Ristobar ~ San Francisco

"Anybody can grow old, all they have to do is live long enough." ~ Groucho Marx

http://ristobarsf.com/


Place: Ristobar[1] ~ San Francisco
Location: 2300 Chestnut Street (on the corner of Scott Street)
Hours: open Saturday & Sunday at 10:00am (well, sometimes) for "Brunch"
Meal: Polenta e Uovo ~ Mulino Sobrino[2] polenta, two poached eggs, Taleggio[3] cheese fondue, truffle "caviar"; a side order of roasted potatoes; and a Bellini[4] made with Prosecco[5] and yellow peach purée 

(You know what they say, "Quando a Roma… fare come i veneziani fanno.")[6]


I finally made it to Ristobar ~ San Francisco for breakfast (well, "Brunch") this morning. I was glad to see that they were actually open and serving when I stopped in a little after 10:00am.

I sat outside in their sidewalk caffè area, where there are six tables for two and one table for six along the Scott Street side, and another five tables for two along the Chestnut Street sidewalk. I know what you are thinking: "So, big deal! You 'sat outside' in the end of May, Brian!". Well, this is actually a major thing in San Francisco for late May still. The morning fog had yet to burn off (As Oliver Hardy once said to his long-time friend Stan Laurel when visiting London for the first time: "Here’s another fine mist you've gotten us into!") and the outside temperature was probably only 55° Fahrenheit (which is about 13° Celsius for those of you from Europe following along here) and they actually had those overhead gas heater thingys on. (I made sure to sit as far away from those as possible. I mean, what is really the point of "sitting outside" if it is as warm and comfortable as inside? Any fool can do that. As it was, I was the only fool to sit outside the entire time I was there. I did keep my jacket on the whole time, though ~ I may be a fool, but I ain't no idiot.) This turned out to be a great spot for dog-watching (it's a well-known law that in the Marina District, if you own one or fewer rug-rats, you must also have a canine companion). I really didn't get a count on the inside seating, but, from a quick glance, there looked to be seating enough for fifty to sixty (wimpy-assed) people (that can't stand a little prima colazione al fresco).

Their "Brunch" menu isn't really that extensive, but they do offer several other nice ideas (for stupid vegetarians and meatetarians alike). I liked the sound (if a menu can make a sound, that is) of: Spinach Frittata (eggs, spinach, caramelized onions, goat cheese, roasted potatoes, bacon or sausage or salad; Eh, Giuseppe! Why a no "Frittata di Spinaci"?!); Deviled Eggs alla Rossi (mascarpone, grana padano, and crispy prosciutto di parma topped; which I would have ordered untopped, grazie!); Marina Bianca (egg whites scrambled, grilled bell peppers, zucchini, Feta cheese, turkey bacon, fruit); or perhaps a Pizza Verdure Grigliante (San Marzano D.O.P. tomato sauce, seasonal grilled vegetables, Mozzarella di Bufala D.O.P.; on top of which I would have had them "lay" an egg).

This was a nice dish. I particularly liked the Taleggio cheese fondue. Taleggio cheese has a strong, ripe odour similar to Gorgonzola, but the flavour is nowhere as strong (and I bet a nice Gorgonzola cream sauce would also be great with this dish, too). I am not sure how they made the "truffle caviar" stuff, but I assume it entailed some kinda newfangled molecular gastronomy trick (as one might see on the likes of food network). Of course, in Southern Italy, this dish would simply be called: "Eggs and cheesy greets and fungus".

I have no idea what kind of condimentary supplement selection that Ristobar offers; I really didn't bother to ask. I just used a few drops of my own El Yucateco® XXXtra Hot Sauce Salsa Kutbil-ik® de Chile Habanero (Thanks, Brian!) on top of one of the poached eggs and some Toad Sweat Chocolate Orange Dessert Hot Sauce™ (Thanks, Sean!) generously on the potatoes. Hey, don't judge me! I know this says "Dessert Hot Sauce", but I misread it as "Desert Hot Sauce" and thought it just meant it was as "hot as the Sahara". (Nah, I knew all along what I was doing, but don't knock it until you try it! Besides, I hardly ever get a chance to use this slightly sweet-and-savoury hot sauce).

