Povertybarn

Friday's lunch

Roosevelt Tamale Parlor in the Mission. I enjoyed my lunch quite a bit and am full.

 

On the Way to Coffee

On the way to coffee
Originally uploaded by Guinnessgrrl

Being a coffee addict, I feel compelled to try the latest and greatest. Four Barrel Coffee is having a soft opening vis-a-vie the back alley. If you roll up to their upcoming store front, you will see a map to the back.

My favorite part of the map? The notation of the local street worker. Oh, the coffee is delicious because they are currently using Stumptown beans.

Maple Bacon Bar

Maple Bacon Bar
Originally uploaded by Guinnessgrrl

On a recent trip to Portland, I had to go to VooDoo Donut. This place is a must see and if donuts don't do it for you, you can get married there, too.

Important Decisions

You will have to click on it to make it bigger, I think. Basically, it is a bacon flow chart -- utterly brilliant! Hat tip: SourKraut

Taste

This is where I am headed to today and am super excited! We are doing some barrel tasting as well. Oh, happy day! The camera batteries have been charged!

I think that you can still get tickets on their Web site.

An Interview with a Blogger

I consider myself a foodie because I love to eat. Of course, I love to eat well and healthfully as possible. Who doesn't love a triple cream? Or some organic strawberries? One of my favorite blogs is Chocolate & Zucchini which is written by Clotilde Dusoulier. I have her cookbook and so should you. I met her when she did a book signing in San Francisco. There is a new interview with her on news.com, so check it out. Here is a taste:

And you're going to continue blogging?
Dusoulier: Yeah, yeah. That's not going anywhere. I mean it's been for years now and I can't really imagine my life without having the blog. It's definitely become a big part of how I live and what I do. It's quite an important part of my life.

What are your habits? Do you write in the morning? Do you write in the evening?
Dusoulier: I write mostly in the morning for the blog, but the process for my blogging is quite spread out because there are different phases: when I cook, when I take pictures and when I correct the pictures, when I write the recipe and when I write the story. Then everything comes together. So it usually happens over a few days.

Oh Happy Day!

I am extremely happy to report that the shitty-ass coffee place, Tully's has closed in my neighborhood! good riddance to your brown water coffee that is more like tea and tastes like ass.

While I should patronize this local chain, Martha & Brothers, I just can't bring myself to do so. Why? There are always some odd people who are always out front. So, what would make my day? PEET'S

Some Joy

There are a few things that are making me really happy today although I have a killer headache.

1. The weather outside is fanfuckingtastic!

2. My lunch was leftover pizza that was super tasty.

3. Liam the wonderdog is seriously cute.

4. I get to go to my watercolor class tonight!

I feel very lucky today.

In 'Da Hood

If you have read this blog before, you know that I dwell in the City of San Francisco. Specifically, I live in a nice, non-touristy neighborhood called Noe Valley, errr, at times I affectionately refer to it as Nowhere Valley.

Our Board of Supes approved allowing three new restaurants to be opened in the nabe. Excellent, we could use some new blood! Sadly, none have opened to date. This could because of the oh-so-unique approach to zoning and permit approvals in my beloved city or people have run out of money/time.

It would seem that the author of In Praise of Sardines is one such of the people. His restaurant would be across the street for me and sounded delicious. I like to peek into the papered windows to see the progress, but nothing has happened in quite some time. Anyone have any insights?

And The Point?

Okay, I was in Boston over last weekend. Can anyone tell me what is the deal with the Fried Dough? to be honest, I didn't try it. The stuff looks and smells nasty to me, but I noticed it at Fenway and some street carts.

Anyone? Endangered Coffee or Bostonist?

Cookbook Signing

This past Saturday, my friend Chris and I went to the cookbook signing for Clotilde Dusoulier at Book Passage at the Ferry Building here in San Francisco. She is more commonly known as the blogger at Chocolate & Zucchini. This is my favorite food blog. I have been reading it since the beginning.

"Chocolate & Zucchini: Daily Adventures in a Parisian Kitchen" is very interesting as it has some delicious recipes ans stories by the author. You can buy your copy on Amazon and you should!

