Let's See If I Crash and Burn

So passing by the Walgreens, I saw this:


It's an energy drink I have never seen before. I can surely use the energy and mental focus today, so 'what the hell,' why not? At first sip, I made the "ew" face, but it's growing on me. The flavor is citrusy, almost grapfruit-like...lightly carbonated...has the B vitamins you need if you want energy. I have just taken a few sips and I can already sense a change in my energy level.

Hope I don't crash. That's the last thing I need. Last night, right when I got home at 6 pm, I took a nap and woke up at around 9 pm...I was STARVING. Thus, I went to the kitchen and cooked...this is what I came up with:


This is fettucini alfredo with asparagus ribbons, chicken breast, and tomatoes. I didn't eat much of it for dinner. Didn't want to carbo-load before hitting the hay. By the time I was done cooking and cleaning, it was close to 11 pm. So, I packed it for my lunch today. =)

For dinner, I am planning on a chicken breast over mixed greens and balsamic dressing.

*sigh* This diet is killing me. I passed by McDonald's on our way to get gas and I was dying inside because I couldn't get French Fries.

Will power, where are you?!

Anyway, I will let y'all know how the energy drink treated me today. I will be taking sips every so often. I was planning on downing it, but after that jolt of energy after 3 sips, chugging might not be a good idea.

Arighty, time to work. =)

Muracci’s Japanese Curry and Grill - Taste of Home in a Concrete Jungle

Restaurant: Muracci’s Japanese Curry and Grill
Address: 307 Kearny St. b/t Bush & Pine, Financial District, SF
Phone Number: (415) 773-1101
Cuisine: Japanese

I have been meaning to write about this place for a long time. Muracci’s is one of those places where you walk in, you get greeted warmly by the folks behind the counter, and just feel very comfortable in. The main reason why I went here in the first place was because of 7x7’s Big Eat 100 list. Since I work in Pacific Heights and go home to Daly City, the Financial District is a bit out of the way, but I had to in order to check it off my list. Right off the bat, I felt welcomed by the woman at the register. Turns out, the place is run by a husband and wife team. Wifey Tamiko handles the orders. She’s so cute. After I made my order at the counter, I copped a seat at the counter along the window. This place is tiny, probably not even ten seats, so it’s probably better to take-out during lunchtime. Since I was there close to closing, it was not busy. After waiting a few minutes, this gorgeous plate of food was brought to me by Tamiko’s husband Yasuyuki himself!


Katsu Curry
Pork Cutlet served with Curry Sauce
It left me breathless. Seriously. I got the pork with steamed white rice and mild curry sauce. They make each dish to order so that everything on the plate is fresh; therefore, be prepared to wait a little bit, but it is SO WORTH IT. The first time I had katsu curry was back in Hawaii and for some reason, I never ordered it here in the mainland. So this was my first time to have it again in this preparation. FYI: if you don’t eat pork, there is a chicken version as well. Two types of pickles came with the curry:

Pickled cabbage - I love pickles with my fried food. I usually eat kim chee with my katsu at Hawaiian places, so having this pickled veggie/palate cleaner was great since curry can be a bit tongue-tiring.

Fukujinzuke - a customary pickle that comes with curry. Many different types of vegetables can be used in a fukujinzuke such as radish and cucumber. Honestly, I can’t tell you what vegetable this was, but it did have a bit of spice itself.


As for the curry itself. You can say that there was hardly anything on my plate when it was picked up. The pork, which can be easily messed up, was perfectly tender and juicy. The breading on the katsu was crunchy and not heavy or greasy at all. I really cannot think of a more flawless plate of katsu curry. That sauce is money. It’s rich and thick and you can tell they take pride in their sauces here. The medley of flavors is just right and well-balanced. Not too acidic nor spicy nor peppery. Spot on. Tamiko makes the curry sauces herself and from I know, it takes hours to make a great curry. I absolutely LOVED my plate. On both of my visits, I came alone and I ordered this plate. It’s probably better I came alone because I would not have been paying attention to my dining partner. I must put all my concentration and emotion on this dish. It’s that good.

I wish Pacific Heights had a place like this. I can trek over to Japantown, but I’m wishing for a place along Fillmore. We just don’t have home cooking like this there. What I love about Muracci’s is that you can feel the love from the moment you step into the place. You are greeted coming in and wished well when you leave. You can also sense the care they took in preparing you meal. It’s just so warm there. The ONLY bad part of Muracci's is that they close 6 pm on weeknights and are not open over the weekend. =( Also, if you don’t eat curry, don’t fret. They have sushi, soups, and grilled goodies for you as well. BUT! For me, if I come back, I am definitely going for the katsu curry again. I don’t need to look any further.

I have found my perfect plate of katsu curry.
Thank you, Tamiko and Yasuyuki Murata!

