BACK FOR REALZ

Some of you may have noticed, but I didn't really actually return when I said I was returning. But I am really back for real. What better way to get back into blogging then by blog about my first experience at Greens in SF, a quintessential SF restaurant.

Often, when you think of vegetarian food, you think of something that is fresh and light. Rarely do you think of things that are rich. At Greens, you get a little bit of both.

Ambience:
The restaurant is located right on the water which is a plus, but the view of the marina and the golden gate bridge is probably better during the day time. Of note, many of the tables that in the restaurant were made out what appear to be actual tree stumps. This was really interesting, but made for awkward seating arrangements if you were so unfortunate to get seated at such a table.

Food:
On Saturday nights, patrons can only dine off of the four course pre-fixe menu for $49, with an option to have a wine pairing for each course for an additional $30.

Andante Dairy Contralto, Mediterranean cucumber and melon salad with lemon and Green Gulch mint.

We didn't really have choice for our first course. It consisted of a salad of pickled cucumbers, honeydew melons, and cantaloupe in a citrus vinaigrette. When the first course arrived, my high expectations were suddenly shattered. I immediately thought of what most carnivores think of when they eat vegetarian. Damn it, I am going to be hungry tonight... At first, I had assumed that the waiter only brought one of three portions. But only one plate came, and the portion was barely enough to satisfy one person. I wonder how they would have presented the dish when one dines alone. Fortunately, the next course tempered my sour opinion.

The Potato and Scallion Croquettes with fontina and chives. Served with romescu, creme fraiche, and herb salad.

The Catalan Farm heirloom tomatoes with burrata, aged balsamic, Regins olive oil, opal basil, ruccola, and warm olive bread.

The Wilted Spinach Salad with DeVoto gravenstein apples, Point Reyes original blue, hazelnuts, mint, cider vinegar, and hot olive oil.

For the second course, I chose a potato and scallion croquette of sorts that was served with romescu and creme fraiche on a bed of flat-leaf parsley. The croquettes were delicately fried and offered a great contrast in textures. The outside was crispy while the inside was soft and creamy. Definitely reminded me of the fried mashed potatoes at Gregoire's in Berkeley. J ordered the Catalan Farm heirloom tomatoes burrata that was tossed with aged balsamic, olive oil, basil, and ruccola. It was also served with freshly toasted olive bread. The tomatoes were fresh and meaty and perfectly complemented the soft and cool burrata. P ordered the wilted spinach salad with gravenstein apples, hazelnuts, and blue cheese, in a cider vinaigrette. This salad was just okay. But I did appreciate crispness of the apples, as well as the nuttiness that the hazelnuts brought to the dish. For our entrees, we had the simple task of just ordering one of everything.

The Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with slow roasted Juliette tomatoes, torpedo onions, gorgonzola dolce, pine nuts, basil, Arbequina olive oil and grana padano.

The Gratin Provencal with Japanese eggplant, sunburnt squash, grilled peppers, scallions, asiago, thyme, heirloom tomatoes, and herb breadcrumbs. This was served with tomato roasted pepper, summer beans with shallots and pepper flakes.

The Chive Crepe with Green Gulch chard and kale, savory spinach, leeks, goat cheese, and lemon herb cream. This was served with white corn, chanterelle and lobster mushroom ragout.

The entrees were the true highlight of the meal. First, we had a spinach ricotta ravioli. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The filling could have used a little extra flavor, but this was made up with the excellent sauce that consisted of roasted juliette tomatoes, torpedo onions, pine nuts, and basil. The sauce was silky and warm just viscous enough so that it permeated through the filling and clung to the ravioli. Next, we had the gratin provencal with japanese eggplant, sunburnt squash, grilled peppers, scallions, asiago, thyme, heirloom tomatoes and herb breadcrumbs. This was my personal favorite entree of the evening. The buttered herb breadcrumbs were crunchy and melted in your mouth. It paired nicely with the soft layered textures of the baked vegetables. Unfortunately, this entree was paired with a side of what appeared to just be blanched summer beans and shallots. These side vegetables rudely interrupted both the presentation and flavor of the plate. The spicy kick from the pepper flakes added a touch of excitement that paired nicely with the gratin's roasted tomato pepper sauce, but I could have done without the vegetables. Lastly, we had a chive crepe with chard, kale, spinach, and leeks. The crepe was drenched in a delicious rich and creamy white corn, chanterelle, and lobster mushroom ragout. This last entree elevated greens into an establishment that is definitely worth returning to. The frigid San Francisco weather and familiar flavors of the corn and mushroom ragout paired with an unconventional base was intriguing and kept me wanting more. But I had to stop myself, because J and I still had three desserts to eat.

