Saturday, September 26, 2009
I Am SO Owning This List - Thank You, 7x7
It's getting harder to finish the list because they're expensive! I swear, this list has sucked the money out of my bank account like a vacuum cleaner, HOW-EV-ER, I, Joanne Boston, WILL finish this list! =)
** See what I've tried so far **
Links to this post
Labels:
Buena Vista
,
chicken hash
,
COCO500
,
Ella's
,
french fries
,
fried green beans
,
Hayes Street Grill
,
Irish Coffee
Labels:
Buena Vista
,
chicken hash
,
COCO500
,
Ella's
,
french fries
,
fried green beans
,
Hayes Street Grill
,
Irish Coffee
Monday, September 21, 2009
An EPIC Occasion with My Food Blogger Friends
Restaurant: EPIC Roasthouse
Address: 369 Embarcadero at Folsom, SF
Phone Number: (415) 369-9955
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Date Last Visited: September 16, 2009
Dining Partners (if you ain't tweeting already, get with it!): @foodbuzz, @mr_rosewater, @lickmyspoon, @istelleinad, @beerandnosh, @veradevera, @food wishes, @DAC_fresh, @EPICRoasthouse, VISA people and food bloggers
FoodBuzz was so good to me (per usual) and invited me to join their “Community Table” to be held at EPIC Roasthouse in San Francisco. EPIC, a restaurant in the Kuleto Dynasty, has always had a buzz factor since it opened a couple of years ago. Their burger lunch special and happy hours draw in the crowds every day, so when I was invited to dinner, I was ready to have a great time.
It is impossible to ignore the restaurant’s absolutely gorgeous views of the water and the Bay Bridge. This particular night was fantastic - clear skies and perfect temperature for socializing outdoors. We were offered a glass of Scharffenberger’s sparkling rose and tantalizing tastes to relish.
Fried Risotto Balls with Lemon Aioli
These little orbs of warm cheesy rice were delightful. The citrus tang from the aioli complemented the rich dairy. I could have eaten at least five more of these.
Crab Cake with a Wonderful Crispy Exterior
At first sight, I thought this was a deep-fried scallop because it had the shape of one, but I was wrong - in a good way. The crust on these were just like the one on the risotto balls: not greasy at all and pleasant on the palate.
The Inside of the Crab Cake
Isn’t it just lovely? I can’t tell if there was even any breadcrumb in it, as traditional crab cakes do. All I saw were shards of crab meat. They were terrific.
Smoked Salmon on Crackers
Smoked salmon. I couldn’t resist. Smoked salmon = love.
That is all.
Steak Skewers with Piquillo Peppers and Pesto
These mini skewers were delicious, especially when eaten in one bite. Savory from the perfectly cooked steak, sweetness from the pepper, and a verdant freshness from the pesto. All these flavors came together had a little party in my mouth.
Hamhock and Butterbean Soup
I totally agree with @veradevera when she says that it reminded her of sinigang. Girl, I was about to tell you at the table, since we’re Pinay and er’thang, but you were busy and I didn’t want to intrude on your conversation, but I concur with everything you said. The ham hock, which has this lip-smacking sticky quality reminds me of the spare ribs and its collagen in a traditional sinigang soup. A squeeze of the lime gave the broth a pleasing tang which is reminiscent of tamarind.
Organic Iceberg Salad
Shaved Radish, Rustic Garlic
and Creamy Gorgonzola Cheese Croutons
I usually am not a fan of salads that are not tossed prior to be presented at the table. I mean, did the salad cutter/tosser call in sick today? So when I saw the lettuce wedge, I was turned off, partly because I’m lazy and I didn’t want to cut the leaves myself, BUT after some manual labor, I was satisfied big time. There was this vinaigrette already on the wedge, but then there was this creamy, almost ranch-like dressing beneath. Loved it all - from the shaved radishes to the gorgonzola crouton. I was scared that the gorgonzola cheese would be too pungent, but it was just right.
