kimmie nguyen:

The Big Eats 2013

I look forward to the 7x7 Big Eats list and it's not just because I like lists. In the last few years I've been proud to say that I've hit upwards of 75% of the list. But getting to every dish is almost impossible unless you're on a mission and willing to trek out to the avenues. Neither of which is me. For 2013, 7x7 has added 80 new dishes with a mix of old haunts and newcomers, like my friend's Bun Rieu from Soup Junkie. Congrats Hung & Annie!

I probably won't get to all the dishes. Generally I prefer the savory stuff over sweets so that rules out about a quarter. But I do have another nine months to go so we'll see.

Here's the list (bolded ones I've yet to try...and want to try):

1. Sardine Chips at Rich Table
2. Mac and Cheese at Citizen's Band
3. Chicken Wings at San Tung
4. Carnitas Taco at La Taqueria
5. Chicago Dog at Da Beef
6. Corned Beef Reuben on rye pan loaf at Bar Tartine's Sandwich Shop
7. Princess Cake at Schubert's Bakery
8. Mandilli al pesto at Farina
9. Hash brown sandwich at Art's Cafe
10. Gateau Basque at Piperade
11. Jewish style artichokes at Locanda
12. Stuffed falafel at Old Jerusalem
13. Xiao long bao at Yank Sing
14. Preserved lemon 6:10 at Coi
15. Sugar Egg Puffs at Shanghai Dumpling King
16. Hummus and house-made pita at Terzo
17. Pizza Margherita at Una Pizza Napoletana -- I can't believe I haven't been here
18. Seasonal sformato at Cotogna
19. Rebel Within at Craftsman & Wolves
20. Angolotti dal plin at Perbacco
21. Big Daddy ramen bowl at Hapa Ramen
22. Quiche at Cassava Bakery and Cafe
23. Ahmohk (curry fish mousse) at Angkor Borei
24. Banana cream tart at Tartine Bakery
25. Sloppy bun with an egg at Bun Mee -- or here!
26. Meatball, kale, and fregola soup at Claudine
27. Bix Club burger at Bix
28. Roasted chicken and bread salad at Zuni Cafe
29. Amatriciana pizza at Ragazza
30. Pupusas at Balompie Cafe
31. Prime Rib at House of Prime Rib
32. Chicken katsu and tofu buns at Izakaya Yuzuki
33. The Brass Monkey at Little Star Pizza
34. Parisian empanada from El Sur truck
35. Salted-caramel ice cream at Bi-Rice Creamery
36. Garlic pretzels at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
37. Pasta tasting menu at SPQR
38. Pan-seared chicken livers at Serpentine
39. Egg custard tart at Golden Gate Bakery
40. Goat taco at El Norteno taco truck
41. Angry Korean wings at Wings Wings
42. Beef and cheese piroshka at Anda Piroshki
43. Nojo sundae at Nojo
44. Complete crepe at Galette 88
45. Duck larb at Lers Ros Thai
46. Blue Bottle Vietnamese coffee ice cream at Humphry Slocombe -- or here!
47. Chicken wings at Aziza
48. Seafood chowder at Bar Crudo
49. Banana split at The Ice Cream Bar
50. Rosemary, fiore sardo, and pine nut pizza at Pizzetta 211
51. Pho ga at Turtle Tower
52. Caldo tlalpeno at Nopalito
53. Katsiki youvetsi at Kokkari
54. Almond croissant at Thorough Bread & Pastry
55. A dozen Sweetwater oysters at Hog Island Oyster Co.
56. Fried plantain and black bean burrito at The Little Chihuahua
57. Mission Burger at Mission Bowling Club
58. Pork shoulder fried rice at Sai Jai Thai
59. Fried Chicken Yum Yum at 4505 Meats -- this just sounds yum yum
60. Lamb tacos at El Huarache Loco
61. The Crankshaft tuna melt at Machine Coffee and Deli
62. Peking Duck at Hong Kong Lounge
63. Chilaquiles Veronica at San Jalisco -- love this place but have never ordered this
    
64. Manti at Troya Fillmore
65. Renzo special at Molinari Delicatessen
66. Vada pav at Dosa
67. Meatloaf at The Blue Plate
68. Foccacia at Liguria Bakery
69. Omakase at ICHI
70. Dogpatch Millionaire at Kitchenette
71. Green onion buns at New Hollywood Bakery
72. Sea urchin dish at Commonwealth 
73. The Boca at Deli Board
74. Lobster xiao long bao at Benu
75. Super carne asada burrito at El Farolito
76. Faux gras ridged pasta at Acquerello
77. Fried chicken at Foreign Cinema
78. Jerk-spiced duck hearts at Alembic
79. Biscuits at Brenda's French Soul Food -- or here!
80. Matzo ball soup at Wise Sons Delicatessen
81. Pot Pie at Comstock Saloon
82. Ikura at Ino Sushi
83. Spicy miso ramen at Ramen Underground
84. New York-style cheese slice at Tony's Slice House
85.  Pomme d'amour at Knead Patisserie
86. Glazed roasted squab at Bodega Bistro
87. Faith's warm ham and cheese toast at Town Hall
88. Beggar's chicken at Betelnut
89. Beef tongue at Namu Gaji
90. Warm bread, artichoke, and crescenza salad at Jardiniere
91. Cumin lamb at Spices! II
92. Crispy potatoes at Plow
93. Bun rieu at Soup Junkie
94. Whole wheat flour carrot cake at Farallon
95. Deviled eggs at Park Tavern
96. St. Honore cake from Dianda's Italian American Pastry
97. Lamb shawerma from Truly Mediterranean
98. Banh mi at Irving Cafe & Deli
99. California state bird at State Bird Provisions
100. Cracked Dungeness crab at Swan Oyster Depot

TED Talks | When Ideas Mate

Author Matt Ridley shows how, throughout history, the engine of human progress has been the meeting and mating of ideas to make new ideas. It's not important how clever individuals are, he says; what really matters is how smart the collective brain is.

 

Zen on the Big Island

My very first trip to Hawaii was paid for by a nice bonus from work.  I splurged for a stay at the Mandarin Oriental and squealed in delight over the his and her sinks.  Until then I had only booked mediocre hotels where the amenities included the likes of coffee makers, extra pillows and free soaps. Subsequent trips back to Hawaii weren't quite as fancy but definitely not cheap nor affordable considering how much I made back then.

Fast forward to today, I love Airbnb. It's opened up awesome vacation choices around the world for any budget range. So while I can afford the nice hotels now, I like having the option to not do that. Especially when traveling abroad, renting an apartment tucked away in a quaint neighborhood is much more enticing than getting daily newspapers and room service.

In December, we headed to the Big Island for a short getaway. I thought about going the resort route but decided an Airbnb place would be better for relaxion without the hordes of tourists and families. I found this lovely place in Hilo, the North side of the island, generally known to be rainy but we lucked out with the amazing weather. We didn't take a ton of photos, there wasn't much to do except to read, hike and sleep. It was exactly what we needed.