The Last Lick

I always knew that my last blog post would be #35 Salted Caramel Ice Cream at Bi-Rite Creamery. I just didn't think it would be this soon. But life has a funny way of happening when you least expect it. So I am sadly ending my blog now.

A very cool piece of graffiti on the sidewalk while I waited. I wonder if the Red Witches liked their ice cream...

Here I am at the end of my blog. And I am a very different person than I was when I started. Four months ago, four years ago, eight years ago. It's time for me to leave my adopted home of San Francisco. But before I go, one more review. On to the ice cream...

I admit that I have an obsession with salty and sweet. It's my most favorite flavor combination. I was the kid that would sprinkle salt on my chocolate ice cream and eat M&Ms and Doritos at the same time. And as an adult, I am a big fan of salted caramel candy so this was going to be another sure thing.

That's my scoop that's gettin' scooped.

Needless to say, the ice cream was wonderful. It better be good ice cream after waiting in line for 45 minutes. I've heard that's actually pretty good, people often wait in line for more than an hour. It was fantastic, totally worth it! Creamy and delicious and salty and sweet.

Salty and sweet, kind of like my feelings right now... A little heartbroken to leave all of my wonderful friends and a city that has made me feel safe and happy and whole. A little scared to take on a new unknown challenge. A little excited at the endless possibilities in my life...

Take care of yourselves while I am gone. Be good and eat lots of food! If you try anything left on the 7x7 list, I'd love to hear about it. In the meantime, I hope you miss me as much as I miss you!

Bye San Francisco, hello Los Angeles!

Love,

Rebecca

PS. If you find yourself missing me way too much, please check this out:

http://rebeccaeatsla.blogspot.com/

Reubenecca

Truth be told, I have NEVER EVER met a Reuben I didn't like. Ever. The ones that I would get at Denny's at 3 am, good. The super fancy ones that call the cheese Gruyere instead of Swiss, still good. Really greasy nasty ones in diners where you are afraid to use the bathroom, definitely good. This guy...

...still a good Reuben.

My point is there is no way that #74 Corned-beef Sandwich with Gruyere at the Sentinel can fool me. I know a description of a Reuben when I see one and, man oh man, this is going to be a slam dunk!!

See, I told ya!

I practically SKIPPED to the Sentinel; this is another one of those walk-up-windows-with-no- place-to-eat-inside places. But, whatever, I didn't care one bit. The Sentinel definitely has the bread to meat and fixins' ratio down perfectly. Not too much bread but still buttery and flavorful. Yummy corned-beef and perfectly melted gruyere with Russian dressing oozing.

OMG, it was so good! Delicious! I want to try the other sandwiches on their ever rotating menu!

Love,

Rebecca

Sunday Bloody Sunday

It's always good to discover new things about yourself. Now, I know that I love cocktail sauce enough that I could drink it if I had to. Thanks to # 98 a Bloody Mary with Brunch at Foreign Cinema. I always suspected that I could do it....and now I know.

The basic Bloody Mary is prepared with vodka, tomato juice, horseradish and various spices. The one from FC also had a freakin' VEGETABLE GARDEN on top. Seriously.

A slice of lime

A slice of lemon

An entire celery stalk

A single caperberry

One pickled onion

and a huge pimento olive

Since I am a sucker for a garnish, I ate them all. Is that tacky? Well whatever.

And the bloody mary itself was so great!! There was tons of horseradish, and black pepper and curry powder. I think I just gleeked typing that.

A V8 simply will not cut it so I'll have to get my butt down to Foreign Cinema more often.

Love,

Rebecca

PS The brunch was incredible.

White Burgundy?

I think I mentioned that I am not a beer person. Unfortunately, I am not really a wine person either. Don't get me wrong, I like it sometimes but I am definitely not educated on wine AT ALL. So when I tackled #26 a bottle of Burgundy at RN74, I thought there is NO WAY that I can drink a bottle of red wine, especially if it's a Burgundy. Red wine sometimes tastes like it's been sitting in a barrel too long, which I'm told is 'oaky'.

Well, guess what I learned? That Burgundy is actually a region in France and that there is such a thing as a white Burgundy. Thank God. Because I'm good with white wine. I won't even pretend to know what I ordered; I honestly cannot remember. But it was really delicious.

By the way, RN74 is not named for the owner's girlfriend's initials and the year of her birth. (That was something that I invented.) RN74 is the name of a road in France that winds through the Burgundy region. God, I wish I was there right now.

