fresh food highlights trip to cabo san lucas

One of the things I have enjoyed the most over the last few years is the visit to Cabo each May with Brendan as a guest of his parents at their place at the Montecristo at Sunset Beach. This last visit was no exception.  The weather was mild, the Pacific blue and gorgeous and of course, the food delicious; we dined at all our favorites, Felix, Salvatore's, and of course La Fonda. We also found a new local restaurant to add to the list called Lolita's.  The newly updated menu of this very casual, open air family restaurant features a big grill where local seafood and steaks sizzle.  The salsas (and the prices) were the best of the trip.

We also had a lovely home cooked dinner one beautiful evening with our own sizzling ribeye steaks, grilled zucchini, vine tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella salad with green onion vinaigrette and baked potatoes topped with rich Mexican sour cream.  And of course, we started the meal with Brendan's exceptional guacamole.  Mexican produce and dairy really do make a meal!  Thank you Bob, Barbara and Brendan for another wonderful trip!

easy changes to some homecooked classics

Mom is here visiting so I spent last week doing a little meal planning.  She thinks it is alot of work, but for me, it a chance to try out a few dishes and I get great enjoyment from seeing people enjoy my food.

I have been kind of fascinated with an Italian dish, veal Milanese.  This dish usually features a veal chop pounded very thin, sometimes still on the bone, breaded, fried, and topped with a thick tomato ragu or just lemon wedges.  My version is a chicken breast, pounded very thin, egg washed and breaded in panko crumbs seasoned with parsley, garlic, oregano and Parmesan cheese. I lightened it up by topping it with a salad of arugula tossed with sherry-lemon vinaigrette. A squeeze of fresh lemon on the meat really works, too.  I made a side of shallot sauteed carrots and the meal was a hit.

Last night I made an easy (cheat) version of arroz con pollo (chicken and rice).  First, I seasoned 2 chicken breasts with salt, pepper and chili powder and lightly browned them in olive oil in a cast iron skillet.  I set them aside and in the same pan--no cleaning, want those good bits--I added a package of Spanish rice mix and cooked 25 minutes per the instructions.  In the meantime, I sauteed one whole yellow onion, sliced, till soft.  In a French white medium casserole dish with glass lid I placed the chicken breasts, half a jar of salsa (use your favorite) 2 TB of butter, and all the onions.  Trick--I microwaved the dish for 3 minutes. Easy.  Spoon rice onto the plate, top with chicken breast and spoon onions and pan juices over the top.  I garnished with a little chopped green onion.  Sour cream would be good, too.  Chicken was as tender and juicy as if I had simmered it for an hour.

So what's up next?  I think a little pre-Easter dinner Saturday night with baby lamb chops on a bed of Parmesan risotto.  Sounds good.

starbelly offers good comfort food

During this last bit of rainy cold weather all my friends and I wanted was a cozy space where we could order a variety of small plates of good comfort food at great prices.  Well, Starbelly, located at 3583 16th was just the ticket. 

This happening spot is perfect mix of casual and hip; crowded diners relax around a mix of separate and communal tables (communal table made from a bowling alley lane), non fussy table top, industrial chairs, and a heated patio that will be great when the weather eases up but is not really an option on a rainy night. Starbelly uses local farms and changes the menu often to reflect what is fresh and seasonal and is part of not just a few great new restaurants opening in the last year in and around the Castro.

Start with snacks that run just $5.00 each. The house cut fries are just as imagined--double fried with the skins on, not too thin, not too thick and a selection of 3 sauces to dip in.  The kalamata olive tapenade was perfectly made with a nice lemon taste that was a surprising addition and grilled flatbread very similar to pita.  Our favorite was a small plate of house made chicken liver pate ($10.00) with toasted, buttered pain (just the way I like to serve it at home), sweet onion marmalade and whole grain mustard.  The pate was perfectly flavored and the texture was incredible. Items to try in the future--a selection of cheeses and salumi.

