chomping grounds

Three Twins Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 06:01:00 +0000

Surprisingly, you can find three twins ice cream in a lot of cafes, Marin County, and even Whole Foods, but in there is only one Three Twins in the city.

On the top is a scoop of chocolate orange, which tastes exactly like those chocolate orange candies that you crack open. You can't see it but the scoop under it is the lemon cookie, which has little bits of cookie mixed throughout into an exact replica (in ice cream form, of course) of a lemon cookie.

Address:                  Three Twins Ice Cream
                                 2257 Larkspur Circle
   Larkspur, CA

Type:                        ice cream

Popular chomps:    lemon cookie
   sea salt caramel

Chomp worthy: orange chocolate
lemon cookie

Pal's Takeaway inside La Movida

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 05:06:00 +0000

After many years of wanting to check out Pal's Takeaway I finally made it out here. Its only open for lunch on the weekdays so its not as accessible for those who don't work in the city.

I really wanted to try their ever so popular Aunt Malai's deep fried Lao sausage sandwich, but it wasn't on the menu today. Today's burger was the lamb burger. The soft, squishy bun worked really well with this burger, staying firmly intact through every bite. The meat, however, was a little dry and underseasoned.

The deep fried cod sandwich was the better of the two sandwiches. I was a little worried that the fish wouldn't taste good because it had a slightly fishy smell, but the fish was perfectly cooked. The white fish had nice soft flakes and the batter was still crispy even though it was wrapped up in a sandwich.

The chocolate babka is sold by the slice and really chocolately.

Address: Pal's Takeaway
3066 24th St.
San Francisco, CA

Type: sandwiches

Popular chomps: lao sausage sandwich

Chomp worthy: fried cod sandwich

Manresa Bread Project

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:13:00 +0000

One of the best things about going to a fancy restaurant is the bread service. Since I've eaten at Manresa (see post HERE), I'm fully aware of their delicious bread. Ever since I heard about their booth at both Campbell and Los Gatos farmer's markets, I thought that was the greatest idea since, well, sliced bread! You have to check their twitter for the exact time and specific farmers market, but everyone must have been fully aware of their schedule because a line formed before they opened at 9a.

The breads menu changes and I highly suggest coming here at least 15 minutes before they open (9a) so you have a chance to get something before they run and they do run out things very quickly.

One of the special breads of the day was bacon and onion focaccia. Giant chunks of thick cut bacon are sprinkled all over the surface of the focaccia. Even after biting into the fluffy focaccia, you can taste the bacon fat throughout each slice. Its probably the best of the bread haul.

You can never go wrong with chocolate brioche. Crunchy pieces of sugar top this fluffy mini cupcake shaped loaf of brioche.

Potato gouda foccacia. Thin slices of potato are spread amongst what looks like a generous heaping of gouda cheese. Since gouda is a strong cheese, its flavor really stands out, so if you aren't a fan of gouda, I'd probably stay away from this one.

Brioche is loved for its buttery, fluffiness with just a hint of sweetness. This loaf is the pure definition of that.

This one almost didn't make the cut, but a gal in line whispered "oh, that's a good one", so naturally it got added to the list. The chocolate cherry sourdough sounds like an odd combination, but it doesn't have the tang of regular sourdough rolls. The texture is very similar to sourdough with a dense, chewiness to it. Had I not known they were cherries, I would have mistaken thought raisins due to random chewy bits mixed into the bread. The bread is more of a dessert bread and I can see this enjoyed with a glass of cold milk.

Top to bottom: sheepsmilk cheese epi, herb epi. I love epi breads so naturally I had to get both at Manresa Bread Project. The epi breads here are much chewier and the crust is quite soft. Both epi flavors come out quite strong in these breads. I prefer Acme's epi for their crunchier crust.

Address:                  Manresa Bread Project
                                 Campbell Farmers Market
   Campbell, CA

Type:                        bakery

Popular chomps:    chocolate brioche
    chocolate cherry sourdough

Chomp worthy: brioche
chocolate cherry sourdough
bacon onion foccacia

El Gallo Giro Taco Truck

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

The taco gods must be smiling down on me today because I've not only found this taco truck after four failed attempts of searching for it. I'd almost given up on this phantom taco truck. With no twitter or website, I think that weekday afternoons on the corner of 24th and Treat must be the sweet spot.

Their menu items are standard fare for the normal taco truck, but I have to say this is now my #1 favorite taco truck in the city. Sorry, El Tonayense (see post HERE), but you have officially been upstaged in my taco truck book.

Right to left: carne asada, al pastor. Both meats are juicy and spicy. Its hard to say which is better. Maybe the al pastor by a tiny bit, but both are worth a reorder if I ever get lucky and happen to stumble upon this truck again.

So the two tacos they are known for at this taco truck are the carnitas and pollo. The pollo is juicy, but not really my thing. The carnitas, however, is WOW. Its probably one of the top 3 best carnitas I've ever had, if not the best. The chunks of carnitas are large and juicy, but the best part is each piece is super crispy, yet tender and juicy inside.

