Long Time No Nosh

It has been quite awhile since the last blog. Why is hard to say; laziness, lack of inspiration, tummy ache. But before 2009 escapes us, here are a few places I hit today:

Dolores Park Cafe: always a nice spot in which to slack. I can recommend the soy latte in its nice tall glass. Needs no adornment; very good as is.

Thai Spice on Polk. Mark and I had such a fantastic dinner at this place, which has always been great, in the half-dozen times I've visited. Fresh spring rolls with (fake) crab and shrimp, rice noodles and sprigleys of cilantro, which you dip in a warm (!) peanut sauce. Mark had the good sense and empty stomach to order tom yum soup with shrimp and lots of button mushrooms. For entrees we shared the salt-and-pepper tofu, with a dark and deeply-flavored sauce sprinkled with green onions, and shrimp with spicy green beans. Brown rice, too. Now I have garlic breath and I'm not sorry.

Re-Planted

There is a new Plant Cafe downtown; it is, dangerously, a mere 2 blocks from my workplace.
If you go, take note: in spite of its address, it is actually on Front and Pine.
Also, do not freak at the prices. This is organic fare, kids; it's not meant to be cheap. Cough it up.
I thoroughly enjoyed my bowl of cold soba noodles in a swoony Asian vinaigrette with chopped veggies, sprouts and nicely-firm baked tofu. They bring your order to your table, and all the folks there are helpful as can be. Also, there are recycling and composting options.
I will be back there soon for their deservedly-famous veggie burger, perhaps with Swiss and mushrooms. And I may have to try their oatmeal with pecans, raisins and cinnamon. Oh sweet Jesus, 2 short blocks. A blessing and a curse.

I *Heart* Surprises

Monday. Dragging myself to work. I am Sisyphus, pushing my rock uphill. And then...what is this? A tiny, heart-shaped muffin on my desk? And it's vegan! And homemade...by my dear friend and next-door cubicle neighbor, T-Money! Yes, apple-pecan muffiny goodness. I managed to delay gratification till after lunch, at which point the lovely pastry was greedily devoured.
Now, if anyone wants to brighten up my Tuesday...well, I think you know what to do.

DIY!

Sometimes you gotta cook it yourself. Like JP, using up some leftover buttermilk to make astoundingly good buckwheat pancakes. Yo, just buy some 365 mix at Whole Foods and make 'em yourself! Although you probably don't have the evolved flipping style that JP has perfected. I say, real maple syrup and sliced bananas to gild the lily. Or flapjack...whatever.
Not to be outdone, I made some very auspicious winter veggies for dinner. Butternut squash, procured at the farmers' market, was cooked simply with water and cinnamon, then mashed until lumpy. A bit of salt and pepper is all you need. For the brussels sprouts, I sliced each sprout in half, sliced up half a red onion and half a Granny Smith, tossed in a pan with olive oil and balsamic, and roasted at 400 till crispy (maybe 45 minutes). Healthy, easy, and quite yummy. Almost makes me want to cook all the time. Almost.

Mixt Feelings

You can't diss on Mixt Greens too much. They are organic and sustainable. They heart the environment. If you work downtown, they are nearby, ready to toss at a moment's notice. So, post-workout and famished, I wandered in (the line is shorter when it's freezing outside). The dude behind the counter was patient as I slowly picked out ingredients for my custom salad: mixt greens (to stick with the theme), carrots, red peppers, golden beets, chickpeas and marinated tofu cubes. All tossed with a lovely lemon herb vinaigrette, which said dude recommended. A tiny piece of wheat bread added and, a bit over $8 later, I was back out in the cold.
Yes, it tasted great. But it didn't fill me up. Maybe if I'd added avocado, for an extra buck? Not sure, but I can say it would be perfect on one of those hot days that I'm starting to miss.

Long Weekend's Eatings

Friday night: Lost Landscapes, an amazing show of archival SF footage by Rick Prelinger. Even film of Market Street before the '06 earthquake...watch out for that buggy! After: starving, cold, JP and I cab it to Pomodoro where I devour a bowl of whole wheat fusilli with marinara and basil. Ahhh.
Saturday night: Ladies of the Lounge come together for a potluck and vast quantities of red wine. Vegan chili on the stove, from the Vegan Table cookbook. A hearty walnut loaf from Boulange, accompanied by goat cheese, fig spread, and a dark, lusty tapenade. Janet's homemade pickled beets and green beans, in jars with the prettiest labels. Michelle's earthy and mouthwatering roasted beets. Kristy's addictive pasta with peppers. Pea pod and mushroom salad with red onions, and roasty potatoes, from my friend The Pasta Shop. Shanna's gorgeous frittata...And more...
Sunday: leftovers, of course! The real event was Shitty Shitty Band Band at the Makeout Room.
Monday: JP and I get to visit the G at her workplace, the awe-inspiring ILM. Oh, the eye candy! One of the original bicycles from ET! R2D2 in a Santa hat! Electric menorahs next to Xmas trees! Light saber chopsticks in the gift shop! And best of all, a cafeteria that nearly made me weep. I got one of the vegan dishes, grilled tofu with tomatillo sauce, black bean cakes, avocado salsa and spinach, plus a fancy-pants Boylan's root beer. JP and the G had beautiful plates of sushi. The spirit of George Lucas hovered nearby, but noone's allowed to talk to him, so we ignored it.

Send Me Airmail

It was dinner date nite for me and Kimster. Shockingly, we had not been to Beretta yet. Well, I'd been once awhile ago; she had somehow missed it altogether (although she has been to Flour & Water several times now, without me, not that I'm bitter).
So down the hill we went, to a nice welcoming spot where it's almost too dark to read the menu. We managed. My lovely cocktail, the Airmail (rum, honey, lime, Prosecco) smelled divine and, like Kimster's Rattlesnake (rye, lemon, maple, bitters, egg white) tasted heavenly. We shared a beet salad with ricotta salata, a balsamic drizzle across the top making it look like a beet sundae. Our salad of fennel and arugula with shaved Parmesan was light and lovely. And our pizza was quite special: the funghi and vegetarian sausage atop tomato sauce and melted cheese was a winning combination. Oh, it was dark, and kinda loud, but we'll be back. There's too many fine-looking antipasti still to be ordered.

Tiny Pie Slice

It was teensy. I swear. I had no choice but to finish it off. It was taking up space in the fridge.
Sweet Earth makes many kinds of pah. My favorite is the Vegan Pumpkin. It's got the custardy pumpkiny spiced goodness inside, flaky crust outside, and it's not too sweet. Non-vegans dig it, too. Most health-food stores carry it; if yours doesn't, throw a tantrum.
Mine is gone but yours could be just beginning...

Smoky and the Undertones

Tonite we dined chez The N and The G, out in the Richmond, where delicacies are but a short walk away. Witness the nearby Haig's Delicacies, where our hosts bought some lovely spreads to accompany the bread and crackers, baked potatoes, and organic turkey that came from George Lucas...The G works at ILM, a company that gets real generous around the holidays.
My Lord, Haig's makes some fine baba ghanoush. Or as they spell it: baba ghannouge. I also love their description:
Rich, smoky undertones bloom on your palate in this
flavorful mezé of roasted eggplants and tahini, with a
hint of zesty lemon, garlic, and spices.
How can I top that? Nope, I can't.

Oui, s'il vous plait

That's what most of my Noe brethren are saying, French-speakers or not...It's nice to have a lousy Italian restaurant replaced with a Boulange. I had always been fond of the Hayes Valley outpost, with its dangerous proximity to Miette, Blue Bottle, and Alla Prima. But now I just mosey up 24th Street for my Frenchified fix. JP and I shared a rustic wooden table (with cute matching chairs) and two lattes in red-checked cups, tres charmant! Alors, Noe may now have a place that serves good coffee. (Not to mention adorable pastries, tantalizing sandwiches and salads...) And cheers to the wooden counter in the front window, where une femme can sit, livre in hand, un cafe at her elbow, watching tout le monde pass by. Makes me want to take up smoking, almost.

