Foie Gras & Flannel

You know that joke about Nascar drivers only being able to turn left? (That is a joke, right? I know I didn’t make that up.) Well, I feel like that with my travels–my car is always pointed toward San Francisco or Sacramento. This weekend, however, I’m in Santa Monica for the International Food Bloggers Conference.

Last night’s start to the conference included small bites from several area restaurants, but the highlight (with regards to the food) was being turned loose inside of The Market at Santa Monica Place. We learned how to make macaroons, sampled cheeses and gelato, and ate tacos; specifically, beef cheek tacos with a peanut mole from The Curious Palate.

I’ll take four more, please.

Edit: I really do love Denver, but Diablo Burger is in Flagstaff. D’oh!

I had to reflect on this for a week, but the more I think about Diablo’s Wrigley Field burger, the more I know it’s one of the best I’ve had. Ever.

I’m in love: with the burger, with the emphasis on local–with the entire concept of the restaurant. A focused, mouth-watering menu. Cash only. Two beers on tap (two good beers, that is). Small, intimate environment. Locally-sourced beef and ingredients.

The four paragraphs at the top of the menu that introduce the burger list urge customers to trust the cooks:

Because this beef is about 95% lean, we recommend that your DB burger be cooked medium-rare…In addition, please understand that we cook all of our burgers to order, literally taking the temperature of every single burger we make.

That attention to detail shows throughout the restaurant. But enough talk.

Ready. Set. Drool.

That’s six-ounces of mouth-watering beef topped with homemade sauerkraut, bacon, Swiss cheese and a spicy honey mustard–all on an English muffin. On top of Belgian frites.

Jason ordered The Cheech, generously topped with guacamole, pepper jack and jalapenos. And we both sipped on a delicious IPA.

Once again, Flagstaff, you’ve been good to me. I may soon plan a trip to the Grand Canyon just to have another reason to pass through.

When traveling, I’ll always trust a recommendation from a friend over one from Yelp. That’s how I found Jerusalem: my friend Susan suggested it during my overnight stay in Denver last week. Honestly, I’m not sure how Susan discovered this place, but she said it was good enough to take a cab during a layover–that’s at least a 20 minute drive from the airport, and it’s tucked away off of I-25 next to a residential area.

The space is unassuming–it’s a neighborhood restaurant. But walking up, Jason and I noticed that the small dining room was packed, and that’s usually a good sign. We were offered a table on the closed-in patio, which is accessed through the kitchen. We started with coffee.

After a stop for appetizers and beer at Wynkoop Brewing Company, we weren’t very hungry, so we split an order of felafel and the combo plate: gyro and kebab meat, fattoush, tabbouleh, yalanchi, hummus, baba ganoush, pilaf and pita. Yep, just a light dinner.

Overall, it was good. Not mind-blowing or I’ll-never-eat-Mediterranean-anywhere-else good, but refreshingly authentic.

Of course, now that I say that, I’m craving the felafel and hummus.

I’m in SF for a few days, and was able to catch up with Kimberley of The Year in Food over dinner at Starbelly. More on food later; for now, just a photo. I’m off to explore the city!

Earlier this week I spent two days in Sacramento for a training workshop with California Volunteers. I had a free evening to walk around, so I explored downtown a bit, eventually ending up at the intersection of R and 14. My friend Daniel had recommended Magpie on a previous trip, so I stopped there for dinner.

I was excited, but I didn’t quite know what to do when I walked in the door. There was no host station, just a counter and a deli case in front of me, and a sign out front saying this was a catering company. Had it not been for the near-full restaurant, I would have assumed I’d be taking my food to go.

The menus: one for dinner, printed with the week’s date, and a wine/beer list, both clipped to panels from a produce box. I sat and read through every line waiting for someone to greet me–a little over 10 minutes. Not a great start.

But that’s when the experience really started. I asked for recommendations from the menu, but every description made it harder to choose, so I started with the Amber Ale from Eel River and a green salad, served with fresh watermelon radishes and a refreshing cider vinaigrette.

For dinner, I chose the risotto: Muscovy duck confit over the rice with truffle oil and aged jack cheese. With the whole-kernel corn, the flavor reminded me of a hearty corn chowder; it was incredibly rich and delicious.

Sitting at the edge of the patio with my camera, I drew a small crowd from passersbys on the sidewalk to my right. Everyone asked the same question: What is that?!? I answered, and after taking the first bite I confirmed that it tasted as good as it looked. Maybe even a little better.