Clotilde gave a brief talk about what prompted her interest in cooking. It was fun to learn that her interest developed while she lived in San Francisco and had to cook for herself for the first time.

Enjoy the book and bon appetite! There are a few pics down on the right, too.

Tapping Tap Water

It is interesting that I just happened to be discussing this very topic of using tap water just the other day with a colleague. I do think that we should go for as much sustainability as possible.

There is a growing trend in Bay Area restaurants to serve tap water instead of water that has to be packaged in glass or plastic then shipped across the pond to be served to us. It makes me proud to say that one of the trend-setters is a place in SF hood. Chez Panisse's Waters has gone into local water now, too.

Her eateries will be serving good ol' tap water and have bought a machine that will generate H2O frizzante. While I do enjoy bottled water, I have been trying to drink more tap water.

What does Kathy know about this movement?

Fromage S'il vous plaît!

For some people it's all about chocolate, for me it's cheese (or for me this week in Paris: "fromage").  The daily trip to the local fromager is a true delight!  Gruyère, Gouda, Carayac, Munster, Brie, Galette Lyonnaise,Bleu de Chèvre, Gaperon, Gorgonzola!  Mmmm... I could go on and on, but I need to run to the Boulangerie, buy some Vin Rouge and find myself a peaceful  spot by the Seine. La vie est rugueuse...

Alternative Coffee

Okay, I have confessed here that I am a coffee addict and do like Starbuck's. Yes, I know. So for those of you who want to find an alternate to the giant take a look at this site.

It is called the Delocator. Give it a try. If you're in San Francisco, I suggest Philz. This my new fave java spot, especially the location on 18th Street. Note: he needs to seriously update his website.

Offensive Ice Cream

Sadly, yes.

Ben & Jerry's decided to out a new flavor. Ok, sounds good, right? No! They made a flavor called Black & Tan. Yes, this is offensive. It is an insult. What's so bad about it?

The Black & Tan were an especially brutal, elite British force during Ireland's war for Independence. They were known to have beaten men to death, execute men assassin style and terrorize even children.

Interesting, that we have not heard an apology from their lame asses! Maybe they meant to name it after the drink, but if they are as PC a company as they claim, then they should have researched the name completely before using it.

Michelin Sees Stars for SF

Get excited! Get your fork and knife at the ready, the Michelin Red Guide is coming to San Francisco and the wine country. Excellent!  I can't wait to find out who will get stars! Although, we will have to wait until October to find out. Will Le Zinc or Garcon get stars? Gary Danko, Town Hall and Boulevard? What are your thoughts? This is great news for foodies, the foodie industry and tourism for San Francisco.

This is exciting to me as I live by my Michelin guides whenever and where ever I travel.

Who would you nominate from your neighborhood?

In My New Work Hood

As most of you know, I am a self-confessed coffee whore -- who doesn't adore a morning latte? Or a late afternoon double espresso or an iced latte? Luckily, one of my favorite liquid crack dealers has more than 70 locations within a five mile radius of the new office.

I am also near two of my favorite local food chain outlets as well. Soup is good food. Not to mention that I like a good Specialty (you can order online, too).

Not to fear -- I will explore other than safe food lunch spots next week --- just needed a period of adjustment.

Far From bacar

As Sain't Christopher noted the other day that it is time for Dine About Town. This is something that I look forward to all year.

So, this year, a group of us decided to try three of the great places on the list. The first of which was this past Friday night. I planned and organized a group of fun people.  We were all looking forward to our dinner at bacar.

Well, we didn't have our dinner. Here is the story:

Friday, 4 p.m.

Me: Hello I say into my mobile

Dumb hostess: Yea, this is whoever from bacar

Me: Oh, great. You're calling to confirm the reservation

DH: No, actually, I am calling to tell you that we are so booked tonight that we cannot honor the Dine About Town reservations.

Me: Seriously? We have a large party, while I realize that we are ordering from a pre-fixe menu that does not mean that we won't have a large bar tab (which we did)

DH: Well, we can't honor the reservation. click!

