I’m eating 100 Items off of 7 X 7s SF Big Eat List. You can see the rest of entries to this series here. On my birthday my friends took me to the city to make some hard-core headway on this list, it was fun. I wish you had been there with us. :)

Our original plan for my birthday was to eat a little, walk around a little, eat a little etc. We totally followed the plan, except for all the parts that didn’t involve eating. We literally ate all day. I’m sure you can see from the pictures that we didn’t have any fun at all.

At this point we were feeling full which is natural. If you don’t leave the Ferry Building full of delicious food, you did something wrong. We decided it was time to take a break from regular eating. It was time for tea and snacks.

#35 Soup Dumplings at Shanghai King

I had never tried soup dumplings before but my two friends with Chinese affiliations were very excited about them. Betty was actually very excited about the whole menu at Shanghai King and in charge of the ordering. This resulted in us somehow accidentally ordering a whole “pre-dinner” meal at Shanghai King. That Betty, she’s so bad she’s good!

Soup Dumplings are exactly what they sound like, steamed dumplings filled with soup. You eat them very strategically with chopsticks to hold the dumpling and a spoon to catch the soup.

They are not only fun to eat but they are delicious with a capital D. I usually do not care for brothy soups, but this liquid was just like heaven. I swear I heard the Cure playing as I bit into the first one.

Verdict: Eat them please. You will be smiling like these two if you do.

#36 Pistachio Meatballs at Flytrap at Zaré

After “tea” we had to haul-ass to meet our dinner reservation at the only “fancy” dining establishment on our agenda. We reasoned that after a hard day of non-stop eating it was time to have a relaxing sit-down dinner. Zare is a sort of Persian/Mediterranean style restaurant that is decorated in a very classic San Francisco style. It’s all about moldings, candles and burgundy walls. A perfect end to the night.

The task of eating pistachio meatballs somehow devolved into the bone-marrow, pulled lamb, pisco sour, pomegranate martini, deconstructed lemon meringue pie scenario as pictured below. To be quite honest I cannot recall much about the meatballs specifically but Zaré as a whole was a lovely experience. The service was perfect and the ambiance was classy yet relaxing. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Verdict: I think the insane aftermath of our meal will tell you all you need to know about Zare. Go there. Eat anything and enjoy!

Thanks so much for following along on this culinary adventure. I hope that it gives you some great ideas for the next trip you take to San Francisco!

I’m eating 100 Items off of 7 X 7s SF Big Eat List. You can see the rest of entries to this series here. On my birthday my friends took me to the city to make some hard-core headway on this list, it was fun. I wish you had been there with us. :)

#33-Ahi Burger at Gott’s Roadside

Ahi Burger at Gott's Roadside

Gott’s roadside is when the crazy-town eating started to kick in. I don’t remember being hungry at this point, which is not to say that I didn’t want to eat more! Gott’s is a hamburger import from Napa, it’s kind of a farm to fast food kind of place. The ahi burger was refreshing, the tuna was seared well and the Asian flavored slaw gave it nice texture. On a normal day I would’ve been super-happy eating a sandwhich of this caliber, but… it was Big Eat day. A strange day when good food, suddenly seems… average.

Verdict: The ahi burger is good. I would eat it any day, but it did not change my life.

#34-Warm Egg Salad Sandwhich at Il Cane Rosso

During the process of procuring the Ahi Burger my friend Betty was left unsupervised in the Il Cane Rosso line where she was tasked with getting the Egg Salad sandwich. Despite the fact we had already eaten about 3 full meals she still came back with the sandwich AND a panzanella salad. What can I say? She can’t be tamed.

If none of us was blown away by the Ahi Burger, the blame can be placed on the Egg Salad Sandwich. It was so unique. The bread was almost like a focaccia crouton and the creamy salad was perfectly seasoned with tarragon and other (hmmm, it’s good, but what is it? fresh herbs). In a million years I would never have chosen to order this menu item. Quite frankly, I thought it sounded gross but it’s discoveries like these that make this adventure worth it. It’s so exciting to try something new and love it!

Verdict: Yes it sounds gross but it’s not, it’s the opposite of gross. It is marvelous!

PS-The panzanella was rockin too.

I’m eating 100 Items off of 7 X 7s SF Big Eat List. You can see the rest of entries to this series here. On my birthday my friends took me to the city to make some hard-core headway on this list, it was fun. I wish you had been there with us. :)

#32 Sweetwater Oysters at Hog Island Oyster Co.

The SF Ferry Building is paradise. What is better than eating delicious food while looking out at the Bay Bridge? But scary things lurk even in paradise and when we came upon Hog Island Oyster Co. I knew my moment of reckoning had arrived.

Sweetwater Oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co

I’m not an oyster virgin (I had some crazy deliciousness when I was in NOLA) but I do have a tendency to develop food neurosis. This happened immediately prior to eating these beauties.

