Coffee, Chocolate and Cheese

July's Gems

2010-07-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

Last Friday it was my turn to play host for poker night, so instead of making a dessert I decided to use my Groupon for That Takes the Cake on Union Street. Lovely little bakery with a wide selection of flavorful cupcakes..,who can resist Alfred Hitchcake, mint chocolate chip, vanilla with coconut or choco-espresso?! Also served that evening was lobster ravioli with home grown basil from the kitchen and thinly sliced parma from an aged block, yum!

An amazing afternoon sandwich from Sage located at Cornerstone in Sonoma wine country! Rarely does a sandwich knock my socks off, but I was pleasantly surprised by this tasty version. Fresh ciabiatta bread with perfectly grilled flank steak topped with my newest favorite...Point Reyes bleu cheese...you must experience it! This is a delicious mouthwatering sammy. And those 3 little green olives were heavenly, I don't know why they tasted so good. They were savory, not at all briney or pickled or vinegar like; they were chewy not soggy; fragrant not sour. The accompanying cous-cous side salad was a major disappointment, I thought it smelled like rubbing alcohol. No thanks. Can't forget dessert...red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting! Moist, airy and light, not oily or doughy, perfection!

A fine Italian red enjoyed over the fourth of July weekend, hot summer sun in the main Sonoma plaza...local parade, good eating and naptime! Also that same day, sangria and heirloom tomatoes with a dash of salt. A fine day indeed.

2010-07-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

Never one to shy away from an office cooking contest, here's the first place winner...Fruit Flag Giant Cookie Pizza! Standard cookie dough topped with cream cheese spread and fresh strawberries and blueberries, tasty. I freed up some freezer space by making my shortbread cookie "puffs" that look like ice cream scoops...second place winner! Always a bridesmaid, ya know? There was an amazing dessert called the Hello Dolly Bars...dense coconut and chocolate chips with pecans and graham crackers and condensed milk. Going to test drive this little number soon!

On another quest to clean out the ole fridge, I found this jar of homemade blackberry preserves from our neighbor and some nearly expired meyer lemons sitting counterside...which just screamed to be dealt with. Well, they were dealt with alright! The twin tarts met their demise with fresh Peet's coffee and an office full of over-stressed Project Managers. Bon apetit, dude.

In the glass case, starting at the top, feast your eyes on Grand Prize Winner Best in Show at the San Mateo County Fair Baking Contest--the "Russian Ant Hill" cake and below that is First Place shortbread winner--my Celebrity Cookies YAY! See the blue ribbon? See it?! In my opinion, a dessert called the Russian Ant Hill deserves to win with a name like that, come on people. I looked closely at it and the texture appeared light and airy like bread with poppy seeds throughout. Couldn't locate the receipe online...probably best that way.

One final note to self. Yes, it IS possible to bring a 2.5 year old boy to a fancy white table cloth, historic San Francisco restaurant on a crowded Friday night for a 2 hour dinner reservation after his bedtime. Thank you Crayons. Thank you Hot Wheels. Thank you House of Prime Rib.

Let Them Eat Cake!

2010-06-22T20:22:00.000-07:00

Red velvet cake with vanilla icing from a most unexpected source....the Rib Shack in San Bruno, lunch time special. Moist and tasty, generous proportion, priced right. All positives in my book.

The Original Neon Yellow Peeps...I savored one and it was the freshest you can get! These delightful childhood goodies arrived at my nephew's party in LA purchased directly from the Peeps factory! No joke. Light and fluffy, not hard and stale. Honestly, I don't think these can get any better than factory fresh.

My sister in law's custom cake made from her mother's recipe....rich and delicious! It was awesome...the bottom layer was an airy chocolate cake, top layer a moist, dense ganache. Held back the urge to indulge a second slice. Kinda regret that.

The fun squad at work conjured up a Friday afternoon BBQ on the roof...I took a pass on the potato salad from a carton and the wine from a box and loaded up on locally brewed Anchor Steam on tap and a plate of red food: jerk chicken, out of season tomatoes, juicy watermelon and giant strawberries.

Summer time TV watching

2010-06-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

A co-worker made chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and pink sprinkles! Delicious treat for a sunny afternoon in June. This summer, the agenda is as follows: Top Chef Season 7. I'm calling the top 3 this season: Angelo, Kevin and Tiffany...go girl! Bummed that no one from the SF bay area is represented, what's up with that? Can I just say how thrilled I am that Eric Ripert is a judge?! How awesome is that? Nice job Bravo. Now if you can just replace Kelly from Top Chef Masters...blah. Man v. Food, otherwise known as Dude with the Bottomless Stomach Eats at America's Self Indulgent Obese Factories. I love hate this show. It's addictive to watch Adam eat a 42 oz steak with crowds of fans cheering him on for 20 minutes, but it's also repulsive to see his body suffer and sweat over that 5 pound ice cream sundae, know what I mean? Cupcake Wars on the Food Network debuted this week, and the concept is exactly like Chopped, which is hosted by Tim Allen....who I love! We have used his roast chicken recipe from his cookbook many times and it never fails to impress. I'm going to hang in there with Cupcake Wars, I have big hopes this will be interesting. Next Food Network Stars is also in the lineup for me; I really like this years contestants. Going to be great competition. Last year's winner Melissa gave us an amazing mango salsa recipe and we watch Aaron McCargo Jr's show Big Daddy's House religiously!! Tony Bourdain is badass as ever, never get sick of that guy eating intestines, sweet breads and snails. Ok, maybe I get a little disgusted sometimes. Cake Boss...fuggetaboutit, Jersey folks all crazy for cake, what's not to love?

San Mateo County Fair

2010-06-10T15:47:00.001-07:00

This is my first entry into the San Mateo County Fair Baking Contest. These little gems were dropped off this morning, fresh baked...hand stencils still wet! Few years ago, my almond shortbread cookies won Runner Up Best in Show at the Marin County Fair so I'm going for another round. I've whipped up a mean carrot cake with cream cheese frosting recipe for this year's submission...due in two weeks!

Cookies, Dessert and the Desert

2010-05-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I entered the Great Cookie Bake Off held at the Sports Basement in the SF Presidio. While my display was less than spectacular, the event was great fun! Despite running out of sugar and flour, my almond shortbread cookies didn't live up to their potential...there's always next year!

One of the winners was the Margarita cookie which actually tasted like a margarita complete with dipping sauce and pinata! Ay carumba!

Grand Prize winner...smores cookie with campfire display, clever!

Adorable display with clothesline but coconut cookies were super dry and tasteless, disappointed.

Pumpkin sandwiches with cream cheese filling, in theory it *should* taste delicious...

Last month, I scored some major points with extended family for sharing my homemade Matzo Brittle for my neice's naming ceremony during shabat. Mazal tov!

Organic dark chocolate from South America, sold at Whole Foods...little chalky and dry, but overall quite satisfying as an afternoon snack!

Egg white and porchino mushroom frittata with an arugala salad and peppery blood mary...Sunday brunch in Palm Springs, served pool side by the cabana boy!

Giant Sea Creatures On Ice

2010-05-01T16:45:00.001-07:00

And the Eating Adventure Continues...

2010-04-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Scharrfenberger Chocolatier announced their winners for the 2010 Chocolate contest. Obviously my dessert entry did not make an impression out of the thousands of amazing recipes submitted, but the winning dishes are inspiring! Enjoy the photos.

Atkins lunch. Too obvious?

Bachelorette party at Asia SF. An amazing spread of asian-fusion finger food served by cross-dressing booty shaking lip syncing dancing ladies. Good times.

A variety of mini ice cream cones and banana eclairs with caramel dipping sauce...dessert at Asia SF.

Sunnyside eggs served over bubbling gooey cheese and spinach with a peach mimosa. And that's how you brunch at Zuni Cafe.

The cutest novelty fortune cookie glycerin soap.

My lemon bars lasted 15 minutes in the office. Bunch of vultures.