Thanks

I had stopped writing my blog. I was sad. I didn't know if it was worth doing anymore.
But I'm gonna try again. Please leave a comment if you care to.
I am thankful today, and most days, for the good things. Today I celebrated with five lovely people. There were cheeses, a drunken, firm goat and a sober, herb-flecked goat log...flatbread crackers with all kinds of seeds on top. Hard pear cider and wine. Tofurkey for us veg-heads, which comes with vegan gravy and a spiral of stuffing inside. My own cardamom cranberry sauce laced with orange peel. Sweet and white potatoes mashed with lots of elephant garlic and buttermilk. Roasted brussels sprouts, carrots and kabocha squash. Green beans with lemony gremolata. Salad that sang with cubes of Asian pear and slivered almonds. And for dessert, coffee and pumpkin pie, apple pie, perfect ginger cookies.
Thankful to those who read my blog. Be happy; enjoy your leftovers.

Great Pumpkin

We may not look like fall, here in SF, but we eat like it. Case in point: dinner at Incanto last night. JP and I shared, as an appetizer, the roasted autumn veggies: yams, pumpkin, Jerusalem artichoke, parsnip, carrot with olive oil and herbs. We also shared the first-of-the-season Meyer lemon sorbetto, which is sweet and puckery and adorned with candy-like shreds of peel. Remember Italian ice, eaten with a teensy wooden spoon? Much, much better.
Pumpkin again this morning at Chloe's; namely, pumpkin-cinnamon-ginger pancakes, dusted with powdered sugar. Take a moment to admire their spice-swirled orange hue, then douse with syrup.
Soon, oh very soon, pumpkin pah...

Sharing Some Pah

Pie. Or, as Kimster and I pronounce it, pah. If you want a vegan slice, do what we did: grab a nice latte from Ritual, then cross the street to Herbivore. Grab some stools at the counter in the window. Ask for pah. We chose strawberry-rhubarb, which pretty much always is the best choice. This slice came with slices of banana and blueberries; the pah itself was full of juicy sweetness and tartness, the crust flaky and buttery in a vegan sort of way. What a perfect end to the afternoon.
P.S. Not a bad idea to start the day with Blue Chair jam. I sampled the Plum and the Rhubarb/Kumquat today at the Noe Farmers' Market, and a sticky thumbs-up to both.

Lavish Lavash

OK, they spelled 'lavash' wrong on their online menu. Who cares? Sunrise Deli makes some mean Middle-Eastern food, and lucky for me and many other worker bees, they opened a branch downtown. Just take your hungry, sedentary ass down to 2nd St., off Market, and you can try a plethora of different falafels; salads; plate combos...
Me, I had the large and satisfying Veggie Delight. It's got hummus, tabbouleh, tahini sauce, sauteed eggplant and peppers, lettuce and tomato all wrapped in lavash. Which is wrapped in foil, for slightly less messy consumption. I still got tahini all over my chin.
They even have Turkish Delight! If you want to make me love you, bring me a piece. Or two. I'll share, I promise.

Noshachusetts

Nosh has not been very active, has she?
Well, that's what happens when you travel back East and stay with your moms. And I do mean that in the plural, not just the colloquial.
Food in MA: some good, some eh. But there were moments:
Amherst Coffee. Good coffee, nice scene, and a sweet little wine bar at night where I got to escape a raging rainstorm.
Chez Albert. Where my friend Tom and I dined after the wine bar. Lovely dark intimate place, doting waiters, and the two specials I had were magnifique. A salad strewn with pears, walnuts, and goat cheese; salmon on a bed of pureed potatoes with chard and sauce romesco. Complimentary tarte tatin, tres charmant.
Lone Wolf. Damn good breakfast, and cheap! That is, if you're used to SF prices. Me, I had the Rachel's Choice: 2 excellent scrambies, 2 huge soy sausage patties, a cup of fruit (which they kindly substituted for taters), and 2 heavenly multigrain pancakes dusted with powdered sugar.
Mom's house. This one has no web site but it does have eggs straight out of the chickens. And my Mom's partner's homemade wheat bread, topped with homemade strawberry jam. And all kinds of salad greens from the greenhouse out yonder.
But I'm back now, and while there's not much foliage action, there is great food. Kind of miss those accents, though...

The Chips Were Down

So Kimster and I tried to get some action at the Vegan Bake Sale today. We really did. After a lovely vegan lunch and iced lattes, we strolled through the summery throngs to Ike's Place and...nada. 3 p.m.; no baked goods. Oh, there was a clusterfuck trying to get sandwiches, there sure was. But as a sweet woman in a kitty-adorned t-shirt told us, the 50 vegan bakers had sold all their wares and made some bank for Give Me Shelter cat rescue. Good news! But for me, the vegan goodie itch needed scratching...
So homeward we went, to our shiny new Whole Foods. There to buy a vegan chocolate chip cookie for 99 cents. Folks, those WF bakers make a fine, chewy, chocolate-heavy cookie. Satisfaction guaranteed. And happily, the vegans are planning more bakesales...arrive early, comrades!!

Uduped Again

JP came home from Illinois, hungry and (maybe - just maybe) tired of pizza. The solution? Udupi Palace on Valencia: incredibly cheap, generous portions of vegetarian Indian food.
We'd eaten there the very first day they opened, and split a huge dosa, which had made us very happy. Another time we took close friends, who became enamored despite the lack of meat. Tonite I had the huge spring dosa, which comes with sambar (spicy soup), three cooling chutneys, and in my case, some fantastic raita (the charming waiter rushed it over when he saw me fanning flames from my mouth). Yup, it was h-a-w-t. JP and I also shared a lovely lassi, thick with frozen mango. And due to the hugeness of my meal, I now have the other half-dosa waiting in the fridge for a snack attack. JP polished off his masala dosa, making an Indian mother somewhere very happy.

Consider the Jujube

Round, like a brown stone
Firm or perhaps wrinkled, the jujube
Also known as Chinese Date
Taste like an apple-date with tiny pit
Slightly spongy, it is like
Biting into Autumn

Bap with a Vengeance

Tonite, JP and I went to our neighborhood Korean joint, Hahn's Hibachi. I'm kind of shocked that I haven't blogged about it before; it's so good, so close; so reliable. But here you go, my nosh of the day was their bibimbop with tofu. Korean comfort food, yes. A rainbow of veggies: slivered zucchini and carrots, strings of pickled daikon, spinach, bean sprouts and a lovely pile of tofu tossed in a slightly sweet marinade. All atop a mound of rice and crowned with a fried egg. Toss it together, maybe add a squirt of chile sauce, and feast. One bowl; a million flavors.

Take 5

If you like veggie juice, I've found a place that's inexpensive and very good. But damned if I know the name. It's a salad bar across from Crocker Galleria that advertises fresh juices, and they have something called Veggie 5. It's a mix of beet, carrot, celery, tomato and parsley. Fairly sweet, not at all bitter, and they keep some pre-made (though still fresh-tasting) so you don't have to wait a long time. And, it's only a little over $3 for a 16 ouncer! Drink up, cheapskate.

Plant on Water

What could be better, after a stretchifying pilates class, than dinner with your favorite pilates instructor at The Plant Cafe Organic?
Answer: not much.
This new cafe is situated right smack on the bay, and you can sit at an elegant wooden table, warmed by heat lamps, and be mesmerized by lapping water.
You can also eat amazingly fresh, delicious food. We had 2 salads - you can order them in small or large sizes, which I love - and both were plant-astic. Mine had baby spinach, goat cheese and pumpkin seeds in a champagne vinaigrette, while Rachel's boasted fluffy mixed greens, more goat cheese, beets and toasted walnuts.
My entree was quinoa with lots of veggies and baked tofu in a ginger-miso sauce. I also stole bits of Rachel's wild salmon, all crispy on top and meltingly tender inside.
I forgot to mention the whole grain bread and good-quality olive oil that's brought to your table with a cute milk bottle full of water; nice touches. I plan to plant myself there again, soon.