Raspberry Mouse

Lemon Granita with Almond Biscotti

Ginger Snap and Peach Ice Cream Sandwich with Berry Compote

The raspberry mousse was not really memorable and the lemon granita was just okay. The perfect end to our meal was a ginger bread cookie with peach ice cream sandwich and berry compote. Simply delicious. Overall, a very good deal for $49.

Rating: 4/5

I am back!

Hello blogosphere! I apologize for the writing hiatus. A lot has happened since my last post. For example....

1) I got my wisdom teeth extracted
2) I passed my qualifying exam
3) I ate a lot!

But I won't bore you with any of the boring details... I am just going to do a whirlwind of a post about my most recent adventures!

i + sakaya = izakaya!

The name "izakaya" is a combination of the word "i" (to sit) and "sakaya" (sake shop), and these are popping up all over town. Recently, Izakaya Sozai opened in the Inner Sunset offering an array of traditional Japanese pub food, beer, sake, sochu, and RAMEN!


This most recent trip was two weeks in the making... AH, SL, and I were going to order our hearts out and take advantage of the informal liquor locker system at Izakaya Sozai (you basically order sake by the bottle, and if you have any left over... they'll keep it for you until your next visit).

As you walk into the restaurant, you immediately notice how small the place is. Though this results in a cozy and warm atmosphere, if lines are long, you immediately wish for a bigger waiting area. In fact, the front door/entrance is so poorly designed (frosted glass door opens into the restaurant, where no more than five to ten people can stand and wait in the way of the door) that we got door slapped about a hundred times by people trying to escape the frigid sunset night. Since we are here to talk about food however, we will let that slide.

On a positive note, I liked the fact that the kitchen was open, which had the added benefit of making the restaurant appear a little bit bigger. Moreover, the light from the kitchen contrasted nicely with the warm and earthy tones from the rest of the restaurant.

Izakaya Sozai Kitchen

Sake Locker!

As I mentioned earlier, AH, SL and I were super excited to get our ramen and sake on. Around 8:30pm, AH started sending us cryptic messages, which probably meant that he wasn't going to make it. We should have assumed it, but SL and I decided to order for AH anyways (in reality, we just used him as an excuse...), just in case he decided to show up... So here is what we got...

House Chicken Wings

The house chicken wings were definitely a winner. The sauce was sweet and tangy, and the chicken was tender and juicy. At the end of the day, I prefer the chicken wings from Shanghai House, but these were good nonetheless. Perhaps, we should have tried the dry fried chicken wings...

Nasu Dengaku (grilled japanese eggplant, sweet miso)

This was probably one of my favorite dishes of the night. The eggplant was smothered in the sweet miso and melted in your mouth. It was superbly prepared and was a nice balance between smokiness from the grill and sweet earthiness from the caramelized miso. This was a perfect starter to go with my Saporro.

Chicken Gizzard Yakitori

The yakitori wasn't a stand out, but was still good. It was simply cooked and met my expectations. On the whole, the crispiness of the chicken gizzards added some much needed textural elements to our dinner, which was welcomed. I might also mention that the yakitori complemented my beer the best!

Ritsu Tonkotsu Ramen

Some have touted that the Tonkotsu Ramen at Izakaya Sozai is the best in SF. I might have to agree. The broth was rather complex in flavors. You could definitely taste the richness of the pork bones and collagen-rich tendons, which made for a delightful experience. I haven't made up my mind about how this compares to Santouka... but it is definitely in the running for best in the bay.

Takoyaki (battered octopus with tonkatsu sauce)

These takoyaki were delicious hot balls of goodness. They were light, fluffly, and crispy. The bonito flakes and tonkatsu sauce added a nice balanced flavor. The only complaint was the lack of kewpie...

Sweet Butter Corn

As you all know, I love corn, so ordering the sweet butter corn was a no brainer. The corn was sweet and delicious and was perfect for adding into my ramen.

