HELLA VEGAN EATS FOOD TRUCK....YES IT'S STILL VEGAN WEEK PEOPLE

Yes, it's a full week of vegan entrees for me and the SO. We are undeterred in our search for palatable vegan fare in food truck/tent land and, of course, we couldn't go on without trying some of that food from Hella Vegan Eats. More a food trailer hook-up that I'd seen at SOMA StrEat Food Park before but hadn't ventured to as it seemed to have long lines and waits and you know, that whole vegan thing. But on this particular day the line was minimal and we had time to kill so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to discover why they are so popular with the masses.

GOING VEGAN SUNDAY IN SAN FRANCISCO SOMA STREAT FOOD PARK

Yes, it's vegan week on my blog and fortunately most of this took place on a random Sunday when me and the SO hit up SOMA StrEat Food Park and they had gone all vegan for the day. Vegan is something that has been hit or miss for me, though I usually find myself trying out all the sweets that are produced this way as anyone who reads me regularly knows. Some good, some not even close. This time looks we are going entree style as long as we are here. The SO picked one place and I took another. First up was Euro Bistros, a semi-regular at the Park that doesn't necessarily do vegan. They appeared to have a crowd around them and I was guessing it was for the vegan mac and 4 cheese plate. It seemed like a good place to start by going old school on my taste buds.

YOUR WEEKLY DIGESTION OF FOOD NEWS TO CONSUME....AND VEGAN DESSERT! (ugh)

Me and the SO hit SOMA StrEatFood Park on a Sunday recently and to our surprise (dismay?) it was vegan day. Yikes! I nearly turned around to make a beeline for Big Chef Tom's Belly Burgers, which is just a block or so over from there. But, we were meeting friends there, was a little late to change, we felt lazy, we thought WTF let's try, name your reason. We wandered around to see what was on offering. I will review some of the main dishes we had in a few days. For this short review, I'm highlighting one of the desserts we (I) felt like trying. Usually my experience with vegan desserts has been on the blech! side. However, some of the offerings at least looked good enough to try--like the mocha fudge brownie from Well.Fed.Bakes that I came across. Looking at their site, they are more of a catering company and it seems they were getting their began name out at this particular event. Still, the brownie was big and only $3.50. Being dubious and not the biggest fan of mocha, I actually picked this for the SO--a fan of both. Surprisingly enough though, I ended up liking this more than them. The mocha was in the cream in the middle and it was very light as was the cream. It struck that nice balance of firm and thick enough to taste and still light enough to not be actual icing. The brownie part was very fudge like and didn't taste overly sweet like some vegan desserts can be. (They tend to add more sugar to offset the lack of flour and eggs.) Still, this one had a nice texture and wasn't too fudgy or too cake crumbly. The layer on top was like a dark chocolate bar. And while chocolate isn't necessarily my dessert go to, I still like what they did here giving this heft and moderate sweetness that was pleasing in both taste and texture. I mean really, how often does that happen? At least for my tastebuds. They have an array of vegan sweets they do from cupcakes to cakes to pies and based on this little cream brownie, I'd be willing to give one of their other items a shot if I come across them. Vegan-ness be damned!

• Susan Sarandon is bringing her ping pong bar to SOMA in that funky building on 3rd.
• It's Noe Valley news! Something new is replacing something only a year old?
• This just opened in Bernal Heights--here's you look see. 
• Bay Area Bites gets in on restaurant reviews. That cheesy desserts does look yum.
• Well, that didn't take long. Belga now does brunch, of course.
• It's Lower Nob Hill news! It's some Chef Nori Sugie thing.
• Not everyone is down with that new restaurant in the Twitter building. 
• Since we can't get enough brunch in San Francisco, Zagat has a round up of 3 Asian inspired ones to try. 
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will finally open in the fall. San Francisco continues to try and be more like Austin. 
• Killer Shrimp to open on Broadway--in San Francisco. Name alone makes you wanna know what they are all about.  
• I guess going to the East Bay to eat on a patio is probably better than usually fogged in San Francisco. It's just, you know, over there. 

