Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with foodie

Fancy Food and Nakedness in SFO- advice please!

TestamentToGrace — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:11:33 -0800

Where should a foodie, dining alone, eat dinner at in SFO weeknights? And lets talk about the bath houses... I'll be in SFO from Sat-Wed for a conference where I am presenting and need frufru restaurant ideas for Mon and Tuesday evening. I love the city and have been many times, but haven't taken the time to really indulge in some high end restaurants. I am looking for cuisine along the lines of Per Se, French Laundry, Le Cirque, Le Cinq, Guy Savoy, etc. But also a place that I will comfortable dining alone on a weeknight. And of course a place that I actually stand a chance to get a reservation for (I can rely on AMEX Plat concierge to help do my bidding, but if it's really a sold out weeks in advance kind of place, even they might not be able to get me in).

I won't have a car so don't direct me to Napa Valley or anything. Bonus points for an eatery closer to Union Square than not (but this is only a bonus, not a requirement).

Tangential questions- (1) can anyone speak to Archimedes Banya in SFO? I fell in love with authentic turkish hamams in Istanbul- getting naked and being scrubbed down and then washed in a hot steamy room. So relaxing, especially when followed by a massage. Archimedes Banya claims to host such an experience. (2) how about the intersection between most affordable and longest/best Thai massage that's within public transportation or cab distance? Minimum 1.5 or 2 hours as would be in Thailand.

What's happening in the upper echelons of the food world?

Muirwylde — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:50:40 -0800

Help me discover the leading edge restaurants both in the US and internationally that are doing the most exciting things with regard to food, sourcing, plating and presentation as well as highly creative menu development. I am specifically interested in photo-rich sites so I can see, up close and personal, what constitutes the avant-garde in the professional food world at this time. Color, fusion, small plates, farm-to-table, table-to-farm, locavore, locally-sourced, sustainable. I'm familiar with some of the buzzwords in todays foodie world but feel free to add to the list! I would love to see photos; especially photo-rich aggregate sites, that display pictures of the best-of-the best in today's professional food world. Links directly to restaurant sites okay too. Pictures preferred over intellectualizing but an analysis of what's happening would be interesting too.

What sparked my interest recently was some of the food 'Bar Agricole' is doing in San Francisco. I realize that East Coast, West Coast and other areas all have a slightly different look. I would like to see examples from all areas in the US, as well as in Europe, Japan and elsewhere.

Interesting, intelligent, cultural, or culinary activities in NYC

aught — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:08:20 -0800

My partner will be in NYC for the next month for medical treatment, with varying energy levels, and I will be visiting her over the long weekends. Looking for people's favorite diversions that would be appropriate for a non-athletic, museum-interested, grad-school-educated, foodie couple based on the Upper East Side (70th St.) We're 40-somethings who've done a lot of the NY standard stuff in the past, including the big UES museums and MOMA -- although I have to admit a lot of my experience is nearly 20 years ago at this point -- but we're both comfortable using the Metrocard to take subways and buses around town. Partner will probably not be up to walks over 20-30 minutes. Just looking for cool stuff locals might recommend for weekend activities that wouldn't be in travel guides or major web sites or mobbed with typical tourists. Thanks in advance!

Iceland For Foodies?

like_a_friend — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:13:09 -0800

I'm planning a trip to Iceland, probably for May, and a friend has expressed interest in coming along. I'm a bit worried ... because said friend generally likes the following things:

sunlight
heat
beaches
fancy food
fancy booze
fancy hotels

...And since the first 3 are obviously Not in abundance in Reykjavik, early spring, I'm wondering what our odds are for the last three. Personally, I'm dying to visit, and will go solo if need be. But this friend is generally a blast to travel with, so if a convincing argument can be made, I'd like to make it.

I've done some googling, but my unfamiliarity with Icelandic cuisine means I can't really tell how fancy/excellent these menus really are. Personal recommendations would be WAY welcome.

Spice variety is the spice variety of life

cashman — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:34:50 -0800

I need new Seasoning. What should I season eggs with, for breakfast? What should I season eggs with for breakfast besides:

salt
pepper
bayou blast
old bay
lawrys seasoned salt
red pepper flakes

I've already tried those spices. What else new can I sprinkle on eggs (scrambled or fried egg whites) that will make them taste delicious. I am not really looking to make them spicy or add anything like sour cream or liquids, just seasoning or spices.

options when butchering a calf

yesster — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:44:22 -0800

My dear friend has purchased a calf and has sourced her butcher. What does she tell her butcher in order to optimize her enjoyment of this bounty, given her culinary preferences? The stats:

It is estimated that the calf will weigh 325 pounds, from which they say she will get about 150 pounds of packaged meats. Locker service has been contracted as well.