Wood Fired Rotisserie Pork Rack Chop
Asparagus Flan, Roasted Chanterelle Mushrooms
and Smokey Gingered Ham Hock Sauce
This was Marc’s, aka Chefectomy, pork chop. I was so lucky to sit next to Steph from Lick My Spoon and across from Marc because they are of the sharing kind. We three gave a portion of our entrées to each other so that we could taste everything. I was very grateful! The meat was very tender as it should have been. What I was intrigued with was the asparagus flan. Who does that? Very unique, and as you can see, the portion-sizes are ginormous.
Wild King Salmon
Ragout of Butterball Potatoes, Sicilian Olives and Butter Pears
Steph’s salmon was very pretty with all the colors. I actually liked that the skin on the fish was left on. It has so much flavor. The combination of the peppers and the fruitiness of the pears went well with the fatty fish.
Steak N’ Cake
Petit Beef Filet with Spicy Crab Cake, Dungeness Crabmeat Hollandaise, Ragout of Summer Tomatoes and Sweet Corn
I saw the menu and knew right away that this would be my entrée. Some fish and some meat - perfect. This has got to be one of the best “surf n’ turf” dishes I have had. The meat was so tender. We had some “Mortal Combat” knives which probably helped in the ease of slicking - like “hot knife cutting through butta,” but even when chewing, it seemed almost effortless.
Tableside Pouring of the Sauce
It looks like there is a lot going on - brown sauce, cream sauce, tomatoes, greens on top, but they all went so well together. We had two preparations of crab on the plate: one as the actual crab cake and the other was in the actual hollandaise that graced the top of the beef. There were beautiful chunks of crab in the buttery, sinful sauce. Incredible. I would bathe in that hollandaise. I also adored the fresh tomato ragout, especially because I saw thin slices of jalapeno in it. The tomatoes were fresh, which was very welcoming since everything else on the plate was very rich. This dish was completely wonderful. I was still salivating over it the next day. As I am thinking about it right now, I am kicking myself because I didn’t finish it. There was still plenty of food on my plate when it was taken away. I know, such a waste! Next time, I am eaten every single morsel off of the platter because everything on the plate was magnificent.
Halfway Through My Entrée
In this picture, you can see the stunning pink color of the meat. Isn’t it lovely? One thing that I regret not keeping note of were the wines that were offered. When we got to the table, there was already a white wine waiting for us to drink, the first one on the right. Then we got another white for the salad course, and finally a red for the entrée. Of course, if you had one of the other entrées, you’d have a different pairing. Everything was fantastical.
Duo of Desserts
Seriously? Two desserts? By this time, I was ready to burst with happiness. Seeing these pretty desserts laid before me was just the icing on the cake. I appreciated that the two desserts has some sort of fruit component to them. Neither of the desserts were too heavy and both desserts were delectable.
Chocolate Banana Cake
with Caramel Sea Salt Ice Cream
I thought that the cake would be too decadent and rich, but since the banana was inside the cake, it was lighter than I expected. The caramel sea salt ice cream was also very good and went well with the chocolate. I’m not a choco-holic like other people I know, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t enjoy it, but I was so happy I did.
Crunchy Bread Pudding
with Fresh Ricotta and Peaches
Of the two desserts, this was my favorite. Why? I have a simpler palate for desserts. I have an affection for creams, custards, cheeses, vanilla, caramels, etc., not so much chocolates, like I said before. This was remarkable to me. To a person with a big sweet tooth, probably not because nothing was too too sweet. The bread pudding was lovely, the peaches were nice and sweet, and I loved the addition of the ricotta cheese. It’s more milky than sweet, so it added another flavor that some wouldn’t consider very dessert-like, but I liked it a lot. I could eat this all day.
