Don't ask, won't tell: Today we wrap up our two-week series Queer Food Capital, a daily pink wallow through the city's LGBT food and drink culture. We offered up history, eating guides, even interviews with out food divas of both sexes. Only two interviews, as it turned out, partly because we conducted more than we could publish, but only partly. We learned something. Don't ask us to name names, but some of the city's most prominent out chefs politely (and not so politely) declined our requests to chat on the record. The media rep for one told us her client is totally out, but doesn't like to make a big deal of it. That made us realize that, despite San Francisco's at-times jaded familiarity with gays and lesbians, coming out of the closet is a never-ending process. We'll keep that in mind on Sunday. Happy Pride, y'all.
• Resident food critic Meredith Brody documented her two-fisted lust affair with something called a Lasker. Here's a hint: It's juicy.
• On the penultimate day of our Queer Food Capital coverage before Pride, we speculated on the lesbian origins of modern food writing. Grab a tissue, it's kind of tear-jerker.
• The producer of this month's jacked-up Great American Food and Music Fest is setting himself up for more, only next time he swears it'll be different. Can you believe him?
• Guest blogger Mando Rayo, aka El Mundo de Mando of Austin-based TacoJournalism, took a salsa-doused bite of the Mission and declared it pretty good.
• And finally, perhaps to shake the week's sketchy mojo, Tamara Palmer thought of her favorite things. Cheer up, everybody: It may have been a sharp-elbowed week in local food, but celebration is damn near upon us.
| BrentOzar/Flickr |
| Bagdad Cafe's Desert Fries: Satisfying. |
Slurping and swallowing can be a flirty way to dine. Act as discreet or horny as you wish while getting your oyster groove on in a red leather banquette at petite Woodhouse Fish Company (2073 Market at 14th St.). (There's also a Pac Heights location, 1914 Fillmore at Pine.) Chowder lovers can have their way with a cup or bowl of creamy, clam-filled goodness. The best sandwiches are the crab melt and Maine lobster roll. French fries are especially pleasing with anything on offer. Yeah, there's life after Pride -- the Tuesday happy hour serves up $1 oysters from 4 p.m. to close. No reservations.
Pride doesn't have to be rowdy and raucous. The Café at Café du Nord (2168 Market at 15th St.) has breezy window seating, the perfect place to observe Saturday's gathering storm. The café opened last November -- it's affiliated with the Swedish American Hall and Café du Nord, the music and party venues above and below, respectively. You'll find nibbles, caffeine, and a select number of adult beverages (take it easy: we're talking about beer and wine) in a spotless, artsy setting. Prices are gentle enough to allow broke-ass types to enjoy themselves, and the $4 draft beers are served cold and with a smile. Pastries are made in house, and may include cookies, muffins, and date bars. Check out the pizza, sandwich, and salad options, as well. Free Wi-Fi, and the rotating art is fodder for chat or pontification, up to you.
The Gay Cookbook by Chef Lou Rand Hogan
Published: 1965, Sherbourne Press, New York
What the hell?: The Boys in the Band meets James Beard -- a self-consciously campy guide to the kitchen, at a time when gays were still mostly closeted.
An excerpt from the entry for grinding hamburger: With our grinder 'greased and ready' we shop for some inexpensive meat. (We know, Gertrude, and you're not the only one who's spent half her life looking for inexpensive meat.) Eww.
What Celia Sack, owner of Omnivore Books on Food (3885a Cesar Chavez at Church) has to say about it: "I just saw it for the first time -- it's in the food studies collection of the Faels Library and Special Collections at NYU's Bobst Library. It's a really early example of that kind of thing. The library curator said the publisher did mostly gay porn."
With the recent opening in the Mission of Escape from New York Pizza (3242 22nd St.at Mission, 206-0555), those late-night pizza searches might be a thing of the past. Escape took over the Tortas el Primo spot, and is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. (unofficially till 2:30), Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Sunday through Wednesday, be sure to get your slice before the clock strikes midnight. Decisions, decisions: the Glorious Chicken and You Say Potato (both $4) are said to be current bestsellers.
| Mando Rayo |
| The holy trinity at Taqueria Pancho Villa. |
Ahh, San Francisco: What a great city. You are home to Journey, Rice-A-Roni, trolleys, and most important ... tacos! I was told that tacos would be hard to find in the city by the bay but, alas, I have found you, your moms, your tias y tus cousins right in the heart of a gentri-barrio, the Mission. A place where you can start with a greasy torta de lengua, hacer hambre in an old-school cantina, top it off with a taco todo organico and finish it con un café con los hipsters, hippies, and one Taco Journalist with a sí, se puede attitude!
My goal was to get a good taste of the taco scene in San Francisco, and I think I got a pretty good start with the help of my taco-eating compadres: Lindsey Simon from dishola, Angela, Ruthie, and Ixchel. Not only did we eat tacos, we explored the Mission, its beautiful murals, and good coffee. We even ventured into Central America. Nice!
| Mando Rayo |
| La Taqueria's off-menu carnitas taco dorado. |
Each vendor will feature one or two signature items, all made with some sustainable ingredients, and nothing priced over $5. And there's more to come.
Let's do lunch:
Stumbling on this tiny place is like finding a secret garden -- one with calzone. Linger a little, says SF Weekly food critic Meredith Brody, over grilled asparagus, followed by a farm egg and prosciutto pizza at Pizzetta 211 (211 23rd Ave. at California, 379-9880).
Drink therapy:
Ah, the Irish: Wicked funny, plus they spell stuff weird. Make more than the Irish seem hilarious with buck-off drafts (okay, draughts), and $4 cosmos and mai tais at The Liberties Bar (998 Guerrero at 22nd St., 282-6789), 2-6 p.m.
Guys: You know that special post-Pride feeling, when your Xanax-Red Bull-Levitra cocktail is wearing off? Turn a frown into a leer at Sunday's beer bash and keg party at Truck (1900 Folsom at 15th St., 252-0306).
