It always feels like I’m apologizing for our lack of updates…well at least I have a legitimate excuse this time. I am now (for better or worse) no longer unemployed. What does this mean? Less time for updates…but on the flip side…more money to go out to eat! So if my lazy ass doesn’t get in my way, we can hope for some more updates. Now without further delay…

I’ve never been much of a Bobby Flay fan. Not since this whole debacle. (Namely, 3:30) Apparently he excels equally at both Southwestern cuisine and general douchebaggery. Sure sure, it was years ago and he may very well be a different man now. But I mean, seeing that, do we really still need to wonder why the rest of the world thinks of Americans as the rude, brash, annoying, uncouth nouveau riche? This is a grim picture of America’s cultural ambassadorship.

Well, if he’s good for one thing, it’s for leading me into this entry. See, as any of you Food TV’ers out there know, Bobby’s now doing a show called Throwdown, where he goes throughout the country, challenging people to various dish specific cook-offs.  As it turns out, Phil’s Fish Market, near Monterey, CA, is the site of Bobby’s cioppino battle, going toe-to-toe against owner Phil DiGirolamo himself. (Incidentally, I caught an episode where Bobby battles previously reviewed Mama Testa’s owner Cesar Gonzalez. Cesar wins.) I don’t actually remember who wins the challenge, but this was all the context I had while visiting Phil’s Fish Market myself a few weeks ago. 

Well one thing’s certain. Phil’s got a good PR/marketing guy. They’ve made no small deal of Bobby’s visit to Phil’s. Mounted TVs spool through slideshows of that day’s events, and ordering out catalogs (yeah, catalogs)  are tacked on along with the menus…faithfully adorned with the Food Network logo. And who can blame the guy? This publicity has drawn huge crowds…I mean, this place was packed.

As far as ambiance goes, Phil’s reminds me of a busy Chinese restaurant. Busy, boisterous, and crowded, minus the dank bathrooms. It’s brightly lit and warm inside, like a family restaurant…but somehow Phil’s still seems to retain it’s warehouse/fish market feel. Maybe it’s the actual fish market at the other end, which still stocks fresh lobsters, crabs, and some really beautiful looking seafood…including some gorgeous tuna filets that I just wanted to take home and rub all over my body eat raw. And of course, Phil’s famous cioppino can be purchased in gallon tubs for easy-take-home convenience. Also impressive was the oyster bar, stocking both fresh-shucked oysters and booze.

So, in reality, before you even order at the counter, your eyes have already been feasting on the cornucopia of fresh seafood all about. Then you get to the hanging menu , which, in being so extensive…is actually a little intimidating.

Maine Lobster, Steamed Mussels, Fried catfish, Littleneck clams,

Grilled calamari steak, Oysters on the half-shell, Salmon marsala,

Blackened sea scallops, Fried clam strips, soft-shell crab sandwiches,

and of course, cioppino.

Apparently, if it walks, climbs, crawls, or swims…it’s on the menu. Maybe this place is more like a Cantonese restaurant than I initially thought. That said, having such a plethora of delectable sounding choices makes ordering both a exciting joy and a painstaking dilemma. I probably spent a good 10 minutes just blankly staring while annoyed customers cut ahead of me in line. Paradise is having four stomachs and a bottomless wallet.

In the end, I went with the cioppino. I mean, how could I not? Time to see what all the hub-bub is about.

Bold, messy, and beautiful. Spilling over the sides of the bowl, and mounded high with seafood, this cioppino knows what it’s about and makes no excuses. My fears of not having enough food were allayed the moment the server laid this mamba-jamba before me. Allright, so portioning is not a problem here…but what about the taste? In reality, all I had in ways of comparison was the one I had over at, well, Cioppino’s in SF. Quite frankly, this cioppino blew that one out of the water. The flavor was nice and balanced…tasting of seafood and the ocean, without being overly fishy. The crab was cooked to perfection, as were the clams, mussels, and shrimp, their chewiness providing the right textural contrast to the supple, well-cooked fish filets. And, as every good (and safe) seafood dish should be, everything was fresh. 

