by Sam Tackeff | Jan 29, 2010 | Farmers Market, Food Travel, Local stores
Yesterday was the Underground Farmers’ Market in San Francisco. My initial plan involved walking over to The Mission to get some exercise before gorging myself in the underground. Instead, I lazily took the MUNI to 18th street where on the way, I was “accidentally” seduced by a chalk board that boasted exciting flavors at Bi-rite Creamery. I couldn’t restrain myself. I ended up with a cone of earl gray, which I blissfully ate as I walked through the neighborhood. You know… to prime my stomach.
The SF Underground Farmers’ Market is an event that allows small time vendors to get their businesses off the ground and test the market with their wares. It’s been organized by Iso Rabins from Forage SF, who has done a brilliant job of putting together a great community of vendors and people looking to support the local food movement.
This location was in a moderately awesome space on Capp Street. (Up a mysteriously lit set of stairs, which evoked memories of basement raves at M.I.T. Yep. Nerd.) Despite arriving punctually at its 5pm opening, the place was already packed! I heard from Iso that he had a list of over 600 people signed up, and there were more registering at the door.
There was a plethora of options and the market was heavily skewed towards gently prepared foods: ranging from sauerkraut, kombucha, honey, chocolate, mushrooms, pies, lasagna, bread, and sandwiches. There was live music, families with small children, and plenty of happy, food lovin’ people to share the evening with. Fun!
My first big stop was to see Shakirah of Slow Jams (this lovely lady below, being interviewed on the camera). I heard tell that her Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon Marmalade was to die for, so I snatched one up before anyone else could get to them. I also managed to score the lone jar of her Milk Jam, which Jessica from the Golden Crust was using in some amazing cream puffs she was selling at the market.
Her jams are beautiful, as are the cute containers! Which is another trend I’d like to point out – the Underground Farmers’ Market was filled with simple, pleasantly aesthetic design. Not really a surprise, given that these entrepreneurial folks have a great sense of taste. Including the limited edition poster from local artist Philip Clark. (Really though. I considered buying one to spruce up the ol’ abode, but now, my apartment is only decorated in regret. Maybe next time Phil C.)
After making my initial rounds, I ended up purchasing a jar of raw local honey from Oakland, two Slow Jam jams, and a few bags of delicious Treat granola (which was stirred into my morning oatmeal with great success). While there, I ate a fair deal more than that, including my absolute favorite food of the evening: the corned beef sandwich from Pearl’s Kitchen, with lightly spread mustard on caraway bread. Pictured below is a woman holding said Manna from Heaven. Where my Jews at? Can’t these people open a deli in San Francisco? I’m pleading!
I could have eaten three of these.
Don’t miss out next time! SF Underground Farmers’ Market is gearing up to be a monthly event if Iso can swing it.
SF Underground Farmers’ Market
When: (Hopefully monthly)
Where: Secret-ish location, changes each time. (This last one was in the Mission at Capp and 17th)
How: It’s free! But sign up is required.
Sign up HERE to be on their mailing list.
by Sam Tackeff | Jan 4, 2010 | Local stores, Shopping
The news is hot:
Six local vendors are about to open a collaborative culinary marketplace in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood… in other words, less than a mile away from my house. Yeehaw!!! I walk up the hill to Bernal about once a week, partly for the pleasure of huffing and puffing my way up the little hill from Mission to Cortland – and partly for the pleasure of enjoying this great little corner of San Francisco filled with independent coffee shops, bookstores, cute restaurants, and nice markets. I haven’t yet tried the new Sandbox bakery, but I hear that it’s fantastic… Anyone want to join me?
The lineup of vendors is looking particularly promising:
Wholesome Bakery: Tasty vegan treats and baked goods – that are also wheat-free, yeast-free and soy-free. And to wash them down, Desiree Salomon’s DEZYS DRINKS—including “freshly made chai, juice, and kombucha tea, all made from scratch daily using mostly organic fruits, vegetables, and spices, and all kid-friendly.” Yum!
