Laiola got me thinking...

Rather than trying to take on the enormous task of just reviewing restaurants,
and honestly, let's face it, I'm no food critic by any means, I got to thinking that perhaps I should expand my writing horizons a bit. Although there are restaurants that I have reviewed on here and probably will do so again in the future, please know that I do my best to be as fair and objective as possible and I typically try to go or have gone to these restaurants several times before I write about them. I just have been thinking lately that it would be a better idea to keep writing as I have been and continue to write about what I know in a broader aspect...

With that said, what do I know about? Well, my friends & family can vouch for this - I know Food.
I think everyone does to an extent. One thing for sure is that we at least know what we like and don't like, right? Of course it is also very subjective...
I, on the other hand, am extremely Passionate about and admittedly, somewhat Obsessed about Food...
What we're talking about here is not just about any old Food, but Good Food...

Great Food...

Memorable Dining Experiences
from both high-end places to hole-in-the-wall joints
that linger in your mind long after you've eaten...

Yes, that's right...

Food or Experiences that you find yourself telling others about
for weeks, months, even years after you've had it...

Food that essentially becomes an Experience and Vivid Memory in your Mind and has you wanting, yearning to go back for more...

If you read my blog, then you know what I'm talking about.

So here I am, intent upon broadening my writing horizons by penning down anything and everything Food-Related from Random Thoughts & Musings on Food to Individual Dishes that really Stand Out and Memorable Dining Experiences that are Visually and Sensually Extraordinary in My Book.
You with me? Well, alright then! Let's get this started...

I got to thinking about all of this after the Meal I had at Laiola the other night... I was really excited to try this new place after reading several reviews that, although were mixed, were mostly glowing and positive. I wanted to go there and see for myself. After our Meal there, I found that I really liked this place a lot in spite of the fact that some Dishes were a little bit hit & miss as I had read.
Let me tell you what did do it for me though. It was the Great Service and also two Dishes in particular that just knocked it out of the park. Food that was memorable enough to make me want to write about and share with you. And this was how I came to the conclusion in this instance, that I need to be writing about Individual Dishes that are remarkable and stand out in my mind.



Let me give you the Raptor Breakdown...
We walked in and were immediately struck by the warmth of the space & the lively atmosphere created by the backdrop of burnt orange walls, pressed copper ceiling and a copper food & wine bar spanning the length of the room. The place was seriously buzzin' and it was a Tuesday night. We walked in without a rez, and although it was packed we only had to wait 20 minutes for our table. The time went by quickly because the server/host kept us occupied with choosing & trying different Spanish wines of which we were unfamiliar. He was very accommodating and pretty knowledgable, which was really great. Before we knew it we were seated with our Menus and we were instantaneously on a first name basis with our server & host. I love that...

We opted to get a number of Starters versus Entrees so that we could try more Dishes and really get a feel for the Food. Although some of the Dishes were not worth mentioning here at this point, there were two Dishes that I found to be truly memorable and actually quite exceptional.

The First Dish that we fell in love with was the Grilled Young Octopus prepared with Fresh Shelling & Romano Bean Salad. One bite made us quickly forget what we were talking about and a heady silence ensued. I was reeling...
The Octopus was Grilled to Perfection, Incredibly Tender with Amazing Flavor... The Combined Flavors of the Grilled Octopus with the Bean Salad, which included Nuances of Celery, Capers and Tomatoes tossed together with a bit of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a Beautiful Vinegar was perfectly balanced. It was Exquisite. We loved this dish... A definite Must-Try.

But it was the Next that was our Favorite Dish of All...
This was a Grilled Quail that was prepared with a Moroccan-Spiced Rub with Roasted Sunchokes and what I believe was an Artichoke Puree, and I can hardly express it better than - this Dish was Awesome!
The Skin was Perfectly Crisp and So Flavorful in Contrast to the Quail Meat which was Incredibly Tender, Substantial and Juicy...
It was Unbelievably Good and gave us both that 'Eyes-rolled back kind of reaction'...
Our reactions were so impassioned that the girls having dinner next to us couldn't help but notice and asked what we could possibly be eating that would cause such a fervent response. We breathlessly went on to tell them about the Grilled Quail and how Unbelievably Good it was. Before we knew it we actually shared a bite with each of them. Now that was some 'Food Bonding Love'...
Yes People, our socks were definitely knocked off with this Dish...
You gotta try it.

Trust me, I'm still reeling...

To get the Visual, here is the Quail Photo Shoot from that Evening...