Lunchtime power salad. Fully loaded with faking bacon.

Homemade donuts, a breakfast gift from friends, comes with a free muffin top!

My good friend N was married on the 32nd Floor of the historic Saint Francis Hotel in Union Square at sunset. It was truly an amazing event including the whimsical cake!

I enjoyed the roast chicken with seasonal veggies which always tastes better with an open bar!

The prime beef dinner was equally impressive, juicy and full of flavor...enjoyed after way too many crab cake appetizers!

Two types of dark chocolate, smuggled in luggage from South America...we ate the one with almonds while watching an episode of Tony Bourdain's No Reservations. Early the same day, I ate two pieces of the chocolate with chile. Whoa, it really kicks in the heat!

My coworker who recently traveled to Brazil was generous enough to bring back this adorable bottle of pure Vanilla for me.

Brunch Club

2010-02-28T18:38:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to be invited to join the Sunday Brunch Club that a bunch of wonderful ladies put together every month-ish or so. This is Somerset in Rockridge, east bay. Rich, creamy, delicious meals, best served with a white peach mimosa and a bowl of coffee.

2010-02-26T10:27:00.000-08:00

After taking a trip to the museum on a drizzly wet Saturday, I treated myself to one of my favorite meals....meat on a stick! Askew Grill in Laurel Village has a fireplace which serves as a human plate warmer. Hmm...beef sticks!!

On a particularly warm sunny day this week, my friend S and I sat curbside for a weekday lunch at Harvest and Rowe in SOMA...spinach salad with balsamic vinegarette, enjoyed best via sunshine and tap water.

Here is what my co-worker J calls on his FB page...the latest crack to hit the streets of San Francisco...Belgium Waffle Truck goodies! Yes, similar to the taco truck experience, but instead it's gooey, heart pounding sweet waffle goodness. That's Nutella and whipped cream smothered on top, served on a post-it note napkin. Believe.

The Long Winter Road

2010-02-20T12:05:00.000-08:00

Such a shame really...I've been meaning to update the blog many times in the past couple months, but life seems to get so busy! No excuses. Here it goes. We made it through the holidays with family feasts, birthday parties and yes, even a successful diet. No way! You say? Yes, way. I say! The hubby and I have managed to cut down the calories and carbs, both resulting in 10lbs of winter fat...gone. We're on maintenance mode now, enjoying home cooked meals and lots of fresh local food. Napa's finest commodity, hand picked grapes. A lunch plate of Filipino red meat and rice. A Mission burrito. Farmer's Market peppers.

...ok maybe the neon orange goldfish goodies aren't "fresh" but what food actually smiles back at you? Oh well, if you count the Spongebob cookie, I guess technically two foods smiled for the camera.

And The Decepticon...what appeared to be juicy apples are actually Japanese plums, sweet surprise.

Kinder Schokolade

2009-09-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

Willkommen...all the way from Deutschland (that's Germany folks!) "Kinder Schokolade" loosely translated is a kids chocolate candy bar made with "milch"...of the milk variety. This was actually purchased in Germany and given specifically to me along with a bag of everyone's favorite jelly bear. The milk chocolate was incredibly sweet, as I'm usually a dark choco fan. It left a lingering milky after taste, probably because of the high milk content...and just look at that kids face! Happier than he's ever been. Eaten within the hour, the gummy bears were almost beyond perfection! Granted it's been at least 10 years since I've indulged in a handful of these goodies; I'm talking about the REAL ones in the gold bag from Germany, not the sticky American ones at the grocery store. They were not too chewy, not at all stale like all the gummy bears available in the 1970s packages, remember those? Gotta go...currently nursing a tummy ache, sugar overload...auf wiedersehen!

Eating in Seattle

2009-08-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

Seattle is a beautiful city nestled next to bodies of water that supply the area with fresh catch of the day! We had the pleasure of visiting the historic Pike's Place Market and feasting on local goodies including cherry tomatoes from my friends garden and a chocolate carmel with salt from Cupcake Royal! There's a fish monger, an upscale specialty store with lots and lots of imported cheese and an equally impressive supply of chocolate bars! Picked up an 82% dark bar from local chocolatier Theo, tasty! Of course I insisted we visit the original Starbucks coffee shop, which didn't disappoint with it's league of faithful followers, line out the door, quartet of sidewalk singing....ya know, the everyday normal stuff. Seattle's streets are packed with lovely outdoor sculptures in every public space, it's a real artist community. We'll be back soon!

TORTAS!!!

2009-08-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

A torta is a Mexcian sandwich, similar to a sub sammy...a large roll piled high with lots of ingredients. We cruised into Tortas El Primo (Folsom/21st) for a little breakfast at 9:30am last Tuesday. It was empty, but great service and easy parking. This is carne asada and fried eggs layered with a thick piece of contija cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo--served warm. Is it just me or is that a generous serving?

Ladies Who Lunch, My First Garden Party

2009-08-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

Back at our old apartment, we used to throw an "End O' the Summer" bash in August. Well, it's my turn to switch it up! Basically we needed inspiration to clean up the backyard and create a patio we can enjoy. And what better way to speed up the process than by committing to a garden party! We spent only 2 days to turn our dirt lot into a pretty Tuscan inspired outdoor lounge that included pink bougainvilleas, purple peonies and lovely new furniture. Here's the spread from my Ladies Who Lunch Brunch (whole foods did the heavy lifting on this one, but I made good with the bloody mary's...whoa mama)

Tiers and Tears of Joy, It was the Summer of Weddings (#3)

2009-08-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

We attended 5 weddings in 9 weeks this summer! Two were family and three were friends...it was an honor to celebrate all of them...just look at those desserts!!

Catching Up with Food Photos #2

2009-08-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

An amazing spread of sinful delights from my sister's bridal shower...dee-lish! Mango with avocado, roasted veggies and strawberry smoothie shooters!

Food Adventures, Part(y) #1

2009-08-17T12:43:00.001-07:00

A chocolate, yellow duck called QUAX didn't make it on the ride home from a hot Easter Sunday! Flames of Fire from Something Fishy in Santa Barbara (guess who made a quick detour to see the Neverland gates 3 days post-mortem?) A creamy, pistachio green 'tini at Charlie Chaplin's Hotel in SB, CA.

Mom's 60th birthday party

2009-06-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my Mom's 60th birthday, we threw her a "Sweet 60" themed party! Candies, cookies, flowers, drinks and a full spread of edibles...including fake sushi made from confections. Life is SWEET!

Basil Friday!!

2009-04-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of mandolux

ROAR!!

2009-03-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

How cute are these dinosaur cakes? Last weekend we celebrated cousin Daniel's 3rd birthday...a dinosaur themed extravaganza! Aunt Sheryl created these wonderful lemon and chocolate desserts complete with baked coconut shavings and Italian parsley palm trees. Very adorable.

A different kind of bar...

2009-03-03T11:17:00.001-08:00

Not many people can announce this but...I love salad! Big, hearty, veggie filled crunchy bites of condiments. I eat salad at least once, maybe twice a week for lunch. And I pile on the textures....eggs, beans, cheese, a little meat and bacon bits (which is also little meat!). RJ's Market near Levi Plaza has an amazing salad bar, filled with 3 types of lettuce, mounds of fresh vegatables and a dozen variations of salad dressings. Not inexpensive at $7.49/lb, but well worth it if you need a salad fix!

More cheese please!

2009-02-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

Goat cheese used to be considered "a poor man's cheese" because farmers who ate it couldn't afford the upkeep of cows. Now, goat cheese is considered "en vogue" and trendy, fancy and sophisticated. I call it delicious! I'm currently enjoying the French goat cheese "crottin de chevre". It's light in taste, like whipped butter with herbs. It's soft texture is spreadable on my selection of 3 salty meats: mortadella, genova salame and coppa. Montchevre makes an excellent award winning goat cheese found at Trader Joe's.