Love,

Rebecca

Achtung! Important Announcement!

Hey Faithful Readers, all both of you!

I will be heading out of town and back to the east coast for a little vacation. But fear not, I am leaving you with a list of cool blogs and websites that I love to visit. Pay close attention to the whole list, especially towards the bottom of the list, for a special surprise!!

One of my old co-workers writes a cute blog about her little girl and general life observations...

http://petuniafacedgirl.blogspot.com/

When I can't sleep at night, I like to redo my friends' houses in my mind...just like Janis

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf

When I try to be outdoorsy...

http://www.weekendsherpa.com/

Don't judge me for this one...

http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com/

Because it's cool stuff that I've never even thought of...

http://www.oddee.com/

When I need to feel hopeful and have a good cry...love this single dad!

http://www.mattlogelin.com/

When I think I want to move to London

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

Because you need to try Rebecca's Double Honey Yum Yum Fudge...

http://www.benjerry.com/activism/inside-the-pint/do-the-world-a-flavor/generator.cfm

And finally

http://rebeccaeatsbaltimore.blogspot.com/

Love,

Rebecca

Menage a Trois with My Friend Paul

It's a sandwich, people!!

Gee-yawd. Anyway, back to the FOOD, pervs.

So I met my friend Paul at #100 Ike's Place for a sandwich called Menage a Trois. Here is what is on the sandwich:

Halal Chicken Breast

A menage a trois of sauces with Honey, Honey Mustard and BBQ Sauce

And a menage a trois of cheeses with Pepper Jack, Swiss and Smoked Gouda

Plus lettuce, tomatoes and mayo.

And here is what it looks like:

Now off to Dolores Park to eat in the sunshine (and get a contact buzz from all the potsmoke.) But first, we must start with a Ginger Beer!!

The sandwiches are HUGE so the two of us just split one and it was more than enough. And it was messy, messy, messy but oh-so-good. I've never put honey on a sandwich before but something about that honey drizzled all over the chicken breast was delicious. Ok, this is getting perverted again. I must end this blog now...

But before I go, I have to tell you that the sandwich was amazing!!!

Plus you get two lollies with each order. How wonderful is that?

Love,

Rebecca

Seis de Mayo

Somehow this year, Cinco de Mayo just didn't come together for me. Lack of planning plus I caught a nasty case of the 6PM Sleepies so it was basically a bust. But I woke up bright and early the next day (not hungover one bit, I might add) and still felt the need to celebrate in honor of our neighbors to the South. So off to #31 Tacolicious in the Marina for a Tuna Tostada with my friend Krystal, the Carrie to my Samantha.

I grew up on the east coast so Mexican food meant Taco Bell or Chili's. Needless to say, I've discovered a whole new world since I've moved to the Bay Area. I still don't know what the difference is between a burrito, tostada, chalupa, or torta. No idea whatsoever. But I definitely appreciate good food, no matter what it's called.

The tuna tostada consisted of a couple of nice cuts of lean tuna with onions, avocado and a spicy sauce plopped on a crispy fried shell garnished with a slice of lime. God, I love sushi tuna. God, I love sauces. God, I love shells. This was so good, all around.

I also have to mention how delicious the chips and salsa were. The salsa had just the right amount of heat, and another interesting and unusual flavor layer. Krystal and I debated if it was mint or cilantro or just super fresh.

I should have gotten a margarita...maybe next time?

Happy Seis de Mayo!

Love,

Rebecca

Dear Beer

Dear Beer,

Sometimes I'm so sorry that I didn't meet you until later in my life. We definitely didn't hang out in high school or college. I never really got to know you in my formative years. So now I'm meeting you as an adult, and it's awkward because I've always been more of a liquor gal. You know, the fruity drinks with seven kinds of fruit and an umbrella and three flags? That's my comfort zone. But, Beer, you know I will ALWAYS give you a chance. No matter what.

So here I am at #50 The Monk's Kettle trying an obscure Belgian beer called

Koningshoeven Bock Trappist Ale

A Trappist Bock, brewed at the Cistercian Abbey of Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven since 1884. Koningshoeven is made in the Netherlands, therefore is the only Trappist beer brewed outside of Belgium.

The only Trappist bock beer in existence. Originally brewed by the monks during WWII, but discontinued for a number of years in favor of the traditional dubbel and tripel styles.

Yowza!! Definitely not an introductory beer. The bartender was so knowledgeable so I knew I was in good hands. I don't know the 'beer descriptors' but I can tell you that this beer was creamy with coffee and toffee tones. It's absolutely black when it's poured and the head in the photograph doesn't really go away so one can end up with a beer mustache.

