Last Day

I knew this was going to be a tough one, tough day, tough restaurant, tough time. So I headed to a familiar side of town, Union Street, and to a familiar restaurant that just happens to be #89 Betelnut...

...and ordered the Lettuce Cups. A plate arrived of crisply trimmed iceberg lettuce leaves and a lump of fried stuff. The reason I call it fried stuff is, truly, because I'm really not sure what was in it. Probably a mixture of chicken and tofu, I think something that was spicy beef and maybe onions. Lots of soy sauce. You know, fried stuff. Oh, and pine nuts too.

It was good, even though I didn't taste much.

Now if I could figure out a way to curl up in a lettuce cup, I might be okay.

Love,

Rebecca

3 Cookies + Impending Unemployment = Denial

I just need a damn cookie. Today was a perfect day for #65 cookies-and-cream cookie and milk at Anthony's Cookies. I've noticed that the 7x7 list is very Mission heavy and I've learned my lesson about parking in that area. Ugh! So I called Anthony's ahead of time and confirmed that they would definitely have the Cookie and Cream Cookie and to get the low down on the parking sitch. The girl actually said that their neighborhood isn't very 'trafficky'. I thought I was the only person that said that! How cute.

Anyway, I found parking very easily but ended up about a block and a half away, which was fine because I totally convinced myself that I was getting a little exercise and it was probably enough to counteract the cookies. (Humor me, okay?)

I had JUST missed meeting Anthony by 5 minutes so that was a bummer but they had so many delicious flavors to choose from that I quickly perked up. Hurray! I chose the Cookie and Cream, of course, Peanut Butter and Toffee Chip. I was really happy to find normal size cookies, about the size that one would bake at home. They weren't these gargantuan sized ones that sit like a brick in your stomach after you eat the entire thing.

While I walked back to my car, I had my appetizer cookie, Toffee Chip. The cookie was still warm and gooey inside. Really tasty and I completely enjoyed it knowing that I was probably burning it off as I ate it, ever the multi-tasker.

The perfect after-school snack.

The cookie and cream cookie was excellent! It's not often a cookie 'features' another cookie but this cookie has crunched up Oreos in it! What a great idea....this seems like as big as the invention of Cookies and Cream Ice Cream in 1983 or the Great Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream breakthrough of 1991.

Really delicious, especially with a cold glass of milk!

And the peanut butter cookie wasn't half bad, either!!

Definitely worth going back...

Love,

Rebecca

Chicken & Waffles: Part 1: Chicken

OK, to be honest. I cheated a little bit on #4 Little Skillet. I've actually already eaten the food here. But I have to say, this is the only (I mean only) chicken IN THE WORLD that I ever eat with my hands and will continue to pick meat off the carcass like a freakin' vulture. I kid you not. See the aftermath at the end of this blog.

How beautiful is this?

This chicken is amazing, somehow they get it moist and flavorful inside and the skin has that salty crispiness that you remember from your childhood, maybe a 4th of July picnic at the neighborhood pool, no responsibilities, just a long, obligation-free summer ahead. Now that's good chicken!!

Well, the chicken from Little Skillet is every bit as good as you remember, despite a long, obligation fueled spring ahead....but I digress. The fried chicken and accoutrements at Little Skillet make me feel like I am eating America, in a good way. It also comes with a terrific salad and the most amazing potato salad.

And now for the biscuits. Notice no waffles. Unfortunately, today, waffles were not an option. Hence the Part One of the title. I plan to go back later to get that waffle. But the biscuits are one of the most buttery, soft, flaky and melty in your mouthy things that you could ever want to eat. Imagine eating the butt cheek of an angel and you will understand.

Now, back to the chicken that I pwned. Dun-dun-dun-daaaaaaa!

Oh, the devastation.

How's THAT for a twist ending??? To be continued...

Love,

Rebecca

The Case of the Missing Sauerkraut and Grilled Onions

Thanks, Bobo!

I told you last time how I work with really great people. But what I neglected to mention is I work for a pretty cool place that caters a lunch for us every day. Pretty nice, right?

Today for lunch I was able to tackle one of the 100 from 7x7. It was #23 Beer Sausage with Sauerkraut and Grilled Onions from Rosamunde Sausage Grill. I also need to mention that I had a guest photographer for some of the photos--Mr. Sweetheart Wonderful himself, Guest Photographer Extraordinaire Bobo.

The bun was really soft and there is nothing more that I like than soft buns. OK, this is getting a little weird again, isn't it? I also love when a place offers a lot of different condiments, I'm talking 6 mustards!! Seriously. And two kinds of ketchup? Really impressive, Rosemunde.

And yes, that is a second sausage in the background. No comments from the peanut gallery!

The sausage itself was excellent. You can tell when a restaurant really REALLY knows their stuff and unfortunately, you can tell when they just throw an old hot dog in a pot of boiling water. I'm happy to report that Rosemunde knows their stuff! The Beer Sausage had just the right amount of spiciness to complement the meat without overpowering your tongue and making you cry. (And stress out about having diarrhea later, that always ruins a good meal.)

The sad part of the story is, I didn't get to have the sauerkraut or the grilled onions. I don't think I'll ever go to Rosamunde and get a plateful of sauerkraut and grilled onions; I'm sure that would be just as lovely. But I thought about it all day and I decided that this one still counts. So we all just need to accept this is the judge's ruling.

Love,

Rebecca

The Balls that Reminded How Much I Love People

This morning I forgot how much I love people because of the a-hole that cut me off on my way to work and didn't even notice as he continued to speed in his dad's Landcruiser.

