San Francisco in Spring

While in Mexico, in February, I snagged a great deal on airfare to San Francisco. We've never been in Spring and it seemed like a good enough reason to make a jaunt for a long weekend. It's since come and gone, and we had a great time. We didn't run ourselves ragged this time. We actually slept quite a bit. But it was much needed, Frank and I have been spread so thin it was nice to decompress and not think about work. Instead, our thoughts were on food and beer.

Even though crab season is over, we managed to stuff ourselves silly with these tasty treats at the Crab House. Twice.



We also visited our favorite sandwich shops, Petite Deli and Saigon Sandwich. We picnicked with treats from the Ferry Building. We satisfied our sweet tooth with cookies from Hot Cookie and ice cream from Bi-Rite creamery. We returned to Suppenküche for German eats and drinks, but it was just too busy to be enjoyable.

We grabbed sicilian slices at Golden Boy Pizza and tried Tony's Pizza Napoletana. They might be known for their Margherita Pizza ($19), but it was their meatballs ($5) that will bring me back. Seriously, I cannot recall ever eating a better meatball. The pizza was fresh and well executed, but I like Settebello here at home a bit better.





We indulged in one special meal at Incanto. We've become quite adventurous eaters and it was time to put our tastebuds to the test with offal, which is Chris Cosentino's specialty. We took the Muni train to Noe Valley and settled into the cozy space that is Incanto, we sat back and simply enjoyed.





We started with beef heart tartare ($19) and liverwurst agnolotti ($18). Frank favored the raviolis filled with liverwurst while I enjoyed the tartare a bit more. I found the liverwurst a bit gamey. I was seeking acidity to cut the bold meatiness. The tartare was splendidly executed. I wanted nothing but more. It was rich like butter, but clean on the palette. It was something that must be experienced.





The appetizers were stellar, we were anxious to dig into our entrees. I chose the Nettle mostaccioli ($17) with nettles, mascarpone, green garlic & snails. It was unfortunate that the nettles herbaceousness overwhelmed the dish. I couldn't pinpoint any other flavor. Frank had the better choice with the Lamb chop ($28) and sausage with favas, green almonds & carrots. His dish was a thing of beauty. Incanto knows how to treat its meat. We are dying to return with a group of foodie friends and devour the leg of beast.



We also ventured to the Potrero Hill neighborhood and sought out Plow. Famous for lemon ricotta pancakes, house made sausage and the crispiest potatoes known to man. After waiting over an hour for a table I was skeptical, but Plow delivers. These are some good breakfast eats. Their potatoes are worth the wait! Everything else is just a bonus.

Visiting in Spring allowed us to take in a Giants game at AT & T Park. We saw the Giants pull off a win against the Padres, we were quite pleased since this also meant Frank had a winning sport bet to cash. AT & T Park is a beautiful stadium. We stuck to our routine of seeking out the local specialty and we enjoyed a Crazy Crab'z sandwich. Dungeness on sourdough, it's hard to go wrong.







After the game, we enjoyed the firework display.



Then, we walked back to our hotel. First stopping at the Bay Bridge Light Sculpture. We tried to find my light, we were able to narrow down the general area, but to pinpoint the specific light would be impossible despite knowing its location. I'm just pleased to be apart of it.



This visit we didn't stay in Fisherman's Wharf. Rates were just too expensive. I was able to secure a fair price at the historic Hotel Whitcomb on Market. What it lacked in style it made up for in charm. The location could not be beat. The hotel was a bit worn and dated, but the accomodations were comfortable and that's what really matters.

It is doubtful we'll return this fall (for our usual trip during crab season), but I await our next San Francisco adventure.

Buldogis Gourmet Hot Dogs

A few years back I discovered Dogzilla an Orange County food truck. They dress dogs with amazing Asian flavors. When I caught wind of Buldogis I thought this might deliver like Dogzilla did. Frank and I had it for dinner later that night. We were so excited, seeing the Best of Las Vegas 2013 banner outside made us feel like we were in for a treat!

The gentleman behind the counter was helpful and offered suggestions. I knew I wanted the Angry Dog ($5.95) so there was no question there. For the other we were leaning toward the Bahn Mi Dog, but we were swayed to try the Carne Asada Dog ($6.95) and we went with the Euro fries ($5.95) since they came so highly recommended.

After drinks and tax we had ourselves a $25 meal. Pricey for two dogs and fries, but if they're good they'll be worth it.







Sadly, they were just ok. The hot dog itself was the weakest link. These were salty and lacked any of the all beef flavor I love in my all beef Chicago dogs. The toppings however good couldn't save the dog. The bun was a bit stale and too big. I like a good meat to bun ratio and this didn't deliver. I didn't prefer one dog over the other. Any difference in flavor was cloaked by saltiness.

