Xiang Lin Tian Xia - 湘临天下

Finally, here is Beijing. The first meal is from 湘临天下 (Xiang Lin Tian Xia). I won't have many prices for this trip, and my descriptions will be vague at best. Sorry in advance.


fried pork fat fried pork fat


red pepper fish head red pepper fish head


shark's fin soup shark's fin soup


fried squab fried squab


duck chin duck chin The pork fat was delicious. Then again, fried fat - how could it go wrong? Really good though, and with a little bit of kick. The red pepper fish head was also very good, but had a lot of bones which apparently is always the case with fish head. I liked it a lot but I'm a little bit lazy with the bones. Shark's fin soup was a little bit short on actual shark's fin, but the broth was probably the best broth I've ever had. Just awesome. Squab was excellent - juicy and tender. Vancouver does this dish well but I think this was definitely better. The duck chins were interesting. They tasted good but didn't have a whole lot of meat... again, a lot of work for the reward. The meat was great though! Thanks to Mike and his family for taking me out.
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Chaya Brasserie

Last dinner in SF before my trip to Asia was at Chaya Brasserie, a fusion Japanese/Western place originally from So Cal. They have a full sushi bar which is pretty good.


crispy dungeness crab cake, chiffonade salad, red bell pepper coulis & chili olive oil crispy dungeness crab cake, chiffonade salad, red bell pepper coulis & chili olive oil


filet mignon with sonoma foie gras, potato filled soba crepes, sauce perigeux filet mignon with sonoma foie gras, potato filled soba crepes, sauce perigeux Don't have the exact prices, but I remember the crab cake was in the mid-high teens and the steak was in the mid 30s. This place is expensive at dinnertime. Food was all good though... Crab cake wasn't quite as good as the one I had at Houston's a while ago, but still tasty in its own right. Less crab in it, but a nice crunch. The steak was good. Piece of foie gras was interesting... a little crispy on the outside. The potato soba thing was really good. Interesting twist on the potato side dish required for all steaks I guess. This place is a much better deal during lunch time.
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Kappa

Second to last meal before my trip to Asia was at Kappa, a little gem in Japantown.


sashimi - toro, hamachi, tai, uni sashimi - toro, hamachi, tai, uni


marinated sea snails marinated sea snails


grilled cod grilled cod


crab croquette crab croquette


blackskin pork tonkatsu blackskin pork tonkatsu


yuba tofu with daikon yuba tofu with daikon I think this place mostly serves Japanese people. It's a tiny place above the Denny's in Japantown. Sorry - no prices; there's no English menu or anything, but it's pretty expensive. Anyway, the food is great. Probably the best Japanese food in the city. The sashimi is always good stuff. The menu constantly changes and they always have something new/interesting. The sea snails were a first for me - interesting rubbery texture (more chewy than a typical escargot), but pretty good. The black cod was simple but well done. The fried items are excellent. The crab croquette is searing hot and delicious inside - creamy and crabby. The tonkatsu is made using blackskin pigs. Extremely moist and tender, which is a problem for most pork served nowadays it seems. Yuba with daikon was very refreshing and cleansing, if that makes any sense. Anyway, give it a try if you can... If you know someone that speaks Japanese, that would probably make it easier, but don't be scared. :P
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LuLu

Went to LuLu for a nice lunch.


antipasti - roasted beets with walnut and ricotta salata, country pate with stone ground mustard and crostini, corn, fava beans and arugula with pecorino fiore sardo - $14.50 antipasti - roasted beets with walnut and ricotta salata, country pate with stone ground mustard and crostini, corn, fava beans and arugula with pecorino fiore sardo - $14.50


iron skillet roasted mussels with drawn butter - $12.50 iron skillet roasted mussels with drawn butter - $12.50


grilled salmon with chopped eggs, capers and watercress on ciabatta - $10.95 grilled salmon with chopped eggs, capers and watercress on ciabatta - $10.95


lemon thyme gnocchi with red torpedo onions, snap peas, chanterelles and parmesan - $15.95 lemon thyme gnocchi with red torpedo onions, snap peas, chanterelles and parmesan - $15.95 Place is still good overall. The way the appetizer plate works is that they have a big list of different ones and you get to pick three. We consistently pick the beet salad and it is always great. The mussels were good as usual; simply prepared but delicious. The salmon sandwich and gnocchi were both okay, but a little boring... I think LuLu does much better with its appetizers and small plates. Better entrees can be found elsewhere.
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Ristorante Ideale

