Little known fact: there was a time in my life when I could speak German nearly fluently. In sixth grade, when all of my classmates flocked to the sign-up lists for Spanish and French, I scribbled my name under the header “Deutsch” and ran home to proudly tell my Großvater (grandfather) all about it. Grandpa Boris had promised that if I took German, he’d help me with the homework and it would be a breeze. Done deal. About three classes in, I learned that the German he spoke as a young boy during WWII was not even remotely similar to the German we were being taught, and was unfortunately left to my own devices.
Eight years and just as many German language courses later, I had picked up on the basics and could hold my own in a conversation with the grandparents. So you can imagine my disappointment when I recently sat down proudly at Suppenküche, a renowned German restaurant in San Francisco, intent upon ordering in my best German accent, and opened the menu only to realize I could no longer make out a single word.
Language barrier aside, Suppenküche lived up to its reputation and proved to be a wonderful German experience (eine wunderbare deutsche erfahrung!).
Upon arrival, I was immediately struck by the authentic ambiance. The walls were covered in German signage and the bench-style seating made you feel that you were at a true Oktoberfest. I was with a group of five others, so we played musical beers in order to allow for everyone to taste a wide selection.
My beer of choice was George Schneider’s Wiesen Edel-Weisse, which was light enough to enjoy but hearty enough to stand up to the reputation of hearty German beer.
Selecting my dinner entrée was not easy. With potato pancakes, bratwurst and a whole host of other favorites on the menu I was torn.
In the end, I went with the Käsespätzle mit Zwiebel-Buttersoße und gemischtem Salat (Cheese Spätzle in Onion Butter Sauce served with a small Mixed Salad). If you’ve never enjoyed Spätzle, the best way I can describe it is this: it’s like Macaroni and Cheese, only better. It was among the most satisfying comfort food dishes I have ever tasted. Ever.
There are few things more “fall” than Oktoberfest, and although October has come to a close, I’m just not quite ready to let go of the Schnitzel, Spätzle, German beer and celebratory spirit that comes along with the season. If you feel the same, head out to Suppenküche in San Francisco and let us know what you think!
Suppenküche
525 Laguna St., San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-9289
The Melt, San Francisco
When I first heard that celebrity chef Michael Mina and Flip camera (RIP) founder Jonathan Kaplan were collaborating on a grilled cheese eatery concept bound for San Francisco, I could barely contain my excitement. If you know me, you know that cheese is – without competition – the way to my heart. Meld my love for cheesy goodness and my infatuation with all things digital, and I’m the perfect target customer for The Melt.
Last week, a handful of fellow cheese-lovers in our San Francisco office headed out on a mission to try The Melt. Once I got over the fact that we had to wait in line, I was overwhelmed with the delicious scent of – you guessed it – cheese. I quickly scanned the menu and honed in on my order of choice: Aged Gruyere on White Wheat with Smoked Bacon. Luckily, a colleague of mine and I decided to go halvsies so that we could also sample the Sharp Cheddar on Potato Bread with Smoked Bacon. The bacon was an add-on, but it was a free add-on! Can you believe that? Any eatery with free bacon on the menu is alright by me.
The Melt met my expectations, to say the least, complete with a tech-savvy order-calling system and classic American touches like Cracker Jacks and Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies. The classic Sharp Cheddar on Potato Bread with Smoked Bacon stole my heart, and my only regret is not having eaten on-site. The grilled cheese was tasty but I couldn’t help but think it would have been truly stellar if it were still warm and not mildly smashed from my walk back to the office. It’s my belief that in the same way you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you shouldn’t judge a restaurant by its takeout. It looks like I’ll just have to go back to confirm!
The Melt
115 New Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
https://www.facebook.com/TheMelt
Parada 22, San Francisco
The thing about Puerto Rican food is that it’s just really, really good. It’s the kind of delicious that you feel guilty eating, even when it’s still relatively healthy. I recently had the pleasure of attending a Foodspotting + Scoutmob “eat-up” at Parada 22 in San Francisco, which just so happens to be a personal favorite restaurant of mine in the City, and the best Puerto Rican food I’ve ever had.
My dining companion Amy (who was a founding member of the SacFoodies team during her time at Fleishman-Hillard and now works at TripIt) was chatting it up with the Foodspotting and Scoutmob teams when I arrived. We were thrilled to learn that we’d be receiving 50% off our purchases that evening thanks to their new partnership, Mobspotting (click here to learn more about the partnership). Discount or not, I couldn’t wait to get down to business and place my order.
