bread bag! And, healthy as it may be, it tastes mighty good. Nutty, toasty, equally fine with savory melted cheese or sweet jam.
Tiny? She's my cat, and she loves her some bread. I shall forgive her her trespasses, unless, that is, she tries stealing my Daily Bread. And she would if I didn't put her in another room while I ate it.

Le Pique-Nique

Sunny days in The City call for a mob scene in Dolores Park. On my way to meet Michelle for lunch, I checked out a couple of vendors who'd set up shop on the grass; for $3, I bought a perfect taste of strawberry season: fresa agua fresca. Just enought sweetness, plenty of berry seeds lingering at the bottom of my cup. Nothing could have tasted better.
That said, the sandwiches we ordered at BiRite's deli were top-notch. Both of us liked the sound of a hummus-avocado sandwich with snappy little pickled peppers on seedy Semifreddi bread. We ate them in a sunny spot on the grass, while people played tennis and dogs trotted by with balls in their happy mouths. Ah oui, j'aime le printemps.

Night of the Round Table

That's what we had, eight hungry people at a big round table in Golden Era. Me, Julie Ray, Wig and Ad, Scotty, Elise and 2 Amy's. Finally, I was going to try the vegan Vietnamese restaurant that's been around for at least a couple of eras. And since there were a bunch of us, there was lots of food. Potstickers, spring rolls and cucumber salad for appetizers, all quite good. But the entrees were what really impressed. Like the claypot eggplant with velvety tofu triangles; the stir-fried asparagus and green beans with sesame garlic sauce; caramelized soy chicken; and pan-fried chow fun with soft ribbons of rice noodle, tofu and mushrooms. I also tasted Elise's banana smoothie, then handed it back before I accidentally consumed the whole thing. Luckily, she was far across the table...this time.