Greens Restaurant - Tell You Boyfriend, If He Says He’s Got Beef…

Restaurant: Greens Restaurant
Address: Fort Mason, Building A, Marina, SF
Phone Number: (415) 771-6222
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Date Last Visited: December 11, 2009
Dining Partner: @Jennileezy/Fuega, My Coworkers

…that I’m a vegetarian, and I ain’t f*cking scared of him…
So…it was that time again…when everyone in our office came together for the annual holiday party. It was that time for awkward seating arrangements, awkward gift exchanging, awkward non-patient related conversations with our colleagues, just awkward all-around. I’ve become pretty cool with my partner @Jennileezy over the last year and a half we have been working together, so to make things a bit less awkward, we sat facing each other at the far end of the long table. Let the fun begin, shall we?


The doctors take turns each year when it comes to finding a venue for our holiday get-together. You might recall that last year, we went to Tommaso’s in North Beach in the evening. I loved it there! This year, since so many of the employees live a bit far from the City, the doctors thought that having a luncheon would be appropriate, that way everyone can still get home at a decent hour. This year, Greens at Fort Mason was chosen. It was a rather surprising decision considering our decadent Italian dinner last year and that no one in our office was a vegetarian. I guess our doctor wanted us to eat our veggies!


Vino!
We were all welcomed with a glass of bubbly as we walked to our tables. Can’t give you the name of this since the name on the menu doesn’t seem to match what I was drinking, but it was good!


We had our own private room in the back of the restaurant, and by just looking out the windows as we were passing through the main dining room, I knew that the scenes outside would be spectacular. It was a rather gloomy day that day, but the views of the boats docked in the Marina and the Marin Headlands were still great. We also had some entertainment. From what I heard, he is part of the SF Symphony, but that’s what I HEARD. I feel so bad for not catching his name because he was just awesome. If you know who this gentleman is, get at me! He was incredible with his guitar!


Acme Levain and Straus Butter
Loving how the restaurant uses local purveyors for their meals. Acme is based from Berkeley and The Straus Family Creamery is near Tomales Bay. Awesome pairing. Quintessential SF version of bread and butter right here.


First Course:
Little Gems and Ancho Cress with Fuyu Persimmons,
Olympia Pears, Pistachios, Pomegranates, Midnight
Moon Goat Cheese and Pear Vinaigrette
I adore salads that also have fruit. There is just a more balanced flavor complex - sweet from the fruit, verdant tones from the greens, earthiness from the nuts, and some acidity from the vinaigrette and pomegranate. The only thing I didn’t care from was the goat cheese, but that’s just me because I don’t like goat cheese. If you like it however, you’d love this salad. As I was eating the salad, I realized that there was a huge boom in the use of persimmons that winter. I’ve been eating them since I was a child, but this is the first time where I have seen them in restaurants. Glad they have finally made it to the scene. They are perfectly sweet and toothsome. Love them.


Main Course:
Savoy Spinach and Rainbow Chard Filo with Leeks, Feta, Fontina, Lemon, Rosemary and Walnuts served with Italian Butter Beans, Grilled Artichoke with Lemon Oil and Mint
It was a set menu that the doctors and our manager agreed on before we got there, so no one really had a choice. The portion sizes were ridiculously huge. I only finished about half of the filo. Even though I was one of the last people being served (there were 25 of us in all), my plate was still piping hot. Seriously, my mouth was singed by the heat of the food.


Loved the use of the filo dough. Pleasantly crispy and beautifully golden. The spinach and chard filling was very light and had a delightful tang from the lemon; however, I did miss the cheese. When I saw that feta was going to be in it, I was expecting there to be some nice crumbles and some stringiness from the fontina, but that wasn’t to be. I didn’t care for the artichokes because not much of it was actually edible. The BEST part of the dish were the butter beans. They were delicious!! I usually am intimidated by beans - fearing that they would be heavy or too hard and undercooked, but these were like buttah! They seemed to have melted in my mouth. Luscious, creamy, the best beans I've had in a while.


Dessert:
Chocolate Tart with Cocoa Nibs and Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Dessert was easily my favorite part of the meal. It does look intense with that dark chocolate, but it was surprisingly not as rich as I thought it would be. That bourbon caramel sauce…I would’ve licked that plate if no one was looking. The cocoa nibs was a nice addition, lending some crunch and slight bitterness. Overall, good dessert. Not very extraordinary, but safe and good.

I am not a vegetarian. At all. I need my meat. However, Bub and I started a new diet in January where we are not eating as much red meat and eating more veggies. This might be a place to revisit. Since I was such a carnivore during this visit, I wasn’t too enthused, but now that I have an obligation to my fiancé to diet with him (hey, through sickness and health, thick and thin…), we have more appreciation for veggies. Looking forward to coming back, especially when the sun is shining and the Golden Gate Bridge is in view. They do have a take-out counter for those who just want to grab a quick bite and enjoy the waterfront. That sounds like a 2nd visit is in order! Cool place!