COOKIELOVE IN THE TENDERLOIN NOB HILL....FOR NOW I'M MORE IN COOKIE LIKE-ISH

It's a sunny random weekday when I find myself wandering through the Tenderloin--YES! IT CAN HAPPEN! No seriously, I was just walking around killing a rare work day off with no particular place to go. Usually it's during these times that I stumble across places I never knew about, either because they are tiny, off the beaten path or new. So it was when I came across a place called CookieLove which fit into all three of those categories.

YOUR WEEKLY DIGESTION OF FOOD NEWS TO CONSUME....WITH BANH MI!

Banh mi's have been the go to sandwich around town for awhile now and it seems I'm unintentionally making it my mission to try them are, or as near close to doing that as I can. On a recent lunch time walk-a-bout near Embarcadero, I sauntered by Saigon Deli Express, a tiny place round the corner from that space age Marriott by the Ferry Building. I've walked by it many times, sort of casually looked it over and just continued on, not impressed enough to give it a try. On this particular day, time and laziness caught up with me as my lunch time was slowly evaporating and I needed to eat something. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to see what they got. They offer a handful of banh mi versions (pork, chicken, veggie, etc) all for just $6, which in the grand scheme of $10 SF sandwiches seems like a bargain. When getting a banh mi I'm always gonna go traditional and get pork, so I ordered it up and said "yes, I do want the jalapenos," when queried. Things I liked about this particular version: the bread was nice and crispy outside, soft inside; you get a fair amount of veggies piled; the pickled carrot was nicely sweet and tart; the pork was tender with only touches of fat around the edges; there was plenty of the mayo/pate spread to go around. Things I didn't like about this version: even at $6 it was the smallest in size of the banh mi's I've had around town which makes it only marginally a bargain; the cilantro that was piled on was mostly the stems without the leaves (as you can see in the pic)--I mean what's up with that?; also, where was the daikon? the menu had it in the description but there was none to be found here; this was mostly veggie and the serving of meat was also the least amount I've been given compared to other versions, it was just a few thin slices-bummer. So what does this all mean? While not a bad attempt at a banh mi, it's also not the best. A few changes here and there and this could be upgraded but based on some other reviews I've seen of the place, they don't seem willing to make any adjustments. It's one of those places that you've seen around forever and then after noshing there, you wonder, how do they survive? Especially when you consider the fact that literally just around the corner from them is Les Croissant, which serves a cheaper, bigger and much better banh mi. Added bonus, you can get a donut for dessert there too!

• Outside Lands is fast approaching and it's become more about the food there as well as music. Get a preview of some vendors at these upcoming pop-ups.
• Yerba Buena is getting a diner--above it's bowling alley! Makes me a little homesick. I'm sure the food will be a step above though.
• Bear watching put on temporary hold at this Castro Starbucks.
• Did you celebrate National Ice Cream Day today? It was definitely hot enough in San Francisco to warrant it. 
• So many new things opening, so little time, money and waistline to take it all in.
• I'm sorry, I just will not be a part of this new so-called food craze! No! No! No! 
• And here's your East Bay food wrap up, because we can't forget there is a there, there-right?
• Mission Cheese wants your money--but they are giving you a stake in the place and not just a cheese wheel. 
• KQED tired several of the local meal kit delivery services and here's what they found. 
• Mid-Market continues to get more foodie--the homeless will be overjoyed I'm sure.
• Grubstake is getting new owners, but don't fret you late night drunk Tenderloin dudes and dudettes--they ain't changing a thing! 

TACOLICIOUS IN NORTH BEACH WHEN YOU CAN'T QUITE MAKE IT TO THE MISSION

High end taquerias are a real anomaly to me, I mean, there are so many good ones around the city serving up tasty tacos and burritos at affordable prices, then why do I need to hit up one charging $5 a taco? I can get a whole burrito for close to that! Still, for whatever reason, a number of them persist through the city and one has even branched out to 3! locations in the city and 1 in Palo Alto, you know, when you can't be bothered to make your way down to the Mission or something. It's called Tacolicious and I've avoided the place that got it's start in---the Marina (probably why they have a Marina girl salad on their menu). But, you can only not eat somewhere for so long before you just go WTF, why not try it since I just happened to be in North Beach and blah, blah, blah. I actually ended up going here twice, for whatever reason, and now I get to regale you with my visits.