Also, a Nice Little Tip for you - Rather than the typical serving of a Glass of Wine, they serve their Wine in Carafinas, mini carafes, that hold 250ml of Wine which is equal to 1/3 Bottle of Wine. Bonus.

UPDATE 12/17/07: Went back for the Quail and was extremely disappointed. It was nothing like the last time, unfortunately. Like I said, this place is totally hit or miss...

The Raptor Does New York...

ah New York... I just love that City... I love the Energy of that place.
Being from Philly, we used to go there when we were feelin' bored and itchin' for a lil' excitement. New York never failed to disappoint.
In actuality, I had not been back to NYC since 2002, one year after 9/11 happened.
That is a long time... What was I thinking?

Well, my NYC drought ended and I found myself running through the City like a Wild Woman (Yes, Rick Dare, the hands were up in the air... haha..)... Like a Woman starved, I lost all abandon and...

ahem. yeah, and so uh...

Needless to say, I had a fantastic time...

So here's how it went...

I met my old college roommate from from my Freshman year at St. Joe's for dinner at Babbo, Mario Batali's restaurant in Waverly Place. I hadn't seen her in 14 years and it was great to be able to catch up. I had tried to make a reservation a few days prior, but was unable, so the restaurant told me that if there was just the two of us, then we could try for a walk-in. This worked out great because we made it to the upstairs Dining Room. Score.

I was really excited to go here and I really wanted to like this place, but sadly I was a little disappointed. Perhaps my expectations were too high, or maybe it was an off night. Who knows? Once seated, we chatted with the Sommelier and she suggested rather than getting a full bottle, that we should get a Vino al Quartino, which are Wines by the Litre (250 ml). Very nice. We got the Morellino diScansano I Perazzi La Mozza 2005 Toscana for $11. It was great! Score again...

To start us off, we were given a complimentary Bruschetta topped with Garbanzo Beans and Olives, which was just ok. The rest of the Meal went as follows:
Appetizer/Anitpasti - Prosciutto San Daniele "Riserva" with Black Pepper "Fett'unta" - This was great. The Prosciutto was fresh and buttery. You really can't go wrong.
As for our Mains, I'm not gonna get into it in detail, but we had the Mint Love Letters, the Lamb & the Guinea Hen and were disappointed unfortunately. I will have to give the place another try... Sorry Mario...

We wandered down the streets and the next place we went was Sushi Samba on 7th Ave. When I initially walked in, I was a little wary that it would be too cheesy, but after drinks and apps at the bar, my mind changed on that. The Decor was very trendy with glowing orb lights on the ceiling which cast an orangish-red glow in the room with linear partitions, bamboo and glass... I guess you could say it had a similar vibe to one of my fave sushi joints in SF called Tokyo Go Go, but in a much larger scale... The people who work there are gorgeous and accommodating... The people who went there were beautiful and the drinks were tasty.


My New Love...

But it was there that I found a new Love... And found it in the Seared Otoro Kobe Beef with Warm Shiitake Mushroom, Ponzu gelee & a Truffled Tofu Sauce which was DIVINE! It was so good, it made me have one of my 'moment's. You gotta try it to know what I'm talking about! After our huge dinner at Babbo's a few blocks away and watching the Food that went around and were being served to the people around us made me want to try more. What little I had was surprisingly good...
Note to Self: Must come back and get more Seared Otoro Beef...

The next day I met a friend at the Blue Water Grill at Union Square. This is a great sprawling space, traditional in decor with beautiful vaulted ceilings and crown molding and it seemed to be a great place for lunch meetings - from business & power lunches and just to meet with friends...

The Menu is eclectic, but consisted mainly of Seafood and a somewhat New England/Asian fare. They had such things as Lobster Bisque, Maryland Crabcakes to Thai Calamari, Lobster Spring Rolls & Lettuce Wraps and even Sushi.
A little tip: they have a very reasonably priced Prix Fixe Lunch Menu for $24.07 which my friend had. She started out with a refreshingly good Red Snapper Ceviche with Passion Fruit & Malagueta Pepper, and for her Main she had the Wild Striped Bass with Edamame, Pea Shoot Salad & a Sesame Miso Vinaigrette which was delicious. I, on the other hand, opted for something from the Simply Grilled section which featured different Fish & Seafood items that are marinated with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon, Garlic & Capers and then Grilled. Each of these are then served with a Side that you choose and a Sauce, which is cool because it's kinda served A la Carte style like a Steakhouse, but for Seafood. What a good concept! I chose the Organic Salmon with Rapini and Chimichurri Sauce. All Good...

