Gastronomie

Hi! Ate! Us!

I know, I've been gone a while. Consider it a summer sabbatical. Or hiatus {tee-hee}. Truth is, I just haven't been terribly inspired in a while.

And then, sometimes it comes in spades, all at once. In a very short period of time, I have:

• Celebrated a good friend's birthday at South Food + Wine, which has renewed the excitement for my trip to Australia in November.
• Felt magically lit from within at the Fatted Calf dinner at Piccino, bubbling over with the thrill of great food and great friends and beautiful spaces.
• Shown my kid brother some of the best food in this amazing city, and watched as it lit a fire in him to pursue his dream and go back to school.
• Eaten the most perfect San Francisco summer sandwich: Fatted Calf mortadella, Dirty Girl tomatoes, butter and basil on Acme Pain de Mie...
• ... washed down with a glass of rosato...
• ... whilst watching a magnificent sunset!
• Drunk a bottle of bubbly anchored behind Treasure Island
• Ate a post-Ferry Plaza Farmers Market picnic on a blustery day in Walton Square
• Drunk my way, with several awesome people, through half the San Francisco drinks listed in the Food & Wine Cocktails 2008 book.
• LANDED A NEW ACCOUNT!

It's been a good summer,  no doubt. But this week, in particular, seems to have broken me out of my writing stupor. I'll be back later this week with a couple of delicious bites -- I have missed this pretty pink page, and I've missed all of you!

Tags: Food, Food & Drink, Hiatus, Summer,Photography,Oakland,San Francisco

Qu'est-ce que c'est... or, Where in the world is Fatemeh?

Seven Hours in Memphis

I know I sometimes have a warped view of my world... For example, for the past several years, I've flown over 100K miles per year on United, which has bestowed upon me the status of "Premier Executive 1K". Which basically means I'm that schmuck you hate as you're boarding, who's usually seated in Business Class with a glazed look in her eyes, trying to remember which city she's heading to next.

There are, of course, some nice perks to this program -- the aforementioned upgrades usually clear, I get treated pretty well if there are irregular operations (e.g., weather, equipment problems, etc), and... and... OK, maybe that's mostly it.

But the thing is, once you get used to the perks, it's really hard to think about going back to a lower level of status. Like I said, a warped view.

What does this all have to do with Memphis? Well, United was running a double-miles promotion, and I've always wanted to eat at C's favorite barbeque joint, the Bar-B-Que Shop, so on a total whim, we booked a ticket that would put us on the ground in Memphis for almost exactly seven hours.

It was an exhausting journey (we were in the same clothes for exactly 28 hours), totally indulgent (three meals in 5 hours), and totally invigorating. It was one of those days that leaves you marveling at how amazing the world we live in is, and was a reminder to throw caution to the wind and take life by the balls sometimes.

 

Tags: Food, Food & Drink, BBQ, Beer,Photography,United,Travel,Memphis,Oakland,San Francisco

Falling... the Mint Gimlet

Remember this post?

Remember how I struggled with my decision? I posted on Facebook, I update my Twitter, I asked everyone who would indulge me. I studied every review, every YouTube demo, every blog post about the Canon EOS XSi.

And then? I ordered it. I waited with bated breath as my delivery window was posted on Amazon, and then delayed by two days. I said goodbye to my loyal little point-and-shoot. The one that followed me from Burning Man to Italy, and re-ignited my zeal for photography.

Yesterday, my brand-spankin' new camera was delivered. And in the evening, a special angel arrived bearing a "Congratulations" gift bag loaded with the things a newbie dSLR owner may not know she needs: a polarizing filter, a UV filter, a lens hood, and a cool Lowepro shoulder-strap that lets me carry around an extra battery (also gifted).

And today? Today I must admit that I have fallen completely and totally in love with my new camera.  Why? Because I am more confidently taking photos that make me feel legitimized, if you can imagine that. Even after two of these:

Hangar One Mint Gimlet

• 2 oz Hangar One Kaffir Lime vodka
• Juice of one Key lime
• 6 torn mint leaves
• Agave nectar to taste

I like the mint flavor to be slight subdued in this drink, otherwise I think it overpowers the delicacy of the vodka. It's why I don't muddle. Simply shake all ingredients, with copious cocktail ice, until frothy and ice cold.

I love, love, love whizzing lime zest, sugar, and the tiniest bit of kosher salt in my spice grinder  to rim this cocktail. It makes the presentation a little more special, and only serves to subtly enhance the flavors in the drink.

