King of Thai: San Francisco

Date:  lundi 5 octobre 2009

Location:  639 Clement St
(between 7th Ave & 8th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 831-9953

www.kingofthainoodle.com

King of Thai is one of the yummiest, cheapest, fresh fast-food thai joints in town.  The location listed here is the ORIGINAL King of Thai.  There are about 3 other locations throughout SF, yet this one is the smaller and more authentic location.  They are a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall with an open kitchen and fast, friendly service.  Mouth watering recipes are served alongside traditional vinegar-pepper sauces, pepper flakes, etc.  They also close late (~2am).  

I love their green curry and pumpkin squash curry.  You have a choice of adding chicken, pork, or tofu.  House fried rice is also delicious with duck, though personally I have cut back on rice and breads.  It is a fun place to go to on a casual night when you want to catch up with a close friend over a home cooked meal. 

I came here this evening to request a quick order of their green curry, and a diet coke.  ^^  I was tired and exhausted after a full 10 hours of wine education and driving around like a mad woman looking for paper post 6pm in the Outer Richmond.  It was getting cold outside... and I was alone and hungry...  straight drive by to KING OF THAI!

My friends from Southern California (Lee Pee Pee you know who you are) crave this place.  They  make it a point to venture to the Inner Richmond to get their fill when visiting SF.  I am so lucky because it is in my hood!

Emporio Rulli Gran Cafe: San Francisco

Date:  vendredi 2 octobre 2009

 
Location:  2300 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94123-2610
Tel:  +1 415 923 6464

http://www.rulli.com/ 

Last Monday, lundi 28 Septembre 2009, I was in Abruzzo, Italy.  I tasted wines through over 13 regions and feasted on "slow food" by two of Abruzzo's most cherished culinary stars.  It just so happened that 4 days later, their cooking tour landed them in San Francisco at the Emporio Rulli Gran Caffe.  Ercole and Stefano Fasciocco are two brothers from the Guardia Vomano (the Teramo region of Abruzzo).  They are the latest of several generations of the Fasciocco family to run the Antica Macelleria Fasciocco, a butcher shop.  But these two brothers do more than what Americans would expect of a butcher.  They buy animals only from small scale local farmers.  They are artisan "salumieri," making many types of sausages and cured meats.  They are also reknowned as the best meat cooks in the Guardia Vomano region.  They came to SF to prepare their famous PORCHETTA DINNER for us, a specialty of the Abruzzo region. 

They had beautiful olive skin like that of most Italians, and piercing dark eyes and the darkest of dark hair.  Perhaps some of the mystery about them may have lay in the language barrier, who knows.  Whatever it is, they were strong men. 

I arrived at the restaurant late, as usual.  My friends were already outside on the Emporio Rulli patio sitting comfortably under the heated lamps.  Liberata, the gracious sommelier whom I met also in Abruzzo early on Monday, greeted me with the typical CIAO CIAO KISS KISS on each cheek.  There is just something so warm about being in the company of Italian and Spanish people.  I really enjoy these cultures and its peoples.   

My first glass of wine (pictured here to the RIGHT) was the La Maschera Prosecco (which you may have read about in my review from Abruzzo).  Wonderful way to begin a Friday evening.  I have to reiterate that this prosecco retails for about $10US per bottle.  It is a steal and so easy to drink! 

Appetizers consisted of seafood and salatini starters.  They were perfectly and delicately prepared in bite sized portions.  I loved it with the prosecco.  The evening was warm, and I was in the company of fabulous friends, two whom were visiting from Chicago.  

We all moved to the dining room for dinner.  We were served two famous dishes representational of the Abruzzo region:  TIMBALLO ALLA TERAMANA (Teramo style oven baked pasta, tomato sauce, eggs, veal, and mozzarella).  The last time I tasted anything similar was in Rome at Osteria Del Gallo http://www.osteriadelgalloroma.it/galleria.html.  I learned this evening that it is not customary to add fresh cracked pepper to dishes served in the Abruzzo region fashion.  I could appreciate this, despite being a true fresh cracked pepper fanatic.  The main dish of the evening was the PORCHETTA DI CAMPLI (overn roasted porchetta), served simply with rosemary cubed potatoes and simple green beans.  I loved it.  I imagined myself transported back to Abruzzo, Italy.  Dining in the company of warm friends also made the evening just perfect.  