Despite hopping on Food TV’s marketing gravy train, Phil’s still maintains what its about. And it shows, in both environment and its food. Simple, local (I think) and fresh, the menu doesn’t have much air of pretension about it, even with all the hype. It is what it is…fresh seafood that is allowed to be exactly that on the plate…fresh seafood…no miso beurre blancs or uni foam here. And while things have been spruced up and things look much more polished for the sake of family dining, Phil’s still stays true to what was, and hopefully, still is, a vibrant, thriving, smelly, local fish market. Somehow, surrounded by the warehouse walls and concrete flooring, the bustling of crowds, next to the fresh fish on ice, and being able to eat right next to the ocean and feeling the ocean breeze…that raw-ness, that immersion of “local, and right from the ocean,” it all just made some sort of primordial sense. Kudos, Phil, I am now a fan.

Phil’s Fish Market
7600 Sandholtd Road
Moss Landing, CA 95039
www.philsfishmarket.com
Someone go and tell me how the other stuff on the menu is…I’m curious to see if this place is a one-trick pony.

Around the Belmont-San Mateo border, El Camino Real is an interesting mix of mattress vendors, timeworn motels, mom-and-pop stores, and used car dealerships. Not exactly an area where you would stumble upon hamburgers with Meyer Ranch ground beef and shakes with Clover organic milk. Lo and behold, newly opened Jack’s Prime serves up all that sustainable and humanely raised goodies that Bay Area denizens have come to demand and expect.

Jack’s Prime just opened at the beginning of October and seems to be garnering a good amount of attention already. Mmmm, cold beer. Have to hand it to Jack’s and their attention to the small things that make a huge difference. Frozen pitchers?! Great idea, folks. We kicked off the meal with some ice cold Boont. Jack’s even has wine available for those weirdos who would rather enjoy a Zinfandel over a cold one.

The interior features a very modern industrial minimalism with its strong emphasis on gray and metal. Thankfully, it didn’t feel like I was going in for a prostate exam or anything. Unfortunately for the wait staff, we snuck in 15 minutes before closing, but our waitress was fantastic and pretty understanding (and it was her first day!).

Nate and I both ordered the Maytag Blue Ribbon burger, complete with Maytag blue, caramelized onions, and beefsteak tomatoes. Pretty freaking good. Juicy and messy, just the way I like it. The bun was perfectly toasted and the spread tied the whole creation together. However, when we first received it, there was one glaring omission. No blue cheese. Nate and I were a bit perplexed, but the waitress quickly took care of it. Being the first week of operation, a few snafus were totally excusable, but it’s hard to call a burger Maytag blue if you forget to place the namesake between the buns. Also, in writing this, I just realized that there were sauteed mushrooms, which was not a part of the menu description. Sweet, free shrooms.

We ordered a pair of fries: the Mushroom Swiss and Breakfast. The Breakfast fries was topped with a fried egg and served with a side of Tabasco mayo. The fries were quite tasty, but we were definitely disappointed by the fried egg. Some of the ooey-gooey yolk running all over the fries would have been nice. Hopefully they’ll address this for all you future patrons.

Had to try the handmade shakes. I had the mint chocolate and Nate went with the black and white. Mmmm, pretty good. The shakes could easily be slurped up a straw (unlike those pesky In ‘n’ Out suckas) and were almost smoothie like, but they held very well. The mint chocolate had a delicious treasure trove of chocolate chips at the bottom. Great way to end the meal.

Based on the past reviews, it seems like we’ve been eating at a lot of burger and sandwich joints recently, but what can I say… I love sinking my teeth into a juicy patty sandwiched between two crunchy and soft buns. Does Jack’s deliver on flavor? Yes, very much so. Should you go? Yes, check them out and support a Peninsula restaurateur who is committed to serving good ingredients. Would I go back? Not for a while. I don’t mean to be a jerk, but I was a bit disappointed by some of the mistakes. We didn’t even get a dish comped. I understand the first week slip-ups, so I’ll wait a bit and let Jack’s iron out some of the wrinkles before I make a return visit.

Jack’s Prime
3723 South El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
650-638-1479
www.jacksprime.com
Support our local businesses!

Ahh, pastrami. I don’t really consider myself much of a sandwich guy, but when I do spring for one, nothing does it like hot pastrami on rye. (Or a monte cristo, but that’s another entry.) Yes, it is one of my most favored of sandwich meats, yet also one of my least understood. Embarrassingly, I didn’t figure out pastrami was actually cured beef until just a few years ago. Anyway, during my time in college, I had always heard stories of this place. This oddly named joint with unrivaled, perhaps even, legendary pastrami sandwiches. I mean, their sandwich is listed under the Wikipedia entry for pastrami, and we all know Wikipedia is pretty much law…so they’ve gotta be somewhat legit right? As fate would have it, I had the opportunity to swing by and see if the product matched the hype.