Hey, wait a minute. Did that description say it was brewed OUTSIDE OF BELGIUM?? So it's not an 'obscure Belgian beer'? Looks like I have to go back....

I'm not giving up on you, Beer.

Love,

Rebecca

The Great Debate and the Great Compromise

I have to confess that when I eat out, I don't always go to places on the 7x7 list. I know, I know, it's terrible but I've often thought of doing 'bonus blogs' about other good meals that I've had. And then I start the debate. Maybe I should keep this blog nice and simple and only feature places from the list....but I've had some really, really good meals that I would LOVE to blog about.

So today, luckily, I was able to come to a compromise...

Perfectly fried pork skin. Sounds bad, but excellent, in actuality

I have been dying, dying, dying to try a place called Naked Lunch in North Beach since I first heard about it way back last November. And I was happy to discover that they offer one of the items from the list on their menu - #58 Chicharrones from 4505 Meats. Hurray! and keep in mind, I have NO IDEA what a chicharrones is or what chicharrones are, or whatever.

Welcome to my booth...

Well, I was beyond thrilled to discover that chicharrones are actually a type of pork rind. OMG, too yummy. Took me right back to high school, stopping in at a convenience store and buying a bag while waiting for the bus. I was reminded, yet again, of another part of the pig that I like to eat.

And I also have to mention that the sandwich that I got from Naked Lunch was every bit as delicious as I've been imagining for the past 6 months. Artisan Foie Gras Torchon and Duck Proscuitto Sandwich with Tomatoes, Butter Lettuce and Black Truffle Salt. My mouth just started watering as I typed that.

Love,

Rebecca

Fourth Time's A Charm

I have been to Il Cane Rosso on three previous unsuccessful attempts to experience #14 the Beef Brisket Sandwich. Twice they didn't have it and once....well, ididn'tfeellikeeatingit. OK, OK, typical chick but I just wasn't in the mood that day.

But today was different...today, I did this really interesting thing my friend told me about called...planning ahead. I called to make sure the beef brisket was going to be on the menu. And I starved myself all morning long so I would be hungry for it. This girl was on a mission!

And oh my god, the sandwich was fantastic! The beef was so flavorful and perfectly accented by peppery arugula. The brisket literally melted and I ate the entire thing and then spend the next 30 minutes waddling around with my friend.

The sandwich was accompanied by a small side of picked celery. Is that a new trend that I've somehow missed, pickling everything?

A view of the pickled celery, I kind of liked it

In conclusion, I am definitely going back to Il Cane Rosso. And I would definitely recommend the Beef Brisket Sandwich. I would be a terrible blogger and bad cyber-friend if I didn't mention the amazing Porchetta Sandwich. I've had it before, it's phenomenal and that's exactly what I told the guy in line behind me too!!

Are we sure that's a GINGER beer?

Love,

Rebecca

And The Donut Binge Continues...

Wow, I never realized how much I love and miss donuts. And thanks to the previous post, the demon within me has been awakened. (Dun-dun-daaaa)

This list of ever-changing funky flavors.

Next stop...Dynamo Donuts. This place not only satisfies the donut craving but also the funky flavor craving. I just think it's really ballsy to put guinness in a donut. And Dynamo Donut seems to be a part of the 'Bacon on Everything' movement, which I fully support.

I got #54 which the Spiced Chocolate Donut with a Four Barrel Coffee. Except I decided to get the Ginger Lemonade since it was a balmy 70 degrees and I am such a rebel. Ha! Plus, I think we covered my love of ginger a while back. So once I saw that on the menu....

That's Scott - he's awesome!

Dynamo Donut is aptly named, because they have mastered both the light fried and buttery donut (a la Krispy Kreme) AND the dense, heavy, cakey donut. MASTERED. Both. That is not an easy task to accomplish but they've done it. How do I know? Well, although the Spiced Chocolate was on the 7x7 list I could NOT resist the Maple Glazed Bacon Apple!

Simply gorgeous

I can't honestly say what the spices were on the Spiced Chocolate Donut but I think there was definitely cinnamon and maybe allspice. In any case, it was really rich and dark chocolatey. A donut that made you think about it, and savor each bite. This was definitely not an overly sweet donut, but good, hearty and wholesome. I LOVED every bite.

Without a doubt, I will be going back. Still need to try the Guinness donut. And the Vanilla Bean...

