#pinchy eats

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Pinchy Eats: Dinner at Dosa

by Anjelika Paranjpe Nothing like an evening of spice to make you appreciate the heat of San Francisco in September. There's something very comforting about eating unbelievably delicious spicy food on a warm summer-ish night.

Our team of heatseekers started the evening with a round of Expats (Square One Botanical, lemon, mint, honey and green cardamom) and snacked on perfectly crunchy papadum while awaiting course one. We shared Crispy Fish Pakora, Cochin Calamari and the Chile & Onion Pakora. The Cochin Calamari was the clear winner, sauteed with mildly-spiced coconut milk, served with organic greens and mini uttapams. Next up, we went for the dangerous (go big or go home, after all) Habanero-Mango Masala Dosa. We took bets as to the spice level of such an intensely warned dish. The diner who deemed it borderline inedible but a worthy challenge won in a landslide. As tears poured out of our eyes, we awaited the comfort of our main course with bated breath. 

The dosas were delicious, the curries spicy, and the ridiculously addictive coconut chutney plentiful. I will definitely be back at Dosa soon, and look forward to another sensational dining experience.

Dosa has two locations: 995 Valencia Street near 21st and 1700 Fillmore near Post. Reservations are accepted and definitely recommended if you're a party larger than 4.

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Pinchy Chats: Mike Roon, Executive Chef at CIRCA

by Anjelika Paranjpe In researching our September feature on Circa, I sat down with executive chef Mike Roon to talk about food philosophy, his favorite local eateries, and why California really is the best. 

What's your philosophy on the new menu here? More shareable, more approachable food. Circa is a bar-centered atmosphere and I'm not trying to fight with that. Just want to put out good solid food on a consistent basis, that people can enjoy. I like letting ingredients do their own thing. Not trying to overcomplicate it. Keep it simple, keep it good, and keep it social. 

So what's your favorite restaurant in San Francisco? I would have to say Skool. Its in the design district by Potrero. Slightly biased, two good friends of mine own it but also its really good. 

Is there an awesome dish there you'd recommend beyond others? Uni Flan (editor's note: Light Sea Urchin Flan Topped with Ikura and Fleur de Sel)

What is your favorite neighborhood? And the best spot there? Bernal Heights. Blue Plate. Their meatloaf is amazing, and will never come off the menu. Easily the best meatloaf I've ever had.

Favorite hole-in-the-wall eatery? I don't know the name of it, but its almost impossible to get into. Its this tiny little sushi spot at 108B Carl near Cole. This sushi guy, he's an old school dude, just him and his wife. He's the chef, his wife the server. He owns a couple other places but this is his place of zen. And the food is incredible. It's a sit down restaurant, maybe 10 seats. 

What's your favorite wildcard ingredient? Purslane. It's often misconceived as a weed. It's kind of like waterplant or the jade leaf. It's a big, fat, juicy, watery leave, and grows like thyme with a lemony, hydrated flavor. It's very seasonal and hard to get but you can get it around here.

What's your favorite dish to make? Or to eat? My favorite meal is a burrito. A Super Carne Asada Burrito with extra spicy salsa.

Nice, well then what's your favorite burrito place in San Francisco? Taqueria Cancun. And El Farolito is awesome. Leaving a bar in the mission and heading there for a burrito is a 3am gift.

When you aren't chef-ing, what are you doing?  Getting out of town. I love to travel.

What's your favorite local excursion?  Tahoe. Tahoe. I'm in Tahoe as much as possible, both summer and winter. You will learn, California really is the best. Northern California is the perfect example of why California's the best. My favorite day ever: I woke up at 5am, drove to Tahoe, went snowboarding, snowboarded all day, had a great time. First lift up, last lift down. Drove back down, dropped off all my gear, picked up a bunch of other stuff, went to the beach. Me and 10 friends camped on the beach, lit up a bonfire and kicked back with a keg. Nowhere else in the world can you do all of that in the same day.

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Open Now: Giordano Bros. in the Mission!

