Personal website for Rachel T https://www.rtsao.com/ Sun, 11 Dec 2016 16:17:25 -0800 https://www.rtsao.com/blog/congee-brunch-with-chef-rob-lam https://www.rtsao.com/blog/congee-brunch-with-chef-rob-lam <p>Had seriously the most incredible congee brunch today for a mere $15 for a bowl. Chef Rob Lam of Butterfly <a href="https://eatfeastly.com/meals/d/19725428/jook-joint-a-tablehopper-brunch-pop-up-with-chef-r/?rf=fwebbrowpopu#/reviews&utm_campaign=JookJointBrunch&utm_medium=Event&utm_source=Facebook">popped up a congee menu</a> and it exceeded my expectations with its amazing flavor and creativity. There was pomegranate in congee!</p><p>My friend Julie and I nursed our Sunday selves back to health with an incredible menu of three types of jook. For those of you not familiar, this is a type of Asian porridge and my favorite comfort food.</p><p>The Menu</p><ul><li>rock shrimp and crab (with XO chile sauce, crab-uni butter, century egg) </li><li>smoked duck (with duck leg confit, pomegranate, salty duck egg) </li><li>vegetarian (poached farm egg, cilantro and kale pesto, bamboo pith, pickles) </li></ul><p>Rock Shrimp and Crab</p><a href=https://www.rtsao.com/blog/congee-brunch-with-chef-rob-lam>Read More</a> Thu, 27 Oct 2016 11:47:39 -0700 https://www.rtsao.com/blog/good-value-under-the-radar-dining-experiences-in-the-bay-area https://www.rtsao.com/blog/good-value-under-the-radar-dining-experiences-in-the-bay-area <h3><p>People ask me where to eat. So here ya go.</p></h3><p><a href="http://www.frances-sf.com/"><strong>Frances</strong></a></p><p>Their menu changes every day and I could go everyday. I have been here 3x in the last 3 months. I think that says something</p><p><a href="http://mouradsf.com/"><strong>Mourad</strong></a></p><p>They have one of the cocktail menus in Fidi and their bar menu is good value since you can order a la carte and they are Michelin starred. If you are already going to pay $15 for a cocktail, pay $15 for a great one here.</p><p><a href="http://www.sorrelrestaurant.com/"><strong>Sorrel</strong></a></p><p>Good value for an intimate four course meal ($55). Had the chef and his team host a private party of 50+ people for my birthday and they were great. Young team of chill bros but they have good energy. They also let me bring in 18 bottles of Veuve Clicquot to serve to my guests and didn't charge me a corkage fee which was lovely budget-wise.  </p><p><a href="http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/restaurant/"><strong>Chez Panisse Cafe</strong></a></p><p>Alice Waters pioneered Californian farm to table cuisine. Seriously love the salads and all the food here. Don't need to do the tasting menu to get a great taste of California.</p><p><a href="http://www.sushi-sho.com/"><strong>Sushi Sho</strong></a></p><p>This gem in El Cerrito has only 8 seats for every omakase seating and is run by a talented Japanese couple. $60 pp omakase. I had my birthday here two years ago and return at least once a year, usually reserving all the seats in the restaurant.</p><p><strong>Restaurant Eiji</strong></p><p>This small Japanese restaurant in the Castro has great tofu, sushi, and Strawberry mochi ice cream. Get the strawberry mochi ice cream.</p><p><a href="http://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/san-francisco-bay-area/minatestkitchen/menus/"><strong>Michael Mina's Test Kitchen</strong></a></p><p>Have come here for every new restaurant experiment. Very generous...<a href=https://www.rtsao.com/blog/good-value-under-the-radar-dining-experiences-in-the-bay-area>Read More</a>