The fries were an odd mix. We consumed them, but I have no idea what we ate. When they were recommended I expected gyro fries, not Euro fries. I recognized that it was topped with cheese, but beyond that I have no clue what the concoction was.

If I want the goodness of Dogzilla, I guess it means I have leave the comforts of westside Las Vegas and haul my ass to the OC and track them down.

Cafe Zupas

Cafe Zupas is a fast-casual restaurant that is new to Nevada, its first location is now open in Henderson near the shopping center at Richmar and Eastern. A second is coming soon to Summerlin. Cafe Zupas has had great success in Utah and Arizona. They offer homemade soups, freshly made salads, paninis, and gourmet sandwiches. I was fortunate to receive an invite to a VIP party that allowed Frank and I to sample various menu items. All guests were warmly welcomed and encouraged to sample the Try 2 Combo, which comes with a whole sandwich, half soup and half salad for $7.99. The Kid's Meal Combo is $3.99.

Salads are made in front of you as you order, soups are made fresh daily in Cafe Zupas' kitchen, and sandwiches are fixed when you place your order. It is quite the assembly line. I chose the Tomato Basil soup with Orzo Pasta, topped with asiago cheese for .59, their signature salad Nuts About Berries and Turkey Spinach Artichoke Panini. Frank had the Yucatan Chicken Tortilla soup, the BBQ Chicken salad, and the the BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich. They got started on our orders right away, all components were added to our tray, we selected Brownies for dessert and our order came with Belgian Chocolate Covered Strawberries. By the time you pay your tab (ours was gratis on this visit), your order is complete and ready to be whisked away to a cozy table in the dining room.



We dug into the soups first, the Tortilla soup is fantastic and loaded with flavor. It was so tasty Frank devoured it before I could snap a photo. The Tomato Basil was good, but less of favorite. It's quite sweet and very heavy on basil flavor. I hear the Wild Mushroom Bisque is not to be missed so I'll try that one next time.





Next, we tried the salads, I had the better of two with Nuts About Berries. It was loaded with fresh berries and topped with cinnamon almonds and lightly dressed with poppyseed dressing. It' a bit sweet, but not cloying so it was enjoyable. The BBQ Chicken salad was loaded with tomatoes, black beans, corn, olives, red onion and dressed with buttermilk ranch. What it lacked was BBQ chicken. There are ten other salads to choose from one is sure to strike your fancy.





Unfortunately, the sandwiches were the weakest link. This is a shame because their Italian Ciabatta bread is really fresh and delicious. The BBQ Pulled Pork tasted more like honey mustard that BBQ. It wasn't a very hearty sandwich. Sadly, the turkey wasn't very good. It tasted like prepackaged deli meat. I prefer freshly sliced deli meats. I expected actual artichokes on the sandwich, but it was a spread. That was my mistake, the menu clearly states a three cheese artichoke spread. I overlooked it. Truly, the bread is so good, I'd try the gourmet sandwiches again. I'm interested in the Asian BBQ Pork and the Vegetarian.





Dessert ended the meal on a pleasant note. I love Belgian Chocolate Dipped Strawberries so those alone wooed me, but the brownies were quite good and oh, so decadent. Gooey caramel and candy topped one and the other was more of a bar with coconut, nuts, chocolate and other goodness.

The staff was incredibly friendly, they gave out dozens of prizes including water bottles and giftcards. Prizes will also be given out during their Grand Opening Celebration on May 18, 2013. It'll be a great time to go over and try 'em out. Prices are incredibly reasonable; there are few places where you can get a complete meal for less than ten bucks, but it can be had at Cafe Zupas.

SkyJump at Stratosphere

I've had some hellacious weeks at work, and was in desperate need of clearing my head. So, when a friend mentioned he wanted to jump off the Stratosphere, I was game. I figured it was just what I needed. Frank and I have known Dan since highschool. He brought his wife to Vegas to see Tim and Faith's Soul2Soul show at the Venetian. They were both Vegas virgins and not even 20 hours after landing we had them atop the Stratosphere enjoying thrills.



Dan and I made reservations for 7:30, but when we got to the SkyJump store before 7 o'clock, they only had one group ahead of us. We had just enough time to hit the restroom and grab a drink at the bar. We were suited up and given shoes since ours didn't pass inspection. Once weighed and given a couple safety checks we were led around to the elevators to the observation deck. We had seperate access from those seeking admission to the top. Once on the observation deck, we were whisked around to the SkyJump launch area.