Paulie’s Pickling : featuring hand crafted pickled vegetables and fruits, as well as sauces, relishes, sandwiches and salads. I have a thing for pickles that rivals any pregnancy craving, so I’m guessing that this one is going to be a particular favorite of mine.
ICHI Lucky Cat Deli : Japanese deli delights! I’m particularly looking forward to their sushi (which has until now been experienced only by those lucky enough to have ICHI cater an event..) Japanese sandwiches, and take home sushi kits.
El Porteño Empanadas : I went to college with Texans responsible for my love of empanadas. But really, who wouldn’t love an empanada? Little handpies that you can fill with savory or sweet, and then grab on the go? My type of food! El Porteño Empanadas are of Argentinian influence, and will feature Prather Ranch Beef, Fulton Farms Chicken, and fresh organic/local veg for their vegetarian versions.
Della Terra Organics : organic produce from the bay area – open seven days a week when you miss out on farmer’s market.
And for the kitchen oriented,
Bernal Cutlery will set up shop on the premises to sharpen your well used knives.. and maybe tempt you with some new ones.
This is just a taste, but I’ll be sure to report from the field in a few weeks when the doors open! [Opening Late January, 2010.]
331 Cortland
Bernal Heights
331 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco
California, 94110
Contact: 415-822-4024
by Sam Tackeff | Nov 7, 2009 | Chocolate, Gifts, Shopping
There is an empty canister of Poco Dolce Espresso Toffee chocolates sitting behind my desk at work. I’ve opened it every few days over the past couple of weeks hoping that it would miraculously be full again of chocolate. (You think I’m kidding – sadly I’m not.) I really should replace it before I go crazy for good.
I remember vividly the day that I had my first Poco Dolce chocolate square (they call them tiles). I had just completed a long walk, over two very big hills, and ended up at Chocolate Covered in Noe Valley – the fine purveyors of just about any chocolate you can think of eating. The interaction went something like this: Me: “JACK! I need a most delicious chocolate that I can eat immediately! I need something exciting! I need your best!” Jack: Knowingly hands me a Poco Dolce Aztec Dark Chocolate Tile flecked with Sea Salt.
Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! – it was a like a multiple layer explosion.
Deep, dark chocolate. Spicy chile pepper with hints of cinnamon. Crunchy little toasted pumpkin seeds nestled in between. And flecks of salt that make the chocolate sing! You experience each individual layer and then they mix together and… I can’t come close to giving them justice, you really have to just try one.
And, the company is run by a smart and entrepreneurial woman, Kathy Wiley, here in San Francisco. I’ve been tempted to scream out “YOU GO GIRL” on the times that I’ve met her in the flesh, but that is embarrassing and a little ridiculous, and I really just think that aside from the fantastic chocolate, it’s just really inspiring to see women as leaders in the food industry.
Poco Dolce chocolate is a perfect stocking stuffer. Poco Dolce chocolate is a perfect afternoon snack, perfect breakfast, perfect gift for someone you really care about, perfect stress reducer, you name it. Poco Dolce chocolate is really just perfect. Do yourself a favor and buy some of these. You can thank me later. (Preferably with a shipment of Tile Trio).
Prices run from about $2.50 a square to $16 for an 8 oz canister of toffee squares, $18 for a box of 8 tiles, $22 for a sampler of toffee squares, to $50 for the Trifecta box of Tiles, sure to make you an instant hero to the special recipient. For chocolate of this quality and deliciousness a pretty good deal.
pocodolce.com
415.255.1443
info@pocodolce.com
Chocolate Covered
4069 24th St (between Castro St & Noe St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 641-8123
by Sam Tackeff | Oct 13, 2009 | Food Travel, Restaurants
My favorite part about living in San Francisco currently, is hosting guests who have never been to this city, and heading around town feeding them my favorites. This presents a bit of a delicate problem for my expanding waistline, but I figure that I’ll burn off “most” (cough* a fraction of*) of the calories if we attempt to walk to as many spots as possible.