In Other Words… a Sad Update Interlude

I happened to walk past Judy's Café (where I had just eaten breakfast two weeks ago; see last 'blog-entry from May 17th, 2015) on my way to Ristobar this morning and saw some signs in the window that shocked and disappointed me. The place was completely empty (and I don't mean that they didn't have any customers, I mean the joint was entirely empty of everything ~ no kitchen, no chairs, no tables, and no customers). 

There was a handwritten notice that stated: 
"May-29-2015
Landlord told me end of the month move out ~ 34 yrs. I am gone. 
Thank you.
Charles"

There was another printed notice in the window that read:
"URGENT NOTICE TO OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS
Please come inside to sign a petition to save Judy's Restaurant [sic; I am pretty sure that it is actually called Judy's Café] from closing on May 30th.
We've been open since 1978 [Wait… isn't 2015 minus 1978 ~ 37 years?!], and we'd love to continue to serve the community.
Thank you for your support!"

That kinda sucks. I always liked the food at Judy's Café and it was a nice back-up plan when needed (as can be seen in the previous 'blog-entry for that). I sure hope they can relocate to a nice spot (and maybe a little closer to me) in the future.

Additionally (and this is the even-more-shocking, Earth-shattering news ~ now I know how Helen Benson must have felt), I was told by a friend the other day that Dottie's True blue café (yes, THE Dottie's True blue café!) may either be sold or leased to a new owner. If they do end up closing/selling to new owners, I may have to find a new Starter for my Breakfastary Rotation.

http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/blog/2015/05/22/dotties-true-blue-cafe-is-on-the-market/

Does anyone have $2,371,200.00 that you can loan me? I will gladly repay you Tuesday for it…


Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Polenta e Uovo ~ 6.4


________________

1. Stupid, useless cunning linguist pointer of the day, numero uno:

Apparently, a "ristobar" is just some kinda Italian neighborhoody bistro/caffè/café.

2. Che cosa?!

http://www.ilmulinosobrino.it/ita/index.asp

3. (I just love that there is actually a "Cheese.com" web-site.)

http://www.cheese.com/taleggio/

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellini_(cocktail)

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecco

6. Stupid, useless cunning linguist pointer of the day, numero due:

"Volare" simply means "flying" in Italian, and "Nel blu dipinto di blu" means "Kiss me quick, I'm double-parked!"

Judy’s Café

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." 
~ Fscott Ffitzgerald, The Fgreat Fgatsby 

(No official web-site.)


Place: Judy's Café
Location: 2268 Chestnut Street (between Avila and Scott Streets); phonicular contact: (415) 922-4588
Hours: open every day of the week at 7:30am
Meal: Artichoke Omelette ~ artichoke hearts, mushrooms, ham, tomatoes, and Cheddar and  Parmesan cheeses, with a choice of Homemade Pumpkin (mini-)Loaf, Blueberry muffin, English muffin, or 9-grain wheat toast; a large glass of orange juice; and, beforehand, a cuppa Peet's Coffee & Tea® Uzuri African Blend®

http://www.peets.com/coffee/by-roast/dark/uzuri-african-blend.html

(The reason for today's jazzy EweToobular juxtaselctions are simply because there were photos of both Tony Bennett ~ a few actually ~ and Diana Krall on the walls of the restaurant, along with many other Hollywoodland celebrities photos.)


It's always important to have a back-up plan, and luckily there are a few options nearby on Chestnut Street. I was planning on going to Ristobar for breakfast this morning. They are supposed to open for "Brunch" at 10:00am; however, when I stopped by at around 10:10am, they were just starting to set up for the morning, and I was told by one of the workers that they probably wouldn't be opening until 11:00am. Really?! Next time… maybe. Luckily, Judy's Café (see last 'blog-entry from August 16th, 2014) is just along the next block, so I backtracked and went there once again.

