tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65456032024-02-27T22:35:08.128-08:00SibilousA Bay Area food blog, inspired by Sauntering.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-898085062042243132008-05-06T13:57:00.000-07:002008-05-06T14:08:47.397-07:00How I shop for wineWow, it's been over a year since I posted here. That's a shame. I'll try to work on that.Anyway, I just finished writing up this long, rather detailed set of notes on my process when perusing the aisles at a wine retailer (like klwines.com or thewineclub.com, my 2 favorites in the Bay Area) looking for things to buy. It struck me that I ought to post those thoughts, as others might find them Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1172014730403076552007-02-20T15:38:00.000-08:002007-02-20T15:38:51.153-08:00Food blog review aggregator/siteRestaurant Reviews by Food BloggersGreat concept - search restaurants by food blog ratings, all aggregated into one site. Should be rolling out in SF soon.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1168686218778455812007-01-13T01:43:00.000-08:002007-01-13T03:33:03.336-08:00TWOwebsite - half renovation, half reinvention of the space previously occupied by Hawthorne Lane, Two opened just 2 days ago. The first thing you'll notice walking up to the entrance (which is in the parking lot) is that adjacent to the door are a collection of iron and stone ants. Fun and quirky. The door handles throughout are all fun metal sculpture resembling gnarled vines. It's a great wayHoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1168640182689326702007-01-12T13:29:00.000-08:002007-01-12T14:58:46.240-08:00Scott Howardwebsite - located on Jackson St, just off of Columbus in the oddball land of old brick buildings known as Jackson Square, tucked between the Financial District and North Beach, your first impression is of the cool and vaguely aggressive entrance, an alcove inset into the wall with a massive, dark wood door set at an angle. It's reasonably unique, and certainly a striking first impression. Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1163560487852689012006-11-14T18:20:00.000-08:002006-11-14T19:14:47.916-08:00Cortezwebsite - located in the Hotel Adagio on Geary between Taylor and Jones, also known as right on the edge of the ugly part of the Tenderloin (one of SF's rather less savory parts), it's not what you'd expect on viewing from the outside. Cortez is a modern Mediterranean (fusion, perhaps) restaurant, focusing mostly on small plates, though they've added some larger main course options to their menuHoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1153960996052714452006-07-26T17:02:00.000-07:002006-07-28T09:37:18.836-07:00The French Laundrywebsite - So I must admit I was perhaps somewhat intimidated by the knowledge of my impending meal here for a few days before it happened. French Laundry is, after all, considered one of the finest restaurants in the entire country - no small honor. Yet, I'd been awaiting this dinner for years, and here it was! The ExpositionLocated in an obscure stone building with an exceptionally subtle Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1152653343264247562006-07-11T13:03:00.000-07:002006-07-11T14:29:03.370-07:00Soluna Cafewebsite - handily located in the middle of SF's Civic Center, which isn't too far from the Opera or Symphony for those of you looking for a pre-or-post show meal, it's a reasonably ordinary rectangular space with a bar along the front half, spruced up with some fun lighting (especially the small star-like lights opposite the bar), and most of the restaurant seating is on what are essentially Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1150146351827240052006-06-12T13:01:00.000-07:002006-06-12T14:05:51.886-07:00Homewebsite - at the corner of Market and Church. It's a pleasantly open restaurant, with a big bar along the back wall. Though this was a brunch outing, so we didn't start with a drink.One of the first things out of the waiter's mouth was that they have a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar for $3. I must admit, that's a pretty good deal (it gets you a glass with a shot of vodka; the rest is up to you)Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1145057561754452702006-04-14T15:50:00.000-07:002006-04-14T16:32:41.830-07:00Le Colonialwebsite - neatly tucked away on a little alley off Taylor St near Post, Le Colonial has a great, enveloping atmosphere. Dark, with an old stamped-tin ceiling, it's decorated with accents that successfully take the diner out of San Francisco. They've even got an outdoor eating area with heat lamps which is fantastic on warm nights.We started our evening upstairs in the bar for some drinks, whereHoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1137032445057312932006-01-11T18:20:00.000-08:002006-01-11T18:20:45.093-08:00Get Your Booze On!Extratasty search for & tag your favorite boozy drink recipes. Nice clean interface too.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1133565949162877042005-12-02T15:25:00.000-08:002005-12-02T15:25:49.206-08:00It's not Soylent Green...Ever wonder what human tastes like?
Here you go. It's a fascinating, startling, and somewhat disturbing read. But once you get to the bottom, you'll know. And forever after, you'll wonder...Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1130353544884924782005-10-26T12:02:00.000-07:002006-06-12T14:20:05.113-07:00Home on Unionwebsite - It's a very attractive location on Union St between Webster and Buchanan in the Marina, with a nifty glass-walled front space providing a great view of passers-by, which can be a treat in warm summer weather. The restaurant is long and narrow, with a large, well-stocked bar along the middle with flatscreen TVs. It's a very modern feel.Unfortunately, I only recently noticed this post, Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1128632387680589272005-10-06T13:59:00.000-07:002005-10-06T13:59:47.713-07:00Interesting thoughts on wineAccidental Hedonist - Seven Wine Topics
This is a great food blog, and this article was interesting enough to be worth linking here. Tips on ordering in restaurants, best value pairings for food, what to do with wine that doesn't taste good, and more.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1124305292374636132005-08-17T12:01:00.000-07:002005-08-17T12:01:32.406-07:00Want some chicken nuggets? I'll turn on the meat maker...Academic Paper Says Edible Meat Can be Grown in a Lab on Industrial Scale
Um.
