Hedonia

Ponder the pepper

2013-04-23T10:27:12-07:00

Another Earth Day has come and gone, and with it the release of a new "Dirty Dozen" list from the Environmental Work Group. Each year, the EWG analyzes the USDA's redisual pesticide tests, and generates a list of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables most likely to have significant amounts of residues on them. They conversely add on a "Clean 15" outlining those that are least likely to have resides. It's an imperfect report, and has been criticized for opacity in its methodology. A UC...

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I ate worms (and didn't die)

2013-03-27T09:28:55-07:00

Disclosure: I was a guest of Casa Noble Tequila, who paid for my airfare, lodging and meals. I was not paid to write this post, and all opinions and observations are my own. I should have known from the look on Pepe's face. We had just come in from enjoying some tamarind margaritas on the rooftop deck at La Tequila in Guadalajara. As we sat at our table, Pepe suggested ordering some appetizers for the table, asking whether he should order some more unusual things. Innocently, and ignoring for a...

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Black Cuisine, in the Bayview tomorrow

2013-03-01T11:57:08-08:00

As I enter the kitchen of the Western Addition Senior Center, Reverend Hall greets me, but before he shakes my hand, he was to wash off the grease from the chicken thighs he's been skinning. At other stations, volunteers are skinning more chicken thighs and peeling tremendous, plump shrimp. Before me are foil trays filled with cut sausages and chopped peppers. All this will come together the next day to make a huge batch of jambalaya. Reverend Hall brings me into the walk in, where the shelves...

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That'll do, pig

2013-02-09T16:44:09-08:00

The Dancing Pig, the BBQ place that just had its one-year anniversary, appears to have gone hooves-up. This comes as little surprise, as I have heard repeated and vitriolic reports of how bad the food was. But such is the cycle of life: As the pig closes, so opens Fable, a new and rather chic place in the old Luna space. I have high hopes for this one. Could we actually get another good place to eat in the Castro? Things have been looking up for a while. And anyway, the loss of one crappy 'cue...

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Superbowling

2013-02-02T12:04:41-08:00

This week's darling is Saison, the much-vaunted haute spot whose new home in SOMA opened yesterday. And maybe someday, after I win the lottery, I will even have an opportunity to eat there. Speaking of lottery-funded eating, Masa's will be closing after more than 30 years. So, if I want to eat there, I have to hit those numbers by February 16. MY China continues to get big buzz, especially with Bauer giving it a generally favorable review. Did we really expect he would do otherwise? He's...

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When where to eat and where not to eat are the same place

2013-01-26T11:56:46-08:00

I'm focusing on just two big stories today. On the one hand, this week 7x7 Magazine rolled out its annual Big Eat. Edited by the inimitable Marcia Gagliardi of Tablehopper, it's a fairly comprehensive list of things you want to put in your mouth. I was able to map 99 of the 100 (blue pins) since one was a food truck without a consistent location. I've eaten more than a few things on the list, and if you've got the gumption to try them all, I hope you have a good gym. The final tally must be...

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