Saturday, December 16, 2006
Dinner at Lark Creek Steak, San Francisco, CA
We tried to go to B Restaurant, a new place near our house, but sadly, they had closed up early for the night because they had no customers. They have a terrible location with no foot traffic, so it wasn't all that surprising, but sad nonetheless. It was 9:15 at that point and since San Fransisco is an early to bed sort of city, our eating options were limited. We decided to try Lark Creek Steak, the steak house in the (finally finished) San Francisco Westfield Center, which has been under construction for at least 5 years. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the steak, especially because this chi-chi restaurant is in a mall.
Homemade Biscuits with Chorzo Butter and Cranberry Compote (gratuit)
These flaky-crumbly biscuits were served warm and were quite delicious. Although the corizo butter was good, it would have been nice to have been served plain butter as well, as the whole thing was slightly overwhelming.
Waygu Beef Carpaccio $17
Waygu is the American version of Kobe beef. This dish was bright and buttery at the same time and very, very good.
Brussel Sprouts $7
These were braised in beer and caraway seeds and were very good.
9oz New York with Bearnaise $22
The steak was juicy and cooked perfectly. The bearnaise left something to be desired. Unclear whether the greens were supposed to be a salad or a garnish.
Dry Aged Rib Eye $43
Dry aged for 18 days, the concentrated flavor of this steak was amazing. The blue cheese butter was not as good as Alexis' and had a strange texture.
Ratings:
Food: 2
Service: 1 (friendly, but he forgot to bring bread when we asked)
Decor: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Homemade Biscuits with Chorzo Butter and Cranberry Compote (gratuit)
These flaky-crumbly biscuits were served warm and were quite delicious. Although the corizo butter was good, it would have been nice to have been served plain butter as well, as the whole thing was slightly overwhelming.
Crab and Cauliflour Soup $15
Probably the most expensive bowl of soup we've ever had, but there was a lot of crab in it. The flavors were very nice and the small bits of purple cauliflour were texturally and visually interesting. The only problem with this dish was that there should have been about twice as much liquid. The soup didn't even come close to covering the rest of the ingredients, which threw the proportions off. I'm not sure whether this was intentional or merely a mistake. The bready thing in the middle was also totally unnecessary.
Probably the most expensive bowl of soup we've ever had, but there was a lot of crab in it. The flavors were very nice and the small bits of purple cauliflour were texturally and visually interesting. The only problem with this dish was that there should have been about twice as much liquid. The soup didn't even come close to covering the rest of the ingredients, which threw the proportions off. I'm not sure whether this was intentional or merely a mistake. The bready thing in the middle was also totally unnecessary.
Waygu Beef Carpaccio $17
Waygu is the American version of Kobe beef. This dish was bright and buttery at the same time and very, very good.
Brussel Sprouts $7
These were braised in beer and caraway seeds and were very good.
Creamed Spinach $7
Not that great. Alexis' is better becauase it is made with bacon.
Not that great. Alexis' is better becauase it is made with bacon.
9oz New York with Bearnaise $22
The steak was juicy and cooked perfectly. The bearnaise left something to be desired. Unclear whether the greens were supposed to be a salad or a garnish.
Dry Aged Rib Eye $43
Dry aged for 18 days, the concentrated flavor of this steak was amazing. The blue cheese butter was not as good as Alexis' and had a strange texture.
Food: 2
Service: 1 (friendly, but he forgot to bring bread when we asked)
Decor: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Labels: Decor: 1, Food: 2, regional American, restaurant, Service: 1
Brunch at a Friend's Cousin's House in San Jose, CA
We were invited to a friend's cousin's house for "Mochi Day" in which her entire extended family made lots and lost of mochi. After the mochi-making, lunch was served.
Salami, Tuna (very fresh), Ham, Chicken and Veggies
Salami, Tuna (very fresh), Ham, Chicken and Veggies
Friday, December 15, 2006
Dinner at Destino, San Francisco, CA
Alexis' office holiday party was held at Destino, a place we had been before and enjoyed. Although it was a great environment, the food was not as good as we remembered. Perhaps they weren't used to cooking for large groups. The timing was bad and the amounts were off.
Steak with Tangy Herb Sauce
This was the best thing on the menu. Juicy, tangy and all around tasty.
Saucy Chicken
Bland and stringy.
Quinoa Casserole
This was interesting and sort of homey tasting.
Ceviche
Tuna ceviche served on endive leaves, these little bites were flavorful.
Mushroom Empanadas
Too much bread, not enough filling.
Herbed Gnocci
These were disgusting. They were flavorless, gooey balls.
Mussels with Rice
The mussles were huge and plump, but there was too much rice.
