Basque Food in SF! (Txoko)

4th June 2011 | 2 comments | permalink

Txoko - Stuffed Squid Pintxo

If you know me at all, you know that I’ve been longing for Spain and the food of Los Vascos (the Basque) since I returned Stateside in January.  So imagine my excitement and surprise when, soon after moving back to San Francisco, I heard of Txoko, a restaurant featuring Basque food!  Spanish Basque food!  (Usually the Basque food found in the States tends to be French Basque)

Note: “Txoko” is pronounced Choe-Ko.  A “tx” has a “ch” sound.  Don’t ask me why.  Ask the Basque.

Txoko didn’t actually open until a week ago, but many many friends have emailed me excitedly with various email newsletters, pointing out that a Basque restaurant was opening in San Francisco soon and shouldn’t I be majorly eager to check it out?

So, last week, when P emailed me (it was more of a scream/squeal via email– but I can’t blame her, because I felt the same), declaring that Txoko was finally open, we did what any two (slightly) sane, Europe-starved, bar-studying, dirt-poor, former-law-students would do:  We went.

I took some pictures, but the lighting wasn’t amazing, so bear with me. » Read the rest of this entry «

Another day, another quiche.

30th May 2011 | 4 comments | permalink

Broccoli and Tofu QuicheThe only way to study properly is to eat properly, I say.  Brain food is key.

Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to eat unhealthy while studying.  Just ask any law student– how many of us have gotten into better shape since we started?  Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Anyway, while I was camping out in El Cerrito, house- and dog- sitting for my cousin while she and her husband romped in Kauai, Hawai’i (NO FAIR!), I discovered that she had (1) ramekins, and (2) heavy whipping cream, and (3) eggs.  Excellent, I thought.  QUICHE-TIME.  Besides, anything to distract me from studying, eh?  And yes, distractions include updating this blog.  I have a feeling I’ll be making an appearance here much more this summer than ever before . . . :D

Disclaimer: Quiche is not exactly brain food.  Brain food, I am told, includes salmon, blueberries, and walnuts.  None of these aforementioned items have found their way into this quiche (although it would be interesting, no?).  Also, this is not exactly the healthiest dish, considering the amount of cream added.  But people study and work better when they’re happy, right?  And a quiche makes me happy, so that’s all that matters.  :D  Anyone who says otherwise can go . . .  cry in a corner by themselves.

For myself, I want my quiche.

And that is exactly what I proceeded to do.  Here’s the recipe. » Read the rest of this entry «

In which I finish law school and go to nopa

26th May 2011 | 1 comment | permalink

Nopa - Grass Fed Burger

Doesn’t it look absolutely delicious?

You’re drooling, right? 

OH yes..  FIRST!Graduation is sweet

On the 15th of May, 2011, a group of my friends and I walked the short distance across a brightly lit stage in the middle of downtown San Francisco.  People said they cheered.  I don’t remember– it was all a blur.  But at the end of all, after hands had been shook, photos had been taken, and family and friends hugged and congratulated, we have done it!  Congratulations, class of 2011!

But before that– Before our last (EVER) day of classes, my friend P told me that our friend L had gotten reservations at nopa, a well known restaurant in San Francisco run by chef Lawrence Jossel.

nopa - seatingIt’s really hard to get reservations at nopa, and having heard my friend P gush about the burger (see above) for weeks, well, how could I say no?

Oh boy, it was pretty awesome.  The burger, I have to say, was absolutely fabulous.  And as one of the cheaper items on the menu, if you go, you must try.  It’s huge, juicy, and fills your mouth with savory goodness . . .

. . . oh god, I’m salivating.

» Read the rest of this entry «

Carnival Food (Straw, Hayes Valley, San Francisco)

28th April 2011 | 1 comment | permalink

Straw - Fried Chicken-n-Waffle Monte Cristo

It began with the sweet smell of funnel cake, wafting by and tantalizing my senses.  And, like a coquettish flirt who can’t resist, the titillating scent hooked and dragged me in.

Who can blame me?  Carnival food!  Who wouldn’t like it?  Deep fried, overly-sugared savory and sweetly decadent goodness!

It’s officially begun– my last round of finals!  I took the first of my rather brutal set of finals yesterday.  To celebrate our mushy brains that had so recently been ravaged by California Civil Procedure, my friends and I stumbled over to Hayes Valley for drinks and ended up at Straw, a restaurant with a carnival theme (it’s on Octavia St.).  I was completely enchanted.