Somehow I had always imagined that the best pastrami could only be found at some old ma n’ pa  Jewish deli in New York. Well, The Hat has been around for about 55 years, and while it’s no small deli, it does a lot to try to retain a old, weathered motif. Lacquered wood and antique photos help retain the classic feel. They’ve got an open kitchen, which is always nice, complete with what seems to be way too many workers. The menu is straight, unpretentious Americana: hot dogs, cheeseburgers, chili cheese fries, ham and swiss…you get the idea. But honestly…you’re here for the pastrami anyway.

 It may look like dog food, but I promise it tastes better. A heaping pile of fries topped with chili and melting cheese, and finished with a generous helping of pastrami. A definitive tribute to the American ideal of excessive over-abundance. The fries themselves were the thicker type, which I appreciate…but they were lacking the crispiness necessary to make them great. Either the fryer wasn’t hot enough, or they had been sitting out for awhile. The chili itself, I have to say, was pretty mediocre. No real flavor, no definitive punch. The pastrami’s saltiness did a lot to make up for the overall lack of character otherwise. All in all a mediocre dish. While good in concept, I feel like each of the individual components was lacking…dumbing it all down in the end.

 On to the famed pastrami dip…a modest 8-inch french roll chock full of warm pastrami, complemented only by mustard and pickles. Solid pastrami, with good texture…but the sandwich, like the fries, lacked an overall punch. The bread was flat, adding no real flavor nor texture. I found the sandwich relying a little too heavily on the condiments for any real flavor, or perhaps they were too strong. Like a mustard and pickle hoagie. In either case, the pastrami  was overshadowed. A solid sandwich, but lacking any real punch.

 The Hat was a classic example of over-hype, under-delivery for me. I went in expecting phenomenal pastrami, and while it was solid..too many of the other components were lacking to make anything stand out. That’s not to say their pastrami dip is bad, but nothing really sang. So as of now, I guess my hunt for the perfect pastrami is yet unabated. Well, it was all pretty filling…which counts for something.

 The Hat
1210 E. Imperial Hwy.
Brea, CA 92821
www.thehat.com

Located in San Jose’s illustrious (or pretentious…you decide) Santana Row, The Counter is another play on the “build-your-own-burger” concept. Wherein it is in your hands, dear diner, to select the individual components that will make up your custom built, and hopefully delicious, burger. I must admit I had my reservations first coming in…my past experiences with gourmet burger places have been lackluster at best. While solid in concept, I haven’t yet been to a place that has made gourmet burgers tasty enough to warrant coming back. Especially when I know there’s delicious, simpler, fresh burgers available for a much more palatable price…..*cough* In-n-out *cough*

I really don’t get the interior of this place. Scant decor, solid metal metal beams, a high warehouse ceiling, and chrome chairs. It’s like they were trying to shoot for a minimalist, industrial feel to be cool and edgy, but the place ends up feeling more cold, cavernous and empty. Like enjoying a burger in a warehouse. To top it off, the only color they give the place is this weird aqua-turquoise. So like eating in an old refrigerator. But a warehouse. A refrigerhouse? Not the most welcoming, nor relaxing of places to eat. I dunno, not really working for me. They did have a pretty stocked bar though.

The menus are pretty fun here…you get a clipboard and a small pencil. And you basically check off your selections and give the sheet to the waiter. Be careful if you’re super hungry, I can attest that one’s impulse is to check all the way down the list. One thing I do appreciate about building your own burger is that it allows people to actually read each ingredient and savor, test it in their minds. And people actually thinking about flavors, thinking about what they’re eating is never a bad thing.  Anyway the menu consists of 5 steps…choosing a meat, a cheese, toppings, sauce, and a bun. I have to say I was impressed with the selection…particularly with the sauces available. You have solid roasted garlic aioli, apricot sauce, horseradish mayo…etc. I went with a 1/3 lb. beef patty (medium-rare, of course) horseradish cheddar, (I think) red onion, sauteed mushrooms, roasted red peppers, grilled onions, and roasted garlic aioli sauce. I guess I must’ve gotten too excited checking off whatever sounded good…cause it didn’t dawn on me until later that I had ordered double onions. What a foo I am.