Steak with Tangy Herb Sauce
This was the best thing on the menu. Juicy, tangy and all around tasty.
Saucy Chicken
Bland and stringy.
Quinoa Casserole
This was interesting and sort of homey tasting.
Ceviche
Tuna ceviche served on endive leaves, these little bites were flavorful.
Mushroom Empanadas
Too much bread, not enough filling.
Squash, Quinoa, Mushroom and Pomegranite Salad
This was an odd combination of flavors that remained distinct in the mouth rather than melding.
This was an odd combination of flavors that remained distinct in the mouth rather than melding.
Herbed Gnocci
These were disgusting. They were flavorless, gooey balls.
Mussels with Rice
The mussles were huge and plump, but there was too much rice.
Ratings:
Food: 1 (it was a 2 the last time we ate there)
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Food: 1 (it was a 2 the last time we ate there)
Decor: 1
Service: 1
Website
Health Code Violations
Labels: Decor: 1, Food: 1, fusion, restaurant, Service: 1, Spanish
Lunch at Julie's Kitchen, San Francisco, CA
Giao tried this downtown salad bar/buffet line that we'd walked by many times. He describes it as all pretty mediocre. The whole plate same to about $13, which is rather expensive for mediocre food.
Korean Style Short Ribs (ok), Egg Roll (standard), Cold Salmon (not very good)
Potstickers (standard)
Stuffed Tofu (Giao couldn't finish it), Chicken (maybe meant to be Katsu?)
Website
Health Code Violations
Ratings:
Food: 0
Service: N/A
Decor: 0
Korean Style Short Ribs (ok), Egg Roll (standard), Cold Salmon (not very good)
Potstickers (standard)
Stuffed Tofu (Giao couldn't finish it), Chicken (maybe meant to be Katsu?)
Health Code Violations
Ratings:
Food: 0
Service: N/A
Decor: 0
Labels: Chinese, Decor: 0, fast food, Food: 0, restaurant
Lunch at Work
Breakfast at Home
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Dinner at Home
Snack at Harrington's, San Francisco, CA
Chicken Tenders $7
These are tender and tasty, although the sweet-spicy sauce has the consistency of snot, which is a bit revolting.
Labels: regional American, restaurant
Lunch at Manhattan Hub, San Francisco, CA
Beef and Chicken Cheese Steak $12
Another enormous concoction of Giao's--2 cheese steak fillings in one cheese steak roll.
Lunch at Work
Salmon Salad with Spinach
Like tuna salad, but made with salmon.
-3 cans salmon, drained
-1/4 cup mayo
-2 tb capers
-juice of 1/2 lemon
-1 ts pepper
Mix thoroughly and eat with greens or in a sandwich.
-1/4 cup mayo
-2 tb capers
-juice of 1/2 lemon
-1 ts pepper
Mix thoroughly and eat with greens or in a sandwich.
Labels: homemade, lunch recipes, seafood
Breakfast at Home
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Dinner at Home
Green Beans Sauteed with Garlic and Butter
Simple and delicious.
Labels: dinner recipes, green beans, ribs
Lunch at Fatt Dogg, San Francisco, CA
Calabrese with Sourkraut $3
Juicy and tasty.
Chili Cheese Dog $4
Nice, meaty chili on a regular dog.
Labels: regional American
Lunch from Osha Thai, San Francisco, CA
Chicken Satay
The chicken was tender today.
Garlic PrawnsThese had a weird crumbly texture that made me a little scared to eat them.
Labels: Food: 1, restaurant, thai
Breakfast at Home
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Dinner at Home
Garlic Tiger Prawns and Steamed Brocolli
The tiger prawns are breifly sauteed in a whole head of minced garlic, a bit of olive oil, salt and a spritz of lemon juice.
Labels: brocolli, dinner recipes, homemade, seafood
Lunch at Manhattan Hub, San Francisco, CA
We are always searching for a good cheesesteak place downtown, since The Cheesesteak Shop is a long bus ride from downtown. We heard about this place and we were pleasantly surprised.
Low-Carb Extra Cheese, Extra Meat, Cheese Steak $8
It was nice that they offer a low carb version on a bed of salad. The cheese steak itself was pretty tasty and very cheesy.
Chicken Cheese Steak and Regular Cheese Steak (merged into one bun) $12
This is Giao's enormous concoction of meaty, cheesy goodness.
Ratings:
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: NA (counter--It was a rather strange system in which you order, then get a number, then tell someone else what you ordered so you can be charged, all before you actually get your food. Some strange sort of honor system.)
Website
Health Code Violations
Low-Carb Extra Cheese, Extra Meat, Cheese Steak $8
It was nice that they offer a low carb version on a bed of salad. The cheese steak itself was pretty tasty and very cheesy.