Yeah. That's creepy.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1123789391646855222005-08-11T12:43:00.000-07:002005-08-11T12:43:11.683-07:00Bacon - all day, every dayThe Bacon Show
It's a bacon recipe blog, with a new recipe involving bacon every day.
Enough for a lifetime of artery clogging goodness!Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1123716608669393222005-08-10T15:38:00.000-07:002005-08-10T16:31:02.046-07:00Limewebsite - On Market St at Noe. It's a very funky, very Castro tapas place. The first thing you notice walking up is the large, pink window. Then you notice the enormous solid wood door. Inside, all the walls and ceilings are shiny white plastic, with lots of indirect pink lighting, a blue-lit bar, and more shiny plastic tables and seating. Yeah, it's funky. The second thing you'll probably Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1122062076952396602005-07-22T12:34:00.000-07:002005-07-22T12:54:36.956-07:00Burger Jointwebsite - 807 Valencia in the Mission, at 19th st. It's a reasonably retro little burger joint, exactly as it says, and the menu is about as extensive as the one you'd find at an In-n-Out. Your options are:hamburger with friescheeseburger with friesgardenburger with frieschicken breast with friesbeef hot dog with friesfriesYup. That's it. OK, so they know what they want to specialize in. HowHoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1121717992359960992005-07-18T12:39:00.000-07:002005-07-18T13:19:52.390-07:00YaYaExaminer review - Guardian review - located at 2424 Van Ness Ave at Green St, Yaya is self-described as Mesopotamian cuisine, masterminded by Iraqi chef Yayha Salih. It's a reasonably intimate restaurant, with beautiful murals of old Middle Eastern cities adorning the walls, and small drop lights suspended over the tables, all placed behind a bar in front separating diners from the business of Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1121287406022608202005-07-13T13:34:00.000-07:002005-07-13T13:43:26.023-07:00Sue's Indianwebsite - On Castro St in downtown Mountain View. This is really a location that I should have reviewed many years ago, as it remains my favorite Indian restaurant in the South Bay. Sue's seasonings and curries are completely unique in my many years of avidly consuming Indian food, and they're almost universally wonderful. The ingredients are of high quality and never fatty or gristly. Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1121286778965649682005-07-13T12:50:00.000-07:002005-07-13T13:44:03.413-07:00Saha 7/05website - previous review - (1075 Sutter St at Larkin in SF) First, let me say that my second trip to Saha was just as fantastic as the first, though I managed to emerge much less overstuffed, which was a plus. In fact, the only downside to the entire meal was that it took about 30 minutes for us to order, which was at least partly our fault as it was clear for a part of that time that we were Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1121114086616771842005-07-11T13:34:00.000-07:002005-07-11T13:34:46.643-07:00A great article on MSG and the negative publicity it's gotten, likely undeservedIf MSG is so bad for you, why doesn't everyone in Asia have a headache?
Like pizza? Parmesan cheese on your spaghetti? Tomatoes? Soy Sauce?
Then you like MSG.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1120248823325261262005-07-01T13:13:00.000-07:002005-07-01T13:13:43.346-07:00Burritoeater.com!Burritoeater Blargh
OK, this is fantastic. It's basically every burrito joint in SF, indexed and sortable by name, neighborhood, rating, and number of visits. I love it. I also love that the 2nd highest rated burrito joint in the Mission is 2 blocks from my house. And I haven't been there yet. This will soon change.
My only disappointment? No community ratings. Therefore, I highly suggest Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1119902462488887392005-06-27T12:39:00.000-07:002005-06-27T13:01:02.496-07:00Tao Cafe 6/05website - This was my second visit, and as such will be a somewhat shorter review. For more details, check out my first visit from the column on the right.This time I wanted to try out the $15 prix fixe option. Sunday through Thursday, diners can spend about $15 (some options can adjust it a buck or two up or down) for one of 4 appetizers, one of a number of noodle options, and a dessert. Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1119049339066715912005-06-17T15:25:00.000-07:002005-06-17T16:02:46.893-07:00FirecrackerCitisearch review - At the corner of 21st and Valencia in the Mission, Firecracker is a nifty little Chinese restaurant with a very funky atmosphere. One of the first things you'll notice after passing the maroon curtain separating the door from the body of the restaurant are the bar stools along the back, with gauzy red fabric hanging beneath them lit from within by a light bulb. While seated,Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6545603.post-1118693626866684352005-06-13T13:13:00.000-07:002005-06-13T13:13:46.880-07:00How wine should be dealt with at a restaurantComments from a sommelier on restaurant wine
A great blog entry, also mentioned over at Vinography, on how wine really should be handled at a restaurant.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.com