I'm currently making a rather quality list of restaurant suggestions I have received. Because most of the restaurants I have in mind to write about are in San Francisco (and I am in Los Angeles), I have decided that I need to explore my own city. Los Angeles cuisine has plenty of potential, and I have already tasted a morsel of this quality--I cannot wait to try more!
Coming soon...
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Restaurant Review: Magnolia Pub and Brewery, San Francisco, California
Because my boyfriend lives just three blocks from the infamous Haight-Ashbury, we spend many of our meals in one of the varied restaurants of the area. One of our hands-down favorites is Magnolia Pub and Brewery, a small and quirky restaurant and bar on the corner of Haight and Masonic. I had many times passed over the restaurant upon viewing the menu outside the door, but I am under the impression that the restaurant has undergone a significant makeover since my disregards.
About twenty to twenty-five tables are stuffed inside, and five or so metal tables and chairs are outside for the nicer days on Haight. Dark wood decorates the interior, bringing the patron mind to reminisce of an old English pub. Small quirks add finishing touches of charm to Magnolia, such as the dishtowels for napkins and old alcohol bottles for serving water. They brew their own beer and declare a significant fondness for the drink on their website; I am not twenty-one yet, but intend to try their beer immediately upon turning so. Judging by the food, I'm assuming their beer is damn good.
The first time James and I tried Magnolia was for lunch; I had a chickpea sandwich that is no longer on the menu and James had the sausage and sauerkraut sandwich. We vowed to return. My favorite time to eat there is for breakfast, as they do my favorite meal vast justice with their unique menu items, such as fig-stuffed french toast and crispy pork belly. I applaud James because he is braver than I am with ordering daunting food; I am always afraid to find a rogue onion that was ignored by the person creating the menu options. He ordered the crispy pork belly one day for breakfast, and he had a hard time keeping my fork away. The pork crisps sit atop a bed of black-eyed peas and chimichurri and are coated with a fried egg. It is an impeccable dish and my favorite from Magnolia. Highly, highly recommended.
Another excellent (but very very sweet) dish is the stuffed french toast. What exactly it is stuffed with varies, but whether it is caramelized figs and pear sauce or peaches and apples, it is very good. It is huge, though, served as giant triangular cakes, and so heed this warning: only order the french toast if you are sharing or if you have a high metabolism and a gigantic sweet tooth.
One dish I will advise future patrons to stay away from is the duck egg and toast. Perhaps it was just the one day, but Magnolia seems to apply the vinegar quite generously when they poach their eggs; this leaves a very acidic taste in one's mouth--none too pleasant when you are trying to enjoy your eggs. The staff is very accommodating, however, as when the duck egg was returned, they took off its charge as well as the charges for the two coffee pots we ordered--this brings me to another breakfast staple: coffee. I don't drink it, but James raves about Magnolia's coffee (Bluebottle), which has apparent San Franciscan fame for being something special. I prefer the orange juice, which at Magnolia is just sweet enough and not too sour.
Also try the sides; the bacon and homemade sausage are VERY GOOD, but beware of the sausage if you do not like spicy food. With a side of (non-poached) eggs, it makes a fantastic breakfast. Sides are also cheap, at $4 each or three for $10. I have been told the pancakes, while small, are also delicious, but I don't think one can go wrong with much of anything on Magnolia's menu.
For lunch, strong recommendations lie in the fried chicken and blue cheese sandwich and sausage and sauerkraut sandwich, which are both favorites of James. Their french fries are superb, and it is worth going for lunch just to try them.
But, restaurant-goers, beware! Come your check, you will find that Magnolia has charged you an extra 4% to donate to their current passion-cause: a San Francisco health care initiative for workers. They are very involved in liberal causes around San Francisco, and by exploring their website, you can find out more and support them if you desire.
I have not yet tried dinner at Magnolia, but I promise that another update on this magnificent pub will come after my November birthday (my 21st), when I can enjoy their beer and their food. For now, go! And enjoy a unique and delicious breakfast (or lunch!).