Matt Seliga I can still remember the first time I walked past the Giordano Bros. Sandwich Shop in North Beach. Having just moved to San Francisco from Pennsylvania less than a year earlier, there were a few things that San Francisco just couldn't offer. One of those things was a delicious Primanti Bros. Sandwich. If you've ever been to Pittsburgh, it's likely that one of the locals (probably proudly wearing a 'Stillers' or Penguins Jersey) may have said "Hey, are yinz looking' for something to eat? You should head down to the Strip and grab a Primanti Bros. Sandwich" Ok, maybe it didn't happen like that, but it is likely that you would have been led in the direction of one of their many locations all over the city. There are also a couple of locations in Florida, but I didn't think I would see anything like it on the West Coast…

My first thought thought after I walked up to the door was that someone had blatantly stolen the Primanti Brothers concept, claimed it as their own and probably had messed it up with some California gourmet twist on the famous sandwich. But then, hanging proudly in front on the door, I saw a big sign paying homage to Primanti Bros. and crediting them with the concept (definitely a good sign). As I walked through the door, I was greeted by Jeff Jordan, a true Pittsburgh native who built Giordano Bros. from the ground up. As I looked around the shop and noticed some familiar Pittsburgh icons like a terrible towel, a Kennywood sign and an empty commemorative can of Iron City Beer; Jeff explained that he (along with his wife Allison) took the Primanti Bros. Concept and changed just a few things to make it their own. The sandwich consists of thick-sliced bread, you choice of meats (Salami, steak, capicola, etc.), cheese, fresh cut fries and homemade 'slaw (all together on one sandwich). While he kept most of it the same, Jeff created his own version of the Cole Slaw made with oil and vinegar instead of mayo. A great twist on an old classic… A North Beach staple since July 2004, Giordano Bros. has been a go-to spot for many to grab a sandwich and a beer, watch a football game or listen to some live music in North Beach. Starting today, Giordano Bros. will be opening it's second location right in the heart of the Mission (16th @ Valencia). They will just be doing a soft opening to work out the kinks for the first couple of weeks, so give them a break if things are a little hectic.

Giordano Bros. is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat and it works wonders if you are trying to shake a nasty hangover. The salami sandwich and a Sessions Lager is my standard order, but you really can't go wrong with anything. Whether you go to their North Beach location or decide to head over to the mission; expect delicious food, great company and an amazing time. Just don't say anything bad about the Steelers…

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Monday Menu: Hummus en Fuego, Mud Pie Milkshake

Ok I know yet again it is not Monday but here we are on Wednesday, ready to dish up some deliciousness. We've taken inspiration from this week's incredible bread-making workshop with Danny Paz Gabriner at Sour Flour. Click here for the exclusive low down.

To drink: Begin your meal by doling out a round of Original Singapore Slings. Best to mix in individual glasses rather than a pitcher. If you want to go for a 1920s twist, add a peel of lime cut into a thick spiral as a garnish. For drinks during the meal, your favorite table wine will go nicely with this hearty meal.

To start: We love this spicy Hummus en Fuego and its super simple to make. It calls for a crushed red pepper infused olive oil which is easy to make at home, and can be used as a lovely dressing for edamame, corn on the cob and even salad. Pair this with a boule or three of yummy Spicy Kalamata Sourdough inspired by Sour Flour. 

Main: On the side, we serve up Summer Squash with Baked Eggs. Farmer's Markets in Cali are overflowing with squash, so its the perfect time to experiment. This dish can easily be a main if you're a vegetarian or don't need a full-fledged feast. For our main, we go for Grilled Skirt Steak with Mushrooms, Blue Cheese and Bacon. That's right, Steak, Blue Cheese AND Bacon. Ridic.

For dessert: Mud Pie Milkshake. Do we really need to say more? Kick this up a notch (and loosen your belt a notch) by crumbling up Oreos on top.

Recipe Sources: Imbibe, 101 Cookbooks, Bewitching Kitchen, the Kitchn, and CHOW.

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Weekend in Review: Off the Grid, Delarosa, Sausalito

While our editor was busy rocking at Outside Lands (stay tuned for a full report), the rest of Team Pinchit got up to some food-and-drink-centric Bay Area tricks.

Off the Grid (Ashley Peterson, Pinchit Community Manager): Friday's collection of yumminess at Off the Grid was solid. Started the food and drink parade with a stop at Alembic's stand for a pint of Reissdorf Kölsch on tap. After that headed to Nom Nom for a Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Taco. So delicious and a great take on the taco. Finished things off with a trip to Seoul on Wheels Korean BBQ for Kimchee Fried Rice. Can't wait for another homage to Fort Mason for more food truck bites. What's your favorite food truck in SF?

