Burger Wars - The Royal Exchange, 301 Sacramento St., SFCA

   Another Daily Dishout coupon led me to a free burger at this long-standing FiDi establishment. The only requirement necessary was to buy a drink, and you see a pint of my favorite Texas brew, Shiner Bock. Our burger is a down-to-Earth, no-nonsense, flamebroiled 1/3lb. angus beef beauty with cheddar. No fancy cheese, no exotic mushrooms, no specialty bacon. Just plain ol' lettuce, tomato and pickle and a bottle of ketchup, yellow mustard and Grey Poupon. This burger is normally $10 and comes with your choice of sides - fries, salad, etc. There are also some great bar bites to share if you're with friends. So if you work near Sacramento and Front, drop in sometime and try a decent alternative to Mickey D's.

The 2nd Annual Eat Real Food Festival, Jack London Square, Oakland, CA

Pardon the schizophrenic layout of this post!

Melon and Orchata Paleta

Suicide Stick - Charred Serrano Pepper

Spicy Mac 'n' Cheese from Homeroom

Vegetarian Tamal from Chaac Mool

Escragot Puff Lollipop from Spencer On The Go

Grilled Figs with Cream and Nuts from Whole Foods

Jim 'n' Nicks Hot Link with Pimento Cheese

Korean Taco from Namu

Fresh Fruit

Tacos Al Pastor from San Buena

Brown Sugar Banana Ice Cream from Strauss Creamery

Charred Chiles with Olive Oil, Salt

Raspberry Ice Cream

Cactus Fries with Cilantro Lime Dip

  A beautiful day yesterday, perfect for a little outdoor noshing. This is the sister event to the SF Street Food Fair, and features 50+ vendors of truck style eats, plus a few brick and mortar types (Whole Foods for one). There was a plethora of Latin-oriented caterers, so no shortage of tacos, burritos, gorditas, empanadas, etc. Plenty of liquid refreshments including beer and wine, cooking demonstrations and food related literature. I've taken the liberty of adding some pics from last year's edition.

Bix, 56 Gold Alley, between Pacific, Jackson, Montgomery and Sansome

   Yesterday found me without a lunchmate, so I figured I'd try the Black Truffle Hamburger at Bix, and pay a visit to a newly befriended fellow bartender, Peter. At 2pm there's no trouble finding seating, and I had the bar pretty much to myself. They have a nice big bucket of shaved ice  stocked with stemware, so a Hendrick's Martini (11) sounded like the way to start another day in Paradise. Then I discovered that the truffle burger only comes on the dinner menu - merde alors! Everything on the menu looked appetizing, and I was hungry enough to eat a baby's butt through a park bench.
  You can never have too much lycopene in your system and Roasted Tomato Soup (10.5), with grilled cheese croutons, is a good source. This soup brought back memories of the puff pastry tomato soup at Jeanty at Jack's, which is dearly missed by a large number of San Franciscans. Rich and creamy, I was tempted to wipe out the bowl with some bread but restrained myself, admirably.
   A good Cobb Salad (16.95) isn't always easy to find and I will say this is the best I've had in SF to date. It doesn't look formidable, but when you get down to those last few bites you realize, hey, this is a meal here. The perfect ratio of chicken, cheese, bacon, tomatoes and avocado with the dressing in a small gravy boat. The bacon comes from Broadbent Farms in Kentucky, and it's available by mail order.
   By now you know there's always room for dessert. A tough decision between the Bananas Foster and the Caramelized Vanilla Semifreddo (9.25) with Farmer's Market nectarines. A single espresso to dilute the fat molecules and prepare the way for a Fernet at Vesuvio to help digest yet another great meal in the City!

Chinatown Snacks

  This is one snack you can definitely write off, unless you prefer chewing dry, tasteless things. These are dried fava beans that supposedly have sugar, curry and garlic flavoring. My taste buds must have been asleep cuz I couldn't detect any of those, even with the MSG that's included. The nice thing is that there are seven little bags inside the big one, preserving that fresh tastelessness I suppose.

