Forgive Me Father For I Have Sinned...

*sign of the cross*

Father,

I have sinned terribly. I went to McDonald's last night with Ate Di where I enjoyed a "Big & Tasty" extra value meal with French fries, orange soda, and a chicken nugget! As you know I gave up chicken nuggets, French fries, and orange soda for Lent, and you know I was prety good at not eating them...except for the orange soda...

=X

It was hard NOT to drink orange soda in the Philippines!

*sigh*

But last night...I know that I fell to the fast food devil, Lord.

*deep sigh*

But it was SO GOOD!

Please, forgive me.

*sign of the cross*

Delancey Street Restaurant - Hello Bub’s Mom, This is My Mom

Restaurant: Delancey Street Restaurant
Address: 600 Embarcadero St, SOMA, SF
Phone Number: (415) 512-5179
Cuisine: Traditional American
Date Last Visited: January 17, 2009
Dining Partner: Momma, Bub, Bub’s Parents, Jay-Me, Bub’s Family Friends

So the time had finally come. The time that most couples dread…the first meeting of the parents. YIKES. Bub’s family decided on dinner at Delancey Street because the restaurant not only serves food, but a cause as well. All of the servers have been through the system at least once in their lives and Delancey Street gives them a chance to get their lives back on track. Bub wants to help those in that type of predicament as he is studying to be a drug and alcohol counselor. Bub has not always been a good boy. He himself has been through the system, and I am so proud of him for learning from his own mistakes and helping people who might have gone through what he had.


So this is where my mom and Bub’s parents met. I thought Momma was going to be quiet and shy, but she was charming, sweet, and talkative. =) I love my mom. Bub’s Mom is great also and seeing them together made me want to cry. I mean, it’s been over five years! It just felt so great.


We were actually part of a pretty big party which consisted of myself, Momma, Bub's parents, Bub’s family friends, Bub’s best friend and Bub’s two friends from work. I knew it was going to be a great party.


The bread was very good. Didn’t get any of the French bread, but the focaccia was good.


Grilled Salmon Filet with Light Soy Glaze
with Grilled Vegetables and Maki Roll - $11.95
I think it’s a sign that my Momma and Bub’s mom got the exact same entrée. I tasted some of Momma’s, and it was very good. The salmon was cooked perfectly. Momma went ahead and even added some of the wasabi to it. I liked it the way it was. The maki roll had a stick of cucumber in the middle and seasoned with wasabi as well. I think this salmon was on the “healthy” part of the menu, so there were no heavy sauces or sides. It was very good.


Spit Roasted Rosemary & Garlic
with Grilled Vegetables - $9.50
I chose the chicken and from what I tasted, it was good. I don’t remember it being outstanding or anything. The reason why I really can’t say too much about the chicken is because Momma took one piece and then Bub and I traded plates. I didn’t expect him to eat the whole piece of chicken though! So I probably had two bites at most. I also didn’t like the look of the roasted eggplant. Doesn’t it look dry and ashy? Go back and look at Momma’s eggplant. Her’s looks a lot better.


Oak Fired BBQ Baby Back Ribs
with Mustard and Collard Greens and Sweet Potato Pie - $11.95
Jay-Me, Bub’s best friend, got the ribs and they looked great. Luckily for me, I was sitting right across from him, so he let me steal one of the ribs. It was so finger-licking good. What was cool about his entrée was that he got a piece of sweet potato pie along with it. Good stuff.


Bub’s Off the Menu Request:
Cheeseburger with Fries Fries
Why did I not find it a surprise when Bub asked for a cheeseburger? I don’t even remember it being on the menu! Oh, that cheese. Doesn’t it look so GOOD? Like I said before, Bub and I traded plates and I got to have about half of his cheeseburger. Good burger. Loved the cheese!

The following are plates from the other guests at the table. They knew that I take pictures of everything, so they were more than happy to offer their plates for a photo shoot.


Grilled Rack of Lamb with Minted Zinfanel Sauce
with Mashed Potatoes and Sautéed Squashes - $13.95
I’m not a lamb fan, but those mashed potatoes and squashes look great.


