Foodbuzz Farewell Breakfast @ Lulu

Talk about hardcore. With all that eating over the past couple of days, there was one last food opportunity this morning at the farewell breakfast at Lulu. It reminds me of every cruise we've been on. Wake up extra early on the day of debarkation to squeeze in one last breakfast. It's basically eating for the sake of eating. Therefore, the die hard foodies made the short trek to Lulu on Folsom for a buffet breakfast which included a "make-your-own Bloody Mary" bar provided by Skyy Vodka. Um... I was grateful for the gesture; but again, I wasn't in the mood for booze at 9:30am in the morning. Just like me, many other bloggers were scoping out the buffet table and taking photos of the food.

Once we had gotten our picture fetishes out of the way, it was time to eat! I grabbed a little of everything except for the bacon. Wait... NO BACON??? Trust me, that wasn't intentional; rather, the bacon was not ready when I got my food. By the time I was finished my plate, I was a bit full and left baconless. The breakfast was prepared by Lulu with bread supplied by Nature's Pride. I originally didn't try any of the bread at the tasting pavilion since there was so many other products to try. Again, my inner Asian prevented my consumption of unnecessary carbohydrates when there was seafood, meat and booze available. As it were, on the last day I was able to sample Nature's Pride in the Croque Monsieur. Honestly, it was only okay. The bread was pretty good, but the entire thing seemed a bit lifeless, maybe more cheese and ham would've helped? Maybe because it wasn't hot anymore since it was sitting there in a buffet line. I did really like the Fritata though, it was actually light and fluffy.

To get a bit of greens into my diet, I decided to sample some of the Pear, Frisee, Walnut, Blue Cheese and Champagne Vinaigrette Salad. I thought it was both refreshing and a nice blend of flavours. The aromatic taste of pears combined with the boldness of blue cheese and the texture contrast of the walnuts encouraged me to eat more of it! I didn't get to try the French toast nor the Panzanella salad since I was really not all that hungry. In all honesty, I was saving my appetite for lunch since my other cousins were picking me up once I checked out of my hotel.

While at the breakfast, I got to connect again with Spinach Tiger, who I met at the welcome party. Funny how I met for the first time at our last Foodbuzz event, Lindsey Meyer. She's a passionate foodie who lives in the Bay Area and we had a nice chat about food (naturally). Lucky for her that she didn't have to go far! I could go on and on about the great people I met at the festival. There are so many people who share the same passion I do and blog about it! I had a blast and ate lots. Thanks again to Foodbuzz for putting on such a great event! Looking forward to next year!

Foodbuzz Dinner

Alright, what were we doing in a produce warehouse in the middle of nowhere on a cool San Francisco evening? No, we weren't doing anything illegal and no merchandise exchanged hands. Rather, 250 food bloggers were bused from the Hotel Vitale over to Green Leaf Produce for our dinner and awards night. Yup, you heard me right. Dinner, awards, bags of onions and cabbage all-in-one venue. They weren't kidding when they said it was a warehouse. It really was. However, the smell and sounds from squid grilling and vegetables sauteing, put us in the mood. With the help of Outstanding in the Field, the warehouse was transformed into a really large banquet hall of tables snaking through the existing floor plan. The kitchen staff from Namu put together a Asian inspired meal for everyone to share alla famiglia style.

Generally, the warehouse was quite dark and cold. I staked out a seat where there was ample light; but it was extra cold! You know me, I would do almost anything for better pictures! I was fortunate to be surrounded by such passionate foodies (mind you, weren't we all?) and we had great conversation all night. Among those sitting near and around me were Sophia, Maggie, Coco, Sabrina, Jared, Julie and Zoe. For once, I may have been more interested in the various conversations than the food. But honestly, we still dropped everything and stopped all discussion when any of the dishes arrived. We know what is most important... Anyways, we started out with a cold appetizer plate consisting of Kimchi, pickled broccoli, wax beans, leeks and seaweed. Despite looking like leftovers from a week ago, the broccoli was crisp. The tartness only helped us whet our appetites for the upcoming dishes.

Our first course was the Mushroom Dashi with maitake, shimeji and enoki. Delicate, light and earthy, the broth was unfortunately cold. Chalk this up to a freezing environment and the large amount of guests. I bet it would've been even more fragrant if it was steaming hot. However, I did love the presentation in the wood bowls. Up next was the Udon & Grilled Monterey Calamari Salad. In addition to the udon and squid, there was cucumber, frisee, kaiware & yellow pear tomato. The squid was browned in a butter ponzu reduction and the salad was drizzled with chojang & sesame vinaigrette. The squid was prepared perfectly exhibiting a buttery soft texture while completely integrating with the ponzu. Most of us felt that the udon was unnecessary and actually detracted from the texture of the salad.

