Saturday, September 02, 2006
Dinner at Home
Lunch at Tian Sing Chinese Restaurant, San Francisco, CA
We had not really eaten breakfast and were quite hungry as we stumbled across a Dim Sum place not too far from home that we'd never eaten at before. It was average priced for good dim sum ($40 for a hefty meal for 2), and it was GOOD. Everything was very fresh and some normal dishes were quite surprising.
Tofu Skins
Although a bit oily, these tofu skins, which are generally stuffed with shredded veggies, we pleasantly stuffed with large chunks of succulent pork.
Foil Wrapped Chicken
Although the skin stuck to the foil, the meat was moist and flavorful.
Avocado Stuffed with Curried Chicken
This was actually the only stinker of the meal. It was neither warm, nor cold and was just sort of blah.
Chicken Feet
These looked very "clean" for chicken feet.
Pork Sui Mai
These were exceptional. They had large chunks of pork and shrimp and not too much filler.
Scallop Balls
These were a bit fishy, but when dipped in hoisin sauce were not too bad.
Shrimp Dumplings
Not sure what exactly was in these, but they were tender and flavorful with fresh cilantro and roe on top.The purse structure was also quite beautiful.
Har Gow
These were full of whole shrimp and veggie filler, instead of the standard starchy filler, and were quite good.
Tofu Skins
Although a bit oily, these tofu skins, which are generally stuffed with shredded veggies, we pleasantly stuffed with large chunks of succulent pork.
Foil Wrapped Chicken
Although the skin stuck to the foil, the meat was moist and flavorful.
Avocado Stuffed with Curried Chicken
This was actually the only stinker of the meal. It was neither warm, nor cold and was just sort of blah.
Chicken Feet
These looked very "clean" for chicken feet.
Pork Sui Mai
These were exceptional. They had large chunks of pork and shrimp and not too much filler.
Scallop Balls
These were a bit fishy, but when dipped in hoisin sauce were not too bad.
Shrimp Dumplings
Not sure what exactly was in these, but they were tender and flavorful with fresh cilantro and roe on top.The purse structure was also quite beautiful.
Har Gow
These were full of whole shrimp and veggie filler, instead of the standard starchy filler, and were quite good.
Ratings:
Food: 2
Decor: 0 (strange ceramic hanging lights and a 20 foot long releif brick dragon)
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Food: 2
Decor: 0 (strange ceramic hanging lights and a 20 foot long releif brick dragon)
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Friday, September 01, 2006
Dinner at Home
Black Bean Ground Turkey with Noodles and Green Beans
This was a quick Friday night meal and sort of a riff on tofu with meat sauce. It was flavorful, a bit spicy and reheats well.
-1 onion, minced
-1 lb ground turkey
-1 lb green beans, cut in thirds
-2 packages kelp noodles (a zero carb stand in for glass noodles)
-4 tb prepared chili black bean sauce
-2 tb dark soy
-1/2 can chicken broth
-2 tb oyster sauce
-cilantro to garnish
Brown the onions in the soy sauce. Add the turkey, chili black bean sauce and oyster sauce and brown. Add the broth, green beans and the kelp noodles. Stir to mix, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until almost all of the liquid is dissolved. Add fresh shopped cilantro to garnish and serve.
-1 lb ground turkey
-1 lb green beans, cut in thirds
-2 packages kelp noodles (a zero carb stand in for glass noodles)
-4 tb prepared chili black bean sauce
-2 tb dark soy
-1/2 can chicken broth
-2 tb oyster sauce
-cilantro to garnish
Brown the onions in the soy sauce. Add the turkey, chili black bean sauce and oyster sauce and brown. Add the broth, green beans and the kelp noodles. Stir to mix, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until almost all of the liquid is dissolved. Add fresh shopped cilantro to garnish and serve.
Lunch from Osha Thai, San Francisco, CA
One of our favorite catered in lunch places, Osha never disappoints and seems to arrive at the office still hot and tasty.
Chicken Satay
The chicken was a bit dry this time, but smothered in the rich peanut sauce, it hardly mattered.
Sizzling Seafood Platter
This was not the most exciting dish, but had a nice array of well cooked seafood: fish, squid, razor clams, shrimp.
Tiger Prawns in Garlic Sauce
This is the best garlic sauce ever--we smother the butterflied shrimp in it and even eat it with a spoon when all the shrimp are gone. The shrimp are also never overcooked.
Crispy Tofu Salad
The tofu was super crispy and dressed in simple fish sauce. Osha also gets and A for presentation for delivery food. The edible flower makes you take out container look special.
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Chicken Satay
The chicken was a bit dry this time, but smothered in the rich peanut sauce, it hardly mattered.
