Scowl, Nu?

Sorry, Krispy Kreme – Papa Said Knock You Out!

Review of: Beard Papa

By: Avery Glasser

Rating: 5

Read review on Judy’s Book.

When Krispy Kreme opened their first area location next to the In-n-Out Burger in Daly City, it was always a treat to stop there on Friday to pick up a half dozen for the weekend – and over the next few days we would push our insulin producing capabilities to the limit while we ate the greasy “kream” filled wonders. The problem is that after you’ve had a few of these gut busting donut bombs, you’re sick of them. I had my last Krispy Kreme in 2003, and I’m just fine with that. Since then, aside from a decadent eclair from Miette, no cream filled pastry has crossed these lips.

But now there is a local haven for cream filled pastries, Beard Papa – a direct import from Japan where it has been providing the local population with sugar rushes for a half-century.

A Beard Papa is a Japanese take on a classic french pastry: pate a choux, or cream puffs. Here, they bake a tender, sweet butter and egg dough until it puffs up and fill it with a combination of vanilla custard and whipped cream. For $1.75, you get a fist sized cream puff, filled with this mixture and dusted with powdered sugar.

Compared to most cream puffs, these are much more refined and delicate in nature – which is about par for most french inspired japanese pastries. The power of the papa is in the cream – by combining a rich vanilla custard with whipped cream, you end up with a sweet filling that is rich, but not so rich that you couldn’t have a second one. The only saving grace is that the filling will eventually make the cream puff soggy, so in my estimation, getting a couple extra to throw in the fridge for the morning isn’t really an option. For some, this might be a bad thing – but for my waistline, it’s perfect.

Right now, they are only doing the vanilla puffs, but the chocolate, green tea, milk tea and other flavors are coming soon, as are the cheesecake sticks which have also been given high ratings by Beard Papa fanatics. However, what I am looking forward to are the eclairs – a vanilla or chocolate cream puff dipped quickly in chocolate and served warm. My body’s already producing extra insulin in anticipation.

The Bar Without Pretense

Review of: Dave

By: Avery Glasser

Rating: 4

Read review on Judy’s Book.

I hate reviewing Dave’s, because within two hours of arriving, I’ve really fallen for the place and I don’t want it to get more crowded. There’s a dozen beers on tap ranging from $4 (Deschutes Mirror Pond, Boont Amber, Big Daddy) to $4.50 (Guinness, Murphy’s, Trumer Pils) and the Fernet runs like water.

For a bar sitting smack between the Financial District and the Ballpark, there’s absolutely no attitude. The barstaff was friendly, and even the two women hired by Jägermeister to entice people to drink that swill were pleasant and unobtrusive.

It’s a bar for drinkers. If you’re nearby and in the mood to get your drink on, it feels just like home.

Coco? So So…

Review of: Coco500

By: Avery Glasser

Rating: 2

Read review on Judy’s Book.

Considering that I walk by it at least twice a day and that the cocktail menu was created by the head bartender at the Slanted Door, I really want to like Coco500. However, after three visits there, it just doesn’t deliver.

This afternoon, I went there with three other colleagues for lunch. The meal? Forgettable. I had a $13 “Coppa Salami Pizza” which was, regrettably, not a Coppa Salami Pizza, but merely a coppa pizza, the menu writer not understanding that Coppa is a Salumi, not a Salami. It was good, but $8 good. Not $13 good.

A colleague had a chicken romaine salad that had an inedible lettuce core served on the plate (and I don’t mean the white part of the lettuce, but the actual stalk of the lettuce). The service was very rough for the price – servers reaching over people, cutting off orders and generally providing minimal service.

Honestly, it’s not worth the trip. I wish it was still Bizou, a nice French bistro instead of this hipster tapas joint.

Custom Timbuk2 Bags

Review of: Timbuk2

By: Avery Glasser

Rating: 4

Read review on Judy’s Book.

I’ve been a Timbuk2 fan for years – purchasing my first one over 10 years ago, and aside from a single computer bag from Crumpler that I purchased while abroad, I’ve been loyal to the brand.

In April, Timbuk2 opened their first retail location in Haves Valley, and last weekend I decided to pop in and check it out. This store focuses only on custom messenger bags, offering a selection of textured and patterned fabrics. They also have some of the accessory bags (for iPods, Treos, etc), and that’s about it.

If you’re looking to put together a truly one of a kind messenger bag, stop in and take a look.

Perfect Place for a Special Dinner

Review of: Quince Restaurant

By: Janet Glasser

Rating: 5

Read review on Judy’s Book.

Quince is the perfect place for a special occasion dinner. It feels very homey, but elegant at the same time, with low lighting and simple cream-colored decor. I had what was probably the best glass of champagne of my life to start, and the meal only got better from there. The food is excellent – all three courses were delicious, but I’ll never forget the petrale sole with mandarin sauce and white carrots (so fresh…and so rich!) Dessert (which I almost skipped and am very glad I didn’t) was also amazingly good. Service is very professional and attentive, right from the moment you step through the door.

As a special touch (and a very nice surprise), they had printed a special menu for me that read “Happy Birthday Janet” at the top (they had asked if it was a special occasion at the time the reservation was made). At the end of the evening, they presented it to me rolled up and tied with a red ribbon. These little details really make dinner extra special.

Just as a tip as far as making reservations, we called a week ahead for a Saturday reservation and got one at 10 PM, but they offered to put us on a waiting list for an earlier one. We honestly didn’t think there was any chance of that happening, so we were pleasantly surprised to get a call on the afternoon of our reservation with an offer of an earlier one at 7:30. The meal is rather pricey, especially if you indulge yourself with all four courses and a bottle of wine, but it’s definitely worth it, even if it’s not a special occasion!

The Ultimate in Cozy Dining

Review of: Canteen

By: Janet Glasser

Rating: 4

Read review on Judy’s Book.

Though I knew Canteen was small, when I got there I still had to marvel for a few minutes at just how tiny it is! It’s cute and cozy during dinner, with low lighting and plenty of candles. The books on the bookshelves at each table are a neat touch and a great conversation starter (one of my favorites that night was “Mr. Bell Invents the Telephone”). Like the restaurant, the menu itself is also small (the wine list is, too), with only four appetizers, four main courses and four desserts (plus one special dessert) to choose from on the night we were there. Service is friendly and amazingly efficient, and with a 9:15 PM reservation, we didn’t feel at all rushed. And the food? The food is excellent. Not necessarily knocks-your-socks off amazing, but very, very, VERY good. I started with a Spring Onion Soup with prawns, chose the Lamb Shoulder Confit with chickpeas, yoghurt and mint for an entree, and finished with a Tangerine Sorbet with champagne gelee and fromage blanc for dessert.

Best line of the night: “Would you like another roll? We have some just coming out of the oven.” Heaven!