Believe me, it’s smaller than it looks. After waiting a long damn time, the burger finally arrived in all it’s…well…smallish glory. It’s not a big burger. However, upon taking my first bite, I can see where the work went in. The red peppers were nice and sweet, as were the grilled onions. Nice crisp red onions, well-seasoned sauteed mushrooms. And the beef tasted the way it should…like beef! I’ve had so many burgers that were char-broiled till they tasted like burnt cardboard…or so muddled and tasteless that only the condiments lent any flavor. Not this patty. I have to say I was pretty impressed. All the flavors were well pronounced and they all tasted like they should…which speaks of high-quality ingredients and good execution. A solid, better-than-average burger.

Service leaves something to be desired here…everything took a pretty long time while I saw plenty of waitstaff idling around chatting, which is not only infuriating for a waiting diner, but is also a big no-no in my opinion. And my Diet Coke was syrupy and flat…sorry, I had to say it. While having had a solid burger, I left still a bit hungry and with a significantly lighter wallet. Better than average, but still pricey. That aside, The Counter’s burgers are worth trying out. They’re probably one of the better “gourmet burgers” I’ve had. But the issue is that apart from the burger’s flavor, I feel like everything else here is lacking. So it’s worth trying out…but it’s not yet come-backer status.

The Counter
3055 Olin Avenue Suite 1035
San Jose, CA 95128
www.thecounterburger.com
I hate syrupy Diet Coke…no seriously.

I’m sure you love finding hidden gems; movies, books, shoes, music, etc. Who doesn’t? Since this blog is about food, yeah, you guessed it, we unearthed a very fine gem hidden in one of the most unlikely of places. No really, I don’t know how anyone would find this place without the internet. Anyway, Hogan’s Cafe is that little secret place that serves all the favorite homestyle meals, both breakfast and lunch, in a very comfortable setting. Hearty and filling portions make this place a winner.

My roommate and I were going to catch up with a friend for breakfast before work (freaking early), and we left it up to him. Thanks to the magic of yelp, he found this place nestled in sleepy South San Francisco. Okay, so South City doesn’t have much outside of Genentech and its biotech brethren, but it does have a lot of produce trucks. And in between those produce trucks lies this tiny trucker’s heaven. Yeah, it’s really here. Man, if yelp didn’t exist, I would have never eaten here. I was almost scared of leaving my car there. While it can never compare to the craziness of Tsukiji at 4am, I couldn’t help feeling commotion from all the produce being carted around.

Food-wise, Hogan’s delivers what you would expect. Nothing crazy or over the top, and definitely nothing gourmet, but satisfying. The food’s gotta be good if this place is still open, given its secluded location. I had a Denver omelet (omelette? whatever), which is your standard bell pepper, mushroom, and ham egg concoction. It was filling, too much protein in fact, because I was getting woozy in lab, which is never ever a good thing. Damn good hash browns though. Crispy and just sprinkled with enough salt. Hogan’s seems to have a plethora of menu items, so there’s something for everyone. Lunch items look pretty appetizing too, especially the fatty sandwiches.

What a homey place. Littered with pictures of sports and pop culture luminaries alike, there’s a lot of history on those walls. Our server was quick and very polite; exactly what you’d want from someone if you’ve been driving hours through the night. The food was on the table with minimal wait and the coffee was steaming. Great find, check it out if you ever stumble upon it.

Hogan’s Cafe
155 Terminal Court, South San Francisco, CA 94080
650-583-2293
Haha, good luck getting there!

First things first. Watching Fresh Prince is about the closest I’ve ever been to Philly. So, when dealing with something as fiercely defended as the venerable Philly Cheesesteak, I guess I’m forced to admit that I’ve never had a real Philly cheesesteak. That being said, I’d like to think that Jersey Joe’s comes pretty close. Jersey Joe’s has quickly become one of my local favorites…not only because it’s close, but simply because I love cheesesteaks. I mean, what’s not to love? This is unpretentious Americana fare at its best: fatty meat, gooey cheese, and minimal vegetables, all conveniently stuffed into a deliciously artery-clogging sandwich. Throw in some fries and a pint of beer….and….damn, I am having a good day.