Chips, Dips, Chains and Whips

   Speaking of dips, I just rustled up a batch of one of my favorites. I feel compelled to share the recipe with you, dear reader:
 12oz. of your fave feta - I like the Bulgarian
 1 Big ass clove of garlic, minced
 1 Scant tbs. dried oregano
 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
 2-3 medium pepperoncini
 Extra virgin olive oil

   In a food processor, add the garlic, oregano, red pepper and pepperoncini. Pulse and scrape down the sides a couple of times. Rinse and cube the feta, then add and pulse several times. Add a 1/4 cup oil and run processor for 1/2 minute. Check texture and taste. Add oil a little at a time until you reach a fairly smooth consistency, easy to dip with wheat thins, Triscuits or other sturdy crackers.

Chinese Food Purveyor #394

   I've been a bit neglectful at finishing my project of eating at all of the Chinese restaurants in SF, mainly because we're down to the dregs and out-of-the-way joints. I did manage to drop into J. George's, 2799 - 16th St. (at Folsom) the other day. This is one of those places that features 'Donuts - Teriyaki - Chinese Food', and of course we're talking steam table glop. All of the seating was occupied (!) so I just got some egg rolls to go and yes that counts as having eaten there. They actually weren't that bad for $.75 each, and nuked for about 30 seconds and served with some Thai Kitchen Sweet Red Chili sauce, they would have been a stoner's delight.

The Little Skillet, 360 Ritch St., between Townsend and Brannan St.

   I'd heard so much about this spin-off of Farmer Brown, a resto I happen to like. Everyone is jumping on the chicken and waffles bandwagon, it seems. There is only one problem that I encounter with most of the fried chicken I eat in this city - the white meat is over-cooked. Great seasoning and crispy skin are wasted if you're eating a piece of cardboard. Say what you will about The Colonel, I've never had a piece of over-cooked chicken there! The best fried chicken I've had in SF is at a Korean place which I need to re-visit soon, and when I do you'll know about it. BTW, the waffle at Little Skillet was inedible - I would have been happier with some Eggos. Keep working on that chicken fellas until you get it right!

Taco Wars - Taqueria Vallarta, 3033 - 24th St., near Harrison

   I'd wandered by this place a hundred times and I decided it was time to stop wandering. There are two entrances, and the smaller one is where you get your tacos, right inside the door. The meats available are posted at the entrance and are translated for all you bolillos. I had not had buche, which is pork neck meat, or suadero, which they list as 'hip'. If you google up suadero you'll get multiple definitions, such as brisket, shoulder, etc. I found a convenient butcher's diagram of a cow with the sections labeled in Spanish, and suadero is indeed part of the rear leg.
   If you decide to eat in, be advised that you may be sharing your dining area with pigeons. There is no door on the large seperate dining room to the east of where you order, so flying rats come and go, picking at food left on tables. You may want to scope out the art, some of which is posted at top. A lot of restos in the Mission have beautiful murals, but not this one. This is just bizarre -  there is a history of the Spanish coming to the Americas written (in Spanish) on one wall; there is a description of how the '49ers and the Giants got there names; the ceiling and walls are covered with historical sketches of California history, etc.

   As for the tacos - pretty good and $1.50 each. You do all the garnishing right at the service area and then pay at the register to your left. Notice that Jarritos Lime drink - only 50g of sugar!

