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Entries from Talk tagged with 'California'
Cheap and tasty in downtown San Diego
Hi there! Tomorrow me and the BF will be departing Boston to go to San Diego for Comic Con. We will be staying about a mile from the convention center and will be on foot for all of our travels. As the schedule of events tends to run from morning until (very often) late in the evening, we're looking for ideas for places to eat that are budget friendly but not far from the center (within a mile or so), so we can get back for panels and whatnot easily. We'd really appreciate any suggestions you all would be willing to provide!
Where to get good eats... Highway 1 Santa Cruz to San Francisco
The family and I have had it with the 110 valley heat, so we're going on a day trip from Stockton to Santa Cruz up Highway 1 to San Francisco... any suggestions on where to eat?
Went to Surfas in LA - what should I do with these?
I was down in LA last week and hit Surfas (https://www.surfasonline.com/index.cfm). I came home with a bag full of fun stuff, including a few items I grabbed just because they looked interesting.
So I need your help. What would you do with these?:
- dried epazote
- powdered coconut milk (beyond the obvious of reconstituting it to make coconut milk).
- a jar of palm sugar
Cupcakes in LA
How about some great cupcake stores in the LA area? I already know about Sprinkles but does anyone have any other ideas?
Thanks!
Cheesemaking class in Southern California?
Does anyone know of a cheesemaking class in Southern California?
Baking/Pastry Program at PCI in San Jose, CA
I'm considering enrolling in the baking/pastry program at PCI in the San Jose, CA area. Does anyone know anything about the program/school? Know anyone who's completed it? There are a few other places in the area, but this one is closest and offers a baking/pastry program. Any recommendations?
San Francisco sushi restaurant?
I'm coming to SF al the way from Panama for a serious eating journey. I have a list of great restaurants, but need advice on a good sushi place. Would love something small and authentic.
Good eats on the Pacific Coast Highway?
I'm going to be in Malibu in a few weeks and I'm going to take the Pacific Coast Highway from LAX. Where are good places to eat along the way?
Food recommendations in San Francisco... Help!
I'm off to SF this weekend and need restaurant suggestions. My only definite right now is El Farolitos, an old favorite for quesadillas.
I'm looking for a nice dinner one night... not insanely expensive but willing to spend a bit more (Slanted Door is booked, bummer). Also looking for Dim Sum in Chinatown. Any good Japantown rec's? Best Pho? Best restaurant serving locally-sourced foods?
Many thanks in advance.
Anaheim, Calif., Restaurants Needed (non-Disney)
WV to Anaheim, CA and back in three days. Disney restaurants aside, where can I eat good restaurant meals in and around Anaheim, CA? Is there a little Diner tucked between a couple Interstates somewhere? Where's the best seafood shack with fried goodness?
I know there will be Disney-related restaurants I can find, but I'm looking for other spots.
where are the "must try" places to eat in the San Diego area?
We just moved to the San Diego area about 2 months ago, and want suggestions on places to eat.
Caterers in Los Angeles - Name your favorites!
Tis the season, and for a change I'm going to step out of the kitchen and let someone else do the cooking. Who has suggestions for caterers in Hollywood (Los Angeles)?
Romantic Veggie Restaurant in San Francisco?
We're heading to San Fran for our 25th Wedding Anniversary, and looking for non-oriental Veggie romantic restaurant, any suggestions? Thanks
Great REAL Chinese food in LA?
Just moved to LA from NYC and am looking for something akin to my absolute fav Grand Sichuan...is there any super Chinese food here or is it all egg foo yung? HELP!!
Anyone know of a good butcher or fishmonger in West Los Angeles?
I would love to start purchasing meat and fish from those who know best, but I have no idea where to find a good butcher or fishmonger near me. Does anyone in West LA skip sorting through the meats at Ralph's and go to an expert? I would love a recommendation or two!
Going to San Francisco. Any great dining suggestions for a foodie?
Would like some input on restaurants in the Bay Area. Husband's first time in S.F. and we love different. Thanks.
Best High End Dinner and Lunch in San Francisco
What's the best high end restaurant for dinner in San Francisco? And for lunch? I have two chances to dine in style and want to make the most of both.
Don't Miss Food between SF and Seattle?
I'll be taking a road trip this July from San Francisco, up the Pacific Coast Highway to Seattle, and I need any advice and recommendations for must-see (or must-eat) on my way. Our itinerary is loose, so we're willing to go off the beaten track. One caveat, money will be tight, so high-budget restaurants are probably gonna be out of our reach this trip. Thanks in advance.