Straw - Menu browsingStraw- Jarred Lighting What’s not to love?  The food, the decor, the atmosphere that is so reminiscent of fairgrounds from when I was a kid . . . It’s adorable and perfect.  » Read the rest of this entry «

Of coffee, finals, and things

18th April 2011 | 2 comments | permalink

Coffee Time (read: finals and papers and studying)

Not much to say, except life in the last few days of law school have been unbelievably busy.  » Read the rest of this entry «

Reminiscing about Spain- Lalola, Bar de Tapas, in San Francisco

10th April 2011 | 1 comment | permalink

Lalola - Bar de TapasWho can blame a girl who misses Spain for wanting some Spanish food?  P and I have been trying to recreate our own Spanish haven in San Francisco . . . to varying degrees of success.  The difficulty is finding a place with pintxos– because of health regulations, restaurants cannot have food sitting out on countertops.

We tried B44 last time– which has excellent Catalunyan (from Barcelona) food.  This time, Lalola, the restaurant was more Castilian (from Madrid).  Both were delish!

Lalola - Gambas al ajillo (Garlic Pimenton Shrimp)(Above: Gambas al ajillo / Garlic Pimenton Shrimp)

P bought a coupon several months ago that gave us a deal– $40 worth of food for $20 at Lalola!  We ordered a lot of food and a bottle of wine.  And, as usual, I took copious pictures of food. (see below)

» Read the rest of this entry «

Frjtz– Hayes Valley, San Francisco

5th April 2011 | 1 comment | permalink

Frjtz - Frites in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA Let’s be honest here.  Is there anyone on this planet who doesn’t like fries?  Show of hands please.  That’s right.  Everybody loves fries.

In December 2010, when P and I went to Brugge (Bruges), a quaint little town in Belgium of Colin Farrell’s In Bruges fame, we spent an entire evening searching for the frites (fries) places that were marked on our map.  Where was it?  The streets were named things like Wijngaardstraat and Minderbroedersstr.

It wasn’t until about half an hour of wandering around the freezing streets, feeling our toes and fingers turn to ice, that we realized . . . » Read the rest of this entry «

Wanderlust in DC and Maryland

29th March 2011 | 1 comment | permalink

Driving home from our DC photoshoot (by Derk M)[Photo: me driving back from DC with brother Jon and friends Derick and James, photo by Derick]

This has been something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time.  Every since last summer, I really wanted to go on a trek across our nation’s capital and take copious pictures.  It would, I thought, be a great way to explore the city as well as get some practice in photography.

But I ran out of time and was never able to go on that summer photoshoot.  I vowed to do it at some point.  When I went home last month, I knew it would be the last time I’d be back on the East Coast for a long time, so I enlisted two buddies from college to join me: Derick and James.

((Go check out Derk’s tumblr: http://derkgs.tumblr.com/ He’s an amazing photographer, and I am constantly jealous of his skills.  The blog has more pictures from the photoshoot, some of which I have reposted here with his permission.))

Matchbox - Mozzi Carozzi (by Derk M)

Most of the photos you see in this post will be from Matchbox in Rockville, where we ate dinner that night.  See more photos below: » Read the rest of this entry «

ItaliAsia Pasta!

28th March 2011 | 0 comments | permalink

Broccoli, pancetta, bamboo shoots, and porcini mushroom pasta, oh my!I’ve been trying to eat more greens recently.  Trying to be healthy, I suppose (although you wouldn’t be able to tell from the number of french macarons that find their way into my belly).  So I made this pasta.  It’s delicious!  You can really mix and match the ingredients, and it will come out tasty every time.

The inspiration for this ItaliAsia pasta really came from . . . the contents of my fridge.  I discovered a bunch of things floating around in my tiny fridge and my cupboards, so I just cut it all up, tossed it all together, and had a few tasty meals that I am sure everyone else is jealous of.  Or should be jealous of, anyway.  Heh.

The recipe  » Read the rest of this entry «

Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta

24th March 2011 | 3 comments | permalink

Pan roasted Brussels Sprouts and Garlicky PancettaHonestly, I never understood why people didn’t like brussels sprouts.  Even as a kid, I enjoyed eating what I thought were miniature cabbages when they were served for lunch at school.

Obviously they weren’t miniature cabbages.  And they really don’t taste much like miniature cabbages either.  In fact, many years later, I discovered that they don’t grow like cabbages at all.  Instead, they grow on a stalk under what looks like a head of lettuce or cabbage.  Weird, but kind of cool.

(Recipe below) » Read the rest of this entry «

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