The next dish was a bit of a curiosity. It was the Sea Trout baked with dashikombu, fried garlic and Japanese curry powder. We all know that trout and salmon belong to the same genera; but the main difference is that salmon spend most of its life in saltwater. A sea trout actually does much of the same and only returns to freshwater for spawning. That would probably explain that the dish looked and tasted somewhat like a salmon dish. I was pleasantly surprised that they did not overcook the fish; in fact, it was still rare in the middle - just how I like it! The addition of fried garlic really kicked the flavour quotient up a notch. We only wished there was more! Sophia ate the fried piece of seaweed underneath. I still don't know how she did it since it was quite tough to break apart. Actually I gave up trying to do so and just gave her the entire piece!

After quite a long wait due to other tables getting their dishes, in the process bypassing our table, we finally got the Mushroom Risotto with koshihikari rice and crispy maitake. I liked the overall flavour of the dish since I love mushrooms, which give any dish a certain degree of earthiness. However, it was a bit goopy and didn't have the silky texture associated with risotto. Again, chalk this up to the fact they were trying to execute a very difficult dish for so many people. Now we get to the meat of the dinner, literally. Presented on a large platter, the bounty of Soy-Braised Pork Cheeks, Oxtail, baby carrots and fingerling potatoes was almost too much at this point of the meal. The pork cheeks were ever-so-tender while the shredded oxtail was both rich in texture and flavour. Moreover, it was nice to see that the root veggies were not overcooked.

Last dish was probably the most surprising dish of all. I'm not really a big fan of brussel sprouts due to the fact they taste a bit funny and when overcooked, it can be some mushy business. However, the Roasted Brussel Sprouts with ponzu fried garlic, guanciale and bonito flakes changed my mind quickly. The sprouts themselves were roasted al dente so that there was still some bite left. Furthermore, the guanciale (or unsmoked Italian bacon) really put a mark on this dish by giving a saltiness that helped mask the "aroma" of the sprouts.

To end the meal, we had Koshihikari Rice Pudding with cookie crumbles and Warren pear. The topping was pretty darn good; but that only hid the pretty average rice pudding. During that time, the Foodbuzz awards were announced. A pretty cool (no pun intended) evening with great company, good food and the Foodbuzz vibe!

Foodbuzz Tasting Pavillion

After trying out different cheeses at the Cowgirl Creamery tasting seminar, we headed over to the Metreon for more tasting. This time, we were treated to little bites combined with wine and beer. Little cattle herded off to pasture, we were set loose to sample the many different offerings from an array of vendors. Trying to outwit, outlast and outplay, I went directly to the end to avoid the crowds. It would've been a masterful plan if it wasn't merely wine tasting at the back. Don't get me wrong, I like wine; but I wasn't really in the mood for wine at noon. I did get to sample a 2008 Sauvignon Blanc and 2005 Merlot from Black Stallion which were paired with a savory tart. Why 2 wines you ask? Well, the white was intended to go with the pastry and the red with the filling. Interesting! I actually liked both wines since they were not extremely strong. I'm not a big fan of bold wines and much prefer subtle flavours.

Before I talk about anything else, I must rant and rave over the "Seafood Ceviche" I sampled from Fuego. I put ceviche in quotations because it was not prepared in the traditional sense. Rather, Executive Chef Jesse Perez quickly blanched the seafood and marinated it in lime, lemon and orange juice. Think of it as more of a seafood salad with a citrus vinaigrette. It consisted of Mexican shrimp, bay scallops, octopus, sweet potato and yellow teardrop tomatoes. I don't care what you call this dish, it was plain delicious. The seafood was fresh, the textures were pleasing and the flavours were refreshing. I went back for more this. Another little treat were the meatballs from Americano. Not sure what was really in these; however, they were soft, juicy and the sauce was a nice compliment which didn't detract from the meat flavour.

At the Aquarius Restaurant table, they had some Savory Tarts which consisted of goat cheese, beat tartar, fennel oil and Meyer lemon meringue. It was nice bite with a bit savory, a bit sweet and aromatics provided by the oil. Mezzetta, normally known for its glass-packed peppers and olives, were featuring their sauces. One particular dish was the braised short rib served on polenta. That was a tasty treat; but then again, I'm a bit biased when it comes to short rib. Mission Minis made another appearance at the tasting pavilion. They look so much nicer in natural light! Better pictures too...

