Tag Archives: foodie friday

{food} 7 x 7 magazine big eat 2013…

7 x 7 Magazine has released their Big Eat 2013 list! They have added EIGHTY(!) new dishes this year and I can’t wait to dig in.

Last year, I didn’t get around to eating as much as I initially wanted to. The effort of lugging around a cumbersome DSLR camera and embarrassing my chosen dining companion by snapping tons of shots before they could sink their teeth into the deliciousness became a barrier to crossing more off the 2012 list. I am planning a more no holds barred approach this year with as little iphoneography as possible.

Some of my favourite dishes last year:

Meatloaf Sandwich | Fatted Calf

Carnitas | Nopalito

Dim Sum | Ton Kiang

Going through this year’s list, I have already had 13/100 items compared to last year’s 32/100 when I began. I welcome the challenge with an empty stomach and curious appetite! Some standouts I can’t wait to try:

- Spicy Miso Ramen at Ramen Underground… maybe it’s the winter season but nothing sounds better to me than a nice bowl of spicy noodles.

- Peking Duck at Hong Kong Lounge… it is rare that I find myself at the end of the city but I would definitely venture for some authentic peking duck.

- Caldo Tlalpeno at Nopalito… I was so impressed with the carnitas, can’t wait to try a new dish.

Want to see what else I have crossed off of the 7 x 7 2012 Big Eat list?

Bar Crudo’s seafood chowder

Kelvin made ice-cream at Smitten

Carnitas at Nopalito

Fried green beans at Coco500

Prime rib at House of Prime Rib

Argentine beef empanada at Venga Empanadas

Dim sum at Ton Kiang

Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina

Meatloaf sandwich at Fatted Calf

Pickled eggs at Comstock Saloon and Deviled eggs at Park Tavern

3 Replies

{food} eggs at park tavern + comstock saloon…

I went on a bit of an egg binge to cross some more items off the Big Eat List. First I tackled the deviled eggs at Park Tavern. Although they were good, they weren’t spectacular. My iPhone pictures didn’t turn out great because it was pretty dark so I pulled one from SF Gate.

We then headed over to Comstock Saloon to try out the pickled egg. The egg white was pickled throughout and had a thick texture. The yolk ended up being a bit dry but balanced out the sour taste of the egg white. A nice treat to accompany their hand crafted cocktails (the Saint’s Buck is my favourite).

Lucky for us, Comstock’s chef Carlos Espinas spilled the beans on his picked egg recipe a couple of years ago on SF Weekly. I’m thinking of halving the recipe and giving it a try this weekend:

For the brine:
2 quarts white wine vinegar
2 quarts water
1/2 cup salt
4 whole dried chile pods (chile de arbol pods, for instance) or 1 tablespoon red chile flakes
1 tablespoon paprika
1 head of garlic, split in half lengthwise
1 tablespoon whole mustard seed
1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
1 sprig of thyme

1. First, you’ll want to medium-boil your eggs. The goal is an egg with a yolk that’s set, but without the sulfurous green rim of an overcooked egg. We like to bring a large pot of water ― let’s say 3 quarts ― to a simmer, or just below boiling. Technically, we’re looking for 190° F. For those without a handy-dandy thermometer, you’ll want to look for a slow, steady stream of bubbles. A friend refers to this as a “champagne simmer.”

2. Once the water is up to temperature, carefully place the eggs in the pot and cook for 9 minutes or so. After they’re done, pull them out and place them in an ice bath or under cool running water to stop the cooking.

3. When the eggs are cool, peel and place in the jar or [nonreactive] jar that you want to pickle them in.

4. Place all brine ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes and pour over the eggs. It’s best to refrigerate them. The longer you let the eggs sit in the brine, the more pronounced the flavors become.

Want to see what else I have crossed off of the 7 x 7 2012 Big Eat list?

Bar Crudo’s seafood chowder

Kelvin made ice-cream at Smitten

Carnitas at Nopalito

Fried green beans at Coco500

Prime rib at House of Prime Rib

Argentine beef empanada at Venga Empanadas

Dim sum at Ton Kiang

Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina

Meatloaf sandwich at Fatted Calf

2 Replies

{food} fatted calf…

When I was growing up, meatloaf was not a common meal in our household. I occasionally had meatloaf at friends’ houses, but that was the extent of my experience with it. I am a big fan of Fatted Calf’s charcuterie, pickled vegetables and cheese selection, but was still a bit weary of trying the 7 x 7 Big Eat List recommended meatloaf sandwich.

I am rarely in Hayes Valley during lunchtime and took the opportunity to head over to Fatted Calf after a work meeting nearby. I was so close to not ordering the meatloaf sandwich but for the sake of crossing it off the list I did.

I am surprised by how much I actually liked it. The meatloaf had a pate-like moistness that I was not expecting- it seemed to be much more meat than loaf (if that makes any sense!). The balsamic onions added a great pickled flavor kick in every bite and the bread pulled all of the ingredients together perfectly.

Want to see what else I have crossed off of the 7 x 7 2012 Big Eat list?

Bar Crudo’s seafood chowder

Kelvin made ice-cream at Smitten

Carnitas at Nopalito

Fried green beans at Coco500

Prime rib at House of Prime Rib

Argentine beef empanada at Venga Empanadas

Dim sum at Ton Kiang

Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina

2 Replies

{food} pizzeria delfina…

Spending weekend afternoons in Dolores Park is one of my favourite things to do in San Francisco. The vibe is fun, people watching is prime and there are lots of good food options around for when hunger strikes. Amongst BiRite Market and Tartine Bakery, Pizzeria Delfina is less than a block away from the park.

Every other time we have attempted to try Pizzeria Delfina, the waitlist has been at least 8-10 parties deep. We got lucky this time and were seated right away.

Of course we ordered the Margherita pizza to not only knock it off the Big Eat list but also because my husband is a pizza purist- tomato and cheese is all he needs. The pie itself is quite expensive for the size, but decent to share amongst two people with an appetizer or side.

They offer additional herbs, spices and cheese to add onto your slice.

We opted against wine or beer and instead had some refreshing lemonade. So good on a warm afternoon.

Want to see what else I have crossed off the 7 x 7 2012 Big Eat list?

Bar Crudo’s seafood chowder

Kelvin made ice-cream at Smitten

Carnitas at Nopalito

Fried green beans at Coco500

Prime rib at House of Prime Rib

Argentine beef empanada at Venga Empanadas

Dim sum at Ton Kiang

3 Replies

{food} split bread…

Split Bread is amongst several new restaurants now open in the Metreon Center downtown San Francisco.

My husband and I try to meet for lunch at least once a week and the location works as a perfect half way point. Ordering online is really easy and accurate for pick up times but you can also order at your table by scanning their nifty QR codes. Split Bread is completely cash free so keep that in mind.

I used to go to Mixt Greens (their sister restaurant) quite a bit and always ordered the cowboy salad. Seeing it on Split Bread’s menu meant I had to try it, especially since it featured their pulled rotisserie chicken.

We also ordered the No. 07 sandwich with more rotisserie pulled chicken, sharp white cheddar, pine nut and currant puree, wild arugula, pickled red onion, aioli on a toasted ciabatta roll. Their in house made pickled vegetables make the sandwich. I even tried to coax one of their staff into selling me a jar!

Split Bread is open until 9 or 10pm and features an impressive craft beer and wine list. I had a chance to check out their dinner service during a recent Yelp Elite event and really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant in the evening. The brass pendant lights and industrial interiors change what could have been a quick sandwich joint to a spot you would want to hang out in for a few beers.

comments