Mission District
3692 18th Street
(415) 626-5600
http://biritecreamery.com/
Look, I like ice cream just as much as the next guy, but what idiots wait in line at all hours of the day and night in the rain to pay for ice cream? It must be spectacular, right? That's the only feasible explanation I can offer. This must be the best ice cream on Earth!
Perhaps embarrassingly, I have gone to pretty extreme lengths for the tasty delight (and Tasti D-lite). In college, I think I convinced my marketing study group to do a project on the local ice cream parlor just to have an excuse for frequent visits and required sampling. Tales of me getting ice cream shipped in from Ohio for a cousin's birthday celebration in New Jersey still make the Fishman Family storybook of legends. Anytime dry ice is involved you know it has gotten serious. More recently, I even made my family trek to Santa Cruz to experience what's supposed to be epic ice cream (and that was)! I set the bar high, but these icy adventures have always lived up to my wildest imagination.
But, here you wait in line to ultimately arrive at an unimpressive selection of options. I don't need an Italian gelateria-style display where the flavors go on for miles. In fact, I am usually a big fan of the simple stuff. Oldies but goodies are some of my favorites, but they need to pack a punch in some way. Nothing beats an incredible vanilla, but a boring vanilla is just a boring vanilla. Do you follow?
So, these uninspired flavors were all I had to work with. Again, shocking considering that this is the Mission district of San Francisco. Isn't everything supposed to be uber hip and awesome? The limited menu once again raised the bar. Okay, maybe they don't need many choices. Their focus just means each must be done to perfection.
Nope! My Cookies and Cream was average, at best. Granted, average for ice cream is still enjoyable. However, add a stale cone and no more excuses allowed. If I'm going to wait in line in the rain, or just in line at all for that matter, I expect something worth the wait. Better off going to any grocery store freezer aisle.
Go or No Go? No Go.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Ramen Dojo
San Mateo
805 South B Street
(650) 401-6568
What does the unadjusted San Francisco girl want on a summer night? HOT SOUP, PLEASE!
Somewhere, out in the boonies of San Mateo, hides a legit ramen spot. Ramen culture is intense in the Bay Area. The ramen cult intensity almost rivals Bikram yoga - with a similar heat level but fortunately a better smell. The line was substantial but was clearly part of the experience. Dojo vets shared words of wisdom with the newbies. One Googler, in particular, desperately warned us to play the spice card cautiously. You can order on a scale of: no spice, mild, regular spicy, and extra spicy. He advised us that regular spicy is a lot to handle and extra spicy was definitely out of our league. He clearly didn't know who he was dealing with. My brother, once a PB&J (crust off!) kind of guy, now takes down spice like a champ. Heck, he owns a hot sauce business! As for me, I was shaking in my Toms (boots would have been nice).
We started with a couple apps. The seaweed salad was not a favorite, but the boiled potstickers were perfect to tide me over while I anxiously awaited the main act.
The bowl arrived to the table and deserved its moment in the spotlight. A beautiful sight worth photographing. Randomness of yummy ingredients were all delicately placed to perfection in their appropriate corner. An adorable little quail egg was as tasty as could be and whole fried garlic was silky and sweet to complement the rich, delicious broth. The pork was butta. In fact, a little too much that I pulled off some of the fat and placed it in my napkin (shhhh). I know, a major foodie faux pas. Anthony Bourdain would have rolled his eyes, but straight fat isn't my thing + high cholesterol runs in the fam. On the spice level, I wished Mr. Google didn't psych me out! I'm a wimp - I admit it, but I totally could have at least handled Mild like a tough guy. Peter went Super Spicy (and added more red chili). Partially to please his crazy taste buds, partially to show Mr. Google who is boss.
Go or No Go? Go.
805 South B Street
(650) 401-6568
What does the unadjusted San Francisco girl want on a summer night? HOT SOUP, PLEASE!
Somewhere, out in the boonies of San Mateo, hides a legit ramen spot. Ramen culture is intense in the Bay Area. The ramen cult intensity almost rivals Bikram yoga - with a similar heat level but fortunately a better smell. The line was substantial but was clearly part of the experience. Dojo vets shared words of wisdom with the newbies. One Googler, in particular, desperately warned us to play the spice card cautiously. You can order on a scale of: no spice, mild, regular spicy, and extra spicy. He advised us that regular spicy is a lot to handle and extra spicy was definitely out of our league. He clearly didn't know who he was dealing with. My brother, once a PB&J (crust off!) kind of guy, now takes down spice like a champ. Heck, he owns a hot sauce business! As for me, I was shaking in my Toms (boots would have been nice).
We started with a couple apps. The seaweed salad was not a favorite, but the boiled potstickers were perfect to tide me over while I anxiously awaited the main act.
The bowl arrived to the table and deserved its moment in the spotlight. A beautiful sight worth photographing. Randomness of yummy ingredients were all delicately placed to perfection in their appropriate corner. An adorable little quail egg was as tasty as could be and whole fried garlic was silky and sweet to complement the rich, delicious broth. The pork was butta. In fact, a little too much that I pulled off some of the fat and placed it in my napkin (shhhh). I know, a major foodie faux pas. Anthony Bourdain would have rolled his eyes, but straight fat isn't my thing + high cholesterol runs in the fam. On the spice level, I wished Mr. Google didn't psych me out! I'm a wimp - I admit it, but I totally could have at least handled Mild like a tough guy. Peter went Super Spicy (and added more red chili). Partially to please his crazy taste buds, partially to show Mr. Google who is boss.
Go or No Go? Go.
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