Another star (at Starbelly) is the pizza.  We enjoyed the bacon, jalapeno, arugula with green goddess dressing ($13.00).  How about that for taking the boredom out of pepperoni!  One I didn't try but I will be back for is is the fall squash, sage, black garlic, goat cheese and toasted pepitas, also $13.00.

Although we had a variety of small plates that evening, Starbelly also offered a few large plates that night  such as tri-tip, a Prather Ranch burger and grilled Hawaiian hebi to name a few.  Don't rule out a future visit to Starbelly for brunch, too.

nyoman gunarsa exhibition of watercolor paintings at the indonesian consulate

Garreta Lamore says a few words about Nyoman Gunarsa

If you get a chance, stop by the Consulate General of The Republic of Indonesia, 1111 Columbus, San Francisco for a watercolor exhibition by the Balinese artist Nyoman Gunarsa. I was there for the opening reception on February 24th where Nyoman said a few words and drew some pastel sketches of guests.

Nyoman, born in Indonesia, is known as one of the living masters, painting with a fluid and unique style that is a cross of modernity filled with images of classic tales and traditional dance.  Nyoman, who has a doctorate in education, has been featured in exhibitions all over the world, and because I happen to be lucky enough to be a friend of artist Garretta Lamore (Crescent City, CA.) whom, while living in Indonesia years ago became and remains a great friend of Nyoman, I have been invited to three of his exhibitions in the United States, beginning with a show in Oakland in 1991, the Piazza Art Gallery in Sausalito in 2002 and now at the Consulate.

 A selection of his work will be on view at the Consulate from February 25th through March 6th.  This is all being presented in support of the incredible exhibition at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance.  See the 131 pieces of Balinese art at the Asian Art Museum from February 25 to September 11, 2011.

homemade sweet and sour pork

If I do take-out Chinese, no order is ever without sweet and sour pork.  I don't know exactly what it is, but the combination of sour, sweet and salty never fails to trigger a craving.  This Superbowl Sunday I decided to make my own take-out sweet and sour pork--and it is as easy as it is delicious. 

Make the sauce first.  In a sauce pan add 3 TB of white vinegar, 4 TB white sugar, 1 TB soy sauce, 1 TB vegetable oil, 2 TB ketchup, and 1/3 cup of water.  In a custard cup, mix 1 TB cornstarch with 2 TB water and stir ( this is a slurry to thicken the sauce).  Heat ingredients in pan to light boil, add slurry, let reheat to simmer and sauce will thicken and clear--about 45 seconds.  Remove from heat and set aside.  Now cut up your favorite vegetables.  I used red and green peppers and red onion.  Traditionalists might like white onion, carrot and pineapple--whatever you like, you know the drill.  Cut a small amount of each into 1 inch pieces.  Set aside.  Take 2 boneless pork chops, pound slightly, and cut into 1 inch pieces.  Marinate with a little soy sauce and sherry, 10 minutes. Remove from marinade and toss with 1/3 cup of cornstarch and a dash of salt (use a Ziploc bag). Heat canola oil in large skillet--about 1 1/2 inch of oil.  Fry till light golden and drain on paper towels.  Put sauce back on low heat (add a dash of water if it is too thick stirring carefully so it doesn't burn) and add vegetables--you want the vegetables basically uncooked-just heated, the crisp vege's is the best part, add the pork, toss thoroughly with sauce fully reheated.  Serve with rice.

fried chicken comfort dinner

I bought chicken at Safeway last week for a mere $1.88 a lb and really filled the freezer.  This got me to thinking that I had not made homemade fried chicken in years--what better January comfort food?  I paired it with a new salad favorite (and sooo easy), baked potato salad.  I even had my Mom raving about this one.

First, for the chicken, I wanted to make the least mess possible (and it was still bad) by using zip lock bags for the dredging.  In the first, I mixed an egg, salt, pepper, cayenne and a splash of milk.  In the second, I mixed 1/2 cup flour with Old Bay, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper (I used about 1/4 tsp amounts). This was enough mix for 4-5 chicken drumsticks.  First into the egg, then shake in the flour.  I heated 1/2 inch of canola oil in a cast iron skillet, and fried all sides to golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side.  I turned down the heat slightly, added a lid and cooked for 4-5 minutes more. Why?  The lid creates steam and cooks the chicken more thoroughly, keeping it juicy.  Total cooking time is about 15 minutes.