Mission Street Food Fair, 2010

   I gave up in exasperation last year at the Mission Street Food Fair because it was poorly organized, with too little room and too many people. This year they did manage to expand the area and the vendors seemed better equiped to deal with the masses, but it was still TOO MANY PEOPLE! My fascination for crowds diminishes quickly, so my friend Janet and I had our fill in about an hour. The first order of the day was tacos. By coincidence or no, the Tonayense truck and the Kung Fu taco truck were parked side by side; the line for the former, about 15 people, for the latter, about a 100. Hunger and common sense told me to go with Tonayense - they make a good taco, and I can visit the Kung Fu truck downtown during the week. So, at right you see a Taco Al Pastor and a Taco de Pollo, $2/each, with a good spicy salsa.
   At the Azalina booth, I spotted Malaysian Caesar Salad (3) which sounded interesting, but as you can see it's just iceberg lettuce with some crunchy sweet peanut sauce. Not to say it was bad, but I think they could have left 'Caesar' out of the equation.
   Next, the cardiologist's delight, a Scotch Egg (3) from the people at Purple Hibiscus. If you've never had one, it's a hard boiled egg that's coated with a spicy ground pork mixture and then fried. I don't know why MacDonald's hasn't put these on a muffin.
   A little sweetness to finish things was all I wanted. Again, we were thwarted by another huge line waiting to get the 'strawberry refresher' at some booth, so we opted for the Roasted Peach Ice Cream (3) at Three Sisters. A total knockout and a reminder to visit their store at 254 Fillmore in the LoHa.
   I can honestly say that I'll be skipping this event next year unless I can get some sort of VIP pass that allows me to go to the head of the line at any venue.

Lunch with Doug - The Cosmopolitan, 121 Spear St. between Mission & Howard

  It's always fun to hook up with my bud Doug and eat at some semi-swanky little place in the FiDi/ SOMA area. You've got an old tattooed guy and a young guy in a suit and tie. The possibilities are endless - ex-con with son who's made something of himself; drug dealer and client; parole officer and previously mentioned ex-con, etc., etc. We like to keep the wait staff wondering!
   I had yet another coupon for a freebie - this time the Pizzetta with Asparagus, Pancetta and Egg (normally $9) pictured at right. This was a great little app, about 10" in diameter with crisp, well-done crust, tender asparagus and crunchy pancetta. Doug opted for the Halibut with Grilled Prawns, Spinach and Fried Green Tomatoes (23) that comes in a 'nage', a butter infused tomato sauce. I noted a fishy smell that sometimes comes from 'long time no sea', but Doug said everything tasted fine and the halibut was moist and flaky, which counts the most with any kind of fish.
   Pot pies seem to be popping up on a number of menus, and I chose to go with the Chicken Pot Pie (16) that claimed to have wild mushrooms in it, but if they were there, they were well concealed. The gravy was a bit thin and runny, and there was a tad too much flat parsley for my taste. The crust was passable, and simply covered the top. Good quantity of chicken and the usual peas and carrots to round things out. All in all, I would have been just as happy with a Marie Callender pie. The accompanying salad was sizable but had an overly salty dressing.
   One advantage to dining at The Cosmopolitan on Thursday is the 1/2 off price on all wines, all day. We had a nice tart 2008 Sterling Sauvignon Blanc for $18 that meshed quite well with our meal.
   I would put this restaurant on my Been That, Done There list. If you've got an expense account and you're in the 'hood with friends or clients, by all means go, it's nice and roomy and well-appointed with a full bar and clean restrooms.

Eatin' in The Mission - Rhea's Deli, 800 Valencia St at 19th, SFCA

   Fellow sandwich aficionado Joe Hoogerhyde has been all over me to try Rhea's, and of course I'm here to please. The deli department has been cranking out quality sammies for a year or so, and to date their record for a single day is 195 soul-satisfying little numbers like the one pictured here. Boar's Head Smoked Pepper Turkey, pepper jack cheese, garlic aioli, spicy brown mustard, tomato, lettuce and jalapeno on whole wheat (6.77 with tax). I forgot to have them throw it on the scale, but it felt like a little under one pound. Rhea's has signature sammies like the Cunningham Place or the Lexington Street; the place is owned by a Korean lady who makes the house kimchi, and they feature Korean Steak Tacos and Sandwiches. There is also Pork and Chicken Katsu, Vegetarian BBQ Chicken and Grilled Cheese. They utilize several Acme breads and numerous aioli and mustards. With a purchase of $10 or more you can get delivery, which includes liquids as well as solids, and it's also possible to call ahead for a sandwich pick-up.
   Another aspect I like is the fact that you check off your options for your sammy on  a little sheet. This avoids needless repetition when it's busy, and you're on your way just that much quicker! Thumb's up for Rhea's. Deli is open 11-7pm M-TH, 11 to 8pm F-SUN; 415-282-5255

I Scream, You Scream...

