October 11, 2011 Off

Schimdt’s (San Francisco: Mission)

//// By in 04: SF+Bay Area, Favorite Food Entries

Schimdt’s is the other popular German restaurant in town (the other being Suppenkuche). It is in the Mission area hence the younger and hipper crowd.

SchimdtsSchimdts

Their interior has a colder and slick look, as compare to Suppenkuche‘s warm and cozy modern rustic tavern vibe. But I found Schimdt’s having a more of a opening space because of its high ceiling. Their menu has more smaller plates (including cheese plate, sausages) and less heavy dishes.

Schimdts

Pea Pancake with house cured salmon, chive sour cream $9  Wow this is really delicious! It’s more interesting tasting than Suppenkuchen’s potato pancake (albeit yummy way). The pea pancake was not pasty nor beany at all, it’s light and crispy. The house cured salmon is meaty and tasty.

Schimdts

Veal Schnitzel à la holstein $16 fried egg, white anchovy fillets, capers, cauliflower and leeks überkrustete. My fried egg didn’t turn out as pretty as some other table’s, but the Veal Schnitzel is very good – tender, juicy. Though it does get a bit same-y after awhile if you eat this all by yourself.

Schimdts

Smoked Pork Loin. One bite of this and you’d opened your eyes and go ‘wow’! It’s incredibly tender, flavorful and juicy. It has a nice smokey depth that you won’t get bored with it.

I love this place much more than Suppenkuche. The vibe here is fun and lively despite the black, slick interior. I came back here three times with friends and always go for the Smoked Pork Loin.

Schimdt’s
2400 folsom street at 20th street in san francisco.

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October 11, 2011 Off

Suppenküche (San Francisco: Hayes Valley)

//// By in 04: SF+Bay Area

Compare LA, SF definitely felt more European up there. There’s quite a few of German eateries in town, and Suppenkuche is one of them.

Suppenkuche

I love the clean, modern rustic interior.

Suppenkuche

Very good bread and butter. They serves beer in a bierstiefel as well.

Suppenkuche

Gemischter Salat $8.00 Mixed German Salad with Cabbage, Carrots, Beets, Potato Salad & Butter Leaf Lettuce

Suppenkuche

Potato Pancakes with Homemade Apple Sauce $11  Like hashbrown but with thinner crispy surface. Very yummy and addictive! It’s my favorite of the night.

Suppenkuche

Sauteed Venison Medallions in Red Wine Plum Sauce with Red Cabbage & Spätzle $20  The meat was pretty tough and the flavor is heavy and straightforward. A strong, straightforward flavors can be satisfying but I got bored of it after awhile.

Like most places in the city, it’s always crowded so we waited in line for awhile. This is one of those places that you love the interior more than the actual food. Since there are other German joints in town, this place won’t be my choice unless I’m in the area (Hayes Valley is a bit out of the way).

Suppenkuche
525 Laguna st. San Francisco CA 94102

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October 10, 2011 Off

Blue Bottle Coffee (San Francisco)

//// By in 04: SF+Bay Area

Blue bottle coffee

LA has Intelligensia, La Mill. SF has Blue Bottle Coffee, Four Barrel Coffee, Ritual Roaster, Sightglass Coffee. SF is a good coffee/cafe town, we need more of coffee rivalries in LA like that.

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October 10, 2011 Off

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar (San Francisco: Hayes Valley)

//// By in 04: SF+Bay Area

I’ve heard good things about the brunch at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar (Joan came here 3 years ago), an interesting named but actually far more conservative place at the pretty and yuppie neighborhood of Hayes Valley. I decided to treat myself here with my cousin. Their brunch menu features standard brunch favorites: breakfast burrito, croque monsieur, mimosa, oyster, french toast, etc.

Absinthe

Despite their name, it is actually a pretty formal place. The menu is also on the $$ side.

Absinthe

The French Onion soup Gratinee is rich with flavor and really good.

Absinthe

Brioche French Toast $14 – roasted strawberry-rhubarb compote, whipped mascarpone, almond-maple syrup. Incredibly fluffy and custardy, it’s amazing! Really good!

Absinthe

Duck-confit ragout: chive-potato cake, poached eggs, béarnaise . $15.5  A creative take on the Eggs Benedict – with a delicious potato cake instead of English muffin, and a tasty duck-confit with chopped king oyster mushroom instead of ham. The result is so delicious – amazing texture, deep flavors from the duck….I savored every bite.

Absinthe

Oyster with yummy garnish.

Despite the menu being a bit predictable and the vibe of the place not being my taste, the food is so outstanding that that I came back here with some co-workers for another weekend. We tried their croissants as well, they were only ok.

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
398 Hayes St. San Francisco, CA 94102

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October 6, 2011 Off

Chez Maman (San Francisco: Potrero Hills)

//// By in 04: SF+Bay Area, Favorite Food Entries

One of my most favorite places in SF was at Potrero Hills, an area that’s deemed too far away (in SF standard) and access can be inconvenient without a car. But up there is a charming little neighborhood where a tiny French bistro called Chez Maman is located. My foodie friend Ludo (giving credit where it’s due!) first brought me here.

There’s only a dozen counter seats and some patio seatings, so a line is expected. The counter seats faces the open kitchen, so you’ll get the greasy glory of it all.

Chez maman

They have wine and beers on tap. Their menu features classic French bistro food (escargot, endives, croque madam, etc.), and their take on the American staple: burgers.

Chez maman

Beef tartare & dijon mustard, capers, shallots, quail egg, toast points. So delicious! The flavors are mixed so well together

Chez maman
Chez maman

The Chez Maman Burger. I was skeptical about ordering a burger at a French bistro, but one bite into it and I’m won over completely. I got it with brie so it’s soft and melty, and the perfectly grilled patty is seasoned with lots of flavors and it’s moist and juicy. The bread is soft but solid – it holds the content really well and won’t get soggy.

Chez maman
Delicious Chestnut cream crepe for dessert!

I’d come here weekly if it’s easier to get to, but it also makes it a hidden destination gem that you make an effort to go. I came back here a few times but I can’t help myself ordering the burger again (because it’s something I can’t have elsewhere). Someday I’ll come back here to try their other stuff. There’s a fancier French restaurant around the corner called Chez Papa Bistrot, I assumed it’s from the same people.

Chez Maman
1453 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94107

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