Sheesh, I'm jet lagged pretty bad. Here is a meal with my mom at Ristorante Ideale, an Italian place across the street from Mo's. I've got 3 or 4 more SF entries then it's on to Asia (I swear!).


zucchine tartufate - zucchini julienne tossed in truffle oil with parmigiano with wild black truffle pate crostini - $9.75zucchine tartufate - zucchini julienne tossed in truffle oil with parmigiano with wild black truffle pate crostini - $9.75


carpaccio di manzo - beef carpaccio topped with parmigiano, capers and arugola - $8.50carpaccio di manzo - beef carpaccio topped with parmigiano, capers and arugola - $8.50


spaghetti alla carbonara - spaghetti with homemade pancetta, eggs, pecorino and parmigiano - $11.75spaghetti alla carbonara - spaghetti with homemade pancetta, eggs, pecorino and parmigiano - $11.75


fettucine ai funghifettucine ai funghi The fettucine was a special so I don't have a better description. Anyway, this place bills itself as a Roman-style trattoria. It turns out to be a solid Italian option... very close to the new place (but crappy parking in North Beach). The zucchini salad was excellent - probably the best dish of the night, surprisingly enough. It's similar to a zucchini salad from Jackson Fillmore which was also great. I guess julienne + truffle just make zucchini awesome. Carpaccio was average - good but unspectacular. The carbonara was very very eggy as you can see - it's almost like it was a pasta topped with scrambled eggs. The eggs were great but I like it a little more sauce-like. The pancetta was very good, but made the dish slightly too salty. The fettucine was homemade - great texture. I'd probably order a fresh pasta next time.
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Galette

Just got back to San Francisco. Trip to Asia was great and there is a lot of food coming... I promise. Still going through some SF entries though - here's one of my SF staples, Galette.


galette with potatoes, onions, and brie - $9 galette with potatoes, onions, and brie - $9


galette with ham, cheese, and egg - $8 galette with ham, cheese, and egg - $8


galette with salted butter and vanilla sugar - $4 galette with salted butter and vanilla sugar - $4 The brie one usually has pancetta too but my mom ordered it without. I almost always order the ham/cheese/egg one, but after trying my mom's I may go with the brie one (pancetta included) next time. It was really tasty. I also prefer the simple butter/sugar one to the sweeter and more complicated ones with more toppings. Galette is really a great place, and I urge everyone to try it. Even the side salads are yummy.
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The Great China

This is a meal at The Great China in Berkeley with my mom and Roger. It would prove to be one of many peking ducks put to the test this month...


pork dumplings pork dumplings


peking duck peking duck The one comment on the Citysearch page disses the service, but we didn't really have any of those problems. I remember the last time I went a year or so ago we were upstairs and didn't have any problems either. The dumplings were pretty solid but not too special. The duck is great - I like how they serve the meat with it. I like the pancakes better though at the place in Vancouver.
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Kyo-ya

Here is a lunch with my dad at Kyo-ya in SF, still a reliable (if pricey) Japanese option.


ko-donburi special - tai donburi & katsu soba - $23 ko-donburi special - tai donburi & katsu soba - $23 Each day they have a bento box and a ko-donburi special - basically 2 entrees served together that change daily. It's always pretty good. The tai (red snapper) donburi was nice... lots of different seaweed and other stuff mixed in there too. The soba was alright. The tonkatsu was tasty and noodles were not bad.
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Slanted Door cont.

I forgot to mention something interesting about the Slanted Door. They used an interesting short grain white rice which I thought was very good. Watch out for it if you go.
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The Slanted Door

A reader gave the great suggestion of putting up prices along with all the food, so I'll do this whenever I have the right prices. Food in HK has been great, but still got lots to go from SF. I'll catch up eventually... My mom and I ate at the new Slanted Door for lunch a while ago at the Ferry Building.


crispy imperial rolls with shrimp, pork and glass noodles - $7.25 crispy imperial rolls with shrimp, pork and glass noodles - $7.25


organic sweet corn with green onions and golden chanterelle mushrooms - $9 organic sweet corn with green onions and golden chanterelle mushrooms - $9


meyer ranch shaking beef - cubed filet mignon with garlic and organic red onions - $18.50 meyer ranch shaking beef - cubed filet mignon with garlic and organic red onions - $18.50


cellophane noodles with fresh dungeness crab meat - $13.50 cellophane noodles with fresh dungeness crab meat - $13.50 I went to the original Slanted Door years ago in the mission, but I never went to the middle location between that one and this one. The new place is absolutely packed... We ate at 1:45 or 2pm and the place was still full. They were also filming some kind of interview with the chef. Anyway, the food is still good. Great imperial rolls. The corn was very sweet. Shaking beef was as good as I remember it, as were the noodles. I think the crab noodles are a very interesting dish... great combination. The place is pretty expensive for what is normally considered cheap food, but I have to admit it's pretty good. The view is absolutely fantastic.
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Town Hall