As I got ready to slurp the oyster my brain went crazy like this

“OMG. Are these things alive? Is it going to start wiggling in my mouth. I can’t handle that. Maybe it will wiggle down my throat. Holy crap! I have to eat it anyway, it’s on the list. I’m supposed to be brave and try new food experiences. EAT THE OYSTER. JUST DO IT WUSS.”

Obviously, it was a very calm moment. Get ready to experience it in picture format.

Hmmm. Emily ate one. I think I can probably do this. (Nervous laughter)

Don't wuss out. Just do it. DO IT.

I think it's alive. It might kill me. Help!

Yay. I'm done. I can now laugh in relief as Debi stares down her Oyster in consternation.

Ha ha ha! Oysters are funny. We triumphed over them. We are the champions!

Verdict: The experience was very harrowing. I have no idea if they were good but I ate one!

I’m eating 100 Items off of 7 X 7s SF Big Eat List. You can see the rest of entries to this series here.

Everything on the Big Eat List (so far) has been good, but some items are revelatory. They are so good, you have to talk out your feelings after eating it for days. Scream sorbet is like that, it’s a game changer.

#31-Seasonal Flavors at Scream Sorbet

We found Scream Sorbet at the Ferry Building Farmers Market. All my life I’ve thought of sorbet as the cheap second I have to consume since I don’t digest dairy well. It’s possible that I might even hold an illogical grudge against sorbet. Why can’t I just have ice cream? It’s all your fault sorbet!

Scream sorbet has mended the fences and then some.

After a short sampling my posse decided the only logical course of action was to order all six flavors. The next 20 minutes were spent eating, moaning and generally falling in love with sorbet. There were three fruit flavors and three nut/chocolate flavors. They all changed my life.

Scream Sorbet is special because it’s made in a Paco Jet which can micro-puree anything. The guy at the stand told us he could put a chair in and make chair sorbet with a paco jet. I’m not interested in chair sorbet, but hazelnuts micro-pureed into the most amazing dairy-free treat I’ve ever tasted are welcome any day.

Verdict: It’s called Scream Sorbet for a reason. Go get yours.

I’m eating 100 Items off of 7 X 7s SF Big Eat List. You can see the rest of entries to this series here.

Happy Birthday to Me!

For my birthday last fall my friends took me to the city to Big Eat for a day. We thought it would be a kind of leisurely day. We’d eat, wander around see some stuff and eat some more. We totally followed that plan, if you cut out everything but the eating.

#28-Apple Fritter at Bob’s Donuts

In a nod to normal eating patterns we thought we’d start with pastries. Bob’s donuts is a small hole in the wall on a street that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before which is weird seeing as I grew up around these parts. At first bite the apple fritter was relatively unremarkable, but as we kept sampling it something weird happened. It got better? Perhaps it made the list because it has magic properties of persuasion?

Verdict: It was good, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.

Donuts at Bob's Donuts

#29-Egg Custard Tart at Golden Gate Bakery

Big Pastry Box-Little Door

Golden Gate Bakery is an institution and it’s Egg Tarts are legendary. So much so that you will buy a dozen of them for 5 people and ignore the cranky Chinese ladies behind the counter when they throw a Cantonese hissy fit cause you didn’t see the “Don’t take pictures sign”.  The lingering shouts of “Respect the sign. Don’t take pictures” will fade into the distance as you bliss out in egg tart heaven. The crust is incredibly light, you can practically feel the individual layers, while the custard somehow tastes like egg without being off-putting. I am not a huge egg fan but I had to stop myself from hoarding all 12 for myself.

Verdict: Don’t take pics. Just bring cash and your appetite.

Egg Custard Tarts from Golden Gate Bakery

#30-Hamburguesa at Don Pisto’s

From Golden Gate in Chinatown it’s a short walk over to Don Pisto’s in Little Italy. We were planning our first “meal” of the day to be brunch at Don Pisto’s which is kind of a hipster Mexican place. Everything there was good. We should know because we tried about half the menu.

Breakfast Delights at Don Pisto's

The crowning glory however was the Hamburguesa, a burger that is marinated in bacon and onion. Yeah, you heard me right, marinated in bacon. When it arrived at the table it seemed unassuming compared to the chilaquiles and tacos and other fancier food we had just eaten. Upon reflection I believe that it’s humble appearance is all part of the hamburguesas devious plan to charm you. The second you get close to that thing the intoxicating pull of bacon hits you in the face. The smell is crazy town and I mean that in the best possible way.

I would show you pictures of  us eating hamburguesa but our facial expressions are indeecent.

Verdict: Hamburguesa, where have you been all my life?

Hamburguesa at Don Pisto's

Did that seem like a lot of food? Probably, but we haven’t even scratched the surface. This is a FIVE part series. :)