We finished off our Meal by sharing the dessert that came with my friend's prix fixe which was a Chocolate Ganache Tart with Butterscotch Crunch Ice Cream & Caramelized Bananas. YUM! Overall, the Service was great and I had a great lunch experience... Good Times.



Now, I can go on and on about all of my Food & Dining Experiences in NY, but NY and its 5 boroughs are massive as you know. I stayed with my cousin in Brooklyn in Bay Ridge and this was my first time there. Y'know, I was really digging Brooklyn and its great little towns - like Bay Ridge, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Park Slope and D.U.M.B.O.
Brooklyn kind of reminded me of Philly. I liked it.

One thing that I miss in SF is Turkish & Greek Food. I learned to love Turkish Kebabs, when I lived in Europe and there they called them Doner Kebabs. They were great when I was hankerin for a little somethin' somethin' in the middle of the day shopping, walking to school or in the middle of the night after drinkin at the bars. Those were the days... *sigh*.

So I asked my cousin where to get me some good Turkish Kebab. We ordered from Bay Kebab on 3rd Ave. and I loved it! This place does some seriously good Kebab! No joke...
I got me a Lamb Kebab from here and it rocked! I mean I'm still thinkin 'bout it... We also got the Lentil Soup/Ezogolin which is a Savory Soup consisting of Red Lentils in Tomato Sauce and some special Turkish Bread to dip it in. SO good, especially on a rainy day... I might just hafta move my ass to Brooklyn so that I can get it on a daily... Fo Real..

That night, my cousin and her friends took me on a driving tour of Brooklyn & Manhattan. We ended up in a nice little spot in the Meat Packing District called Revel. This was a Cool Space in the same block as Tenjune and Buddha Bar. I really liked the exposed brick walls, tree-lined open back patio and the overall openness of the space.
We had a bunch of drinks there and I found myself really digging the space and overall vibe of the place. And after taking a look at the Menu and other reviews, I will definitely be back to give the Food a try...
Before I knew it, it was 5am and we were stuffing our faces with a Slice from Joe's. Awesome.



Saturday morning I was hungover and hankerin' for more Bay Kebab. But I had to meet my other cousins and goddaughter who came up from Philly in Soho for some shopping and eventually Dinner for my godchild's 16th birthday at a cute place on Prince Street called Zoe Restaurant.



At our table, we started with a Zoe Salad and French Fries with a Side of Truffled Cheese. Fancy Cheese Fries, who knew? I had the Duck Two-ways - Pan-Roasted Duck Breast & Leg Confit paired with Rice, Sauteed Chard & and Fig Jam. Good stuff... My cousins had the Pan-Seared Arctic Char with Marinated Vegetables, Pearl Onions, Fingerling Potatoes, Dijon Vinaigrette & Chive Oil which I thought was really good and also The Lemon-Thyme Marinated Whole Roasted Red Snapper with Spring Vegetables and a citrus-shallot Vinaigrette. That one was just ok for me. The Server was attentive and the Raspberry Cosmos were delicious and they kept coming, which was nice...

For Dessert we had the S'Mores - Toasted Marshmallow on top of a Fudge Brownie & Graham Cracker and Malted Milk Chocolate Ice Cream on the Side. This dessert was awesome! All in all, we had a great meal and friendly drinks and would recommend going again...

Eventually Sunday came too soon and it was time to leave. Between you & me, I actually missed my flight because I wasn't ready to leave just yet. My cousin & I ended up exploring Brooklyn a little more and having Brunch at this great little place called Bar Tabac in Cobble Hill.

I really liked this place. I loved the rustic French country setup and friendly atmosphere from the moment I walked in... I had my Egg's Benedict with Bacon instead of ham and I loved it! (I know, Bacon instead of Ham? It's a Raptor thing, I'm not a fan of Ham, but trust me, it's a great substitution that adds a little crispy texture. You oughtta try it some time...) The Hollandaise was flavorful, the Eggs poached just right and the Bacon perfectly crisp. The Dish definitely passed the Raptor Brunch test...
Great place for Brunch and a Great way to send me back on my way to SF...

All in all, I had a fantastic time in New York and cannot wait to go back for more...

The Raptor in Los Angeles...

I've been doing some traveling lately...

Just got back from NYC and went to LA to visit friends the week before and had a great time...

Which is cool, but more importantly, what did I EAT?