The salad is just what it sounds like, and it tastes just like a baked potato.  Rub an ex-large russet potato with olive oil and sea salt.  Bake on baking sheet for 1 hour at 350 degrees.  Cool completely.  Cook 5 strips of bacon to extra crispy, cool and chop.  Chop 2 tbl green onion or chive.  Cube cooled potato and toss with green onion, bacon , 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 tbl mayonnaise, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and salt to taste.  Add more sour cream if you like it moister.  Great side with fried chicken.

franchino, north beach

I know I'm guilty--tending to go back to my favorite restaurants over and over.  And why not?  There is a reason you like them, the service or the food or whatever feels good, tastes good, stays the same. But sometimes you have to remember there ARE other restaurants, other neighborhoods out there to be revisited and that is exactly what happened when Brendan and I started out last week and said "let's go to North Beach!"

North Beach is an absolutely charming neighborhood with steep hilled residential areas (but with the views), very little parking, but with walking distance to a load of sweet bars, cafes and trattorias like Mario's, Rose Pistola, and  family style Capp's Corner, to name just a few.  Lot's of old school Italian menus are available up and down the street and as we wandered down Columbus we spotted Franchino, a little wedge shaped space that looked like it could have been dropped in from NYC, with a menu that read like mama's comfort food and the family/owners to match.

 You are greeted at the door by, of course, Franchino, with an exuberant buon giorno and nearly immediate seating although the place appears packed. It only takes a minute to figure out that his wife and two daughters are waiting on the tables. They were most accommodating with Brendan's craving for a penne with a meaty bolognese sauce, and succulent chicken Marsala. It is not often that I find one of my favorites, a truly homemade beef cannelloni with an excellent ragu. We were not celebrating anything, but I could have lied after I saw the incredible birthday platter delivered to the table next to us.  Maybe next time.

new year's eve at maya

Alot of you know that in the hunt for great Mexican food, Brendan and I have fallen for the delicious food at Maya.  Maya, located at 2nd and Harrison in SF, has a warm, inviting interior, loads of windows, a semi-private dining area, full bar and room to dance.  And they really excel at modern Mexican.

On New Year's Eve they offered a four course meal with party hats, champagne toast and dancing to a DJ for $60.00 per person. So, along with our friends, Chris Gill and Larry Sepe we booked the 8:30 seating. The tables were decorated with black and silver balloons and the generous menu featured several choices for each course.

I started with the tacos de pork belly, a melt-in-the-mouth 12 hour marinated pork belly taco topped with pickled habanero/red onion relish and ancho salsa.  Brendan and Larry ordered an equally tasty treat, tacos de langosta, with poached lobster topped with avocado, black bean puree and chile de arbol rouille.  Next up, I had the sopa de langosta, a lobster chipolte bisque with roasted corn/crab truffle dumplings.  The guys enjoyed a salad of field greens, pear, caramelized walnuts, blue cheese and radish-chile de arbol vinaigrette.

The entrees were large portions that ranged from a vegetarian option to filet mignon. The camarones azteca, a sauteed shrimp dish with a tequila-lime marinade, huarache stuffed with black beans and a chive-goat cheese crema fresca was a great choice as was the piramide de filete, a tower of grilled filet mignon with grilled tomatoes, sauteed onions, black bean puree, guacamole and crispy tortilla strips.

I enjoyed the tequila bread pudding with raspberry Cabernet sorbet, Brendan had the chocolate tres leches cake with pear, vanilla bean ice cream and cinnamon creme anglaise.  Chris and Larry chose the banana stuffed empanadas with walnuts and coconut ice cream.  We were close enough to the Embarcadero to head out after midnight and watch the incredible fireworks.