kimmie nguyen:

Lazy Bear :: American Dining

Located in the former Hi-Lo BBQ joint, Chef David Barzelay has found a permanent space for his pop-up dinner party, Lazy Bear. The decor is casual but preppy - plaid blankets, fur rugs, wood tables and an all-American vibe. Lazy Bear's space feels big but the two seatings a night (Thurs - Mon, 6:15 and 8:15) only holds a max of 40 diners. The first two weeks sold out in an hour and crashed the ticketing system. I happily scored a ticket through friends, @jonnaro and @charkattack. Cost is $120 per person with 20% gratuity, beverage pairings are an extra $60-80. There's an a la carte list of cocktails or you can BYOB. Our party did the pairing and had our own bottle of wine. Cuz we are fun.

 

Dinner begins in the upstairs mezzanine. Try getting there early to snag one of the comfy couches. The kitchen served appetizers along with a punch made by bar manager Brandon Presbury (Bartlett Hall, Locanda). We loved the Shigoku oyster in tomato water consommé and whipped "scrambled" eggs with bacon oil and hot sauce.

 

After a series of small dishes, we were seated below at the communal tables downstairs. The kitchen is open and the chefs encourage you to walk up and see the work in progress. They also talk you through the inspiration and preparation of each dish. We were particularly woo'd by the desserts from former AQ pastry chef, Maya Erickson. Light yet complex desserts that leave you wanting more. The koji rice pudding with matcha was out of this world and a good palate cleanser for the next few rounds of sweets.

I look forward to coming back when the seasons change and when my wallet recovers a bit. Hopefully Maya will still be there to sign my menu again ;)

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The Big Eats 2014

Every year I look forward to the unveling of 7x7's Big Eats list. I'm pretty far ahead for 2014 (everything in bold I have yet to try). Guess I spent most of last year pigging out.

A date recently commented on SF's subpar dining options in comparison to NYC. No, I did not end the date then and there ;) Sure there are some things that NYC does better such as Korean food and perhaps pizza (though that divide is dwindling thanks to places like Una Pizza Napoletana and pop-ups like Pizza Hacker) but overall there's great food to be had in this city. You just have to get out there and find it. And yes, sometimes that means trekking out to the Richmond (yikes). This is where 7x7 does a good job with their list, rotating dishes and restaurants in and out every year. Even if you've dined somewhere before, there may be a new item that you haven't had the chance to try.  Only a handful of eats make it on the list every year such as Saigon's banh mi, which I'm always a bit surprised at. Despite a few repeat names, the list for the most part stays freshly updated and always tasty.

Here's to more #nomnoms:

1. Buckwheat waffle with creme fraiche, cucumber, and salmon roe at Lt. Waffle (Linea)
2. Seafood chowder at Bar Crudo
3. Cinnamon toast at Trouble Coffee
4. Chicken claypot at Slanted Door
5. Kale and yogurt smørrebrød at Bar Tartine Sandwich Shop
6. Egg yolk lava bun at Koi Palace
7. Abalone (seasonal) at Saison
8. Beignets with chocolate espresso cream at Boxing Room
9. Crispy duck salad at Hakkasan
10. Any steamed bun at The Chairman
11. Brownie à la mode at Chocolate Lab
12. Arnisio souvlaki (spiced lamb skewer) at Kokkari
13. Soft garlic pretzels at the bar at Absinthe
14. Brussel sprout chips at Marlowe
15. Burrata bruschetta, walnut bread, mushroom truffle honey at Beretta
16. Omakase at ICHI
17. Butternut squash tacos (seasonal) at Gracias Madre
18. Crispy octopus at 1760
19. Housemade chicken liver pâté at Starbelly
20. Papua New Guinea s'more at Dandelion Chocolate
21. Chung Qing wings at New Ming's
22. Salted fish and minced pork rice in clay pot at Utopia Cafe
23. Chicken mole at San Jalisco
24. Tropical sundae at Ice Cream and Soda Fountain
25. Crispy imperial rolls at Out the Door
26. Egg sandwich with lard shallots and parsley on sourdough at Biergarten
27. Fried chicken at Mission Bowling Club
28. Salt cod cakes at Mikkeller Bar
29. Polpette at Barbacco
30. Chips and salsa at Papalote
31. Jerk spiced duck hearts with pickled pineapple and thyme salt at Alembic
32. Crab Louie at Swan Oyster Depot
33. Seasonal bread pudding at Tartine Bakery
34. Tea leaf salad at Burma Superstar
35. Carnitas at Nopalito
36. Sardine chips at Rich Table
37. Takoyaki at Izakaya Sozai
38. Chinatown duck sliders at Maven
39. Russian honey cake at 20th Century Cafe
40. Coffee-rubbed pork shoulder at Range
41. Moto pizza with an egg at Ragazza
42. Caviar at Jardiniere
43. Lotus root salad at MAU
44. Fried onion cake at House of Nanking
45. Live crab with salt and pepper at R&G Lounge
46. Gamja fries at Namu Gaji
47. Maple bacon breakfast sausage sandwich at 4505 Meats
48. Squid ink tonnarelli at A16
49. Kung pow pastrami at Mission Chinese Food
50. Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina
51. Devils on horseback at Magnolia Pub
52. Popovers at Wayfare Tavern
53. Salted caramel ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery
54. Mussel soup at Tosca Cafe
55. Pupusas at Balompie #3
56. Rotisserie chicken at Limon Rotisserie
57. Raviolo di ricotta at Cotogna
58. Pluma Iberico de Bellota at Coqueta
59. Pickled eggs at St.Vincent
60. Frozen custard with egg caramel at Fog City
61. Roast chicken for two at Zuni
62. Seafood cioppino at Tadich Grill
63. Scotch egg at Trick Dog
64. Burger with bone marrow at Kronner Burger
65. Corn chowder soup at Frances
66. Poulet Noir at Park Tavern
67. Spaghittusu cun allu ollu e bottariga at La Ciccia
68. Super carne asada burrito at El Farolito
69. A fresh loaf of Josey Baker bread at The Mill
70. Fried green beans at Coco500
71. Spoonful of Sugar's Meyer lemon curd filled brioche donut at Marla Bakery
72. Frank Nitti at Capo's
73. Wild boar scissor cut noodles at M.Y. China
74. Tandoori fish at Guddu de Karahi
75. Pasta tasting menu at Flour + Water
76. No. 19 sandwich at Wise Sons Deli
77. Duck confit basteeya at Aziza
78. Grilled cheese at Outerlands
79. Clams with cabbage at TBD Restaurant
80. Custard french toast at Nopa
81. Xiao long bao at Kingdom of Dumpling
82. The Rebel Within at Craftsman & Wolves
83. Tasting menu at Quince
84. Crispy potatoes at Plow
85. State bird at State Bird Provisions
86. Tikka masala burrito at Curry Up Now
87. Kouign amann at B. Patisserie
88. Lamb scrumpets at The Cavalier
89. Tonnarelli cacio e pepe at Locanda
90. Skillet-fried chicken thighs at Zero Zero
91. Duck wings “à l’orange” at RN74
92. Steak tartare at Bix
93. Organic pop tarts at Foreign Cinema
94. Banh mi at Saigon Sandwich
95. Udon a la Carbonara at Izakaya Roku
96. Smoked potatoes with black garlic at Bar Tartine
97. The Arista at Merigan
98. Chicken liver mousse with marmellata and balsamic gelatin at SPQR
99. French macarons at Tout Sweet
100. Vermicelli with five spice roasted chicken at Sunflower Restaurant

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