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Website: http://web.mac.com/weavemaster

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Favorite foods: burgers, congee, asian noodles, sushi, eggs benedict, french onion soup, barbeque, eggrolls, jamon serrano, shabu-shabu, reubens, salads, bahn mi, peking duck, chicken fried steak

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The Ten Most Recent Comments By doctorj

From Talk

Where Should I Eat/Shop in San Francisco?

Some stuff not to miss..

I have to say: the one thing in the Bay Area I've totally fallen in love with is the coffee at Blue Bottle. Made with care, and just delicious.

Great Mexican is everywhere (check out Redwood City, if you're willing to go down there)... I like the carnitas tacos/nachos/burritos at Taqueria Guadalajara on Mission St.

Taylor's is also fun -- try the ahi tuna burger for a change. I love a good cheeseburger, but this ahi sandwich makes me think twice about ordering beef. :)

Hog Island Oysters has a great oyster stew, clam chowder and grilled cheese sandwich. Comfort food at it's best.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!


From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Hola! I'm doctorj -- no, I'm not a medical doctor -- and I got my name from my basketball idol Julius Erving. Here in my hometown of Manila, I've been working in the graphic design field since the late 90's, but 2 years ago went on to dive head first into one of my true loves.. the food world. I took Culinary Arts & Management over at ICE in Manhattan.. lived there a bit.. interned at Nobu.. and pretty much devoted my life to what I've learned. Nowadays I teach, write, cook, take food orders.. no restaurant.. though that's in the works.

My two essential daily reads are Serious Eats and Chow. I like to keep abreast with both Manhattan and the Bay Area food scene as well, since I get to go there pretty often. I think Southeast Asia has a fantastic food scene as well -- Manila, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Taiwan and Hanoi are all exciting places to eat and learn about food!

Currently I'm attempting to put up my 2nd food blog... hopefully I can post soon. :)

From Serious Eats

The Serious Eats Sushi Roll

Hola from Manila in the Philippines!

I've had the pleasure of eating in some of the best sushi joints on both coasts of the US (some of my favorites in the East Coast: Sushi Yasuda, Jewel Bako, and Sushi of Gari) and some in Hong Kong and Singapore. But I must say that we have a select few over here in our shores that can hold their own against the best anywhere (a mean feat considering that Japan gets the bulk of our best sushi grade seafood! BOO!!!)

So, if you're ever in Manila, do check out:

INAGIKU
Location: 2nd Floor, Shangri-La Makati Hotel, Ayala Avenue at Makati Avenue, Makati City 1200 Tel. (63 2) 813 8888
Description: Yeah, I know it's in a fancy hotel, but trust me - it's worth it! When the hotel decided to renovate their Japanese restaurant, they also brought in an award winning sushi chef from Japan who was only supposed to stay for a couple of months but hasn't left since. My favorite? Engawa - a muscle that controls the fin of halibut. He carefully grills it with a blowtorch and brushes it ever so lightly with a slightly sweet sauce then envelopes it around a perfectly made ball of sushi rice. Makes you want to lick your fingers..

SUSHI TSUMURA
Location: 3rd Floor, Bankwise Bldg., Paseo De Roxas, Makati City 1200 Tel. (63 2) 812 8393
Description: Located in a nondescript building in the central business district, Sushi Tsumura to some is the best in the whole land. Though I don't totally agree that they're the best, their sushi is top notch most of the time (Yes, I've had mediocre sushi here.. but not often. Everyone has their bad days..) Nothing too funky here, but great on the tried and tested: Ikura, Unagi, Hamachi, Toro, Ama-ebi, etc. Most definitely worth the trip! Visit the sister restaurant as well -- KURATAKE over at Powerplant Mall, Lopez Drive, Rockwell Centre, Makati City Tel. (63 2) 8980509

SUSHI KAPPO KOBIKI-CHO
Location: Ground Floor, JAKA II Bldg., 150 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City Tel. (63 2) 7521280
Description: My newest discovery! Owned by the Japanese boss of my boxing trainer (funny, eh?) and located in a building that you will most probably drive by without noticing, SUSHI KAPPO KOBIKI-CHO serves some of the most exquisite sushi (dare I say this?) EVER, ANYWHERE. Toro that melts like butter in your mouth, the sweetest Uni, the softest cuttlefish ever, and the best MAGURO EVER!!! Maguro (Tuna) was my first ever sushi experience, so it's always been special to me, but never have I been as rapturous about Maguro than when I had it in Sushi Kappo Kobiki-Cho. My mouth waters as I write about it! MUST EAT IT!!! PLEASE GO!!! The only bad thing is that it's expensive for Manila standards, and the morsels of food are on the smallish side (after my first and only meal there, I got hungry about an hour later and went on a hotdog run). Then again, everything you put into your mouth is imported from Japan, so go figure. Go on a special occassion (payday, perhaps?) but by all means GO!

From Talk

Going to San Francisco. Any great dining suggestions for a foodie?

I would check out:

Gary Danko's -- his food is simply awesome.
Bix or Town Hall -- because they're fun places, and the food is great
Hog Island Oyster Co. -- in the ferry bldg... just yummy. with a great view!
Zuni Cafe -- for the sf experience
Boulevard -- most excellent food, and another sf experience
Yank Sing -- for great dimsum

enjoy!