Fromager d'Affinois

2009-02-17T14:36:00.000-08:00

Never, ever again. No, thank you. Granted my expectation was a bit high for the $15 per pound price tag, but it did not deliver after the first bite or the tenth bite. I purchased a small wedge of this double creme brie-like cheese as my after lunch treat. It's appearance was butter soft, oozing and melty at room temperature. The rind isn't thick and it didn't smell rotten. But the taste? Sad to say, my immediate response was "...glue, I'm eating glue!" It's made from French cows milk, probably grazing in a natural safe environment. Do not confuse this cheese with brie! It looks exactly like it, but brie takes 8 weeks to perfection...Fromager d'Affinois takes 2 weeks. It's quick aging process is evident and I'm sorry but I can't appreciate it like others. So if you like earthy, mushroomy, daycare glue paste tasting cheese, this is for you.

Gewurztraminer and Beaulieu

2009-01-08T21:14:00.000-08:00

What a mouthful people! Funny, I can't pronounce either of these words. The Germans at Fetzer produces the G-wurz goodness...you can't go wrong with the fruity aroma and mildly sweet taste. I always find myself reaching for another glass once the bottle is open. Don't let the price tag fool ya. It's relatively affordable (translation: it's cheaper than a specialty coffee drink!) but it's flavor is light and crisp and goes down perfect when chilled to a cold temp. Enjoy! Ahhh, the French. Or at least it sounds like a French word....Beaulieu Vineyards (BV as I like to call them) makes a wonderful 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. Lucky for me, BV is made locally in the Napa Valley, fermented and aged in oak barrels for 18 months. This wine is perfect for a nice, quiet dinner at home. A girl can dream, can't she?

And if you're wondering who those yahoos are pictured above, well put Sideways in your netflix queue and find out!

"This family is ICE CREAM deprived!!"

2009-01-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

...this is what my hubby Matt declared at 11:45am this morning while we drove past Mitchell's Ice Cream shop in the Mission District! Yes, in fact our family is deprived of fresh, homemade ice cream. Of course we had to grab a few pints of mint chocolate chip before heading home. Reason being...the store was completely empty...this NEVER happens. Mitchell's is an SF institute, an old school store that's packed with customers, day and night, with a line of customers streaming down the block. It's the middle of winter here, it rained yesterday and we indulged in ice cream like it's mid-July! Check them out if you're in the hood. On another note, I entered into the Scharffenberger Chocolate Adventure Contest with my Chocolate Rosemary Creme Brulee made with coconut milk. Fragrant and yummy...an original recipe from me!

3000 miles to SNL...

2008-12-23T10:57:00.000-08:00

[not food related]

My friend M has been trying to score tickets to the live taping of Saturday Night Live for the past 3 years. She's been sending in her request during the month of August in hopes of getting "the call". Well, she got the call (and email confirmation) from the SNL producers that she won 2 tickets to the Dec 13 taping! It was to be the last show of the year, Amy Poehler's last episode and featured Hugh Laurie and the one/only Kayne West. (I should mention that we felt especially privledged to score these tickets when we learned from a security guard that 98,000 people apply for tickets and they only distribute 200 per episode!) We flew 3000 miles from Cali to the Big Apple, anticipating the NYC experience at Christmas time. We did the normal tourist stuff including crazy taxi cab rides and a subway ride in the wrong direction....good times! On Saturday 12/13 we wait in line for hours at 30 Rockafeller Center Plaza, standing in line as #18-19 (or there abouts), chatting it up with a couple from Long Island and a Mom/Son from Jersey. The usher hands us our pink entry tickets which are quickly taken back after passing through security. (Luckily we took a picture with our tickets, such dorks) It's a heavily guarded building and elevator ride. They give us wrist bands (our only physical souvenir) and we're directed to our seats. Ok, the SNL set is TINY! Much smaller than you would imagine. Audience seats are balcony with limited stage visibility due to the lighting equipment and huge HD screens in front of us. All the sets are lightweight, wooden and on wheels with grips moving them from here to there. Lorne Michaels is walking around in a suit. Maya Rudolph warms up the crowd by singing a Tina Turner cover wearing a shimmery gold dress. It's 11:30pm and the lights dim and it's like watching a play. We are sitting on the left side of the stage where Kayne performs. Let me say for the record...he came out and wiped down the stage himself before getting up and taking the mike. He definitely did NOT lip sync his performance. And after the show wrapped and was off the air, Kayne performed 3 more songs for the crowd including "I ain't saying she a gold digger..." It was awesome! Once outside a crowd had gathered in hopes of taking photos with the SNL players. Sure, why not. We hung out and saw Jason Sudakais, I took a photo with Will Forte (loved him as "the actor" in FOTC season 1). All said, we had a great time in NYC. I can't say the food was outstanding (except for Joe's Pizza near NYU) but next time I visit, it will be during the warmer months.

Happy Holidays....goodbye 08!

2008-12-22T14:24:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe that 7 months have passed since my last post, and here we are in the throws of massive consumption...THE HOLIDAYS! In the last half of this monumental year, we've enjoyed a gorgeous Indian summer in the bay area, a presidential victory to match no other and a plethora of incredible eats, none of which I have photo proof! Disappointing to say the least. I remember it now...the last post in Auguest was during my brief stage of unemployment. New job brought new lunchtime eating opportunities! Round here, I've enjoyed lunches at Houston's Restaurant, Il Fornaio and RJ's Market in Levi's Plaza, the famous Fog City Diner and drinks at Butterfly. All expensive options but high quality food for a foodie, no doubt! During the low-on-cash days, I frequent Paul's Deli for a sandwich and Chinese food at Tan's III and an occasional visit to In and Out Burgers at Fisherman's Wharf. During the last days of summer, we could be found tailgaiting in the A's parking lot...deep fried turkey (yum!) and hand dipped fried Snickers (not yum). In October for my son's baptism party, we fiested on tacos from La Corneta in Glen Park. Muy bien! For Thanksgiving, we enjoyed homemade minestrone soup and mounds of meat...cooked to perfection! Business slowed for my etsy cookie store, allowing me to experiment with a butter pecan recipe. (It needs work, I'll admit) I'm currently seeking inspiration for chocolate...so I can enter the Scharffen Berger recipe content in January. To top it off, Christmas and New Years are around the corner so I'm all geared up and ready to go...stretch waistbands and a blankie for my nap here I come!!

Hammy Sammy

2008-08-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, I made that up. It's really a ham 'n cheese melted sandwich from Jovino's on Union Street. Went to lunch last week with my friends M&R for our monthly lunch outing. Now that I think about it....I was unemployed, it was a sunny Friday afternoon in San Francisco...I should have enjoyed a glass of wine!! The service is friendly, the food is delicious, the salad dressing is amazing and the seating is aplenty! If you're in the neighborhood, check them out...let me know what you think!

Back in the game...

2008-07-22T16:27:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. Many weeks have lapsed since my last post. Many things have happened in those weeks. Starting with getting laid off in early June, finally finding the perfect bridesmaid dress for my sister in laws wedding, Rocco was a fit model for the clothing designers at Gymboree, attended 3 weddings 3 weeks in row and (drumroll please) my shortbread cookies won FIRST PLACE at the Marin County Fair baking contest!! I also won a special award....Runner Up for BEST IN SHOW!!! Yup. Pretty cool. But that's not even the best part....my baby boy Rocco modelled in a photo shoot for the holiday edition catalog for POTTERY BARN!! No joke. We just got back from the shoot, it was awesome. Stay tuned for those hitting the stands this winter. I'll be sure the whole world knows when it comes out. As for being a foodie? Well let's just say because I'm looking for a job these days, I'm not really eating out that often. An unintentional diet. If you'd like to order my "award winning" Almond Flower Cookies, please visit my online store at Etsy. My username is GroovyCookies (email or call me, I'll hook ya up!)