About twenty to twenty-five tables are stuffed inside, and five or so metal tables and chairs are outside for the nicer days on Haight. Dark wood decorates the interior, bringing the patron mind to reminisce of an old English pub. Small quirks add finishing touches of charm to Magnolia, such as the dishtowels for napkins and old alcohol bottles for serving water. They brew their own beer and declare a significant fondness for the drink on their website; I am not twenty-one yet, but intend to try their beer immediately upon turning so. Judging by the food, I'm assuming their beer is damn good.
The first time James and I tried Magnolia was for lunch; I had a chickpea sandwich that is no longer on the menu and James had the sausage and sauerkraut sandwich. We vowed to return. My favorite time to eat there is for breakfast, as they do my favorite meal vast justice with their unique menu items, such as fig-stuffed french toast and crispy pork belly. I applaud James because he is braver than I am with ordering daunting food; I am always afraid to find a rogue onion that was ignored by the person creating the menu options. He ordered the crispy pork belly one day for breakfast, and he had a hard time keeping my fork away. The pork crisps sit atop a bed of black-eyed peas and chimichurri and are coated with a fried egg. It is an impeccable dish and my favorite from Magnolia. Highly, highly recommended.
Another excellent (but very very sweet) dish is the stuffed french toast. What exactly it is stuffed with varies, but whether it is caramelized figs and pear sauce or peaches and apples, it is very good. It is huge, though, served as giant triangular cakes, and so heed this warning: only order the french toast if you are sharing or if you have a high metabolism and a gigantic sweet tooth.
One dish I will advise future patrons to stay away from is the duck egg and toast. Perhaps it was just the one day, but Magnolia seems to apply the vinegar quite generously when they poach their eggs; this leaves a very acidic taste in one's mouth--none too pleasant when you are trying to enjoy your eggs. The staff is very accommodating, however, as when the duck egg was returned, they took off its charge as well as the charges for the two coffee pots we ordered--this brings me to another breakfast staple: coffee. I don't drink it, but James raves about Magnolia's coffee (Bluebottle), which has apparent San Franciscan fame for being something special. I prefer the orange juice, which at Magnolia is just sweet enough and not too sour.
Also try the sides; the bacon and homemade sausage are VERY GOOD, but beware of the sausage if you do not like spicy food. With a side of (non-poached) eggs, it makes a fantastic breakfast. Sides are also cheap, at $4 each or three for $10. I have been told the pancakes, while small, are also delicious, but I don't think one can go wrong with much of anything on Magnolia's menu.
For lunch, strong recommendations lie in the fried chicken and blue cheese sandwich and sausage and sauerkraut sandwich, which are both favorites of James. Their french fries are superb, and it is worth going for lunch just to try them.
But, restaurant-goers, beware! Come your check, you will find that Magnolia has charged you an extra 4% to donate to their current passion-cause: a San Francisco health care initiative for workers. They are very involved in liberal causes around San Francisco, and by exploring their website, you can find out more and support them if you desire.
I have not yet tried dinner at Magnolia, but I promise that another update on this magnificent pub will come after my November birthday (my 21st), when I can enjoy their beer and their food. For now, go! And enjoy a unique and delicious breakfast (or lunch!).
Restaurant Review: Suppenkuche, San Francisco, California
San Francisco food is widely renowned for its superior quality and variety; this makes it an incredibly fun city to try new restaurants in. Yesterday, I took to Yelp in search of a new and fun place to lunch. My boyfriend and I immediately honed in on Suppenkuche, a German restaurant in Hayes Valley. I was disappointed to see that it was only open from 5-10 PM, but upon visiting their website I noted that we are in the middle of Oktoberfest, and Suppenkuche is open during special hours (11 AM-2 PM). Delighted, we set out for Hayes Valley.
Modernly subtle on the outside, it was difficult to find (it is right on the corner of Hayes and Laguna) and very small inside. I was disappointed to see that every table was full, but a burly host wearing old-school German overalls directed us to join a table next to an already dining couple. The atmosphere was light and airy but cozy at the same time, as tables crowded the small room. Sculptures decorated the ceiling, and the air buzzed with chatter.