Sizzling Seafood Platter
This was not the most exciting dish, but had a nice array of well cooked seafood: fish, squid, razor clams, shrimp.
Tiger Prawns in Garlic Sauce
This is the best garlic sauce ever--we smother the butterflied shrimp in it and even eat it with a spoon when all the shrimp are gone. The shrimp are also never overcooked.
Crispy Tofu SaladThe tofu was super crispy and dressed in simple fish sauce. Osha also gets and A for presentation for delivery food. The edible flower makes you take out container look special.
Breakfast at Home
Leftover Chicken DivanGiao has slowly broken down Alexis beleif that only certain foods can be eaten at certain times of the day. Now she'll pretty much eat anything for breakfast.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Dinner at Espetus, San Francisco, CA
Espetus is one of those Brazilian BBQ places where they come around to your tables with dozens of different meats, 90% of which are pretty damn tasty. The price is about $35 per person, but it is all you can eat filet mingon, prawns, ribs, etc. The salad bar leaves something to be desired. They try to get you to fill up on all of that stuff, be we know better and hold out for all the meat.
Garlic Sirloin
Very flavorful sauce and tender meat. The crust was especially nice.
Ribs
Very fatty, but very tender and tasty.
Short Rib
From the salad bar, this morsel was tender, but a bit too sweet for Giao's tastes.
Grilled Pineapple
The heat really brings out the flavor in this sweet-tart, very fresh fruit.
Parmasean Encrusted Chicken
The chicken was a bit too dry.
Homemade Sausage
Nice chunks of garlic, but it was a bit salty. Good if eaten with the pineapple.
Filet Mignon
Tender.
Grilled Shrimp
These were cooked well (not overcooked) but were a bit too fishy, perhaps a little old.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Again, the chicken was a bit too dry.
Green Salad, Fresh Mozzerella Salad and Guacamole
The guacamole was actually really good and was quite nice with the various meats.
Ratings:
Food: 2
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Garlic Sirloin
Very flavorful sauce and tender meat. The crust was especially nice.
Ribs
Very fatty, but very tender and tasty.
Short Rib
From the salad bar, this morsel was tender, but a bit too sweet for Giao's tastes.
Grilled Pineapple
The heat really brings out the flavor in this sweet-tart, very fresh fruit.
Parmasean Encrusted Chicken
The chicken was a bit too dry.
Homemade Sausage
Nice chunks of garlic, but it was a bit salty. Good if eaten with the pineapple.
Filet Mignon
Tender.
Grilled Shrimp
These were cooked well (not overcooked) but were a bit too fishy, perhaps a little old.
Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Again, the chicken was a bit too dry.
Green Salad, Fresh Mozzerella Salad and Guacamole
The guacamole was actually really good and was quite nice with the various meats.
Food: 2
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Lunch at Taylor's Automatic Refresher, San Franciso, CA
About half the office went out to eat at Taylor's together today--It was a beautiful day though, so we couldn't get a big enough table outside for all of us, which was a shame.
Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Extra Blue Cheese $12
Meaty, cheesy goodness.
Bacon Cheeseburger $8
Very tasty, although they forgot the special sauce.
Wedge Salad $5
This was not a wedge at all, and the dressing was way too thick, but it was ok. The heirloom cherry tomatos in a variety of colors were a nice, delicious twist.
Double Bacon Cheeseburger with Extra Blue Cheese $12
Meaty, cheesy goodness.
Bacon Cheeseburger $8
Very tasty, although they forgot the special sauce.
Wedge Salad $5
This was not a wedge at all, and the dressing was way too thick, but it was ok. The heirloom cherry tomatos in a variety of colors were a nice, delicious twist.
Breakfast at Home
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Dinner at Home
Pan Fried Lamb Chops with Herb Garlic Topping
These great little lamb chops come from Costco and are easy to cook. I marinate in a bit of olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper for about 1/2 hour then pan fry to 2 minutes on each side in a hot pan with a bit of olive oil and butter. 2 minutes on all sides gives a nice, crunchy, carmelized exterior and a rare interior. The sauce is made from sauteeing minced garlic over low heat in a couple of tablespoons of butter until crunchy. Then take off the heat, add minced herbs (in this case fresh basil and tarragon) and spoon over the chops.
Mixed Green Salad with Balsamic Vinagrette
Caprese Salad
Basil, tomato and fresh mozzerella tops with salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinager.
Lunch from Mehfil Indian Cuisine, San Francisco, CA
Another lunch from our favorite Indian take out joint...
Chicken Mahkni and Saag Paneer
Very good today.
Aloo Gohbi (without the aloo)
A bit watery, but the flavor was good.
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Chicken Mahkni and Saag Paneer
Very good today.
Aloo Gohbi (without the aloo)A bit watery, but the flavor was good.