Tags: Food, Food & Drink, Cocktail, Hangar One,Canon,Camera,dSLR,Photography,Oakland,San Francisco

Olive

Olive is nine months old... It's hard to believe the time has flown by so fast since she was this wee thing.

Raising a puppy is hard, HARD work, and C really does deserve 80% of the credit for this one. In exchange, he gets the undying adoration of that adorable brindle face, who thinks he's the neatest thing since sliced bread. Or Nylabones.

PS - Does anyone know how to set my blog posting settings in Flickr? I don't like the way it sets up posts at all... but it's so damn convenient!

Tags: Food, Food & Drink, Dogs, French Bulldog

Nowruz-e-taan Piruz!

Yes, indeed. Tomorrow is the first day of Spring, which means that tonight at 10:48 Pacific Standard Time, we celebrate Persian New Year.

Last minute obligations are precluding us from making it to Los Angeles as we'd hoped, so I'm cobbling together a Haft Sinn from last year's provisions. It will do, though it can't possibly hold a candle to my mom's. Dinner tonight is the traditional Sabzi Polo Mahi -- my kid brother is braving the Persian market to pick up a smoked fish and green garlic.

We miss our family muchly, but in the past six weeks of living together, my brother and I have learned that we have each other through thick and thin, as different as we may be, and despite the decade separating us.

As we jumped over the fires last night, I couldn't help but think how different last year was -- all I wanted to do was leave the prior year behind, to move on, to purge the sadness and anger of the Persian year 1385. This year, I am thankful that 1386's hardships and sadness were all steps toward growth and strength. All the people I love are in a much better place, and the upcoming year can only build upon the foundation that is solidly in place.

To all of you who follow along every day, week, month -- you don't know how much your comments and emails mean. To each of you who has been a confidante and friend, thank you! And of my family in Los Angeles, I beg your forgiveness, for I know that our last minute cancellation has caused major disappointment. I love you dearly.

Nowruz-e-taan Piruz, Interwebs!

Tags: Persian, New Year, Nowruz, Nowrouz, Eid, Haft Sinn, San Francisco, Food & Drink

Interesting Food -- Are You Ready For It?

Last week, Sam and I went to Orson on their first publicly-open night. She wrote an outstanding post about it here, including some excellent tips for getting the most out of a meal at Orson.

I thought I'd toss my two-cents into the ring, as so many of you today are heading over from her post, and decided to take the opportunity to ask an interesting question, as well.

To begin though, I have to laud Jacqueline Patterson's cocktail list. I fell so promptly in love with the Celery Gimlet that I actually ordered two of them instead of trying a second cocktail. Interestingly, I tried Alembic's celery & gin concoction on Friday night, and have to say that Orson's version is a far more balanced drink. Sam's Catch-22, while not my personal cup of tea, is a masterful libation loaded with flavor.

Also, as Sam mentioned, the Lightly Smoked Fish ($15) is a wonder of sous vide cookery -- the outside is texturally similar to hot-smoked salmon while the interior retains the texture of cold-smoking. Charred Octopus ($11) is a light dish, punctuated by paper-thin shavings of beef tendon and sprouted peanuts; an odd combination to be sure, but one which works beautifully.

When Chef Falkner came out to say hello, Sam and I both couldn't help gushing over everything, from the drinks and savory courses I espoused above, to the lovely space and service. We chatted for a bit about the never-ending "California Cuisine" debate, which leads me to ask you this question:

Is San Francisco ready to embrace technique-based cooking?

Ours has long been a culture of ingredient-driven food, and with good reason -- just stop in at any Farmer's Market and you can see why. But in that process, we've effectively denied our restaurant kitchens the opportunity to develop and cultivate the use of creative techniques, styles, and flavors.

I think back to the wonderful and memorable Smoked Yogurt that accompanied our chocolate cake at Coi, and how it disappeared not long after our meal there because it was "too different". And yes, while I know that Winterland's location was cursed, it's still unfortunate that they closed SO quickly (though, by all accounts, service never really got where it needed to be). How about the dishes that Daniel Humm was turning out at Campton Place? How could we have let a creative mind of his caliber run off to New York?

The question has been asked many times, many ways. But I can't help but ask it again. Are we willing to pay top-dollar for food because of the effort it takes? Is San Francisco ready to support a local favorite daughter in her attempt to push the boundaries of what we eat in this town?