Ce-Reality

Friends know this about me: I am a cereal freak. Correction: FREAK. I love cereal, would take it with me as my one desert island meal, that kind of thing. But I don't eat just one kind; like Seinfeld, I keep a large stash of boxes in the cupboard. Then, in the morning, I mix maybe four kinds together, sprinkle on cinnamon and pour on the milk. Crazy but true.
If you share my version of cereality, let me suggest a new kind: Yogi, the tea people, now make cereal. And thanks to my pal Luis at Whole Foods, I went home with 2 free boxes to 'sample'. The goji berry version is gone, and it was delightful; not too sweet, nice crunchy flakes. I am still savoring the exotic Walnut Spice Crunch, which served as my afternoon snack today. The box touts 'digestive health' and 'five ancient grains' which get mixed up with nuts, spices and seeds. I say: this stuff is seriously great. It would be good on top of some ice cream or yogurt, too...if that's not too surreal for you.

My One and Onigiri

I love sushi. Raw is righteous. But I also love a little thing called onigiri: a ball of rice, wrapped in nori, with a yummy treasure buried inside: maybe pickled plum (umeboshi), maybe salmon.
Tonite at Ebisu (yes, I've mentioned it before), I ordered one and was glad I did. The onigiri was so large that Suzuki, our chef, cut it in two. There it sat on its plate like two pyramids of sticky rice garnished with my beloved, electric yellow pickled radish. I picked up one piece and bit into the mix of crackly seaweed, steaming rice and grilled salmon: heaven! Comforting, filling and a little messy to eat. Makes me want to be a Japanese schoolgirl...

Noshtober

Well, I'm going to make an attempt to write more in this, the month of Noshtober.
And for the first of the month, a brief blog to sing the praises of freeze-dried mango from our friend, Trader Joe's.
It comes in a bag with a top that rips open and reseals, always a perk for snacking in the cubicle. And the pieces are shaped like fat half moons, have a crispness when bitten, then melt on your tongue. Like potato chips, they are addictive and get all over your fingers, but who cares? You don't have to mess with a pit or get strings in your teeth...that's my kinda mango.

Girlie Power

I have these get-togethers every so often, and they are called Girlie Brunches. Kimster and I buy bagels, lox and cream cheese; we make coffee and have juice and champagne on hand. People bring goodies and have great conversations; on a hot day like today, they even enjoy our teensy back yard.
Nosh must say, Costco, of all places, has some fine smoked salmon! When spread thickly upon a bagel with shmear, it is heavenly to eat. The colorful heirloom tomatoes (green and red zebras, and a sweet-as-honey orange one) and thinly-sliced Japanese cucumbers were nice accompaniment.
For our vegan friends, there was eggless egg salad from the Trader...I hadn't tried it before but now I am seriously hooked.
Nosh also recommends mimosas made with fresh-squoze OJ and Prosecco; bubbly goodness. We drank to all the lovely ladies...Viva La Brunch.

Whole Foodies

Finally, finally, Noe Valley is getting a supermarket. Whole Foods opens this coming Wednesday, and boy are we ready. Tonite, as a preview, the WF crew threw a pre-opening partay in their parking lot with live music and much free food and drink. Noshes were good and they were plentiful, but I wasn't so terribly hungry so I just grazed a bit. Can't say I loved the puckery kombucha, but I did love the warm figs with balsamic syrup and goat cheese, served in a cute paper cone. And I looooved my organic, handmade coconut marshmallow (Kimster enjoyed her strawberry one, as well). So thanks WF for being neighborhood-friendly; we sure will be glad to share our paychecks with y'all.

Queen Fig

If I were a fruit, I'd be a fig.
So round, soft and plush. Sensuous. Their color is dusky (although green figs are nice too). Purple of royalty. And so sweet, when ripe. Yet the texture intrigues; it is not cloying or simple. There are tiny seeds to crunch, mull over. The taste lingers in your throat like a good glass of wine.
The figs I bought at Golden Produce today were perfectly ripe. Each fills the palm of your hand like a purse, a gift.
And the word: fig. So short but so evocative. Eat them now while you can.

ChocBananNut

Huh? you say. Trust me, this nonsensical word refers to a most yummy, yet wholesome, cookie that's fairly easy to whip up. It is the vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe I stole from Health Magazine. And it's choc full of healthy stuff like oat flour, quick-cooking oats, walnuts, soy milk and banana. It's practically a vitamin, people!!! I have also found that everyone loves these and no one thinks they're vegan, i.e., missing butter. Enjoy them, but warning: the recipe doesn't make a lot of cookies, so don't promise one to everyone you know. Just the ones you truly love.

Groovin on Garlic

Our local Thai joint ain't too shabby. It's on a corner, with big glass windows on Church Street; there are cloth napkins and waitresses in pretty Thai dresses. The food, as inexpensive as can be, is always fresh and soul-satisfying: witness tonight's dish of fat pink prawns in black bean sauce with veggies: mushrooms, red peppers, baby corn, peapods, carrots and - yes, yes - lots of garlic. Spooned over a pile of brown rice, this was the healthiest sort of comfort food. So walk or ride the J; Regent Thai is so worth it. Try the tamarind candies on your way out the door, sour-sweet in the best sort of way.

It's the Small Things

Like, a piece of vegan peach bread at Ritual Coffee. I've lauded their coffee, but their pastry is also a lovely indulgence. Today, feeling low, I headed there after work for an iced drink and a treat. The vegan breads are not too sweet, with a hint of spice and a moist crumb. Peaches aren't around much longer, so it seemed like the right choice. Maybe it made a small dent, but every little thing counts.

Big Dosa Love

It's nice to visit Dosa on the early side, as Elise and I did. We got to sit at a two-top by the window. A nice breeze blew in, the sky slowly darkened as we shared a chopped salad with romaine, carrot, cucumber, onion and cherry tomato dressed with lemon-pepper vinaigrette. Tart and so fresh.
Elise had the masala dosa, while I tried the spring dosa, full of potato and chopped veggies and cut into three huge slices. Alongside was a thick, spicy sambar (lentil soup) with chunks of carrot and zucchini, and two dipping sauces, coconut and tomato. We ate with our fingers and maybe got a bit too full. But, as one friendly server told us, this food brings energy to the body. It sure did bring some positive energy to a couple of tired ladies.

Souperiority

I am lucky to have the Noe Valley Farmers' Market nearby. Often I can be found inspecting spinach, melons, tomatoes and peaches, but I don't usually buy meals there. The Mexican and Indian booths look good, but I've always been drawn to Juicey Lucy's, a purveyor of vegetarian sandwiches, soups, and - duh - fresh juices. Today, the drizzly weather and my grumbling stomach pushed me toward the kind-faced people behind the counter and in particular, their soup du jour. It was made with lentils, organic vegetables and heirloom tomatoes. Once poured into your biodegradable cup (or jar, if you're smart enough to buy one for future consumption) from a black cauldron, the soup is passed back to a fellow who applies a lovely garnish: in my case, fresh basil and a tiny fan of zucchini. It warmed and fed me well, the flavors as bright as the sun that burst out later in the day.

Tommy Can You Feed Me?