So, I quickly made a few calls and landed us a reservation at Zingari. The food was great and so was the service. Needless to say, I am still really irked by our treatment by bacar. I urge you all to boycott this place. Talk about unacceptable!

Update:

As of late yesterday, bacar has changed their website to say that they have times available for anything other than Friday nights. Whatever.

A True Favorite

I love Champagne ---this is not a secret. This seems like a good warm-up to NYE. You can read about the history of champagne here.

One of my favorites is Veuve Clicquot. And luckily, there is a bottle in my fridge is just waiting to be cracked open tomorrow night.

"May you be dead a half an hour before the devil knows your dead." ---- An Irish toast

Kiss Joesph Schmidt Confectioners Goodbye

Chocolate giant Hershey has gobbled up another fine chocolate maker from the Bay Area. Joesph Schmidt Confectioners marks the fourth aquisition this year for Hershey Co. Apparently, they are aiming for a giant melting pot of chocolate makers. I guess that we should horde these goodies, too.

An Addict Needs Her Fix

This combines two things, er, three that I love. My City (San Francisco), coffee and walking the streets around town. I can't wait to try out this tour and report back to you. The smell, sights and history that make this town are fabulous! Take a Javawalk!

Crying in Their Beer

Oh no! Some of the best beer in the world no longer exists. Damn, was hoping to get me some when I am in Europe this fall. Well, shit! BTW, this is good shit, so if you can ever get some -- DO IT and toast me, please.

The abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren in western Belgium is home to some 30 Cistercian and Trappist monks who lead a life of seclusion, prayer, manual labor -- and beer-brewing.

A survey of thousands of beer enthusiasts from 65 countries on the RateBeer Web site (www.ratebeer.com) in June rated the Westvleteren 12 beer as the world's best.

But the abbey only has a limited brewing capacity, and was not able to cope with the beer's sudden popularity.

"Our shop is closed because all our beer has been sold out," said a message on the abbey's answering machine, which it calls the "beer phone."

And the abbey has no intention of boosting its capacity to satisfy market demand.

"We are not brewers, we are monks. We brew beer to be able to afford being monks," the father abbot said on the abbey's Web site.

Monk Mark Bode told De Morgen daily: "Outsiders don't understand why we are not raising production. But for us life in the abbey comes first, not the brewery."

Chocolate Buy Out

According to Reuters, Hershey is going to buy premium chocolate maker Scharffen Berger from across the Bay in order to enter that market. Hmm.

Are John and Robert having a melt down? What are the implications of this sale? Will the quality suffer? It seems that everyone does have a price.

The Four C's

I never say no to any of these things:

Coffee

Chocolate

Cheese

Champagne

Not necessarily in any particular order.

In the BeGuinness

As Guinness Stout lover, I often encourage others to try it and embrace its fabulous creaminess as well as unique taste. However, if you are a novice to this fine pint then get some better details of how to enjoy it here, there is also a lesson how to get a perfect pint in Ireland.

Cakebread & I are Over

Yes, so this weekend,  I went with a few girlfirends for some wine tasting in Napa Valley. We went to one of my formerly favorite wineries, Cakebread Cellers. The reason you ask? They have changed the way they do the tastings ---- and not for the better. First. you have to have an appointment and then you have to go into the freezing barrel room for 30 - 45 minutes. The guy who ;ed our tasting spent so much time chatting with one couple, our tasting took forever. Uggh. None of su bought wine from them. So, Cakebread and I are over. It is disappointing, especially since their wine is not as good as it sued to be.

We did have some bright spots, though1 You should definitely savor the merlot at Duckhorn. I had to buy some. We also had a great time at Merryvale and were treated so well. Plus, their wine is delcious! I had to buy some there, too. We bought a great feast from Dean and DeLuca (we need one in San Francisco).  Plus, we wen to Luna -- love their oinot Grigio and Sangiovese. Their Sangiovese reserve is also excellent. We decided to end the afternoon with Domaine Chandon. We ate a heavenly chocolate b-day cake and washed it down with some Brut Rose. It was a great ending with some great friends.