Well, the place is certainly not much to look at. Located in a corner of a unassuming shopping center, it’d be easy to miss Jersey Joe’s at first drive-by. No brushed wood inlays or track lighting, no, nothing fancy. And in this case, it’s perfect. This is your friendly neighborhood sports pub/sandwich shop. Sports flags and team posters share wall space with beer signs, all flanking the big-screen projector in the middle of the room. Yes, this place has a projector, along with four plasma TV’s at each corner of the room. Now, normally I’m pretty against having TV’s in restaurants, (see Burger Bar) but here, it just works, it fits. Walk in here Sunday or Monday night, and it’s easy to spend a few hours with the boys nursing beers and watching the Steelers on the big screen, while following the Red Sox on the corner TVs. Simply put, it’s great.

Jersey Joe’s has a pretty extensive menu, including hoagies, burgers, and other sandwiches…but let’s be honest, you’re here for the cheesesteaks. It all starts with your basic cheesesteak: a half-pound of sliced ribeye served with gooey American cheese and grilled onions. From there, a variety of add-ons await, like: sweet/hot peppers, mushrooms, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and (thank goodness) bacon. Get your doggy bags ready too, not only are they huge, but these suckers are dense.

I’m still working my way through the menu, but my current favorite has to be the sweet pepper cheesesteak. The flavor isn’t everything I would like it to be, I usually find myself wishing for some garlic, or laying on the hot sauce. That’s not to say there’s no flavor; the melted American cheese does a lot to mesh the fatty beefiness of ribeye (my favorite cut) with the slight sweetness of the peppers. But none of the components really sing. It’s a solid, good flavor, just lacking some punch. The texture, on the other hand, is great. No gristly chewy bits, just gooey, moist goodness that matches perfectly with a fresh set of crispy fries.

At roughly eight bucks a sandwich, Jersey Joe’s is definitely a little on the pricier side. But otherwise, it’s solid in every sense. Unpretentious fare coupled with a chill neighborhood sports bar feel. In fact, that’s what draws me to this place, it’s a good place to just come with friends and watch the game, while enjoying good sandwiches with a pitcher of beer. East Coast favorites on the West Bay. Nice.

Jersey Joe’s
21 El Camino Real
San Carlos, CA
(650) 592-7317
This place gets packed around lunch hour, so do your best to come before noon, or after 1.

Finding delicious treasures is fun. Especially ones in the middle of tall, dusty warehouses. Slow Club sits on the edge of the Mission and SOMA, far from the hustle and bustle of the taquerias and fruit markets. Across the street from grimy MUNI buses and carved inside of a cold slab of stone, you can find a dark cave that holds a bunch of treasure, namely lots of loud, hip folks sharing some pretty good comfort food.

Check out the inside, with those beams chilling right in the middle. The industrial look is alive and well here at Slow Club, and although it may be a bit sterile, it works. The stone keeps the noise in, so the volume keeps cranking up as more and more people get their chow on. It’s a stone cave, with little lighting, but the lighting gives the place that underground feel. I can’t even imagine how dark it must be after sunset. One interesting observation: most of the dudes had facial hair (I was one of them), so if you have a Y chromosome, grow some fuzz before you chow down. Good service, very helpful, but with an attitude. The server noticed and then proceeded to fix our wobbly table, which I very very much appreciated. Pretty impressive.

I love them pizzas, so when I saw the grilled flatbread with montasio, white anchovies, and heirloom spinach, I couldn’t help myself. Good thing I didn’t hold back from ordering or I would have been a sorry man. The flatbread was crisp and flaky, with just enough chewiness. The montasio was creamy and the perfect canvas for its toppings. The anchovies added just the right amount of salt and the spinach evened the flavor out. Sometimes I just can’t understand why those ninja turtles never liked anchovies. The appetizer was a great start and the sheer size meant I could have stopped there, but I didn’t!

If I’m ordering pizza, I might as well order the other American favorite, the burger. Slow Club doesn’t even try to give it a fancy name, but instead loads it up with fancy ingredients like balsamic onions, Prather Ranch dry-aged ground beef, aioli, and gorgonzola. Damn, what a tasty burger. The meat was cooked perfectly juicy and the fries were some of the best ever. Even though it just had some parsley on it, they were fried just right. Sorry Pearl’s, but this burger has you beat. Too bad you have to cough up a little more dough to get it. Might be one of the best I have ever tasted. No joke.

