Restaurants

Johnny Rockets special

I purchased all of my Christmas gifts online this year — you wouldn’t catch me dead trying to find a parking space at a mall so I can go in and pick through a table of sweatshirts other shoppers have mauled.

But I will go over there for dinner and my favorite December pastime: guessing which children will cry on Santa’s lap. Luckily, since Greenwood Park Mall expanded a few years ago, I can do both in the same hour from a booth at Johnny Rockets. In the olden days, I was relegated to carrying a pizza slice or pretzel and Coke through the mall until I found a nice spot over by J.C. Penney’s to watch the show.

Last night was my big night.

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December = candy cane hell

I have peppermint issues.

I don’t really like the flavor, so I begged my mom to buy that nasty Colgate paste over Crest when I was a kid, because even the taste of grit beat peppermint any day. Santa asked if I’d like candy canes in my stocking one year, and I replied very politely, “I prefer butterscotch disks instead.” As a grown-up, the candy canes on my tree taste like Starburst cherries, chocolate, blueberry and even popcorn — but if you’re looking for a traditional flavor, move on to the next house, pal.

Of course, it’s such a prevalent flavor in American culture, I eventually had to grow up and learn to suck it up, literally. My new limits are that peppermint is a cool taste, so it’s delicious when served frozen — which automatically means you can shove Starbuck’s peppermint mocha in the little red cup right up Rudolph’s butt. Nor would I touch Denny’s Peppermint Pancake Puppies with a thirty-nine-and-a-half-foot pole (although kudos for the cute name).

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It's Christmas time again

I thought this post would be about the wonderful new catering service that prepared the madrigal dinner at Center Grove High School this year … but that didn’t pan out. Oh, I was there and the singing was awesome, but the first words out of my mouth after we crawled into the Trail Blazer were “I’m hungry.”

Technically, I wasn’t starving because the roll was good, but I wanted to end my evening on a better note than that roast beef/pork loin mystery meat and the cold cheese sauce poured over my red potatoes. Just before I’d dashed out the door, a friend’s Facebook status recommended a new place in Greenwood simply called The Coffee Shop.

I deserved what she deemed “best hot chocolate in the city.”

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Buckhorn Grill in San Francisco

When you go to the movies, who doesn’t love a big bucket of popcorn, with all that sweet butter and salt? Nowadays though, the price of that popcorn is approaching ten bucks, especially if you add in a large drink to help wash it down. If you’re like me, sometimes you want more than the salty goodness of that popcorn. You want something meaty, like a good burger or a steak sandwich.

Here in San Francisco, there is a place where you can get that tasty sirloin with your movie ticket, at the Buckhorn Grill. In the Westfield Metreon Shopping Mall, besides its huge selection of movies, you will find a variety of delicious food options. Recently before our show time, I wanted to grab a bite of something substantial. Their tri-tip sandwich turned out to be one of the best reasons to skip the popcorn I have ever had. Read More »

Feel Glamorous Lunch @ Armani Cafe

Do you have a group of friends that you like to meet up with for a little retail therapy?  I am part of this great group of girlfriends who like to meet regularly downtown.  Besides hitting the stores, we also use this time together to try out cafes and restaurants.

This time after we combed the sale racks at Banana Republic, Loehmann’s and H&M we decided to hit the Armani Cafe, just inside the Armani store on Grant Avenue in San Francisco.

We may live for sales but we also need to feel glamorous.  What better way to gaze at the gorgeous Giorgio Armani clothes without feeling the guilt of not buying them, then to grab a bite at his cafe.  We could have gone for the European feel and sat outside on the sidewalk but decided to up the style quotient and get a table overlooking the beautiful displays inside.

A few of us at the table were disappointed that it wasn’t 3:00 pm yet because the cafe has a happy hour with drink specials that include a $6 Cosmo or Martini.  I was excited to see my favorite summer food, a caprese salad (heirloom tomato, basil and fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese!) on the menu for $9 as well as fried calamari for $10. Read More »

Are you a big sports fan? Can’t wait until football season starts? If you live in San Francisco then you can’t miss the Kezar Pub & Restaurant across from Kezar Stadium near Golden Gate Park.

Kezar Stadium is a legend among locals. Originally built in the 1920’s (before being replaced with a smaller version in 1989), the stadium back then still holds the attendance record for a high school football game in Northern California, with over 50,000 showing up for a game between big rivals Lowell High School and San Francisco Polytechnic.