Last week, my dear friend Caroline came, on a quick break from her graduate studies at Haaaahvahhhd, for her cousin’s destination wedding in wine country, which meant that I had only one day to take her around! What to choose from!
After picking her up at the airport at 11:30 pm, we came back to my little apartment in Noe Valley, and fell right asleep, so we would have energy for the upcoming excursion. Once morning came, we headed out early, taking the J over the big hill by Dolores Park (I didn’t want to kill her before noon), and stopping briefly on 18th street for a cup of Mocha Tesora at Philz, no extra sugar, dash of cream, with a mint leaf on top. If you haven’t had it before, it’s heaven in a cup. Philz makes your cup of coffee one at a time, and is one of the best that I’ve had in this city. I’m equally torn between the one on 18th street, and the one down on 24th in the mission.
We then walked through the Castro, taking a brief stop into Cliff’s Variety mostly so I could note how wonderful it was that they really do have a little bit of everything! And to marvel at their collection of kitchen wares, and note how I could really use a Norpro Ceramic Compost Keeper, in order to properly follow the new San Francisco law of composting. Alas, Given was closed, so I couldn’t show her all of the things (art, home ware, jewelry, furniture, trinkets) I would like to own. We headed up the street and turned on market, picking the J back up at Church and Market, and headed over to the Ferry Building.
As things were just starting to open, we went to badger the hostess at Slanted Door, to see if she would give us a reservation for two around 11:30, enough time to walk through each of the shops before we became famished. She kindly obliged, and we went off to take “San Francisco Photos”. I managed to take a “San Francisco Photo” of her with the Bay Bridge, and then a portrait of a native seagull, in the same pose.
Stately fellow, isn’t he?
After this, we walked around, although, this time, Miette wasn’t open quite yet, so we didn’t have one of their lovely Macarons (I like pistachio), and it was a little too early for a sandwich or Meat Cone at Boccalone, although that usually is one of my favorites. My brother is still over the moon about his “Tasty Salted Pig Parts Water Bottle” he picked up there. We did step into Sur La Table, which stocks well and has nice sales, and an particularly pleasant assistant manager, John, who I met at Omnivore yesterday.
This is my favorite photo of Caroline, which I caught right before she broke out into a giggle. I like making my subjects laugh right before snapping their photo.
We sat outside at the Slanted Door, it was perfect weather, and the tourist watching opportunities there are prime. While people often make comments that the Slanted Door is overrated, I have never had anything but lovely food and service there. It’s a nice place to sit, eat, and people watch.
She had milk tea, and I had their iced tea. We shared a bowl of their shrimp and pork wonton soup, which has a lovely broth and egg noodles, then we had the beautifully presented Hamachi (Yellowtail Tuna) collar, some of the most tender parts of fish, which came with these grilled pineapple that were so, so good. We finished with the highly fragrant chicken clay pot, and no room for dessert.
After lunch, we set back to walking, heading towards Union Square, where we took a brief pause at the very large Williams Sonoma to watch a pasta making demonstration, and discussing the merits of the city of Boston versus San Francisco with a lively little audience.
We finally headed over the bridge to Berkeley, on what I affectionately refer to as the “Soviet Disney Monorail” (aka the Bart) to walk around the campus, take a brief pause at Games of Berkeley, where I was astounded to find the board game “Quelf” which I immediately purchased. For those unaware (I’m assuming most of you, because most board game stores have never heard of this game), Quelf is a lively boardgame that is to be played with a group of people who are not afraid of acting like complete oddballs together. It is impossible to play without laughing hysterically.
Next, after checking out the “reduced price cheese basket” at the Cheeseboard cheese store, and scoring on a blue cheese and a goat cheese for about $2.50, we headed next door to get in line at Cheeseboard Pizza, my favorite spot for pizza in the bay area. Cheeseboard features one pizza a day, of which you can order slices, a fraction of, or the whole pizza including tax for $20. This is a steal for what you are getting. The pizza is always chock full of local vegetables, and specialty cheeses from next door. It’s vegetarian, but no omnivore would be missing the meat here. The line is long but quick, and I’ve never been let down by the selection. On Fridays they have jazz.