The dominant cuisine is Italian. Dishes include osso bucco, vitello tonnato, scallopini, veal marsala. Bone-in meats to be done on the grill are to be preferred over cuts that would optimize stews and roasts.

Also wondering about what part of the beast is required for "escapoles" and what the veal equivalent of a flank steak would be.

She already knows she wants pretty much all of the, um, other things. Tongue, organs, etc. We're taking them, but might want recipes for what to do.

So to summarize: what do we tell the butcher in order for my friend to get the greatest culinary pleasure out of this custom meat order?

I went to Philadelphia and it was...

Currer Belfry — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 19:53:12 -0800

Quickie trip to Philly Museum of Art: how safe is public transit? How safe is Philadelphia around the Museum of Art and nearby SEPTA bus/rail stops for an intrepid solo woman traveller? Bonus points for foodie recommendations for a quick lunch or light dinner in town.

I am planning a trip to PA in April, flying into Philly, staying one night at the airport, and renting a car from the airport for the last leg of my trip. Normally I fly in and rent the car the same day, but I'm giving myself an extra day to make it to the Philly Museum of Art for the Van Gogh exhibit. I'm familiar with the drive from the airport so I'd prefer to stay the night at the airport Marriott and pick up the car from there.

I've looked at the SEPTA Web site. A trip to the Museum from the airport looks doable, but I'll need to take both rail and bus, and walk a bit. I'll check into the airport hotel first, then try to get on the train from the airport no later than say 12 noon. I'd love to get some good eats near the Museum or near one of the bus/rail stops I'll be using. I don't want to get back to the airport later than, say, 7 or 8 p.m.

I am a fairly savvy traveller and don't normally get harassed - I move quickly, travel very lightly, and look like I know where I'm going. But if I'd be better off taking a taxi to and from the train stations that connect me with the airport, I'd rather know that now. If you're familiar with Philly and you think that this is just a plain crazy idea, I'd really rather know that now too.

Modernist Cuisine requires a chemistry degree

geoff. — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:17:24 -0800

Has anyone dived into Modernist Cuisine? What are some of the must try recipes? The tome is overwhelming and the equipment required can get expensive. I'm not an expert cook, but I actually find Modernist Cuisine easier to understand and follow than other cookbooks, which aren't nearly as precise in their ingredients or preparations.

Unfortunately a lot of the recipes require things I don't have in my kitchen (e.g., Manugel DMF, FMC BioPolymer brand, or a vacuum tumbler). I get this is sort of the point of Modernist Cuisine, but I could easily go broke trying to recreate every recipe.

Are there a subset of recipes people are really enjoying? Or perhaps a variety of recipes that use more or less the same exotic ingredients and equipment? I don't mind buying a vacuum tumbler if it is going to be used 80% of the time, but not if it is used in a handful of recipes I'll never try.

Also any poor man hacks of the equipment or the recipes would be nice to have. For example, when I sous vide, I simply put the product in a freezer bag and try to get all the air out which works great. I don't have an expensive machine.

Buona nom nom noms

IWoudDie4U — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:39:46 -0800

Foodie trip to Italy- what restaurants shouldn’t I miss in Rome? What’s the best plan for a day of wine tasting in Florence? Where should we take pasta-making lessons in Bologna, and is there really nothing to do in Milan? It’s that time again. Previous questions seem to be outdated or cover other cities, so... Over Thanksgiving, my foodie family is trying Italy this year. We’re starting off in Rome, spending a few days in Florence, Bologna, and then 48 hours in Milan. I’d love restaurant recommendations for all these cities- avoiding touristy things whenever possible. So far, I've considered and decided against La Pergola and La Rosetta- I don’t mind booking a few more expensive places, but it doesn’t seem necessary. I like having lunch and dinner planned for every day, and we can figure in about two gelato “snacks,” too. We’d love to do a tour of wineries in Tuscany, for a half or whole day, a day-trip to Parma or Modena for cheese/vinegar tastings or tours, and take a pasta-making class in Bologna- anyone have any experience with any of these? My parents have already said they don’t care to see “The Last Supper” in Milan, but I don’t know what else we’ll do the 2 days we’re there. What other foods/restaurants/bakeries/shops should we not miss?

As always, my sister and I expect be staying out after our parents have gone back to the hotel. We're still both in our mid-20s, both single, and we'd still love some nightlife suggestions for any of the cities above.