Friday night my good friend took me to Spago. Although I found the Service to be questionable for this type of fine dining restaurant, I thought The Food on the other hand was Great!

Wie Toll, Wolfgang! Vielen Dank', Es war sehr Lecker!

Und so ...

We arrived for our reservation and were seated in a side booth, which I thought was a great location overlooking the entire restaurant. The Decor was very kitschy in a 90's sort of way. After being seated, it took a good 10 minutes before our server brought us the Menus, which we had to ask for. Although our server was not snotty by any means, he was just not very available. Luckily, the bus staff redeemed him a little by their attentiveness.

Here's what we had:

We started with the Sweet Corn Bisque with Lobster & Chanterelle Mushrooms which was unbelievably good! My friend was still raving and salivating over it the next day. I had the Burratta wrapped in Organic Sauteed Pear with Prosciutto and Micro Greens and finished with a basil reduction. Delish! The Burratta was soft & creamy and it paired nicely with the sweetness of the Pear and the saltiness of the Prosciutto. Loved it!

For our Mains, M had the Pan-Roasted Chicken with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, Yellow Finnish Potato Puree (i.e. Mashed Potatoes, yet more refined) and Natural Juice. The Chicken was wonderful, and perfectly prepared, juicy on the inside and crispy skin on the outside. It was a Great Dish... I think Chicken gets overlooked a lot of times in finer restaurants, but I highly recommend this one. I had the Pan-Roasted Liberty Duck Breast which was prepared with Maitake Mushrooms, Cipollini Onions, Braised Pancetta, a Sweet Corn Flan and Natural Juice with Marjoram. The Duck Breast was also prepared perfectly, medium rare on the inside and Crispy Skin on the out. One other thing that happened service-wise was that when they took away my 1st course, they took my silverware and never replaced it until we had already both received our Mains, and we had to flag down someone to replace them. Not cool...Although the Service was a bit disappointing, the Food was Fantastic. It was a cheesy, quintessential LA restaurant experience, that I would recommend to any LA first-timers like myself...

Other places that I got taken to were Urth Cafe and Martha's in Redondo Beach. I'm not gonna get into the details of these places, but I went for Brunch and did the Raptor Eggs Benedict Test at both places and unfortunately, they did not pass... But whatever, my point is that my Friends are saying that I was difficult to please.

Who?... Me?... Really? You don't say...

I suppose one could say that this is true. But honestly, isn't it a good thing?

At least when you Eat, or should I say 'Dine' with the Raptor, you know that I will have researched every Restaurant in the Vicinity and perused every Menu before deciding where I am going to eat.

And really, it is not just about Great Food but Great Service is important as well...

It really is about the Dining Experience if you ask me. And them's my Two Cents...

Now.. Where am I gonna Eat next?...

Cheesesteaks... Mmmm...

Being that I am from Philly, born & raised, I thought it only appropriate that I dig deep within my inner Philly-Pina and dedicate a Raptor Post to My Beloved Philly Cheesesteaks. Now mind you, I have been living in San Francisco for the past 10 years, so I plan to jump back & forth between Philly and SF regaling my tale of the Philly 'Steak.

Traditionally, as with most Philly people, I have been raised on Pat's the Original 'King of Steaks' located at 9th & Wharton where it crosses Passyunk in the heart of South Philly, the Italian neighborhood. Pat's was our 'go to' place growing up, because it was open 24seven and was the place to grab a Steak after Proms and such, before walking over to Penn's Landing.
I know, right? What a dreamy schoolgirl's fantasy, huh? But I'm tellin' you, that's how it was...

Pat's was also the place for when you had the drunken munchies after the clubs. Two or Three AM on many a night, I had found myself at Pat's waiting in a long line, on hot summer nights, and even through rain or freezing cold. We didn't care, as long as we got our 'Cheesesteak on... y'know what I'm sayin'?'

I went to St. Joe's and when I lived at the dorms we used get our Steaks from Larry's Steaks Home of the Belly Filler on 54th, which is a 2 foot long of Steak, buh-lieve it or not! Yours truly, the Raptor, actually ate two, yes you heard me, two of these bad boys in one sitting one night. Ah, how I long for those days when we were young and metabolisms were high...

In '95, I left Philly and going back to visit family & friends, we were introduced to Steve's Prince of Steaks in the NorthEast with two locations off the Boulevard. They slice their Ribeye thick and keep 'em whole rather than chopped up like most other places and their Roll is incredible!
Now Steve's is our favorite place for Steaks, whenever we go back. Only prob is that their not open 24hours, so we sometimes still end up at Pat's.

