I was feeling domesticated one day and whipped up whatever was in the refrigerator. Since I tossed everything I had, I don't have any exact recipe to share. This lemon chicken only took me less than 10 minutes from (1) chopping the chicken and dunking in egg and cornstarch, (2) frying the meat, and (3) squeezing out the lemons and heating up the juice in a small pot with honey and sesame seeds. Toss the meat with sauce and serve. Yes, it is that simple.
My first photo feature of the year comes from the San Francisco Bay Guardian! Go grab DeLise's peking duck scones now.
Nonconformist chocolate treats is the new norm for the month of love on February according to the San Francisco magazine. Savor on s'more bars topped with blowtorched, cinnamon-infused marshmallows and covered with Guittard chocolate ganache from DeLise Dessert Cafe and other non-traditional sweets from the best patisseries in town, including Craftsman and Wolves, Le Dix Sept, Le Marais, Dandelion Chocolate and B. Patisserie. To check the complete list, grab a copy of the San Francisco magazine February 2014 edition.
For the Year of the Horse, DeLise Dessert Cafe is offering its popular peking duck scones once again. Food blogger, Marcia Gagliardi, also recommends it on her 7x7 magazine post, Where to Go Eat to Celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Insider tip:
1. DeLise supplies ice cream to M.Y. China and E&O Asian Kitchen, which are both mentioned on the 7x7 article as well.
2. The peking duck scones have real peking duck meat and duck fat.
Insider tip:
1. DeLise supplies ice cream to M.Y. China and E&O Asian Kitchen, which are both mentioned on the 7x7 article as well.
2. The peking duck scones have real peking duck meat and duck fat.
Peking duck scones from DeLise Dessert Cafe |
Gotta love life when I end an awesome week with an awesome lunch at a newbie restaurant called Roka Akor, a great addition to the North Beach food scene. It is also a block away from my favorite Cotogna!
One of the new and rare Eastern European patisseries, 20th Century Cafe, piqued my interest with their high and mighty Russian honey cake. After devouring layers of fluffy cake with a hint of orange blossom honey, I also tried the savory albeit small potato knish, which is similar to an empanada but with lighter dough. These two might not go well together in one sitting, but believe me when I say that these are must eats at this quaint Hayes Valley cafe.
Russian honey cake |
Bagels, melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies, and savory potato knish |
From EdTech to FinTech (think Bitcoin)... now comes FoodTech. Recently, I've blogged about start-ups here and here that are revolutionizing how we eat and experience food.
In conjunction with the Good Food Awards 2014 (recap of 2013 here), I was able to attend a panel session with food and technology entrepreneurs/investors, including the CEO/Co-founder of Good Eggs, Rob Spiro, and Founder of Code.org and sustainable food investor, Ali Partovi. A jam maker from the panel started sharing her challenges of being a small business owner, specifically in renting a kitchen (if you are looking for one in San Francisco, ask me) and raising capital. In the past year alone, we've seen an onslaught of food businesses raising funds by pre-selling products/services through crowdfunding sites, such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Other panelists commented that this is a good way to also broaden the market and justify that there is interest in the business, especially for further investment rounds. Notably, I was intrigued with an alternative way of finding capital through Direct Public Offering aka investment crowdfunding.
On a different event, the concept of merging food and technology was apparent for upcoming start-up, Tellspec, which offers a flatter computer mouse-like device bringing together laser spectroscopy technology and a mathematical algorithm to tell you what is in your food via an app. Just imagine the possibilities for this kind of Internet of Things, in this case, for anyone with food-related concerns, such as diabetes, obesity, allergies, etc. to be able to decipher every single ingredient in the food. Another example to a lesser degree is smart-chip enabled egg tray, Egg Minder. Interesting, but I've never had problems with tracking when my eggs will go bad, have you?
Whatever it may be, get ready for the FoodTech revolution coming right at you. The cronuts food trend is now a thing of the past.
Disclaimer: I am neither a buyer nor investor of any products/companies mentioned in this post.
