 | San Francisco Food / Drink Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 21 |  |
 | |  |  | Food / Drink: Zam Zam's is under new ownership, you may enter! | Tip Rating:    |  |  | |  |
1633 Haight Street Formerly Persian Aub Zam Zam, is a throwback bar specializing in martinis. The deal with this place is that the now dead owner of the place was nuts and EVERYONE in the city has a story. First things first: it was hardly open, and I mean like maybe 20 hours a month. Next important issue: he threw out 99% of the poor souls who were in need of drink. He ONLY served Martini’s you see, even though there was a full bar. And if you dared ask what kind, or can I have a beer, you were screamed at to leave right away. In 12 years I have been to Zam Zams only one time before this year. And here is why: My pal and I walked in and sat down at the bar. I was warned that I should ONLY order a Martini. So I, as nicely as I could, said: “What kind of martinis do you have?” To that I was told to GET OUT! I plan on doing a short film on this place, with short interviews. Because even standing out side smoking a cigarette, you can hear people as they walk by going: “Of my god, that’s the place with that crazy guy! I can’t believe its open!” However, they don’t know it’s under new management, so they dare not go in. Leave your story as a comment, you never know, you could be featured in a short! “The Draw” Stepping into the Zam Zam is essentially stepping into the Casbar, circa World War II. Minarets, gothic windows and a resplendent Persian painting behind the bar makes the place seem like something that Lawrence of Arabia would stumble into after riding his camel all day. The beautiful wooden semi-circular bar hearkens back to the 1930s and is stocked with fine liquor, while the jukebox (filled with Frank, Ella, Louis and their ilk) plays nothing after 1955.” A classic review off the web, but it’s exactly true. Leave a Comment Phone: Dont' call.Website: Could'nt find one.
|
 | |  |
| | | | Food / Drink: HOW TO DRESS A LIVE CRAB | Tip Rating: | | | | |
A real San Francisco TREAT ! There's nothing like chowder, fresh crab and a bottle of Chardonnay for lunch. The central California Dungeness crab season starts Nov. 15th. Once the fishermen's price per pound ($1.75 a pound in 2005) is agreed to about 100 boats from Bodega Bay to Half Moon Bay go out to sea. The cooked crabs were selling at stands for an average of $6.75 a pound. They run about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds to 3-pounds. As a tourist or local you can line up for a Dungeness fix by 10 a.m. each morning. The local Dungeness isn't as salty as the blue crabs of the Atlantic seaboard. We natives don't want to pay $5.95 or $6.95 a pound. One option is to buy crabs straight from a boat. We had fresh crabs from the north (Washington and Canada). The only difference was the cost. The northern crabs were more expensive. To me, the local crabs are a little sweeter. The rules in place for crabbers include size restrictions, sex limits (catching males only), season, and rules on method of catch. These rules make sure we don't fish them out of existence. Crab pots used to catch them are, by requirement, woven with circular holes big enough for the non-mature crabs to escape. At home we put a live crab in a pot of cold water and bring that water to just under 100 degrees--about human body temperature. Crabs and lobsters slaughtered this way die quickly and easily without showing distress. The meat remains uncooked by this method, and you can continue with dressing (separating the meat from the innards) the crab and then stir-frying it. Most Chinese markets with in-house tanks for live crab will dress the crab at no extra charge. It's not a bad choice, especially because these markets often have the the best prices for crab. A popular place for locals is 99 Ranch, the Taiwan-based supermarket chain, in nearby Daly City. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
| | | | Food / Drink: Sourdough Bread | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Californians are crazy about sourdough. The SF Forty-Niner Football team mascot is Sourdough Sam. But, sourdough is an acquired taste, where the novice is likely to be confused by the craze. When, I lived in Saudi Arabia, where good date bread comes direct from the baker's oven, I got a hankering for sourdough. I found a "sourdough" baguette at a grocery, which was crusty all right but not really sour. I've never found quality sourdough in Europe either. It seems that this slow expanding yeast has been replaced worldwide with faster rising milder yeasts that blow fewer dough bubbles. A baguette from Paris or New York resembles one from San Francisco, but the tangy--zero sweet--flavor of a sourdough loaf is unique. Some claim the city's foggy climate fosters the yeast culture, but I personally believe that the more restrained use of bread within a diet low on sugars or fats, and high on red wine, fosters this culinary staple. A great appetizer is simply a basket of sourdough, a little virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for sopping, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Sourdough is hand-formed into long, round or oblong loaves, rolls, and even pancakes. Skip the stack of fluffy flapjacks topped with corn syrup at I-Hop, try a plate of misshapen bubble-pocked silver dollar sized sourdough slices topped with Grade A Maple Syrup. Unlike other breads, sourdough is often preferred dried and crusty. Leave the bread on the counter. I do prefer mine fresh and doughy, with a softer crust. For lunch prosciutto or jamon serrano, fresh sliced tomato, basil leaves, garlic, and balsamic vinegar atop a thick slice of Extra Sourdough, sometimes toasted, is my personal favorite. Sourdough meets all fine pate', cheezes, and mustards. Available throughout California (see link), the bread's sour flavor is the quality control taste test. Homemakers should buy several packages of Gold Rush dry soughdough yeast, also widely available. Keeping a yeast culture is cheap and easy. Leave a Comment Website: http://www.sourdoughbread.com/index.shtml
|
| | |
More Sponsored Links for San Francisco Car Hotel
Save When You Book Your Hotel with a Flight or Car Together at Expedia Crowne Plaza San Fran
Work Better. Rest Easier. Call 800-980-6429. Book today! Inn at the Opera
Elegant Rooms, Award Wining Dining San Francisco Hotel by Civic Center |
 |
 |
Search Hotels
Find the best room rates |
|
 |
|
San Francisco
on March 17, 2004
on November 13, 2005
on August 13, 2004
on January 6, 2004
on November 12, 2003
on December 22, 2002
on August 5, 2007
on January 24, 2008