Sorry about the lack of updates... Mike doesn't have a router so I couldn't hook my computer up. I just got to Hong Kong, and we got the connection working here. Here is Town Hall, which recently won awards in San Francisco Magazine.


tuna tartare with fried tomatoes and green onion tabasco vinaigrette tuna tartare with fried tomatoes and green onion tabasco vinaigrette


faith's warm smithfield ham and cheese toast with poached egg and jalapeno cream faith's warm smithfield ham and cheese toast with poached egg and jalapeno cream


sauteed dayboat scallops with smoked andouille sausage jambalaya, basmati rice and crab butter sauteed dayboat scallops with smoked andouille sausage jambalaya, basmati rice and crab butter


slow-roasted duck with toasted wild rice, pecans, spiced dates and gingersnap gravy slow-roasted duck with toasted wild rice, pecans, spiced dates and gingersnap gravy


warm peach johnnycake cobbler a la mode warm peach johnnycake cobbler a la mode Overall, pretty good. Everything was really nice except for the duck which was totally dissappointing. The tuna tartare and fried tomatoes were great. My dad really liked the jambalaya. More to come later...
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Kokkari Estiatorio

Updating now from Beijing. The weather is surprisingly good... not too hot. Anyway, here's a meal from SF at Kokkari Estiatorio, a Greek restaurant. I went with my mom, Winston and Roger, Auntie Raphaela and Uncle Terence, Auntie Cathy, and Auntie Margie. Thanks for taking me!


kolokithokeftethes - crispy zucchini cakes with cucumber & mint-yogurt dressing kolokithokeftethes - crispy zucchini cakes with cucumber & mint-yogurt dressing


soutzoukakia - grilled meatballs with oregano and orange, tomato-pepper compote soutzoukakia - grilled meatballs with oregano and orange, tomato-pepper compote


kalamata pita - flatbread of caramelized onion, kalamata olives, myzithra & parmesan cheese kalamata pita - flatbread of caramelized onion, kalamata olives, myzithra & parmesan cheese


kalamari - grilled calamari with roasted leeks, white corn & pickled onions kalamari - grilled calamari with roasted leeks, white corn & pickled onions


mosharisia brizola - charcoal-grilled, dry-aged ribeye with braised greens & kokkari potatoes mosharisia brizola - charcoal-grilled, dry-aged ribeye with braised greens & kokkari potatoes


arnisia paldakia - grilled lamb chops with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette & kokkari potatoes arnisia paldakia - grilled lamb chops with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette & kokkari potatoes


blueberry shortcake blueberry shortcake We shared the appetizers around the table, and they were all good. I liked the zucchini cake and the flatbread a lot. The meatball kinda tasted like good hamburger. The calamari was very tender. The main dishes were massive - they said the ribeye was 22 oz (with bone). My lamb chops were great - this place is apparently known for its lamb dishes and this one delivered. I'll keep trying to update... Takes longer here cuz I have to transfer files to a different computer, and a few other extra things. Either way it looks like I'll be backlogged all the way til school starts up again. The Beijing stuff will probably start coming up in a week, maybe a bit more.
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China

I'm leaving for Asia today. I'll be visiting Mike in Beijing until the 12th, then I'm going to HK until the 21st. I should be able to update during the trip. I'm way behind though, so there are still a lot of SF posts coming up. But I'll get to everything eventually... :)
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Lüx

My dad and I went to L�x, the new offshoot of Isa that supposedly puts out Asian-influenced small plates. The place was pretty packed, but we got a couple of seats at the bar.