I’m a self-proclaimed creature of habit, so naturally, I ordered the same thing I’d previously enjoyed at Parada – the Ensalada de Pollo – marinated, sautéed chicken breast with creamy cilantro-garlic dressing. You can’t eat at a Puerto Rican restaurant and not order something with plantains, so we also splurged on the Tostones – traditional fried and salted green plantains served with salsa rosa dipping sauce. Living in San Francisco, I’ve quickly learned to love anything made by the lovely team at 21st Amendment Brewery, which made selecting the Watermelon Wheat Beer off the Parada 22 drink menu a no-brainer. Needless to say, the food, atmosphere and company did not disappoint. The salad is perfectly balanced and the plantains can’t be beat for anyone with a soft spot for savory and salty (yours truly included).
The best part? I even walked away with this cute, new t-shirt courtesy of the ScoutMob team, complete with clever slogan:
The bottom line: Parada 22 is a must-try in San Francisco. If you ever find yourself in the Haight, stop in and see for yourself!
Parada 22
1805 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA
(415) 750-1111
Off the Grid, San Francisco
Normally, when one hears the phrase “off the grid,” it’s in the context of technology-less, remote destinations or hideaways. But when you hear it on the streets of San Francisco, “Off the Grid” has a much different meaning; one of ethnic food, inevitable over-indulgence and a vibrant social scene.
Off the Grid is self-described as “your roaming mobile food extravaganza — bringing you delicious food, with free sides of music, craft and soul. Check out all your favorite gourmet food vendors in one place – creating markets like you’ve never seen before.”
I’d take it one step further. Off the Grid is any food enthusiast’s heaven.
I had the pleasure of making my first trip to Off the Grid at Fort Mason on a Friday evening a few weeks back, and the spectacle certainly lived up to my high expectations. The only issue was where to begin! My dining companion and I did what any smart foodies would – we developed a fool-proof strategy.
First things first, we took a lap around the food trucks and made mental note of the items that caught our eyes before purchasing anything. Word to the wise – if you start buying food before you take this essential lap, you will never make it all the way around. Everything looks good.
Next, we reconvened and decided that in order to optimize our dining experience, we would go halvsies on everything, enabling us to taste twice as much as if we kept each item to ourselves. The third pillar of the strategy was to double-up on our desserts by allowing ourselves to alternate savory/sweet/savory/sweet. I see you judging me. Stop judging.
From there, it was go time.
I made a beeline to Happy Dumplings, an SF must-have that I’d heard much about, and opted for an order of the Chive and Pork Pot Stickers and the Beef and Onion Pot Stickers. The pot stickers did not disappoint, as they were the perfect start to our feast.
From there, we paid a visit to The Crème Brulee Man, whose Honey Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee was perfectly caramelized and utterly decadent.
Next stop was back to savory with the Sweet Potato Tater Tots from Little Green Cyclo, which specializes in Vietnamese street food. The tots were blissful – a strange combination of Thanksgiving meets Napoleon Dynamite.
Last, but certainly not least, we indulged in a sweet treat from Cupkates, the Bay Area’s first cupcake truck. My only complaint at Cupkates was that they were out of the Salted Caramel flavor that I’d set my heart on. But the delicious Red Velvet and Double Vanilla quickly made up for that.
Bottom line – if you find yourself in SF with a few hours to spare, it’s worth finding the nearest food truck! Off the Grid is at a different location virtually every day of the week, so odds are there’s a time/day that works for you. You can view their full weekly calendar online here.
Taste of Davis 2011
When people ask me where I grew up, I usually respond by saying “Davis, California” followed at lightning-speed by a supporting qualifier: “It’s just outside of Sacramento.” But more and more, I’m noticing there’s no need to put my hometown on the map in such a way. Lately, my response has been met with comments such as “Oh, I have a friend that went to UC Davis” or “Yes, I’ve heard of the great Farmers Market they have there.”
Whether you know Davis like the back of your hand or have never made the jaunt down I-80 West (no, a stop at In-N-Out on Olive Drive en route to/from Tahoe does NOT count), there’s an event around the corner that you don’t want to miss.
Taste of Davis is back this Friday, March 18 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Center. This is the second annual Taste of Davis hosted by the Davis Chamber of Commerce, and I was fortunate enough to attend last year, so I’m speaking from experience when I say it’s worth your while. The evening will showcase bites and sips from more than 30 restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries, and other local businesses.
Tickets are $50 in advance or $65 at the door. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets by phone at 530-756-5160 or online HERE. Hurry – the event sold out last year!
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