Address: El Gallo Giro Taco Truck
23rd and Treat
San Francisco, CA

Type: Mexican

Popular chomps: carnitas
pollo

Chomp worthy: carnitas

Blue Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

With their new funding, Blue Bottle is slowly taking over the world (at least California). With its new location in Oakland, Blue Bottle has graced the East Bay not just with their coffee, but with some of their delicious liege waffle as well. I've been hoping that with every new location, they would bring some of cooked brunch items I enjoy so much at their Mint Plaza location and finally, there is another location that serves this besides just that one. True to Blue Bottle's design, the space is large, open, and airy. One odd standout at this location is a large number of people with laptops, which is sort of rare to see at the other locations.

Besides the usual drip coffee, mochas, and New Orleans iced coffee, this location serves an oji style coffee, which is served black and with one ice cube. Simple, strong, and smooth. Another awesome thing about this location is they offer a flight of iced coffees so you can sample their New Orleans iced coffee, oja, and single origin in one shot, literally.

As always, Blue Bottle mochas are beautifully done. Frothy, creamy with just the right amounts of mocha flavors.

I'm a little dismayed that they don't serve the toast or the Belgian waffle here, but they do serve up the liege waffle, which is A okay in my book. Its pressed and made to order so you get the warm crispy edges with crunchy bits of sugar to enjoy with your coffee.

Address: Blue Bottle
4270 Broadway
Oakland, CA

Type:                       coffee

Popular chomps:     liege waffle
                                New Orleans iced coffee

Chomp worthy: liege waffle

Dandelion Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

There is always room in the city for another chocolate and dessert shop. With Craftsman & Wolves (see post HERE) right next door, its hard to decide which sweet shop to indulge in. Even though C&W is quite popular, walking inside Dandelion Chocolate, I wasn't prepared for the room to be filled to the brim with so many die hard chocolate fans.
Looking around the shop, its hard to take in all the glorious chocolate items. From chocolate books to clothing, to a chalkboard sprawled with classes and tours, its sort of like being inside TCHO (see post HERE).

Besides the drinking chocolates, chocolate bars, and chocolate dessert, they do have a dessert thats not overwhelmingly chocolatey for those that aren't chocolate obsessed. The creme fraiche cheesecake has a nice tartness to it. The blood orange gelee and candied kumquats gives this dessert texture and a nice freshness.

Papua New Guinea s'more - 7x7 2014 Big Eat

At first I tried to be dainty and proper and use a knife and fork to cut into this gorgeous s'more, but the stickiness of the marshmallow ends up getting everywhere. Its much better to just pick it up with your hands and enjoy. The toasted marshmallow gives a surprisingly caramelized taste. Its like a sophisticated s'more.

updated - Working my way through the 2014 7x7's SF big eat 100 things

Address:                Dandelion Chocolate
                               740 Valencia St.
   San Francisco, CA

Type:                      dessert

Popular chomps:    European drinking chocolate
   frozen hot chocolate
   PB&J tart
   s'more

Chomp worthy: s'more
cheesecake

Lisa's Tea Treasures

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 05:21:00 +0000

Its tea time! Lisa's Tea Treasures is a tea room in the South Bay (Campbell). Like all other tea rooms, its very popular and its wise to call at least a week ahead for a reservations, however, I got super lucky and was able to get in same day. Like all other tea rooms, Lisa's was decorated to the brim with all sorts of knick knacks.

Unlike most tea rooms I've been to, the lemon curd was already set on the table ready for consumption with their lovely tea biscuits. Tart, tangy, and creamy, this lemon curd is more on the sweet side than the lemony side.

The tea biscuits are lovely set on the table for you to help yourself. Its just hard to try not to eat all of them while waiting for the mini sandwiches.

One really unique thing I haven't seen at any other tea room before is they offer a monthly rotating menu with various seasonal goodies. I passed though in favor of their standard choices. Louis XIV's - from top left; clockwise: chicken croissant sandwiches, scone, and pecan tea sandwiches. The cheese puff in the middle of the plate was the best thing on the plate. All the sandwiches were much too sweet.

My lady's respite. From top left; clockwise: egg salad, cucumber mint, roast beef with tomato and cream cheese, scone, chicken tarragon, and pesto nut. For tea time, my favorites are usually cucumber sandwiches and curry chicken, but they didn't have the latter or let you have an option. All the sandwiches were pretty average with the pesto nut being the best of the bunch. The mini quiche, although quite tasty, reminded very much of the mini frozen quiche from Costco.

Desserts come with each of the tea sets. The chocolate mousse was surprisingly light and a delicious way to end the meal.

The petit four, pecan tart, and yule log was one of the other dessert choices for the second tea set. I usually find petit four too sweet for my taste, but this one was quite scrumptious.

Address:                  Lisa's Tea Treasures
                                 1875 S. Bascom Ave
                                 Suite 165
                                 Campbell, CA

Type:                        tea room

Popular chomps:    lemon curd
   my lady respite

Chomp worthy: lemon curd and biscuits

Green Champa Garden

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Finally, Laotian food can be found outside of Oakland. Green Champa Garden, no relation to Champa Garden (see post HERE), lends a much needed variety of Asian food to the Fremont area. With a ton of Chinese and Indian restaurants in the Fremont area, I can definitely see this being a popular spot down the line.