vietnamese red snapper ceviche with cilantro, mango, tomato & onion vietnamese red snapper ceviche with cilantro, mango, tomato & onion


tartare of grassfed steak with lemon, shallots, chili & taro crackers tartare of grassfed steak with lemon, shallots, chili & taro crackers


green onion pancake stuffed with local king salmon and zucchini, dill creme fraiche green onion pancake stuffed with local king salmon and zucchini, dill creme fraiche


salt & pepper black tiger prawn tempura with lobster oil & seaweed salad salt & pepper black tiger prawn tempura with lobster oil & seaweed salad


hama hama oyster beignets with sambal aioli, green onion & cilantro hama hama oyster beignets with sambal aioli, green onion & cilantro


grilled rack of lamb with baby artichokes, balsamic & sour cherry grilled rack of lamb with baby artichokes, balsamic & sour cherry


blueberry & blood orange semifreddo blueberry & blood orange semifreddo Overall, not bad. The place is a bit cramped and pretty noisy. The food was alright though. Ceviche was nothing special. Tartare was pretty interesting - had a bit of kick from the chili oil. The green onion pancakes with salmon were very good I thought. A little bit more like a quesadilla than a cong you bang though. Tempura wasn't very good. The oysters were alright, but I'm not a big fan of oysters. Oyster lovers would think they're great I'm sure. The rack of lamb was great... Lamb was cooked very nicely. The sides weren't too good though. The dessert was a special, and described as a semifreddo, but was sort of more like a zabaglione type of dish... which is good, since zabaglione is probably my favorite of the Italian desserts. This thing was REALLY GOOD... great mix of berries, definite influence from the blood orange. Too bad it's not on the regular menu.
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Chez Nous

Despite our apartment move, my mom and I still hit a lot of the places back by our old house. Here's a lunch from Chez Nous, a French-Mediterranean small plates place affiliated with the Bay Bread Boulangerie around the corner.


pommes frites with harissa aioli pommes frites with harissa aioli


heirloom tomato salad with manouri cheese and basil oil heirloom tomato salad with manouri cheese and basil oil


peynirli borek-phyllo turnovers with feta, leek, and spinach peynirli borek-phyllo turnovers with feta, leek, and spinach


sauteed haricots verts with cashews and lemon sauteed haricots verts with cashews and lemon


pan-seared scallops, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, chorizo pan-seared scallops, sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, chorizo The place seems to be doing less business than in the past (it was impossible to get a table for a while), but the food is still great. Pommes frites are addictive and the accompanying aioli is delicious. Heirloom tomatoes were simple but also great - I guess every restaurant is doing them now. Phyllo turnovers were nothing special but still good. Haricots verts were so-so, due I think more to the quality of the beans than anything about the preparation. The scallop dish was awesome. Scallops were cooked perfectly, and the pile of corn/tomato/chorizo was delicious.
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El Tonayense

Got a chance to hit up El Tonayense, the taco truck on 16th and Harrison. Still a lot to go on though on the SF list.


carne asada tacos carne asada tacos Business as usual. Sorry about the weird glare, big tree + bright sun + no seats/tables = bad picture. Still good stuff though. I've noticed a few other taco trucks around - one just down the street in front of the Best Buy parking lot, and another across the street from the court house on Bryant. Hopefully they will keep popping up. Taco trucks rule.
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Houston's

I finally tried Houston's with my mom. It's really close to the new apartment, so I've been wanting to check it out.


Chicago style spinach dip chicago style spinach dip


crab cakes with fries and cole slaw crab cakes with fries and cole slaw


vegetarian plate with heirloom tomatoes, cous cous, sweet corn, spinach, and peppers vegetarian plate with heirloom tomatoes, cous cous, sweet corn, spinach, and peppers The spinach dip was good, but nothing too spectacular... The dip at CPK isn't much different. The crab cakes were a special that night and turned out fabulous. Big chunks of crab, with no overdose of breadcrumbs/filling/whatever. Almost couldn't finish it. My mom's veggie plate wasn't bad either. Usually veggie plates are pretty plain and nasty, but pretty much everything in this one was alright. Tomatoes and corn were both tasty. Only thing is that the crab cakes turned out to be a whopping $28. Most of the stuff on the menu is more reasonable than that, but I guess it was a special. Damn good crab cakes though.
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Veal Chops

Here's some home cooking from my mom.


arugula salad with cherry tomatoes and radishes arugula salad with cherry tomatoes and radishes


veal chops with butter and sage veal chops with butter and sage Yummy... The salad was really good. All the stuff was from the Ferry Building (though not on a market day). Tomatoes right now taste really good. The radishes were great too.
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Delica rf-1

Back to San Francisco at last! I now live by the Embarcadero, near the Ferry Building. Here is a quick lunch from Delica rf-1, a "Japanese deli" of sorts in there.


lunch bento - fried scallops, string bean salad, tofu salad lunch bento - fried scallops, string bean salad, tofu salad Not bad. The bean salad was pretty nice. I'll probably go back to try more of the other fried offerings they have. They have a few different kinds of croquettes there that look pretty good.
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