George's Giant Hamburger

2008-05-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

...no kidding George! These burgers are large and in charge! If you happen to be at the intersection of Newall and S. Main Street in Walnut Creek...swing by this local favorite burger joint. I always say...there's never enough bacon and cheese and toppings in the world...but you'd be hard pressed to find a more generous portion than this!

Happy Cows Come From...

2008-05-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

...the California Wine Country! Ah, the warm breeze of the Napa Valley...gently moving the flowers in the meadows...and flickering the flags that sparkle on the grapevines. This is the backdrop for this past bachelorette weekend, cruising in a stretch limo with a broken air conditioner and dropping the beats on our wine tour. We enjoyed a tasting at Domaine Carneros and a lemon drop shot at the local seedy bar before hanging out by the pool and relaxing in the 90 degree weather. Is it summer yet?

man down!!

2008-05-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

Poor little orange cupcake, I had to save it from it's injury. Luckily one bite was all it took! My friend M gave me these 3 little gems yesterday as a thank you for watching her cat, Duncan. One was delicious red velvet, one was spicy (like pumpkin I think) and the other was eaten so fast I can't remember what it was...yellow cake maybe? Such a nice afternoon treat on a monumental day, May 15. Yesterday was Bike to Work Day. Yesterday the Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriages...a big win for Mayor Newsom who lobbied hard for this victory. Yesterday was one of the hottest days in San Francisco since the 1800s. Yesterday the temperature inside our house was close to 90, with the fan on and several windows open. Yesterday is over.

Currently obsessed with...

2008-05-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

...the Simply Breakfast blog. I can't even remember how I stumbled upon this website, but I absolutely love it. The concept is simple...it's a daily portait of a New Yorker's breakfast. The photos are gorgeous, I can't figure out how to get lighting for my photos like this!! My favorite meal of the day is breakfast; so I'm facinated by the variety of food eaten everyday. Inspired by food again. Thank you toast.

Photo courtesy of simplybreakfast.blogspot.com

Let them eat cake!

2008-05-08T15:19:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, we celebrated 2 birthdays, our friends Sergio and Vikki. As part of that celebration we indulged in a double chocolate cake from Schubert's Bakery. Located on Clement in the Inner Richmond (my old 'hood), they offer incredible edibles. Pasteries and wedding cakes are their specialty and I can vouch for the wedding cake...they made ours. And it didn't brake the bank. Chocolate deliciousness.

Alemany Farmers Market, Sat 4/26 11am

2008-04-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Chaos. There's no other way to describe the parking fiasco of my visit to the local grocers this past Saturday. People yelling at each other, fists pumping in the air with mocked threats of madness. It was unusally hot in San Francisco this weekend (close to the 80s is considered quite warm around these parts). It must have been the morning heat that inspired everyone and their temper to hit up the Alemany Farmer's Market. After spending 30 minutes in the car at a snail's pace with a cranky 6-month old, I was determined to enjoy this experience at all costs. And when we finally stepped up to our bread guy from Panorama Bakery, it made all the difference. Passionate breadmaker dude made friendly conversation with everyone, especially little Rocco who was flirting with all the ladies in line. Got my sourdough baguette and olive loaf, done. At the veggie stands, I scored a gorgeous bundle of fresh picked basil, huge stalks of dill and cilantro-$1 each! Found elephant garlic at Trader Joes, added some quality olive oil and a bruschetta lunch is served.

Sashimi anyone?

2008-04-21T09:56:00.001-07:00

As I'm driving to work this morning, I turn the corner and my first thought is...look a giant fish! The official title, "The Salmon Truck" is being promoted by the North Olympic Salmon Coalition, a non-profit organization that provides support for salmon habitat restoration and enhancement.

Yes, winning is everything.

2008-04-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Last week, I hosted the monthly poker night and I needed inspiration for dessert. Then it dawned on me...bitesized chocolate cheesecakes are perfect! Rewind to the early 90s, I was a receptionist for a Toyota dealership, 19 years old. As a company bonding exercise, they held a dessert contest for all the employees to participate. Never one to shun competition, I had to be a part of it! I needed to see where I rank. I distinctly remember the experience...I flipped through my Mom's limited cookbooks and found a recipe clipping for a no-bake chocolate cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. I slightly modified the crust recipe, making it with crushed Oreo's and turned them into bitesized chocolate cheesecakes! It was the first place winner...Grand Prize? Fifty bucks. At that very moment I realized, it's not about the prize money but about the bragging rights. Fast forward to last week. I attempted to reclaim my victorious recipe only to forget the exact measurements...resulting in a slightly mushy version of the original.

Mini Cupcakes Don't Have Calories

2008-04-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

You know that feeling when you get home and start craving something sweet? We served these at a wedding shower last weekend and I regret not eating more than one! If you find yourself in San Mateo, swing by Sibby's Cupcakery for a delicious treat. These were cute and bite-sized, moist and flavorful. There's no way these things are bad for you.

This is so wrong...

2008-04-01T10:38:00.001-07:00

...but I couldn't help it. For Easter, the kids received cute little goodies. The best being, well, a Gold Grill. I couldn't resist putting this silly contraption in my 4 month old's mouth. I'm sure the high fructose corn syrup isn't doing him any favors.

Calling it!

2008-03-27T14:48:00.000-07:00

Season 4 of Top Chef is finally here and it's awesome! The first episode brought back everyone's favorite celebrity jackass judge...Anthony Bourdain. This guy is such a badass and he doesn't care. That's why he's rad. Yeah. Sure he probably smells like an ashtray and is a cocky bastard but isn't that what legends are made of?? So far all the contestants are interesting, especially fond of the folks from SF. So I'm calling the final 3 right now. Mark, the guy from New Zealand (wonder if he knows Bret-n-Jemaine?). Andrew, the redhead with a fiery personality. He's just too crazy to be a loser on this show. Lastly, I want to say Ryan will make it to the final round, but something tells me Jennifer with the faux-hawk is going to bring it home for the ladies. It's about time a girl wins Top Chef, she looks like a winner to me. Back to the first episode, does it bare mentioning the obvious...but dang Chef Rocco DiSpirito is really hot. Footnote here, I've never seen his tv show The Restaurant which I'm a little bummed about. And I did not name my kid after him. It's just a coincidence. Swear.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-22T11:26:00.001-07:00

What came first...the chicken or the decorative egg?

Food for Thought

2008-03-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since my last post and somehow time hasn't slowed down enough for a new blog entry. Well here we are...only 15 minutes to squeeze in a quick post. March was filled with take-out for Matt's birthday, a home cooked meal for our friends with a newborn and a Thai lunch with a crying baby. Rocco that is.

One of my pet peeves is blurry photos...especially if I took the photo that looks awful. I always insist on taking 2 pictures, one for safety just in case. Well in this case, I only took 1 blurry image of a homemade chocolate cake. The recipe on the back of Nestle's baking cocoa said "Moist Chocolate Cake" but it wasn't very moist and not very tasty.

On Valentine's Day, I had lunch with my friends M and R at A16 on Chestnut. We enjoyed the meatball appetizer and pizza. Very delicious! I'll definitely revisit for dinner since the wine selection looks incredible. Gotta run!

Could you resist this dessert?

2008-02-26T18:35:00.000-08:00

This incredible chocolate dessert travelled 400 miles north, all the way from Main Street in Disneyland. That's right. My mom bought this cherry-n-nuts-n-chocolate-n-carmel-covered apple for Matt to enjoy. It took much constraint to control my temptation to eat it. Imagine a large green Granny Smith apple dipped in a thick layer of soft carmel, then covered in rich dark chocolate, drizzled with milk chocolate, crushed almonds and maraschino cherries! Yum. We spent 2 days in the Happiest Place on Earth, eating giant smoked turkey legs and oversized smoothies. In the evening, we indulged in burgers and a beer at the Yard House in Newport Beach. They offer over 100 beers on tap, I played it safe with a pint of Peroni. Disneyland is truly a special place...thankfully the food has gotten better over the years.