Tommy is our favorite sushi chef at Ebisu. Yes, I've mentioned this place before but it bears repeating after a perfect sushi repast. Oh, Tommy can make nigiri and maki better than anyone I know; his fish is always tender and gorgeous, although I don't waste too much time lookin' at it, if you know what I mean.
Tonite, I asked Tommy for a special vegi maki, and did he ever come through for us. The roll was pickled carrots and daikon, avocado and sprouts wrapped in a perfect spiral of cucumber, then topped with a tiny cloud of rice and a sprinking of sesame seeds. Ohhhhh.
Not too shabby either was the on-the-house cocktail provided by my adopted Japanese dad, Steve-san (Ebisu's gracious owner): watermelon juice, shiso leaf, a bit of syrup and alcohol (Soju perhaps)...Nectar of the sushi gods.
See me, feed me. I think that's what The Who was saying.

Sidewalk Talk

What better, on a hot summery night, than to venture out with your best friend to a favorite haunt (Pizzeria Delfina...yeah, it's been blogified before) and grab an outdoor table? What better than to watch the hipster parade go by, even grab the arm of a friend on his way to BiRite, as you chat and drink good red wine and eat a splendid caponata? And who would argue with an eggplant dish doused generously in good olive oil, with capers and pine nuts and two crispy toasts for smearing? And will I finish this with yet another question? Who wants to know??

Fishin' for Breakfast

I have finally found a place in SF with breakfast to rival Portland's vegan wonders. That place is Weird Fish. Lord knows I''ve been meaning to go there for-freakin'-ever, but we picked the perfect Sunday, right before Labor Day, and while the Burners are still frying their brains in the desert.
We got a sweet table for two right away. It's a tiny place with beautiful old mirrors, chandelier, and a mermaid in the front window. As for the food, it was weird-tastic (in a good way)...I had the Kyle Combo with 2 perfectly scrambled eggs, 2 vegan pancakes, and fruit. Vegan pancakes can be dense, but these were the kind that melt in your mouth, dusted with powdered sugar. Even the fruit was better than you'd get at most places, melon with pineapple, strawberries, apples and pears. JP loved his eggs over-hard, cheesified Capp St. taters and biscuit, as well as the side of savory vegi sausage (which I tried, for blogging purposes of course). One final note: the servers are super sweet. I felt welcomed when we came in, and plan to go back real soon.

Rockin' the Ridge

It was a perfect day to hang out with Cheryl, the most beautiful girl in Oakland. We met at the Rockridge Market Hall, me basking in the sunlight and petting cute dogs till she rounded the corner. And since it was lunchtime, we headed across the street to Cactus Taqueria.
I've been a Cactus fan since the early years, when I worked behind the counter at the Pasta Shop. Cactus is in a bigger location now, but it still has great veggie asados burritos: grilled squash, broccoli and peppers with beans and rice, filling but not overly so. Add guacamole; you'll be glad you did. Then there is the salsa bar, with about five different salsas (pineapple being my favorite), roasted chiles and a cabbage/carrot mix. And, my friends, this meal in a whole wheat wrap cost a little over five bucks. Pittsburg-BayPoint train, take me back there soon.

Girls Gotta Eat

Last night, I spent a lovely evening with two lovely ladies: Rachel and Wendy. Aside from their natural beauty and ability to kick ass on the pilates reformer, these women are also dear friends. And they deserve to eat when they're hungry...Which means, if the insanely popular Starbelly has an hour-plus wait for a table, we go elsewhere.
Our landing place was Thailand Restaurant on Castro. The first neat thing about this place is you have to walk upstairs to get to the actual dining room. The second is the Shrimp Wonton appetizer. They bring out an oval plate lined with lettuce leaves and steamed cabbage and carrots; around the perimeter are little steamed dimsummy things. Springy texture, sweet shrimp, and the Thai dipping sauce is a dusky mix of sweetness and vinegar...The word umami comes to mind. Like the company, they lifted my spirits and gave me yet another thing to be thankful for.

AtLast

There is a particular sandwich I sometimes crave, and I probably should try the other ones they offer at Atlas Cafe. Right? Someday, maybe. But today I needed a baked tofu sandwich. It's on toasted multi-grain bread, and spread with a tart tamarind vinaigrette. There's a thin layer of nori atop the tofu, and some papery red onion slices and cherry tomato halves. Bite into this, and yes, you've tasted the perfect vegan sandwich.
Someday, yamwich and beetwich, I shall eat you. But not today.

Scream Weather

Hot hot hot. SF was one hot mother today. All the ice cream places swelled with customers...I know without even walking by. BiRite...line around Dolores Park. Mitchell's? Halfway to my house on Church. Humphrey Slocombe, well, I'm guessing the Secret Breakfast ran out by noon.
But if, like me, you don't have a very cordial relationship with dairy, you might wanna try Soy Delicious. Especially the Chocolate Peanut Butter, which has little peanutty chips of goodness. It's made with organic soymilk and sweetened with things like brown rice syrup and fruit juice. And, yeah, it tastes quite good, if not as creamalicious as real 'scream. You can buy your own carton at Whole Foods, minus the long queue of hipsters with fixies and oversized shades.

Ode to the Aubergine

Last nite, the Kimster and I had a date at Noe's Alice's Chinese Restaurant. It's a cozy spot on a corner, not far from our house, and the food is usually quite good. We shared a veggie mushu, 'cause we both love things wrapped in pancakes, and a shrimp with spicy black bean sauce which truly had some kick. But my favorite thing was our appetizer, Garlic Eggplant. For this, the waiter brings over a dish with a long Chinese eggplant that's been cut into thirds lengthwise, but not all the way; each piece is still attached to the stem. The pieces have, however, been splayed apart and slathered with a sweet/garlicky sauce. Mr. Waiter cuts each piece in half and liberates velvety flesh from stem; two hungry girls then devour all six in record time. Aubergenius!

Bean Awhile...

I've been slacking again. But I made up an awesome recipe this week, easy and cheap and dee-licious. Here it is; call it Pasta and Beans with Tomato/Cheese Topping:
Throw a splosh of olive oil in a pan; heat. Next throw in a handful of organic cherry tomatoes from the farmers' market/your CSA box, and let them soften a bit in the oil. Add a nice fistful of leftover pasta, and an equal amount of canned white beans (I used Trader Joe's) and some of the beany liquid. Stir. Toss in some good pasta sauce and a few torn basil leaves. Cook until the juices are nice and gooey; pour into a bowl and grate some Parmigiano Reggiano on top. Feel the yumminess overtake you.
p.s. if you have 2 ravenous kittens, lock them in another room while you eat, then let them lick the empty bowl

Gingerly

I have admitted that at times, my tummy goes a bit aggro on me. At such moments, I have a friend in the Ginger People. Most especially, I love their Ginger Soother: a squat little bottle of Chinese ginger, lemon and honey. It's sweet but not cloying, the taste is delightful, and man, does it ever make an upset stomach feel better. The same folks make an apple-juice drink called Ginger Gizer, also a winner. You can find 'em at health food stores like Whole Foods or neat little places like BiRite in S.F. And it's sooooo much better than boring ginger ale. Let's also note that the little gingery peeps on the packaging are as cute as anthropomorphized roots can be.

Noshing Does Portland

Portland is one of my favorite places. The greenery, the cute Craftsman houses, the laid-back 'tude...the vegan options everywhere you go. So yes, I enjoyed my brief vacation there and took some notes for y'all on what got noshed.

Francis Restaurant: the Kimster had recommended this place on Alberta, which later this month will be serving dinner. But JP and I had lunch, and it was pretty great. I tasted JP's whiskey lemonade - tarted up with pureed candied ginger - and found it delightful. My enormous meal consisted of hummus, nice and coarse, with chopped kalamatas mixed in, on some flakey vegan foccaccia; pickled carrot coins; baby greens in a raspberry vinaigrette. JP loved his fish and chips with tartar sauce and horseradish marmalade. He also sucked down a large bottle of Rogue hazelnut nectar ale which listed 'free range coastal water' as one of its ingredients.