  We're all looking forward to that special time of year, Indian Summer, when the weather gets warm and the tourists have all gone home. Well, most of them. You know me, if I can make it at home and it's worth the time and effort, it's made. And that goes especially for ice cream. If you don't like commercial ice creams made with gums, thickeners, emulsifiers, etc. and you want to choose what kind of milk or cream or sweetener goes into your end product, this book is for you. The Ultimate Ice Cream Book, by Bruce Weinstein (William Morrow & Co., 1999) contains over 500 recipes for ice cream, sorbet, granitas, drinks and more. You'll need an ice cream maker and there are multiple choices available, from old fashioned hand-cranked (elbow grease required, and a good way to put your kids to work) to electric. I have a small Cuisinart that I bought at Macy's a few years back for about $40; it makes roughly a quart at a time. You have to put the interior cannister in the freezer overnight, and when you're ready you pour your mixture in, push a button and you have semi-solid ice cream in about 30 minutes. You can put it in the freezer for a while if you want more firmness.
   There are 30+ copies of this book, starting at $4.33, at:www.abe.com

Burger Wars - Eos - 901 Cole St. at Carl, SFCA

   When I think about my favorite burgers down through the years, I remember the ones I had at a little place on Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City. It was hardly bigger than a caboose and it sat by itself on a corner lot. Just a small counter that sat maybe ten people, and all they served were burgers. A burger with grilled onions and nothing else was 10 cents, and I can taste one right now. Simple but fantastic.
   Since my visit to Kezar Bar for a burger, I've received several opinions about the best burgers in Cole Valley. Eos seems to be high on a number of lists, so I chatted with head chef Danny G. in Finnegans last Saturday about what makes their version so spectacular. To start, good quality Angus beef with a 23% fat content; you have a choice of two cheeses, one of which is a 5-year-old Canadian cheddar ($2 extra); house made bacon ($2 extra).
  As you can see in my pic of the deconstructed burger, I went with all the trappings except onion. It's a 7oz. patty, so when put together it makes a hefty little sando. The bacon was beautiful, but the thickness made it necessary to remove it in order to bite through it without demolishing the burger. The meat was cooked to a perfect 'hot pink', or medium rare, and had good texture and flavor.
   All in all, pretty good. Also, $16, the most I've ever paid. Toss in the fries ($4), tax and tip and you're looking at $25. I will say the fries are the best I've had in the 'hood - nice medium cut, frozen, then twice-cooked in the proper manner and coated with just enough salt. These put the fries at Kezar to shame.