I also tried the fresh egg pappardelle. The braised short ribs were sinfully smooth and melted in your mouth, but the sauce was lacking; just didn’t quite have the oomph that I was expecting.. The currents gave it a bit of a tart and sweet kick, but I couldn’t figure out what it was missing. The pappardelle itself was amazing; you could tell that the noodles were hand-prepared with some love.

Be prepared to wait because they don’t take reservations. The place is as trendy as ever and people come in droves for the food. The menu changes according to season and the chef’s whim. Would I recommend it? Definite yep. But you better have the swagger or look the part (probably be under 40 also), otherwise you might feel a bit out of place. And damn, you can actually watch the chef make the food. Amazing. Being able to serve 40 people with a kitchen like that takes some serious skill. Slow Club should be one of your after-work hangouts if you live or work anywhere nearby. Something about that stone cave in the middle of nowhere.

Slow Club
2501 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
415-241-9390
Check it. Even the workers on break are hip.

There are some days where I just get that insatiable craving for a whopping, greasy, succulent patty of meat covered with oozing cheese. Top it with some grilled onions, lettuce for texture, and a nice full bun with a mound of crispy fries, and I’m having a good friggin’ day. Truly, there are few other foods as universally pleasing and unabashedly heart-stopping as the American burger. And symbolically speaking, few other foods are so intimately tied to the identity of a nation, both as an item of nostalgia, and as a cultural ambassador. (ex. McDonald’s in China and…well…everywhere else) More recently, the evolution of the “gourmet burger,” has revamped the image of the hamburger from greasy fast-food staple to high quality, gastronomic fare. Chef Hubert Keller, of Fleur de Lys, continues that trend, with Burger Bar, serving kicked-up Americana with some of Keller’s French culinary roots thrown in.

As far as atmosphere, Burger Bar sorta reminds me of me in seventh grade: awkward and trying too hard to fit in. For one, it’s located in a mall. For most, mention mall and food, and names like Sbarro, Cinnabon, McDonalds and the like pop up. Yet here, amid the tiled walkway and next to the hair salon, we find a restaurant fathered by one of America’s best chefs?

Walking inside, I found myself thinking, “classic sports bar on steroids.” Deep wooden accents, high booths, beer signs, photos of locals and a long bar lining one side of the restaurant connote a simple, classic pub. But this is soon betrayed by the merchandising and plasma TVs stuffing the walls. Everywhere. No joke, the wall above the bar is lined with Burger Bar tees and underwear, along with plasma TVs simultaneously showing three or four different sports channels. And every booth has a TV built into the side. Every freakin’ booth. A bit excessive in my opinion. I’ve never been a big fan of TVs in restaurants, I’ve always found them to be distracting from the food, the people you’re eating with, and the conversations you’re supposed to be having with them. All in all, it felt like someone tried too hard to make the place feel like a sports bar or a neighborhood pub, ending up instead with one big contrived gimmick that felt like neither.

Allow me a moment to say that the idea of a gourmet burger has always confused me a bit. Take a cheap, quintessential American comfort food, the “food for the masses” if you will, and throw in the best of haute cuisine, the antithesis of the common man’s food. Like putting roasted duck in peasent’s gruel. In my eyes, the gourmet burger concept parallels much of fusion cuisine. If done carefully, thoughtfully, and with respect, intriguing and phenomenal flavor combinations can be achieved, grounding people in familiar flavors, while introducing new ones to the mix. On the other hand, if things are just haphazardly thrown together, the result can be directionless, disastrous, and disrespectful,(think Southwestern egg rolls) leading to what some foodies call, “con-fusion cuisine.” Then again, if all that is “gourmet” about gourmet burgers is the higher quality ingredients, then the concept makes a little more sense.

Verbal diarrhea aside, it’s on to the food. Ordering a burger here is kinda like building your own teddy bear, everything is customizable. Rather then specific pre-made burgers, the menu lists off a plethora of ingredients ranging from jalapeño bacon, prosciutto, and fried egg to lobster, black truffle, and even seared foie gras. (Yes, foie gras.) All of them are grouped into categories like: the Farm, the Pantry, the Earth, the Ocean…etc…all from which you can pick and choose to compose your burger. Included are six different selections of meat: Ridgefield Farm Beef, Black Angus Beef, Buffalo, American Kobe, Colorado Lamb, and Turkey, as well as several different bun types. You can even choose the types of fries you would like.