If you made it this far in my report, you probably could already tell that I enjoyed my meal to the umpteeth power. The company I had was absolutely amazing. We were laughing all the time it seemed! I cannot wait for another event like this! The food was incredible, the wine was divine, the people were marvelous, the views were striking, the weather was ideal. The space we were in was warm and inviting, a bit too dark for us photogs, otherwise beautiful. I would not have changed a thing! So thank you to FoodBuzz, especially Alexa and Doug, for this opportunity to meet some fabulous people and to indulge in some tremendous food, actually, some of the best food I have had in a while. To my dining partners, until the next time we meet again: stay cool. I have never seen so many food picture whore/tweeters at one table before. Glad to know I am not the only one in this world. =)
Shout-Outs
Joel of Six by 10 Tiny Kitchen
Melissa of Size Six
Chef John of Food Wishes
Jesse of Beer and Nosh
Steph of Lick My Spoon
Danielle of Bon Vivant
Vera of The Ghetto Gourmet Chronicles
Marc of Chefectomy
Alexa of FoodBuzz
Doug of FoodBuzz
P.S. Chicken ****, potato ********, R&G duck buns, Le Colonial pork belly, anyone?
P.P.S. Who wants to grind Marc's pepper?
Address: 369 Embarcadero at Folsom, SF
Phone Number: (415) 369-9955
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Date Last Visited: September 16, 2009
Dining Partners (if you ain't tweeting already, get with it!): @foodbuzz, @mr_rosewater, @lickmyspoon, @istelleinad, @beerandnosh, @veradevera, @food wishes, @DAC_fresh, @EPICRoasthouse, VISA people and food bloggers
FoodBuzz was so good to me (per usual) and invited me to join their “Community Table” to be held at EPIC Roasthouse in San Francisco. EPIC, a restaurant in the Kuleto Dynasty, has always had a buzz factor since it opened a couple of years ago. Their burger lunch special and happy hours draw in the crowds every day, so when I was invited to dinner, I was ready to have a great time.
It is impossible to ignore the restaurant’s absolutely gorgeous views of the water and the Bay Bridge. This particular night was fantastic - clear skies and perfect temperature for socializing outdoors. We were offered a glass of Scharffenberger’s sparkling rose and tantalizing tastes to relish.
These little orbs of warm cheesy rice were delightful. The citrus tang from the aioli complemented the rich dairy. I could have eaten at least five more of these.
At first sight, I thought this was a deep-fried scallop because it had the shape of one, but I was wrong - in a good way. The crust on these were just like the one on the risotto balls: not greasy at all and pleasant on the palate.
Isn’t it just lovely? I can’t tell if there was even any breadcrumb in it, as traditional crab cakes do. All I saw were shards of crab meat. They were terrific.
That is all.
These mini skewers were delicious, especially when eaten in one bite. Savory from the perfectly cooked steak, sweetness from the pepper, and a verdant freshness from the pesto. All these flavors came together had a little party in my mouth.
I totally agree with @veradevera when she says that it reminded her of sinigang. Girl, I was about to tell you at the table, since we’re Pinay and er’thang, but you were busy and I didn’t want to intrude on your conversation, but I concur with everything you said. The ham hock, which has this lip-smacking sticky quality reminds me of the spare ribs and its collagen in a traditional sinigang soup. A squeeze of the lime gave the broth a pleasing tang which is reminiscent of tamarind.
Shaved Radish, Rustic Garlic
and Creamy Gorgonzola Cheese Croutons
I usually am not a fan of salads that are not tossed prior to be presented at the table. I mean, did the salad cutter/tosser call in sick today? So when I saw the lettuce wedge, I was turned off, partly because I’m lazy and I didn’t want to cut the leaves myself, BUT after some manual labor, I was satisfied big time. There was this vinaigrette already on the wedge, but then there was this creamy, almost ranch-like dressing beneath. Loved it all - from the shaved radishes to the gorgonzola crouton. I was scared that the gorgonzola cheese would be too pungent, but it was just right.
Asparagus Flan, Roasted Chanterelle Mushrooms
and Smokey Gingered Ham Hock Sauce
This was Marc’s, aka Chefectomy, pork chop. I was so lucky to sit next to Steph from Lick My Spoon and across from Marc because they are of the sharing kind. We three gave a portion of our entrées to each other so that we could taste everything. I was very grateful! The meat was very tender as it should have been. What I was intrigued with was the asparagus flan. Who does that? Very unique, and as you can see, the portion-sizes are ginormous.