Bourban Glazed Rib Eye Steak
with Wasabi Noodles and Corn on the Cob - $13.95
Now I was so JEALOUS of this plate’s owner. Steak and noodles. Yikes. Why didn’t I see this on the menu? I’m blind. Ha.


Chocolate Fudge Pie -
Cheesecake, Nuts, and Fudged Layered on a Crumb Crust
Dessert! This had a lot going on with the nuts and cheesecake and that thiiiick fudge. It was a beautiful pie - I loved the layers. Probably not something that I would eat everyday, but something I could go for if I ever came back.


Bub’s Hot Fudge Ice Cream Sundae
Bub’s sundae looked perfect, didn’t it? Plus EXTRA hot fudge on the side? Sinful. That’s Bub giving the thumbs up. You shoulda seen the look on his face when he was eating it. He was so happy. =D


I don’t know what this was called exactly, but Bub’s and Jay-Mee’s mom ordered one. It’s so lemony! I loved it. It was light and sweet and tart. Perfect way to end the night.


Uncle Buddy’s Coffee - =D
Jay-Mee’s Dad is so cute. He came to our end of the table, talked to us, and insisted on me taking a picture of his coffee. Too cute.

If you like American food, this is the place to be. The selection will please everyone. Every time I pass Delancey Street, I remember the great dinner we had here. A dinner filled with laughs, smiles, and tears…of joy. Delancey Street will always have a special place in my restaurant heart because after all, it opened up a new chapter in my life with Bub. =) So if you are down for some good American food and to support a good cause, come to Delancey Street.

A16 and Laïola - Marina-ing with the Cuzzos…OVERLOAD

Restaurant: A16
Address: 2355 Chestnut Street, The Marina, SF
Phone Number: (415) 771-2216
Cuisine: Italian
Date Last Visited: April 6, 2009
Dining Partner: Rox and Jenn

So it was a full seven days since I got back from the Philippines. I worked my first full week and I felt like crap. Jet-lagged like crazy. Pressure from work. My body and mind were out of whack. That Friday, Momma and I went to visit my Auntie Glo and my cousins, Rox and Jenn. We were looking through pictures of our vacation and shared a fried chicken meal. As much as I loved the Philippines, I couldn’t get back to my life here in the States. I felt like an addict who quit for a little while and finally coming back to reality. I was feeling withdrawal symptoms. From what, you ask? RESTAURANTS! I know. Crazy, huh? In the Philippines, most of the food we ate was homemade and Bub and I didn’t have enough time in Manila to eat at a fancier place - mainly because we were broke. Ha. So when I got back, I got paid, and I HAD to spend money on a good restaurant meal here. Weird. So the cousins and I planned a dinner for the following Monday, since we were all busy that weekend. And where were we headed to? The Marina.


Our first stop was A16 in the Marina. A16 exhibits the cuisine of Campania, a region in Southern Italy, and the term “A16” is actually the name of the highway that runs from Naples to Canosa, Puglia. Hmmm, maybe I should open a place in the Philippines called “Highway 280” and serve Bay Area food. *light bulb* James Beard nominee Chef Nate Appleman is a genius. He was named one of the “Best New Chefs” of 2009 by Food and Wine Magazine and his cookbook “A16 Food + Wine” was named the 2009 International Association of Culinary Professionals Cookbook of the Year. Incredible work. These are the same guys who opened SPQR, the Roman place nearby my workplace, which also gave me divine experience. I went there before going on vacation, so I knew that A16 was a place on my “Go To” list.


Back Room Separate from the Main Dining Area
Walking in you will immediately see the bar on the right side. That bar area was bustling with well-dressed people in their 30’s - 40’s sipping on wine and mingling with one another. Felt a little awkward because I walked in with ladies under 21 years old and me at 25 was the oldest. I was initially worried that the place would be too small and cramped, but once we checked in, we were escorted past the bar and the open kitchen and to the back room of the restaurant. Width-wise, the restaurant is not that broad, but it is long, so it gives the illusion in the front that it is small. I always put a note in my OT reservation that I want to take pictures, so that room was perfect. No need for flash at all. Awesome.