I'm a huge popcorn fan, in fact, I always get it when at the movie theatre even though it is a complete ripoff. Thus, I was pleased to see the 479° Popcorn table. My favourites were Black Truffle & White Cheddar and Madras Coconut Curry & Cashews. I liked how the flavours were present without being salty and overpowering. While perusing the tables, something that resembled a takoyaki caught my eye. It wasn't takoyaki, rather, it was Aunt Else's Æbleskivers. They're actually Danish spherical pastries made in a stove top mold much like takoyakis. They're fluffy and filled with pieces of apple.

As I was making my way out of the pavilion, I stopped in my tracks because there was a table of meat. C'mon, I can't pass up meat! It was the Prather Ranch Meat Company and there was Beef Hot Dog, Sweet 'n Spicy Beef Jerky and Bockwurst. Naturally, I tried them all and I think my favourite was the Bockwurst. Another overwhelming amount of food, snacks and spirits from Foodbuzz. Only another 3 hours until we eat again at the Foodbuzz Awards dinner!

Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Tasting

I love cheese. Ever since I was a little kid, I would never say no to cheese. Since I never really fancied regular milk, I guess my daily intake of calcium was satisfied by the fermented kind. I'm no cheese expert by any means; but I do eat it and like it. In fact, there are very few cheeses I dislike. Today, as part of our activities for the Foodbuzz Blogger's Festival, I signed up for the Cowgirl Creamery cheese tasting. Prior to this session, I'd already had a meat cone from Boccalone Tasty Salted Pig Parts and food from Out the Door in the Ferry Marketplace. Hungry I was not. As I was waiting for the cheese to be setup, I moved in to take my requisite photos. Naturally, everyone else followed suit. It's so cool that I'm not the only wacko taking pictures of cheese. I felt comfortable, a sense of belonging and most of all, no shame!

Sue Conley along with Peggy Smith opened Cowgirl Creamery in 1997 in Pt. Reyes which is an hour north of San Francisco. Today, we were lucky to have Sue running the cheese tasting session. I was in awe of her knowledge and sensibility while discussing the roots of her company and the process of making cheese. There is more than curdling milk!

We started with the most basic of cheeses - Fromage Blanc. They take Albert Straus milk and heat it to 185 degrees. To it, they add renet, acid, salt and creme fraiche. The result is a creamy, slightly tart soft cheese. It went really well with the accompanying crunchy crackers. The next cheese we sampled was Inverness which is made with milk that is high in fat and protein. Sue stressed that milk needs to be made into cheese within 48 hours because the proteins start to break down after that. With the high fat content, the cheese is naturally smooth and creamy. I found it slightly gamy and had a strong aftertaste.

By far, the creamiest cheese we tried was the Mt Tam, which is an aged cheese. It is also made of Albert Straus milk; in fact, they add more cream to it (triple cream to be exact). It tastes a lot like Brie and was quite rich. Sue said that they use the same process as making Gouda for Mt Tam. The last cheese we sample was the Batch 11, which is an experimental cheese that has not been released yet. Along the same lines as Asiago, it has a strong taste and it was a bit dry. Not exactly smooth, it exhibited an earthy, nutty flavour. It is also made with Albert Straus milk and is targeted to be less expensive than most other similar cheeses. Definitely an interesting session and now I know more about the cheese making process thanks to the Cowgirl Creamery.

Out the Door

Alright, after eating a meat cone from Boccalone Tasty Salted Pig Parts, I was a happy man; yet not a completely satisfied man. I needed more food! What to have? Yes, there are many choices at the Ferry Building; but I really wasn't in the "sweets" mood. That eliminates half of the vendors right off the bat. I walked back and forth trying to decide what to eat. Another meat cone? Brilliant idea! But I needed variety. There was a caviar bar that intrigued me until I saw the price. No thanks. Finally I decided to give Out of the Door a go. It's the take out, fast food outlet of the Slanted Door Vietnamese restaurant.

I have heard that their sandwiches are really good; but I didn't want anything heavy since there was some cheese tasting and tasting pavilion later. Furthermore, the sandwiches are not available during the morning hours anyways. One thing that struck me was that the food was not really all that Vietnamese because I ended up with 2 dishes we most often associate with Chinese cuisine - Duck Congee and a Steamed Chicken Bun. Whatever the case, the congee was both thick and full of tender duck. It was a bit sweeter than I am used to; but it was flavourful nonetheless. I wasn't really into the chicken bun. It wasn't exactly bad; yet it was similar to most other steamed chicken buns I've had. Too bad I didn't get to sample their sandwiches since it was not quite lunch yet. In terms of authenticity, I'm sure that is not really what they are about anyways. The Slanted Door, which is their parent restaurant, is more fusion than true Vietnamese food. I guess one should expect something similar with Out the Door as well.