A little note about the location: Magpie is next door to Shady Lady, among a row of businesses just outside of downtown. Also in the building: another restaurant, a bar, two hair salons and a small concert venue. It’s a happening little spot, with an eclectic mix of people. I loved the energy and engagement of strangers.

Thanks for the good time, Sacramento!

I’m still a little overwhelmed thinking about everything available at the farmer’s market this morning. It’s incredible. But since I won’t have time to cook for a few days, I kept to a short list: an apple danish for breakfast, a handful of fresh mission figs, and two Fay Elberta peaches–the last of the season!

Yum!

As mentioned in the last post, I spent an extended weekend in San Francisco, and worked up an appetite walking around. I attended a conference on Sunday afternoon out at Fort Mason Center, and by late afternoon I was craving a burger. The Cured Ham recommended that I walk up Gough to Union, and explore the blocks en route to Fillmore; that’s how I came across Roam.

The concept and menu reminded me of The Counter in Pasadena—complete with an option for buffalo, which Roam offers as a permanent menu option, and one-ups with elk. I ordered the Heritage: applewood-smoked bacon, fontina cheese, butter lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and herb mayo (I’m a no-mayo kind of guy). I added an order of russet potato fries and ice tea, and took a seat outside.

From their website:

Roam is committed to utilizing sustainable meats and produce, as well as other high-quality ingredients in its menu, which begins with 100% grass-fed beef, free-range turkey, all-natural bison and an organic veggie burger.

The burger was tasty—a little greasy, but that’s what I was craving. The meat was lightly seasoned, and had good flavor on its own; the cheese helped keep it together, and the onions gave it a quite a bit of sweetness. The lettuce was crisp, as expected (I wish more restaurants offered user butter instead of iceberg).

The fries were…well, fries. Nothing notable, but they did the trick. And the place was packed, though what restaurant in SF isn’t around dinner time?

I walked back to my hotel in the Financial District to burn off the calories. I regretted not ordering a shake.

I licked the wax paper.

I drove up to Sacramento on Monday for a meeting with a potential client. It’s just shy of three hours each way, so I figured I’d make the most of the day by filing papers with the state (they’re processed two and a half months faster if you submit them in person) and exploring the food scene. By 3:30 p.m., I still hadn’t eaten lunch, so I took Nate’s recommendation and headed to Shady Lady Saloon for a couple of drinks bite.

(A quick note about those papers I filed: details are still unfolding, but I’m working on a commercial kitchen/community eatery in downtown Fresno. Fingers crossed, we’ll have a legal entity a couple weeks from now.)

Back to Shady Lady. Fliers posted around the room announced the launch of Moonshine, and a special menu listed drinks featuring the clear corn whiskey.

I don’t usually order mixed drinks, but they came on good recommendation…so I tried the Swamp Fire. It was surprisingly balanced in flavor–that’s dangerous when mixing hard alcohol. Better soak it up with some food.

Up first, stuffed squash blossoms, fried:

An amazing combination of flavor. I practically licked the plate, but I was still hungry, so for dessert I ordered the Niman Ranch burger with bleu cheese, bacon and whole grain mustard:

Nothing like a full stomach and a long drive home.

The more I explore the concept of “food culture,” the better I understand how that’s defined in the Central Valley. For example, if you’re ordering from a mobile food vendor here (save from Dusty Buns), you’re eating tacos—maybe a burrito, if you’re feeling frisky.

Outside of the valley, food trucks are trending. They provide all of the necessities, like a sink to clean utensils and wash hands, but where’s the fun in that? If you want to be truly mobile, food carts are the way to go; just bring an ice chest for your ingredients, and leave the sink at home.

Saturday night I toured about eight carts (I lost count after the first few) with taco enthusiast connoisseur Mike Oz. I learned a few things:

• Don’t take pictures, unless you’re ready to assure people that you don’t work for the City or the Health Department.
• The Tupperware used for the toppings doesn’t come with a sneeze guard, but that’s okay because the salsa’s hot enough to burn through anything harmful.
• The chances of seeing a kid inside behind the counter are high; some carry their weight, though.
• Bring cash.

Mike and I will map out Saturday’s journey for those in and around Fresno—the stands aren’t exactly legal, so don’t be surprised to find that one’s moved.

More about our favorite spots is also coming with the launch of Fresno Tacos; more on that, and more photos, later.