My meal this morning was off the specials board (well, specials "ovals" that they display in the front window). Even so, there are always several other good options off the printed menu. I was also thinking about getting either Huevo Grande (two scrambled eggs covered with melted Jack and Cheddar cheeses on a flour tortilla, topped with salsa and sour cream, served with homefried potatoes) or Potatoes Etc. (homefried potatoes, mushroom, onion, topped with melted Jack and Cheddar cheeses with Italian or chicken apple sausage, ham, or ground chuck).

The way they make their omelettes always amuses me (I am easily amused apparently). They make these not as a typical folded-over and stuffed dealy, but as a kind of top hat omelette where the scrambled eggs are sitting on a bed of the ingredients (I could probably do that at home… well, I could, but I doubt that I ever will). I like that the artichoke hearts were the brined (not marinated) kind, which I always find much better in an omelette; but I do like the marinated kind in a salad for extra flavour. Of course, I ordered this senza le parti in decomposizione del maiale morto, Signore Benedetto. 

For my side bread choice, I went with their Homemade Pumpkin (mini-)Loaf once again. Now really, who would choose plain ol' toast or Mr. Thomas' crummy ol' nooks and cranny-laden faux crumpets when you can get a fresh-baked good instead?!

For condimentary supplements, Judy's Café offers both Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce (Original Red Sauce) and Tapatío® Salsa Picante Hot Sauce. I had brought some of my own The Wiltshire Chilli Farm Hell Mouth and Mango hot chilli sauce (Thanks for both, Greg & Cindy!) and used a little of both on different areas of the scrambled egg top hat.

The cuppa Coffee at Peet's Coffee & Tea® was actually a freebie because I bought a pound of their Limited Edition Anniversary Blend 2015. Let it be noted that they have been roasting Coffee since 1966 now, and, yes, that predates that poser Coffee company from Seattle by a full year; let it also be flavour-noted: "full-bodied and intriguingly savory with bright, exotic layers of tropical fruits."

http://www.peets.com/coffee/featured-coffee/anniversary-2015/anniversary-blend-coffee.html

the Wild Parrots of San Francisco Interlude

I saw and heard several of the noisy little chatterboxes over by the Chestnut Street Gate at the Presidio after breakfast when I went for a stroll by the little duck pond (where I saw ten little ducklings, several adult Mallards, and three Geeses, too) in the corner nearby the Lucasfilm building. The actual name of the duck pond is Letterman Digital Arts Center Recycled Water Pond at Lucas, but that is too hard to remember or say.


Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Artichoke Omelette ~ 6.6; Homemade Pumpkin (mini-)Loaf ~ 6.9; Peet's Coffee & Tea® Uzuri African Blend® ~ 7.1; the Wild Parrots of San Francisco ~ 8.2

Cable Car Café

(Saturday, June 7th, 2014)

"Such was life in the Golden Gate,
Gold dusted all we drank and ate,
And I was one of the children told,
'We all must eat our peck of gold'" 
~ Robert Frost (who was born in San Francisco and lived there for the first eleven years of his life; however, he is normally associated with New England where he spent most of his life)

(No official web-site.)


Place: Cable Car Café 
Location: 519 Powell Street (between Sutter and Bush Streets)
Hours: open for breakfast every day of the week at 7:00am; phonicular contact: (415) 982-3097
Meal: Eggs Florentine Crepe ~ 2 scrambled eggs, cheese, baby spinach, tomato, and pesto sauce (with side fruits); and a cuppa Mountanos Brothers Coffee Company Columbia Supremo and a refilla French Roast

https://mountanosbros.com/

(Seeing as this restaurant is located only half-way up the hill, I suppose I can be considered just a half-wit.)


As I had to head downtown on Saturday to meet up with an old high school classmate ("Hey, Kathy!"), anyway, I figured I might as well eat breakfast somewhere down there, too. I just ended up going to Cable Car Café. It is a little place that is mainly a crêpes joint and tourista crowd destination, which is to be expected, as they are right in the hotel area of town (and, Jesse James, take note, they are located right across the street from the San Francisco Marriott Union Square). There are only fifteen tables for two people (many of which are already pushed together for seating for three to four people); one large table for four to five people; and five counter stools along the back wall (for one person each, of course). The Cable Car tracks on Powell Street pass by right outside the front windows (hence their name, and because "One Block Uphill From Union Square Crêperie" would have been a mouthful and might really have scared off the touristas).