Medallion Steakhouse - It’s About Time, Ladies

Restaurant: Medallion Steakhouse
Address: 1095 Rollins Road, Burlingame, CA
Phone Number: (650) 342-4922
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Date Last Visited: January 15, 2010
Dining Partner: sxy_saladbar, The Wifey, Rozz, and Z

You know the saying, you don’t really know what you got until it’s gone? That’s what I think when my high school girls come to mind. My girls were awesome to me in high school. Life in high school was different. Everyone was forced to be in the same place for 8+ hours in the day. We ate lunch together. We made all those God forsaken “spirit” posters up in the hallway. We practiced dance routines for rallies and each other’s debuts. We went through a lot together in high school, but when graduation came, it was like *poof* gone. Each of us went our own way and kinda never looked back…until only recently. December’s reunion (after 8 years!!) was so much fun that we knew we were not going to let another 8 years pass by. Sxy_salad bar and The Wife planned another get-together and there was no way I was missing out on this.


Medallion Steakhouse is right along highway 101 in Burlingame. It used to be Kuleto’s, but the folks who brought us Medjool in the City took over and recreated the old Italian space into a sleek steakhouse complete with a pizza oven, raw oyster bar, and lounge. Guess which one is mine - yup the glass of sparkling wine - Brut Rosé, Simmonet-Febvre, Bourgogne NV. The server said it was champagne, but is Chablis a part of the Champagne region? I am very naïve when it comes to wine, so I gravitate to what I’m used to- whatever is pink with bubbles is perfect for me. Eventually as I get older and my tastes become more refined, I’ll maybe be like Rozz and begin drinking reds like that Cab she got. So to the ASS on Urbanspoon who said that I should drink Boone’s and stick to only reviewing hot dog stands - BITE ME.


Bread and Butter
We started with only the bread and butter, I guess we didn’t want to waste good stomach space for appetizers. The bread was brought a little warm and the butter was perfect especially with that little bit of salt. Salt always brings out the best flavors of everything.


sxy_salad bar’s Top Sirloin
Whipped Potatoes and Green Beans
There are a variety of steaks you can choose from: NY steak, skirt steak, ribeye, just to name a few. Each steak comes with two sides of your choice. What I like about the sides is that they are very straightforward. You want fries, you get fries. You want whipped potatoes, you get simple whipped potatoes. None of that fancy bullcrap. See the menu HERE.


Rozz’s Top Sirloin
Sautéed Sherry Mushrooms and Classic Potato Gratin
This was Rozz’s plate and I took a bite out of her potatoes au gratin. Nice texture of the spuds - very tender. The cheesy cream sauce was decadent, but wasn’t overly rich. I knew only to take a small bite of this because it could get me into lots of trouble.


Z’s Brussel Sprouts
Pancetta and Caramelized Onions
No, Z didn’t ONLY get the Brussel Sprouts, she also ordered the Top Sirloin with the mushrooms, but I wanted to get a closeup of these vegetables. The last time I had brussel sprouts was at the Foodbuzz/Outstanding in the Field dinner. The Namu folks did an extraordinary brussel sprouts dish with guanciale and bonito flakes. When I saw the pancetta, I thought, “Yes! Pork product!” The dish was a bit tangy, bitter at times, and sweet from the onions. I think I am beginning to like these things.


The Wife’s Roasted Sea Bass
Whipped Potatoes and Sautéed Green Beans with Almonds
The sea bass usually comes with wild mushrooms and bok choy in a curry broth, so I thought it was cool that they let The Wife switch her sides. The Wife said that it was just okay since she is used to more robust flavors.


Jo’s Filet Mignon
Sautéed Sherry Mushrooms
and Sautéed Green Beans with Almonds
This was my plate and I love every single thing about it. The mushrooms were just ordinary button mushrooms, but they were so tasty and almost had a meat quality to it. Very savory - loved them. The green beans were great as well - cooked but still possessed a slight crunch when bitten. Did you notice the absence of a starch? The baked Idaho potato looked good, the Kennebec fries looked addictive, but it’s just me trying to cut out carbs this year. I’ll tell you why in another post. All steaks come with Bordelaise sauce by default, but I wanted…


Fresh Lemon and Béarnaise Sauce
Yup, you should know me well enough by now. I must have my steak (or any roasted, grilled, fried meat) with fresh lemon wedges. The server even asked if we wanted lemon, so my guess is that enough people request to have it with their meats. I also asked for the béarnaise because I wanted a creamy sauce to dip my steak in other than the rather deep bordelaise. I got the filet mignon - medium well. I know a whole bunch of you are rolling your eyes right now, but hey, that’s how I like my filet mignons. Ribeyes medium, filets medium well, skirts well. Even with it done a little longer than the other steaks on the table, my steak was beautifully seared on the outside and though not pink inside, the meat cut like buttah and was incredibly flavorful and tender. If I return, I will order the exact same thing.


deLUSHious
Irish Cream Bread Pudding, Eggnog Anglaise,
Irish Cream Ice Cream
Rozz was the only one who ordered something different and boy was I envious when I took a taste! The bread pudding was warm, as it should always be, and as I was eating it, I got some pockets filled with luscious custard. Awesome. I was totally digging the Irish cream component, but I think the eggnog anglaise might have been a bit overboard. A nice plain vanilla ice cream instead of the Irish cream coffee. I like to focus on one thing in a dessert. While each flavor is incredible on its own, pairing a full-bodied flavor with another can make the palate a bit tired. For me, it’s one or the other not both.