Nam kao (rice ball salad) is probably one of the more favorite and popular dishes of all Laotian cuisine. Its crispy texture of the rice along with the spicy and citrus flavors make this dish a unique winning combination for most people. I do prefer Champa Gardens and Vietiene's version of nam kao over Green Champa Garden, but if you've never had anything to compare to it, then this version can be quite good.

One of the greatest things of Southeast Asian cuisine is their knack of creating well balanced combinations of spicy, citrus, and sweetness without any one flavor overpower the next. Larb is another one of my favorite Lao dishes. This one seemed to be missing some oomph and could have used a lot more spiciness. Not to mention the beef doesn't come out raw, but actually its ground beef. However, upon request they did bring out some housemade Thai chili sauce, nam prik pao, which I love and poured over everything.

I could have been happy with just larb, papaya salad, and nam kao, but I figured I should have a go at a noodle or a curry dish. Noodles won out today. The drunken noodles was probably the weakest of all the dishes. The noodles stuck together in a clumpy mess and the flavor of the dish didn't stand out compared to the rest of the meal.

I can't decide which I love more - nuoc mam (fish sauce) or nam prik pao (Thai chili sauce). If you ask, they will bring out their housemade nam prik pao, which I highly recommend. This makes everything delish and helps to up the spicy level to my liking.

While I rarely order desserts at Asian restaurants, I have to say that the roti with ice cream was probably the best dish of the meal. Fluffy, buttery roti topped with vanilla ice cream that melted in a sweet sauce. So delicious. I'd come back just for this.

Address:                Green Champa Garden
                               42318 Fremont Blvd
   Fremont, CA

Type:                      Laotian

Popular chomps:    nam kao
    roti with ice cream

Chomp worthy: roti with ice cream

Sunflower

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:48:00 +0000

I've walked by the Sunflower in the Mission many times, but never really felt the need to go in. The absence of any Asian customers gave off Slanted Door vibes (high prices and lackluster food).

I had almost given hope on any bun (vermicelli) in San Francisco, but I have to admit that this is one of the better versions of bun I've had. The prices aren't even that bad. At around $9 (which is actually cheap for SF), the portion size is really generous with a lot of noodles and meat plus two giant fried egg rolls. The lemongrass beef was well cooked giving the beef a tender and juicy flavor. The only gripes for me is the small portion of nuoc mam (fish sauce), which barely covers the surface of the heaping portion of vermicelli, and the vermicelli noodles cut into super small strands. That being said, I'd go back to get this one again, but ask for extra nuoc mam.

Five spice chicken with vermicelli - 7x7 2014 Big Eat

The five spice chicken vermicelli is actually my usual vermicelli order when I eat bun, but while the chicken is well cooked and juicy, the flavor is bland and is probably one of the tasteless ones I've ever had.

Usually my go to Vietnamese garlic noodles is PPQ, but I had to try Sunflower's version since it was one of their popular dishes. While it doesn't have a super garlic flavor like PPQ's, it is a lot less oily. Don't get fooled on the shrimp upsell like I did. The measly five shrimp was more of an afterthought and didn't add anything to the dish. The shrimp didn't even much garlic flavor.

updated - Working my way through the 2014 7x7's SF big eat 100 things

Address:         Sunflower
   288 Connecticut St.
   San Francisco, CA

Type:                        Vietnamese

Popular chomps:      garlic noodles
                                  five spice chicken vermicelli
                                  pho

Chomp worthy: garlic noodles

Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 22:08:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is synonymous with chocolates. Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates is not just a chocolate shop, but a small cafe that serves specialty hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate choices range from peanut butter to coconut curry flavor. If you aren't feeling adventurous, they have a really good regular hot chocolate flavor as well. The deep chocolate flavor is made even more deletable with a homemade marshmallow.

You can't walk into a chocolate shop and not get some chocolates. From top left; clockwise: maple bourbon, bananas foster, pear, and passion fruit caramel. My favorite from the bunch was the banana foster. If you can't wait till you get home to eat the chocolates, you can opt to sit in their seating area on the side of the shop.

Address:                Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolate
   401 Hayes St.
   San Francisco, CA

Type: cafe/dessert

Popular chomps: hot chocolate

Chomp worthy: hot chocolate
chocolate

Blue Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Before there was the Blue Bottle Oakland (see post HERE), Blue Bottle in Heath Ceramics (see post HERE), or any Blue Bottle for that matter, there was just this one. This humble abode, which is the size of a garage, is where it all began. I love coming to this one and sitting along the sidewalk to enjoy my usual pour over and having an occasional cookie.

My usual pour over coffee. I remember when Blue Bottle coffee didn't have the emblem.

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7615724868890237169#editor/target=post;postID=5922467652082683273;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=0;src=link

Although people come to Blue Bottle for the coffee, they do serve up some really scrumptious ones. Especially if you like the soft chewy type cookies, like I do. The snickerdoodle is a popular favor here. This one has a really great soft baked texture.

Chocolate is one of those flavors that pairs amazingly well with coffee and I'm pretty well known to enjoy a chocolate chip cookie with my coffee. The double chocolate chip cookie has a good punch of chocolate without tasting like its too much (yes, I do think there is something as too much chocolate).