Let me digress and go into what makes a Cheesesteak authentic...
Well, let me tell you...
It's all 'bout the Meat & Cheese of course, but first off it's got a lot to do with the Bread. It's typically a French Roll, and best if it's fresh and a little chewy. More importantly, you can't have too much Bread. If the Roll were too 'Bready' then one would hafta resort to "tunnel-ing" one's Roll. The preferred Cheeses would be Whiz, American or Provolone and you can get it "wit" or "witout" Onions. When it comes down to it, once you've combined the above, it then becomes all about the "Cheesy Goodness." Once you've thrown one down, you know it was good one if you end up wearin' some of that "Cheesy Goodness" with a spot on your shirt or some drippage on your shoes. It's no joke...

So where does the Raptor go when she's fixin' for a Cheesesteak in SF?
Well in all my 10 years here in the Bay Area,

The Cheesesteak Shop on Divisadero is the only place so far that comes the closest to home.
And other Philly transplants that I know would agree. This place ships Amoroso Rolls from back East and even has Tasty Kakes and Whiz. I suggest that you order extra Meat, because that's how I like it, plus it makes for a better 'ratio' as mentioned. Hey, I'm the Raptor, whaddya expect?

One place that'e been brought to my attention is Jake's Steaks on Buchanan off Lombard. I have yet to try it, but it's on my list. Will report back once I do...
Also, Amato's in San Jose is toted as one of the best cheesesteaks this side of the Mississippi. I gots to go! Can you say 'Road Trip'?

Good Filipino Restaurants in the City?

Good Filipino Restaurants in the City?

That is, besides my own cooking, of course...

But seriously, I have been here in SF for about 10 years now and have made my way through many a Filipino restaurant in and around the City. Typically, I would say that I go to a Filipino restaurant with family whenever they are in town visiting, because it's just easier to feed a huge clan of us and that way we can focus on one another and catch up.
Naturally and most times, it is better to have it home-made than anywhere else.
Luckily for my friends, they have me to provide that.
Although, there are times that I crave some Dishes that are easier to order in a restaurant than to make. My mom is a great cook, and growing up, she could make pretty much anything, like Kare Kare, Dinuguan, Lumpiang Shanghai & even my fave, Lechon Kawali, all of which I am still working to add to my repertoire.
Lechon Kawali, is one that I am not supposed to eat too much of, because, in effect it is Pork Belly, which has been boiled and then Deep-Fried. It's what you call a true 'heart attack special' and I Love it. Bad Raptor...
Aside: Funny thing about Lechon Kawali is that, as an adult (very recently... *smirk*) I was having dinner at Rubicon and ordered the Pork Belly appetizer, and I came to the realization that I was having an updated version of something very traditional in my culture. Cool, huh?

Anyhow, getting back to my point, until recently, one Filipino restaurant was just like all of the others and the bulk of them are all in Daly City (Little Manila) and beyond.

Let me break it down a bit...
Well, there's always good ol' Goldilock's Bakery & Restaurant for the 'beginners & newbies', with its various locations in Daly City, East Bay and one in the Outer Mission right down the street from me. Although, most Filipinos would scoff, it's good for people that have never tried Filipino food, because it's turo-turo style. Turo-turo is derived from the Tagalog verb turo which means "to point." Turo-turo is a slang expression for fast food restaurants where customers point at the dishes they want to order. I'd say this is a quick and easy way to taste your way through a variety of dishes and besides, you get to see what you're getting.

Recently, a number of new & perhaps one would even say trendier restaurants have popped up.
There's Patio FIlipino and Tribu Grill in San Bruno which we have been frequenting a lot lately.
They both have a Rice dish called Bagoong Fried Rice which is probably not for everyone, but Filipinos are liking this updated style of FIlipino Food.
Both are good, but still, they are a car ride away. There is also a new place in San Mateo called Bistro Luneta that I've been wanting to try, which has been toted by Michael Bauer of the SF Chronicle, as 'a modern take on traditional Filipino fare... offering modern interpretations of traditional flavors... that have broadened the appeal of the cuisine.' Nice.
And looking at the menu and preps, I would have to agree so far, but it has yet to pass the Raptor test... Upscale Filipino food? Interesting. Very interesting. I am definitely curious.
This place gets a 'We shall see..' I promise to report back, if and when I do go, no doubt.
And again, back to my point, it is still a trek like the other places. Otherwise, I would've tried it, like yesterday...