Buta Kakuni (braised pork belly)

The braised pork belly was also another standout of the dinner. It was accompanied by a small clump of spinach and a huge dollop of fresh wasabi. The pork was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and literally melted in our mouths. The glorious layers of fat and broth were the perfect combination that in my opinion defines umami.

Hamachi Carpaccio

The hamachi was fresh and had a nice spicy kick. It was simple and refreshing. It reminded me of the Goi Kampachi that I used to have with AK at Bong Su, which was a nice trip down memory lane.

Overall, this was a great and memorable meal. AH should be sad he missed out... hahaha. Next on our list is O Izakaya Lounge! We'll see how that stacks up.

Izakaya Sozai 4.5/5

Happy New Year!

Santouka Ramen!

As you all know, I am always on the hunt for good grub. One of my favorite comfort foods is Ramen. I was delighted to find out from AndHua that Santouka opened recently in the "new" Mitsuwa of San Jose. At first I was perplexed to learn of a "new" Mitsuwa. I knew of one Mitsuwa, but it was definitely not new...

Our Conversation went a little like this...

A: What are you up to?
L: I have training all week and am going to get lunch in San Jose
A: Where are you going to go?
L: I am thinking of going down to get some Banh Mi. I have been dying to try Huong Lan.
A: Sounds NOMS. Have you been to Santouka yet?
L: THERE IS A SANTOUKA HERE!?!
A: Yeah, it is in the new Mitsuwa Market
L: There is a new Mitsuwa?

20 minutes later...

L: I am at Santouka!
A: What happened to getting Banh Mi?
L: I got distracted by Ramen!

I am glad I took my chances and just went to the "old" Mitsuwa. Turns out there is only one Mitsuwa in San Jose. It was recently remodeled and that is why AH was confused.

Santouka!

There was a pretty long line when I got there. I was waiting about 15 minutes, when I realized that I didn't have any cash on me. Thankfully, there was a BofA ATM in the food court. Even though, I lost my spot in line, it was okay because the service moved pretty quickly.

At this point, I was famished, and I am so glad I got the combo deal. I got the miso broth with regular pork. The soup was piping hot (something that is requisite for great ramen). The flavors were delicate and perfectly balanced. The noodles were crisp and hearty. Overall, definitely worth the drive and detour!

Rice with Leeks

Miso Ramen

Man, I want a bowl right now.

Santouka Ramen 4.5/5

A Silver Nugget in the Rough

Winter is finally here! That means endless hours of alpine sports and a very real possibility of running away. With Tahoe only a mere 3 1/2 hours away (3 depending on who is driving), there is no excuse for not heading up to the slopes to ride all day. I don't know about you, but after a long day of snowboarding, I get really hungry. As far as food goes, a correlation between good food and South Lake Tahoe is practically non-existent. That is why I was pleasantly surprised to discover a relatively new restaurant off of Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

Tahoe Grille, perhaps poorly named, has instantly become my go to place for dinner after the slopes close down, when I am ready to replenish for the day. The menu is simple and very Californian.

Everything on the menu looked good. Since I could not decide for the life of me what I wanted to eat, I settled on ordering two appetizers and a side. Little did I know, I had ordered enough to feed a family of six! The portions were HUGE!

The first thing I ordered was the mac and cheese. This was delicious! I particularly liked the fact that they used cellentani instead of regular elbow macaroni. The mac and cheese was creamy and crunchy at the same time. The only thing that was missing was some bacon or pancetta! NOMS.


Everyone knows that I love polenta. I have pretty much been obsessed with it ever since my lunch at Cindy Pawlcyn's Mustards Grille. The creamy polenta with wild mushroom ragu from Tahoe Grille did not disappoint. It was rich and decadent. The grilled bread added some much needed texture and a smoky flavor to the dish that very pleasant. I liked this combination so much that it inspired me to make my own version. I still need to work on presentation.


I think the star of the dinner was the Lobster Gnocchi. The lobster was fresh and sweet, and the gnocchi were cooked to perfection.


I will definitely be heading back. So many more things to try on the menu!

Tahoe Grille 4/5

New Year, New Food

In the spirit of the New Year, making lists, and trying new things, I decided that I would go out and find new foods for you to eat, or drinks for you to drink. The inspiration for this ongoing series of things to try is the new and bizarre SPAM flavored Macademia Nuts. ACH is going to be in town (LA) for MLK weekend, and he is going to be bringing some of these "delicacies."