Address:                  Blue Bottle Coffee
   315 Linden St.
   San Francisco, CA

Type: coffee

Popular chomps: pour over
latte
New Orleans iced coffee

Chomp worthy: pour over
latte
New Orleans iced coffee

Tout Sweet Patisserie

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

I've been meaning to check out Tout Sweet Patisserie, especially since I was a huge fan of Yigit Pura when he was on Top Chef. This sweet cafe is located on the 3rd Floor of Macy's. Don't get confused like I did and wander around in the basement food court looking for it.

There are a lot of tempting sweets that I will definitely be back to try at another time.

I had heard somewhere that these macarons were on par with Laduree and since Laudree has yet to make an appearance on the West Coast (they have a location in New York), I don't mind looking for a West Coast substitution until one opens up. A good chewy texture along with flavorful fun fillings. I'd have to say its probably among the best I've had in the Bay Area (Brodard's in LA does it for me- see post HERE)

From top left; clockwise: Burnt caramel with sea salt, Aztec spicy chocolate, orange creamsicle, burnt caramel (repeat), dark chocolate.

From top left; clockwise: Raspberry & Wu Long Rouge Tea, Tahitian vanilla, Earl Grey Tea Infused Dark Chocolate, Sicilian Pistachio & ceylon cinnamon.

updated - Working my way through the 2014 7x7's SF big eat 100 things

Address:                  Tout Sweet Patisserie
                               170 O'Farrell St.
   San Francisco, CA

Type: dessert/cafe

Popular chomps: macarons

Chomp worthy: macarons

Chocolate Lab

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

The Chocolate Lab has made a nice home in the old Piccino space in Potrero Hill. The cozy interior is the perfect spot to enjoy all things chocolate.

Besides chocolate items, they do serve scones, sticky buns, and quiche.

Of course, in a place called Chocolate Lab, you have to get their version of hot chocolate - drinking chocolate. It's not as thick as TCHO's version (see post HERE), its just as chocolatey with a true chocolate flavor. And the homemade vanilla bean marshmallows make this hot chocolate even more delicious.

I had to take a double look when I saw this chocolate risotto on the menu. I had never seen a sweet risotto before. I was actually thinking it would be more of a rice pudding than a risotto, turns out its somewhere in between. The risotto is actually served warm. Both the warm chocolate and the popping crispy balls were an experience in itself. All in all a creative dish.

The meat quiche seems to be another popular item here. Along with the custardy filling and the buttery crust, this quiche makes for a delightful savory bite.

Even though I came here for brunch, I feel like this is one of those places you must indulge in a dessert. The brownie sundae was sinfully chocolatey with a thick gooey chocolate syrup to push the chocolateness to the nth level.

Address:                  Chocolate Lab
                                 801 22nd St.
   San Francisco, CA

Type: American/cafe/brunch

Popular chomps: goat cheese souffle
brownie a la mode
drinking chocolate

Chomp worthy: drinking chocolate

M.Y. China

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Honestly, I've walked by M.Y. China many times and never really thought I'd ever step foot in Martin Yan's most recent restaurant establishment. Having grown up on Martin Yan on KQED, I've tried a couple of his restaurants and found them really unappetizing. M.Y China is an attempt to bring a mostly Mandarin style menu to the mall crowds in a slightly more upscale environment. Most of their dishes revolve around hand pulled noodles, which is rather exciting since its not commonly found in SF proper (more so in the South Bay area).

Beef noodle soup is to Taiwanese people as won ton noodle soup is to Hong Kong people. I've never been to crazy about this soup, but I can appreciate a good bowl, especially during the winter. The best thing about this soup is the hand pulled noodles. Since the noodles are hand pulled and cut, they come in various thicknesses and textures so each bite of noodles is something different. Everything else about this soup was lackluster, from the too salty broth to the gristly slices of beef.

The wild boar scissor cut noodles are the known specialty in this restaurant. Its appearance is on almost every table in the restaurant. While I do have to applaud Martin Yan for bringing hand pulled noodles to the masses, this scissor cut noodles lacks any of the pan fried noodle bits found in these types of dishes. If you've never had scissor cut noodles, the noodles are actually fun to eat and gives a different texture to the average Chinese noodle. The flavoring reminds me a lot of beef chow fun.

The Shandong beef rolls were one of the better dishes I had this meal. Thin slices of beef are wrapped in a thin pancake crepe and topped with sweet hoisin sauce. The flavor is pretty good, but the meat is too chewy and seems to be a lower grade of beef.

Inside the beef shandong rolls.

Address: MY China
Westfield Shopping Centre
845 Market St. 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA

Type:                         Chinese

Popular chomps: wild boar dumplings
   wild boar scissor cut noodles
   truffle dumplings
   dan dan noodles
   beef hand pulled noodle soup

Chomp worthy: nothing

Curry Corner Takeaway

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:53:00 +0000

Curry Corner Takeaway resides in a seemingly abandoned strip mall in Hayward, but just stepping into this small restaurant, you'll find that there is a steady stream of regular customers. Chef Saras cooks up doesn't exactly have a set menu and cooks whatever she feels like daily. Her food is Fijian Indian, which is more common than you think in this part of the Bay Area.