As proud as a mom with newborn babies!

Love,

Rebecca

Where Do You Go After the Dentist?

To Bob's Donuts on Polk Street, of course! For #80 on the 7x7 list, the apple fritter. There is nothing better than a warm apple and cinnamon-y fritter after having your teeth scraped for 30 minutes.

The front window

I could smell the pastries about a block away wafting onto the street and my stomach growled. I'm not sure how many different types of donuts, pastries, fritters, buns (did I mention how much I like the word buns?) and other carb-tastic yummies they make but there was a HUGE variety.

It was kind of a quaint, no nonsense type of place. Just basics. Donuts, coffee and milk. I was so taken with Bob's, I debated buying one of the vintage tees that they sold. But I didn't.

The size of a brick, and just about as heavy, too!

I was kind of hoping for a warm, fresh from the oven fritter but for room temperature, it was really moist and chewy. And very dense and flavorful. It made me wish that I drank coffee.

Really sweet lady from Bob's, presenting the fritter.

And where do you go after Bob's Donut's?

To Lombardi Sports to work off that fritter! And to get a cute new pair of flip-flops!

Note: time for a pedicure. Yikes!

Love,

Rebecca

Just Let Your Soul Glo, Baby

Fried food. Reminds me of summer time and, as a kid, wishing I could order a bucket of fried skin from KFC. Kinda gross. And considering that we now know that if you even so much as LOOK at anything fried, you'll die instantly, not a good thing. But I couldn't help and remember how much I love fried food. Everything in moderation, right?

Today I went to Brenda's French Soul Food and tried #42 Fried Shrimp Po'boy. But first I started with a glass of the house sweet tea. And because I have family from the Deep South, I know what a good glass of sweet tea should be. And kids, I was not prepared for the sweet tea from Brenda's. The sweetness came from watermelon, WATERMELON!, WATERMELON?? And my oh my, it was delish! I loved it and it ended up being the perfect accompaniment to the po'boy.

The po'boy had a buttered and griddled bun and a generous portion of cornmeal batter fried shrimp, lettuce and tomatoes, all topped with the most luscious sauce this side of heaven, remoulade sauce--spicy and creamy all at once. (It's #2 on my favorite condiment list.)

Gettin' all up in the remoulade sauce's crevasses

Every bite was amazing and as good as the shrimp was, I can't help thinking the bun was key to the sandwiches' success. I got sauce on my face and I didn't care one bit. (I would've posted a picture of that but it looked a bit pervy.)

Oceans of Coleslaw

The coleslaw and the pickles were also really tasty. I also ordered a biscuit...by itself...for no reason...I just wanted a biscuit. I regretted ordering it but it tasted SOOOO GOOOOOD that I no longer care.

Watermelon rind pickles!! I figured that out all by myself.

In conclusion, people that cook soul food really know how to utilize the watermelon in various ways. And everything looked so good on the menu, I need to go back as soon as possible. I need to let my Soul Glowwwww!*

Love,

Rebecca

*Cool points for anyone that can tell me what movie this is from...

And Then I Burnt My Tongue

My favorite meal of any day is always brunch. It can be sweet, like strawberry pancakes or Greek yogurt with honey, or savory, like a cheese omelette. I really love the idea of me scanning my stocks in the NY Times with a hot cup of joe.**

I have been known to partake in all sorts of options for brunch but I have never eaten Chicken Hash, ever once in my ENTIRE LIFE! Can you imagine?

That's a lot of spring onion.

So I was so excited to try #76 Chicken Hash at Ella's. Ella's was one of the first restaurants I found after I moved to San Francisco and it's definitely one of my go-to places for brunch whenever I am in the city.

The Chicken Hash was served with two eggs, any style, toast and a pile of freshly cut spring onions. I quickly excavated the egg and hash from under the onion landscape and dug in. The perfect forkful has chicken, a couple of yolk-soaked chunks of hash and a bit of egg white fried to perfection. It was amazing...but then I burnt my tongue.

By the way, hash is potatoes fried with spices and onions and chicken chunks. I could swear I saw grainy mustard in there too. Perfect for a hangover or a leisurely morning perusing your stock portfolio. (Do they have that on weekends?)

Love,

Rebecca

**This would never, EVER happen because

#1 I abhor the news

#2 I only read the comics section

#3 I don't really like coffee, I'm more of a tea person but if I did drink it, I would need tons of sugar and cream

and #4 does anyone really call coffee 'joe' anyway?