There were a few other good crêpey and breakfastary ideas from which to choose: Lox Crepe (cream cheese, sundried tomato, red onion, caper, and smoked salmon, spinach ~ that one actually sounded pretty good, less the dead, decaying aquatic animal); Pesto Turkey Crepe (smoked turkey, Mozzarella cheese, tomato & house pesto sauce); Good Morning Crepe (2 eggs, cheese, sausage, onion, and bell peppers with salsa); or Cheese Omelet (3 eggs, cheese, potatoes and toast).

This was a HUGE square crêpe (which they have spelled on the menu sans circumflex; that is okay and an accepted spelling, but if you are going to serve French crêpes, I think you might as well include the little hat on the "e"). It was a decent enough crêpe, but once you get the crêpe batter down correctly, it is a pretty easy thing to make well. However, due to my somewhat perspicacious tastes, I really did not notice much (any?) of the requisite pesto sauce. This was okay, as there was more than a good amount of fresh, sautéed baby spinach inside. (I would never have guessed that Popeye was un marinaio da Firenze.) I think that the cheese that was mixed in was probably just Cheddar, which seems to be a pretty standard ingredient with most local crêperies; I would liked to have seen some kind of Hollandaise sauce incorporated inside it (or on top of it, even). Of course, as stated on the menu, this was made with scrambled eggs instead of the normal poached eggs, and there was no English muffin stuffed inside either.

Today's side of fruits were grapes, strawberries, pineapple, and cantaloupe[1].

For condimentary supplementation, Cable Care Café has both Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce (the standard red) and Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. I went with a some of the Sriracha Sauce generously squirted all over the top of the crêpe.

After breakfast (as I still had a few hours to kill, Bill), I just walked around Union Square for a bit. Since 2004, there has been a display of large heart statues throughout the city, and all four corners of Union Square sport one. 

(This one is in the northwest corner and was created by some little-known cantante italiano named Anthony Benedetto; apparently, he considers himself to be a bit of un artista and may have something to do with being a benefactor of cardiology or something.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_in_San_Francisco

Lastly, this is just a well-deserved plug for an organization called Suspended Coffees. I first heard of them through their defacedbook page. They are based out of Ireland and their philosophy is based upon the simple idea of paying for a cuppa Coffee in advance as an anonymous act of charity. I have not located any such coffeehouses that participate in this directly in the Bay Area, but there are many such places throughout the United States that have joined in. Check them out and see if there are any in your nape of the forest.

http://www.suspendedcoffees.com/

How do you say "Pay it forward." in Italian? "Caffè sospeso."


Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Eggs Florentine Crêpe ~ 6.2


1. Stupid, useless cunning linguist pointer(s) of the day:

Just because I felt like it, here are several fruity words in Russian:

fruit ~ фрукты/frukty
grape ~ виноград/vinograd
strawberry ~ клубника/klubnika
pineapple ~ ананас/ananas
cantaloupe ~ канталупа/kantalupa

The Bistro Restaurant @ Cliff House

Breakfast on Geary, finally Finale

http://www.cliffhouse.com/bistro/lunch.html

(I really wanted to finish up this series with a local version of "On The Street Where You Live", but, try as I might, I still could not find a version of the song on EweToob sung by a true San Franciscan… like Tony Bennett or Frank Sinatra.)


With today's 'blog-entry, I conclude my "Breakfast on Geary" series. While the Bistro Restaurant @ Cliff House (see last 'blog-entry from January 2nd, 2012) is not technically on Geary, if you followed the logical progression of Geary Street/Boulevard westward all the way to Ocean Beach, this is where you would finally end up. Surprisingly, this was only my 15th stop along the way; I was really expecting about twice that amount of places to eat breakfast, or at least into the twenties.

I wouldn't normally walk all the way to the Bistro Restaurant (it's about twenty blocks away), but it was a gorgeous sunny morning and I first walked to Golden Gate Park to catch some of the craziness known as Bay-to-Beer! (see photos below). I figure if 100,000 idiots and weirdos (in all manners of costume, and sometimes none at all) can run 12K on a Sunday morning, I am good for a two mile walk (round trip) for breakfast.