Ragout of Butterball Potatoes, Sicilian Olives and Butter Pears
Steph’s salmon was very pretty with all the colors. I actually liked that the skin on the fish was left on. It has so much flavor. The combination of the peppers and the fruitiness of the pears went well with the fatty fish.
Petit Beef Filet with Spicy Crab Cake, Dungeness Crabmeat Hollandaise, Ragout of Summer Tomatoes and Sweet Corn
I saw the menu and knew right away that this would be my entrée. Some fish and some meat - perfect. This has got to be one of the best “surf n’ turf” dishes I have had. The meat was so tender. We had some “Mortal Combat” knives which probably helped in the ease of slicking - like “hot knife cutting through butta,” but even when chewing, it seemed almost effortless.
It looks like there is a lot going on - brown sauce, cream sauce, tomatoes, greens on top, but they all went so well together. We had two preparations of crab on the plate: one as the actual crab cake and the other was in the actual hollandaise that graced the top of the beef. There were beautiful chunks of crab in the buttery, sinful sauce. Incredible. I would bathe in that hollandaise. I also adored the fresh tomato ragout, especially because I saw thin slices of jalapeno in it. The tomatoes were fresh, which was very welcoming since everything else on the plate was very rich. This dish was completely wonderful. I was still salivating over it the next day. As I am thinking about it right now, I am kicking myself because I didn’t finish it. There was still plenty of food on my plate when it was taken away. I know, such a waste! Next time, I am eaten every single morsel off of the platter because everything on the plate was magnificent.
In this picture, you can see the stunning pink color of the meat. Isn’t it lovely? One thing that I regret not keeping note of were the wines that were offered. When we got to the table, there was already a white wine waiting for us to drink, the first one on the right. Then we got another white for the salad course, and finally a red for the entrée. Of course, if you had one of the other entrées, you’d have a different pairing. Everything was fantastical.
Seriously? Two desserts? By this time, I was ready to burst with happiness. Seeing these pretty desserts laid before me was just the icing on the cake. I appreciated that the two desserts has some sort of fruit component to them. Neither of the desserts were too heavy and both desserts were delectable.
with Caramel Sea Salt Ice Cream
I thought that the cake would be too decadent and rich, but since the banana was inside the cake, it was lighter than I expected. The caramel sea salt ice cream was also very good and went well with the chocolate. I’m not a choco-holic like other people I know, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t enjoy it, but I was so happy I did.
with Fresh Ricotta and Peaches
Of the two desserts, this was my favorite. Why? I have a simpler palate for desserts. I have an affection for creams, custards, cheeses, vanilla, caramels, etc., not so much chocolates, like I said before. This was remarkable to me. To a person with a big sweet tooth, probably not because nothing was too too sweet. The bread pudding was lovely, the peaches were nice and sweet, and I loved the addition of the ricotta cheese. It’s more milky than sweet, so it added another flavor that some wouldn’t consider very dessert-like, but I liked it a lot. I could eat this all day.
If you made it this far in my report, you probably could already tell that I enjoyed my meal to the umpteeth power. The company I had was absolutely amazing. We were laughing all the time it seemed! I cannot wait for another event like this! The food was incredible, the wine was divine, the people were marvelous, the views were striking, the weather was ideal. The space we were in was warm and inviting, a bit too dark for us photogs, otherwise beautiful. I would not have changed a thing! So thank you to FoodBuzz, especially Alexa and Doug, for this opportunity to meet some fabulous people and to indulge in some tremendous food, actually, some of the best food I have had in a while. To my dining partners, until the next time we meet again: stay cool. I have never seen so many food picture whore/tweeters at one table before. Glad to know I am not the only one in this world. =)
Joel of Six by 10 Tiny Kitchen
Melissa of Size Six
Chef John of Food Wishes
Jesse of Beer and Nosh
Steph of Lick My Spoon
Danielle of Bon Vivant
Vera of The Ghetto Gourmet Chronicles
Marc of Chefectomy
Alexa of FoodBuzz
Doug of FoodBuzz
P.S. Chicken ****, potato ********, R&G duck buns, Le Colonial pork belly, anyone?
P.P.S. Who wants to grind Marc's pepper?