I really appreciate being put there because the sun was still shining and it was separate from the rest of the other diners. It got to be a little cramped in the main dining room and we were very comfortable talking and laughing without worrying about bothering anyone. Plus the room was simple but beautiful. Vines crawling up the walls to get closer to the sunlight and the sunshine reflected beautifully off the wine glasses and silverware on the tables. I like bright rooms. The main dining rooms had rich browns and wooden furniture and I would imagine it being a bit louder with all the people talking and the forks and spoons clanging off each other. Yes, I loved our “private” room.


Rustic Bead with Olive Oil
At any Italian restaurant, you will be given some bread. Their bread was great. Chewy interior with an almost hard exterior that had a pleasurable resistance. That olive oil was gorgeous. I love that golden color. It was clear and clean and delicious. We loved this so you know that we had to ask for more.


Meatballs in Tomato and Wine Reduction
Appetizer Portion - $11
Lucky for us, it was “Meatball Monday!” Our server explained to us how they were cooked and it sounded too good to pass up. We opted for the appetizer portion because we didn’t want to load up before the main courses.


The size of the meatballs were pretty substantial. A little bigger than a golf ball. The meat itself was tender and easy to cut into. I was afraid that they were going to be overly seasoned with herbs, but they were subtle in flavor. I could have eaten this portion by myself, but since the other two with me, I had to share. The tomato sauce was very light as well. That’s what I liked about them. The whole dish was not heavy. When I think meatballs, I think heavy, but they weren’t and I enjoyed them very much.


Mozzarella Burrata
with Olive Oil, Sea Salt, and Crostini - $11
After sampling the fresh ricotta at SPQR, I knew I had to order the fresh cheese here. Like the ricotta, this mozzarella was absolutely flawless. Soft, cool, milky, and stretchy. Extraordinary. I began spreading the cheese on the crostini and slicing some of the meatball and placing it on the cheese. So good. The girls were in love with it as well. I’m not much of a goat cheese or blue cheese person. I like the milder, spreadable cheeses like ricotta, brie, mozzarella and Jack. I would go back just for this cheese and more bread.


Roasted Half-Chicken
with Wilted Escarole, Pine Nuts, and Currants - $20
We decided to share everything, so we got two meats and one pasta. First, the chicken, but let me tell you the looks we got when all that food was placed on our table. I’m a thick girl who knows how to eat, but Rox and Jenn are twigs compared to my trunk. Hey, don’t discriminate! Rox and Jenn can eat like I can…possibly even more! On to the chicken. I ADORED adored adored this chicken. The chicken itself was very lemony, like they basted it with a citrus-y flavor while it was roasted. It was not dry at all. Even the breast piece was juicy. The more we cut into the meat, more of the succulent juices came out for us to dip the meat into. The escarole with the pine nuts and currants was a delicious accompaniment. The pine nuts were tender and the currants added some sweetness. Very well rounded dish. This plate was clean at the end of the meal.


Maccaronara with Tomato Ragu
and House-Made Ricotta Salata - Large Portion - $16
#51 on 7x7’s Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Eat Before You Die
Okay, so I had an ulterior motive. The maccaronara is in the 7x7 Big Eat SF 100 and y’all should know that I have taken it upon myself to take it over. What made it so special? It was something that made me wonder if it was deserving of being on that list. I mean, from the visual aspect of it, it just looks like thick pasta cooked in a tomato sauce. Who hasn’t had that before? But the type of pasta was something I never had before. They must have been made in-house. The tomato ragu was light - a bit different from the sauce that accompanied the meatballs with the pieces of basil making a cameo. The amount of ricotta salata was unfortunately too meager for me. I like tons of cheese on my pasta. Overall, a delicious dish, but nothing too extraordinary about it except for the fresh pasta.


Berkshire Pork Chop - $25
I think this dish made a lot of heads turn when it passed the other diners. I actually saw a lady in the other room say to her husband, “Look at the size of that pork chop!.” I was floored. I thought they were just bringing out a normal sized pork chop, but they brought out a humungous serving of pig with the side portion still attached. It looked like we got a hunk of bacon with it also.