Breakfast at Home
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Dinner at Homeb
Chicken Divan
Chicken Divan is one of the few dishes that Giao likes to make. This time it turned out a bit soupier than usual because we couldn't find condensed cream of chicken soup and had to go with the non-condensed version. Alexis actually thought it was better than the thicker version.
-4 cups brocolli, steamed
-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-1 cup grated cheese
sauce:
-2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
-1/2 cup mayo
-juice of 1 lemon
-1 tb curry powder
-salt to taste
Prebake the chicken breasts for 15 minutes at 400. Layer brocolli, then chicken breasts, then thoroughly mixed sauce ingredients on top. Bake for 1/2 hour to 40 minutes on 400. Sprinkle cheese on top and serve.
-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-1 cup grated cheese
sauce:
-2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
-1/2 cup mayo
-juice of 1 lemon
-1 tb curry powder
-salt to taste
Prebake the chicken breasts for 15 minutes at 400. Layer brocolli, then chicken breasts, then thoroughly mixed sauce ingredients on top. Bake for 1/2 hour to 40 minutes on 400. Sprinkle cheese on top and serve.
Lunch at Work
Breakfast at Home
Monday, August 28, 2006
Dinner at Home
Fennel Roasted Garlic Soup
In order to salvage the too garlicky soup from the other night Alexis added 2 cans of chicken broth and a bulb of fennel, simmered, covered, until tender and pureed. As fennel tends to be fibrous, the puree was subsequently strained and ended up as a smooth and tummy warming soup.
Lunch at Work
Lemon Dill Chicken Salad with Fennel and English Cucumbers
A nice chicken salad make from Costco rotisserie chicken on a bed of mixed greens.
-1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
-1/2 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
-1/3 English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
dressing:
-1 cup mayo
-juice of 1 lemon
-1 tb fresh dill
-1 ts ground pepper
-salt to taste
Mix all dressing ingredients thoroughly and incorporate into the other ingredients. Serve on a bed of greens.
-1/2 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
-1/3 English cucumber, halved and thinly sliced
dressing:
-1 cup mayo
-juice of 1 lemon
-1 tb fresh dill
-1 ts ground pepper
-salt to taste
Mix all dressing ingredients thoroughly and incorporate into the other ingredients. Serve on a bed of greens.
Breakfast at Home
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Dinner at Home
As our first home cooked meal back in the US, we decided to have something healthy and quick.
Roasted Garlic Soup
This soup was, I think, the only thing Alexis has ever made that could be described as too garlicky. She uses copious amounts of garlic often, but this was just too intense. We ate a bit, and decided to save the rest to dilute with further ingredients the next day. But, if you like really garlicky soup, here is the recipe...
Halibut with Pesto
Homemade pesto with halibut reminds Alexis of childhood meals, as her parents always made tons of pesto in August. Halibut is a meaty enough fish to stand up to the strong flavors.
Roasted Garlic Soup
This soup was, I think, the only thing Alexis has ever made that could be described as too garlicky. She uses copious amounts of garlic often, but this was just too intense. We ate a bit, and decided to save the rest to dilute with further ingredients the next day. But, if you like really garlicky soup, here is the recipe...
-a head of garlic, cloves peeled
-1 and 1/2 turnips, chopped
-4 cans chicken broth
-1/2 onion, chopped
Sautee onions and garlic over low heat until browned. Add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and let simmer for 1/2 an hour. Puree and serve.
-1 and 1/2 turnips, chopped
-4 cans chicken broth
-1/2 onion, chopped
Sautee onions and garlic over low heat until browned. Add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and let simmer for 1/2 an hour. Puree and serve.
Halibut with Pesto
Homemade pesto with halibut reminds Alexis of childhood meals, as her parents always made tons of pesto in August. Halibut is a meaty enough fish to stand up to the strong flavors.
Pesto:
-3 handfuls fresh basil
-juice of 1/2 lemon
-1/8 cup parmasean
-1/8 cup pine nuts
-1/4 cup olive oil
-salt to taste
Puree.
Top a slab of fresh halibut with a thick layer of fresh pesto and bake on 375 until just opaque and able to flake easily with a fork.
-3 handfuls fresh basil
-juice of 1/2 lemon
-1/8 cup parmasean
-1/8 cup pine nuts
-1/4 cup olive oil
-salt to taste
Puree.
Top a slab of fresh halibut with a thick layer of fresh pesto and bake on 375 until just opaque and able to flake easily with a fork.
Late Afternoon Snack at Costco, San Francisco, CA
Breakfast on LanPeru Flight
More sad airport food...
Omelette with Ham
Cardboardesque.
Melted Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Stale tasting.
Omelette with Ham
Cardboardesque.
Melted Ham and Cheese Sandwich
Stale tasting.
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