Cup and Saucer: a groovy little place in the Concordia/Alberta area. Please, please do not venture in the door without a tattoo. OK, you can, and the staff will be really nice, but you'll feel like a giant dork. Anyway, my Saucer Special had scrambies, vegetarian sausage patties, and a frisbee-sized vegan cornmeal-blueberry pancake. I loved that cake, although I wish real maple syrup had not been $1 extra. JP's breakfast came with a cup of excellent raspberry jam - he made me taste it - and we also made the acquaintance of Secret Aardvark hot sauce via a bottle on the table.

Stumptown Coffee: those of you who know me also know about my coffee habit. It's not crack, but it's close. And if you love good java, you'd best get over to Stumptown and get a fix. JP and I visited the location in the Ace Hotel, after a trip to the overwhelming Powell's Books. Sitting in the window with my iced soy latte, a new book weighing down my shoulder bag, I had a serious moment. Maybe angels singing, I don't know, but it happened.

Moxie RX: this place rocks. Dear lord, what could be better than a converted trailer with a few stools inside, picnic tables outside, and creative food and drinks served on vintage dishes? My Grapefruit Fizz helped cool me down on a hot day: juice, fizzy water and fresh basil over ice in a Mason jar. Ahhh. JP kindly shared his Healthy Glow, a frothy blend of pineapple, cucumber, ginger and apple juice. He also enjoyed his panini: goat cheese on a cute little anise-fig roll. I enjoyed the fence behind us, topped with metal roosters and bird houses.

Jam on Hawthorne: this place was recommended by our bartender at the Kennedy School's Honors Bar, who I liked in spite of his failing to card me. We're so glad we went. I had vegan oatmeal-chai-blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup (the chai is Portland's local Dragonfly Chai, fyi). JP swooned over his lemon ricotta 'cakes with blueberry compote. And yep, Jam makes their own jam, which you can buy...The jars are artfully labeled and, judging by the blueberry jam on our table, they taste like a little bit of fruity heaven.

Prasad: we stopped by this cute food cart on Alberta before we left. I ordered the Beulah Land, a great big cup of grapefruit/apple/celery/mint juice. Refreshing, yes, but I also love food carts so it made me happy on several levels. And I got a vegan bbq wrap at the food co-op across the street, the perfect nosh to tide me over till we got back to foggy San Fran. I'll admit to some post-partin' depression, but I'll be back soon. There's so much more to blog about...

Streetwise

Yup, street food is the new black. You can do the twitter thing and find out where the carts are congregating, or you can spend your Thursday lunch hour at the Ferry Building. Many delightful choices; Ms CatChoo and I had a hard time deciding where to spend our lunch money. We finally were reeled in by Politano Pizza, what with its sturdy outdoor oven and featured pizza (one of three): erbette chard, chilies, kalamata olives and a thin layer of mozzarella. The crust was just the right amount of blistery, and while I ate all of mine, Ms CatChoo kindly shared some of hers with a wounded pigeon (sniff). We also shared a yellow watermelon agua fresca from Tacolicious, light and not too sweet. Sitting out back on a bench, warmed by the sun and calmed by the water, we gave thanks for working closeby. And what with okonomiyaki and smoked salmon sandwiches, I'll be hitting the streets again real soon.

Hidden Harvest

If I didn't know it was there, I'd walk right by. But Harvest and Rowe is a good little place, if you're downtown and hungry and like healthy, yummy food. I've only been there for lunch, myself; I had a great salad as I recall, but today I felt like a sandwich. And I know they do a tofu sandwich. So I called and a very nice woman described it to me as having smoked tofu made by some local dude, and hummus, and a variety of veggies. She nicely offered to put one aside for me, and said to look for the gal with the brown ponytail.
Well, I found her! And the smoked tofu was quite awesome. It's a big sammy, so I saved half for tomorrow. They have lots of other goodies, always a variety of soups, and their salad dressings all sound amazing. Sherry-olive? Balsamic-strawberry? Anchovy-parmesan?
Take the walk down Second Street and look for the place with a couple of outdoor tables and chairs. And a brown ponytail.

Cabbages and Kings

Brassica, per our friends at wiki, "is a genus of plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). The members of the genus may be collectively known either as cabbages, or as mustards."
If you go to the Brassica supperclub, as I had the good fortune to do last night, you will eat something from this plant family. And you will enjoy it.
The lovely Elise and I took the N Judah out to a secret location in the Sunset, equipped with a password to get us in the door. After shedding shoes and jackets, we climbed upstairs to a cozy apartment where one room was set aside for dinner guests. Each table had fresh flowers and either chairs or cushions for seating. Our waitress was the charmin' Carmen, who was happy to squat down and chat with us, explaining each dish that came our way. Ed and Mark are the two guys who provided us with our fantastic meal.
For a mere $35 (shaking my head in disbelief as I type), you will eat a four-course menu that is beautifully presented, locally derived, and obviously made with love. Tea and water are replenished quickly; you can bring your own alcohol if you wish.
First: Thai-style spinach cups that you roll yourself, after stuffing them with roasted corn, tofu, red onion, chopped lime, serrano chile, coconut, garlic, and oyster mushrooms. A drizzle of peanut sauce and you are in heaven.
Second: a duo of soups served in hollowed rosemary rolls. Potato-corn chowder with rosemary, and creamy tomato with oregano. So, so good.
A palate freshener of incredibly sweet watermelon juice with mint, served in shot glasses.
Third: entree of tempeh slices with a sunflower crust, over basmati pilaf with sliced avocado, cauliflower ceviche and a smoky tomatillo puree.
Finally: a dessert to end all vegan desserts...almond cake with pastry cream and roasted nectarines (Frog Hollow, y'all); almond brittle with a nice burnt-almond taste; cinnamon-nectarine granita.
I am still full.
And after dinner the heroic chefs hung out with guests, answering questions and being generally cool and friendly. Elise and I will be going back. You might want to try it too. Just don't forget your password.

Thai Trinity

Portabello mushrooms. Asparagus. Garlic.
Three things, stir-fried in a dark dreamy sauce and spooned over jasmine rice.
Walk up the 24th Street hill to Rin's Thai for some good Asian food...Not your standard Thai, they use the term 'fusion' to include things like Vietnamese lettuce cups; roti; samosas. It's a quiet place (they seem to do great takeout business) and the decor is a bit funky, but I like it. And I like that it's the same place - with some changes to the menu - I visited over twenty years ago with my sister. If she were still here, and how I wish she were, I'd take her there for dinner.

Been There, Ate That

My first blog was inspired by this place. Perhaps it's lazy of me to return and rave about their food, but hey, I tried something from the revised menu! And it was soooo good! So forgive me for not going somewhere new last nite, but there were JP and Greg and Kym and me, all mighty hungry and not wanting to walk too far...
What did I eat? Well, after sharing the Gilroy (bok choy snazzed up with vinegar and garlic, hence the name), I headed for the Wine Country with a big bowl of Sonoma: bucatini pasta, roughly chopped tomatoes, garlic, basil, and grilled tiger prawns, enriched with melty Chenel chevre. The two pieces of bread tucked alongside were, sadly, insufficient to sop up the sauce, but I bet they'd bring more if you ask nicely. Sometimes, the best meal can be found at a favorite haunt where you know you can get a table and have a conversation without shouting. Big citrus, we love you.