Valentine Dinner

2008-02-16T08:49:00.000-08:00

On Valentine's Day, I wanted to surprise Matt with a delicious homemade dinner. Since I never get tired of a good piece of red meat, I decided to splurge on a couple pounds of filet minon. It came unsliced, like a roast so I was a bit hesitant about it's flavor and quality. But at $10 per pound, I felt confident these steaks would deliver! Paired with the steak were asparagus, sauteed yellow bell peppers and pearl onions, topped with an amazing sauce. Now, I'm always in search of a good beef marinade from cookbooks, the internet, the Food Network or experimentation. This time I decided to use Matt's method that he perfected from trial and error. Here's how it's done: Pre-heat the oven at 450. Tenderize the meat and sprinkle generous portions of kosher salt, black pepper and paprika on both sides. Put a tablespoon of olive oil in a hot pan until it starts to smoke. Gently put the steak in the pan, it will fry immediately. Watch for splatter! Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Matt likes to add a pat of butter at this point and fry each side for another 2 minutes. The edges get nice 'n crispy, the meat is a perfect color, but the inside is raw. Cover the pan with foil and put into the 450 oven for 5 minutes on each side. Put the meat on a plate to let it "rest", covered with foil. Now for the best part...the vinegar reduction sauce. Put the fry pan with meat juices on the stovetop on low heat. Gently add 4-5 tablespoons of high quality balsamic vinegar. We used San Giuliano Alghero Balsamic Vinegar of Modena; it's made in Italy and aged for 10 years, incredible stuff. Wisk the vinegar with the meat juices until all the water has evaporated and viola...vinegar reduction au jus sauce! The flavors are incredible, it made for a lovely dinner.

A Perfect Day

2008-02-11T18:55:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday on a beautiful San Francisco day with Matt and Rocco. The sun was shining in Washington Square Park as we ate pesto pasta from Caffe Sport, my favorite North Beach restaurant...we picked up handmade chocolates from XOX Truffles...brought home a pound of freshly ground Graffeo coffee...then laughed ourselves silly watching a couple episodes of Flight of the Conchords.

If you get a chance, try a sampling of decadent candies from local chocolatier, XOX Truffles. The champagne ones are rich and intense in flavor.

Superbowl Sunday

2008-02-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

What kinda host would we be if Matt didn't cook prime rib in rock salt on Superbowl Sunday? Unfortunately, the tender 10lbs. of beef were devoured before I could take a photo of its glory but I did manage to capture the full spread of goodies before kickoff. Honey-glazed ham, green salad, pasta salad, fruit salad, veggie-n-dip appetizers, meat-n-cheese antipasto and lots of cookies! My batch of oatmeal raisin cookies turned out slightly undercooked and stuck to the non-stick baking sheet so my friend Steve invented a new dessert...Cookie Balls. He drizzled melted chocolate and sprinkled powdered sugar on top. Brilliant. And delicious. The game wasn't very interesting but I'm happy the NY Giants won. The commercials? Eh, not worth the $2 million price tag.

Not #9

2008-01-29T10:02:00.000-08:00

Shhh...I'm a little hesitant to share the best kept secret in the world of hoagies. Ya know, just ask anyone where you can get their favorite sandwich and they will pause before answering. It's true. I've been to many sandwich shops and I love the initial smell of fresh baked bread and cold cuts when it hits you at the door. Heck, my first job was as a sandwich maker at Togo's. I came to love the #9 sandwich, microwaving hot pastrami and smothering it with mustard. But over the years, I've been a less frequent customer of Togo's and have been in search of locally made hoagies. Finding an incredible tasting sandwich and sharing it with the internet makes me "pause before answering." Well...here it is. Located in a shack-like building the size of a trailer, it's weathered exterior is almost enough to drive by without even noticing it. Little Lucca is always packed with a long line of devoted customers, patiently waiting for their first bite. I especially love the Chipotle Bird sandwich. It's so special it's not even listed on their menu--it's written on a piece of paper hanging above the bread. It's served warm and packed with mounds of meat and cheese and different veggies and spreads, too many to list! It takes longer than usual to make but worth the wait. If you can find Little Lucca's in South San Francisco, you're in for a treat.

Everything in Moderation

2008-01-28T13:56:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we indulged in a tasty array of gourmet desserts from Ambrosia Bakery. My personal favorite is the triple layer chocolate mousse with mocha and cream. It goes particularly well with a glass of processco (bubbly Italian spritzer). It's like eating little pieces of art made of high quality ingredients like fresh berries and rich dark chocolate. Located on Ocean at 19th Ave it's definately worth the trip to this tiny neighborhood storefront. This place also reminds me of Shubert's Bakery on Clement in the Richmond district. They serve incredible cakes, pies and petit fours. My friend suggested using Shubert's for my wedding cake which was moist, delicious, beautifully decorated, on time and reasonably priced. Winner in my book. I've only eaten desserts from both places, so I'll be back to try the artisan bread.

French Onion Soup

2008-01-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

I love soup on cold rainy days, especially in winter. Here's my version of French onion soup, slightly modified from the Paris cookbook by Williams-Sonoma. There's something very comforting about simmering veggies in the afternoon, filling the kitchen with spicy aroma. The original recipe calls for yellow onions (I used white and purple). It also suggests brut white wine, I've substituted cheap German sweet wine. Classic flavors, low calorie and not too heavy.

Saute thinly sliced onions in 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 cup of white wine (caution: add wine away from stovetop, alcohol may flame), salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon dry oregano. Add 1 can of beef broth for each onion used, bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Lower temperature and simmer for 20 minutes. Pour into oven-safe soup bowl, add a few croutons then sprinkle mild cheese to cover the top of the bowl. Broil for 5 minutes until cheese bubbles and creates a hard "lid". Let it cool slightly before digging in. Slice a sourdough bagette and voila!

Happy New Years!

2008-01-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

Following yesterday's rain storm, we decided to brave the elements and head to the Napa Valley wine country! We started the day with breakfast at the Tennessee Grill on Taraval. I've been going there for years, since the college days when we lived a couple blocks away. Their Denver omelete is good size and not greasy. We finally hit the road and encountered a heavy downpour in northern Marin before arriving at the doorstep of Napa. Nestled on a main street near a charming neighborhood, I stumbled upon a big pink and white striped building, The Butter Cream Bakery. I ordered their most popular dessert the pink champagne cake, along with a spicy raisin cookie, a chocolate eclair and a rainbow butterfly shortbread cookie. We were completely surprised by the delicately flavored butterfly; we proclaimed it...the new favorite! Down the road we picked up marinated tri-tip at Vallergas Market. This small locally owned grocer sells organic produce and gourmet fare like Black Mission Fig Jam, made by The Girl and The Fig. This amazing spread is delicious even if it's a bit overpriced. A great way to start 2008!

Surf 'n Turf

2007-12-28T15:42:00.000-08:00

Surf and turf was the theme for our friends dinner party this year. We fired up the grill on a chilly December evening and cooked carne asada (marinated skirt steak of the beef variety) that paired nicely with cracked crab and pot roast. Yum! A couple of glasses of wine later and we were toasty next to the fireplace with dessert...homemade chocolate mousse, fresh whipped creme and a coconut cupcake. The chocolate mousse was delicious, thick and rich, served in our friends Grandmother's china. Classy touch. This year was definitely a "chocolate christmas". There were cakes, brownies, cookies, truffles, cupcakes, xmas bark, chocolate milk, nuts and chews, you name it. I ate it. Not one to swear off food, but 2008 will be the year of cutting back, so to speak. A little less sweet, a little less savory, a little older, a little wiser. But before the year ends, there's one more dinner party and of course ringing in the new year in style! Back to the kitchen for one last cheesy indulgence in 2007!

'Tis the Season!

