THE BIG EAT: November 2012

(69) Omakase Menu @ Kiss Seafood

Getting a reservation at Kiss Seafood is like harder than getting into Harvard. Seriously, they only have 12 seats, they are only open 5 days a week, for 5 hours in the evening. Of those 12 seats, they maaaaybe flip the table twice per night. So at most, in any given week, the will serve a maximum of 120 guests. If you are willing to patient and diligent in calling to get a spot, I highly suggest it. And when you do snag a seat, order the Omakase menu - the chef's choice of 5-6 dishes of sashimi and sushi. Here is what I got =
(1) A slightly roasted persimmon stuffed with raw salmon, fresh warm tofu, and julienned asparagus. Fact: one of my favorite things is when you can eat an eating vessel, in this case, the sweet hallowed-out persimmon.
(2) Sashimi!!!!!!! Tuna, Yellowtail, King Crab, Uni, Snapper, Mackerel, Octopus, Salmon, & Halibut. It was intriguing to watch hims plate the bite-sized pieces of raw fish, one after another, delicately and with such craft. Every movement he has was purposeful and calculated as he cut, plated, wrapped, and cleaned the board/knife. It was rhythmic and his mannerisms reminded me of Jiro, from the amazing documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi. The sashimi was excellent - so fresh, so perfectly plated, tender, delicate, and delicious.
(3) Soup with a mushroom broth topped with a steamed mussel sitting on top of three lightly pan fried daikon cakes. It was the perfect balance of meaty/earthy/mushroom & meaty/slurply/mussel.
(4) A scolding hot pot of soup with several kinds of razor thin mandolin-sliced mushrooms & noodles in a light broth topped with scallions, this was good but f*@#(*$&@(#*&$*ing hot. It was served in a cool pear shaped ceramic pot, so I'll give them mad plus points for their precious pottery.
(5) Nigiri sushi!!!!! Again, so fresh and so incredibly simple. Rich in texture and top notch quality taste.
(6) Miso soup. Salty, sweet, nutty, brothy, and taaaaasty.

Menu & place setting @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Raw fish @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Chef @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase Menu, course #1 @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase Menu, course #2 @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase menu, course #3 @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase menu, course #3 @Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase Menu, course #4 @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase menu, course #4 @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase menu, course #5 @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Chef explaining sushi @ Kiss

Omakase Menu, course #6 @ Kiss Seafood. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Omakase Menu @ Kiss Seafood ($60)
1700 Laguna Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.474.2866
Monday > closed
Tuesday - Saturday > 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday > closed

(68) Focaccia @ Liguria Bakery

Oh wow, Liguria Bakery. What a gem! Did you know Liguria Bakery is 101 years old?! Holy wow, it's a tried & true San Francisco establishment. All they sell at this little whole in the wall is Focaccia. Their menu is as follows > Plain $4 // Onion $4 // Pizza $4.25 // Raisin $4.25 // Garlic $4.25 // Rosemary $4.50 // Mushroom $4.50 // Black Olive $4.50 // Rosemary Garlic $4.50 // Frozen Focaccia $3. That's it. Ha! It's epic. I bet the rent on their space is soooo cheap since they have been there since the beginning of time. When you walk in it's like you are walking into another dimension, there are white walls everywhere, with white shelves with nothing on them. Seriously, take a peek here with a virtual tour. You tell them which flavor you'd like and they go retrieve it from the back kitchen. It's all very bizarre and cool and if you are lucky they might even make eye contact with you. Then a lady who has probably been there since the beginning of time will carefully bundle up your precious focaccia in thick white parcel paper and tie it up with some thick twine, and SHE WON'T USE SCISSORS to cut the twine but instead somehow use her FINGERS. #twilightzone #gypsymagic. (we tried cutting the twine outselves with our own fingers and it was IMPOSSIBLE . The focaccia itself it very fresh, fluffy and addicting > featured below is the garlic rosemary, TASTY! Get it!

Focaccia @ Liguria Bakery. Photo credit: Shea Somma.

Liguria Bakery. Photo credit: Shea Somma.

Focaccia @ Liguria Bakery. Photo credit: Shea Somma.

Foccaccia @ Liguria Bakery ($4)
1700 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
415.421.3786
Monday - Friday > 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday > 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Sunday > closed

(67) Meatloaf Sandwich @ The Fatted Calf

Meatloaf has always scared me and I've always avoided it. But after eating this sandwich, I've changed my mind. This meatloaf sandwich weighs at least a whole pound, no exaggeration, it's one of the heaviest sandwiches I've ever held. It's packed with delicious seasoned meaty meatloaf, crunchy pickled red onions, leafy/cripsy lettuce, and whole grain mustard - a much needed touch of acidity that cuts through the fatty richness of the meatloaf, all bundled up with some classic white bread. It's great. The Fatted Calf is awesome, they make amazing in-house charcuterie (salamis, pate, roti, etc.), they have an excellent cheese selection, and carry awesome accoutrements (pastas, olives, pickles, dressings, crackers, etc.) It's a one-stop shop for a great meat-centric meal. I've been wanting to go to their Wednesday evening (5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.) Butcher's Happy Hour where they cut & season a whole hog or lamb (!!!!!) annnnd they provide free meaty snacks and a taste of local wine/beer. Anyone is welcome to come mingle and get inspriation for recipes. Who's in!?!?