Tableside Presentation
picture courtesy of sxy_saladbar
I loved how the server poured the molten chocolate on the orb. The heat melted the chocolate shell to reveal the ice cream center. As you can see we ordered more than one of these.


Winter OrnaMints
Chocolate Sphere, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream,
White Chocolate Torte, Hot Chocolate Sauce
Like I said earlier, the chocolate sauce pouring was a show in itself. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to capture a photograph before digging in to show the inside of the sphere. Basically a ball of ice cream is covered in chocolate and chilled until hardened. The hot sauce made it easier for us to break through the chocolate shell. While I liked the white chocolate torte (even though I didn’t get much white chocolate), I thought it was too much chocolate and too much mint flavor. I like the concept of putting the ice cream in the chocolate a lot, but maybe use another flavor? There was chocolate sauce, chocolate shell, chocolate chips. A bit too much for me, but if you are a choc-aholic, you’ll probably like it. Sxy_saladbar and Z were smart and shared one. Too big and too rich of a dessert for me.

Overall, I think Medallion was delightful. Attentive service, but a bit lacking in some areas. A runner gave a dish to the wrong person, desserts be simplified, for example, but this place has a lot of potential. They opened late last year, so they’re still working out the kinks; however, the steaks were delicious! I actually look forward to coming back. The space is large, but the lighting and gooshy booths can make it very intimate. It was a Friday night and the dining room wasn’t very busy, so I want you guys to check it out! It’s a great place to have dinner for a large group, especially if you don’t mind spending a little $$$ for some good food in a sophisticated, yet relaxed space. Medallion made a good impression.

Can’t wait for the next dinner, ladies.

Throwback to College English Class 2003

For some reason, I wondered to myself, "What the heck was I doing on this day 6 years ago?" For some reason my Xanga account is still up even after 2 years of not posting. It was my personal blog and I saw how much of a beezie I was. I was ruthless. Rude. Immature. And WAY TOO emotional. Thank the Lord those days are over! But I came upon a post from October 1, 2003 which probably was a foreshadowing of what was to come for me in the future.

Background story: so I was in college in 2003. Freshly out of high school, and one of my first classes in college was English 100, I believe. Here goes:

------------------------------------------------------------
In English, we got our first essay back. Mine was about the Ritz-Carlton and Mike Shinoda. She wanted us to write up an essay about an incident in the workplace, and since I never worked a full-time job, I made a story up. LMAO. It was completely FICTIONAL. But she totally bought it. And guess what I got on it. An A! No pluses or minuses. Just a straight A. Fuck yeah! HOLLA! Here are the comment she wrote me.

Joanne,

Fine job. Draft 1 was practically your draft two. Not too many people your age are such good food writers...Good job.

Grade: A

------------------------------------------------------------
I've always had a way with words. Love it.

I chose Mike Shinoda because I was totally in love with him at the time. Wow. I was very sneaky back them. Making up fictional stories for a class that focused on factual events. Hope they don't catch this and revoke my A. Hmmm, I wonder where that essay is now. The computer I wrote it on is long gone. Anyway, what a good post to reminisce. Not totally food-related, but funny.

Happy 91st Birthday, Lolo!

Hey everyone,

Hope you all are having a great weekend. It's already more than halfway done. I can't believe how fast the weekends go by so quickly. I just wanted to drop a qwik-e post for my Lolo Albert Boston - we celebrated his 91st birthday today! Technically yesterday since I am posting after Midnight. He's not my grandpa - he is more of a granduncle since he is the brother of my Grandpa or Tatay as you know him here. Bub and I drove down to The U (Union City) where we had a "surprise" party for him. Well, I kind of feel bad since we were in the driveway while he and my cousin were pulling up in front of the house. Ha!


