Poc-Chuc is a little hole-in-the-wall gem! I've never had Mayan fusion food so I was extremely excited to see what it was all about. Walking in I was taken aback by how the decor was really bare-bones but in reality it demonstrated how this experience would be the real deal without all the flash.
For starters we shared the "appetizer sampler" which was amazing. Of the five items on the plate my favorites were the empanada and the salbute. The tortillas are obviously freshly made because it truly makes a difference. And thank goodness they provided a small stack of tortillas and refried beans on the side. I couldn't get enough!
For my main entree I ordered the seared duck breast topped with orange-honey sauce & served with sauted Napa cabbage and mashed potatoes. I'm a big duck fan and this particular duck was seared to perfection, leaving an extremely moist breast meat. And the cabbage was also prepared excellently.
I heard that the slow braised chicken thigh is a crowd pleaser so we'll definitely be back for more! Also they do not have a liquor license so you can bring your own wine and there is no corkage fee! Great deal, huh? You can bring a bottle of two buck chuck or a fine pinot noir of your choice. Poc Chuc is definitely a repeat in my book!
For Sean's birthday we, along with Raquel, went to Aqua, voted one of the five most beautiful restaurants in San Francisco by Michael Bauer on SFGate.com. Aqua is definitely eye pleasing with the simple lines, the subtle colors, artwork, and oversized mirrors hanging on the wall. We started off with an amuse bouche trio compliments of the chef. The teaser consisted of duck gyoza, a salsa soup, and a croquette.
We had the option of proceeding with three courses or seven. Although the seven courses were tempting, the offerings found on the regular menu won us over. It was difficult to select from the appetizer list because we wanted to try each and every single one of them. Ultimately Sean opted for the foie gras terrine, Raquel the Maine diver scallop with sweetbread ravioli, english peas, and chantrelle mushrooms, and I chose the hamachi with charred pineapple. Of course we tried each other’s selections. The foie gras was accompanied by these toast points with a hint of orange marmalade. It was the perfect pairing with the smooth and buttery foie gras! Presentation wise Raquel’s was the prettiest and in the satisfaction department, it did not disappoint. My hamachi was so fresh and with the sweet tartness of the pineapple, it was perfection!
For our entree, Sean went with the Maine lobster with english peas, heirloom carrots. Raquel had the John Dory with pork belly and leek fondue. I had difficulty picking between the salmon with cardoon and white bean terrine and prosciutto and the halibut with Artichoke, Fennel, Saffron Fumet. Ultimately I decided on the former. Again, we sampled each other’s entrees and of the three, my favorite was Sean’s fare. The lobster was perfectly cooked and the vegetables complimented it sublimely.
The last course was dessert and again it was tough to pick! As it turns out, there were six selections and we ended up ordering the odd numbered items, because we are such an odd bunch! Anyway, Sean found himself gravitating to the carmel soufflé. Raquel’s interest was piqued by the citrus parfait with lemon curd and orange ganache. And I selected the dark chocolate pear tart with almond custard and honey ice cream. I liked mine but wasn’t terribly thrilled by it. I would have liked more crust on my tart and the pear was the obvious focal point in that dessert. On this round the winner goes to Raquel because, as per our server, this one was actually the most “chocolate-y” on the list. And that chocolate went so well with all the citrus notes in the dessert.
In the end were happy to have selected the three courses, not only because of the amazing food, but because we were absolutely stuffed! Aqua proves that fine dining can be satisfying! Definitely a keeper!
AQUA
252 California St (between Front St & Battery St) San Francisco, CA94111
After our excursion at the King Tut exhibit in Golden Gate Park, we were looking forward to having pizza at Paxti's Pizza in Hayes Valley. The near hour walk definitely helped build our appetite. Anyway, once there we were welcomed with the friendliest of greetings and the glorious smell of pizza! Our server was very outgoing, helpful, and made us feel at home.
We started off with the antipasto plate which came with olives, grapes, crackers and a choice of three meats. From the list we selected Spanish chorizo, aged prosciutto, and Genovese salami. It was a nice little start to our lunch.
Next we had the salad wedge with fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce topped with bleu cheese dressing, tomatoes and bacon. This was a very refreshing interlude while we waited for our pizza.