In the City...
For as long as I've lived here, there weren't very many places to speak of.
Let's see... There's Irma's Pampanga.... And.... Umm... Uhhh.... Did I mention Irmas's Pampanga? hahaha...
And by all means, if you are reading this and know of any that I may have missed, please let me know...
But lately, there have been a few places popping up in the City, and I can't tell you how excited that makes me! Mind you, I have yet to try these places, but this is a very exciting thing for me & my peoples.
To name the few, or should I say all, because 'a few' is all there is in reality:
There's a fast food/take out place in my Hood on Mission & 23rd-ish called Kababayan (meaning 'countrymen' or in slang 'Mah Peoples') and then there's Zebulon in the SOMA district which is said to be in an industrial, lounge-like atmosphere with DJs & live music. Their food is more Asian fusion with some Filipino dishes like Lumpia & Adobo mixed in...
The latest Filipino restaurant to open is Palencia in the Castro on 17th & Noe, and this is one that I am truly excited to try. My friend G called me from there recently and said that it was packed with non-Filipino folks and they, the token 'Filipinos' were seated by the window. Funny, very funny. No offense taken, really. She said the menu was very traditional with all Filipino dishes.
All I gotta say is 'Props' to Palencia for pulling that off. Now I gotta make my way over there real soon, so that I can be down too... Can't wait.

UPDATE 10/10/07: Went to Palencia last night and I have to tell you, this place is really impressive. The Decor is beautifully done in old colonial style with dark mahogany wood floors. Burnt orange accent walls, dark wood shutters and elegant basket weave lighting. I also have to mention the old school seashell or capiz chandeliers in the front window area, which are reminiscent of the 80's & 90's in most Filipino homes and maybe even now still. And the most nostalgic part of all for me is the wall-sized black & white family photo in the back.

The Food: Chef Danelle Lucero creates authentic Filipino Dishes with a healthier twist. Filipino Food is typically not known for its healthiness, what with all of the Pork and Deep-Fried Dishes, but Chef Danelle has somehow successfully pulled it off. Everything on the Menu is served Family-Style and all of the Dishes are traditional Filipino Fare and from what we had, it was all delicious.

The Breakdown: We started with the Fresh Lumpia with Prawns and a Garlicky Sauce, which was light and yummy. We then had the Pancit Bihon, also well-done. For our Entrees, we had the Guinitaang Kalabasa at Hipon (Kabocha Squash and Shrimp simmered in Coconut Milk) and the Sisig Na Bangus (Flaked Marinated Milkfish with Cherry Tomato, Jalapeno Pepper and Red Onion Salsa) which was to Die For! All I can say is, you have to try it, it was 'that' good...
For Dessert, we had the Turon (Philippine Saba Bananas layered with Jackfruit wrapped in a Crispy Crepe) and instead of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream we substituted Coconut. Awesome!

Mind you, this place is an upscale Filipino restaurant, and may not appeal to the older Filipino generation, but let me tell you, as a dining experience, it is 'Well Worth It'...

Trust me. As you have read above, San Francisco was seriously lacking in Filipino restaurants within the City limits, and Palencia is all that I could have hoped for and more.

All in all, the entire Dining Experience was Top-Rate and I Highly Recommend that you go...
The Raptor & Food Maven has spoken.

SF Gate's Bargain Bites 2007

Ok Peoples, for those of you that are into the ol' Bang for the Buck deal, SF Gate's 2007 Bargain Bites is out... They added 60 new places to their usual 100 or so, so there's a lil' somethin' somethin' for everyone, I am sure.
I, myself, have tried at least 10 of the ones in San Francisco. I know that doesn't sound like much, but I counted and there are only 48 in San Francisco, the rest are spread throughout the rest of the Bay Area. This just goes to show you that I really need to try to get out of the City some time as there is more Good Food to be found out there. For one thing, it's difficult as I do not have a car and secondly, there's just SO much here in the City that the rest of the Bay Area gets pushed down the list. Whatever the case, it's a pretty good dilemma to be in, wouldn't you say?