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Zuni Café - I Feel Like Chicken Today!
Restaurant: Zuni Café
Address: 1658 Market St. b/t Franklin and Gough, SF
Phone Number: (415) 552-2522
Cuisine: Californian
Date Last Visited: August 23, 2009
Dining Partner: Bub
Bub and I had always wanted to go to Zuni café since his father’s office was just down the block. We thought that brunch here on the weekend would be perfect since we are hardly ever in this area of the City during the workweek. It was a beautiful Sunday, and we were ready to eat!
Bread and Butter
We knew for sure that the roasted chicken we were going to order was going to take almost hour to prepare, so we were ready to stuff ourselves while we were waiting. Bub always has something to say about the bread and butter. He loved this bread. Nice chewy interior the crust was crunchy and pleasing. That butter wasn’t too bad either of course.
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Their OJ is really good, but I could have done without the pulp. Otherwise, super fresh and a perfect balance of sweetness and tang.
Zuni Caesar Salad - $10
Whole Romaine, Parmesan, Croutons, Anchovy Dressing
I started with the Caesar salad because I read on some discussion boards that Zuni’s is one of the best in the City. I can see why people would say that. The leaves of Romaine were fresh, the croutons were a great crunch, there was a healthy amount of grated cheese, but what topped it all off was the dressing. The anchovy jumped at me right away. I mean, it was really strong. It was just too bad that Bub couldn’t eat any of the salad since he was allergic, but then again, more for me! More restaurants these days cut up the Romaine and don’t use real anchovy in their dressings, so it was good to know that Zuni makes it the traditional way.
House-Ground Hamburger - $15
on Grilled Focaccia with Garden Lettuces, Aïoli, and Zuni Pickles
Bub, of course, ordered the burger. He commented that he wanted to get this not only because it was a burger obviously, was because he said he never had one that was served on focaccia. This burger was so light. I just inhaled and it just fell apart in my mouth. There was minimal chewing required and all the components were delicious. The meat was beautifully cooked to a medium and the juices flowed out with every bite. Great burger.
The Gentleman Who was Preparing Our Chicken
After 45 minutes, Bub and I kept looking back into the kitchen for any hint that our chicken was done. At one point, he caught us an flashed a smile. =) He knew we were ready.
Roasted Chicken for Two - $48
with Warm Tuscan-Style Bread Salad
Here it was, #1 on 7x7’s Big Eat SF 100 list, Zuni’s famous roasted chicken. Now, people out there might be thinking that I am crazy for waiting for an hour and paying almost fifty bucks for a chicken, but it was GOOD! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Some of the best chicken I have ever had.
The Tuscan bread salad was something I never had before. They combined the chunks of bread with pine nuts and a tasty vinaigrette. It was a bit too tangy for my taste, but it was delicious. I don’t think that I would spend that much on a chicken again, but I can say now that I have done it! It was so funny how fast Bub and I dug into the plate of chicken when we got it. By the end of the meal, a breast piece and a wing and the remainder of the greens and bread salad remained. We were fully satisfied.
Zuni Café is a San Francisco “must-go” to many San Francisco locals. It was a gorgeous space with the high windows and the open kitchen. The service was incredibly friendly and the food was outstanding. If you don’t have a reservation, you are welcome to eat anywhere in the bar area. That is actually where we sat - right by the door on the bar’s left side. It is off to the side where we had a bit more privacy. Since we only went there for brunch, I am eager to come for dinner. The rest of their menu looked fantastic.
Address: 1658 Market St. b/t Franklin and Gough, SF
Phone Number: (415) 552-2522
Cuisine: Californian
Date Last Visited: August 23, 2009
Dining Partner: Bub
Bub and I had always wanted to go to Zuni café since his father’s office was just down the block. We thought that brunch here on the weekend would be perfect since we are hardly ever in this area of the City during the workweek. It was a beautiful Sunday, and we were ready to eat!
We knew for sure that the roasted chicken we were going to order was going to take almost hour to prepare, so we were ready to stuff ourselves while we were waiting. Bub always has something to say about the bread and butter. He loved this bread. Nice chewy interior the crust was crunchy and pleasing. That butter wasn’t too bad either of course.