After gazing upon the meat with glossed over eyeballs, I realized that 50% of the meat was fat. Plain fat. Sure it kept the meat juicy and done at medium, but it kind of grossed me out a bit. The meat on the other hand was luscious. Jenn loved the fat. I don’t know how she did.


Roasted Anson Mills Polenta
comes with entrée/$6 a la carte
The polenta was a bit of a disappointment. I was looking forward to a sweet flavor in the polenta, but I was just plain polenta. There was a charred flavor from the roasting and it was on the dry side. Not my favorite.


Romaine and Chicory Salad with Lemon and Olive Oil - comes with entrée/$6 a la carte
Loved this simple salad. There are just four ingredients on this plate: romaine lettuce, chicory, lemon, and olive oil. That’s it. Sometimes salads are meant to be as simple as this. The greens are were crisp and fresh and the tart dressing was refreshing. Because everything else on our table was cooked, it was nice to have something raw.


This was what was left of the pork chop - a pile of fat. Delicious fat, but fat nonetheless. As you can see, we loved the pork.


The pasta was a hit with the ladies as well. It didn’t have a chance. =D

A16 is known for their Neapolitan pizzas. We didn’t get the pizza on this visit, but I think that’s a good enough reason to go back. I really enjoyed our visit here. The ingredients were top notch. Chef Appleman makes sure to use local ingredients and purveyors. I could just tell in every bite I had that it was fresh - especially that salad. When there are so few components in a dish, you want each part to taste their best. Just one “off” ingredient will screw up the entire dish. But rest assured that everything you taste here will be top notch. Great food. The bar area is popping. Service is friendly and very knowledgeable about their menu. What else can you ask for in a restaurant? I can see why A16 and Chef Appleman have received the accolades that the did.

You probably have noticed that we didn’t have dessert at A16. That’s because we saved dessert for a restaurant down the street…

******************************
Restaurant: Laïola
Address: 2031 Chestnut St. b/t Mallorca and Fillmore, The Marina, SF
Phone Number: (415) 346-5641
Cuisine: Spanish
Date Last Visited: April 6, 2009
Dining Partner: Rox and Jenn


Okay, so I had another ulterior motive. Another item from 7x7’s Big Eat SF 100 was just down Chestnut Street at Laïola. So of course we had to make a stop here. We didn’t want to just get dessert, so we ordered a couple of apps to get a feel of how their savories tasted. The server asked if it was okay to have the dishes come to the table as they were done, so you are going to see that the savories and sweets are not in conventional order.


Pimentón Spiced Bravas Style Potatoes
with Spicy Pimentón Aioli - $7
As each dish came to the table, the more and more I realized that I was stuffed to my limit…but I kept eating. These are Spanish potato wedges basically. Though they were delicious, they were a bit too spicy for Jenn and me, but Rox LOVED them. You can say that Jenn and I had one potato wedge each and Rox ate the rest. Yes, I didn’t think she could do it, but she fell in love with the aioli. As she said, “I love spicy mayonnaise!” I think I would have enjoyed them more if I wasn’t so full.


Pan Con Chocolate with Sea Salt
and Sylverleaf “Foothills Blend” Olive Oil and Crostini - $7
#31 on 7x7’s Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Eat Before You Die
Pronounced “pan con cho-co-lah-tay.” This is the reason why we came here. When I first saw the description, I thought, “Chocolate, olive oil, and sea salt? Weird, but intriguing…” The description on the website menu didn’t specify in what form the chocolate was in either. It could have been in a syrup or a bar or in shavings. Turns out it came out in a cold mousse. The serving wasn’t that huge, but since we were full the portion was perfect for us three to share. Besides as you will see later, we ordered another dessert. Let me just tell you…this dessert was BOMB. Bomb meaning fantastic! Cold chocolate mousse spread on a crispy crostini. I think we’re two for two with our dishes that involved crostini, ya think? Whoever thought of this combination is a genius. I did see Giada on Food Network make warm Nutella sandwiches. I think this would be its cold equivalent. Great tasting chocolate on scrumptious bread. Seriously, one of the best desserts ever. I was kind of anti-salt on my desserts, but after this, I think I’m going to recant. I really didn’t care for the olive oil, however. I really didn’t know what flavor component it would have added. Other than that, outstanding dessert. Would come back just for this.