Did you know that both the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers began their professional NFL existence in the original Kezar Stadium? Given this legendary status, it is no wonder that the Kezar Pub and Restaurant opened its doors across the street. Read More »

Casa Sanchez Painted Patio

If you like chips and salsa, like so many of us do, you may already know the name Casa Sanchez. This savory & fresh salsa is sold in every Safeway I’ve been in and lots of other major grocery stores and corner markets. Fortunately for us, San Francisco is the home to the restaurant where this famous Casa Sanchez salsa began.

I love that this family run restaurant is so proud of its longevity in the neighborhood. Check out their wall of articles posted next to the chips! When we were there Mama Sanchez was adding up the receipts at one of the tables and I think a grandmother was sweeping.

We love coming to this unassuming restaurant because not only are the chips and salsa delicious, but they have the best city backyard to hang out in on a sunny day. Today we came by for breakfast and I had the best chorizo and scrambled eggs.

If you are not a breakfast person then stop by and have one of their enormous chicken burritos, enchiladas or quesadilla. We’ve come by after work before to grab one of their huge burritos to take home – yum! The burritos are so big – and such a bargain – that I never get through more than half before giving up and getting out the foil.

Chorizo and Eggs @ Casa Sanchez

Bottom line, this is an expensive tasty spot to bring the kids or a friend.  Stop by on a sunny afternoon while shopping in the Mission District or anytime you want to grab a beer or agua fresca and some of the best chips and salsa ever.  With their bright and colorfully painted patio in the back, it will feel a little like you slipped into the novel Like Water For Chocolate or a Frida Kahlo painting.

Famous Casa Sanchez Logo

2778 24th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 282-2400

My friend Raven and I were looking for somewhere to kill some time away from the hot Tucson sun last week and found ourselves wandering around La Encantada, an outdoor mall in the foothills. We weren’t too  hungry, but wanted a snack to cool off with and happened upon FROST.

This Looks Delicious

The presentation of the Gelato is fantastic and it took us a few minutes to decide which flavor we wanted to try first.

Raven settled for a lemon/strawberries with champagne medeo and I could not resist the pineapple/mango presentations, they looked so good and refreshing. Raven spent time in Italy and raved about the gelato there,  she said that the lemon at FROST was just as good as the lemon gelato in Italy.

High praise indeed.

The mango/pineapple mixture was heaven, so cool and tropical. I also learned something new that day, their gelato has less calories and fat than ice cream. That’s reason enough to go back, time and time again.

Picture courtesy of frostgelato.com

The staff behind the counter were also very helpful, they let us taste test to our heart’s content, a must when visiting a new venue. The company has received high praise from other Tucson residents by being awarded the   “Best Ice Cream” award by the Tucson Weekly and Tucson Lifestyle magazines for 2009.

FROST has this to say about itself, “Our gelatos and sorbets are made fresh daily with the finest raw ingredients imported from Italy.  Our assortment of intense, colorful, and delicious flavors make for an authentic Italian gelato experience.”

FROST also caters events and makes gelato cakes, which I would like to have for my next party. Look a the presentations, they would add a flair of drama to any gathering.

I want one of these!

Frost is located around the Tucson Valley at these fine locations.

2905 E Skyline Dr Ste. # 286
Tucson, Arizona 85718

7131 N. Oracle Rd, Ste. 101
Tucson, Arizona 85704

7301 E Tanque verde Rd.
Tucson, Arizona 85715

Picture source- My iphone

No passport needed for this French cafe

In the heart of Union Square, just outside the Chinatown Dragon Gate on Bush Street, is Café de la Presse. This hip little spot has been on this vibrant corner for years and has only gotten better with age.

When you walk into the front door you can almost feel the ebb and flow of the conversations taking place all around you. This is the kind of breakfast, lunch or even dinner spot you will to go to when you want that international vibe.

If you like to people watch, they are next door to the Hotel Triton where many famous folk like to hide out.

The front of this cafe has always catered to those looking for an international newspaper Le Figaro or maybe an Italian Vogue magazine along with their espresso and croissant.

I love coming here (with my beret) for a coffee whenever I want to reminisce of my college days as an exchange student – or when I want some of the best country style pate and soupe à l’oignon (onion soup) in town!

Literary Fare at Cafe de la Presse

They have a vibrant international lunch crowd so call for a reservation unless you have time to wait. There is little street parking but the Sutter-Stockton Garage is just up the block and one of the cheapest in town.

And if you need an extra push to try this hip place, consider stopping by for dinner from Jan 15-31 when Dine About Town returns.

352 Grant Avenue
(between Harlan Pl & Sutter St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 398-2680

Mon-Thu. 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.