Today's noshings was rice with lamb and chicken along with a side of vegetables. The flavors are somewhat similar to Indian, but with a dash of islander spices. For $8 for the combo, its a really good deal and can easily feed 2 people. The food is a tad on the spicy side, but I prefer that.

A side of vegetables is given with every combination plate. This also changes regularly. From top left: curry potatoes, spinach, and tomato chutney. While all the food is good, the tomato chutney is wow worthy and should be bottled up and sold in stores, its that good.

Address: Curry Corner Takeaway
26657 Mission Blvd
Hayward, CA

Type: Indian

Popular chomps: daily combination

Chomp worthy: tomato chutney

Sightglass

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

There are something about coffee shops and airy open spaces. Especially in the city, spaces like that seem to be occupied by mostly coffee shops. Sightglass has to be at the top of the list of most gorgeous spaces in the city.

Its a fun sight to see them roasting the beans on site while you order your coffee.

The view of the roaster from the second floor is even better.

I never have much luck with coffee lids as they always seem to leak all over me. Sightglass's cup is no exception. A good pour of quality coffee, but unfortunately, a quarter of it ended up spilling out.

Address: Sightglass Coffee
270 7th St.
San Francisco, CA

Type:                      coffee

Popular chomps:    pour over
                                latte

Chomp worthy: pour over

Euro Delight Bakery

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:57:00 +0000

I'm always ready to check out a new bakery, especially an Asian one. Once you walk into Euro Delight Bakery, you are greeted with the smell of freshly baked good and a wonderful smell of buttery, sugary goodness.

While Euro Delight Bakery is known for their cakes and other baked items, I headed straight for one thing - their green pandan waffles. Always a good sign, their waffles are made fresh upon ordering.

While their pandan waffles has scattered shreds of coconuts mixed with the waffle batter, it was a little limp and bland. It also didn't have the nice crispy edges I've had in better pandan waffles, like at my standing favorite -Nuoc Mia Vien Dong 2 (see post HERE)

Address:                    Euro Delight Bakery
                                   1816 Tully Rd.
   San Jose, CA

Type:                          Vietnamese/bakery

Popular chomps:        green waffle
                                    cakes

Chomp worthy: nothing

B2 Coffee

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 19:29:00 +0000

Another Verve coffee sighting! After having been to an actual Verve coffee (see post HERE), I've really grown to love the coffee. This time I got to sip some at B2 Coffee in San Jose's San Pedro Market. Finally after years of being a regular thing in the city, pour overs are finally making more of an appearance in the South Bay. Also, the common room is a great space where its open industrial feel is a nice place to enjoy your coffee while working on your laptop.

They even tie their napkin as a jacket the same way Verve does. So cute.

Address: B2 Coffee
87 N. San Pedro
San Jose, CA

Type:                        coffee

Popular chomps:    pour over
   latte

Chomp worthy: pour over

Pan Grill Sandwich Shop

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 19:11:00 +0000

For the most part pop ups and Asian fusion doesn't really get me excited like it used to, but Pan Grill has that old feeling come back again. This very tiny pop up inside Butterfly on the Embarcadero is an awesome little treat amongst all a somewhat touristy area. While it doesn't have any seating inside, there are plenty of places to sit by the water to enjoy their food.

One of the things that brought me here was their own housemade buns. Not just any old bun, its like a baked chao siu bao bun so soft and fluffy with a just a hint of sweetness. I did wish there was a little honey or sweet glaze on top like the baked chao siu bao buns I love so much. The menu here is a headscratcher with so many things you want to try, you have to just pick a couple and then vow you'll be back to try the rest.

The yuzu lemonade was perfectly balanced and refreshing with just the right hint of citrus flavor.

While everything I had here was pretty tasty, the best by far were the yaki tots. Essentially mini yaki onigiris shaped like slightly bigger than average tater tots, these super crunchy chunks of rice were one of those things that you eat and think genius. Along with a spicy sauce drizzle, that seems to be made out of sriarcha, I would definitely come back again for just these. Although I did order the additional tuna poke to be added onto this, its much better without it.

The yaki onigiri was just as crunchy as the yaki tots, maybe even more so. Rather than the typical grilliing of the rice ball, it seems that they were actually deep fried so the outside crust is extra crisp. Its a little hard to break off a piece, but once you do you can't stop eating away at them.

With all the choices of sandwiches, its hard to pick a couple to try. The potato croquette was made with a sweet potato filing so it was pretty sweet. Overall, this sandwich was a little too sweet tasting for me with the sweet bun and then the sweet potato curry. Its was good, but it also needed some more crunchy texture since the sweet potato filling and the bread were so soft.

The hangar steak niku also had a sweetness from the glaze. Its been a while since I had meat so tender and juicy. In each bite, the meat practically melts in your mouth. Out of the two, I think this one was my favorite.

Address: Pan Grill Sandwich Shop
Pier 33
San Francisco, CA

Type:                       Japanese

Popular chomps: yaki tot
   hangar steak niku sandwich
   kim chi pulled pork sandwich
   curry potato croquette sandwich

Chomp worthy: yaki tot

Ramen Yamadaya

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 09:00:00 +0000

San Francisco must have heard my whining and whimpering of more ramen spots in the city because Ramen Yamadaya is one of the many upcoming ramen restaurants opening here in SF. The interior is a little odd to say the least, but once you get over that, its a nice option to have for those chilly SF nights.