Anyway, of course there was tons of food, like pancit (for long life), pinapaitan (a traditional Ilocano soup made with bile), and lechon kawali (crispy pan-roasted pork). If you are vegetarian, I feel sorry for you, but our Auntie Anita made some awesome veggie-friendly stuff like a mustard green salad with thinly sliced red radishes, and tomatoes and THESE:


Her famous sugar doughnuts! I don't even remember the last time I had one, but I do remember YEARS ago, talking about the 1990's, that my mom was helping her make them. Hmmm, I wonder if she knows her recipe. Anyway, I realized tonight that these are by far my favorite doughnuts ever. In the Philippines or any Filipino bakery here in the US, they are called "Bitso Bitso." The dough is stretched, fried, and rolled in sugar. Bub loved them. Even though his doctor told him to give up sweets and other naughty food, he couldn't help himself and indulged in 6 of them! Heaven! I'll be honest and say I am not a doughnut eater usually, but I can eat these all day. I had 3 - and felt totally embarassed. LOL. I'm supposed to be on my 2010 diet. Yes, you can say that the diet was thrown out the window, but these doughnuts were worth the calories.


Here is the birthday boy blowing out his candles with his grandchildren and great-granddaughter by his side. How many 91-year-olds do you know still use headphones? My Lolo is so high-teCH! My Lolo is awesome. We never really had any deep conversations. Actually most of the time if he is at a party, he just chills on the couch and watches everyone, but he sure does love his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was the first person in the Boston Clan to live in the United States! He fought in World World II with my Tatay and with the US government's grant, they were able to come to SF and bring their families with them. Without them, who knows what I would be doing right now. So I am very grateful for him and Tatay. =)

If your grandparents are still around, give them a hug, a kiss, and tell them you love them. Seriously.

Happy Birthday, Lolo!
I am counting on you to reach 100 and beyond!

Friday Night Qwik-E Review #1 - Papalote’s Chicken Adobo Burrito

Restaurant: Papalote
Address: 3409 24th Street at Valencia, The Mission, SF
Phone Number: (415) 970-8815
Cuisine: Mexican
Date Last Visited: December 5, 2009
Dining Partner: Bub

That is right, this is my Friday night qwik-e review of Papalote’s “Chicken Adobo Burrito Day.” Chicken adobo? In a burrito? Yup, at first I thought that was a bit odd considering I would never have put those two things together; however, something about that combination intrigued me. Warm garlic rice, red ripe tomatoes, and savory shredded chicken adobo all in a tortilla…For the very first time I would eat my favorite Filipino food without a spoon and fork.

But wait…who the heck put this together? That would be Chef Miguel aka DJ Mr. E. His wife is Filipina and he is Mexican, so technically this special burrito is a love child created from their ideas and heritage. Genius. Why didn’t anyone think of this before?

Bub and I got there at around 7 and the place was poppin’. There must’ve been 10 people cramped in the register area with a constant rush of patrons and servers coming in and out of the restaurant. TIP: if you’re going to pick up an order, I think it’s best to call ahead way in advance to avoid the wait. Not only was Papalote serving the adobo burritos, they were also offering their regular menu which a lot of people came for. Since there weren’t any tables left and we were in a rush to head to another event, Bub and I took our loot and enjoyed them in the car.


Papalote’s Chicken Adobo Burrito
FIRST BITE THOUGHTS: Oh wtf?!

Don’t get it wrong with that “wtf” because this thing was off the hook. It seemed I was biting into a regular burrito, but then I hit the rice which had been pleasantly moistened by the juice or “sabaw” of the shredded chicken adobo… afterwards, a sensation of that familiar tang of the vinegar and saltiness of the soy sauce. A lovely freshness from the tomatoes rounded out the whole experience.

Loved every single bite of it. It’s just one of those things you don’t find anywhere else but San Francisco. With such a large population of Pinoys and Pinays here in the Bay, it was about time that someone come up with something like this. Bub and I love our burritos. Bub and I love our adobo. Killing two birds with one stone and having a hellovalotta fun doing so. I am looking forward to the next adobo day!

That’s another thing about Chicken Adobo Burrito Day - they don’t offer it all the time. You have to keep your eyes peeled on Facebook and Twitter to find out when the next one is. While we were there ordering, I didn't spot any signs or fliers hanging saying they were serving it, but I might have just been blind. Also keep in mind that there are two locations: one in the Mission and one on Fulton near USF/NOPA/Western Addtion. Be sure you’re going to the right one! Sometimes you get 2 weeks notice, last month we had 2 hours notice, so stay cautioned, yes?

With that said, what would be a perfect breakfast for me would be a “chicken adobo-silog” burrito: chicken adobo, garlic rice, chopped tomatoes, and a over-medium egg all rolled in a tortilla. Now wouldn’t that be just what the doctor ordered? I am seriously drooling as I am writing this. So if you get the chance, check out Papalote and the rest of their regular menu! It’s hot! I came here for a quick bite one afternoon and their salsa is so special. It leaves a pleasant smoky tone in my mouth…I heard it wasn’t chipotle, so it remains a mystery to me as to why it is so good. I am such a condiment whore that I have to stop myself from eating too much.