2007-12-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season for holiday cookies and treats! The next door neighbor made these decadent goodies in her small outdated kitchen. She hand-piped icing from a plastic baggie for the gingerman. The inside of the sugar cookies are lined with homemade currant jam using the currants growing in her backyard. Yes, the tiny backyard that mirrors ours. Except ours is littered with blackberry vines in spring, anise in summer, apples in fall and right now--wild clovers! Admittedly, I have a weakness for homemade cookies. Well...actually any baked goodies that aren't mass produced. Which is why my friend M and I tried Kara's Cupcakes near Chestnut Street. For the $3 price tag, we were under-thrilled with the lack of selection. We thought the flavor might deliver, but unfortunately it was average. Too bad really. But if you're looking for an incredible bakery try Dianda's, the Italian American Pastry Co--home of the original Italian rum cake. Located on Mission and 24th, this small modest storefront makes a wonderful tiramisu cake. It doesn't disappoint! We're entering the final days of the holiday season and there are dinners to attend, cookies to consume and presents to open. Til then!

What's leftover?

2007-12-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

During these past months, eating big meals were not possible. So I found myself experimenting with eating several small portions every few hours. What a challenge! And unfortunately I didn't have enough energy to focus on photographing my food, so these are by family and friends. Now my days are spent around the feeding schedule of the little guy, so leftovers become necessary. Cooking a homemade dish is almost impossible so the microwave is my new best friend. Going out to eat has been replaced with pick-up at La Corneta in Glen Park and quick trips to the farmer's market, Costco and Trader Joe's. The best part is I get to feast on "brunchner" (breakfast, lunch and dinner anytime!) Breaded pork chops for breakfast, spagetti for lunch and jalepeno poppers for a snack. Sigh. With all this time spent at home, it has inspired some cooking creativeness. I'm off to the kitchen to try Rachel Ray's recipe for homemade mac and cheese...yum!

Oh, Baby!

2007-12-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

Boy oh boy! Well it's been almost exactly nine months since my last post, including one major change on the homefront. Baby Rocco has joined our family! During these past months, pregnancy cravings included lots of fruit and lots of red meat which lead to gestational diabetes. Many weeks were spent measuring portions and testing levels. There's been three baby showers, two weddings, a bridal shower, airline snacks, limited sugar, zero cheese, no alcohol and plenty of decaf coffee. It was a tough road, but well worth the effort. Now I can't wait to explore the restaurant world with digital camera in one hand and Rocco with his stylish flaming Vans!

2007-03-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

It's hard not being a coffee snob in the culture we live in these days. A quick google search shows that San Francisco ranks #8 in the top 10 cities with the greatest number of coffee shops...373. We are far behind LA (801) and the Seattle area (628). Heck even Minneapolis has more coffee shops than we do (384). But to put it into perspective, the City and County of San Francisco occupies a small area of 7x7 prime real estate, that's only 49 square miles. Last I checked, Los Angeles county was 469 square miles, but I digress. So yesterday a family friend gave us a pound of freshly ground Graffeo coffee, his "favorite". Admittedly, I've certainly heard of Graffeo. I've seen it sold around the city but never seen in the grocery stores. My absolute favorite coffee is Peerless Coffee sold at the best little donut store on 11th & Clement. Like Graffeo, I've never seen Peerless sold at my local grocer. In college, I used to drink gallons of Don Francisco but started experimenting with other brands. While at my sister's house in Orange County a year ago, she made me a cup of Don Francisco's! Could it be? Indeed it was! So I open up the freezer this morning and discover that I have no less than 5 different types of coffee to choose from: French Roast from SF Bay, Kona from Cost Plus, Hazelnut from DF's, some random gross decaf and the newly gifted Graffeo. So I say...hey, let's try it! Aw man, he's not joking. Graffeo is now my absolute favorite coffee in the world! It's got an incredibly smooth taste, no acidic after math, a hearty bouquet, a clean finish if you will...just like good wine. It's sold in a little shop in North Beach that I will gladly make a special trip for. What a nice way to start my day!

Dragon Well

2007-03-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

I ate lunch with my friend R at this great Chinese place called Dragon Well on Chestnut Street in the Marina District. It seems the minute San Francisco has sunny weather, everyone takes a lunch break to enjoy the beautiful city. Today was no exception, especially since it's the official first day of spring! I indulged on veggie pot stickers and lettuce cups with sauteed chicken, quite delicious! Relaxing atmosphere and sun streaming through the front windows made the overall experience a nice treat!

Joe's of Westlake

2007-03-19T19:22:00.000-07:00

It's practically an institution around these parts! If you haven't been to Joe's of Westlake in Daly City, you are missing out on a good ol' fashioned restaurant for the working man. This place still looks like a coffee shop/truck stop/diner from the 70's. Crazy patterned carpet, pleather covered booths, mirrored walls and plastic foliage creates quite an impression to hungry diners. Don't look for anything fancy, this place offers a full spread of classic dishes like my ravioli with meatballs served by tuxedo clad old school waiters. What I like about this place is that it remindes me of that suburban feel of Mr Perry's in South Sacramento where we used to frequent for family gatherings.

Gary Danko

2007-03-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

To round out Matt's birthday celebration, we dined at Gary Danko; one of San Francisco's Five Star Restaurants. This was our second visit and I was looking forward to a delicious meal, it did not disappoint! Having only made reservations earlier in the day, the only time available was 9:30pm on Monday night. We selected a four course dinner starting with the amuse buse of green gazpacho soup served in the tiniest dish. First course was fantastic lobster salad and beet salad. The second course was our "lobster course". We enjoyed lobster risotto and roasted Maine lobster, absolutely delicious, cooked perfectly. For the main course we opted for beef tenderloin and stuffed quail! It was pretty funny to see Matt nibbling on a tiny quail bone like it was a chicken leg! The indulgence continued with dessert: blueberry french toast and a selection of cheese from around the world. The triple creme brie was 75% butter fat, so good. I did not enjoy the cheese from Georgia but the Roaring 40s bleu cheese was nice and salty. Gary Danko is a San Francisco staple of fine dining, not to be missed.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

2007-03-07T09:06:00.000-08:00

Translation "May prosperity be with you in the new year!" Matt's birthday weekend coincided with the Chinese New Year's Celebration and the WonderCon comic book convention, double-whammy! Before geeking out at "the Con", we stopped to lunch on clam chowder bowls at Boudin's, by far my favorite sourdough bread store. Later in the day we watched upcoming movie trailers, checked out comic books, got my picture taken with the artist Jim Lee and enjoyed lots of people watching. That evening I stumbled upon the crowded Chinese New Year's parade en route Market Street. Unintentionally, I ended up standing next to the handsome Mayor Gavin Newsom. Having recently dodged personal scandal, he seemed poised and almost shy...maybe because his handeler and security were everywhere! On Sunday we celebrated (again) with a big homemade lunch and hours of Guitar Hero II. Rock on!

Ristorante Marcello

2007-03-03T08:15:00.000-08:00

This old school Italian restaurant was crowded with Sunset District diners during last night's Friday dinner reservations. To kick off Matt's birthday weekend, his Mom treated us to this retro San Francisco eating establishment. (Of course, we had to check it out because of it's name too!) Located on the corner of Taraval/31st, it sits on the Muni train L-line, periodically rumbling the ground, mimicking the 4.2 earthquake from one week ago. Inside the double doors with a quick scan of the room, you'll see a long bar (fully stocked), a friendly hostess, prestine white walls tastefully decorated with vintage Italian bric-a-brac, dim lighting and no windows. We had great service from our waiter, who wore an immaculate black tux and tie and the bus boys in matching mustard colored tuxedos. Classy. We opted for the full course dinner which includes soup or salad, pasta del giorno (bolognese), an entree and a drink. The Italian dressing on the salad was incredible, the sauce on the pasta was delicious and my New York steak was perfectly cooked. This is the type of place where you go to relax and enjoy a homecooked meal, unpretentious and uncomplicated. It's the type of place where the Rat Pack would have enjoyed a late night binge of booze and babes, shrouded in a cloud of cigar smoke.