A side order of yamadaya topping comes with wood ear fungus, bamboo shoots, green onions, pork belly, egg, and slices of seaweed.

The yamadaya ramen has a nice salty, fatty taste to it. Not the best bowl of ramen, but its definitely a better version of the whats available in the city now. One odd thing about this bowl of ramen is the noticeably thinner noodles. The jury is still out on if I like the thickness of the noodles, but it does slurp well.

Tsukemen has been gaining popularity here in the city and its nice to know that its available here if you dare to try the dipping style ramen. I love how there are slices of fatty pork soaking in the dipping broth. I've noticed for tsukemen there are two groups that exist - those that absolutely love it (Chef David Chang falls into this category) and those that eek out an "eh" when they have it. I'm part of the latter. While I do enjoy a good bowl of a ramen, I've never had a tsukemen that's worth the extra dipping effort.

Address:                  Ramen Yamadaya
                                 1728 Buchanan St.
   San Francisco, CA

Type:                        ramen/Japanese

Popular chomps:      yamadaya ramen
                                  tonkatsu kotteri ramen
                                  tsukemen

Chomp worthy: yamadaya ramen

7x7 SF's (The Big Eat) List of 100 Things to Eat Before you Die (2014)

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 22:21:00 +0000

7x7 SF's List of 100 Things to Eat Before You Die 2014 published right under my nose. Having spent the good month of January exploring a world of veganism, I'm pretty excited to try out some of the annual list's new eats. It seems like there was some laziness going on since some dishes from previous years did somehow reappear back on the list (carnitas at Nopalito, banh mi from Saigon). Another gripe is that not just one, but two Charles Phan restaurants made it on the list this year. RickyBobby didn't even show up this year! Although, I did notice that some of my favorite eats (cinnamon toast at Trouble Coffee) appeared on the list so now the somewhat hidden places will get even more popular...

(Click on the blue to see the corresponding post and what I've eaten so far!)

Here's the list:

1). Buckwheat waffle with creme fraiche, cucumber, and salmon roe at Lt. Waffle (Linea)
2). Seafood chowder at Bar Crudo
3). Cinnamon toast at Trouble Coffee
4). Chicken claypot at Slanted Door
5). Kale and yogurt smørrebrød at Bar Tartine Sandwich Shop
6). Egg yolk lava bun at Koi Palace
7). Abalone (seasonal) at Saison
8).  Beignets with chocolate espresso cream at Boxing Room
9).  Crispy duck salad at Hakkasan
10). Any steamed bun at The Chairman
11).  Brownie à la mode at Chocolate Lab
12). Arnisio souvlaki (spiced lamb skewer) at Kokkari
13). Soft garlic pretzels at the bar at Absinthe
14). Brussel sprout chips at Marlowe
15). Burrata bruschetta, walnut bread, mushroom truffle honey at Beretta
16). Omakase at ICHI
17). Butternut squash tacos (seasonal) at Gracias Madre
18). Crispy octopus at 1760
19). Housemade chicken liver pâté at Starbelly
20). Papua New Guinea s'more at Dandelion Chocolate
21). Chung Qing wings at New Ming's
22). Salted fish and minced pork rice in clay pot at Utopia Cafe
23). Chicken mole at San Jalisco
24). Tropical sundae at Ice Cream and Soda Fountain
25). Crispy imperial rolls at Out the Door
26). Egg sandwich with lard shallots and parsley on sourdough at Biergarten
27). Fried chicken at Mission Bowling Club
28). Salt cod cakes at Mikkeller Bar
29). Polpette at Barbacco
30). Chips and salsa at Papalote
31). Jerk spiced duck hearts with pickled pineapple and thyme salt at Alembic
32). Crab Louie at Swan Oyster Depot
33). Seasonal bread pudding at Tartine Bakery
34). Tea leaf salad at Burma Superstar
35). Carnitas at Nopalito
36). Sardine chips at Rich Table
37). Takoyaki at Izakaya Sozai
38). Chinatown duck sliders at Maven
39). Russian honey cake at 20th Century Cafe
40). Coffee-rubbed pork shoulder at Range
41). Moto pizza with an egg at Ragazza
42). Caviar at Jardiniere
43). Lotus root salad at MAU
44). Fried onion cake at House of Nanking
45). Live crab with salt and pepper at R&G Lounge
46). Gamja fries at Namu Gaji
47). Maple bacon breakfast sausage sandwich at 4505 Meats
48). Squid ink tonnarelli at A16
49). Kung pow pastrami at Mission Chinese Food
50). Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina
51). Devils on horseback at Magnolia Pub
52). Popovers at Wayfare Tavern
53). Salted caramel ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery
54). Mussel soup at Tosca Cafe
55). Pupusas at Balompie #3
56). Rotisserie chicken at Limon Rotisserie
57). Raviolo di ricotta at Cotogna
58). Pluma Iberico de Bellota at Coqueta
59). Pickled eggs at St.Vincent
60). Frozen custard with egg caramel at Fog City
61). Roast chicken for two at Zuni
62). Seafood cioppino at Tadich Grill
63). Scotch egg at Trick Dog
64). Burger with bone marrow at Kronner Burger
65). Corn chowder soup at Frances
66). Poulet Noir at Park Tavern
67). Spaghittusu cun allu ollu e bottariga at La Ciccia
68). Super carne asada burrito at El Farolito
69). A fresh loaf of Josey Baker bread at The Mill
70). Fried green beans at Coco500
71). Spoonful of Sugar's Meyer lemon curd filled brioche donut at Marla Bakery
72). Frank Nitti at Capo's
73). Wild boar scissor cut noodles at M.Y. China
74). Tandoori fish at Guddu de Karahi
75). Pasta tasting menu at Flour + Water
76). No. 19 sandwich at Wise Sons Deli
77). Duck confit basteeya at Aziza
78). Grilled cheese at Outerlands
79). Clams with cabbage at TBD Restaurant
80). Custard french toast at Nopa
81). Xiao long bao at Kingdom of Dumpling
82). The Rebel Within at Craftsman & Wolves
83). Tasting menu at Quince
84). Crispy potatoes at Plow
85). State bird at State Bird Provisions
86). Tikka masala burrito at Curry Up Now
87). Kouign amann at B. Patisserie
88). Lamb scrumpets at The Cavalier
89). Tonnarelli cacio e pepe at Locanda
90). Skillet-fried chicken thighs at Zero Zero
91). Duck wings “à l’orange” at RN74
92). Steak tartare at Bix
93). Organic pop tarts at Foreign Cinema
94). Banh mi at Saigon Sandwich
95). Udon a la Carbonara at Izakaya Roku
96). Smoked potatoes with black garlic at Bar Tartine
97). The Arista at Merigan
98). Chicken liver mousse with marmellata and balsamic gelatin at SPQR
99). French macarons at Tout Sweet
100).Vermicelli with five spice roasted chicken at Sunflower Restaurant