The Bistro Restaurant's breakfastary menu really isn't that extensive and I have already had most of the items a few times over. This morning I once again had Sautéed Vegetable Scramble ~ Scrambled Eggs, Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Scallions, Button Mushrooms, & Melted Goat Cheese; served with roasted potatoes and, of course, Popovers(!). I also had a large glass of orange juice with the meal. On my way to Golden Gate Park, I had stopped at Simple Pleasures Cafe and picked up a decent cuppa coffee to drink while watching the festivities pass me by; so I really didn't need to order another at the restaurant.

http://www.simplepleasurescoffee.com/

This was the same meal I had ordered the last time I was there, so you can re-read that 'blog-entry if you want. Today's fresh fruits were: cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew melon, strawberries, and grapes.

Knowing full well that the Bistro Restaurant just has Tabasco® (the standard red) for condimentary supplements, I came prepared and used a little of my own Oaxacan Hot Sauce (Thanks, Brian!) on the scramble and a little Cholula® (Thanks again, me!) on the potatoes.

As I sat (or was seated) in one of the booths this morning (and not along the window-side overlooking the Pacific), I didn't have a wall of Hollywoodland photos above my table. So, I walked around the corner and took these pictures of local San Francisco Bay Area Sports and Rock-and/or-Roll figures:

(Picture 1, top to bottom)

Art Howe, Oakland AAA's; Greg Norman (okay, he's not a San Franciscan, but I was told he is a friend of the owner's; besides, isn't Australia just a little west of San Francisco?)
Ronnie Lott, San Francisco 49ers; Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers
Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants; (from the 1961 MLB All-Star Game: back row, left to right) Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins; Jim Gentile, Bal'more Orioles; Norm Cash and Rocky Colavito, Detroit Tigers; (front row) two of the bat-boys for the game

(Picture 2, top to bottom)

Grace Slick; Herb Caen
Carlos Santana (from the 1988 Haight Street Fair?)

As always the food was fine. Heck, they could serve me S.O.S. and as long as I get my helping of Popovers(!), I would never complain and still keep coming back for more.

101st Annual Bay-to-Beer!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: If you saw this horde of crazies coming at you, would you stand still?

(Of course, the chicken had to wait for over two hours for a break in the traffic to do so… and by then the egg had already beaten her to the other side.)


Glen Bacon Scale Rating:  Sautéed Vegetable Scramble ~ 6.7; Simple Pleasures Coffee ~ 7.0; Popovers(!) ~ 8.2; Bay-to-Beer! ~ 7.9

Daily Grill

Breakfast on Geary, Part 1




http://dailygrill.com/locations/daily-grill-san-francisco-california
 
http://dailygrill.com/wp-content/uploads/SF-BREAK-12-11.pdf
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvNMdVYm7_8
 
(Now there may be better versions of this song, but Nat King Cole's dulcet tones along with pictures of "the delicate flower" really can't be beat, Professor Higgins.)





Geary Street/Boulevard is a major transverse (and I don't mean a song by RuPaul[1]) thoroughfare in San Francisco. Beginning at Market Street across from Lotta's Fountain (see 'blog-entry from April 18th, 2010) and heading due west towards the Pacific Ocean, ending at 48th Avenue and Sutro Heights Park. Geary Street (and strangely enough, Geary Boulevard) was named after John W. Geary, the first Mayor of San Francisco after California became a U.S. State. It is one of the longest streets in San Francisco (maybe second only to Mission Street in length) and it happens to be the street upon which I live. It is called Geary Street from Downtown, through the Tenderloin, and once it crosses Van Ness Avenue it turns into Geary Boulevard, on into Japantown and through the Richmond District. 




I decided to do a little series of Breakfasts on Geary this year. There really aren't that many breakfast joints to hit along Geary, so it shouldn't really take me that long (if I hit one every other weekend or so). I have posted about a few of them already here (just click on the Geary Street/Boulevard Label link along the right side here to view more) and won't need to redo any of them (unless I really feel like it; my 'blog, my rules). There are a few good choices Downtown where Geary Street runs past Union Square and through the Theatre District, but, after that, through the Tenderloin… not really much of which to speak (or dare to try).