Suppenkuche offers a wide variety of German beer, served in anything from an oversized mug to a ridiculously gigantic boot. James and I opted for Spatenmarzen, a medium-brown beer that was surprisingly refreshing (I'm much more partial to lighter beers) and discounted for Oktoberfest. We spent an oddly long time debating what to order from the very short menu, but finally settled on four things. For an appetizer, we requested the brezel-a small organic pretzel, and the obatzter-a traditional Bavarian cheese mix consisting of brie and camembert with paprika, organic butter, and onions (which I ignored). The two went incredibly together, but James and I were sad to see how small our pretzel was. We observed several other tables receive what seemed to be a two-foot long giant salted pretzel, but apparently this was not even on the menu (so, future Suppenkuche patrons, be aware that there are glorious creations in addition to those already on the menu). We vowed to order the giant pretzel next time, even if it costs five times what our miniature pretzel cost.
Next, I asked for the Schweinebratensemmel (I had to make a note of that in my phone so I would remember what it was called), a pork and sea salt sandwich, while James ordered Bratwurstsemmel, a simple sausage and sauerkraut sandwich. We were delighted with what we received: two small sandwiches each, with pork (me) and sausage (James) stuffed between the buns and sauerkraut (James) on the side. As an ever-growing fan of pork, I was glad to see that there was nothing but pork and some thick chunks of sea salt on my sandwich. It would have been rather bland, however, without the sweet Bavarian mustard they served me as well--a full jar, with a spoon for spreading. I have never, ever, ever liked mustard; this mustard, however, was incredible, especially with the pork. I am not a fan of sauerkraut, but I can say that James's sausage was equally delicious.
Overall, I was very impressed by food at Suppenkuche. The service and decor were also notable, but the buzz I left with (from the food or the alcohol?) was very satisfying. Next time, I would like to try the spatzle, which a waiter described to me as a cheese and noodle dish (AKA Madeline Heaven) along with the supergiant pretzel (an update will certainly accompany). I am fairly sure that the menu we were presented with is a temporary one set out only during the days of Oktoberfest, but I cannot imagine that the quality varies from the dinner menu. I will not fully endorse the dinner options, however, until I try them. For now, I can recommend the Oktoberfest lunch to anyone who will be in San Francisco soon; absolutely a noteworthy eatery. Very high marks.
Modernly subtle on the outside, it was difficult to find (it is right on the corner of Hayes and Laguna) and very small inside. I was disappointed to see that every table was full, but a burly host wearing old-school German overalls directed us to join a table next to an already dining couple. The atmosphere was light and airy but cozy at the same time, as tables crowded the small room. Sculptures decorated the ceiling, and the air buzzed with chatter.
Suppenkuche offers a wide variety of German beer, served in anything from an oversized mug to a ridiculously gigantic boot. James and I opted for Spatenmarzen, a medium-brown beer that was surprisingly refreshing (I'm much more partial to lighter beers) and discounted for Oktoberfest. We spent an oddly long time debating what to order from the very short menu, but finally settled on four things. For an appetizer, we requested the brezel-a small organic pretzel, and the obatzter-a traditional Bavarian cheese mix consisting of brie and camembert with paprika, organic butter, and onions (which I ignored). The two went incredibly together, but James and I were sad to see how small our pretzel was. We observed several other tables receive what seemed to be a two-foot long giant salted pretzel, but apparently this was not even on the menu (so, future Suppenkuche patrons, be aware that there are glorious creations in addition to those already on the menu). We vowed to order the giant pretzel next time, even if it costs five times what our miniature pretzel cost.
