Epic patty: Food Gal blogscribes her date with the 700-calorie, fat-steeped, mouth-coating mother of all burgers, the Snake River Kobe patty, which stirs from its torpor in the deep freeze to wreak arterial plaque on all who indulge. Frankly, gross. Still, Gal has us hooked: They have a tremendous lush, buttery quality that really coats your entire mouth. Like a fine wine, these burgers have a finish that just linger [sic] on and on. Oh, stop -- you had us at lush.
Last time today, promise: Bay Area Bites' Wendy Goodfriend has sweet roundup of street food resources, a companion to today's Forum discussion of pavement cuisine and a tease for tomorrow's San Francisco Street Food Festival on Folsom between 25th and 26th streets (11 a.m.-7 p.m.). And, well, us being us, we totally love Goodfriend's photo of the shirtless funky crowding the Dosa Ecstasy cart in Dolores Park during this year's Dyke March. Have we told you how much we heart this city?
Check out the MP3 archive (embedded below) of SFoodie editor John Birdsall (uh, that'd be me) on the KQED radio chat show Forum this morning. The topic? Pavement cuisine, otherwise know as street food. The in-studio discussion with host Dave Iverson included Anya Fernald, organizer of next week's sprawling Eat Real Festival in Oakland. There were calls-ins, too: Sexy Soup Lady, Crème Brulee Man, Eric Hill of the East Bay's Shuga Hill Catering, and Oakland organizer Shelly Garza (she's the one who appeared on camera with Anthony Bourdain for the local episode of No Reservations).
J. Birdsall
Yup, even Spencer on the Go's Laurent Katgely called in.
It was a fun discussion with enthusiastic callers. But seriously, the only freaky part? Hearing that tinkly Forum theme music from inside the studio. Surprisingly creepy.
| emanistan |
| Cute 'n' cottage-y, and a great place to waste time. |
CCSF students and Ingleside residents might have slightly less to worry about than those in other 'hoods. Java on Ocean has cemented itself as the neighborhood locale to get a cup of coffee, a sandwich, and a smile. The owner and baristas are incredibly friendly and treat their customers like old friends, and many of them are. You can get fresh-brewed coffee and espresso drinks, as well as delicious, healthy sandwiches and snacks.
Don't expect Ritual or Blue Bottle beans, and Java doesn't individually grind and brew each cup of drip, but that's far from the point here. Java is a neighborhood meeting hub, someplace to chat with friends, study for a test, or get some work done with the convenience of caffeine and free wireless. The cafe is bright and spacious, with plenty of tables and chairs -- even a few couches -- to lounge on. The assortment of music, from reggae to Mediterranean, keeps the vibe relaxed, and the chirping from the birds in their cages reminds everyone to be a little less serious.
Java on Ocean 1700 Ocean (at Faxon), 333-6075
| lynzH/Flickr |
| How to make the hour truly happy: A gob from Gobba Gobba Hey. |
Acme chef Thom Fox organized the Haute Dog event in part as a fundraiser for the sustainable foods advocacy org Chefs Collaborative. Hopeful attendees ponied up $5 for each dog, and $3 for a cup of local microbrew. Why are wieners fueling the zeitgeist these days? "They're a low price point item," Fox told SFoodie, "and they're from a great American tradition. They're hand-tooled stuff, all small-batch stuff," he said.
The nine dogs on offer -- cooked over charcoal on a grill set up oustside the restaurant -- were from a bicoastal roster of wiener artisans: Let's Be Frank, Fatted Calf, Boccalone, and Absinthe, among local producers, as well as East Coast makers Fleisher's and Flying Pigs Farm.
About halfway through the event, certain dogs were in short supply. SFoodie managed to snag a red hot from Brooklyn's Marlow & Daughters. It was a rough-textured blend of beef and pork in a crisp casing and an ambient smokiness. Delicious.
| yumdiary.com |
Tommy Halvorson wants you bad. On August 31, the chef is launching a Monday night dinner and club series at 111 Minna Gallery (111 Minna at Second St.) that aims to merge the sociability of a cocktail mixer with the scarfing potential of a street-food party. Called EAT, the events will feature a full bar, live music or a DJ, and food stations where you'll be able to score what Halvorson calls good California cuisine: maybe house-made sausages, sliders, and other dishes made with ingredients the chef sources from farmers' markets and other local suppliers. Dishes will be priced at from $5 to $10.
"We trying to get people to come in on Mondays, pay a little bit of money at the door, hear some music, eat, and come out for a complete evening for like, $30," Halvorson said. The kickoff event on August 31, 5-10:30 p.m., will waive the $5 entry charge. RSVP to EATat111Minna@gmail.com, and you'll get your first plate of food free.
A veteran of catering kitchens and of Bix, Chez Panisse, Gary Danko, and Berkeley's Adagia, Halvorson is also starting a series of roaming dinners next month. Phoenix Supper Club is launching two categories of fine-dining events: five-course Mephisto dinners, and nine-course Loretto parties. For more information, check out the Phoenix Web site.