Little Bit of Italy

Here in Noe Valley, at the 30th Street end of Church Street, is a small restaurant that serves excellent food. And it's not simply Italian food; it's Sardinian food. Sardinia being an island, this means seafood. But there's so much to try that I have to admit, the Kimster and I shared three things and not a one of them came from the ocean. Mind you, we both love the fishies, so we'll be going back to widen our net (heh).
What we did have: a salad of greens with an amazing, tart/sweet vinaigrette and shreds of sweet onion. A bowl of cabbage sauteed with chilies, capers and olive oil that we polished off like starving sailors. And pizza: a perfectly round pie cut in quarters and topped with tomato sauce, pecorino, more of those lovely capers, and fresh oregano. If you order this Pizza a Sa Sarda, you will not only devour it, you will eat all the crust and wish you had ordered a second one to carry home. Or maybe you'll have the foresight to do that, as it would make an excellent breakfast. Ah, La Ciccia, your siren song calls...

Ariztocrat

If I could, I'd live at Arizmendi Bakery. Or, failing that, stop in on a daily basis for my bread, pastry and pizza needs. Sadly, I don't live nearby, so when I'm in the 'hood I make it a point to drop in and spend far too long agonizing over what to purchase.
Today, around 3, I was peckish and drawn to the gorgeous muffins. They all looked great - lemon poppyseed, bran with raisins - but I had to go with the blueberry corn muffin. It had that nice jutting top with crisp edges, and a perfect bit of cornmeal to add textural interest. Inside, ohhhh...the softest muffin ever, moistened by big fresh blueberries. And they use good ingredients, like organic flour and natural sweeteners.
I also picked up a small round focaccia dotted with kalamata olives and a puckery baked tomato. Sprinkled with salt, like an aristocratic pretzel, it was the perfect pre-dinner nosh.
If you haven't been, go to the foggy Inner Sunset and treat yourself. Just not on Monday when - it pains me to say - they are closed.

Gracias a Donna

Well, admittedly, I don't know Donna...but I am thankful for her vegetarian stand - Donna's Tamales - at the Tuesday Ferry Building Farmers' Market. There are tamales aplenty, many vegan. My favorite nosh, and today's lunch, would be the vegan burrito. It's a whole wheat tortilla stuffed with rice, veggies (corn, cabbage, carrot, potato) and shreds of ginger in a resonant miso sauce. Their counter has little cups to fill with three kinds of salsa and a peppy carrot-cabbage slaw. And the package comes wrapped in foil and tied with raffia; it will stay hot all the way back to work, I promise.

Honor Thy Cravings

Today, as lunch time made my tummy grumble, I had a craving that would not be ignored. A craving for goat cheese.
I knew that Sellers Market would have it. Their tagline is 'local, organic, sustainable'. Their goat cheese is from Laura Chenel, just yonder a bit. I'd perused their menu but never eaten there.
Well, it's not cheap. But it's mighty yummy. My craving was indulged with a portobello mushroom sammy spread with goaty goodness, roasted red peppers and a divine pesto. Alongside for the ride was a large organic green salad, its dressing nicely flecked with herbs.
Folks, when that craving hits, give in to it. Unless, you know, it involves something criminal, or McDonald's. Redundant? Hmmm...

Bowing to the Veggie Gods

Last night, I was honored to be a guest of the lovely and talented Ms Cat-Choo. In spite of some very unwelcome drama that evening, she prepared a feast like no other, inspired by magical Morocco. Having visited the Ferry Building Farmers' Market in the morning, and acquired a bounty of gorgeous produce, our charming hostess presented each veggie in its own bowl, lovingly seasoned with fresh herbs and za'atar: golden carrots; celery; gypsy peppers; potatoes with parsley; pristine heirloom tomatoes. As if that were not enough, there was fragrant rice, and petrale sole cooked with olive oil and preserved lemon. We ate and ate, drank wine, and finished with some vegan chocolate cake and strawberries. Ms Cat-Choo, thanks again for feeding us so well. May your days be delicious and drama-free.

Contigo, Amigo

The newest, best restaurant in my little 'hood is Contigo. If you can't jet off to Barcelona, this, I imagine, is the next best thing. Exquisite Catalan food in a beautifully designed space...even cute waitstaff! After our waiter admitted that he'd escaped from a military base-centered town in the armpit of Nevada, my pal Wendy whispered that he must have been the cutest thing to come out of Fallon, NV.
But the food! OK, first off, great wine list. They'll give you tastes, too, to help you make up your mind. We had slices of locally-baked bread with an addictive Arbequina olive oil. Next, a salad of arugua, shaved summer squash, toasted almonds and ethereal Bellwether ricotta. And then a plate of pure Spanish simplicity: greens, pinenuts, golden raisins, olive oil and garlic. Finally we had to try the coca. No, we were not snorting stuff in the restroom. This is a fabulous flatbread, perfectly crisp, and in our case topped with sweet melted onions, tiny rounds of zucchini and micro basil leaves. There are desserts as well; Wendy tried the cup of chocolate with churros for dipping while I sat back and blissed out. Te amo, Contigo.

Days of Soup and Oatmeal

Ah, the woes of a testy tummy, when one loves to nosh.
Here is where I've been spending my money lately: The Soup Company. It's a local chain and man, they make some fantastic comfort food. To wit: the oatmeal rocks. It is composed of teeny little grains, with a texture that pops in your mouth, almost like tobiko. Really soft and smooth, and with a squeeze of honey or two, you've got some fine hot cereal, if a bit pricey.
My other favorite thing is their split pea soup. It's a bit chunky, with peas and carrots, and they'll add cilantro if you like. It's vegan to boot. But it has a depth of flavor, as if it were cooked for hours with love and care. You get a chunk of good sourdough - or a wheat roll - to dip in your soupy goodness. Now I know it's all mushy food this time around, but it's what I'm needing lately. And it tastes like someone's mom is back there, stirring oats and soup pots and hoping you feel better soon.

A Night in Morocco

That's what it felt like at Aziza, the gorgeous restaurant on Geary and 22nd Avenue.
I'd been wanting to go there for a long time. So we drove out to the foggy Richmond, lucked into a parking space, and met Matt and Rachel for a magical dinner.
My cocktail (like everything on the menu, described in the most spartan of descriptions): vodka, peach, mint. Oh, the yumminess. A refreshing drink for summer, yes indeedy.
The small plates: a salad of beets, watermelon balls as delicate as jewels, and avocado dressing. A rectangle of goat cheese alongside a dramatic smear of tomato jam and a sprinke of crushed pistachios; the four teensy toasts alongside were not quite sufficient. Luckily, the hot triangles of flatbread that accompanied our spreads (a mild chickpea, a garlicky yogurt-dill, and an addictive piquilllo-almond) were replenished as needed.
Entrees included chicken and lamb for the boys and a silky halibut cooked sous-vide for Rachel. Me, I chose the dreamy vegetarian couscous with its perfect grains, chickpeas, carrot and rutabaga, sweet raisins and spicy harissa.
Not exactly Morocco, as we braved the fog heading back to the car. But a nice runner-up.

Injera Love

When you talk to people about Ethiopian food, I find, they either love it (me) or hate it (not me). And the ones who hate it seem to have something against injera. I don't get this. I love most carbs, admittedly, but injera is such an interesting and mouthwatering member of the starch clan. It's a big, flat, spongy pancake. It's a bit sour, but in a good way. It acts as the bed on which your heavenly meal is arranged; it is the utensil you use to scoop food to your mouth. What's not to love?
Last night's dinner took place at Cafe Ethiopia, a groovy little spot on Valencia. My friend and I shared a vegetarian plate: three of the veggie options (yellow split peas; alicha with potato, carrot and cabbage; chopped and nicely bitter collard greens), as well as the fish, chunks of sea bass in a spicy red sauce. There were also two mounds of lettuce/tomato salad in a tart vinaigrette. We happily ate with our fingers, leaving just a crumb or two of injera. I think next time I'll order the honey wine, too. Note: the grain used to make injera is 'teff', honey wine is 'tejj'. I think the two just go together, don't you?