"Per Se is so 2009"

functionequalsform — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:21:39 -0800

He's a Very Serious Food Nerd. I just like to eat stuff. We live in Manhattan and I'm taking him out tonight. Help? Ok! So, I'm taking Dude out for a nice dinner tonight, just because.

He's really nerdy about food and cooking - only reads cookbooks, has opinions on celebrity chefs, grows his own veggies. I, on the other hand, will eat pretty much anything and know little about the Manhattan restaurant scene.

I need recommendations for restaurants in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. I have seen the NY Magazine editor's list, and I can imagine all of the food itself is amazing. But they could be totally loud or totally crowded, which will make me batty.

He mentioned being interested in Co Pane, but reviews say it's so loud you can't hear each other across the table. This is my backup though.

For your consideration:

* I'm willing to spend around $200ish, but less is better

* Doesn't have to be crazy upscale, snobby, or pretentious

* Does have to make him think of me as SO TOTALLY THOUGHTFUL AND AWESOME

* Can't be super crowded or loud - I want to relax and enjoy

* If reservations are necessary, they'd have to be open to me making one today

Thanks!

Help me make a list of restaurants

Suciu — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:59:16 -0800

Bay area foodie goes to NY for a week--which restaurants do I need to visit? I'm heading to NY for a week (actually five days) and don't have too much time to scour the internet to find all of the NYC greats. I have a fairly generous budget, but don't just want to eat at restaurants vying for michelin stars--I want to visit some of the trendy/cheap-but-awesome/innovative/pretentious that excite foodies on the east coast. I'm looking for suggestions all over the place: great tasting menu, life-changing sandwiches, molecular gastronomy, superlative bars, mom-and-pop, etc, etc.

Do you have some recommendations? A set of blogs or websites that you enjoy? What places would I be sorry to miss?

I'm hoping for an attempt at a definitive list in lieu of one or two recommendations.

Atlanta Casual Foodies: What's Hot At The End Of 2010?

Askr — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:39:30 -0800

Atlanta foodies: What new hidden gems should the prodigal son not miss on a visit? A few years ago I moved from Atlanta to a backwater nowhere with no food culture. I'm back for a long holiday visit and want to sample some foodie favorites that may not have been around when I was here, but which I also may have just missed. So, priority on the new but no points deducted for established.

I'm looking mainly for interesting casual places for a fun lunch or a casual dinner. I'm not really looking for nice sit-down places or good-but-traditional places. I want to find places that are doing interesting things. Or maybe some new foreign cuisine that has not had much of a presence here in the past. I like a place that has a counter and maybe a family works there. But it can go a bit nicer than that.

For example the last time I was here I was excited to hear about Hankook Korean bbq tacos on Collier Rd. The reviews were underwhelming enough that I didn't wind up going, but that's the right spirit.

What are the foodie underground buzz places lately? Extra points for the kind that a lot of people haven't really clued into widely yet.

Have a favorite food truck?

I know I want to try Flip Burger Boutique while I'm here. Already aware of Ann's Snack Bar. Want to track down some food trucks. I'll eat anything. Hit me.

Can anyone recommend a Japanese restaurant with equally strong sushi and non-sushi menus for a sushi first-timer?

jason's_planet — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 11:53:05 -0800

NYC-foodie-filter: A friend of mine wants to try sushi for the very first time. The game plan is to order a couple of pieces as an appetizer and either proceed to a full entree if she enjoys it or bail and order something different if it turns out that raw fish is not to her liking. Can anyone recommend a Japanese restaurant with equally strong sushi and non-sushi menus for this culinary adventure? I'd prefer a place in Manhattan or Queens, easily accessible from Midtown Manhattan and reasonably priced. Not too fancy. Many thanks in advance, as always!

Happy Holidays!

La nom nom nom.

IWoudDie4U — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:49:26 -0800

Where can we make out with Spanish boys and what foodie things can I not miss in Spain? Next week, I will be in Spain with my foodie family. Specifically- Barcelona, Toledo, Seville, Granada and Madrid. So far, I've pinned down La Alqueria in Seville, and Mercat de la Boqueria, Alkimia, Cinc Sentits and Jamonisimo in Barcelona. What other foods/restaurants/bakeries/shops should we not miss?

My sister and I expect be staying out long after our parents have gone back to the hotel. We're both in our mid-20s, both single. We'd love some nightlife suggestions for any of the cities above.

Help me make the perfect cocktail.

kaseijin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:36:15 -0800

Help me make the perfect cocktail. I am a fan of classic and pre-prohibition era cocktails. Anything from the late 1800's up to Mad Men. Every gentleman, for instance, should be capable of making a fantastic Negroni.