Sandwich menu @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Open fridge @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Bundled-up Meatloaf Sandwich @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Meatloaf Sandwich @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Meat counter @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Cheese case @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Meat counter @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson

Accoutrements @ The Fatted Calf. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Meatloaf Sandwich @ The Fatted Calf ($9.50)
320 Fell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415.400.5614
Daily 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

(66) Paper Masala Dosa @ Dosa

Dosa is a savory rice and lentil crepe that is paper thin. All the dosa served at Dosa is accompanied with papadum (thin crispy spicy cracker/chips), fresh milky coconut chutney, creamy tomato chutney, sambar (lentil dipping soup made with veggies & spices). Their masala is creamy spiced mashed potatoes with onions and cashews. Like all Indian food, this dosa and it's accoutrements are total flavorbombs. Check out the size of that sucker! It can't even fit on the plate! Check out the video below to get a peak 'under the hood.' The dosa itself is such a beauty!

Papadum @ Dosa. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Paper Masala Dosa. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

(66) Paper Masala Dosa @ Dosa from Kendra Aronson on Vimeo.

Paper Masala Dosa @ Dosa ($10)

Dosa Valencia
995 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.642.3672
Monday - Wednesday > bar open @5, dinner @ 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Thursday > bar open @5, dinner @ 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday > bar open @5, dinner @ 5:30 p.m. - 12 midnight
Saturday > brunch @ 11:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., dinner @ 5:30 p.m. - 12 midnight, bar open all day
Sunday > brunch @ 11:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., dinner @ 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m., bar open all day

Dosa Fillmore
1700 Fillmore
San Francisco, CA
415.441.3672
Monday - Tuesday > 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Wednesday - Thursday > 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Friday > 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. - 12 midnight
Saturday > 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., bar open 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. - 12 midnight

Sunday > 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., bar open 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.

(65) Cookies-and-cream Cookie @ Anthony's Cookies

Cookies. Buck twenty five each. Genius. That's all Anthony's Cookie's provides, damn good cookies for $1.25. It's the simplest business model and their cookies are amaaaazing. This one is particular > cookies-and-cream cookie. It's so soft, chewey, creamy, chocolately, brown sugary, crispy, buttery, PERFECT. It's perfect. I love it. And you have many options of milks to choose from, whole milk for life. Look at this nifty chart for the flavors and their availability.

Cookies-and-cream Cookie. Photo credit: Anthony's Cookies. Photo credit: Greg Flanagan.

Cookies-and-cream Cookie @ Anthony's Cookies. Photo credit: Greg Flanagan.

Cookies-and-cream Cookie @ Anthony's Cookies ($1.25/each, $7.50/half dozen, $15/dozen)
1417 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.655.9834
Monday - Saturday > 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday > 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

(64) Sand Dabs @ Tadich Grill

Did you know that Tadich Grill has been around since 1849? It is believed to be the 3rd oldest continuously run restaurant in America! Neato. It opened during the Gold Rush, how cool is that?!??!? Their servers are just as old as the establishment itself, seriously. According to their website, the average Tadich Grill server has been a professional server for an average of 33 years and have been with Tadich Grill for an average of 16 years! Yowza. And their bartenders have been bartending for an average of 30 years and have been with Tadich Grill for an average of 17 years. I guess when you are in, you are in for life. That is so rare in the food industry, check out other fun facts here. Tadich Grill is known for many things - their classic cocktails (Bloody Marys, Martinis, Manhattans, Negronis, Old Fashioneds) & their seafood (cioppino, chowder, clams). Their lightly fried panko-crusted sand dabs are doused in a light white wine butter sauce and served with french fries & some sauteed vegges. They are GBD as my bosses like to say, which is code for Golden Brown & Delicious.

Menu @ Tadich Grill. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Sand Dabs @ Tadich Grill. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Sand Dabs @ Tadich Grill ($23.95)
240 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
415.391.1849
Monday - Friday > 11 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday > 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday > Closed

(63) Friday's Pozole (Fridays) @ San Jalisco Restaurant

As the name implies, this pozole is only offered on Fridays. Pozole is a hearty Mexican tomato-based soup with gritty/poppy hominy and fatty hunks of pork. It's the ultimate Mexican comfort food > perfect for when you are feeling a bit under the weather. At San Jalisco they serve it with a generous stack of freshly made tortillas, crunchy cabbage, diced onions, sliced radish, and lime wedges. And chips & salsa! It's the best. Diiiiiig iiiiiin.

Menu @ San Jalisco Restaurant. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Pozole @ San Jalisco Restaurant. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Pozole @ San Jalisco. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

(63) Friday's Pozole (Fridays) @ San Jalisco Restaurant from Kendra Aronson on Vimeo.

Friday's Pozole @ San Jalisco Restaurant ($9.95)
901 South Van Ness
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.648.8383
Everyday > 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.

(62) Dim Sum @ Ton Kiang Restaurant

Dim Sum @ Ton Kiang is reaaaaal tasty, especially when eaten with good company :) My friend Ju and I ventured out to this famous place in the Richmond for a lunch feast. We got the Noi Mai Gai (sticky rice with meat wrapped in a leaf), Wah Tip (potstickers), Ha Gao (shrimp dumplings), a half roasted duck, and some green tea. It was reaaaal good. I like the the concept of dim sum, little savory treats that are carted around to your table, you get to see the steamy fresh food before opting to take it or not. It's pretty brilliant. You can order one item at a time from their dim sum menu, or $38 for 9 items for 2 people, or $50 for 12 items for 3 people. #dimsumforthewin!!!!!

Dim Sum @ Ton Kiang. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Dim Sum. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Duck @ Ton Kiang. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Dim Sum @ Ton Kiang. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Dim Sum @ Ton Kiang Restaurant
5821 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94121
415.387.8273
Monday - Thursday > 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday > 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday > 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sunday > 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

THE BIG EAT

The Big Eat

ALREADY ATE