Hey Man, This Is Good 'Weed

Trader Joe's Roasted Seaweed Snack. Thin green strips anointed with canola oil, sesame oil, sea salt. They melt in your mouth; they are also seriously addictive. Potato chips of the sea. And 99 cents a package is not bad, when you have the munchies...Dude.

She's a Rick...House

Bad pun aside, good drinks await at the gorgeously appointed Rickhouse in the FiDi. All around is wood, backlit in places as though leading to secret rooms filled with treasure. Casks line the walls; barrel staves wrap around hanging bulbs; a huge bound drink menu accompanies the one-pager listing specialty cocktails. As an early birthday present, the Always Delightful Susan treated me to a beverage, a rum drink whose name now escapes me (it was strong!). But I can tell you it had lime, grapefruit and bitters, and tasted much better than words can describe. Plus, it was huge! The drink came in a goblet with a mountain of crushed ice, rising up like a snow-cone wearing a lime beret. The glass was frosted with ice as well. Several young ladies stopped by our table in awe, asking what I was drinking. A toast to good friends and aging gracefully, that's what.

Show Your Pride; Eat a Sausage!

OK, that was crass. But it is Pride weekend in SF, so give me a break. At least I did not go out in a super-short tutu sans underwear, like a girl I saw early in the day.
But we have a new branch of Rosamunde Sausage Grill in the Mission, and JP and I were feeling lazy from the heat, so we hoofed it down there for an early supper. Dear Lord, I love this place. First off, it's simple but cute inside...There's a bar (they have an amazing beer selection) and several long wood tables. A smaller table made from a tree stump. A mirror framed by an old horsey harness. Nice tattooed guy taking orders, in - extra point - a Voodoo Donut tee shirt.
JP had the special, which is a sausage atop a crock of nice sweet baked beans, sided by salad and bread. The salad was not an afterthought: fresh mixed lettuces with walnut pieces and chunks of bleu cheese, a tub of balsamic vinaigrette. I had one of the three (!) vegan options, the Italian sausage, topped with sauerkraut and sweet peppers, in a very tasty bun. Topped with some honey-wasabi mustard from the expansive condiment bar, it was better than any sausage I've ever had. Insert Pride joke; I don't mind.

Cha-Wow

Finally! Noe now has a really good tacqueria...a second location of Lower Haight's Little Chihuahua. I moseyed on over at lunchtime for a veggie-rito...although I am excited to try the Garlic Shrimp version in the very near future. This place, besides occupying the lovely spot that was once Miss Millie's, has a great menu...You can even get a baby burrito, which is plenty big, if you don't want a gut-buster. So yeah, for me, the baby veg consisted of rice, black beans, salsa, cabbage salad (points for adding cabbage!!) and pico de gallo, wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla. And - drumroll please - that tortilla is GRILLED, baby, not steamed. Nice grill marks and a smoky flavor made lunch even more delightful. Plus they have a good selection of drinks, the kind without high-fructose crap. So walk your dogs over to 24th and Castro; no more bitching about lousy Noe tacos, my friend!

Sunflower in the Fog

It's a cold foggy night. You want good, comforting food for not too much money. Asian food...Hey! Sunflower, the tiny Vietnamese restaurant on Valencia, now has a larger place on Potrero Hill! A pretty space with big windows and nice waiters! Lots of great options for veggies and meat-eaters alike, and prices are real friendly.
JP and I had a hard time choosing; too many yummy options. We shared fresh shrimp spring rolls in a good peanut sauce, with a hit of chilies and ground peanut bits. For me, a huge bowl of vermicelli topped with sauteed tofu, cabbage, celery and mushrooms, sided with a saucer of peanut-strewn fish sauce. Really satisfying textures and flavors. JP's sauteed pepper prawns were perfectly cooked, laced with stir-fried onions and truly generous for the price. And yes, they have pho, pholks...and one of my favorites, clay-pot fish! Fog or shine, I'll be back there soon.

Nosh Stays Home

Sometimes, you get a great meal at your very own, scarred old wooden table.
Tonite, JP and I noshed on some very healthy stuff, all delicious and super-easy to make.
First, quinoa, steamed till fluffy. We stirred in some leftover roasted taters and sweet taters, which gave it some texture and a bit more flavor.
Then I sauteed an onion, sliced oh-so-thinly, in olive oil. When it had gone all melty, I stirred in some broccoli and the greens that were attached, squeezed half a Meyer lemon over all, and sprinkled on a few shakes of balsamic. Once it was caramelized, the veggie stir-fry was tumbled into a bowl.
Then, the pan with its good glazed bits and a bit more olive oil was used to quickly fry some Dover sole fillets. A bit more lemon juice and it was done!
All together, a great Monday night dinner. And Wally the cat got some fish bits too, so everyone went home happy...Except we were already home.

If I Were a Cocktail

...I think I would be the Southern Exposure at Alembic. Gin, fresh mint (they have a backyard garden, of course), bit of sugar, lime juice...and a shot of celery juice. If that sounds weird to you, well, I suggest you get on down to Haight Street and try it for yourself. Refreshing, yes. Easy to guzzle, yes. Smells as good as summertime? Yes, indeedy. Add to that a cool atmo, clever drink descriptions, food (my pal tried the pork belly and polished it off) and cloth towels in the restroom instead of paper and...Sigh. Make me a cocktail.