In conjunction with the Good Food Awards 2014 (recap of 2013 here), I was able to attend a panel session with food and technology entrepreneurs/investors, including the CEO/Co-founder of Good Eggs, Rob Spiro, and Founder of Code.org and sustainable food investor, Ali Partovi. A jam maker from the panel started sharing her challenges of being a small business owner, specifically in renting a kitchen (if you are looking for one in San Francisco, ask me) and raising capital. In the past year alone, we've seen an onslaught of food businesses raising funds by pre-selling products/services through crowdfunding sites, such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Other panelists commented that this is a good way to also broaden the market and justify that there is interest in the business, especially for further investment rounds. Notably, I was intrigued with an alternative way of finding capital through Direct Public Offering aka investment crowdfunding.
@ The Food-Tech Dilemma: What Dot-Coms can Learn from Jam Makers |
On a different event, the concept of merging food and technology was apparent for upcoming start-up, Tellspec, which offers a flatter computer mouse-like device bringing together laser spectroscopy technology and a mathematical algorithm to tell you what is in your food via an app. Just imagine the possibilities for this kind of Internet of Things, in this case, for anyone with food-related concerns, such as diabetes, obesity, allergies, etc. to be able to decipher every single ingredient in the food. Another example to a lesser degree is smart-chip enabled egg tray, Egg Minder. Interesting, but I've never had problems with tracking when my eggs will go bad, have you?
Whatever it may be, get ready for the FoodTech revolution coming right at you. The cronuts food trend is now a thing of the past.
Disclaimer: I am neither a buyer nor investor of any products/companies mentioned in this post.
The City of 10,000 Buddhas is one of those places that never gets mentioned on list of places to go to in the Bay Area. I learned about this city through a foodie friend who highly recommended their vegetarian restaurant, Jyun Kang, serving food without MSG, onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, shallots or eggs.
After a festive, gastronomic holiday season, it was perfect timing to head out of hustle and bustle of San Francisco and eat healthy to start the New Year right. Although there are many vegetarian restaurants in SF, Jyun Kang is special since it is in an enclosed, expansive monastery where Buddhist monks live. Most visitors drive directly to the restaurant, but my companion of the day and I took the time to soak in the peace and quiet of the compound and visited the Jeweled Hall where 10,000 Buddhas are displayed. The city's street is even named after Buddhist virtues, such as morality and wisdom. The 2-hour drive to the city was definitely worth it.
After a festive, gastronomic holiday season, it was perfect timing to head out of hustle and bustle of San Francisco and eat healthy to start the New Year right. Although there are many vegetarian restaurants in SF, Jyun Kang is special since it is in an enclosed, expansive monastery where Buddhist monks live. Most visitors drive directly to the restaurant, but my companion of the day and I took the time to soak in the peace and quiet of the compound and visited the Jeweled Hall where 10,000 Buddhas are displayed. The city's street is even named after Buddhist virtues, such as morality and wisdom. The 2-hour drive to the city was definitely worth it.
It has taken me years (yes, years!!! even though I've lived in SF for 8 years) to visit Mission Beach Cafe. Friends have warned me that the wait for this popular brunch spot is more than an hour.
One fine Sunday morning, all the stars aligned. Parking was a breeze having found a spot half a block away. Then from the moment I wrote my name on the waiting list board hanging by the door, I only waited 20 minutes. I invited 3 other morning buddies and planned for a 9:30 am meeting time. When I saw them across the street, I immediately stood in front of the entrance where one of the staff was calling out for the next group to be seated. The cafe will not sit anyone if the whole party has not arrived. Therefore, the strategy to cut down waiting time is to go early, preferably on the second seating of the day (they open at 9 am on Sunday), and hope against hope that those who are listed in front of you are still waiting for their friends. Another tip: invite folks who are early weekend risers.
The food and service were all top notch as expected. The much Yelp-ed about French Toast was easily demolished. Wonder what their secret sauce is?
Now, it is time for another refresh of my list of Best Brunches in San Francisco. Those listed in this article, specifically Central Kitchen, Park Tavern and Nopa all take reservations so you know where to take friends who are always late and can't make an early morning call time :)
One fine Sunday morning, all the stars aligned. Parking was a breeze having found a spot half a block away. Then from the moment I wrote my name on the waiting list board hanging by the door, I only waited 20 minutes. I invited 3 other morning buddies and planned for a 9:30 am meeting time. When I saw them across the street, I immediately stood in front of the entrance where one of the staff was calling out for the next group to be seated. The cafe will not sit anyone if the whole party has not arrived. Therefore, the strategy to cut down waiting time is to go early, preferably on the second seating of the day (they open at 9 am on Sunday), and hope against hope that those who are listed in front of you are still waiting for their friends. Another tip: invite folks who are early weekend risers.