Anyway, I know I said this was a quickie, but it being so memorable, I can’t stop going on and on about it. Nevertheless, I must stop here. Go to Papalote. Do it. You’ll enjoy it. Thank you Chef Miguel and Papalote staff for holding it down that night. It was crazy, but worth the wait. =)

Phat Philly - Gluttony at its Best!

Restaurant: Phat Philly
Address: 3388 24th Street at Valencia, The Mission, SF
Phone Number: (415) 550-7428
Twitter: @PhatPhilly
Cuisine: Sandwiches
Date Last Visited: October 20, 2009
Dining Partner: Bub


Restaurant Façade
Bub chose to pick me up at 24th and Mission after work in hopes that we would find a good place to eat. I wasn’t craving Mexican food, Bub didn’t want to spend too much money on fancy food. So what was there? As we were crossing the intersection of 24th and Mission, it came to me that Phat Philly was just down the street and ever since it opened, I was eager to visit someday. Hey, we were already in the neighborhood, why not? A girl has to have her meat too!


Criss-Cut Waffle Fries
Must I even elaborate on a fried potato? Didn’t think so, but just know that these crispy spud wonders were rather tasty…especially with the ranch dressing they have on the premises!


The Whole Shi-Bang! Made with Chicken
Meat, Cheese (provolone here), Caramelized Onions, Roasted Peppers, Sautéed Mushrooms, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Avocado
Bub would so get this. I swear, sometimes I think he’s trying to compete with Adam Richman. He got the “Phat” 12-incher and it was a sight to behold. I didn’t know how he was going to eat it all. He almost did. I think he got to about 9 inches. Yup, very impressive. What a phatty, haha! I took a bite and while it was good, there was too much going on and I couldn’t focus. Even though it’s the biggest and craziest sandwich, it wasn’t for me. If I want a steak sandwich, that is what I would get…even if it had only 4 ingredients to this sandwich’s hundred. Oh yes, you “Veggie Heads” are not neglected here at Phat Philly! There is a whole section on the menu dedicated to vegetarian sandwiches. You ready? Try a Portobello Steak or a Tofu Steak or even one made with wheat gluten! Yup! BUT! I don’t know about you, but I’m about the real deal. Gimme my beef!


Mushroom Steak wit Whiz!
There was no way that I was coming here and ordering chicken. PSHH…while Bub’s sandwich was over the top and humungous and delicious, I came for the real deal. Cheese. Steak. I had always wanted to try the best cheese steak out of Philly and I may have found it. If you think Great Steak and Potato is good, Phat Philly is the flippin’ holy grail while Great Steak is a Styrofoam cup…at the bottom of a dumpster.

The meat hand-cut Masami Ranch American Kobe beef. Yes. The rolls are imported into California from Amoroso Rolls from Philadelphia. Oh yes. I got the Regular (7 inches) Mushroom Steak because well, I love mushrooms, and CHEESE WHIZ! I was told that Whiz is for purists, so how can I have it any other way? PURE MEAT ECSTASY. The bread was toasted a bit and it was soft enough so that when I bit into it, everything inside didn’t fall out. Well, some of the meat and cheese came out, and you know what my trick is for not missing those flavorful hunks and chunks? Put a few of the criss-cut waffle fries in my little basket because if any of the filling came out, it would fall on the fries. Ha! Instant potato-steak nachos!

MUH-NEE.

So who out there is drooling all over their computer keyboard? Phat Philly is a gem! Lovin’ the cool vibe and scrumptious sandwiches. I had no shame in stuffing my face here. Makes me want to book a flight to Philly right now and have another. Nah…you know what? There is no need to do all that. We got Phat Philly here at home…serving the best damn cheese steaks ever. Check out the menu HERE. With all the cheese choices and combinations, you’ll be very happy. Trust me and you won’t be sorry!

Kung Fu Tacos and CandyBar- East Meets South of the Border

Restaurant: Kung Fu Tacos and CandyBar
Address: 1335 Fulton St. b/t Broderick and Divisadero, Western Addition/NOPA, SF
Phone Number: (415) 673-7078
Cuisine: Tacos and desserts
Dining Partner: Bub

When I heard about Kung Fu Tacos, I knew that I had to try it soon. C’mon, Asian tacos! It’s like the best of both worlds here! What I really liked is that they collab’ed with CandyBar and did a Happy Hour event. Tacos and dessert, can’t beat that.


When I saw the bright yellow truck in front of CandyBar, I got real wound up. This visit was at the peak of Street Food Madness. Everyone and their mommas wanted a piece of this craze…I admit, I was one of them. I would check my Twitter to see who was out that night. Luckily for me, we didn’t have to go deep into the Mission for street fare. Happy hour was just about 10 minutes from work…

And boy, did I need an hour to be happy.