Everybody knows that Hawaii's favorite canned meat is SPAM. Just when you thought that every conceivable food pairing had already been done with SPAM, Hamakua Plantations brings us these rarities.


So, in the spirit of trying new things and taking my taste buds where no taste buds have gone before, I am going to be taking one for the team. I'll let you know if I survive... Just think about the possibilities! I am already a fan of Portuguese Sausage and/or Spam Musubi. Now you can get the same great flavor, but with added texture!


Holler and Happy Hunting!

Food Trends Continued...

6) Wild Game. One result of America's urbanization has been the "globalization" of our nation's food options. In most major U.S. cities, you can literally have a French baguette with German muesli for breakfast; some Mexican chilequiles, Salvadorean empanadas, and Peruvian ceviche for lunch; some Chinese xiao long bao and Japanese mochi for a snack; and some Greek souvlaki, Moroccan chicken tajine, and Italian pana cotta for dinner. That is like traveling to ten different countries in a single day. You have no idea how grateful I am. However, this urbanization has also come at a price. We have lost our connection with food and the knowledge of where it comes from. Meat choices have essentially been reduced to chicken, beef, and pork, with the occasional lamb. Therefore, in conjunction with the local and green movements, I predict a revival for wild game in the near future. There is much to be excited about! Hubert Keller's Burger Bar is already making Buffalo Burgers, while Cebicheria la Mar is serving up some Cuy Pekinese. Here is to more exciting dishes using alligator, duck, elk, rabbit, squab, venison, wild board, and caribou! It is going to be like Christmas year round!

7) Supperclubs. The recession is far from over. However, this doesn't mean that we have to deny ourselves the pleasures of good eats. As I was shopping for Christmas presents, I noticed that cookbooks were flying off the shelves. With blogs Carol Blymire's French Laundry at Home and Alinea at Home gaining an ever growing following, and since potlucks are so 2009, I predict that supperclubs will rise to take their place in the year of the tiger. There are already some underground suppleclubs that have made some headlines. In 2010, expect more. Ever heard of PIMMS (Party in My Mouth Supperclub)? If not, you are missing out.

8) Comfort Foods. I am kind of cheating with this one, because it sort of goes hand in hand with Fried Chicken. But comfort food will definitely be in vogue. This is partly because it is so good, but also because the economic outlook ain't so bright. Here is to reminiscing about the good times by eating your favorite comfort foods. Expect to see more gourmet renditions of comfort classics like mac & cheese, chicken pot pie, pork buns, and stews.

9) Sandwiches. We are not talking about PB&Js here... although that could qualify in the comfort food category, especially with some cranberry balsamic pepper jam from Slow Jams and some freshly ground home made peanut butter. For trend number nine, I am talking about Banh Mi and Cuban Sandwiches. Those two don't really go together, but sandwiches are going to be making a come back. There are a few places in the Bay Area where one could find some decent Banh Mi. But most are located in the South Bay. Maybe someone is going to start a banging Banh Mi food truck. Yummm

Grubhunter's Food Trends of 2010 Part 1

In the spirit of making lists, I thought I'd take a stab on telling my readers, yes, all twelve of you, what I think will be making a splash next year in the Bay Area (in no particular order). Without further ado, I give you the first installment of the tastes to come!

1) Fried Chicken. As I mentioned in my last post, Fried Chicken is going to be featured front and center. Perhaps we'll even see more variations of the classic Southern Fried Chicken. In any event, I can't wait!

2) Foraged Foods. Courtesy of community based organizations like ForageSF, sustainably and fairly harvested wild food will be all the rage. Locally grown and produced will no longer be enough! Here, we are talking about uncultivated naturally grown foods. Go on, get your CSF. As a side note, this concept is gaining grounds as entrepreneurs like Shakirah Simley of Slow Jams begin to source their ingredients from overlooked segments of local agriculture such as urban gardens and farms.

3) Chifa. Peruvian food has been all the rage. In the last two or three years, San Francisco has witnessed a doubling, perhaps even a quadrupling, of the number of options for Peruvian grub. Some of these Peruvian joints are already serving up some lesser known fare, such as Tallarine Saltado and Arroz Chaufa. These dishes, in my opinion, are national dishes in their own right. They are a product of the most recent influences to Peruvian cuisine. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Chinese were the most recent group of immigrants to arrive in Peru, which resulted in the invetion of Chifa: a unique hybrid of Peruvian and Cantonese cuisine! I think this trend is going to go national. For example, newly minted Iron Chef Jose Garces recently opened Chifa in Philadelphia. I haven't been yet, but the menu looks promising. Likewise, Eric Nakata opened the sensational Lomo Arigato food truck in LA (basically Chifa). Hopefully, something good will be coming to a neighborhood near you.