Some of the ones that I have tried and will mention because they are some of my faves are:

• Yummy Yummy - I used to go there pretty often and even got to know the owner, Wilson quite well. This place is probably my favorite mid-range Vietnamese place, for its friendly service and Great Vietnamese Food. They passed the Raptor Vietnamese Restaurant test because they have rice paper spring rolls versus ones made with the Chinese Egg Roll Wrapper. The Pho is good, but most memorable was that Wilson would break out fotos of new dishes and we always would try at least one of them. Two of my favorite apps were the Grilled Clams and the Beef Carpaccio. Two words. (as corny as it is) Yummy. Yummy.
• Burma Superstar - This place is great! Although it may be tough to get in for dinner at times, you can always put your name on the list, leave your cell# and then head down the street for a drink or a beer. Once you're in, you definitely should try their famed Tea Leaf Salad, different but seriously delicious. My one go-to dish is their Nan Pia Dok (Coconut Chicken Rice Noodle Curry). Seriously good.
• Good Luck Dim Sum - For cheap, out-the-door dim sum on Clement, you really can't beat this place.

I'd say there are about 8 or so that are on Raptor 'Must Try' List. Here are a few:

• Zebulon - I can't believe that I have yet to try this place. Bad Philly-Pina! I am sure I will be there soon. I am all about supporting my fellow Filipino restaurant owners & chefs that are friends as well. i.e. Chef Thomas at Les Amis, recently, Galvin at Deep Sushi.
• Jake's Steaks - Again bad Philly-Pina (emphasis on the Philly this time). Have yet to try this place although, I been called a traitor for loving the Cheesesteak Shop on Divis. Everywhere else that I've tried so far are a bunch of 'posers'. Word.
• Old Jerusalem - Always on the lookout for good Middle Eastern and this place is on my way home from BART, so it's sure to happen some time soon, right?
• Yamo - Hole in the wall Burmese in the Mission? Gonna hafta give that one a try.

So there you have it. The Raptor's favorite Bargain Bites. I am sure that I have a bunch more to add that probably aren't even on the SF Gate List and perhaps, I will try to update this post with them. *sigh* That will hafta come at a later date...

So much Food, so Little Time!

Les Amis Revisited...

Les Amis Revisited

Wow. Wow.. And WOW!

Went for my girlfriend, Alish's birthday and my god were our socks knocked off!

Every Dish was really Great and the Service was Fantastic...

Chef Thomas Weibull was on fire! He's made some new changes to the Menu and they are pretty spot on.

I mean, I knew the guy had skills, but he's proven to have 'mad skills'... For reals..

Above are photos of our Gastronomical Journey...

Allow me to Break it Down...

For Apps we started with a Sonoma Foie Gras Mousse Amuse that was paired with a Cherry Compote and a Buttery Crisp which added great Texture to the Sweetness of the Fruit and the Creamy Foie Mousse. A Delicious start..

We then had the Laura Chenel's Chevre Parfait which was absolute Heaven! I mean it was So Good that it made your eyes roll back kinda Good. The Creamy Chevre sat on a Medley of Beets, Tomato Gelee & was sprinkled with a Walnut Salt. You just have try it to really understand how Good it is...

Our final Apps Dishes were the Napoleon of Dungeness Crab, which paled in comparison to the Pan Seared Scallop Dish, which came prepared with a Carrot Puree and a Vanilla Creme Anglaise. Let me tell you, this Scallop Dish was Incredible...

All of these Dishes were beautifully presented and as far as the Combinations, it was Pure genius as far as we were concerned..

And these were just the Apps! No kidding..

Whew!

Now onto the Entrees...

There were five of us and these are the Dishes that we had and shared:

I had the Pan Roasted Cod on top of a Spanish Chorizo Raviolo, Sauteed Bloomsdale Spinach and finished with a Lobster Sauce. I lreally loved it, but I also loved what everyone else had as well, if it can be believed... Believe you me, there was a Whole Lotta Love goin' on!

The other Dishes were a Veal Loin topped with Crispy Veal Sweetbreads,

A Sauteed New Zealand Thai Snapper with Fried Basmati Rice Pilaf, Langoustine and a Citrus-Ginger Beurre Blanc and the Trio of Cloverdale Rabbit prepared as a Rabbit Tortolloni, Lapin aux Langoustine and a Marinated Rack. All very nice and executed well...

Bravo Chef Thomas! Bravo...

I gotta give props to a fellow Philly-Pino, no doubt. (Philly-Pino meaning he from Philly and he Filipino, like myself)

For Dessert, and what is slowly becoming known to me as your proverbial 'Happy Ending'...

We had my favorite Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee with the Mango Raviolis in a Raspberry Foam and the Panna Cotta, both of which fulfilled my 'Happy Ending' to the night.