Eatin' in The Mission - lolo, 3234 - 22nd St., near Bartlett

   I love it when someone turns me on to a place that's been under my radar. Friday found me at Bender's Bar with my favorite wack girl, Ann O'Hara. We decided that the complimentary Tater Tots were not going satisfy our need for solids, so I asked Dion, bartender and co-owner, where he might go in the nabe. He immediately said, 'lolo, Chili, it's one of my favorites.' Off we sped in the smallest car I've ever squeezed into and right into rock star parking ten yards from the front door, not an easy feat in this bustling area.
   lolo is an interesting fusion of Mexican and Turkish cuisine, and it works quite well. The interior is divided into two small rooms with counter seating in one. The decor is quirky and eclectic with many items that have been recycled (ask about the ceramic dogs you may see on a table or two). The menu is comprised of small and large plates (and some bowls for the vegetable dishes). Dinner started with some complimentary Tomato and Goat Cheese Dip with toast (top pic) that activated the ol' taste buds quite nicely. I can never pass up ceviche, so we tried the Ceviche Mirasol (12), featuring tuna, bay scallops, avocado and tomatillo marinated in mirasol chile and citrus. All I can say is, excellent! Just a great blending of rich, sweet, tart and spiciness. Next came the Huitlacoche and Ricotta Stuffed Dumplings (9). Huitlacoche is corn smut, a disease similar to rusts and ergots in plant life. It has been used in Mexican cuisine for centuries and is considered by some to be a delicacy. As far as describing the flavor, forget it because I can't tell you what to compare it to. Let's just say it didn't overwhelm the ricotta, and these empanada-like little pouchs were light and perfect when dipped in the accompanying sauce.
   Some people hate beets, but Ann and I love 'em and gave the Roasted Beets with Feta Mousse (6) a whirl. They come dressed with shallots, parsley and cider vinaigrette. Wow! Pure goodness, I wanted to snatch these away from Ann and run into the other room. The pic oddly reminds me of a Matt Groening bunny rabbit!
   Last but not least, the Pistachio Encrusted Salmon (9) with wasabi cream sauce proved to be the hands-down fave of the meal. Moist, tender salmon with a slighly crunchy exterior and some shelled nuts to garnish. I felt the sauce could have used a soy with less salt, a point we both agreed on, but the bite of the wasabi helped to balance the taste.
   lolo has a small but balanced wine list that changes frequently, and a sangria that is quite palatable at $7 a glass.
   Four thumbs up for this little winner!!

Nan Yang, 6048 College Ave. at Claremont, Oakland, CA

Nan Yang claims to be the oldest Burmese restaurant in the Bay Area, serving it up since 1981. We hope to sample all the Burmese food in the Bay area, and so far we've put a good dent in the work load. Some times we strive a little too hard by ordering more food than what constitutes being '70 % full', which is supposedly one way to keep your weight down. I think 'they' need to invent a device similar to those that read your blood sugar level, only this one will say, 'hey Chili, you're only 67% full, go ahead and have some more fries.'
   But I digress. Staring things off, the Appetizer Sampler (12.50) consisting of somosas, fried potato cakes, eight treasure bean curd and grilled chicken strips. The somosas were consistent with what you find in most Burmese/Indian places, perhaps a tad thinner, but crispy with a nicely spiced beef filling. The grilled chicken, which is hiding underneath the cilantro in the pic, was forgettable. The fried potato cakes were a new one for me, but I liked them, a yellow curry with a slow burn infusing the starchy slices and a light batter coating. The outstanding member here is the so-called bean curd, which the menu says is actually milk mixed with chopped ham, shrimp and crabmeat and deep fried, the preparation said to be a 'lost art of China.' Incredibly soft and complex, I would go back to eat this dish alone.
   Spring Rolls with Papaya Salad (8.50) was probably the dish we could have skipped. The rolls were adequate, crispy without being greasy with a good dipping sauce. We both agreed that the salad contained something that left a bitter aftertaste, which encouraged drinking more beer.
   To offset the fried foods and meat, I went all vegetarian and ordered the Curried Smoked Eggplant (9.50), a pleasant blend of eggplant, tomato and onion in a mild curry-seasoned sauce. A dish to definitely share.
   Tobias decided to compare the Garlic Pork Noodles (6.95) with the ones we had at Little Yangon. About the same was the decision. You can order the garlic noodles with chicken and beef as well.
   Nan Yang has a nice selection of wines, domestic and imported beer, iced and hot tea, chrysanthemum/ licorice tea, Thai and Vietnamese coffee, soft drinks and Nantucket Nectars to accompany your meal.
   My main problems with Nan Yang were service and prices. Our appetizers came fairly quickly, but then we waited nearly 20 minutes for the mains, even though the house wasn't all that crowded. Pricewise, I don't see how a noodle dish with meat can cost less than an vegetable dish with common ingredients. With two beers, tax and tip, we're looking at $60 for lunch for two, plus the drive. I'll stick to Burmese in the City.

