Dining in the Bay Area...

(n.b. I don't wany anyone to think this blog is becoming a Bub-a-thon, particularly from a girl who has prided herself on not being one of those girls who bores all her friends with bfriend-a-thons. Unfortunately, we do a lot of bloggable things together, so Bub-a-thon it shall be.) Anyway, Bub is a big foodie and we've eaten at an incredible number of restaurants from the loveliest white glove service to the holes-in-the-wall. Bub always orders something like the sheep's brains in cranberry sauce with cotton compote (such a ripoff from American Psycho I had to state it) just "to see how they do it". I inevitably (because of food allergies and just being a pain in the neck) order a steak or interesting chicken preparation - I may go as far as lamb but never quail and forget about cooked fish. Tartare and sushi, fine, stick it in the oven and I'm out. But anyway, we did the highs and low in SF (although the "low" is probably one of the higher highs, but I digress).

Start with Evvia Estiatorio in Palo Alto. Great Greek food, very nicely prepared, we love the starter dips (Taramosalata, Melitzanosalata and Tzatziki). Main courses just slightly too big, Bub had lemon chicken and it was a half-chicken, I had the lamp chops, which were delicious but four was too many. We both felt sick to our stomachs after eating, which was a shame because I'd sneaked in a key lime pie from The Creamery (I say almost as good as Blond Giraffe in Key West; Bub disputes me even though he's never been there) to celebrate something for Bub. Downside - the wait, which was nearly 30 minutes even though we had a reservation. They were great about cutting up and serving the pie, so it all worked out in the end.

Moving into SF, one of my favorite restaurants, nearly enough to make me wish Bub was staying in SF, Zuni Cafe. Immediate points to Zuni for staying open until midnight, a rarity in SF and incredibly annoying when your plane lands at 10:30. Second points - the oysters. Bub is addicted. Most important points - the roast chicken for two. It takes an hour to prepare but more than worth it. Our best-laid plan is to immediately upon arrival tell them we want the chicken. We then leisurely debate appetizers and split a bottle of the rose champagne. Halfway to drunksville, chicken arrives, sobers us up. A little flourless Gateau Victoire and we call it a night. Long story short, we ended up there on Friday AND Saturday night (play got out late; place we had an 11PM rez for shut its doors promptly at 10:50, I hated SF) and on that second night, our waitress, though well-meaning, was slightly flaky, although granted, it was the end of the night. She didn't keep the chicken and the bread salad separate and we had to have them make it again (with celiac disease, contamination issues are a big problem). So we ended up spending a lot of time at my favorite place. They comped the chicken and gave me a free drink.


Third and perhaps best - the House of Nanking. Hole in the wall like nothing you've ever seen; the most amazing, tasty, wonderful pseudo-Chinese dishes in the country, probably even in China (Bub's friend claims the cooking is totally the owner Peter's creation; not really Chinese). I don't care if it's Martian, it's awesome. Chinese food is a real problem (soy sauce has gluten in it) and this is the only place that makes Chinese food artfully without soy sauce. Get the eggplant in any form. The best part about the place (aside from the gritty surroundings and the harsh treatment by the wait staff) is that the Chinese place nearby received an award for being the "Best Alternative to Nanking".