Hog Island Oysters

Happy hour at Hog Island Oyster Company definitely always makes me happy. $1 per raw oyster (whatever they decide to make the happy hour special) and $3.50 per beer pint is a GREAT deal. I usually get the pilsner beer on their menu. Their oysters are always fresh, and there are a variety of oysters to please any palate, whether you like them on the sweeter or saltier side. I'm an oyster shooter novice and am pretty easy to please, but I love the tasty freshness at this place!

If raw oysters aren't for you, Hog Island also has other seafood specialties (although you won't get to take advantage of that happy hour special). I tried their manila clams cooked in a white wine broth, and it was quite delicious. The clams were just the right texture, and the white wine added to the natural flavors of the clams. Their soups looked pretty good as well! This place is definitely worth a try for the real seafood lover!

Hog Island Oyster Company
Ferry Building on Market Street at the Embarcadero, San Francisco
(415) 391-7117
www.hogislandoysters.com/v2

Karl Strauss

I just got back from a little vacation in San Diego, so expect a few posts about some of my eating adventures in one of the greatest cities in California. A highlight of my trip was that I finally got a chance to go to Karl Strauss, where they have some of the best handcrafted beer I've ever tried. They're a local brewery with several locations in San Diego, but alas, they don't have any locations or distributors in Northern California. It's really quite sad, although I suppose my wallet wouldn't agree, considering how much I would spend stocking up on Karl's brews if I could get ahold of it in San Francisco.

Anyway, Karl Strauss makes some very special beers with lots of body and complex flavors. My favorites out of the ones I've tried so far are Red Trolley, Amber Lager, and Woodie Gold. The food itself at the brewery restaurant is also very tasty, and compliments the beers well (surprise surprise). See their beer and food pairings here.

My perfect Sunday afternoon consisted of pitchers of Red Trolley and Woodie Gold ($9.95 each during happy hour), plates of cripsy calamari and garlic parmesan fries, and fun conversations with friends. All while enjoying the sunny San Diego weather outdoors.

Nearing the end of happy hour (photoshop filter - rough pastels)

I knew I would miss Karl's beer so much when I got back to San Francisco that I had a farewell glass of Red Trolley at the airport while waiting to board my plane. Here's a wonderful description of the beer from the back of their coasters - it captures the qualities better than I ever could: "Generous amounts of carmelized malts give Red Trolley Ale its deep copper color and pronounced toffee-like flavors. We add just the right mix of domestic hops to counter the boldness of the malts so that it remains well balanced with an incredibly smooth finish. Warm fermentation with our proprietary yeast strain creates hints of dried fruit like dates and currants and adds layers of complexity to this big and remarkably drinkable ale."

Incidentally, Mr. Karl Strauss himself passed away last December at the age of 94. But his legacy continues in his beers. If you love a good brew and are ever in San Diego, give it a try!

More entries about San Diego to come...

First Post ... and a Plug for Puccini

I think it's incredibly difficult to come up with something witty for the first post of a blog, so I won't even try. I'm not sure why I finally gave in to starting a food blog, but this will be an excellent excuse for me to eat out more (something I already do to a good extent) and expand my cooking experiments (note that I said "experiments"). Or maybe I won't feel as silly taking photos of my food. In any case, I just want to say welcome and that I really hope you enjoy everything that I post. And let me know if you have any suggestions. Bon appetit!

As a simple first post, I'm just going to put in a plug for Puccini and Pinetti, an Italian restaurant near Union Square with colorful decor, great service, and hearty food. They also have great happy hour specials (4-6 PM on weekdays): $3 beers and wines, and $3 to $4 appetizers with such generous portions that you might as well call it a light dinner.

Back left: Pasta nachos with asiago cream sauce, tomatoes, basil, kalamata olives, parmesan, and mozzarella ($3). Front: Cripsy calamari with zucchini, fennel, onion, lemon, and sweet tomato aioli ($3). Right: Flatbread pizza ($4).

Close-up shot of the calamari

My favorite by far would be the pasta nachos, which have just the right amount of cream sauce and mozzarella with a generous amount of toppings. Definitely goes well with any beer (and Puccini happens to have Stella Artois, another favorite of mine).

So if you're ever in the area and need a midday snack, check this place out!

Puccini & Pinetti
129 Ellis Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 392-5500
www.pucciniandpinetti.com