Paxti's is renowned for their Chicago style pizza so we had to try it! We were wrestling between getting a 10” for 2 or 12” for 3 people because we love bringing home leftovers to enjoy at home. After some serious consideration, we decided on just getting a 10” pie with three toppings: Italian sausage, mushrooms, and kalamata olives. They do have specialty pizzas but we wanted to build our own. It took about thirty minutes so the antipasto plate and salad were a good way to keep us happy. When the pizza finally got to our table I was pleasantly surprised at the size of this little monster. Our server dished it out for us and I was happy to see all the cheesy goodness ooze from the pie. The pizza was cut into six sections but we could only finish one each. It was that filling! The crust was perfectly made, there was the perfect amount of sauce, and a generous enough amount of toppings.
The only things that I wish they had were a bigger selection of appetizers and some sort of dessert to satisfy my sweet tooth. Other than that, this was a very good experience and we will definitely come back again. Next time I’d like to give their thin crust pizza a shot!
Paxti's Chicago Pizza 511 Hayes Street San Francisco, CA Sun - Wed 11am - 10pm, Thurs - Sat 11am - 10:30pm
Triptych exudes so much charm that I couldn't help but really fall for it. First of all the food is excellent. I had the pork osso bucco with garbanzo beans and crispy pancetta. The meat was extremely tender and delicious. Another must have at this restaurant are the sweet potato fries which are crispy but not oily. The secret is that they are double fried! As for dessert I indulged myself in the warm chocolate molten cake, which was everything you could ask a warm chocolate molten cake to be! Pure gooey goodness!
The service was nothing less than excellent. Our waitress was very attentive and engaging. And I just love the decor of this place down to the disco themed bathroom. There's nothing like going to the bathroom with Charlie's Angels. I would definitely go back here when I'm in the area and in need of food.
Triptych 1155 Folsom Street (Between 7th and 8th) San Francisco, CA 94103
I love a good cup of coffee. I love the way it tastes; the way it warms me up; and, most of all I love that caffeine buzz you get. It really is the perfect way to start the day. However, I must admit since I started telecommuting, I had given up on having a good cup of coffee until now the Bodum Brazil Coffee Press. This little gem has changed my at home coffee life.
Let's start at the beginning. I have a very pricey Cuisinart coffee maker that also grinds the coffee for you. When I saw it, I really HAD to have it. (I am a total appliance whore.) I had something similar when I lived in Japan and I loved it, so I was certain this would be the same. Nope. After two years of the blandest coffee ever, I just gave up. It had to be the coffee beans I was buying. I kept hoping Mrs. Olsen would show up and show me how to make the richest mountain-grown coffee, but alas, she never did. I tried everything but I figured I was destined to never have good coffee at home.
I was driving to work one day and my colleague said that he used a French coffee press. I thought that was really fancy and not something I would do. Of course I looked it up when I went home and Amazon obviously knows me because it only showed me the most expensive coffee presses available. $50.00?!!! No way! I had my fancy coffee maker already. I am not going to spend more money on something that I didn't even know would work.
When Joey and I went to Monterey, I commented on how amazing the coffee was at the B&B we were at and how my colleague had said he used a coffee press. That was it and I forgot about it. The next week my Teddy came home with the Bodum Brazil Coffee Press. I was concerned he spent too much, but it was only $20.00 at Target! Let me tell you, that is $20.00 well spent. It makes the most amazing coffee.
I already had a Krups coffee grinder that I have had for almost 20 years. (I got it in 4th grade. :-) So luckily I could still use my coffee beans. The first time I used the press I was in heaven. The best coffee ever right in my own home!
The coffee press is very easy to use:
Just grind your coffee coursely (or have it ground that way) 1 spoonful for every 4 oz. of water.
Place it in the press
Add boiling water and stir with a plastic or wooden spoon
Place the lid on and let steep for 4 minutes
Press down
Enjoy the best coffee ever
I am really happy with this coffee press. So much so that my coffee maker has disappeared somewhere into Joey's storage realm. If you want it, it's yours!
Joey and I are just a couple of guys living in San Francisco. I love cooking and we both like trying new things. Planning our meals is one of our "together" things. I hope you enjoy our blog!
- Sean
Dedication
This blog is dedicated to the two most important people in my life - my mom, Ernee Jean O'Brien, and my partner Joey Concepcion. They both have showered me with unconditional support and love and have always encouraged me to be myself. I will always miss my mom and I don't know what I would do without Joey.
