the Castro's late night back-up

Last night we had another wonderful time in the Mission, closing out the bars (at the whopping CA hour of 2 am). Due to the fact that it took us a good 35 minutes and 8 blocks (in like 20 degree weather) to get a Jess a cab, we all ended up super craving some hot cooked late-night snackage. Of course, the immediate thought was to hit up the beloved Orphan Andy's <3, so we naively quested from the taqueria filled Valencia st. to my hood. 

Desert Fries, not to be confused with Dessert Fries

Because the Castro is SF's most happening place, and OA can seat about 10 people at a time, it was completely packed with a huge line. After some pro-tips from the dude ahead of us, we found out that Sparky's was even more congested, and so we put our faith in a Yelp search. Up came Bagdad Cafe, the triangular place that you always see when you are waiting for the light on 16th & Market. Thankfully there was no wait so we were sold.

giant nachos

The menu wasn't exceptionally exciting, pretty basic cafe/diner food... but without the pizazz or special items. BEWARE! they try to trick you with claiming to have "dessert fries." I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I imagine that anything involving sweet and french fries (e.g. sweet potato fries, fries & ice cream, etc) must be hardcore win. Not so much!!! It's actually "desert" fries which are just regular with some spicyness. LAME and misleading

Beyond that, the food was kind of expensive and not memorable. The fries were all soggy. Ken got a giant plate of nachos which was exciting from a purely quantitative perspective. Took forever for food and bill and we didn't get home till like 4am. boooo

really cool IRL

The one positive was that they had some very nice artwork on the wall. My favorite was the above (horribly cell photoed) painting of the neighborhood. It has Mr. Sutro in it <3 so that always makes me happy :)

Kartoffelpuffen Quest #1

Ever since I had those most amazing potato pancakes at the Apple Farm, I have craved to find the delicacy closer to home. I asked around and found out #1, they are called Kartoffelpuffen in German, and #2, they aren't that rare. One night, Eugi and I were at the local Cupertino Yogurtland <3 and I randomly decided I must have some potato pancakes!

After a quick yelp, I found that Heidi's Pies in San Mateo had them listed. I was super ecstatic at this revelation because I live on the same street as HP! We arrived and immediately ordered the "sweet" potato pancakes. Little did I know that one small adjective would make a whole big difference :(

What came was not the savory delicacy of San Luis Obispo, but rather a very sweet, rather gingery, almost pumpkin pancake. Although they weren't bad, and I ate the whole plate despite having already consumed dinner and mass froyo, it was such a bummer/fail. I will have to press forward in my search, and take careful note of the type of potato pancakes I partake in. sigh sigh

they looked so good. Well.. actually they were. but not right. :(

P.S. in general, I REALLY like Heidi's Pies. They have such good slices :) raspberry cream and key lime and peach mmmmm. Someday I'll do a better post about them

Fun at the Apple Farm

ROAD TRIP!!! Eugi and I decided to celebrate the long weekend by making a 1.5 day road trip to Santa Barbara. It's always a dangerous line to walk figuring out where to stop for food on the road. You don't want to end up at a chain, but at the same time you don't want to go to some crap-ass random diner in the middle of nowhere. Also! It's hard to know when to stop, cuz you don't want to waste your intake on a truck stop if a fun town is on its way, but then you don't wanna be 3 hours with nothing :S:S:S. We lucked out this time, and guessed perfectly to stop @ the billboard advertised Apple Farm in San Luis Obispo. 

I LOVE POTATO PANCAKES!!

From the outside, this place appears tiny. Once you enter you realize it's actual a huge place, kitschy country store included :). rock on!! We got seated in the furthest of four wings of the restaurant. Each one had it's own cottagey feel. I totally wish I had come here when I was 8. The menu was massive and dinerey, but I immediately eyed "potato pancakes." I've never had those before, nor did I know what it meant... it seemed like the perfect breakfast/lunch fusion. Well played Sharon :D. They were AWESOME!! It reminded me a lot of a Chinese green onion pancake. The texture was like a normal pancake, but the flavor was much more savory with a hint of like, onion? chive? iono, it was good though! It came with sour cream spread, mmm. 