We were there for a most delicious pizza with gruyere and potato, and the salad of the day, and made sure to get some for Devon, who most generously picked us up in the car to take us back over the bridge.
A pretty wonderful day, for sure.
Although, if you are thinking of coming to San Francisco, best visit for a week!
by Sam Tackeff | Apr 26, 2009 | Restaurants
For the past few months I’ve been walking past the doors of Incanto every day and stopping to look at the menu. It’s pretty much become a daily ritual, as it is located exactly three minutes from my house. Menus are a little bit like illicit magazines for me. I sneak by each day to look at the list, memorizing each carefully composed and crafted sentence until “Foie gras torchon with preserved plums and grilled stirato” is seared into my head so I can dream about it all day long.
I think it’s fair to say that Incanto is different. Neighborhood Italian, for sure, but certainly not your spaghetti and meatballs joint. It specializes in Offal: the bits and pieces of the animal: including the heart, liver, kidneys, and brain. Bones, blood and guts, oh my! Does that scare you? Because it doesn’t scare me. I’m the kid that used to ask my mom to make liver, and would steal the giblets from the pan at Thanksgiving. The best part about it is that the stuff is good for you – it’s where the nutrients are in the animal – but aside from that, I’ll avoid talking about “healthy”, because I find that you lose all trust when you start that conversation.
Chris Cosentino, head chef at Incanto, cares passionately about using the whole animal, not letting anything go to waste. Offal are cuts of meat that are often thrown out, where in thousands of previous generations they have been rightfully acknowledged as delicacy. How is it that there is a whole generation of people who think that beef comes in two forms: ground, and steak – and are used to purchasing meat in sterilized Styrofoam packages. As the nation has become plagued by both health issues and financial struggles, going back to our roots and eating local, fresh, and limiting waste is key. Fortunately, eating from the whole animal is not only the more sustainable choice, but opens up a whole variety of tastes and textures to please the palate.
In addition to their use of offal, and locally procured meat, Incanto’s menu is full of locally grown fruits and vegetables, artisanal foods, and herbs from their own rooftop garden. They carry their own line of “tasty salted pig parts”, under the name Boccalone, which you can also get at their store in the Ferry Building. Do try the cone of meat. Its like a snow cone… of meat. I’m also a big fan of Chef Cosentino’s website, Offal Good.
I’ve wanted to go to Incanto for several months now. What was holding me back? I wanted everything. How could I possibly choose an appetizer, entree and dessert on a responsible budget? This, in retrospect was silly, and stupid. In the most fortunate twist of events, FoodBuzz wrote me back saying that I had been selected for their 24,24,24, where 24 blogs enjoy 24 meals in 24 hours on FoodBuzz’s generous dime! We just have to document it – which isn’t hard, because I’m usually in restaurants taking notes of everything I eat in my moleskin. So last night I brought out my camera and mini tripod, and went nuts.
Evening Menu
for four of us brave adventurers
Liquid libation: Vietti Barbera D’Asti 2006
Complimentary Sparkling Water. Who doesn’t love that?
* * *
Foie gras torchon with preserved plums and grilled stirato
Sweetbreads with peas & tarragon
Antipasto platter of Boccalone artisan salumi, roasted garlic, and marinated vegetables
* * *
Spaghettini, Sardinian cured tuna heart, egg yolk & parsley
Capunti, mortadella, sweet peas, ramps & potatoes
Rabbit Liver-Foie gras ravioli with grappa brown butter
* * *
Braised pork shoulder with rhubarb and fava beans
Whole roasted local sardines, garlic, chilli, capers & parsley
Slow-roasted lamb neck with baby fava beans, chilli and mint
* * *
Peas with honey and a knife
* * *
Flourless chocolate cake, beet ice cream and poppy seed crumble
Cream Soda float and lavender toffee-chocolate chip cookies
FANTASTIC, RIGHT?
And now, lets take a look:
Here is the foie gras that I had been dreaming about. It was creamy, smooth, and flavorful, and paired with that most amazing preserved plum that was one of the stars of the meal.