This build-your-own burger concept is like asking a girl out on a date, things can either go very well for you, (if you know what you want) or horrifically bad. (if you…well…don’t) Indeed, the world is your oyster, perhaps, overwhelmingly so. Luckily, for the indecisive ones among us, some pre-selected chef’s burgers are also available on the menu, including the over-the-top Rossini burger, made with a Kobe beef patty, sauteed foie gras, shaved truffles, and Madiera sauce served on an onion bun, all for a hefty 60 bucks.

I ended up going with a Black Angus patty, topped with jalapeño bacon, avocado, caramelized onions and pepper jack cheese on a sesame bun, with a side of zucchini fries. I definitely like it when a burger place serves big, thick beef patties…like a half-inch or so, making it possible to have a nice, pink, medium-rare center. I feel like most patties sold these days are simply too thin for this, and thus, can only come well done. Anyway, the portions at this place are pretty generous…this was a big burger. I can’t really describe the flavor as anything other than…beefy, but the texture and execution were great. Nice and moist, with a bright pinkish center.

The jalapeño bacon, which they apparently soak in jalapeño brine, was a little disappointing. It didn’t really have the fatty bacon flavor I was hoping for…dulled bacon flavor at first, followed by a spicy kick. As if combining the two flavors had resulted in a milder version of both. I wasn’t too happy with the avocado portioning either. They gave me a quarter of an avocado…not cut into slices, just an awkwardly shaped quarter that didn’t really sit too well on the burger, and kept on sliding off. The zucchini fries were good for about the first two minutes, after which they started getting a bit soggy, as is their tendency. All-in-all, it was a well executed burger, with only mediocre flavor. The problem with these build your own burger places though, is that a bland burger can be the fault of your decision-making. Maybe I just didn’t pick the right components.

The meal continued with a chocolate burger, one of Burger Bar’s dessert burgers. A halved donut holds chocolate ganache, sliced strawberries, mint leaves, and passion fruit, with each part meant to imitate bun, patty, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese, respectively, in a savory burger. This may have been my favorite part of the meal. The fruit really lifted the flavor, while the mint leaves really added a light, fresh zing, so as to counter the heaviness of the donut and chocolate. Short and sweet and not too heavy.

All-in-all, I wasn’t totally impressed with Burger Bar. While the burger was cooked right, most of the components lacked the flavor to make it an exceptional burger. Add in an environment that can’t decide whether it’s a decked out sports bar or a friendly neighborhood pub, and one walks away a bit confused, and not exactly content. Especially for 17 bucks. Then again, it could be all in how you choose your parts. I get the feeling this place has more to offer than what we had on our one trip here. And in the end, it’s difficult to judge a place with such variety on just a small sample of its ingredients. I’d be willing to return to mix n’ match. Throw in a couple pints (or more) of the pretty extensive beer selection, and maybe my opinion will improve.

Burger Bar
Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino
3930 Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-632-9364
Make sure to keep an eye out for Robert Horry. Robert frickin’ Horry.

Oh, and I write too much.

Man, when I think of Noe Valley, all I see is a little hood chock full of those yuppies, working 9-5 for the man downtown. Yet swirling in that mist of yuppiness, stands a little tasty food treasure named Firefly. It sure does a great job serving up some great American cuisine with a feel that is both hipster and homey without all that pretentiousness. Simply a great place to enjoy a savory meal with good company. While all the Gary Dankos and Michael Minas may stand at the top of the SF food chain, Firefly captures the bright soul of the city in a small unassuming place… and I loved it.

I’ve never seen a firefly in real life. Probably because I’m a Californian born and raised. Don’t have too many around here especially for a suburbanite like me. Just like its namesake, there’s a simple beauty to the restaurant that captivates you. Normally I don’t focus on the setting, but Firefly has got the ambiance down. Great lighting, matching artwork, light music, and a very comfortable mood. Nothing over the top or hipster-riffic. Nothing too fancy. Simple and charming. Waitstaff attended to every need and was extremely courteous. I always appreciate menus that are small and well-crafted (not too mention well-designed), especially the ones that make me flip flop back and forth between dishes right until the waitress comes up and asks me what I want. When everything makes your mouth salivate, the restaurant has to be a decent one.