The food and service were all top notch as expected. The much Yelp-ed about French Toast was easily demolished. Wonder what their secret sauce is?
Now, it is time for another refresh of my list of Best Brunches in San Francisco. Those listed in this article, specifically Central Kitchen, Park Tavern and Nopa all take reservations so you know where to take friends who are always late and can't make an early morning call time :)
Top: Dungeness crab and shrimp benedict| Bottom L: Egg scramble; R: Beef hash |
Must get the French Toast! |
Last November, I made my annual trip back home to Cebu City a week after typhoon Haiyan hit. I go home every year not only to see family and old friends but also to rejuvenate and remind myself why I'm doing what I'm doing when, in fact, I could be based back in Cebu. Nonetheless, the current state of the city- somber at best, C130 planes buzzing through the blue skies and big trucks carrying loads of relief goods to Northern parts of Cebu- has made me realize what a beautiful city Cebu really is and how genuine Cebuanos help out each other in the most desperate times.
With the incoming Sinulog, the festival to honor Santo Niño and the biggest mardi gras in Asia, thousand of devotees are now paying tribute to our saint at the quake-damaged Santo Niño Church, a 10 minute drive away from where home is. There are so many things to be thankful about, including the increase of tourism during this time period.
Last year, I blogged about Where to Go and Where Not to Go during Sinulog. This time around, I'd like to share with you new/renovated restaurants and cafes that are must visits when in Cebu.
Luy's Tea House serves family style Chinese food with dimsum that doesn't break the bank. When you have a big group of friends or family from out of town, head over to Luy's.
With the incoming Sinulog, the festival to honor Santo Niño and the biggest mardi gras in Asia, thousand of devotees are now paying tribute to our saint at the quake-damaged Santo Niño Church, a 10 minute drive away from where home is. There are so many things to be thankful about, including the increase of tourism during this time period.
Last year, I blogged about Where to Go and Where Not to Go during Sinulog. This time around, I'd like to share with you new/renovated restaurants and cafes that are must visits when in Cebu.
Luy's Tea House serves family style Chinese food with dimsum that doesn't break the bank. When you have a big group of friends or family from out of town, head over to Luy's.
Hello my favorite crabs! But turned out not too meaty. |
Nothing can go wrong with jellyfish and century eggs. |
Gotta have fried rice at a Chinese resto. |
Shrimp with flat noodle which was ok. |
If you prefer to relax and dine away from the crowded city, Movenpick Resort in Mactan offers a sumptuous buffet. I specifically liked their Filipino desserts, especially the melt-in-your-mouth Brazo de Mercedes.
I got multiple slices of these Brazo de Mercedes :) |
Pigging out on the dessert buffet made me a happy camper the whole day. I hope I did burn off those calories during my afternoon swim. |
Mangoes with bagoong. Yum! |
I'm a sucker for anything that has fresh mangoes on it. Must be the Cebuana in me. The seared sesame tuna topped with mango salsa disappeared in a matter of seconds! |
My buddy's shrimp risotto not part of the buffet. Creamy and tender. |
Once you are done partying all day long on the streets of Cebu, it is time for major sustenance in one of the best Thai restaurants in town. Little Saigon Big Bangkok is a simple, affordable Thai restaurant that prides itself with authentic Thai street food. The restaurant has now upgraded its location to the hip Maria Luisa compound where the ala Alice in Wonderland Rica's Cafe for dessert and coffee is also situated. Thus, you can hit two birds with one stone.
The low lighting at Little Saigon Big Bangkok was disastrous for food photography, but rest assured, the food is that good. |
End your day right with the popular crepes topped with a scoop of ice cream from Rica's. Of course, I had to get the crepes with mangoes. |
Sa akong mga higala, have a fun and safe Sinulog. Viva Pit Senyor!
