Arroz-con-pollo activist: Supreme Court nom Sonia Sotomayor is suspect in the eyes of some conservatives for her taste in food, which skews toward pork fat and sofrito. The Hill quotes Sotomayor from a 2001 speech: "'For me, a very special part of my being Latina is the mucho platos de arroz, gandoles y pernir -- rice, beans and pork -- that I have eaten at countless family holidays and special events.' This has prompted some Republicans to muse privately about whether Sotomayor is suggesting that distinctive Puerto Rican cuisine such as patitas de cerdo con garbanzo -- pigs' feet with chickpeas -- would somehow, in some small way influence her verdicts from the bench." Oh that they would!
Schlep report: The good news: Food Gal finds a four-star taco truck dishing out stuff like ahi and halibut tacos. The bad news: It's in San Jose. Bummer.
Last week we took the northern route from the Embarcadero to the Cliff House via Pacific Heights and the Richmond, and decided to kick things off with wonderfully chewy, savory asiago rolls from the Acme bakery in the Ferry Building.
By the time we got to North Beach it was time for a light-as-air brioche from Victoria Pastry (you can't have too many carbs on an outing like this), and after crossing Russian Hill at its most vertiginous we really needed a cup of joe from Peet's at Larkin and Vallejo.
| Michael Recchiuti dreams up the Taste Project |
| Shiitake chocolate malt ice cream on brioche |
Whether it's a sign of this city's future or its past, five dollars gets you a small teapot of bitchin' pu-erh, and endless hot water refills from an electric teakettle bubbling away next to your table. Bring someone you actually want to spend time with, and settle in for an afternoon of wandering, digressive, caffeinated conversation.
"I'm not aware of any ban," Jeff Elliott said, after asking SFoodie to explain what foie gras is. "I'm not even aware that we sell that." In a subsequent email, Elliott wrote: "We have no comment on the matter."
Brian Pease, who described himself as a director of San Diego-based Animal Protection & Rescue League, which produced the press release (which doesn't include a quote from any Costco representative), claimed that everything in the press release was true, but described the situation with Costco as "complicated." Pease conceded that the APRL may have been premature in circulating the press release. He said that the organization's contact was one Mike Dorpat, whom Pease described as Costco's wine and foods buyer. Pease acknowledged a certain amount of miscommunication in APRL, which is staffed primarily with volunteers.
In other Cosentino news, the chef told us our tidbit last week about lard soap from Boccalone (Incanto's spinoff salumeria) was as premature as two-day-old salami. "The soap needs to cure for the right amount of time before it's ready," the chef explained, suggesting it could be many weeks before the porcine soap is for sale. Oops -- our bad! Put it out of your mind, everybody.
According to Hoffman, new chef Randy Lewis has had extensive input on the opening menu, which skews casual. In a nod to the bleak economy, the priciest entrée is $14.95. Starters include unpretentious-sounding options like mac and cheese croquettes and spinach and artichoke dip with pita wedges. Sandwiches include a meatball and mozzarella sub, and a retooled Reuben with house-corned beef. Main courses center around relatively cheap proteins such as octopus, beef chuck pot roast, and rainbow trout.
Like Oakland's Sidebar, which opened in February with a lunch menu where only one main course tops $10, the Tavern at Lark Creek appears to represent a growing strategy for riding out the downturn: keeping prices low (while absorbing presumably shrunken profit margins) in the hope of driving volume.
But according to Grist this morning (citing the Chronicle of Higher Education), a savior has stepped in: Seattle food safety lawyer and WSU alum Bill Marler, who agreed to bankroll not only Pollan's fee but underwrite the cost of the books. Late yesterday, Marler twittered the news that The Omnivore's Dilemma and Pollan would be making an appearance at WSU. So far, it looks like a happy ending for everyone but Big Ag.
Let's do lunch:
Why get all greasy from a gooey hot slice when you can nibble on brilliance? SF Weekly restaurant critic Meredith Brody advises lunching on the vitello "tonino" followed by a clam pie at Pizzeria Delfina (3611 18th St. at Guerrero, 437-6800; and 2406 California at Fillmore, 440-1189).
Drink therapy:
Cop a summery taste of staycation with $7 margaritas and $15 beer buckets and tequila flights at Colibri Mexican Bistro (438 Geary at Mason, 440-2737), 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Wallow in culture and, while you're at it, save a few bucks: $4 drafts and $6 white or red house vino at Varnish Fine Art (77 Natoma at Second St., 222-6131), 5-7 p.m.
