When the ancient Polynesians invented surfing, they often used a paddle to help them navigate. Fast-forward a few millennia, and Stand-Up Paddleboarding, or SUP, finds itself trendy again. Part of its increasing popularity is that standing upright allows surfers to spot waves more easily and thus catch more of them, multiplying the fun factor. Paddling back to the wave becomes less of a strain as well. The ability to cruise along on flat inland water, surveying the sights, is another advantage. Finally, it’s a good core workout. If you’re sold on the idea, schedule an intro SUP lesson, free with board and paddle rental, and you may find yourself riding the waves like a Polynesian king.More
Many of us remember coming home from our elementary schools with freshly glazed pinchpots, cups, or whatever else our young imaginations could conjure up. Saturday mornings at the Randall Museum can bring that memory back, or create a new one for the youngsters. Ceramics make great gifts — especially on Mothers' and Fathers' Day. Hop on board for the Randall's once-weekly class, and for $6 and two weeks to have your work fired and glazed, you'll have all the materials you need.More
December is almost over - the New Year is coming up and everyone is busy drying off from the rain or holiday shopping. Let's take a look at what's happened this month.
The sinews of old San Francisco lie in the water: the posts standing in the Bay mud that supported the docks and piers where the shipping that made the city possible, and later allowed it to flourish, flowed.
Last year, I did a tasteoff among various local free-range, organic eggs, including those from Trader Joe's, Judy's Farm, and Marin Sun Farms. The easy winner were the ones from Soul Food Farm: the eggs stood up higher, the yolks were brighter-colored, and, most important, tasted the best. They're a pricey treat--$5 at the farm or $7-8 at retailers such as Prather Ranch Co. and Avedanos--so perhaps best appreciated simply soft-boiled or poached.
I always wonder how free-range chickens so billed really are, so I dropped by the farm to see for myself. As you can see in the video below, at Soul Food--where they prefer the term "pastured"--the chickens are literally free to do what they like, wandering around open fields eating plants or bugs, or back into their roomy coop to eat feed, lay eggs (gathered five times a day), or get away from the dark. The farm also has a couple of llamas to scare predators off from one breed that prefers to spend the night outside. The birds are regularly moved around to greener pastures, while their manure naturally fertilizes new growth in the old ones. It's easy to see why these eggs taste so good: the hens are well-fed and happy.
Vacaville might not be a place you'd visit unless you had business or relatives there, but its location straddling I-80 makes it a convenient stop for for a quick bite on the way to or from points east. A great alternative to the corporate chains that dominate the area is Fleming's Chicago-Style Deli, just a couple of blocks off the freeway, a friendly spot run by the eponymous family of Chicago natives.
Their Chicago dog ($4.50) is satisfyingly classic: Vienna Beef frank with the canonical "snap," Kryptonite-green pickle relish, mustard, onions, tomatoes, pickled sport peppers, and celery salt overflowing a poppyseed bun. I'm not a big fan of Chicago Italian beef and similar sandwiches, but the superior fresh-tasting and very spicy giardiniera on the Flemings' version ($6.95) makes it delicious.
PostedByTamara Palmer
on Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Over the past 13 years, San Francisco-based Native Kjalli Foods has transformed sales of superlative salsas at area farmer's markets into a staple line on healthier local shelves. Lesser known is the company's hummus, but the new artichoke variety grabbed our attention at the Fancy Food Show. Most of Native's products are vegan-friendly and available at several local stores including Andronico's (1200 Irving) and Rainbow Grocery (1745 Folsom).
If you're going to spend top dollar for your fancy java, there might as well be some perks thrown in (pun intended). Four Barrel Coffee, open for four months on Valencia in the Mission, boasts a huge room with a lofty ceiling featuring beautiful exposed beams. The vast space is adorned with sculptural wood tables, and a row of animal heads line one wall -- chic if not exactly PC.
Donuts are trucked in from the Mission's own Dynamo Donuts, including the famed glazed-maple-bacon. Your cappuccino will have the food-porn photographer's fave, the fancy drawn-on-foam topping, if that's your thrill. They're building their own roaster, too (for now the French press is made with Stumptown coffee from Portland). They offer a simple Italian/French lineup of classic espressos, machiattos, and lattes (look elsewhere for shots of flavored syrup and ice-blended frappuccinos).
We've been on an economy kick, brewing our own at home, but we were in need of a jolt of caffeine, and fell in love with the unusually appealing room. The sheer extravagance of space and witty stuff to look at made us want to linger -- and return.
Four Barrel Coffee, 375 Valencia (at 15th Street), 252-0800. Open Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. -- 8 p.m., Friday until 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. -- 9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. -- 8 p.m. Cash only.
PostedByTamara Palmer
on Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 7:00 AM
Name: Black Pepper Papadum
Brand: Shakti/Planetary Products
Origin: Berkeley
Found at: Rainbow Grocery (1745 Folsom)
Cost: $2.99
Ingredients: Urd bean flour, salt, papdkhar, black pepper, asafoetida
Calories per serving: Not listed
Why I bought it: Previous experience has proved this crispy bean wafer that's a staple of most Indian restaurants to be a tasty and filling snack that only takes 45 seconds to prepare in the microwave (and only slightly longer on the stove). Shakti/Planetary Products also offers excellent ready-made Indian meals that always hit the healthy spot.
Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'.
Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"