Before we jump into the dishes, the Acme bread and roasted pepper hummus was a nice start. I love butter on my bread, but a tasty spread to begin a meal is always a treat. I wanted the shrimp and scallop pot stickers, but my friend and I ended up ordering the Corn and Goat Cheese Souffle to start. I figure I could imagine their delicious flavor. Might as well try something a little more fancy. The souffle had a crispy exterior, creamy interior, a well-cooked souffle. Size was small, but flavor was big. The roasted pepper coulis was a great complement to the cheese.

The main dishes were great. I had the Roasted Duck Breast and my friend had the Loch Duarte Salmon Filet. My duck breast was juicy and tender, with a seasoned crispy skin. The jus wasn’t anything special, though. The chanterelle mushroom cornmeal crepes were nothing more than corn tortillas with mushrooms inside, but they tasted phenomenal. Seriously, the flavor of the mushrooms were absolutely wonderful and almost trumped the duck as the premier flavor on the plate. The salmon was good, but nothing great. The crust on the salmon was perfect, though; I don’t like I’ve had a better crusted salmon filet before. Flavor-wise, the salmon had to rely on the roasted corn sauce as it couldn’t really hold up on its own. The pesto potatoes were tasty, but the pesto could have used a little more punch.

I ordered an espresso shot, which is unusual for me, but I needed a quick jolt and I thought it would go well with the Chocolate Ganache Tart. Sadly, it came out at least 7 minutes before the desserts. Yes, 7. I counted. Anyway, the espresso was mediocre and was actually a bit over-roasted. My friend ordered the Blueberry Brioche Bread Pudding, which was sweet and sublime. I love bread pudding and this one was great, but it seems almost too fancy for bread pudding. The ganache tart was so incredibly rich and the tart had a flaky and crispy crust. The cherry vanilla ice cream was pretty darn tasty too. Yeah, I enjoyed the desserts. A lot. Damn sweet tooth.

Firefly was all that I wanted. Great food, great atmosphere, and great presentation. Would I come back? Of course. You should go too. The prix fixe menu is in effect from Sunday to Thursday, which nets you an appetizer, main, and dessert for $35. Pretty sweet deal, I’d say. Otherwise, be prepared to spend about 40 a head, not including any firewater. Great winelist, by the way, with choices for all budgets. Love it, definitely a San Francisco culinary jewel.

Firefly
4288 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
415-821-7652
They have a sweet water closet. Use it.

As a food lover, I love the people and places that painstakingly supply my needy tongue and stomach. The fishermen, the butcher, the grocery bagger. The farmer’s market, the local supermarket, the open at 5am donut shop. Missing that feeling of culinary wonder in sleepy San Mateo, I heard of little grocery store in the Mission that serves up some swell deli treats and is conveniently located next to the Dolores Park for a nice Sunday picnic. There stands Bi-Rite Market, which prides itself on being a community-oriented grocery market. I think they’re doing a pretty good job of living up to the billing.

Granted I am super spoiled by my four sweet years of living nearby the undisputed king of markets, Berkeley Bowl, I have to hand it to Bi-Rite for their extremely friendly and helpful service. They pass out happiness like candy and are more than willing to help you find what you’re looking for. Organic fruit, handmade chocolate, wines and beers… you name it, they probably have it and it’s locally-grown, earth-friendly, and/or artisan-made. Unfortunately, being a do-gooder ain’t cheap. Bi-Rite isn’t exactly on the cheap end, but they don’t charge you an arm and a leg like Whole Foods. Plus, you know this place is all about serving the neighborhood instead of stockholders.

They have a pretty sweet deli, with all the cheeses and cured meats you could ask for, plus a lot a lot of in-house prepared foods. I picked up an avocado chicken salad bacon tomato sandwich, which was probably the best chicken salad sandwich I have ever laid my teeth into. Well, we all know that bacon makes all things better, but the soft focaccia was the perfect complement to the chicken salad. I sat on the grass at Dolores while munching it down with a side of Black Pepper Kettle Chips and I was in a state of simple joy.

All in all, a great place for all your food-related needs. It’s too bad I live a little too far from Bi-Rite, otherwise they would probably have a new regular. I didn’t get a chance to try their ice creamery, which is just a quick jump across the street, but I will. By the looks of the lines and the screaming kids on a Sunday morning, it’s got to be decent. A neighborhood treasure, Bi-Rite is a market for the people, the way it should be.

Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th Street., San Francisco, CA 94110
415-241-9760
Buy local, buy fresh!