Here are the people that reminded me how wonderful most people in the world are...

Specifically, my co-workers. Today I was invited to go to #87 Yank Sing for the sesame balls. But unfortunately, I had to decline. So here's how thoughtful this gang is....they brought me a little doggy bag with two perfect sesame balls for me. How fantastic!!

They were covered in sesame seeds and still slightly warm. I had never had them before so I was surprised that they were sweet. Filled with a red bean paste, or maybe sweet potatoes. Anyway, very delicious and chewy.

Such a beggar

It reminded me how wonderful the world is, and how I am surrounded by absolute joy in the people that I work with (that I now consider my friends). Not because they bought me anything, mind you, but because they thought about me.

I had this whole funny blog in mind when I saw Sesame Balls at Yank Sing on the list. Where I wanted to mention my bizarre fixation with the word 'balls' and the fact the restaurant had the word yank in it...but instead I was reminded today about the happiness you can get from your friends when they send two little balls your way.

Or just one!

Love,

Rebecca

And That's Not a Euphemism

So this is how it ends?

I wasn't expecting this, 7x7.

You know me, you know what I want, and what I need. What I like and what I love. You know how far to push me and when to let me appreciate comforting familiarity. We were doing so great; I thought we were on our way to something special.

What happened tonight?

At #51

Remember?

The maccaronara with ricotta salata at A16?

Don't be coy with me, you know what I am referring to.

Does THIS refresh your memory??

Take a closer look...

I know, I know. It was bound to happen. Every choice cannot be a home run. We've had so many magical moments up to now and I think we'll have many more. I think I'll give you another chance.....not now....maybe later.

Tonight, as I drove home, I couldn't stop thinking of a plateful of wet noodles.

Still Love You,

Rebecca

Get a Room and Some Good Coffee

I was absolutely starving and I thought nothing would hit the spot more than #28 A Gibraltar at Blue Bottle Cafe. It's a coffee place, right? And how cool is it that they have a little cafe. I wondered to myself what kind of sandwich a Gibraltar is?

I hoped it had cheese on it and maybe some funky pulled pork. Or some sort of fancy tuna and capers concoction. Whatever it was, I don't care 'cause tummy is rumbling so time for noms, comprende?

And here's what a Gilbraltar really is......

Arty

A Gibraltar is a baby latte. How cute is this, I thought as my stomach started to digest itself. Actually, it was pretty delicious. Very creamy, which I really love so much, in fact, creamy is practically a fifth taste sensation on my tongue.

Clearly feeling faint as I anticipate my beverage

A bit bitter, such a coffee wimp

After I put a little sugar in my drink, it was perfect! Blue Bottle Cafe is a cute little place, by the way. Good drinks plus I got to watch these two ass clowns make out the whole time I was there. I could hardly keep the Gibraltar down.

Inspiration for the title of this blog

Awww Snap!

Rest assured everyone, the Great Bay Area Gingersnap Drought of 2010 is over. We can all relax and rejoice. Thank the culinary gods. We made it, we really made it through...

That dog looks really thrilled, doesn't he?

So anyone that knows me, knows that I absolutely adore one thing and that one thing is GINGER!! Love ginger beer, ginger ale, pickled ginger, gingerbread, crystallized ginger and I am a big fan of a nice spicy, sugary, gingersnap cookie. So I decided to try #49 Gingersnaps at Miette.

Up close, this kinda looks like a pancake.

The ones from Miette are pretty good. Just the right amount of snap, just the right amount of sugar, just the right amount of ginger. A little on the thin side, kind of buttery. Solid B plus.

The packaging is super cute and the fact that they come prepackaged makes them really convenient to give as a gift if you're in a hurry. And because they are expensive, people won't think you are a cheapo.

Oh, thank you for these lovely cookies. I love the expensive packaging. You must really care.

See? I told you so.

Love,

Rebecca

Rain and Ice Cream

OK, so I cheated on this one. I've actually had #45 Scoop of Secret Breakfast from Humphry Slocombe. I am already a huge huge fan, follow them on Twitter, am a Facebook friend, Yelp reviewed them, washed their car, saw 'Steel Magnolias' and giggled about boys with them.

So I already know that I love, love, lurve Secret Breakfast because I've had way too many scoops of it.

But in the name of true journalism and in order to retain my Blogger Integrity, I must have another scoop to write about it.

Again, it was rainy....what's up with me and ice cream on a rainy day? Not sure. But I was super excited to try every single flavor they were offering that day. You know me and free samples...

Look it, look it, they're makin' mine.

Chocolate Smoked Sea Salt was simply amazing. If you have that really bizarre fixation with salty and sweet, just ask the guy behind the counter if you can stick your whole head in the ice cream tub. Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee was good, definitely for coffee lovers, a smidge too bitter for me. Smith & Cross Jamaican Rum was excellent, it helped that it was 115 proof. Pepper & Mint Chip was way funky but not entirely gross. It was definitely a flavor that made you think. And question your buds. (Taste not friends)

Olive Oil on top, baby!!

Anyway, I selected Secret Breakfast which is bourbon and cornflakes and creamy and amazing. Of course, I absolutely HAD to get another flavor and I selected McEvoy Olive Oil, a really mild luscious flavor with a slight hint of orange zest. Both were excellent.

Work it, Ice Cream Girl!

You should definitely stop by Humphry Slocombe and try a bunch of the flavors. They also have Tahitian Vanilla for those that need to play it safe. At least pop in and check out the two headed calf. Ask me about that later.

Love,

Rebecca