White Chocolate Mousse
Blueberry Compote, Candied Parsnip, Calamansi Sorbet
So we did things backwards and had dessert first. This is my second time at CandyBar, but my first time since the change of chefs. You can see my first visit here. Whenever I see white chocolate, I pant like a dog with a steak in front of it. I was hesitant to order it since I am not too fond of blueberries, but I knew Bub would like them, so I got it. Let me tell you about the toppings first. The calamansi sorbet was tangy and exactly what I thought it would taste like. It reminded me so much of the Philippines. I wasn’t too fond of the candied parsnips…they were tough. The blueberries surprised me a lot. They also had a nice tang which went really well with the rich white chocolate mousse.


The mousse was lovelyyyy…I took tiny spoonfuls and savored every bite just to prolong its life. Honestly, I didn’t need any of the blueberries or sorbet, this was perfect the way it was. However, I do understand what they were trying to accomplish. The toppings were sour which was a nice contrast to the mousse’s fattiness. I think it would have been even better with strawberries (of course). Overall, good dessert.


- Round 1 -

Wu Shu Char Sui
Glazed BBQ Pork Dressed with a Secret Sriracha Sauce
and Topped with Mango Salsa and Green Papaya

Roast Duck
Seasoned Duck Served with Hoisin Sauce and
Topped with Mango Salsa and Green Onion
Bub and I had a Char Shui taco each while I had the duck one to myself. The roasted pork was even a bit sweet with the glaze it had on it. The roasted duck was my favorite. I love duck - especially that gorgeous brown skin. Actually I would have to say that these tacos were my favorite because of the balance of the rich meats and the freshness of the mango salsa. They were a bit spicy, but that’s how I like ‘em!


- Round 2 -

Asian Asada
Seasoned Strips of Steak, Garnished with Cilantro and
Onion and Finished with Homemade Spicy Asian Salsa
On this plate, you will see a chicken taco on the left side of the picture, which I will touch upon in a sec. The asada were a bit underwhelming. They kind of tasted like adobo because I have a feel they marinated their steak in a soy mixture. After eating the roasted duck taco, these seemed a bit boring. I mean, they were good, but they didn’t impress me as much as the duck did.


- Round 3 -

Mu Shu Veggies
Tender Mushrooms Combined with Carrots, Onions,
and Cabbage Stir-Fried in a Rich Garlic Sauce

Nun Chuk Chicken
Grilled Chicken Marinated in a Garlic Ginger Sauce,
Garnished with Cilantro, Onion, and Topped off
with Homemade Spicy Asian Salsa
On this plate you will see another chicken taco and two of the veggie tacos. The Nun Chuk taco was probably my least favorite. A bit monotonous since it had the same exact toppings at the asada tacos. If you can’t eat red meat, go ahead and try these, but among the two poultry tacos, get the duck. The duck and char siu are considered “specialty” tacos and do cost a bit more, FYI. Now…the veggie. They were awesome! Full-flavored and robust. The mushrooms were pleasant with their bouncy texture. Bub said these were his favorite? WHAT?! Yes, it’s true. He raved about the veggie taco for a long time. That says a lot about this taco since Bub is such a meat eater.

Kung Fu Tacos were awesome! Bub and I missed them so much a couple of weeks later and hunted them down in the Financial District for lunch one afternoon. If you are in the FidI by any chance, as of today, January 6, 2009, they should still be at their location on Montgomery and Sacramento, next to the old Jeanty at Jack’s space. As always, check their Twitter to see where they are because they are not out there all the time. If you cannot make it to the Financial District, head over to the Western Addition for Happy Hour starting at 6 in the evening! I can go on and on about Kung Fu. The guys who made the tacos and brought them to us are so nice and charming, as well. Loved the whole experience!

I cannot stop thinking about that duck taco. I have to have two of them in one sitting. They are so good. Rich duck meat topped with a tangy-sweet mango salsa and garnished with verdant cilantro - which is my favorite herb. Talk about perfection! I can’t wait to have another duck taco!

I [heart] My Friends

**click image for larger view**

Quick Hello!

Hey loves,

Can someone tell me why it took me so long to watch GLEE? I absolutely love it! Bub was so sweet and bought the full first season for me on DVD. Because we watched the first two episodes right when we got home, I didn't have the time and energy to post a formal restaurant blog, but I did want to tell you about my evening!

Here is my formula for the perfect evening after work:

A #9 from Ike's Place (near the Castro):

[name of the girl I'm dating]

I kid you not, that is really the name of the sandwich - halal chicken breast, avocado, honey mustard, pepper Jack cheese on Dutch crunch bread with all the fixins!

+

GLEE Season 1 on DVD

+

Bub and me in bed

=

Bliss.

Well I can now say I am becoming a GLEEK. What is most surprising is that Bub has been sucked into too. "Hardcore former Chinatown gangsta" said watching them sing made him "happy." haha! Oh em gee. We are having another GLEE date tomorrow night. Can't wait!!