Chicken Cheese Steak and Regular Cheese Steak (merged into one bun) $12
This is Giao's enormous concoction of meaty, cheesy goodness.
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: NA (counter--It was a rather strange system in which you order, then get a number, then tell someone else what you ordered so you can be charged, all before you actually get your food. Some strange sort of honor system.)
Website
Health Code Violations
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, regional American
Breakfast at Home
Monday, December 11, 2006
Dinner at Home
Fajitas
Quick, healthy and tasty.
Homemade Guacamole
-1 large New York steak marinated in olive oil, lime juice, garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper--pan fry for 3 minutes on each side
-1 onion, thinly sliced
-2 belle peppers, thinly sliced
-5 cloves garlic, minced
Sautee in olive oil until soft and carmelized.
Greek yogurt
Hot Sauce
-1 large New York steak marinated in olive oil, lime juice, garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper--pan fry for 3 minutes on each side
-1 onion, thinly sliced
-2 belle peppers, thinly sliced
-5 cloves garlic, minced
Sautee in olive oil until soft and carmelized.
Greek yogurt
Hot Sauce
Low Carb Tortillas
Fresh Blueberries and Blackberries
Fresh Strawberries
Labels: beef, dinner recipes, Mexican
Lunch from Seller's Market, San Francisco, CA
Tomato Bisque
Very tasty.
Cobb SaladFresh ingredients, strange dressing.
Giao had leftover Fish Curry.
Breakfast at Home
Sunday, December 10, 2006
After Dinner Snack at Borobudur, San Francisco, CA
After Singapore, we were craving some roti prata and determined to find it someplace other than Strait's Cafe. We found some within walking distance of our place. Interestingly, when we went to Borodudur's website, we mistakenly assumed it would be a rather chic, loungy type of place. Instead we found a far too bright, strangely decorated mishap. The roti prata was worth it though.
Roti Prata $6
At first we thought this was expensive, but it was HUGE. Far too big for even the two of us to share. The curry was well flavored though, and the roti both crunchy and stretchy.
Ratings:
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: 0
Website
Health Code Violations
Roti Prata $6
At first we thought this was expensive, but it was HUGE. Far too big for even the two of us to share. The curry was well flavored though, and the roti both crunchy and stretchy.
Food: 1
Decor: 0
Service: 0
Website
Health Code Violations
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 1, restaurant, Service: 0, Singaporean
Adana Kebab, San Francisco, CA
We went out to dinner for a friend's bday to a Turkish place that recently opened. It was quite good, better than expected. The meal, including appetizers, entree and drinks was a very reasonable $23 each.
Lamb and Beef Kebab
Thin slices of tender, flavorful meat.
Feta in Fried Phyllo Dough
The Turkish version of egg-rolls. The kids loved them and the adults thought they were pretty good too.
Dolmas
Alexis' mom's are better. The rice was sort of hard in these.
Appetizer Plate
Hummous, Babahganoush, Falafel, Dolmas, Tsziki and Tabouli. Flavorful and smooth in texture.
Ground Lamb Kebab
Tasty and juicy.
Lamb and Beef Kebab
Thin slices of tender, flavorful meat.
Feta in Fried Phyllo Dough
The Turkish version of egg-rolls. The kids loved them and the adults thought they were pretty good too.
Dolmas
Alexis' mom's are better. The rice was sort of hard in these.
Appetizer Plate
Hummous, Babahganoush, Falafel, Dolmas, Tsziki and Tabouli. Flavorful and smooth in texture.
Ground Lamb Kebab
Tasty and juicy.
Labels: Decor: 1, Food: 1, restaurant, Service: 1, Turkish
Breakfast at 4th Street Bar and Deli
Chicken Tenders $8
Served with BBQ sauce and honey mustard, these tenders were tender, juicy and barely breaded, but the sauces were far too sweet.
Chili Cheese Dog with Bacon $6
A heart attack in a bun with oddly sweet chili.
Ratings:
Food: 0
Decor: 0
Service: 1
Labels: Decor: 0, Food: 0, regional American, restaurant, Service: 1
Features:
Alexis' Cookbook
Our Favorite Kitchen Tools
More Useful Kitchen Tools
SeeUsEat 2006 Awards
Roti Round-Up
Burger Battle
Fried Chicken Challenge
Video: Chupaqueso
Video: Zuchinni Lasagna
Cuisine:
Austrian
Chinese
Cuban
Dim Sum
Ethiopian
French
German
Indian
Japanese
Mexican
Middle Eastern
Noveau American
Nueva Latino
Pub Food
Regional American
Singaporean
Spanish
Turkish
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