There, we met a lady that chickened out on her first attempt. She was trying to work up the courage to go through with the jump. "Are you nervous?" she asked us both. In unison we replied, "Nope! Just excited!" Even she thought we were nuts. My biggest concern about the jump was the weather. I didn't want to be cold and felt that we chose a good day to make the jump. It wasn't windy (though you wouldn't know it 855 feet up) and temps were mid-80's. The air wasn't cool nor did it feel like an oven. I was confident. I jumped before Dan. Later, he said his last thought was "this probably isn't a good idea!"

I was brought into the jumping area. They checked my weight and performed a couple more safety checks. They suggested I land with bent knees and a straight back. It was then I thought of one potential problem. I hadn't considered the landing. I have two weak ankles. And the right one is particularly fragile. I asked how much shock is absorbed and was told it was about the same as jumping from 3ft. I should be able to withstand that, I thought. "Any other questions?" he asked. "Nope, let's do this!" I replied. They announced 30 seconds for Kellee over the loud speaker. Frank was watching from down below.

I was led outside, the wind whipped in my face, I pushed my hair to side and tucked it into my suit. With my toes dangling over the edge of the platform the city was beneath me. I held on to the scaffolding until I was cleared to jump. 3... 2... 1...

Then, I let go. And jumped.



It's a controlled free fall so you don't plummet immediately. You hang for a second, maybe two, then the descent begins. You reach speeds of 45mph but it seems a bit slower. You have time to look out and take in the views around you. Soon, you approach the ground and the cables slow you down. The impact when you touch down was a more than I expected. I immediately felt a shooting pain from the bottom of my foot up to my calf. I don't know if it was just my weak ankles, the lack of support in the loaner shoes or what, but it was pain lasted through the next day. I was able to walk on it without issue so I wasn't too concerned about an injury, but it was definitely tweaked.

Sore ankle or not, it was totally worth it. It's awesome and it iss a one of kind of experience. It's not every day you freefall from the 108th floor of a building. Not any building, the tallest tower west of the Mississippi. I was never nervous to jump. I never got butterflies. I missed the butterfly effect. I wasn't going to ride the Big Shot, but after the jump I needed it. I wanted to feel that level of andrenaline when you shoot up to the top and feel weightless before you freefall. Yes, what I'm saying is I find Big Shot more thrilling than SkyJump. Try 'em both and see what you decide. Locals receive a $20 discount; regular price is $109.99.

Radio City Pizza

Fremont East has a number of new eateries open recently. Le Thai, Comida and Park on Fremont are at the top of my list. Radio City Pizza had also piqued my interest so we grabbed dinner with friends Sunday night. When we walked inside, the bartender mentioned the A/C was broken, but we were welcome to take a seat. We asked if the beer was cold? "Yes" the bartender replied. That's all we needed to know. We figured we'd be in and out fairly quickly so the heat wouldn't be a bother.

We were the only table seated, but service was slow from the start. It's a fairly long and narrow space with a long bar, open kitchen and tvs line the dining area. Oddly enough for a brand spanking new place the color isn't accurately adjusted on a single one. Anyhow, the beer selection is good. Unfortunately, the beers weren't nearly as cold as advertised and they quickly heated as a result of no A/C. After our first beer we chugged water to keep cool.

We started with parmesan fries, we devoured them before I thought to take a picture. They were real good, nice and crisp with a heavy dose of parmesan. We had to ask for the ranch we ordered on the side a few times before we received it. Next, we ordered the Meat Stromboli and Pizza with sausage, mushrooms, olives and green pepper. We waited forever for our order. There was filming taking place over by LVCS and the crew came in for a dozen pizzas. This must have backed up the kitchen. Our waiter never mentioned a thing, it's just our assumption based on observation. While waiting a couple in our group went to use the restroom, when they returned they noticed that Radio City has outside dining in back. We were a bit perturbed that it wasn't offered to us as an option when they mentioned the A/C was done. We questioned our waiter and we were told that it was an owners private function.





Back to the food, the stromboli and pizza looked appetizing. I was happy to see they use slices of italian sausage rather than sausage crumbles. The crumbles remind me of cafeteria food and weird me out a bit. I'll never understand why some places prefer it that way, but I digress. The crust was chewy and crisp about 3/4 through the pizza. It suffered the wet center that majority of NY Style pies do. Both the stromboli and pizza were extremely high in sodium. I couldn't get enough to drink. I retained enough water I could've soaked up Lake Mead. I've had worse pies, but just down the street at Pop Up Pizza inside Plaza they're doing a better job at a cheaper price. And they have A/C. Our friends picked up the tab, so I'm not sure what the final damage was, but if I recall accurately pizzas are $19, Stromboli is about ten bucks and the fries were $7. In any case, Radio City has some work to do. Starting with its customer service.