Hope everyone has a great day tomorrow...or should I say today. I took a nap earlier and now I'm awake. Goal for tonight is to sleep by 1:00 am. Been having the worst insomnia lately. Let's cross our fingers that doesn't happen tonight.

Goodnight, loves!

<3,
Jo

- Posted using BlogPress from my iTouch

Town Hall - Feasting with the Foodinistas - Chapter 2

Restaurant: Town Hall
Address: 342 Howard St. b/t Fremont & Beale St., SOMA, SF
Phone Number: (415) 908-3900
Cuisine: New American, Southern
Date Last Visited: December 2, 2009
Dining Partner: The Foodinista Ladies

It is always a good thing to celebrate someone’s accomplishment of getting a new job, and that is what the Foodinistas and I did on this December evening. One of our girls, VirgoBlue, was hired for a new job (which I am so envious of) and Town Hall was her choice for dinner. I was sold at the mention of “butterscotch pot de crème” in the evite.

For starters, I had the “Dorothy Parker” which consisted of Tru Organic Lemon Vodka, Citronage, dash of Chambord, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, and a float of sparling wine, served up in a cocktail glass. I loved it. So girly, sweet, and tangy. To share, we had the Cornmeal Fried Oysters, Spinach Herbsaint Puree, and Bacon. I apologize for my atrocious pictures. I was too shy to use the flash at the time and I had only owned my new DSLR for a few days, and I had no idea had to use it. The oysters were pretty good. Can’t say I was totally impressed; however, the coating was perfectly crispy and the green sauce inside the shell was delicious. Good way to start off dinner.


Buttermilk Biscuits
Johnston Family Country Ham, Butter, and Pepper Jelly
Another appetizer we shared were these lovely biscuits, while the biscuits were buttery and pleasing, it’s the pepper jelly that blew me away. I ordinarily do not like jellies, jams, conserves, etc., but I could eat this jelly all day long. You get the sweetness at first, but then you get this heat that is so wonderful when spread on the tender biscuit. The ham were also delightful, lending some saltiness to the bite. Awesome.


Peanut Tasso Crusted Pork Chop
Pomegranate, Apple Butter, Cavelo Nero, and Delicata Squash
This was my entrée and it was humungous. I split it up so that I can share with everyone else, and I was still full off of the portion I had left. Apples and pork chops are classic combination, but I loved the pomegranate because they add a burst of sourness.


Carmelized Nantucket Bay Scallops
Squash Risotto, Porcini, and Black Truffle Sauce
Amy of Streaming Gourmet and Steph of Lick My Spoon ordered this plate of scallops and I was very very green with envy. I could only imagine each bite being velvety from the risotto and sweet from the scallops.


Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Collard Greens, Smashed Potatoes,
and Home Style Bacon Gravy
Fried chicken is always a crowd pleaser. I have read on almost every review on Town Hall that the fried chicken ordered. The coating on that chicken is money. I also had some of the potatoes and I need to get my hands on that gravy recipe. This is the epitome of comfort food. Fried chicken-y goodness. Good choice, Danielle (of Bon Vivant).


Blackened Catfish
Fried Okra and Oyster Dirty Rice
Vera of My $10,000 Wedding, gave me a bite of her fish and again, I was JEALOUS. The fish was very tasty, but it was the dirty rice that impressed me. Pieces of oyster combined in a flavorful rice medley. You also gotta love the fried okra!


Faith’s Ham and Cheese Toast
Poached Egg and Jalapeno Cream
The celebrant, Miss Elaine of VirgoBlue ordered this masterpiece. The bread toasted enough to have a slight crunch, only to be soaked by the gorgeous cream mixed with the warm, runny egg yolk…A bit salty, a bit spicy, extremely rich. The best.


Truffle Man-n-Cheese
As if the poached egg dish wasn’t decadent already, Elaine ordered the truffle mac-n-cheese. TDF. That’s all I need to be happy: starch and cheese. Add truffle? Over the top.


Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse Bombe
&
Butterscotch and Chocolate Pot de Crème
The grand finale! That butterscotch pot de crème must have been the best dessert I put in my mouth all Winter. Creamy, silky smooth, and not too sweet. Perfect. It had all of us dreaming at night…and day in my case. That chocolate mousse was a surprise. I am always afraid that a choco-centric dessert would be too rich, but this gold leafed ornamented dessert was just right. There would be no way that I would finish it on my own, but to share is ideal. Two fantastic desserts to share with fantastic ladies.

So what did I think of Town Hall? Atmosphere-wise, it was very warm with its sexy low lighting, but its high ceilings can make sound echo - causing hard-to-hear conversations. The food was great - delicious stick to your ribs, I think I might have to go to the gym, but I won’t fare. The food came out quickly and the other items on the menu make me want to pay another visit: tuna tartare, rib eye, jambalaya. Thank you to Danielle and Elaine for setting up this fun gathering. Ladies, I had a fabulous time with you, as always. Until the next dinner! I’m ready for more oysters!