Almond Cake with Dirty Girl Strawberries, Mascarpone Cheese, Whipped Cream, and Crushed Almonds - $7
Mascarpone, whipped cream, and strawberries? SOLD. Great toppings for the almond cake, but I was somewhat disappointed with the cake itself. It had some sort of floral hint to it which I couldn’t identify, but I felt like someone dropped a piece of soap into the cake batter. One of my peeves: food that tastes like soap. I also would have liked my mascarpone or whipped cream to be a little sweetened. They seemed to be a bit plain. The strawberries were sweet and juicy and delicious. I’m on the fence about this dessert. It has the potential to be something awesome, but some of the parts are in need of tweaking. That’s just my taste.


Bacon-Wrapped Medjool Dates
Stuffed with House-Made Chorizo - $12
Hmmm, how will I start describing my experience on this dish? As I am writing this, I have an unsure, almost disgusted look on my face. I didn’t like it at all. I would have to say that the sweetness of this dish was 100 times more than the almond cake dessert. Seriously. The dates were so sweet and then there was an awkward combination of the saltiness from the bacon and the spiciness from the chorizo on the inside. The date’s consistency was also very sticky and thick in the mouth. Too much going on. Maybe I’m just not a date person? Jenn and I gave ours to Rox who ate them. Ha, Rox ate all our leftovers. Oh yes, another thing that turned me off was that the price was outrageous! The picture is pretty much the actual size of the serving, give or take 3 millimeters. Each of those suckers was 3 bucks. 3 bucks. *rolls eyes* Never again.


I loved this proverb.
And it's true too.
I don’t think this review encapsulates what one might feel if they had a more complete meal here. We just had two of their apps and two of their desserts. We didn’t even try their entrées yet, so that’s an excuse to go back. I don’t think I’ll be doing that anytime soon though. Like the almond cake, I’m on the fence about this restaurant. The pan con chocolate is to die for, but not quite sure about the other things I have tried. *sigh* Then there was that time on Valentine’s Day! Do you remember? I made a res for Brunch here on OT and V-Day came and I didn’t receive a confirmation from Laïola. So I called that morning, and they didn’t open until 5 that evening. Then why the hell were there Brunch hours on OpenTable? Grrr. We had to go somewhere else for Brunch. Lame.

Anyway! As of right now, if you said “Laïola” to me, I would probably get a sour taste in my mouth, but if you said “pan con cho-co-lah-tay,” I would smile from ear to ear, for sure. Like I said, I’m 50/50 right now. We’ll see if I make it back here again. Most likely for that pan con cho-co-lah-tay!

Big shouts to Rox and Jenn for joining me on this stomach overload of a meal. I seriously was going to fall on the ground and pass out. Don't let their small statures fool you...those girls sure can eat. I wish I had their metabolism. =P

She's a Maniac, Maniac...

** See what I've tried so far **

Happy Birthday!

Just wanted to wish my blog a Happy 2nd Birthday!


When I first started this blog in 2007, I was still in school, broke, and completely naive to the amazing food scene we have here in San Francisco. All I wanted to do was to eat in as many places as I could and write about it. Writing and eating are two of my favorite hobbies, so it only made sense to match them up. Turns out that I would open up a door to a passion that will not die anytime soon. I haved joined various foodie communities, eaten at glorious restaurants, and met fantastic people in the industry. Sure this hobby of mine is an expensive one, but it is all worth it because I love it so much.

Thank you to all who have supported and dropped by my blog in the last 2 years. It's feels good to know that people out there appreciate food like I do. I hope you continue visiting me in the years to come. =)

<3,
Jo

Happy Birthday, Blog!

Friday Favorite of the Week - Chapter 11

*trumpets*

This week's favorite iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis...

I actually got this chocolate from my patient the Friday or so before I left for the Philippines...so that was Friday, March 13th. I did not eat it until this week because I had given up chocolate candies for Lent. See, I was VERY good when it came to that. I left it in the States planning to enjoy it in April, but I lost it. I don't know how I lost it. I was gone for so long that I didn't know where I put it.

