Orik Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 The way they manage crab season is surprisingly rational, especially given it's California. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 4 minutes ago, Orik said: The way they manage crab season is surprisingly rational, especially given it's California. I agree 100%! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneakeater Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 Can you eat Humpback Whales? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 (edited) So...what the hell...a few of our meals during the San Francisco part of our trip: Tadich Grill is classic. And we got to take MUNI there. The Martinis are very good, and I like the bar... The food is...ok...especially sticking with a few classics (Petrale sole, simply grilled, for my main). So a Dungeness crab salad, and some marinated squid: I am now the proud owner of a Tadich Grill swizzle stick. The day after we arrived in San Francisco, it was Significant Eater's birthday. We did a double header, starting with a drive over the Bay Bridge, and up to Berkeley, for lunch at Chez Panisse Cafe. (I did have some second thoughts, as we drove right past one of my favorite BBQ places right on San Pablo, the great Everett & Jones. It was never passed by during my 16 years living west, after a concert at the Greek, or anywhere else nearby). But Chez Panisse it was. There really is nothing (in my opinion) quite like the salads in California. And Chez Panisse does an exemplary job. Healthy start: Star Route Farms greens with avocado, blood orange and grapefruit. And hers: Which included baked Andate Dairy's goat cheese. And which was quite splendid spread over Acme Bakery's sourdough. (And look at that chervil!) Chicken al mattone (moist and juicy), served not with the sides it was menued with, but with the sides for the pork loin (yeah, I'm a pain in the ass). Potatoes gaufrette and sautéed greens, carrots that taste like carrots. And fried sage leaves. Sig Eater wants and needs pizza. I should argue? Olives, anchovies - what's not to like. We eschewed dessert - as mentioned, we were playing a double header. Which meant a revisit (for the 3rd or 4th time) to a slightly freshened up Boulevard, in the city. Our first meal at Boulevard was 26 years ago, on our honeymoon. I'm such a fucking romantic. And classy that I am, we once again rode MUNI. Our usual schtick - a drink at the bar before sitting down for dinner (cause the cocktails are always better at the bar than by the time they get to your table). Also - the bar at Boulevard is beautiful. I'm at Boulevard - and having a Boulevardier. My lovely wife - a Perfect Manhattan. Here's where the crab amped up : My Dungeness, with "valentine" pomelo, kumquats and the usual Cali stuff, like the flower thing. This was great, the dressing (actually, a great Louie dressing) puddled at the bottom to be mixed, or not, as you wish. The Dungeness - simply perfect. And for she... A gorgeous pea soup, King crab, and a lemon souffle! Plus...flowers. Sig Eater wanted, and got, beef. I wanted more... It wasn't all about these huge scallops, which I'm guessing flew 3,000 miles, yet were still fine. That little lasanga - sorry, lasagnette - stuffed with Dungeness - was really great. Plus...lotsa flowers. And those teeny turnips. She enjoyed her birthday greatly; it was a big one! Oh - why can't more restaurants do this? Full page of red half bottles. There was another page of whites. The wine list at Boulevard is comprehensive. Edited March 30 by MitchW 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 30 minutes ago, Sneakeater said: Can you eat Humpback Whales? Only if you're an Orca. Or a great white, feeding on carrion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voyager Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Sure, it's not local but you can usually source Washington State dungeness for many months that our harvest is shut down. A small sacrifice to ensure the long range health of our crab and whale populations. When push comes to shove, my "corner store" offers picked New England crab to fill the irrational panic whim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieL Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 (edited) Tadich is probably the only place I get Martinis. They're very good about acceding to my requests to not make them too dry. Edited March 30 by StephanieL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 On 3/4/2024 at 2:30 PM, Diancecht said: looks like the sf chronicle’s new restaurant critic has elected to dispense with anonymity. click (it’s a gift article so anyone can read it) Not only has the critic dispensed with anonymity, but she is evidently the granddaughter of the late, great Henry Chung, he of the great Hunan Restaurant in San Francisco, where he introduced Hunanese food to those lucky inhabitants. We ate at Zuni on our last night in San Francisco; her first review, by request of readers, was of Zuni. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 (edited) Continuing on, after Boulevard, we started meeting friends for lunch and dinner. Lunch at Yank Sing, in the gorgeous Rincon Center, was very nice. Place was packed, the carts were moving, the dim sum was fresh, what's not to like? Lunch proceeded...slowly. A nice walk along the Embarcadero afterwards. And a nap before dinner, at State Bird Provisions. State Bird offers "dim sum" carried around by persons, who stop by your table with their offerings, as well as offering stuff to be ordered from the kitchen. We ate a lot. Tongue pastrami was very good. As was the state bird. And its provisions. Crab with yuba - really lovely. Nice night, lots of wine (cocktails before, at The Progress, next door). Edited April 3 by MitchW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 One to put on the list. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 (edited) When we heard the news of La Ciccia's imminent closure and purchase by a South Bay restaurant group, none of us could have been happy. But...start spreading the news...that deal (with the restaurant group) fell through, La Ciccia was purchased by a local realtor and long-time La Ciccia neighbor/diner, and it certainly is none the worse for wear. Much of the staff remains; as a matter of fact, we recognized our waitress as having served us on a previous trip and she confirmed she'd been there "for years." Also, when was the last time you had a waitperson take an entire table's order (there were four of us), apps, primis, secondos, split portions, etc. etc. without writing a thing down, and EVERYTHING WAS DELIVERED TO THE RIGHT PERSON, IN THE RIGHT ORDER! That alone was worth the price of admission. Let's get down to it...remember, in the old days, the request was no photos, no cell phones, etc. etc., and we had to sneak them in. Now, let's just say that rule is a little looser. I don't have to tell you what this is: Just know that it remains as simple, funky and as delicious as ever, even as bottarga seems to appear more and more on plates around this town (Cervo's uses it - a lot!). Then there's the classic roasted Monterey small squid. Tender bodies, tasty tentacles, oceanic - and if I recall correctly, quite spicy. Yes, there was a pasta special (maybe even two?). Yes, it had Dungeness crab. Yes, I ordered it, and did not share. Another favorite: Prawns for days, cooked just right. And for our table partners, they needed meat evidently... So they had, and didn't share either, the lamb loin. We took the bus here (standing on a crowded bus as it cruises up, through and around the Castro and Noe Valley is a little challenging). So I needed a drink, and we had arrived early. There is nothing nearby where one might have a drink. Unless, like me, you're a classic degenerate, and buy two beers at a nearby butcher shop (which looked great, by the way) and drink them on the bench at the bus stop in front of La Ciccia. That one, right there. COMP DISCLOSURE: Glasses of dessert wine all around. And maybe a dessert or two. Edited April 6 by MitchW Forgot the comp disclosure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 (edited) Final day in San Francisco, and we hadn't yet hit our favorite breakfast place (airbnb makes breakfast out unnecessary). But up the hill we went; Potrero Hill, that is. To plow. Where one of these years I'm just gonna end up rolling down the hill and into the bay. These guys are great... Everything made to order. If you order a fruit salad, the fruit is cut à la minute. Some of the egg dishes are made with the eggs already whisked up in that cambro, but otherwise, it's all to order. Well sated after that breakfast, and with decent coffee. Our final dinner was another classic we wanted to get to: Our usual cocktails at the bar (in this case, a beautiful copper bar, standing only at dinner). This is my half of the Caesar, as big as most Caesar salads that are not split in two. Also, better than most Caesar salads, which is even more important. A classic Zuni app: Piccolo fritto, with beautifully fried vegetables. I didn't get a picture of Sig Eater's main, which I'm pretty sure was the gnocchi. I didn't get a taste, either! My rabbit loin, stuffed with prosciutto, sage and fried shallots was spectacular. The potatoes were butter. And the carrots tasted like...carrots! We sure do like this style of food. Nothing too fancy, just good ingredients handled well. Edited April 16 by MitchW 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilfrid Posted April 16 Author Share Posted April 16 A good trip. How many nights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 2 hours ago, Wilfrid said: A good trip. How many nights? 4 in Healdsburg and 5 in San Francisco. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evelyn Posted April 17 Share Posted April 17 I need to eat with you guys. I am 0 for 2 when dining there. The first meal was mediocre. The second was poor. Both were pre-pandemic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongo Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 On 4/16/2024 at 9:03 PM, Evelyn said: I need to eat with you guys. I am 0 for 2 when dining there. The first meal was mediocre. The second was poor. Both were pre-pandemic. at zuni? we are in san francisco for three nights in mid-june. two dinners will likely be at copra and state bird provisions. was considering zuni for the third but open to other suggestions: doesn't need to be fancy; indeed, will be great if relatively cheap. probably dim sum for one lunch; maybe sushi for another. recommendations for non-cart dim sum and non-bromakase sushi spots very welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 On 4/16/2024 at 10:03 PM, Evelyn said: I need to eat with you guys. I am 0 for 2 when dining there. The first meal was mediocre. The second was poor. Both were pre-pandemic. I'm pretty sure there's a new chef, hired in 2022. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evelyn Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 @mongo Yes, at Zuni. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voyager Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 I know better than to advise this group, but we really like Piccino in Dog Patch. Kind of reminds me of early Delfina. I have had excellent pastas, pizzas, meats. Rather noisy as are most popular places now. Sweet service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieL Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 On 4/18/2024 at 8:38 AM, mongo said: at zuni? we are in san francisco for three nights in mid-june. two dinners will likely be at copra and state bird provisions. was considering zuni for the third but open to other suggestions: doesn't need to be fancy; indeed, will be great if relatively cheap. probably dim sum for one lunch; maybe sushi for another. recommendations for non-cart dim sum and non-bromakase sushi spots very welcome. Enjoy your stay here! For dim sum, I recommend Palette Tea House in Ghirardelli Square. It's near my office and I've been there a few times. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diancecht Posted May 21 Share Posted May 21 we had dinner at original joe’s at their westlake location this past sunday. helen rosner wrote “that iceberg is a superior lettuce“ and i ended up admiring hubby’s wedge salad while i was working on my own appetizer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinghiale Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 On 3/30/2024 at 12:17 AM, MitchW said: So...what the hell...a few of our meals during the San Francisco part of our trip: Tadich Grill is classic. And we got to take MUNI there. The Martinis are very good, and I like the bar... The food is...ok...especially sticking with a few classics (Petrale sole, simply grilled, for my main). So a Dungeness crab salad, and some marinated squid: I am now the proud owner of a Tadich Grill swizzle stick. The day after we arrived in San Francisco, it was Significant Eater's birthday. We did a double header, starting with a drive over the Bay Bridge, and up to Berkeley, for lunch at Chez Panisse Cafe. (I did have some second thoughts, as we drove right past one of my favorite BBQ places right on San Pablo, the great Everett & Jones. It was never passed by during my 16 years living west, after a concert at the Greek, or anywhere else nearby). But Chez Panisse it was. The Chronicle had some issues on a recent visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MitchW Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 4 hours ago, cinghiale said: The Chronicle had some issues on a recent visit. Yes, the reviewer definitely has some issues. But - when sticking just to food, I think the reviewer got it right (and we ordered right, as well!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieL Posted May 24 Share Posted May 24 I do agree with her take on Scoma's today. It's fairly close to my office; I've gone twice and it's been a pleasurable (if pricey) experience both times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diancecht Posted June 2 Share Posted June 2 we went to californios tonight. i’m not a huge drinker; the reason why i stick to white wine is that the tannins in reds make me sleepy. so i decided to spring for the non-alcoholic pairings. like me, hubby is a light drinker but he can put away more than two glasses of wine on occasion. after having had the nonalcoholic routine, we’ll stick to ordering wines by the glass in future visits. let’s just say that an alcohol-free version of beer doesn’t really compare. oh, you want to know about the food. the restaurant is one of our favorites, as evidenced by the fact that this was our fifth visit in four years. a standout was the halibut taco (fried halibut, sourdough taco, poblano and anaheim pepper salsa, huitlacoche and corn crema). crisp, greaseless with just the right amount of heat and spice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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