A soapbox note on foie gras: A few weeks ago, a restaurant in San Francisco was targeted for it’s use of Foie Gras, which is enlarged duck or goose liver. I care passionately about the quality of life given to the animals that I eat, and try to avoid eating factory farmed meat at all costs. I don’t believe that the process of creating foie gras is harmful to the animal, and I’ve seen it in person. I also believe that it is a dangerous thing for the government to make laws against it, and other artisanal food practices, particularly when they aren’t doing much at all to prevent the cramped, illness inducing, and environmentally harmful methods of factory farming. Incanto has an informative and well written response here, that I believe really sums up the issue and is well worth the read: Letters from Incanto: Shock and Foie
*Step off soapbox here*
Look here! Sweetbread! It’s not a brain, and it’s not bread, it’s actually a gland. I remember refusing to eat the stuff for years, even though it was my grandmother’s favorite. Well, you could say that I’ve become enlightened. It takes some standing out on an odd textural limb to eat this stuff, but if you can perservere, it’s really, really good.
And here, for your viewing pleasure is the bread and olive tapenade at Incanto. I know we were trying to be prudent, and normally I’d avoid excess bread so I could save space for the food, but the bread was good we ended up with seconds. The few slices left became my lunch today with the tapenade and leftover roasted garlic from the antipasto platter smeared all over the toast.
And so began the pasta course. We chose three small pastas to avoid having to be rolled out of the restaurant after the meal. It was a good decision. This first one is the Spaghettini with the tuna heart, one of the only dishes I was ambivalent about – only because I’m not terribly fond of tuna heart. The fun part though is the warm egg yolk that you get to poke at the table to make your own little sauce.
Here are the ravioli pockets of rabbit liver-foie gras.
This was my favorite of the pasta courses. Possibly because it reminded me of a childhood favorite of macaroni with ham and peas. But it was a grown up version, and very tasty indeed.
The main courses.
We had tried to pace ourselves, really. I think we were all a little shocked by the time the main courses came out. So. Much. Food. I think Dante would have been proud of us, because we were really pushing it here. What can I tell you about these dishes? Everything was really, really delicious. The sardines were fantastic, and in the spirit of whole eating, I ate the eyes (after closing my own). Tasty, I swear. The braised pork was falling apart and the fava beans were screaming Spring! Spring! I swooned. The peas with honey and a knife – it’s pea season- they are fresh – sweet – you could feed this to any kid who hated peas and I promise a convert.
This is Sean, our server, preparing our lamb neck for us. It involved taking two forks, and ripping the meat down the side away from the bone and the gristle. The gristle, he explained to us, is white tendon fiber you don’t eat. We could, if we were interested, get the marrow out and eat it. Marrow happens to be one of my favorite bits of offal, I remember gleefully sucking the marrow out of the bones when my mother made lamb shank for us at home. The problem here became – how would one appropriately get the marrow in a restaurant, from a bone the size of a hand? The answer: by poking it through with one of the tasty and delicious bread sticks. I wish I had a picture.
Dessert. Here it is, two measly, slightly grainy photos of some of the most fantastic dishes we had consumed all evening. I tried for better photos, but it was getting dark, and even though I had requested a 6pm reservation (for natural light in the photos!) by the end we had lingered too long, and my hand was shaky. Sigh. Ok, but really, that beet ice cream was killer. Beets and Chocolate happen to be a fantastic combination. And the cream soda float was divine. They make their own cream soda. It’s awesome. If anything, I’m going to become a regular here for dessert.
And if that wasn’t enough, we continued our evening in the spirit of excess: heading down to the Haight for a long post meal stroll (a.k.a. wait) for after dinner cocktails at Alembic. Last week I had the duck heart with pickled pineapple from these guys and went a little crazy- but now there was no room left for food. I had the Southern Exposure: Junipero Gin, lime juice, mint, a touch of sugar and a shot of celery juice. That folks, is a tasty, tasty beverage.
THANK YOU FOODBUZZ!