What, then, are your favorite old-school cocktails? The kind of cocktails that belie swank more than kitsch. My house list is presently consists of the following:

negroni
widow's kiss
corpse reviver no. 2
monkey gland
sazerac (I can make a mean sazerac)
Manhattan
aviation
Martini (the classic, more vermouth variety)

What other cocktails in similar vein should I seek out? Have you recipes?

I am also thinking of creating my own bitters and cocktail cherries. Any tips for such activity?

Any other suggestions that maybe I have not considered? What are your essential classic cocktails? What other things do you do to dress up your essential cocktails?

Gourmet for Dummies

yawper — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:22:28 -0800

FoodieFilter: I want to create a small, gourmet food basket. Help me balance it properly and get the most bang for my buck! I would like to create a small gourmet gift basket for a fun-loving, easygoing couple that enjoys good food. They are not food snobs; I just want the gift to be classy and delicious! What should I include in the basket? Camembert? Smoked mussels? Pesto? Nuts? Maple syrup?

Details:

Budget is about $30 CDN (so portions will be small)
They are omnivores
Must be non-perishable
No alcohol
This is a thank-you gift

I would especially appreciate help with meat ideas, as this couple really enjoys meat, and I dont eat much of it. Thank you!

Cooking 101: Curriculum Ideas Please

webhund — Wed, 05 May 2010 12:24:08 -0800

What are some interesting and non-typical food/cooking/culinary workshops that you've attended? Looking for ideas different than the usual "Foods of [insert country]" and "Great Brunch Ideas." I need to plan a year's worth of hour-long workshops and am trying to jazz things up a bit. The setting will be in a fully-equipped demonstration kitchen, but not a space designed for formal cooking classes. I've got lots of local foodie/chef talent willing to be presenters and they're willing to try new things. As an example of what I'm looking for, an acquaintance recently attended a short seminar highlighting the taste, texture, and preparation differences between grass-fed, corn-fed "organic," and mass-produced beef. The presenter was a local beef producer who knew her product inside and out. Not your usual knife-skills class.

So, what are your favorite and interesting culinary workshops?

Eating in Hong Kong

Suciu — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:43:49 -0800

Help! I'm a foodie suddenly headed to Hong Kong and have no idea what to eat! Well, the protests in Bangkok mean that my short vacation to meet my family and eat Thai street food has been rerouted. All of the sudden, I'll be in Hong Kong in two days. I haven't done much research and I will only be around for three full days... what experiences/restaurants/stalls/treats should a foodie not miss out on?

Also, somewhat related, can anyone recommend any large, good English bookstores?

Indy food and drinks!

IWoudDie4U — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:33:01 -0800

Where to eat and drink in Indianapolis this weekend? Previous questions and answers suggested checking Nuvo for entertainment, but restaurant-specific questions date back a couple years.

My friend lives in Columbus. I live in Chicago. We've decided to rendezvous in Indianapolis for the weekend. We're both ladies in our mid-20's. We'll be staying downtown at whatever hotel Priceline gives us. Saturday night we'd like to go to dinner- somewhere for foodies or somewhere with steak, preferably somewhere with both. What restaurants are popular now? Any price range, it's negotiable. As for nightlife, we like old-money hotel bars and hipster bars. Does Indy have anything of the top-notch cocktail/ Speakeasy variety?

I'm way too sleep derived to think of a clever headline.

porpoise — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:19:55 -0800

Restaurantfilter: Downtown Chicago, dinner recommendations for a couple of grad students with a foodie bent in town for a conference. I've checked out these two previous threads on downtown Chicago restaurant recommendations.

We're in downtown proper and staying at the Sofitel at Wabash & Chestnut and the Wyndham at St. Claire & Erie. Looking for 'interesting' restaurants within a 20 minute walk tonight. Are there any places that are distinctly "Chicago-ian"/local or ignored by tourists/tourism-board?

Grad students, but willing to pony up (to maybe $60 or 70, maybe a bit more, but something around $30 per person sans drinks is more reasonable). We love food, doesn't matter what kind preferring 'good' over 'lots.'

Food is nutrition, not entertainment

arniec — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 11:03:34 -0800

How can I change my mindset to think of food as sustinance and not food as entertainment/reward? I've searched and was shocked to not see this question come up before, but if I missed it, links?)

I am turning 35 in a hair over a month, and I'm trying to get my life in order. A big part of this for me is losing weight and getting fit. However I have a mindset that is ingrained from the past 34 years that I need a way to get around.