Doesn't Get Any Sweeter

Tonight, we finished the half-watermelon from the Noe Valley Farmers' Market. JP bought it three days ago for $3, a nice pink hunk of sweetness. This is really good melon, my friend. If you can, avoid the supermarket and get your sugar from a farmer. Words cannot describe the juiciness, the deep melon flavor that goes from the reddish heart to the whitish rind. Sitting in the back yard on a warm July night with a bowl of just-harvested watermelon is enough to make you feel like a kid again. But without the mosquitoes.

Tiny Nosh, Huge Yum

First off, I have been slacking. I need to get out more, so I can write more. I sure am gonna try to be better.
Today, I finally bought this enticing little treat known as The Roman Bar: a bitty little thing consisting of blueberry-fig filling wrapped in an organic cookie-cake that's dipped in semi-sweet chocolate. It is just the right size for an indulgent yet healthy snack. The bar also comes in raspberry and honey-peach apricot, both of which I intend to snarf up in the near future. I advise you to do the same.

Get Stoned

There are all kinds of stone fruits out there. Go by the Ferry Plaza Market on Tuesday or Saturday, you'll see.
I moseyed over yesterday and discovered some things I hadn't seen or tasted before. Like: strawberry peaches. White with a bit of blush. Faint berry flavor, super sweet. They're from China originally. And: white apricots. The girl at the booth told me they taste like melons, and THEY DO! And some big fat purple pluots that look like plums and taste like wine. What a great world we live in! Sticky, but great.

The Raw and the Cooked

I love me some sushi, don't get me wrong. Raw fish can be one of the best things around, especially when dipped in a well-mixed puddle of soy and wasabi. One very cool place to partake, especially if you get to sit right next to the aquarium, is Blue Fin Sushi on Clement. While I do enjoy the raw stuff - all of it quite fresh and lovely - my favorite nosh there is a small plate of miso-glazed scallops. Tiny golden coins dotted with green onion, they satisfy the need for umami in a big way. Even JP, who's not a fan of scallops, digs right in.
One more thing: no fish involved, but the shiitake/garlic roll is mighty tasty. Enjoy it as the angel fish glide by, the teensy red lobster-fish waves its whiskers, and something you thought was a rock starts swimming slowly across the tank.

Birthday Bites

Well, it doesn't get much better than Nopa.
Kimster, Jantje, JP and I started off with an amuse of fresh, tender green beans in an herbed oil with a tiny cruet of sea salt. It went well with my summery cocktail that tasted of summer: Square One vodka, fresh basil, a sprig of fresh thyme. Prettiest green drink ever.
Shared appetizers: a salad of greens, fresh figs, roasted almonds and feta; baked gigante beans with tomato, oregano, feta and crispy breadcrumbs; and the eye-rollingly good flatbread topped with caramelized onion, maitake mushrooms and goat cheese. Take me now, Lord...
Wait, don't take me till I eat this amazing halibut, roasted so it's crispy outside and moist inside, with a smoky romesco sauce, fingerlings and tiny haricots. Our sides were a ramekin of peas and peapods glazed with butter and fresh mint, and Indian-spiced cauliflower with more peas, please!
Jantje must've tipped off the waiter because our shared creme brulee with strawberries had a candle stuck in it. Wishing for great meals and good health to all of you this year!

Pre-Birthday Noshing

Tomorrow is the Day. But since I won't be working, the lovely and gracious Elise baked goodies for me and some other July babies: dark chocolate vegan cupcakes with chocolate/cashew butter frosting. Truly a wonderful start to the birthday celebration. I count that as my cake, and cannot imagine anything more delicious.

Noshing for a Cause

Yesterday, I got myself down to the Mission for the S.F. outpost of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale.
My pal, Elise-the-Baking-Goddess, had participated the day before in the Castro, but by the time I got there her delicacies were all gone. At least I was ground central for some Pride Weekend eye candy!
As luck would have it, yesterday there were still some mighty yummy offerings to be had. To wit: the cranberry oatmeal cookies, small and round with a velvety texture, and the chocolate-peanut butter cookies which were rich with a deep cocoa vibe. If you don't believe baked goods can rock without butter or cream or eggs, you should get on down to the next vegan hootenanny. As Elise might say, 'tis all good.

Bowl of Sorabol

Yesterday's lunch was a revelation, after eating so little for the past week. But I figured, rice being easy on the tummy, it was worth my while to take a sunny stroll down to Rincon Center and my favorite lunch stop there, Sorabol. The Korean food is healthy, tasty, and oh-so-cheap! For $7, I got a huge veggie bowl: rice, slippery glass noodles, not-so-spicy chunks of tofu, and all the toppings a girl could want: bean sprouts, shredded daikon, cucumber pickle, carrots, spinach, mushrooms and a drizzle of sesame oil. There are dainty paper cups of kim chee, too. Seven freakin' dollars! That's a bargain any way you scoop it up in your chopsticks, my friend. And a happy lady I was, mixing it all together and filling my belly. Bi bim bop, that's what it's all about.

On an Upward Slant

At least I hope so. The tummy problem continues, yet I long to eat good things! And so, tonite, following a self-indulgent pedicure at Spa Nordstrom, I met JP for dinner at one of my favorites, Out The Door. It's the little sister of the divine Slanted Door, and nicely accessible to Nordstrom and Bloomie's. You just cannot have a bad meal at this place, and we started with some toothsome vegetarian spring rolls accompanied by a complex, peanutty dipping sauce. For the main event, there were caramelized prawns with onion shreds and a dark pool of soy-chili goodness, as well as bok choy and shiitakes that hinted of cooking wine. And there is no rice like the Slanted Door's broken rice: stubby white grains topped with minced green onion, a textural delight. I scooped the last of the caramel-garlic sauce onto my rice, admired my candy-apple toes, and hoped my ginger ale days were behind me.

Jammin'

It is very hard to eat when one has the tummy flu. I haven't eaten much for three days, but today I am slowly coming back from the land of ginger ale.
Tonite, as a snack, I had a slice of bread slathered with Blue Chair jam, a brand made by a local girl with a winsome personality and a creative way with preserves. I urge you to check out her web site, and purchase something wonderful at, for example, the Saturday farmers' market in Noe Valley (24th near Sanchez). Her combinations are unusual, often involve spirits, and cause quite a tastebud frenzy on the tongue. The jar I am currently savoring is Early Girl Tomato and Damson Plum Jam. It's only available in season, which I can respect, and has some clove in it that adds a warm, homey touch. Rachel, the jamstress, recommends pairing it with cheese or savory roasted meats. Me, I'm fine jammin' with some toast. And when this jar is empty, I may just get my Lady Marmalade groove on...

Lord Loves a Working Girl

Sometimes the name of a place lures you in. That's what happened with Working Girls' Cafe. What's not to like when you're a working girl yourself, need a good lunch that's not too expensive, and might want some froyo every now and then? So you see.
Today I wanted a sandwich. Nothing too fancy. For $6.95 I scored a huge whole wheat roll filled with lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, and - you can choose four of their optional veggies - avocado, cucumber, roasted peppers and sundried tomatoes. The mustard was nice and spicy. And it was thoughtfully wrapped in paper and cut in two, so I could eat one hefty half and save the rest for later. Not too fancy, but no slouch of a sandwich either. Just the thing to devour at your desk, while trying not to drip on the keyboard.

Meatless in the Mission

Last night, Elise-the-Baking-Goddess and I ventured to Modern Times Bookstore on Valencia for a reading by two amazing people: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, author of "The Vegan Table", and Bryant Terry of the most excellent "Vegan Soul Kitchen". Wow! Both chefs are so personable and dynamic; Bryant, while reading from his book, even sang a spiritual that his grandma would sing when cooking. Oh, and he offered up part of the hip-hop song that raised his awareness about the meat industry.
When the question/answer period was over, there were noshes on the back table: crackers with a walnut-red pepper spread, and almond cookie balls dusted with confectioners' sugar. I can attest to the high yumminess quotient of both. And I think I need to buy me some vegan cookbooks. FYI, Bryant's even comes with music suggestions to accompany each recipe. Amen to that!