Heidi's Brooklyn Deli

My brother and I have been branching out to find new lunch options. Heidi's Brooklyn Deli has been a pleasant surprise. I'm hooked on the Cajun turkey with avocado. I've had it on sourdough and marble rye, but I prefer the latter. The sourdough was too dense and dry. When I saw Cajun Turkey on the menu I expected seasoned turkey breast, but it is only roasted. The Cajun comes from the mayo spread. It has a nice kick and combined with the cool creamy mashed avocado it's the perfect match. Crisp lettuce, sliced purple onion and tomato makes it complete. The lunch special is $5 for half a sandwich with a pickle, chips, potato or macaroni salad and a cookie. However, I prefer the full sandwich with pickle, chips, potato or macaroni salad for a buck more. My brother has taken a liking to the chicken salad. One of these days, I'll have to try something else on the menu, but until then I'll happily enjoy the Cajun Turkey.

Camping: Sand Hollow, UT

Dishcrawl Las Vegas

Dishcrawl debuted in Las Vegas last night. Being the lover of food that I am, I was excited to attend. Dishcrawl takes a group of diners on an mystery dining date where you sample dishes from four different neighborhood restaurants; Reservations are $45. Only the first location is disclosed 48 hours before the event. I thought it was a neat concept, but some friends didn't like the element of surprise and declined to go. Unexpectly, we ran into a fellow foodie friend when we showed up at the first restaurant. So, that was a nice surprise.



Las Vegas' first Dishcrawl was at Tivoli Village. We began the evening at Kabuki Japanese Restaurant. I was familiar with the chain, I've walked by the one at Town Square numerous times, but have never tried it. We mingled a bit before our first course was served. Kabuki served us marinated beef and mushrooms, and two sushi rolls: "Lotus on Fire" california roll topped with spicy tuna and jalapeno and likely the "Sunkissed Roll" with salmon with avocado. Our table of four was split on what the best roll was Frank and I preferred the "Lotus of Fire" since we favor sushi with a kick. It was a good start to the night. We were excited to see what else was in store.



The next stop was Cantina Laredo. I dined there earlier this year at a Yelp event. That visit I enjoyed the tuna tacos and cantina rolls so I was hopeful to experience them again. However, they chose different dishes to showcase for Dishcrawl. We had a tasting of their empanada with red and green sauce, chicken flauta and ceviche. The empanada lacked any punch, the flauta was overseasoned with a heavy hand of salt. I couldn't even finish it. And the ceviche had a mediteranean twist with capers and olives. I hate olives. So, it was like a perfectly good ceviche was ruined. If this was my first impression of Cantina Laredo I'd be sorely disappointed just as Frank and others in our group were. I mentioned to the manager that they have better dishes on their menu to showcase. To make matters worse, cocktail orders were taken when we were seated and we didn't get our beers until the end of our meal with only five minutes to spare - we only had 35 minutes at each location;. Chug-a-lug.



The Pizza Lounge was next. I never even knew it existed so thank's Dishcrawl for turning me onto something new. It's been open nearly a month and it's a quaint, but stylish place tucked into a nook. They'll soon be adding outdoor patio space. They specialize in gourmet pizza and pasta. However, it was the beer selection that left an impression on us. Several draft handles were a pleasant surprise for such a small space. Here we had a sampling of two types of pizza: shrimp chipotle and California pepperoni, pesto bowtie pasta, meatball and pear & gorgonzola salad. I liked the California pepperoni pizza best with bacon, spinach, and sliced roma tomatoes. I only wish the crust was crisper. Perhaps it would be under regular circumstances? The pesto bowtie pasta with chicken and sundried tomatoes was the other crowd pleaser. The staff was fantastic. They moved at rapid pace and did so with a smile.



Dessert was at Leone Cafe. They stayed open to accomodate our group. They put out a spread of pastries and served granita samples. I had the chocolate croissant. It was nice, but nothing too memorable. The mocha in the granita was overpowering. Where was the coffee?

All in all, there were some dishes that shined and others that fizzled. I'm glad we took part. It be better if they frequented fewer chains and highlighted local mom & pop restaurants. In any case, it'll be interesting to see if it takes off.

After the Dishcrawl, we went over to La Casa Cigar Lounge for a smoke and nightcap. It has a huge properly humidified humidor. I just love the smell. I could camp out in there all night. Instead, Frank pulled me away and we went out on the back patio. It was a nice place relax for an evening. Midnight came much too soon. I see more evenings there in our future.

