Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Turkey month. Watch out for scary food.


It is that month of the year. Imagination in the kitchen is replaced by the tradition and the way it's always been done. So if you don't want to lower your standards make sure you order a special Turkey, get organic veggies, make your own pies from scratch and pick great wines from Califonia, Spain, Italy or France. The rest is just the same: family, friends and luckily fun.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Slanted Door in San Francisco a wide-open door to fun food from Vietnam and beyond

Slanted Door is almost as busy as in their earliest days at the Ferry Building. It's an incredible location: the view of the Bay Bridge and the easy access for people working in the financial district makes it a great choice for lunch or dinner. We returned last Thursday for lunch (after two years!) and were not disappointed. We went straight for all the appetizers and had a feast for two: Imperial Rolls, Pho Noodle Soup, 5 Spice Duck Confit Salad, Hamachi Carpaccio and Mung Bean Dumplings... Clearly, the best way to go is to order as many appetizers as you can, that way you'll have a taste of the new ideas the chef is developing. And let me tell you, this chef has a lot of good ideas and a huge pool to draw from: Asia... Great Meal!!!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Picco Pizzeria in Larkspur, Marin County, California. Hit and Miss.

Picco is busy. But the hard times are hitting everyone; even in an eatery that draws from a very well-to-do neighborhood like Larkspur and is located in a hard-to-miss location like the main street of the town. We have been to Picco's at least 12 times over the last 4 months. Pizza is their main attraction and it's a favorite weekend destination. They have a real pizza wood oven that emits heat to the tiny bar they use to serve up their signature pizzas and other Italian-Spanish delights. They utilize the best: homemade cold cuts and sausages, fresh organic veggies, handpicked wines from Italy, Spain, France and USA. They even name their pizzas after bicycle brands: Cannondale, De La Santa, Marin, Specialized, etc. We love to combine the home-roasted peppers with their own sausages and mozzarella cheese. And all the pizzas taste better to us when we ask for a "cripsy" crust. So what's gone wrong? Maybe the crisis has gotten to them, or have they gotten too confident in their pizza success? We had a couple of pizzas that were not up to their usual standard--too much pancetta when we ordered it to be added to a pizza...and another time onions arrived on our pizza pie that were chunky and took over the pizza's flavor. Our analysis: they appear to have reduced their staff and we think it's beginning to show. So, for now, we advise that you don't try to mix and match toppings like we used to. Stick to the toppings set by the chef and you will certainly have a satisfying pizza experience.