2013's list: 7x7 SF's (The Big Eat) List of 100 Things to Eat Before you Die (2013)
2012's list: 7x7 SF's (The Big Eat) List of 100 Things to Eat Before you Die (2012)

check it out on 7x7's site HERE

Soul Groove

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Thu, 02 Jan 2014 09:00:00 +0000

Originally, I was on my way to check out another banh mi spot in the Tenderloin, but it was closed so I hopped over to the next best thing that was open in the area - Soul Groove. After a decent run as a pop up in the Mission, its finally put some roots down in a small shop in the Tenderloin.

The chicken fried soul is one of the more basic fried chicken sandwiches here. Small pieces of fried chicken are sandwiched between two slightly flopping pieces of waffle. At $6.50, these sandwiches are quite small. Even though the batter looked pretty dark, it was surprisingly not burnt. The batter was crispy with a decent amount of flavor. The chicken was decently cooked and the waffle had a hint of sweetness to it.

The to go option has both the bbq sauce and the cole slaw on the side so you have to build it when you get home. Without it, the sandwich seems pretty plain.

Address:                 Soul Groove
                                422 Larkin St.
                                San Francisco, CA

Type: American

Popular chomps: chicken fried soul

Chomp worthy: nothing

Top 10 chomps of 2013

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 09:00:00 +0000

2013 is over! Its that time again to reflect on all the yummy eats I've had over the past year. Lots of eating and good travels. This year was filled food from domestic trips to LA, and New York. I discovered a lot of great eats overseas in the Philippines and Vietnam. Also, I finally got to eat at The French Laundry, a foodie's mecca (see post HERE).

My 2013 chomps (in no particular order):

Crawfish Grits from Rickybobby (San Francisco, CA).

Even though, I ate this pretty early on in 2013, I still can't stop thinking about how delicious it was. I constantly tell people to eat this now! Its one bowl that I would happily lick so every single drop of it was devoured.

Check out the original post on Rickybobby ( HERE)

Pastrami sandwich #19 from Langer's Deli (Los Angeles, CA).

With a red carpet and its appearance in every tourist and LA guide available, its easy to think that this place could be a tourist trap. However, one bite of the #19 made me a believer. There aren't enough words to describe how perfect this sandwich is. From the flavorful, fluffy bread to the juicy, not too salty, chunks of pastrami. Tourists and locals alike rave at how awesome this sandwich is and now I can agree, it is THAT good.

Check out the original post on Langer's Deli ( HERE)

Dac Biet Banh Mi from Banh Mi Huynh Hoa (Saigon, Vietnam).

It took me a trip all the way to Vietnam to find the banh mi of my dreams. The dac biet banh mi at Banh Mi Huynh Hoa is the most heavenly banh mi I've ever had. I never thought a banh mi could taste so light and airy with just the right amount of sweet and savory. The only downfall was only ordering one of them.

Check out the original post on Banh Mi Huynh Hoa ( HERE)

Sicilian square at Di Fara (Brooklyn, New York).

Di Fara is another one of those old institutions that I got to check off my list this year. After many trips to New York, I finally decided to bite the bullet and take the train out to Brooklyn and lucked out on only a 40 minute wait for this slice. It had all the makings of something that would just eek a possible hyped reaction out of me, but it was so good I was just dumbfounded that it took me this long to make it out here. After many, many slices (even my preference for thin slices), I have to admit this Sicilian square is a masterpiece. Its quite possibly the best slice I've had in my life.