From Talk

What to do/where to eat advice for Singapore?

I love to go to Singapore because they have a great food scene there. At this point in time (although this is slowly changing..) there isn't much to do there anyway but eat!

try:
WEE NAM KEE - for hainanese chicken rice
RAFFLES HOTEL - for a decadent sunday brunch featuring a foie gras station whipping up several different ways with duck liver
KOPITIAM - airconditioned food courts all over the city that make decent hawker food. i think it's a good place to start before going out to the streets.
IVINS - a small joint that's a bit hard to find but with great peranakan food (that's about as "native" singaporean as you get)

i agree with turkiyaki ... do check out makansutra.com.

oh, as for touristy stuff to do, some musts are: a walking tour of chinatown and little india, and the duck tour (amphibious truck).


Responses to Comments by doctorj

From Talk

Where Should I Eat/Shop in San Francisco?

I just had dinner at Absinthe the other night. Had pork confit served over creamed corn with chunks of bacon and fingerling potatoes. It was really really good! And the shared plates (think tapas) were really good, especially the fried chickpeas.

They have lots of great cocktails too -- although we stuck with their substantial wine list.

From Talk

Where Should I Eat/Shop in San Francisco?

Zuni Cafe is a must given the rest of the places you've got on tap already. It's different than all of them and really is an only in SF experience, to boot. Order the oysters, the Cesar salad, the roast chicken, the espresso granita and whatever fruit tart or crumble they have for dessert that night. The gnocchi are spectacular if they have them. Its really a terrific restaurant and my wife and I loved all of our meals there. (We never did manage to not order the chicken, either.)

From Talk

Where Should I Eat/Shop in San Francisco?

This takes me down memory lane, for when I used to live in SF. Thankfully, I'm also taking a trip back West in the next week or so, a respite from NYC, so this is a good reminder of all those good eats.
Gary Danko is a must-visit. I'm surprised no one's mentioned Peet's Coffee, which I miss dearly. Their artisan pastries and muffins are wonderful. True, Blue Bottle coffee is to-die-for as well, is it still setting up stall at the Ferry Building farmer's market?
I like Cactus taqueria in Rockridge for cheap, simple Mexican; Bouchon brasserie in Yountville (the boudin blanc's outstanding), Plouf (French seafood bistro) set in a cul-de-sec - fab mussels and seafood served by authentic French waiters. The list goes on...enjoy!

From Talk

Where Should I Eat/Shop in San Francisco?

Was just going to say Taylor's Refresher. Try the one on 29 on the way up to Yountville, its better than the one in the Ferry Building.

I happen to be partial to Gordos for burritos, but definitely still like La Taqueria and Cancun.

For a culinary tour down Clement Street, try Giorgios Pizza, Burma Superstar and Clementine.

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

I'm Rosezilla (named for my three year old daughter and the giant lizard thing that stomped Tokyo...it's what I call her when she's being...how you say...willful). My real handle is Mandy. I live in Santa Barbara County again after growing up here, but lived for 11 years in western Sonoma County...home of fabulous food and wines. It spoiled me rotten, to become an adult surrounded by all of that luscious produce and foodie opportunity. I managed a microbrewery's kitchen for 6 years, and have SERIOUS opinions about ales, should anyone care for them. Now I'm a home cook primarily, although I do a little catering here and there. My daughter's favorite foods are salmon and broccoli, so I feel as though I've triumphed a bit over the three-year-old beige-food diet. We do, however, eat at McDonald's every Friday after school...it's our little Happy Meal indulgence...and those tiny cheeseburgers are SOOO good. I live with and cook for my mother, as well. I am dating a high school band director, who has actually LOST weight being with me, as he's eating more asparagus and less fast food. I think that size 14 should be the new size 6. I am curvy, healthy, happy and active...and think that excellent foods should be part of everyone's diet. I am active in the "S'Cool Food" movement here, which tries to bring local and sustainable healthy food into school cafeterias. And I love, love, love this website.

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

@alacto-- I grew up in Williamsburg! If you're still there, I'm quite jealous of your accessibility to Aroma's. I was a slave at the Cheese Shop for a few years, and while I can't stand the house dressing any more, oh the cheese and wine selection....mmmmm

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Bro recently made these avocado eggrolls for a party. They are wonderful. We didn't use a sauce - no one noticed :D.

Whip 'em up and bring 'em down to the party!!

From Talk

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@kfarrel3: Hope you're enjoying Florence! I miss Antico Noe sandwiches so much :(

From Talk

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Mrs. L, a, ahem, 40 something (at least for two more weeks) who is just learning to cook and dealing with the fact that I own over 500 cookbooks (over 400 that have never been cooked from!). I live in San Jose CA and I see dead people for a living (no really, I manage a cremation business). I love serious eats to help me find out what's going on in the food world and to make me feel even more behind cuz I cook recipes I see here rather than open up one of my many cookbooks!

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

@NC Terry - I looooooooooove Zingerman's! Love love love! You have the best job.