My first breakfast in this series was at Daily Grill, which is right next door to (or part of) the Handlery Union Square Hotel and Lefty O'Doul's Restaurant & Piano Bar (see 'blog-entry from April 18th, 2010, again). Apparently, Daily Grill is a chain of restaurants in several cities in the U.S. This one happens to be a very nice, old place with lots of dark wood (mahogany?) and mirrors, and the walls are covered with old photos of San Francisco. They were playing old Jazz and Blues standards on the house stereo this morning: Tony Bennett, Lady Ella, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, etc. This is really too nice a place for the likes of me.

They have a pretty decent breakfast menu and there are several things that I could have tried. I ended up going with Spanish Scramble ~ Three eggs scrambled with red and green bell peppers, onion, black olives, and diced tomato; served with sliced avocado, Queso Fresco[2], and grilled jalapeño. Egg dishes are served with Breakfast Potatoes, seasoned sliced tomatoes, or fresh fruit (of course, I opted for the potatoes). I also had a cuppa coffee to round out the meal.




The scramble was huge and just full of fresh, chopped vegetables (however, the black olives were omitted somehow; this was no big deal as there were plenty of other junk in it to really notice). Now, I was not expecting, but was pleasantly surprised to see that a whole (and pretty large) grilled/roasted jalapeño on the side of the scramble; it was very tasty and not really all that hot. I probably could have eaten another one even (if you ever go, see if they will skip the avocado ~ and I am a big avocado fan, I just like this spicy option for a change ~ and substitute another jalapeño in its place). The Breakfast Potatoes were very good and chock full o' red and green bell peppers, as well as onions in the mix (and all were nicely charred/caramelized, too).

Daily Grill only has as condimentary supplements: Tabasco® (just the standard red); figuring on this, I brought some of my own and used a little Benito's Original Naranja on the potatoes (Thanks, me!) and a little Cherry Republic KaBob's Kick'en Hot Sauce (Thanks again, Greg and Cindy!) on the scramble. For such a nice (read: ritzy) joint, I thought it funny that they only have those little packages of Smucker's® jams (the usual suspects, Mr. Söze: grape, strawberry, and orange marmalade) on the tables to use on your toast (this is a very minor quibble, I just think they could have at least real jars on the tables).

Next up on Geary: either David's Delicatessen or Max's on the Square (I am trying to be methodical and work my way westward, ho').


Glen Bacon Scale Rating: Spanish Scramble ~ 6.5


[1] I am very happy to see that RuPaul is finally getting involved in Politics. This Texas Congressman has my vote for the Republican Primary this year. Nice to see you out of that dress for a change, ma'am!
 
Now, you may be saying to yourself, "But, Brian, you are not a registered Republicano!" and you would be Right (Get it "Right" ~ "Republican"? Ah, never mind!). However, in Californica, all non-denominational voters or Independents can vote in the Presidential Primaries; it's all pretty stupid, but what the heck. 
 
Truth be told, my "official" Political Party is the Rock-and-Roll Party… seriously. When I first moved to Californica, I had never voted before and finally decided it was about time to register to vote (this was during the Presidential Election of 1988 ~ sorry, Mike, we gave it a shot); so I registered to vote at some Democratic Party booth at a local street festival. I filled out the form where it stated "Political Party" with Rock-and-Roll Party. The poor schmuck signing all the people up looked at me and said, "You know you won’t be able to vote in the Primaries." (which was the case at the time), like I really cared which Leftist was chosen to represent them. The main problem with my political affiliation is that I can never seem to get Bruce Springsteen or Tom Petty (or, better yet, Sheryl Crow) to get on the ballet. Think about it: What is more 'merican than good ol' Rock-and/or-Roll?!
 
[2] Stupid, useless cunning linguist (and pseudo-culinary) pointer of the day:
 
"Queso Fresco" simply means "fresh cheese" in Spanish. It is a type of creamy, soft, and mild unaged cheese, usually made from cow's or goat's milk. Think "cottage cheese with an Hispanic attitude".