Check out the original post on Di Fara ( HERE)

Goat's milk gelato at Bulgarini Gelato (Pasadena, CA).

Up to this point I'd always thought San Francisco had better ice cream and gelato than Los Angeles, then I stumbled upon Bulgarini Gelato. The location is so discrete, it causes you to question how good could it possibly be. Enjoying a scoop of the goat milk gelato with pretty much no one in sight makes you feel like you've discovered a secret treasure that no one else knows about. The goat milk is so fresh that you can practically taste the grass that the goat ate.

Check out the original post on Bulgarino Gelato ( HERE)

Kouign Amounn at B. Patisserie (San Francisco, CA)

I never thought the day would come when my beloved Tartine Bakery could possibly be dethroned. No lines, available pastries, and seating are just the frosting on the cake at this delightful bakery. Kouign amounns have recently become some of my favorite pastries so much so that the name easily rolls off my tongue without hesitation. The kouign amounns here are what other kouign amouns aspire to be - warm to the touch, flaky with just the right amount of sticky caramel coating.

Check out the original post on B. Patisserie ( HERE)

Boat Noodles from Zen Yai Thai (San Francisco, CA).

The boat noodles are on the secret menu written in Thai, but just uttering the words boat noodles to the server signals the beginning of a harmonious journey where all sweet, spicy, and savory live in together in a glorious bowl.

Check out the original post on Zen Yai Thai ( HERE)

Salmon cornets at The French Laundry (Yountville, CA).

Its almost a sin not to put something from The French Laundry on my top 10. The salmon cornets are easily the most shoutable dish for me. The playful ice cream presentation is savory enough to make your mouth water for more. The mini serving makes you both angry and excited at the same time. The only thing its left me wondering is how many can I eat before I get sick of them.

Check out the original post on The French Laundry ( HERE)

Paletas at Los Manguitos (Redwood City, CA).

I've learned a new Spanish word and I'll remember it forever thanks to Los Manguitos. Its paletas - popsicles. The fruit popsicles are so beautifully crafted and delicious its sure to make any poster on instagram and pinterest jealous. Not just some fruit juice frozen on a stick, one lick and you can imagine you are on a island with tropical breezes flowing through your hair.

Check out the original post on Los Manguitos ( HERE)

sliced mangos in Boracay, PI (Boracay, Philippines).

Its a little cheating since I haven't yet posted my picture of the Philippines, but I can't put this list together without a mention of the mangos I had in the Philippines. While I'm fully aware and in awe of how much juicier and sweeter fruit is in Asia, I was not prepared for how much better the mangos would be in the Philippines. From the local markets to the vendors selling them in bags on the street, each mango was poster child for what a ripe fruit should taste like. When the world ends, you'll find me on an island eating these mangos.

For my 2011 Top 10 Chomps check it out HERE

For my 2012 Top 10 Chomps check it out HERE

Bun Bo Hue stall @ Ben Thanh Market

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 23:30:00 +0000

Literally right next to the banh cuon stand was the bun bo hue stand. Even though, I knew that bun bo hue is not a local speciality (its from Hue), I had to grab a bowl since I wouldn't be making it to Hue.

The bun bo hue is very light and fresh tasting with a surprisingly plentiful amount of meat and fishcake. Its actually not spicy and they give you a side dish or chilis to add based on your preference.

Thinly sliced banana blossoms and other herbs for adding into the bowl of bun bo hue.

The one good thing about hot weather is the good excuse to try different types of drinks. The lychee drink was sweet and refreshing.

Address:                    bun bo hue stall @ Ben Thanh Market
   intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao, and Le Loi sts. District 1
                                   Saigon, Vietnam

Type: Vietnamese

Popular chomps: bun bo hue

Chomp worthy: bun bo hue

Banh cuon stall @ Ben Thanh market

noreply@blogger.com (chomping grounds) — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 17:34:00 +0000

Ben Thanh is a huge marketplace that sells all sorts of things from clothes to electronics, but the good stuff is in the food stalls located in the back. These tiny food stalls serve up Vietnamese cuisine found all over Vietnam. It can get a little overwhelming when trying to decide what to eat. After a couple laps around the food area, I decided on a the banh cuon stall.

Even though back in the States, I've never been a huge banh cuon fan, I saw this older lady making it fresh and I had to sit down and try it. The process is similar to making other forms of Chinese rice noodles. I've had the pleasure of waiting in the lines of SF's now RIP Hing Lung (see post HERE) back home and watching them make the rice noodles while waiting for a table.

Of course, more cafe sua da.

The banh cuon are made with super thin rice sheets and mixed with ground pork then topped with fried pieces of garlic. The noodles are so thin, its almost translucent. Nuoc mam is provided on the side for dipping. The noodles here are ultra fresh and the texture is wonderfully springy. Refreshing, yet light, which works well in this heat. At 30,000VDN ($1.50USD), you can't resist sitting down for a snack like that.

Address:                   banh cuon stall @ Ben Thanh Market
                                  intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao, and Le Loi sts. District 1
                                  Saigon, Vietnam

Type: Vietnamese

Popular chomps: banh cuon

Chomp worthy: banh cuon