Once the Ber months hit, I pretty much feast everyday. One fine October night, I was craving for Singaporean Hainanese chicken but was too lazy to cook one at home with my own recipe. I found myself at the newly opened Rice and Rooster in the Marina. Just as the name suggests, they only offer rice and different styles of Thai chicken. I opted for the classic although it didn't meet my standards, having lived and scoured the many chicken rice hawker center stalls in Singapore back in the day. The rice was missing the all-important, strong garlic and ginger combination, and I wanted the sauce trio - chili garlic, soy sauce, and ginger/garlic with sesame oil. I do have to remind myself that this is not exactly the Singaporean version that I've been used to but the Khao Man Gai, a popular street food in Thailand.

 

I was able to chat with the two co-owners, who also own Indo Restaurant, my former happy hour digs in Palo Alto. I commend them both for taking the leap (and risk) to open a chicken rice shop, which I find not so popular outside of Southeast Asia compared to, for example, peking duck, in a not-so Asian part of town. Keep it up, guys! Thank you for making a different box for me just so I can take a nicer photo on my iPhone.

'Tis the season to celebrate with good friends and family. The few-months old Dragon Beaux is the perfect spot for those long, hearty meals with loved ones. With its myriad of selections of dimsum, hotpot and classic Cantonese dishes and expansive location along Geary Boulevard, you will leave with a happy tummy and the latest family gossips. Our group didn't have to wait for a table, but just ensure to have someone wait in line, especially during peak dining hours.

My sister banned me from ordering my Chinese go-to dish, shrimp honey walnut, but we feasted on more than the pictures below. My favorite was the shrimp dumpling (top left) and the salted egg fried rice (not on photo). 

Everything was well-seasoned with distinct flavors. The pickled cucumber had a sweet and tangy Chinese soy sauce kick to it, while the sea bass (not on photo) with celery and mushrooms melted in my mouth. The watery celery balanced out the saltiness of the fish. 

There are only a few Chinese restaurants in San Francisco that can execute Cantonese food really well. I've added Dragon Beaux to that list along with R&G Lounge and Hong Kong Lounge.

For my last post on my series of Italian gastronomic (mis)adventures, I take you to the wine country in Tuscany. Nestled in the alluring greenery 5 km outside the walls of San Gimignano fortress, where the one of the best gelatos of the world can be found, Fattoria Poggio Alloro offered wine tasting, vineyard and farm tour, and lunch to remember. With a view and weather so perfect, I was a very happy guest. Special mention to the humongous local cattles that almost did another hairy coo punch on the face because I got too close to them. Thou shall not go near a farm animal ever!

The best was saved for last with Fattoria Poggio Alloro's dessert wine paired with a biscotti. Yum!