The Good:

- It's quick

- The food I had was pretty solid

The Bad:

- Especially with the food I had, not sure if it's necessarily Vietnamese (even for fusion)

- A little bit pricey for what you get

Boccolone Tasty Salted Pig Parts

On my first go around in the Ferry Marketplace, I noticed a store named Boccalone "Tasty Salted Pig Parts". Now with a name like that, I just knew I was going to love it. C'mon, what's better than tasty pork products? This place is surely a pork lover's paradise. They have everything from cured meats to lard soap. Lard soap? To me at least, how do you get clean by lathering up with lard? Well, at least you'll suddenly seem more tasty, much like how Kramer slathered himself with Butter in an episode of Seinfeld. Although Newman wanted to eat him afterwards... Anyways, there is a nice selection of sandwiches and even lard cookies (uh... yum?) here. I didn't want to spoil my appetite for more food, so I went for the meat cone. Yes, that's right folks, a cone that is made of meat! What can be better than a cone of meat? For $3.25, I got a random trio of pork. If you pay a buck more, you can choose your meats.

The first sliced meat was an absolutely delicious Orange & Fennel Salami. There was no shortage of fennel in this salami with just a hint of orange. Moreover, it melted in my mouth. That's what pork fat does best! Second was the Pistachio Mortabella. Exhibiting similarities to a summer sausage, it was mostly sweet with a salty and nutty component thanks to the pistachios. Lastly, was the Prosciutto Cotto which resembled meaty corned beef. It wasn't too salty and had a good meaty texture and flavour. I also got the sample the Nduja which is a spreadable spicy salami. You gotta love that, meat that you can spread. Reminds me of cheese that can be dispensed out of a can (Easy Cheese), but let's not go there... Crackers, bread, chips and your tongue could all be used as a vessel for this delicious concoction. I tried it and I loved it. Smooth, spicy and salty, I would spread this on a plate and lick it if I had to.

The Good:

- If you like pork products...

- Reasonable prices

- It's fun

The Bad:

- Lard cookies and chips fried in lard... need I say more?

Absinthe

After a day of endless eats, you might be wondering why I was at Absinthe at 10:00pm. I wasn't particularly hungry. In fact, I was dead tired from being up since 5:00am. Was it because Jamie Lauren, from Top Chef fame, is the executive chef? No, not particularly, even though I do have a love for scallops. In reality, it's a restaurant that is highly spoken of and I just wanted to try it. My cousin Sal was picking me up and we were going to head over there together. However, it was a bit mind-boggling that she really wasn't sure where we were going. Watching Sal navigate the streets of San Francisco was akin to watching someone trying to escape from a corn maze in total darkness. Eventually, we finally made it albeit a little late; but the staff were pleasant and understanding.

If you were looking for a quiet place to eat, then you'd better move on. Don't get me wrong, the place does have class; but it's a bit noisy. That didn't really bother me all that much, so it was a non-issue. Sal decided to order 2 items which were the Chestnut & Mushroom Soup and the Poached Quince. The soup was actually not too heavy and exhibited strong mushroom flavour. Definitely earthy and creamy, this soup was a winner. The quince was accompanied by escarole, cinnamon toast croutons, goat cheese and pear vinaigrette. The salad and quince were nice; but the croutons were much too heavy. It was like eating cinnamon cake. The pear vinaigrette was gentle and aromatic.

Alright, guess what I ordered? If you can recall, there was one dish that Jamie consistently made on Top Chef. Yes, it was scallops. The judges even went as far to declare that it wasn't "Top Scallop". You know then I had to order the Pan Seared Scallops. Hey, if that's in her comfort zone, I'm all over it! The perfectly seared scallops were accompanied by bacon (yum!), wild mushrooms, braising greens, caramelized onions and black truffle oil. These babies were tender, sweet and cooked just past the point of raw. The mushrooms and truffle oil gave a nice earthiness while the bacon just did what bacon does best.

I wasn't really all that hungry and the scallops did the trick. Moreover, Sal is not a particularly big eater; thus between the 2 of us, we really didn't order a whole lot. We didn't even order drinks! Yet, the service was still friendly and prompt. I personally liked the ambiance, it was bustling and lively. Absinthe is definitely a hot spot for eats any time of the day - even good for 2nd dinner late into the night.

The Good:

- The dishes we tried were executed well

- Lively atmosphere

- Good service

The Bad:

- If you wanted quiet, then it's not for you

- Seating is a bit tight