Viva Goa, 2420 Lombard (at Scott), SFCA

   Though Goa is the smallest state of India, it is also one of the richest, the majority of its income from tourism. It was a Portuguese possession for nearly 450 years until acquired by India in 1961. The food is a mix of Indian and Portuguese and uses a fair amount of coconut; fish curry and rice is one of the most popular dishes among natives. To my knowledge, we've never had this type of cuisine in SF, unless it's been on the menu without it's origin being designated.
   Our server stated that about 35% of the food at Viva Goa is genuine Goanese, the rest being familiar dishes from other states of India. We began with complimentary papadams with the ubiquitous cumin scented dipping sauce, as well as some sweet tamarind sauce. From the tandoori breads, we chose the Kabuli Naan (2.99) stuffed with cherries, raisins and nuts. I hadn't seen this type before and it was the only unfamiliar one, so I had to have it. Very tasty, thinner than most naan you see these days, and definitely a good counterbalance to spicy foods.
   What appears to be a tarantula minus one leg is the Malabar Jinga (7.99), some nice-sized prawns sauteed with garlic, mustard and curry leaves in a 'tangy sauce' - I always love that description, because it allows the chef to keep his recipe secret if he desires. This is a great starter dish, but I could easily double up for a main course.
   Being fiber conscious, Channa Masala (8.99) seemed ideal. This was by far the spiciest dish heatwise, but Christine and I agreed that it could have been pumped up notch. The garbanzos were tender but still had some bite, and the tomato/onion sauce had a good balance of herbs and spices.
   Chicken Xacuti (9.99) is one of the traditional Goan curry dishes, cooked with fresh coconut, spices, white poppy seeds and dried red chiles. The chicken was tender and not dry, the seasoning of the sauce not conflicting and very distinctive from our other dishes. This is the magic of good Indian food, being able to blend some many flavors in one meal. It went perfect with little pieces of the naan to scoop up the sauce.
   Another traditional dish is the Rechardo Pomfret Fish (13.99). Pomfret is common in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and is a member of the perciform family, which includes perch, sunfish and bluegills. You occasionally see it in Chinese restaurants. At Viva Goa, it is stuffed with a 'red spice paste', which has a predominant flavor of fenugreek, and then pan fried until the skin is crispy. This was by far the most interesting dish, and it gives me the desire to return as soon as possible to try other dishes unique to Goa. This was also the first I'd ever seen mashed potatoes in an Indian restaurant.
   Our server was kind enough to include a complimentary dessert called Bebinca (3.99) a dish popular at Christmas time. It's a sweet layered cake made with refined flour, coconut milk and egg yolk. Sounds healthy, huh? Another dessert on the menu is something called rasmalai, which is patties of home made cheese poached in condensed milk.
   Among other dishes of interest are the Goan Mac(a)roni Soup, Chicken Lollipops, Beef Asado, and Malai Kofta (cheese and vegetable balls in gravy.
   Viva Goa is open daily from 11am to 3pm for lunch, and 5 to 10pm for dinner. There is a daily buffet for $8.99, and they will deliver as well as cater to outdoor events, weddings, birthday parties and offices. If you'd like to see the menu and order online go to:
www.vivagoaindiancuisine.com
p.s. Of course they have beer!! And wine, lassi, chai and juices.

The Buck Shot, 3rd and Geary, SFCA

   When was the last time you played Skee Ball? Or shuffleboard? Ever had Chicken Fried Bacon? You can combine all these pleasures in one spot, and it's called the Buck Shot. Housed in the former Pat O'Shea's, it now sports a huge collection taxidermied animals, including a bear inside the DJ's booth. In addition to Skee Ball and shuffleboard, there's a pool table, dart board and photo booth. The kitchen serves hand made corn dogs, chicken dinners, mac 'n' cheese, burgers and more. Drink specials include the Ike Turner (10), a shot of Hennessey and a slap in the face. No jukebox, but generally good stuff from someone's IPod and DJ's later in the evening.