Have You Tried Zankou Chicken in Los Angeles?
IMHO, undoubtedly the best roast chicken on the planet!
Best places to visit in Napa Valley & Sonoma?
i'm planning a trip to wine country in the fall and it will be my first. i'm a total foodie - so i don't want to waste a single meal there - only the best. and if possible, i'd like to stay on a budget, as i am The Frugal Foodie.
thanks for the help!
How much do restaurant reviews affect your dining decisions?
Will you completely avoid a venue based on a professional critic's published review? Has a glowing write-up of a dining establishment sent you scrambling for a reservation? I have enjoyed some very memorable meals at Los Angeles eateries Koi, Luna Park, and Citizen Smith, which have all been given one star by the Los Angeles Times. Even though the Bruni/Chowdrow epic saga makes for interesting car-crash style reading, I find that I tend to avoid reading professional reviews until after I’ve experienced it for myself.
International Tapas
I am a big fan of Spanish tapas, but recently I went to a restaurant in Los Angeles that served tapas from around the world. I was wondering if anyone has fun recipes for tapas?
San Francisco: best place for pork buns?
Who makes the best pork buns in San Francisco? A friend of mine is on a pork bun adventure, and we need your suggestions for the best around the city. Thanks!
Where is the best open-faced turkey sandwich in San Francisco?
I'm interested in hearing the best and the worst, so I know what to avoid. Surely, there are some turkey aficionados that can help me out.
I would like to ask for suggestions for excellent dim sum in and around San Francisco.
I am picky about my dim sum, mostly because my dad was a cook in Chinese restaurants for most of his life here. Anyway, I'd like something on the cheaper side, but with
Good simple pizza in SOMA, SF?
I live and work in SOMA in San Francisco, and the best (or at least most consistent) thin-slice pizza I've seen is Uncle Vito's. Surely there's a respite from Goat Hill and Amici's around here!
Charles Chocolates of San Francisco?
Have you ever tried chocolates from Charles Chocolates of San Francisco, and if so, what are your thoughts about them? I read about them in Chowhound.com.
Also, in your opinion, is chow.com/chowhound.com a site whose recommendations are worthy of attention?
The Slanted Door
After an afternoon playing tourist on Alcatraz Island, the girlfriend and I needed a place to eat. We took her sister's advice and headed to the recently restored Ferry Terminal Building for Vietnamese at some place called http://www.slanteddoor.com/.
I had read about the Slanted Door on foodblogs and in the press but had somehow managed to forget about it until visiting the city last week. I had managed to forget all the raves, all the backlash, and also the fact that a reservation was required.
No problem, though. We got there around 6:15 p.m., looking like prison escapees, but were squeezed in by an accommodating host — if we promised to make our dinner quick, she said, "Like, 45 minutes to an hour."
Again: No problem. We're fast eaters. We started with Slanted Door spring rolls (pictured above), crispy imperial rolls (below), and a green papaya salad. The appetizers were up to snuff, especially in comparison to a disappointing lunch in the same building at the lackluster Taylor's Automatic.
Maybe we should have stuck with appetizers. The grilled pork chips (with ginger-soy-shallot sauce and crispy potatoes) I ordered were slightly overdone and the chicken claypot dish (with caramel sauce, chilies and fresh ginger) that the girl ordered was a touch too salty and not all that remarkable. The price and setting (a beautiful dining room with stunning views of San Francisco Bay) led me to expect more from the place. And later, I was even more disappointed when I put two and two together and realized where I had just eaten (Ruth Reichl, I was told, had named it one of America's best restaurants, and Bill Clinton had dined there when in town at some point, I heard).
I realize this was just one meal, though, so if I have the opportunity to go back to the city by the bay, I'd give the Slanted Door another chance. It's the least I could do, given how friendly the staff was and how nice they were to give a couple of last-minute bedraggled tourists a table.
The Counter
My pal John was visiting California for a few days, so we went up to The Counter in Santa Monica. This is one of the only burger places in LA that will actually cook a RARE burger. I know, I was shocked, too. I had the 1/3lb Beef Burger with Cheddar, Avocado, Mushrooms, and Spicy Sour Crea on a Honey Wheat Bun.
Awesome.
The place is crowded and packed tight, the service is brisk, and the order-by-clip-board process seems to make things easy.
Oh, and the onion rings are great, too.
So, in conclusion: You should go there. Now.