I can't end this review without giving props to our Server, Jesus. Not only were his timing and teamwork with Chef Thomas exceptional, but he had the cutest ass dimples this side of the Mississippi!

In all seriousness though, Jesus really was on point with Service. We never at any time were wanting for anything, whether it be Water, more Bread & Butter and, of course, more Wine...

It was quite Impressive.

This place really is Special, and not in a short bus kinda way...

The Interiors in its Rustic Elegance that I love and the Atmosphere with its Warmth and Romance really draw you in in the evenings and these things, together with the Wonderful Service and the Great Food make for a truly Great and Memorable Experience...

So here it is...

Take people here for a quiet Business Lunch where you can talk or perhaps even make a deal...

As for Dinner, go here for a Date, Birthday or Special Occasion and you will not be disappointed.

Honestly, I would choose this restaurant over the likes of any other Contemporary French restaurant in the City any day...

Word.

Kabuto Sushi

Kabuto Sushi
Category: Sushi

Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

Price Range: $$$

This is probably one of my favorite Sushi Joints in the City. Reason being that they have one of the most unique & inventive Sushi Menus I have ever seen. Seriously, with such items as as Foie Gras Sushi served with a Balsamic Raspberry Sauce (can you say, Yum?), and Lamb Apple Nigiri, which is Grilled Lamb topped with Sliced Apple and a Cherry Balsamic Sauce. I mean, how do they come up with this stuff?

Other Faves are the Barbeque Duck Nigiri served with Japanese Spicy Mustard and
Hamachi Pear Nigiri which has Yellowtail topped with Sliced Pear and a Kabuto Fruity Mustard Sauce.

I mean, SO good!

I've barely touched the surface as far trying half their Menu. It's nuts...

The Sashimi is incredibly fresh and I just love Kabuto for its inventiveness. Did the ol' Toro Sashimi test and it passed with flying fish colors..

Really great place for inventive and unique Sushi which cannot be found elsewhere.

Only thing is that it is a tiny place and the wait can be incredibly long, but certainly well worth it...

Foreign Cinema

Foreign Cinema
Category: French, American (New), Brunch

Neighborhood: The Mission

Price Range: $$$

I've been here several times for Dinner, for an afternoon Wedding Reception, a 40th Birthday Soiree and now, once for Brunch. And I have to say that although the food is decent, nothing to write home about but decent nonetheless, I really like this place for the Concept and the execution of that Concept...

For me, this place is very special...

With candles burning on all of the tables, and although some do not like the close proximity of the tables, I kinda like the Coziness of it all... One thing that struck me with the candlelight, was that when you looked up at the canopy above, the candles reflected its lights, which really added to the ethereal Ambiance of the Place... When I lived in Germany, I used to go to the movies fairly often and I remember how some places had candles or little lights that emulated candles on a narrow tray-like table that encompassed the back of the seats in front of you. And believe it or not, they even served food!So back to my review of the FC.... I'm not going to go into this elaborate drawn out critique of the food, because to me, the star of this place is the wonderful Atmosphere and the Great Service....

Service was good the 1st time we went, but this last time, we had by far, THE BEST Server ever!!! Kiersten made our dining experience extremely fun & memorable! She was on top of everything and really made us feel special. Thanks Kiersten! If only all People rocked it like you... You knock that shit out of the park! For real...

3 Stars because I know I will be back, but Kiersten bumped it up a whole other notch...

So 4 Stars from the Raptor.

You go, Girl!

Brunch was good as well...

I tried the Two Poached Eggs with Grilled Duck Breast, Warm Salad Greens, Croutons, Currants, Shitakes & Sherry, which I thought was quite good. We ran into my Girl, Kiersten, who remembered me, gave me a big ol' hug and sent us complimentary Glasses of Campagne.

See? I told you she was good...

My Friend's Wedding Reception & Another Friend's 40th Bday Soiree:

My Friends, the Valdellers had their afternoon Wedding Reception here a few years ago and it was fabulous and Very Cool. We started with the Reception and Cocktails in the Main Dining Room area inside. The passed Hors d'oeuvres were really really good... Impressive.

We then were ushered to the Outdoor Courtyard for Lunch which was also quite good. The Dancing part of the Reception was held in the Modernism West Gallery, which was a perfect spot for the 1st Dance, Cake-Cutting & Dancing...

Also, my girlfriend hosted her 40th Bday Soiree in the Modernism West Gallery and it was Fantastic! Once again, the Passed Hors D'Ouevres were Delicious and Plentiful. It's a Brilliant Place to host a Party...