Eugi ended up getting mac + cheese, my second choice, so we split half and half. It was also quite tasty, baked and crispy, but not quite as stand out :O as the potato pancakes. Either way I was mucho satisfied. 

baked mac and fruit

Since I'm still a kid at heart, I had to buy a couple of the specialty flavored candy cane sticks. They totally remind me of being young and going special stores with my mom :). The one I had was kind of gross and melted to the wrapper, but I don't regret dishing out 20 cents purely for nostalgia.

nostalgia flavored candy sticks

P.S. Does anyone have recommends for more places I can try potato pancakes?? Totally loved them :D I tried to look it up on Wikipedia on my phone on the drive back, but it was kind of a fail. It called them "Latka" and then informed me for information on "Latka Gravas" I needed to click thru to a diff page. If there is one thing that will distract me in to laughter fits, it's unexpected Taxi allusions. How can I do research after that?!?!

diner in bfe san mateo!

Last Feb, I hit up Toy Fair in NYC and had a wonderful chat with Shelly from our east coast PR firm. She was so totally floored when she found out that I live in San Mateo and had not yet been to Nini's Diner, apparently the best dive brunch place in the peninsula. I excitedly stuck it on the list... but due to budget constraints and lack of getting up in time to brunch, I hadn't managed it. UNTIL NOW!!!

What better way to kick off labor day weekend that hitting up infamous brunch?!?! Nini's is on the total fringe of North San Mateo, like 3 blocks North of Peninsula 101 exit. I thought that was Burlingame? sketch. This place is totally tiny, street parking in the middle of a neighborhood. We were seated quickly though, and given awesomely full menus. It also had a giant wooden board behind the counter with the menu. I love places like that :D

so much goodness in the scramble <3

I ended up getting a scramble that had cream cheese (go figure) and various other veggies. Totally amazing :) I horked it so fast. Also came with their specialty, super good homefries. I'm not a big b-fast potato person so I can't compare, but I did really enjoy them. This place is great!! Small review, but big recommend :O

it's real

follow up!!! i'm sure you all were waiting with baited (totally spelled wrong) breath to find out about the Denny's "Fried Cheese Melt." Well, being sharon and awesome, as promised i totally hit it up on opening day. I dragged my EASL team buddies out to lunch at the SLC location. they thought it was ridiculous until they tasted the incredible value that was this sandwich. $4 plus fries. insanity! best part was that it even looked like the picture :) denny's, you are comin back. the VI better watch out 

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Philadelphia in Italia

today i happily fb statused "i wish more foods had fried egg and/or cream cheese as condiment options" so when we stopped at our very favorite SF late night diner, i could do nothing better than order an omelet with cream cheese and jelly. that sounds pretty disgusting, even for me... but ironically the person who suggested it was EugiEugi. Apparently in Italy, it's a common dish to put jelly and Philadelphia in an omelet?! What is even crazier, is how this ridiculously flamboyant, semi-grubby diner in the Castro picked up such an international delicacy?? I think the answer is that Orphan Andy's and it's 24/7 goodness just pretty much rocks. I've only been there at very off-times (11 pm on Weds, 1:30 am sun night) and it's always PACKED! it's tiny and the bathroom is smaller than one on an airplane, but the food is delicious and the portions generous. Each breakfast food comes with a side of pancakes! Also, they have a variety of exotic burgers (also involving cream cheese). but don't go if you are from Romania. it doesn't meet the country's cleanliness standards. 

in case you are wondering if that's a slab of cream cheese and strawberry jam in an omelet: Yes.

My Fav Bay Area Brunch

I freaking love brunch foods!! I actually very rarely eat them though, something about stuffing myself with pancakes etc at 10 and then feeling sick the whole day kinda turns me off :(. With one exception, guests visiting! When my mom came to visit, I had to do some serious planning. I knew we were ferrying over to Sausalito, so i yelp quested for a non-touristy spot. Stupidly, i picked one over a mile away so we had quite the trek.. but it was so freaking worth it! Fred's Coffee Shop is the greatest brunch spot ever. Their whole menu is amazing, and they have FRIED FRENCH TOAST. seriously?! yes. yes they do!!!!! both times i've been i've gotten the one pancake (also great) one fft combo. mmmmmmmmmmmm :) it's also a very cute place. the wait staff is friendly and you can sit at the counter and watch the cooks prep up your food. worth the drive, worth the sickness. check it out next weekend ~~

they even use powdered sugar <3

MoStick Sandwich!!!

I am never ceased to be amazed by how easily I am excited by new, ridiculous food products. Today it was brought to my attention that Denny's is coming out with a new, mozzarella filled grilled cheese sandwich!! the best part is, it's only $4!!! That's like Costco Hot Dog meal value <:D. I wish I could eat it with Ishii..... <3

That said, it's coming out on the 24th. I wonder if they will have a midnight release party on the 23rd?

I know I'll be there

http://consumerist.com/2010/08/dennys-fried-cheese-melt-pushes-gooey-cheese-tolerance-to-new-levels.html