Weigh in, please. I'm truly curious to know your thoughts.

Tags: Citizen Cake, Orson, Elizabeth Falkner, Molecular+Gastronomy, Cooking, Restaurants, San Francisco, Food & Drink

Chocolate for lunch, anyone?

One of the things I love most about my office is its proximity to Fog City News, home of San Francisco's best chocolate bar selection. This would be a conundrum if I worked with chocolate-haters, or worse, eaters of mediocre chocolate. Fortunately, the office is staffed by folks who let only the finest chocolate pass their lips, and while our weekly outings can add up in cost, the resulting endorphin rushes are well worth it.

In any typical week, there are an assortment of bars on offer in the kitchen which would sate any mood. Feeling feisty? Here, try the Chipotle bar. Catching a cold? Good thing we have orange infused chocolate! In a lull? There's bound to be an Earl Grey bar in here somewhere.

Until today, however, there was no chocolate bar suitable specifically for a missed lunch. Today, we remedied this with the exquisitely unique Basil & Lime bar from Rococo Chocolates. If ever there was a savory chocolate, this is it.

Based in 65% cocoa, infused with the scent of a Persian garden, and with a mouthfeel we all found pleasant -- not too fatty, not too chalky -- this bar enjoyed a 100% acceptance rate in the office. No small feat, that.

Rococo has an incredible assortment of flavors, some of which are becoming more standard these days (Cocoa Nib or Earl Grey, for example), while others are still quite unique (Cardamom, Orange-Geranium, and Peppered Mint are intriguing). They also have the Mystery Sense Bar:

"Anyone purchasing the bar will be biting into the unknown and have to use their senses to guess the flavour. For each chocolate bar sold, 50p will be donated to Sense."

Very clever, and very cool, indeed.

Rococo bars aren't cheap - I think they ring in at around $9/bar at Fog City - but the flavors are intense enough that you won't find yourself finishing a whole one too fast.

Oh, and for anyone wondering: Yes, we have tried Vosges' Mo's Bacon Bar. We weren't so impressed - the bacon flavor is rather muted, and the not-quite-crisp-not-quite-chewy mouthfeel of the bacon bits is distracting to say the least. We'll happily stick with the Barcelona Bar which, despite its lower cocoa content, hits the mark on the combination of sweet, salty, bitter and texture.

Tags: Chocolate, Fog City, Vosges, Rococo, Candy, Sweet, San Francisco, Food & Drink

My personal prayer

Lord, as I turn off my laptop.
And board the plane,
Stowing all my portable electronic devices under the seat in front of me
Or
In the overhead bin,
Please protect me
And my harddrive.

Amen.

(Otherwise known as "the prayer of the traveling salesman")

Who Wants to Give me Camera Advice?

Years and years ago, I abducted my dad's then-highly-coveted Nikon and taught myself to take pictures. As with so many other things during my teen angst years, I quickly grew bored of ALL THOSE LENSES, and trying to "work with" the available light, and to be honest, I didn't think I had such a great eye anyway.

So, I returned the camera to its pristine case, and satisfied myself with time spent in the darkroom, developing other people's photos for the newspaper and yearbook.

On my recent trip to Italy, though, I found myself enamored of being behind a lens again. When I came back, I decided I wanted to upgrade from my five-year-old Canon point-and-shoot. Then I put it off. And put it off some more.

Well, C finally put his foot down after I kept borrowing his camera in NY, and we are finally getting me a new camera. But I'm torn about what I want to shoot with.

The options are the new Powershot G9, or the EOS Digital Rebel XTi, and I'm definitely going to keep the older camera for things like Burning Man.

On the one hand, I love the idea of upgrading to an SLR -- I know I'll have lots more control over my images, and C has tons of lenses that I can use with the Rebel. But I do worry about toting around an SLR; will the size put me off of taking it with me wherever I go?

On the other hand, the G9 is nice and compact, and is getting GREAT reviews. But it's still a point-and-shoot, and I wonder if I won't grow bored with it fairly quickly.  I'm definitely more into taking landscape and still shots, but the G9 is also probably better suited to capturing spontaneous images, right?

Help me, interwebs! Please leave your thoughts, suggestions and opinions in the comments so others can benefit, too. And if you've shot with either of these two cameras, please let me know what you think.

Tags: Cameras, Canon, EOS Rebel, G9, Advice, Photography, San Francisco, Food & Drink