Sage

A couple weeks back, we celebrated my birthday at Sage inside Aria. We've been once before during Restaurant Week and it was fantastic. It was time to return. We made reservations on opentable ahead of time. We were seated promptly upon arrival. We had a quaint table that was a bit sectioned off; I loved it, it felt like we had the place to ourselves. We perused the menu and scanned the tablet with all the beer and wine selections. Sage is one of the few restaurants that offers beer pairings with the tasting menu, it was tempting, but we preferred to order from the menu. We selected beers; North Coast Scrimshaw ($8) for Frank and Lefe Blonde ($10) for me. While our waiter fetched those, we were given a choice of breads: bacon or sourdough with sea salt. We snacked on these scrumptious treats and ordered the green garlic soup ($16) and roasted sweet breads ($17) to get us started.





Sweetbreads have intrigued me, I've only seen them on menus previously in my less adventurous days. I figured there was no better time to try them than at 33. Well? They were... delicious. For those unfamiliar, they are most often the thymus gland of calves, lambs or piglets. When properly prepared, like these were, they are a bit crisp on the outside but perfectly tender inside. Think about the most flavorful chicken nugget you can imagine, times that by 1000 and you have sweetbreads. These were served with glazed bacon, trumpet mushrooms, and creamy polenta. The garlic soup is a vegan dish. The garlic is very mild, and the soup is like silk. At the bottom of the bowl was a sweet surprise of potato stuffed tortellinis. Truly it was thing of simplistic beauty.

For the main course we had difficulty making our selections because everything sounded wonderful. Eventually, we narrowed our choices down to the red snapper ($42) with crispy bread crust, english peas and braised leeks, and the lamb saddle ($42) with braised lamb shank and fava beans.





I don't know that I've laid my eyes on two more beautiful dishes that packed such a punch of flavor. Well executed doesn't begin to described how expertly these dishes are prepared. My snapper was superb, but I must admit it was outshined by the lamb. The fava beans weren't our favorite, but the lamb prepared two ways was stellar. My favorite was the braised shank it was so carmelized it was like candy. I mean that in the best way possible. I'd ask for it for my final meal. It was that good.



We didn't think the meal could get any better, but we gave the dessert menu a gander. I have this knack for selecting items I can hardly pronounce because I'm so curious about items that are new to me. In this case it was the Gianduja Pave ($12). I didn't have the slightest clue what it would be, but I was anxious to try it. I later learned that Gianduja is a type of sweet chocolate with hazelnut paste. It's used in the pave which reminded me of a light mousse, it was served with a scoop of olive oil ice cream, and dressed with hazelnut crunch, basil jam and pomegranates. I love desserts that are a bit more savory than sweet and this was simply perfect. A perfect end to exceptional meal. I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my thirty-third year.

The Cooking Experience Mise En Place

As a treat for my birthday I signed up for a Flash Course: Stir Fry cooking class. The Cooking Experience Mise En Place recently opened and it located on Eastern just south of the 215. So, it's easy to get to from most of the valley. The class allows a maximum of eight, but only six were attendence in my class. The small class size is appreciated. It allows more time for hands on cooking and one and one questions, etc. We learned about the products we were using, knife skills and a few tips. Plus, everything you need to know about wok cooking. The kitchen is fully professional grade. It was neat to feel like a contestant on Top Chef.

I am a novice and came away with the confidence to cook with a wok at home. I'll be making the purchase soon. We made two recipes: Ginger Pork and Mongolian Beef. I preferred the former, it was light and had a nice blend of flavors.





I tend to find Mongolian Beef salty, my version was no different. If making it at home I'd sub reduced sodium soy sauce. Portions were large I had plenty of leftovers. While we ate our second course, the chefs made sweet and sour shrimp. We were able to taste that as well. It's not a dish I enjoy, but it was well executed. By the way, there is water and iced tea to wash down the tasty eats and we had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon to accompany the Mongolian Beef. It was fun, yummy and educational. I'll return with friends for another class.

Grimaldi's Fashion Show Mall

My brother and I came in to cash in my birthday reward of a free large one topping pie - Thanks VIP club. We were warmly welcomed by the manager and seated in a hurry. Our waiter was pleasant and eager to please. We knew we only had an appetite for the pizza so we skipped starters.

The pizza was ready before long and we dug in. This was the best Grimaldi's pizza I've had to date. The crust was perfectly crisp throughout. I was impressed by the ovens at the Rainbow location, but these at Fashion Show Mall are dead on. The manager came by to see how we were doing and I praised the kitchen staff and their ovens for fabulous pie. She agreed they have one stellar team. Keep up the good work, Grimaldi's FSM!