Fabulous February Food Fest

2007-03-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

While compiling the latest round of photos, it occured to me each photo (roughly) represents my social calendar for February. Uncanny. Let's begin with the top two rows of photos, Welcome to Meat Alley. 02/04/07 Superbowl Sunday: Matt prepared delicious prime rib, slow roasted for hours in a bed of rock salt; a 20 pound turkey "relaxing" at 160 degree temp! The table is prepared with munchies and more meat for the masses. Second week of February: initially attracted to the cute little pink can labelled "HOT" but what a disappointment. Thankfully, I am not an "energy drink" person. No wonder it didn't make it onto Screaming Energy. My friend M's homemade cookies and a cup of tea at my desk. Aw...a little break...before the birthday celebration weekend begins! I share the EXACT same bday as my friend Stacey, so we always try to spend it together. She hosted Casino Night with a full-size craps table in her dining room! Sweet. Continuing the celebration weekend with family dinner at Benihana's. Meat and veggies grilled for entertainment purposes including an onion volcano (that did not impress my two-year nephew) and that incredible ginger sauce. Last row of photos: yummy chicken n' hummus wrap from a popular Mediterranean shop at Gough/Fell Streets before heading to the theatre for the world premiere of Legally Blonde before it left for Broadway. Finally, a birthday lunch with my buddies R&M at one of Mayor Gavin's hot spot The Balboa Cafe. Both delicious lunch dishes, steak tacos and an 8-ounce burger. Bring on the March Munchies!

Complete Slacker

2007-02-26T21:12:00.000-08:00

No, it's not the name of the lastest restaurant I've eaten at, it's my complete lack of blogging in the past month! I've got loads of pictures from several different meals but I haven't gotten my act together to compile a beautiful image of my food. So instead, I'll give you the truncated version of the last 4 weeks. On Superbowl Sunday we hosted 30 football fanatics for hours of prime rib, turkey with lots of sides! Almost impossible to imagine, but the only thing we had left over was beer. Obviously that was consumed in the following weeks (Jerry come back from Korea early and you too can partake). For my birthday weekend, massive quantities of calories were consumed at Benihana's in Japantown. Back at home, me and my family enjoyed a delicious cake, including my nephew who had to stick his finger in the icing....awww! My friend M shared homemade cookies with me, albeit burnt on the bottom, but YUMMY. I drank a really wacky Japanese energy drink from a neon pink can called "Hot". So not. For the following 10 days, I ate breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner at work, with my hardworking crew. Everything was paid for by the company's budget, which turned out to be almost equal to my monthly mortgage...bling bling! And of course, let's not forget the gathering of trash-talking ladies who huddled around the tv for Oscar night! "Oh man, I can't believe she wore that?!" My friend G had a full spread of incredible goodies, which we frequented between long speeches and the car commericals. Until I get my photos together for the next blog entry, here's a dull picture of empty corn husks before they turned into tamales.

El Patio Restaurant

2007-01-19T15:53:00.000-08:00

We discovered the adorable restaurant El Patio while driving down Mission Street near Cortland Avenue. Their menu says they specialize in Mexican and El Salvadorean dishes...so of course we had to try their handmade pupusas! Made with pork, cheese or loroco--grilled to perfection, oozing with steam and oil. The meat was delicious, the quesillo cheese was warm and plentiful. Not knowing exactly what loroco was, I decided to immediately Google it. My next visit, I will absolutely try the loroco pupusa! We also enjoyed the chile relleno and carne asado tacos! The seating area is decorated as a traditional Mexican patio including a big screen tv playing a juicy telenovela and bachata music turned up to 11. And I love the incredible wood carving which (I think) has Aztec origins...it's a staggering 7 feet in diameter! Aye carumba!

Presidio Social Club

2007-01-16T15:43:00.000-08:00

It's an adorable little Army-barrack-looking wood building with a long porch and a red carpet that guides you towards the entrance. Inside you'll find a modest restaurant with cute tables and a long bar with a white marble counter and liquor stored behind apothecary-style medicine cabinets. My friends M&R were excited to try out the newest local bistro for dinner and drinks. (If you remember a couple months ago, we checked out Pres a Vi for a dinner n' drinks outing.) Even though the Presidio Social Club has only been open for less than a month, it was packed with dinner guests at 6:30 on a Monday night! The menu is minimal but packs a tasty line-up of traditional home-cooked favorites. I enjoyed flank steak, M ordered the fish of the day (Mahi-Mahi, it was white and flaky) and R had the broiled chicken, each included your choice of a veggie side (sauteed spinach needed salt). They offer a nice selection of wine, but we opted for a couple cocktails: Pegu and Caipirinha. Both were quite tangy and didn't pair nicely with a meal of meat. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera but here's a photo of dessert taken with a camera phone gadget thingy. Service could have been better, but overall I will definately return when a lunch menu is offered.

Goodbye 2006

2007-01-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

As we wrap up the final days, hours, minutes of 2006 I look back and wonder what 2007 will bring. Sunday December 31 we had a few friends over for dinner and drinks, a round of Scrabble and a poker tourney in front of a roaring fire. We served Matt's famous homemade sirloin burgers with a bleu cheese center and fresh steak fries, delicious! On the telly was a VH-1 Countdown and Bellatore champagne at 11:59. We discussed our collective resolutions before ringing in 2007, the Year of the Pig. Yum, pork. Hello, bacon. Ah, ribs. Which brings me to my (edible) goals for 2007: eat more balanced meals, drink more water, cut down on caffeine, all of which can be simply accomplished. In fact, a resolution or any goal for that matter takes daily practice and discipline. So with the end of the holiday party season behind us, and great unknowns ahead of us, I say bring it on...one appetizer at a time!

Photos: various meals taken within the last 10 days...lamb stew, Japanese Figaro cookies, Ghiradelli chocolate, spicy Italian sausages, Cowboy caviar (aka corn salad), cracked crab, vino and fresh fruit squeezed into a smoothie using my new juicer attachment for my Kitchenaid, courtesy of Santa!

Holiday Eatin'

2006-12-19T18:22:00.000-08:00

It's been a few weeks since my last post, so I should fill you in on the many holiday eating opportunities.

On Dec 5, I attended a birthday bash for my friend Paul at one of the best burger joints in town: Tower Burger. They serve Niman Ranch beef with the fastest service possible. Your food will arrive only a few minutes after ordering, no joke!

On Dec 7, I met up with a couple friends to taste the newest restaurant: Pres a Vi. Tapas style mini plates of delectable nibbles that are slightly overpriced for the average consumer. Fantastic tasting dishes, no doubt. Repeat customer? Maybe.

The following night I attended my friend's grand opening of her boutique salon: The Pampered Girl. A live DJ was on hand to get the party started. Delicious champagne and petit fours were served on silver platters. Swing by for a mani-pedi, support a small business owner, tell her I sent ya!

That Saturday was the annual gathering of friends for homemade dinner and gift exchange, main course: French Fish Soup a.k.a. cioppino. Mussels and clams not typically my cup of tea but I gracious enjoyed it in the spirit of holiday cheer.

A few days later I hosted our annual poker holiday dinner with a full spread of goodies. I'm quite proud of this accomplishment because I had doubts all the food would be ready on time and edible to my liking. Much to my surprise, the food tasted great and there was plenty of it! The menu: bacon wrapped shrimp, grilled beef skewers with citrus vinaigrette, crab cake dip, fresh green salad with TJ's Goddess dressing, brie with melted brown sugar, fresh fruit and the main event: homemade mac and cheese (with sharp cheddar and bleu cheese).

A few days later I attended my first Cookie Exchange! There was a large variety of sweets, unfortunately my pumpkin cookies (a la Martha Stewart's recipe) turned out too moist and chewy with sticky sugar glaze icing, tasty but not appealing.

