Can't we all just get along?: Sure, you've lived a life devoted to moral relativism, but can you handle taco relatvisim? At Bay Area Bites, Thy Tran fills up the Hyundai and heads to the reservation for Native American fry-bread tacos. Note to the haters: She ain't havin' none of your bull-honky purism. For the taco aficionados among you: Do not pepper me with hate comments about what constitutes a "real" taco. Instead, Tran finds bliss in discs of shallow-fried biscuit dough topped with nacho-like bric-a-brac. Hell, call it a galette if you want to -- looks good to us.
The China syndrome: Is it just us, or does Foodhoe's meticulously documented report on dinner at Masa's make the place seem -- um -- tacky? It's not the food. That looks predictably seared and glisten-y, with the odd swipe of sauce on the plate. It's the plates themselves that appear hotel hefty, starting with the freebie amuse of turnip greens soup served in a clunky cup. We know -- scale can be deceiving. What looks like an office lunchroom mug is probably a tad more petite. Still, the truffle flan on a ziggurat of crockery? Just not feelin' it.
Austin, Tex., taco evangelist Mando Rayo is engaged in an epic taco crawl through the Bay Area, and he'll be reporting his findings here. At TacoJournalism, a blog of tacos and taco culture, Rayo collaborates with taco homies Jarod Neece, Cornbiter Deluxe, and The Commish. They've been featured in the Austin American-Statesman and at Austin360.com, in the "Best of Austin Chronicles," and as part of Austin PBS affiliate KLRU's Docubloggers project, chronicling life in Central Texas.
How will the Mission's monster blunt burritos sit with El Mundo de Mando? Will La Taqueria's mix of hipsters and Marina cuties seem totally lame? Stay screwed in right here. Check out the TacoJournalism blog, and pay a neighborly visit on Facebook and Twitter. Don't be shy: Let Rayo know what to scarf next.
In July, you'll have a chance to do it where it counts -- in front of a Food Network casting agent. On July 26 at the W Hotel (181 Third St. at Howard), The Next Food Network Star is hosting open-call casting auditions for Season Six (scheduled to air next summer). What do you need, besides Paula Deen-like incandescence? "There are two must-haves in order to be a Food Network star," said Bob Tuschman, a senior VP for the network. "A bright, bold, likeable star personality that leaps through the screen, backed up by the culinary authority to inspire, teach, and engage viewers." Oh, is that all.
Tuschman said the casting agent would be sniffing around for energy, charisma, and what he called food credibility. "Be memorable, be authoritative, and be entertaining," he said. Auditions go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For applications and rules, log onto Food Network. Can't get away from your executive chef gig at Chez Panisse on July 26? Submit a three-minute video audition -- again, check the Web site for guidelines.
Originally scheduled for next Monday, the monthly Iron Cupcake Challenge is going down tonight, 7 p.m., at Leland Tea Company (1416 Bush at Polk). (Long story, something to do with host venue Leland Tea getting all bollixed up with street construction next week, making it inaccessible.) Tonight's theme? Summer/seasonal fruits.
For Iron Cupcake novices, here's the deal. You show up between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. with already baked cupcakes (at least two dozen minis), create a fetching display, announce your brilliant creation, and cross your fingers. All baker-contestants vote for the victor.
Note to the eventual winner: End-zone victory shuffles and cupcake spikes are strongly discouraged.
"We're ready to go on our side," said Skenes, who's been engaged in weeks of recipe-testing and other fine-tuning tweaks. "Now it's just left up to the lawyers." Last-minute details still had to be ironed out regarding Skenes' lease for vendor space in the ground-floor solarium of the KPMG Building (55 Second St. at Stevenson), a process that could take weeks.
The 29-year-old Skenes has worked as executive chef at Chez TJ in Mountain View, and opened Stonehill Tavern in the St. Regis in Dana Point, OC, for Michael Mina. He's described the concept for Carte 415 as farm-to-table street food. When it does launch, the cart will be merely the newest flavor in a trend that's seen bistro dishes from Roli Roti food trucks and fancy French takeaway from Spencer on the Go's retooled taco truck. Skenes has said he eventually plans to roll out several high-end food carts downtown.
| LiLy D via Yelp |
| Penis & Venus cookies at Castro's Hot Cookie. |
At about 2 p.m. when the El Tonayense handout began, about 50 free-taco seekers were lined up at the truck, according to Santana. Customers got the taco filling of their choice, along with a free movie tee. Some regulars were surprised by the free tacos, which lasted till about 4 p.m. But, said Santana, most customers showed up only for the free food.
On Thursday, Mission community art-slash-food space 18 Reasons (593 Guerrero at) will unveil photographs that cast a keen eye on local meat culture. Photographer Julio Duffoo has been documenting people for carnivorous indie mag Meatpaper. See them all together on consecutive Thursdays, June 25 and July 2, 7-9 p.m.. Bi-Rite Market will be dispensing wine, as well as its house-made charcuterie.
On July 2, there'll be something called Open Meat Mic. Come prepared with your favorite meat poem, song, story, display (we're betting on more than one wag rocking a guanciale loincloth), or performance, three minutes or less only. Admission: $10 ($5 for 18 Reasons members). Go to the 18 Reasons Web site for tix.
Let's do lunch:
It's summer, and though you may be too broke for a proper vacation, taste a simulacrum of Spain in the two-bocadillo-and-soup combo (which two? SF Weekly critic Meredith Brody suggests Serrano ham with tomato and chorizo with walnut spread and parsley) at Bocadillos (710 Montgomery at Washington, 982-2622).
Drink therapy:
The dance floor is all Dance Dance Revolution flashy, the mostly Asian guys are mostly cute, and you can guzzle two-for-one happy-hour cocktails: Badlands (4121 18th St. at Castro), 3-8 p.m.
Get your Irish on in a room with barfly ambience filled with a yoga-toned Marina crowd while sucking down $4 drink and $3 beer specials at Delaney's (2241 Chestnut at Avila, 931-8529), all night.