4) Arepas, Empanadas, and Tacos - Food you can eat on the go. Food trucks and street food made a splash in 2009. I am specifically talking about Kogi (which if you recall, JH made famous, haha). This Korean taco sensation has now expanded to include several mobile kitchens and a permanent location, and it appears to continue to wipe out the competition in the LA area. Here, in San Francisco, we have our very own Namu, which has its own version of the tacos, or what I know to call ssam. Here, we are talking about nori sheets enveloping boneless grilled shortribs, rice, and some daikon and kimchee. The idea of putting different things in on-the-go friendly foods will surely catch on. Imagine the possibilities! Anticucho tacos, Chicken Tikka Masala Arepas, or even Chinese Roast Pork empanadas!

5) Night Markets. I am probably going to regret eternalizing (is that a word?) this next thought... But one thing that New York has got on San Francisco is the myriad of late night dining options! Seriously, not that I like Mel's or anything, but even the SOMA Mel's isn't open 24 hrs. So, going on the whole street food trend and the success of events like Outside In, I predict the development of bona fide night markets, or night bazaars, which have been a staple in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan. So when you get hungry after 10pm, the night markets will come to the rescue.

Battle Fried Chicken Part I

Epicurios.com recently compiled a list of food trends to come in 2010. Topping the list is Fried Chicken, which as you all know is one of my favorite things to eat in the world!! And yes, Fried Chicken is capitalized! With its crispy skin, moist meat, decadent flavors, AND myriad of sides that can be eaten with it, what is not to LOVE? As a tribute to this prediction, I have decided to post on my adventures in discovering the best places to get your chicken on.

Saizo (Sunnyvale): Chicken Karaage

San Tung (SF): Dry Fried Chicken

Kyochon (LA): Soy-Garlic Drumsticks

Honey Kettle Chicken (LA): Fried Chicken and Kettle Fries with Honey

Little Skillet (SF): Fried Chicken and Waffles

House of Chicken and Waffles (Oakland): Collard Greens, Mac and Cheese, Black Eyed Peas

House of Chicken and Waffles (Oakland): Fried Chicken

For traditional Fried Chicken, Honey Kettle is by far the best. In fact, the chicken was so good, that after I ate a full order, I ordered some more togo for the road (aka my long car ride back from LA). After a few hours, the chicken had cooled to room temperature (perfect for picnics). Halfway home in Central California, I decided to picnic and WHOA! The chicken tasted even better than fresh out of the fryer! This is indeed a true testament to the wonder that is Honey Kettle. Whoever, called it the crack of Fried Chicken wasn't kidding. The chicken was unbelievably crisp, moist, and tender. I am already dreaming about my trip down to LA for MLK. I am going to get my grubhunting on in Culver City!

Regarding the sides, those from the House of Chicken and Waffles in Oakland are by far the best in Norcal. But there are still a few other places I have to try before I make up my mind. These include, but are not limited to the Front Porch and Brown Sugar. I might as well also include a revisit to Everette and Jones which also serves up classic Southern BBQ.

Overall, the chicken and waffles (as a package) from Little Skillet were great. I particularly like the charm of ordering from a window! This combination of flavorful chicken and crispy/fluffy waffles is a winner and ranks in my top five! It would probably rank higher, but everyone knows that I have a special place in my stomach for some of the more exotic fried chicken options. As most of you know, I have a secret love affair with Korean/Chinese fried chicken.

Recently, I went to Kyochon in LA, and I must say that the chicken there was a bit disappointing. So if I were you, I'd stick to eating at Bonchon, which they also have in LA, but I swear it is much better in NY. If you ask any New Yorker, they will tell you how awesome chicken wings from mom and pop chinese restaurants are! So Bonchon and these chicken wings, especially my dad's, readily take second and third place. More on this later!

As Little Skillet recently tweeted... "2010 New Years Resolution - Treat yourself better - Eat more Fried Chicken." They couldn't be more right! Get your grub on!