Tao at the Venetian in Las Vegas doesn't need any introduction. Whether for dining, drinking or partying, Tao has it all. I have visited the club before, but this time around, I had the chance to dine in with a big group. Our funny waitstaff took care of our order after we told him our dietary needs, and he even told us where to party since the club upstairs was closed for the next two days. Insider info at its best.
The food started coming... and the meal ended with a dessert platter with the biggest fortune cookie I have ever seen! What I loved the most are the sashimi and sushi rolls. Good thing we had so many folks on the table sharing the same enthusiasm as I have for fresh food from the sea.
The food started coming... and the meal ended with a dessert platter with the biggest fortune cookie I have ever seen! What I loved the most are the sashimi and sushi rolls. Good thing we had so many folks on the table sharing the same enthusiasm as I have for fresh food from the sea.
sashimi, sushi, tuna- take your pick! |
dumplings, seafood claypot, fried rice, noodles, orange chicken (also commendable) |
the biggest fortune cookie I've ever seen! It is as tall as the drinking glass. |
Food start-ups abound. Series 3 of 3.
A few weeks ago, I was discussing about food start-ups to a group and mentioned the term "curated" food events. One commented that he didn't know what "curated" means - synonymous to organized events. In this case, a customized food experience. That's how Simmr.co, another few-months-old startup, is carving their niche with the goal of creating a loyal customer base for SMBs or mom-and-pop shops in San Francisco. Thanks to the invitation of one of their young co-founders/owners, Wendy Lin, I was able to partake in their coffee break event at Contraband Coffee and meet young coffee connoisseurs last month.
The 1.5 hour event took me back to my barista training days at another coffee roaster in the city. I quickly realized that I still suck at coffee art! One of the baristas also introduced us to a new form of brewing machine called Blossom. Contraband is one of the first coffee shops in the city using Blossom and is still experimenting on different coffee flavors. This is exciting news for coffee lovers out there.
At the end of the event, we each got a take home a souvenir, a pack of coffee beans, and took a survey on our smartphones (don't you just love the power of technology!).
Simmr.co has more food events in San Francisco for 2014 so if you are looking for something different to do and passionate about the art of food, check out their upcoming events here.
Disclosure: I was invited to the Coffee Break event for free.
Want to learn more about food start-ups? Read my articles about MakeEatEasy.us and Kuli Kuli.
A few weeks ago, I was discussing about food start-ups to a group and mentioned the term "curated" food events. One commented that he didn't know what "curated" means - synonymous to organized events. In this case, a customized food experience. That's how Simmr.co, another few-months-old startup, is carving their niche with the goal of creating a loyal customer base for SMBs or mom-and-pop shops in San Francisco. Thanks to the invitation of one of their young co-founders/owners, Wendy Lin, I was able to partake in their coffee break event at Contraband Coffee and meet young coffee connoisseurs last month.
The 1.5 hour event took me back to my barista training days at another coffee roaster in the city. I quickly realized that I still suck at coffee art! One of the baristas also introduced us to a new form of brewing machine called Blossom. Contraband is one of the first coffee shops in the city using Blossom and is still experimenting on different coffee flavors. This is exciting news for coffee lovers out there.
At the end of the event, we each got a take home a souvenir, a pack of coffee beans, and took a survey on our smartphones (don't you just love the power of technology!).
The Blossom. Pretty cool coffee machine eh! |
Brewing time tic-toc. |
Coffee cupping. I lost my notes so apologies since I can't remember which one is which. One of them is from the Blossom. |
Knick knacks to clear the palette. |
More sweets from Contraband. |
Espresso time. |
Stamping. |
A shot of espresso. |
Obviously this is not my coffee art! |
Disclosure: I was invited to the Coffee Break event for free.
Want to learn more about food start-ups? Read my articles about MakeEatEasy.us and Kuli Kuli.
Albeit being well designed, China Poblano inside the Cosmopolitan Hotel doesn't hit a mark on my books. The over ambitious Mexican and Chinese menu disappointed both my dining buddy and I. After reading so much funfare of the Jose Andres group of restaurants, I had high expectations of China Poblano, but the mixed cuisine just didn't jive well with each other. I would come back here for cocktails only though, especially for the salt air margarita.
Some of our dishes: tacos, noodles, fried rice and prawns |
The innovative entrance of China Poblano |