Next, I asked for the Schweinebratensemmel (I had to make a note of that in my phone so I would remember what it was called), a pork and sea salt sandwich, while James ordered Bratwurstsemmel, a simple sausage and sauerkraut sandwich. We were delighted with what we received: two small sandwiches each, with pork (me) and sausage (James) stuffed between the buns and sauerkraut (James) on the side. As an ever-growing fan of pork, I was glad to see that there was nothing but pork and some thick chunks of sea salt on my sandwich. It would have been rather bland, however, without the sweet Bavarian mustard they served me as well--a full jar, with a spoon for spreading. I have never, ever, ever liked mustard; this mustard, however, was incredible, especially with the pork. I am not a fan of sauerkraut, but I can say that James's sausage was equally delicious.
Overall, I was very impressed by food at Suppenkuche. The service and decor were also notable, but the buzz I left with (from the food or the alcohol?) was very satisfying. Next time, I would like to try the spatzle, which a waiter described to me as a cheese and noodle dish (AKA Madeline Heaven) along with the supergiant pretzel (an update will certainly accompany). I am fairly sure that the menu we were presented with is a temporary one set out only during the days of Oktoberfest, but I cannot imagine that the quality varies from the dinner menu. I will not fully endorse the dinner options, however, until I try them. For now, I can recommend the Oktoberfest lunch to anyone who will be in San Francisco soon; absolutely a noteworthy eatery. Very high marks.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Introduction
After a recent return from ten weeks of traversing the Mediterranean, I've discovered my fondness for writing about my experiences. In particular, I have found that writing about my travels is not only helpful to my memory and I, but could possibly be helpful for other people as well.
Two of my favorite things in this world are travel and food. This blog will combine the two, consisting of restaurant reviews and my travel chronicles. I have ditched my former informal Semester at Sea blog for this more organized, more focused approach.
I have recently made it my life's goal to visit every country in the world, and so far I have been to fourteen: the United States and the Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Italy and Vatican City, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Morocco. I have several trips planned over the next year, including a road trip through California, Portland, and Washington; a visit to Costa Rica and Nicaragua; my birthright to Israel; and a Semester at Sea reunion voyage to Cabo San Lucas. I will also be visiting Las Vegas for my twenty-first birthday in November and several east coast states in the spring to determine which graduate school I will be attending.
The gaps between my updates regarding my travels will be filled with reviews of restaurants that I enjoy. Primarily they will be restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles; others will be featured in travel updates they belong to. I in no way claim to be an expert of food; I do, however, know what I like and hope to speak for and recommend restaurants that I believe deserve praises. Occasionally I may include a negative review, but I prefer to use whatever small power I might have, whether real or imaginary, for good rather than evil. I harbor a rather picky palate, and there are three things I absolutely refuse to eat: onions, mushrooms, and beef. I believe the most successful dishes have none of these things, but will try to maintain objectivity.
Here's to the new venture!
-Madeline Wolff
Two of my favorite things in this world are travel and food. This blog will combine the two, consisting of restaurant reviews and my travel chronicles. I have ditched my former informal Semester at Sea blog for this more organized, more focused approach.
I have recently made it my life's goal to visit every country in the world, and so far I have been to fourteen: the United States and the Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Italy and Vatican City, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Morocco. I have several trips planned over the next year, including a road trip through California, Portland, and Washington; a visit to Costa Rica and Nicaragua; my birthright to Israel; and a Semester at Sea reunion voyage to Cabo San Lucas. I will also be visiting Las Vegas for my twenty-first birthday in November and several east coast states in the spring to determine which graduate school I will be attending.
The gaps between my updates regarding my travels will be filled with reviews of restaurants that I enjoy. Primarily they will be restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles; others will be featured in travel updates they belong to. I in no way claim to be an expert of food; I do, however, know what I like and hope to speak for and recommend restaurants that I believe deserve praises. Occasionally I may include a negative review, but I prefer to use whatever small power I might have, whether real or imaginary, for good rather than evil. I harbor a rather picky palate, and there are three things I absolutely refuse to eat: onions, mushrooms, and beef. I believe the most successful dishes have none of these things, but will try to maintain objectivity.
Here's to the new venture!
-Madeline Wolff
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