I am quite the foodie. I've traveled across the US and some other countries and love to try the culinary delights there. To me, food is entertainment. When traveling, the food is part of the tourism, and when home food is part of the entertainment. Special occasion in the family? Eat out! Going to a movie? More fun with popcorn!

Worse is after a hard day at work (long hours, stressful work environment) my wife and I turn to "comfort food". This is not emotional eating, it's just that after a hard day we can relax a bit better with a pitcher of margaritas and some hot wings (for example). The enjoyable eating experience is a good amount of the enjoyment, and the relief of not having to cook and do dishes, two more chores at the end of a long, hard day, are rewards to ourselves. Instant gratification is the downfall of many an American...including us.

So yes, like dogs, we are food motivated. But to achieve our fitness goals, we need to stop thinking in those terms. How can we do that?

(And hint: as part of "getting my life in order" I'm also cutting back a lot of spending in order to pay off credit cards, so the option to replace the food reward with some monetary reward won't work).

Where to travel to on the cheap for foodies?

traceymariel — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:25:12 -0800

Where's the best place to travel to (from the U.S.) with a relatively cheap flight (definitely under $500) and good (but not terribly expensive or fancy) restaurants and other fun but relatively inexpensive things to do? My husband's friend is offering his time share for a week for free. We can basically stay for a week just about anywhere and only have to pay for the flight and food and shopping while we're there. I'm thinking that within the US or Mexico are probably our best bets for a cheap flight but I'm open to all suggestions. We mostly want to relax, eat some nice food and perhaps see some sights, but this does not have to be an incredibly cultural experience. That being said, we'd like to have enough to do for a whole week. We live in Philadelphia and have enjoyed traveling to Spain, Italy and Taos, NM together but would like to go somewhere new to us both.

Join me in the Quest for the Mexican Salad Dressing!

goodnewsfortheinsane — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:30:16 -0800

Help me recreate an awesome Mexican salad dressing! So I just had one of those pre-packaged salad kits, and it came with an awesome dressing. It was a Mexican chicken salad, and the dressing was a tangy, sort-of tomato-ey sort-of corn-y delight with quite a bit of a bite (but no apparent capsaicin heat). I think it or something similar would work brilliantly as a home-made dressing or cold sauce. The ingredients as listed on the packaging:

Water
Soya oil
Tomato purée
Vinegar
Sugar
Dextrose
Herbs and spices
Onion
Modified corn starch
Salt

I'll spare you the food acids and other additives, but suffice to say that, big surprise, MSG was in there (but none of its cousins in the E620-E630 range).

I believe the tomato purée refers to the concentrated kind; it definitely tasted like it (although Dutch tomatoes I feel are generally quite watery so I'm somewhat easily impressed with the concentrated and processed stuff). In fact, the overall taste held the middle between concentrated tomatoes and something corn-like, strongly reminiscent of tortilla chips (the non-cheese kind). Add a faint vinegary tang, and you're pretty much there.

It had about the consistency of common chili sauce (but as I said, no heat). It was very different from any salsa I've eaten, and completely smooth; without any onion or tomato chunks like in salsa or adobo.

Has anyone ever made anything like this? Any pointers? Thanks in advance, guys!

Low Stress Vacation

BrotherCaine — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:33:03 -0800

Where in Northern or Central California is a good place to vacation in late April/Early May with swimming pools, ~~movie stars~~, hot springs, massage, day hikes and/or B&Bs with vacancies? My wife and I are thinking of taking a road trip this year from eastern SF bay area to somewhere between Cambria and Mendocino or inland with the aforementioned amenities. We like to travel cheap, but with hot showers. Three stars at two star prices kind of thing. 7-10 mile day hikes would be fun, below freezing nights less so. Also, extra bonus points for B&Bs with hosting pets, small towns with cozy used book stores, and restaurants with at least one vegetarian (not vegan) item on the menu.

Unusual, exotic, interesting chewing gum?

groovinkim — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:03:32 -0800

I quit smoking after 15 years. Now I'm looking for suggestions for some unusual, exotic, interesting chewing gum. I quit smoking in April 2008 after 15 years. I have no desire to ever begin again but I still periodically crave... something. So I've decided to take up chewing gum. However, the normal brands at the grocery don't taste very interesting and a lot of them contain all kinds of awful chemicals to boot. So I'm hoping to find more exotic kinds of gum to special order online. It'd be ideal if they were natural/organic. I've tried glee gum but it disintegrated too rapidly. I love spicy and strange flavors and am not at all concerned about it being a "traditional" gum flavor. Google pulls up a lot of links and blog posts about creative stuff (often Japanese) but finding it for sale online hasn't been as easy.