Their OJ is really good, but I could have done without the pulp. Otherwise, super fresh and a perfect balance of sweetness and tang.
Whole Romaine, Parmesan, Croutons, Anchovy Dressing
I started with the Caesar salad because I read on some discussion boards that Zuni’s is one of the best in the City. I can see why people would say that. The leaves of Romaine were fresh, the croutons were a great crunch, there was a healthy amount of grated cheese, but what topped it all off was the dressing. The anchovy jumped at me right away. I mean, it was really strong. It was just too bad that Bub couldn’t eat any of the salad since he was allergic, but then again, more for me! More restaurants these days cut up the Romaine and don’t use real anchovy in their dressings, so it was good to know that Zuni makes it the traditional way.
on Grilled Focaccia with Garden Lettuces, Aïoli, and Zuni Pickles
Bub, of course, ordered the burger. He commented that he wanted to get this not only because it was a burger obviously, was because he said he never had one that was served on focaccia. This burger was so light. I just inhaled and it just fell apart in my mouth. There was minimal chewing required and all the components were delicious. The meat was beautifully cooked to a medium and the juices flowed out with every bite. Great burger.
After 45 minutes, Bub and I kept looking back into the kitchen for any hint that our chicken was done. At one point, he caught us an flashed a smile. =) He knew we were ready.
with Warm Tuscan-Style Bread Salad
Here it was, #1 on 7x7’s Big Eat SF 100 list, Zuni’s famous roasted chicken. Now, people out there might be thinking that I am crazy for waiting for an hour and paying almost fifty bucks for a chicken, but it was GOOD! The chicken was so tender and juicy. Some of the best chicken I have ever had.
The Tuscan bread salad was something I never had before. They combined the chunks of bread with pine nuts and a tasty vinaigrette. It was a bit too tangy for my taste, but it was delicious. I don’t think that I would spend that much on a chicken again, but I can say now that I have done it! It was so funny how fast Bub and I dug into the plate of chicken when we got it. By the end of the meal, a breast piece and a wing and the remainder of the greens and bread salad remained. We were fully satisfied.
Zuni Café is a San Francisco “must-go” to many San Francisco locals. It was a gorgeous space with the high windows and the open kitchen. The service was incredibly friendly and the food was outstanding. If you don’t have a reservation, you are welcome to eat anywhere in the bar area. That is actually where we sat - right by the door on the bar’s left side. It is off to the side where we had a bit more privacy. Since we only went there for brunch, I am eager to come for dinner. The rest of their menu looked fantastic.
Friday, September 11, 2009
A Week of Foodie Twitpics - Chapter 1: 9/4 - 9-11
Like I said in my last post, I seem to post more on my Twitter than Blogger. I really need to change that and give you some real blog posts, as in restaurant reviews (which I am so behind on). I am hoping to set time aside this weekend to doctor some images and write a few reviews, but for the meantime, here are pictures from the week. I love taking pix of my food. If you want, you can follow me on Twitter! @joanneisafoodie
September 4, 2009
September 6, 2009
September 7, 2009
September 8, 2009
September 9, 2009
September 10, 2009
September 11, 2009
September 6, 2009
September 7, 2009
September 8, 2009
September 9, 2009
September 10, 2009
September 11, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
no, i havent forgotten
*posting en route from sonoma county to alameda* hey loves, i am sorry for the lack of (real) posts the last few weeks. as you know, i have a new niece so right when i get home, most of my attention goes to her. i also have been cutting down on my eating out since i am financially responsible for more things in my household. besides that, ive been a street food follower. super fun. just today i went to a vineyard in santa rose for an event bub's family was hosting, which was fantastic. but if you really want to see what i am up to, hit up my twitter @joanneisafoodie. i post status updates and twitpics as well. it seems that lately ive been updating that more than blogger. *oops* i do plan on writing more since work isnt stressing me out as much as in the past. til then, i thank you for your continuing support and readership. btw, who else is excited for the foodbuzz event in november? i cant wait! toodles! -jo
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)