The Perfect Package

What is better than dinner that's wrapped in a corn husk, just waiting for your fingers to peel it open like a plump, fragrant gift?
Primavera tamales are a fine present to serve yourself and whoever is lucky enough to dine with you. They come four to a package, and some are vegan, like the butternut version I tried tonight. The masa is fresh (and organic), stuffed with chunks of sweet squash and kernels of corn. Primavera also makes nice salsas and guacamole, which they sell at the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, and at several grocery stores in the Bay Area. I'm thinking the mushroom and spinach tamale is next on my wish list.

Two Good Noshes

Yes, I ate lots of good things today. For the day began at the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market, which may not look so crowded out front, but in the back...whoa! It's a mobscene! Everyone wants a sample of the kettle corn, or the Rainier cherries, or...what's the hugest line? It's for the candycots! Crazy-sweet little golden apricots, they have the highest sugar content of any 'cot you'll find. Ms Wig and I tasted them, and she bought an adorable box of the candyfruit, each nestled in foam like a precious jewel. People kept cooing over them all morning.
My evening nosh was more pedestrian, but still good: I finally made quinoa. I know, I know, I'm the last one on earth to discover how easy it is and how nicely the little grains crunch in your teeth, almost like tobiko. Topped with some soy-and-mirin-fried tofu, onions and crinkly savoy cabbage, it was a bowl o' goodness. And if you'd like some lovely savoy for your own self, why, stop by Dirty Girl's produce stand at the Ferry Building next Saturday. Then walk a few steps and grab a bouquet of poppies for $5. You deserve it.

Friday at the 'Fly

For JP's birthday, I took him to dinner at our favorite local, splurgey place, Firefly. It has no sign, just a blinking firefly over the door. That's the first hint of how cool a place it is.
Cozy space, welcoming staff, a creative menu. The food is seasonal, local, mostly organic. Vegan-friendly, too. And once you order, instead of getting bread and butter, you're treated to a nice whole-grain loaf and a crock of some type of spread; tonite it was split pea, carrot and...darn it, the last veggie escapes me. But it was so comforting spread on bread.
One appetizer that never leaves the menu: scallop and shrimp potstickers. Just order them. Don't be stupid, do it.
My entree was the vegan farrotto - farro cooked like a risotto - with sweet bits of mushroom, tender leafy greens, long curls of carrot and chili oil. A whiff of garlic, too. JP had the golden-crusted halibut, perched atop a hash brownified potato cake with escarole poking out below. And atop the fish, fava bean puree the color of springtime.
Even if you don't order dessert, reading the lavish descriptions on the menu will make you giddy. Poetry on the page and the plate.

Ol' Faithful

When Kimster and I have a dinner date, we have a hard time trying someplace new. We have a place we like to go, a place that's always good, even great, and a nice walkable distance from home.
We even order the same damn thing when we go. Salad 'Tricolore', with arugula, fennel and radicchio topped with great shards of parmigiano and lemony vinaigrette. Tuna conserva, with giant white beans, watercress and olive oil. Napoletana pizza with tomato sauce, capers, anchovy, olives and chile flakes. A little plate on the table has some twigs of dried oregano, a mound of grated cheese and more chiles, if you need 'em. There's a glass of skinny breadsticks, too, but for my money there's no carbs like the blistered crusty ones on the pizza.
Ah yes, we're predictable. Thanks again, Delfina Pizzeria.

The Joy of Leftovers

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to drop by Omnivore and heard Deborah Madison - founder of Greens, 20-year Tassajara Zen Center member - speak about her new book, "What We Eat When We Eat Alone". One of the topics discussed was leftovers: most people love 'em, some people - oddly, IMHO - hate 'em. As Deborah astutely pointed out, leftovers often taste better the next day. And you get that nice thrifty feeling, besides.
Today I had leftovers from yesterday's lunch at Herbivore, my local vegan eatery. Boring as I may be, I favor one thing in particular and order it often: the marinated tofu sandwich. It's a generous plate: the sandwich itself, with nice slabs of shoyu-infused tofu, avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle and vegan mayo; a lettuce/tomato/cucumber salad with Dijon vinaigrette; and finally, their addictive and crispity baked "fries". There's so much, in fact, that half the sandwich comes home with me and makes for some happy noshing. I don't even mind if the bread gets a big soggy. No, I am firmly in the camp of leftover lovers.
And if you're on Church Street, stop by Omnivore. The selection of vintage cookbooks is enough to keep a food-lover distracted for hours.

What's Old is New

By my calculations, I've been going to Ebisu for twenty-five years. My sister Nancy took me there and it was my first taste of sushi.
Well, they took six months to renovate, and what a change! The place looks beautiful, the bar is less crowded, the tatami room is but a memory. New menus and fancy plates. The seaweed salad now comes from the kitchen, not the sushi chef, and is bejeweled with slivers of radish. Sapporo is on tap. Even the white clouds of pickled ginger seem more tender than the pink stuff of a bygone era.
My favorite nosh is the 49er Roll: exquisite salmon and the thinnest of lemon slices wrapped around white rice and a filling of avocado, shiso and tobiko. Do also treat yourself to shiro maguro nigiri topped with garlic. And say hello to Steve-san for me...

John's The Man

With all due respect to my spouse, I'm actually referring to John of John's Snack & Deli, a hole-in-the-wall space on Battery near Market. It's quite close to my workplace, and I'd been curious about it for awhile, owing to the pictures of Korean food in the window. Now I know: it's great. And John? Super friendly, and patient with lunkheads like me who take forever to make up their mind.
John's mom makes the Kim Bap, Korean sushi rolls filled with crisp veggies and egg. He gave me a complimentary piece to try, and it was a fine little nosh. John also stocks one of my all-time favorite snacks, rice balls wrapped in nori and filled with salmon. I bought one a few weeks ago and it made me very happy, not least because the nori is in a separate pouch, and there are instructions on how to wrap-it-yourself. Too cute!
Today I tried the popular kimchee burrito...People around me were getting meatified versions, but mine was veggie. It's a flour tortilla wrapped around rice, salsa, lettuce and some fiery kimchee, with good creamy tofu for protein's sake. It was messy to eat, but worth the trouble. John's mom must be very proud.

Goddess of Vegan Baking

Elise is my food goddess. She grows amazing produce in her little community garden and brings me bags of it: arugula, chard, kale, peas, strawberries. She came to a brunch I hosted with a plate of vegan rosewater-pistachio cupcakes, which were so popular that I had to share mine with three other people. And today, she got up early and baked a loaf of banana-pecan-chocolate chip bread. Since we work together, I was lucky to snare a piece, still warm from the oven, melty chocolate staining my fingers as I carried it back to my desk.
Was it insanely delicious? Perhaps the moistest, most tender banana bread ever to induce a state of blissful noshitude? Well, I guess you won't know (unless you are also a friend of this classy lady). But you can try your hand at vegan goodies here.
Merci, Mlle. Elise.

Failure to Blog

It's been a busy weekend. I haven't been blogging, and like a good Jew, I feel guilty. And so I apologize to the two people who read me regularly, and anyone else who's kind enough to stop by.
My nosh du jour is, predictably, something I could throw in the microwave when I got home from work and the gym. Ah, the goodness of an Amy's frozen meal: Roasted Veggie Tamale. It's vegan, but not boring; a nice thick pocket of masa enclosing some colorful diced veggies, sided with black beans and a mild chili sauce. Just the thing when you're hungry, exhausted and craving Mexican comfort food. Now to catch up on those zzz's.

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...