Delarosa (Danny Pickard, Pinchit Account Lead ): An Italian Marina staple, Saturday night at Delarosa was molto delicioso! For antipasti we shared a plate of Burrata Bruschetta (served with hazelnut and honey, so good!) and Delarosa's signature Meatballs in spicy marinara. After a couple glasses of Folk Machine 2009 Pinot Noir, went for the Garganelli with Porcini, Pancetta and Sage as well as the Potato Pizza with Rosemary, Gorgonzola and Radicchio. Be warned, the wait at Delarosa is long but worth it. Pro Tip: We recommend getting there 45 minutes, leaving your name and number with the hostess, and throwing back a cocktail or two at Marina Lounge while you wait for a table. 

The Spinnaker & Horizons (Evan Sherwood, Pinchit Engineer): How about a super mini bar crawl in Sausalito? On a Saturday or Sunday, you can't beat it. Both spots face the beautiful bay, offer a whole slew of devilish cocktails and can even serve up a glass (or three) of our crew's favorite poison: Fernet. Get to The Spinnaker before the dinner rush and be sure to grab a seat on the gorgeous patio. Follow that up with Horizons and add in a round of Oysters with Hog Wash. 

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Monday Menu: Slow Ride, Take it Easy

It's definitely Wednesday and not at all Monday, so today's installment of the Monday Menu celebrates recipes that take a little extra effort, time and love.

To drink: Head into the garden or over to the Farmer's Market and gather a bunch of lavender. A naturally calming herb, the infused lavender in this Lavender Lemonade is the perfect start to a scrumptious slow-paced meal. Spike with Gin or Vodka.

To start: To keep the crisp subtle English thing going, pour another round of Lavender Lemonade and serve up this tasty Radish Butter on Toasted Baguette. The task of grating radishes can be a tedious one, but is ultimately meditative and yields such tasty results. For the actual first course of this meal, we return to an old favorite: the artichoke. This take on our hearty old pal pairs Greek Artichokes with Minted Yogurt. 

Main: Now, its time to move away from subtle flavors and onto bold slow-roasted ones. Open up a bottle of your favorite vino, and get ready for a bit of a long haul. This Slow-Cooked Carne Adovada has been described as "the pork of your dreams" and is worth every ounce of effort required. Dried red chilies are rehydrated, puréed and slathered on a slow roasted pork shoulder. YUM. On the side, serve Slow-Roasted Tomatoes with fresh thyme. For your green fix, we recommend a simple salad of arugula, shaved parmesan, lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper.

For dessert: A modern take on a classic campfire favorite, these S'mores Cupcakes will take you back to those days of being a kid when all you wanted for dessert was more, more, more!

Recipe Sources: London Bakes, Martha Stewart, Good Everyday Things, CHOW, and Annie's Eats

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Pinchy Eats: Dinner at Amber India

After a couple happy hour cocktails at Ducca (see previous post), we made our way all of a hundred feet over to Amber India, another hip spot in what we like to call the Yerba Buena Gardens Culinary District.

Upon entering Amber India, your senses whirl in two totally different ways. To your right and up is the lounge, where beats are bumping (think LMFAO, Katy Perry, etc), the gradient color-changing bar is very Miami, and the seats are low and lounge-y. To your left and down is a warm dining area, with subtle earth tones complemented by, you guessed it, amber accents. The music is more ambient and the vibe is a dining one.

With a hungry crew in tow, we opted for the lounge, where you can choose from bar bites or the full menu. The menu features classic North Indian dishes as well as some delicious innovative twists on typical Indian fare. To start we shared the English Peas, Portobello & Goat Cheese Tikki and Chicken Apricot Kebab. Bother were delicious, and totally unusual. For mains we chose the Lamb Chop Frontier, Paneer Tikka Lal Mirch and classic Butter Chicken. Every dish was rich, delicious and the ingredients were fresh. Definitely adding it to our list of downtown dining options, as well as a good spot for a cocktail and bite!

For more of Pinchy’s Restaurant Picks, be sure to visit our Pinchy Eats Archive.