Then...I found it and I was giggling like a school kid...


It comes in two bars...both was in their own little plastic wrapper. Then there were 4 segments in each bar. Oh my Lord, they were incredible. Y'all know my favorite chocolate bar is the Kit Kat and favorite wrapped chocolate is the Fererro Roche...this was like they combined the two. Chocolate covered wafer and inside was the hazelnut filling. INCREDIBLE. I know they're from a foreign country...and I keep forgetting to ask my patient where she got them. SO GOOD.

Does anyone know where I can get them in the States?

I want one NOW.

The Full List of Friday Favorites

How Was YOUR Earth Day?

So I was thinking of all this "Respect the Earth" shtuff and it made me think even more about how many folks want to be super heroes and protect our environment, but the things right in front of our eyes, like the bathrooms, the streets, and buses are being neglected. Case in point:

I will call her the BART Trash Lady
One day after work, I was enjoying my relaxing BART ride back home to Daly City from San Francisco. This lady across the aisle from me dropped a piece of candy wrapper on the floor. I was shocked. My jaw literally dropped. Why would anyone in their right mind do that?

What made matters worse was that she did it AGAIN! I looked at what wrappers they were and they were from Joe's Cable Car - the cream mints. Oh they are so good! But that's besides the point. Anyway, that's when I took my camera phone out...this was incredible to watch.


So I'm spying on her as she opens up another package of candy. I think they were Sweetarts. She was done with the whole thing in less than 5 minutes. Awful.


Then I caught this beezie RED-HANDED. Isn't this horrible? I wonder what her dentists tells her...if she even goes to the dentist. So now there are three pieces of trash on the floor where there are supposed to be none.


Add insult to injury - she dumps her newspaper under her chair as well...

They fine people for eating, smoking, and stuff on the train, but for INTENTIONAL littering? That deserves a harsher penalty.

It's great to save the planet and all, but sometimes we need to take a closer look at the things right in front of us. Think twice when you throw out your cigarette or when you spit our your gum...

*sigh*

This lady is such a disappointment.

Thousands of people, including myself, ride BART everyday to work. How many of them litter? I know this beezie isn't the only one unfortunately.

I'm all for Earth Day...

...but we should have a "Save BART" Day, too.

Love Your Mother...

...Mother Earth that is.

Happy Earth Day, yo!

Just talked to some lady I shared an elevator ride with. In the short 10-second ride, we talked about the weather. Over the last 3 or 4 days, it has been scorching here in San Francisco. 90+ degrees here! Say what?! Today is up to 25-30 degress cooler and it's just weird. It's in the forecast that there will be a chance of RAIN on Friday. What the heck is going on here?

Global warming?

Armageddon?

Apocalypse?

Who knows.

It's just odd.

Anyway, more posts coming your way. Again, been uber busy at work. Work has been on my mind 24/7. Even in my dreams...more like nightmares, but that's another story.

*ugh*

Stopped by Tartine Bakery this morning and finally tried one of their morning buns.

incredible.

So fun to eat in the car: unraveling the spiral of dough, smelling the cinnamon and orange essence, biting into the flaky exterior and chewing on the tender interior, and then dropping sugar all over my work clothes.

so good.

Pictures for sure tomorrow.

Going to Spanish Janis' 25th birthday party at AsiaSF tonight. Gender illusionists, cocktails, and an Asian-Fusion menu?

Talk about FUN!

Anyway, time for me to pick up my lunch at Tenichi's on Fillmore. I like them, they're very reliable.

*grub time*

Whatever you do today, respect the Earth!

-edit-
I love $10 lunches.


Forgive the pic quality. Taken with my camera phone.
Oyako-Don from Tenichi:
diced chicken, egg, onions, and mushrooms over rice
and miso soup in the coffee cup $8.50.
Venti Passion Iced Tea Lemonade:
$3.10, but technically free for me because I had a gift card.
score.
Asian for lunch and Asian for dinner.

That only means one thing.

I'm Asian.

A Product of My Insomnia...Enjoy