This past Saturday was the company holiday party, boy was that spectacular! Three different themed floors with live bands, casino tables, fortune tellers and lots, lots of dancing! Not to mention the full spread of food and open bar, oh yeah! The Top 40 Floor featured good ol' fashioned home cookin: prime rib, ham, turkey, au gratin potatoes, Cesar salad, a chocolate fountain with rice crispy treats! The Jazz Club Floor featured Mediterranean flare: hummus, pita, fattoush salad, babaganoush, samosas, mounds of olives and feta cheese! And lastly the Salsa Floor featured sangria and Vegas style sparkle-bikini-wearing feathered-headdress dancers. No food served here...or maybe there was and I don't remember.

Sunday was spent in recovery with family over heaping bowls of spaghetti and meatballs and plenty of laughter. Funny thing is...it's not over! Look for further eating adventures before this year is over...tomorrow's trifecta (department luncheon, artist holiday extravaganza, housewarming dinner party), dinner at the in-laws this Friday, xmas eve with my family, Christmas Day feast, one week of vacation to graze with friends, New Year's Eve and of course, kicking off The James Bond Year of 007, a New Year's Day food fest. Whew!

Thanksgiving

2006-11-28T19:20:00.000-08:00

We have much to be thankful for in 2006. So to kick off the holiday season, we celebrated Thanksgiving dinner with family and good eats. Check out the full spread of traditional holiday goodness: turkey, pot roast, mashed potatoes, corn, 2 kinds of stuffing, cream of peas, bread, cranberry sauce and brussel sprouts. Instead of pumpkin or apple pie, dessert was a delicious pineapple upside down cake. While the turkey was cooking, the entire family participated in a couple sports games...in the living room. The bro-in-law brought over the newly purchased Nintendo Wii, so we played a little tennis and fierce game of bowling. As is tradition, I took a long nap immediately after dinner and felt revived to continue grazing through the evening. After some socializing with the family, preparations began for the BIG DAY, Black Friday "Adventures in Christmas Shopping." We visited the zoo and kiddie park Funderland so my nephew could ride a pony, then headed for the box stores! Oh the madness. Time to head back home to snack on leftovers and prep for my parents annual holiday party the Saturday after turkey day. There were 50 guests munching on 3 types of salads, fried chicken and fresh baked cookies. My calorie count for the entire weekend was spent in 2 days! As the weekend came to a close, me and Matt headed home on a rainy Sunday to San Francisco, with a car load of unwrapped gifts, a maxed out credit card and zero appetite.

Fight Night!

2006-11-21T14:57:00.000-08:00

The headlines on the net read "Pacman Devours El Terrible!" Manny Pacquiao versus Erik Morales in Vegas for the last episode of this Knock Out Triology. The Filipino sensation dubbed "Pacman" dominated 3 rounds of boxing against the Mexican champ who was defeated last Saturday. Our dear friends Dave and Alona hosted the event with a full spread of Filipino delights. Shrimp civiche, BBQ chicken, taquitos, homemade lumpia and of course, roast pig! Don't forget the drinks and sweet desserts, I'm stuffed! We were in hog heaven the entire evening. I can't think of a better place I'd rather be on a chilly November Saturday than to be surrounded by friends, food and cable TV.

Cheese Steak Shop

2006-11-18T11:27:00.000-08:00

Their slogan "CAUTION: may be habit forming" is so true. At least once a month, I eagerly order a 10 inch Philly-style cheese steak sandwich from this San Francisco insitution, The Cheese Steak Shop on Divisadero Street. My hubby Matt has been a frequent and loyal customer for many years, maybe decades! Step inside the modest, understated shop and belly up to the counter and get yourself a cheese steak sandwich with melted provolone cheese and the works: grilled onions and peppers on an Amoroso baked roll, shipped in from Philadelphia. Vegetarians need not apply, this place is for meat lovers who can appreciate a menu of beef and chicken hoagies and perfectly cooked french fries. Swing by on Tuesday's for double coupon stamps towards a free sandwich or Wednesday's, buy 3 get the 4th sandwich free. Yum! www.cheesesteakshop.com

Recipe #2: Chocolate Brownies 1.0

2006-11-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

This originally started as a flourless chocolate torte, then morphed into a chocolate cake but ended up tasting more like brownies. I had a major baking problem because the center never cooked. Still edible but back to the drawing board to perfect the recipe. Enjoy this version!
Ingredients:
4 oz Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 medium eggs
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
Method:
Preheat oven to 350. Bring 1-inch cold water to boil, place metal bowl in pot and melt butter and chocolate bar over medium heat. Take off heat and place on cool surface. Add brown sugar, cocoa, flour, vanilla, salt, eggs and baking powder. Mix by hand until smooth and thick. Pour into baking pan that's been coated with butter and lightly dusted with cocoa powder. Bake for 30-35 minutes, let cool completely before serving.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T17:28:00.000-08:00

The $5 Chocolate Bar

2006-10-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

My sweet tooth got the best of me during a little afternoon break at work. So I cruised downstairs to the café to peruse the variety of day-old pastries and over-priced soy lattes. A tempting beautiful package offering 55% cocoa content and a love poem hidden inside, enticed me to take a chance on the Chocolove Cherries & Almonds Dark Chocolate Bar. Unfortunately, my taste buds were left unsatisfied and bored. The chocolate was more milky than rich, the almonds were scarce and the cherries were tiny. The biggest disappointment? The surprising $5 retail price for an average tasting chocolate bar made in Boulder, Colorado. My rating: C-

Recipe #1: Crab Cakes with Citrus Vinaigrette

2006-10-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

This is my second attempt at homemade crab cakes which turned out really delicious. Makes 12 large crab cakes. Prep time is 1 hour but worth it!

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds crab legs

1 egg, beaten

3 green onions, minced

2 scallions, minced

1/4 cup crema mexicana (substitute: sour cream or mayo)

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup olive oil

splash of Tabasco

pinch of kosher salt, ground pepper, Morton's Season All

SIDE SALAD: Toss 3 heads of romaine lettuce, handful of chopped walnuts, green onions, handful of feta, bleu cheese, Parmesan cheese

CITRUS VINAIGRETTE: Whisk together lime juice (2), lemon juice (1), 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil, pinch of kosher salt and ground pepper

METHOD: Preheat oven 400*. Whisk together the egg, onions, scallions, crema, Dijon, salt, pepper, seasoning and Tabasco. Cool in refrigerator to stiffen mixture. Boil crab legs until done, peel shells to get out the crab meat. Add Parmesan cheese and crab meat to mixture. With small ice cream scooper, create crab cakes into a ball, coating them in the breadcrumbs. Add small amount of oil in the bottom of a cupcake pan and place individual crab cakes in each. Bake for 15 minutes, flipping each cake once during cooking. Drizzle crab cakes with citrus vinaigrette and serve with side salad.

Top Chef

2006-10-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Now that my favorite show Project Runway is over, so begins Season 2 of Top Chef on Bravo. If you aren't currently tuned in, this is one of the more interesting reality tv shows where chefs (professional and otherwise) compete in a series of culinary challenges to be crowned The Top Chef. For this episode Harold, the winner from Season 1, was the celebrity guest judge. I'm a bit partial to Harold, well basically because he looks like Luke Wilson. There's already a villian (Marcel), a drunk (Michael) and the crowd favorite Ilan, winner of the first episode. Ilan looks strikingly similar to Ted Allen from Queer Eye, don't you think? This season should be very interesting including cameos from (the hubby) Matt's favorite chef-jerk Anthony Bourdain. http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef_2/index.shtml

An Ode to the Divine

2006-10-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

Coffee. Chocolate. Cheese. The 3 greatest food groups, each containing highly addictive properties. I ask: does it get any better? Follow this amateur food critic in an attempt to explore the diverse offerings of the culinary world! This is a collection of recipes, recommendations and ratings. What began as a quest to stock the pantry with chocolate--soon became an obsession for imported bars, homemade experiments, the discovery of exotic packaging and visiting a local manufacturer. Welcome to my culinary adventures...not limited to everything coffee, everything chocolate, but a guarantee of all things cheesy. Let the games begin!