Finally, dessert was served.  PAROZZO D'ANNUNZIO CON TARALLUCCI (chocolate glazed almond cake with grape must [mosto cotto] cookies).  OH MY GOODNESS this dessert not only looked heavenly (pictured here to the RGHT) - they tasted every scrumptious morsel just as lovely.  I was already stuffed, but the delicious grape must inside the moon shaped cookies literally made my eyes roll back in my head.

Toast Eatery: San Francisco

Yummy Date:  jeudi 1 octobre 2009 
Location:  1748 Church St
San Francisco, CA 94131
Tel:  +1 415 282 4328
http://www.toasteatery.com/ 

I love this place.  Dropped in around 8am for breakfast at my favorite non-touristy breakfast joint.  Located in Noe Valley off of the hustle bustle, it is a place one can enjoy their first meal of the day amongst other local San Francisco peeps of diverse origins and interests.  Today I ordered something unusual.  Also known as a "Boring Breakfast."  Usually I will have cofffee, cup of fruit, and some melange of eggs florentine, coco loco pancakes (pancakes made wtih coconut shavings and macademia nuts), or lately I have actually been ordering their classic burger.  I have been a faux vegetarian for the past 3 years, however am trying this "diet by blood type" thingy.  Anyhow - Toast Eatery has consistent, FRESH, and savory dishes.  The foods are served looking clean and bright, and cooked healthily, pure quintessential San Franciscan style. 


It is the ONLY breakfast/brunch place I will EVER go to in San Francisco.  Well, I take that back.  I would go to Toast or the Ritz Carlton (actually have nott been to the Ritz yet but I have heard many accolades before).  For the ambiance and price point, I much rather go to Toast.  I can show up in sweats and flip flops, unwashed hair, no makeup, sunglasses, and the gals at Toast - Areej especially - still greet me with smiles and always know that I start with a fresh cup of coffee and cup of fresh fruit.   I have this self developed theory that one can judge the quality of a brunch place by its fruit plate.  So far I have never been wrong.  Crappy fruit will yield you an even crappier brunch with 2 day old coffee.  No.  We want freshly brewed coffee from freshly ground beans no less than an hour prior.  And because I am such a spoiled foodie, I know where to get freshly ground, hand pressed espresso in San Francisco.  AKA "Beautiful Coffee" vs "Ugly Coffee."  However, a true foodie sometimes never reveals her little secrets.  ^^  Ahhh that little gem shall remain just for me.   Oh, and yes, Toast does indeed have the most gorgeous seasonal fruit.  Come on guys, it is not hard to procure fresh fruit in SF.  Be like Toast!


Earlier this summer, a group of us were meeting up for breakfast before driving/riding down to the Motorcycle Grand Prix in Carmel, CA.  Some twitwit suggeseted Ella's on California Street.  My emailed response:


"Let it be known that I HATE Ella’s.  I refuse to so much as step inside that poor excuse of a breakfast joint.  They better watch out or I’ll get my nasty little fingers on yelp and write up a real nasty scathing review.  Totally inconsistent quality, poor service, unsavory and unhealthy foods.  The only thing consistent about that dried up joint is the lack of quality all around.  This is why I don’t yelp – I could really derail some rip-off places.  If their prices were cheaper, I’d excuse them.  For those prices I’d rather go eat at Toast (which is cheaper and 200% better) or take myself to Ritz Carlton for guaranteed quality and service.  Please don’t ever say the name ELLA in front of me.  It really makes my blood boil.  Meow."  That's right.  In other words, do NOT go to Ella's.  Ever!  


LOL.  Yes, we are freakishly fanatic about our food here in SF.