YOUR WEEKLY DIGESTION OF FOOD NEWS TO CONSUME...IS BACK YA'LL! WITH POP-TARTS!

After all that "fine dining" while on vacation I figured I would get back to eating the trashy American way with that ubiquitous of childhood breakfast foods, pop-tarts. Seems every time I run through the grocery store these days they are rolling out a new flavor with varying degrees of success. A few I have no interest in, but sometimes they catch my eye. This time around it was a peanut butter and jelly pop-tart, one I'm surprised they had never tried before. It seems so simple considering the filling on their tarts is jelly like so why not add some peanut butter. This iteration is a basic pastry with strawberry filling on the inside topped with a peanut butter flavored frosting on top (and those red sprinkles I remember from their red velvet version). For me, heated was the only way to go with these. It seemed to make the peanut flavor come through more than just right out of the back. It also heightened the smell of peanuts too which can add more sensory flavor. I do think they could have added more peanut butter flavor or whatever to this by putting more inside the tart and also kicking up the strawberry flavor more, they were not in even balance here. Better yet, I remember they used to make a grape flavored one and I think that may have been a better choice of jelly flavors to go with instead of strawberry here. Plus, as I think for most folks, our PB&J's were usually of the grape jelly variety growing up. And yes, before you ask, I did try these with the addition of butter in both hot and room temp versions. And as much as it pains me to say, the butter did not add to the flavor profile. Peanut butter itself is already a little salty and the butter just added more of that. I also tried adding a little smear of Jif to it also, but it just masked the strawberry flavor even more. I'll just chalk this up as a good attempt but ultimately a miss to me. That's not to say that with some tweaks or the aforementioned grape addition I could be totally on board with this flavor combo. Otherwise, I'll just take a pass on these and wait to see what they have coming....wait, what? Hmmm....looks like they are having a contest for some new flavors--strawberry chocolate (no), blue raspberry (why) and cinnamon roll! Now that I could be interested in, and can you imagine how that would taste with some butter?! Guess it's time to put on the stretchy pants and hit the grocery store. I'll get back to you after I come out of my buttered sugar coma. 

• The Crafty Fox, a new alehouse is now open at Mission and Duboce because who doesn't want a beer garden right next to a freeway overpass!
• ChefsFeed has gotten a new look. Now Chefs can critique their own stuff and make recommendations for you instead of that pesky Yelp! thing. 
• It's the return of Richie Nakano's pop-up--just don't call it Hapa Ramen. Though ramen will be served. 
• Another Castro restaurant was shut for vermin infestation. Not to worry though, it's been quickly taken care of and they are reopen. Crunchy hamburgers not included. 
• Celebrate your upcoming Bastille Day at these fine local French haunts. Vive le France! (or stay home and watch Le Miz the movie and order in)
• Here's a wrap up of all the food business going on in the Richmond District, in case it's tough to get there for you.
• The new Belga seems to be the best reason to go to the Marina District. You know, if you are not into ponytails and yoga pants and bros. 
• And yet another local brewery has opened. This time in Lower Haight called Black Sands. 
• Seems Seattle may not have worked out, thus Wes Shaw has returned to Presidio Social Club to work his magic.
• Yes, Chipotle raised prices to cover the wage hike, it's still a bargain though compared to other places in town. 
• Creme Brulee brick and mortar location now closed permanently. Future of the carts also up in the air. Not so vive le France.
• Weird Fish now Urban Fish instead of the French bistro previously announced. Again, not so vive le France, seems like a trend.  

FOOD ROAD TRIP: RELAE COPENHAGEN DENMARK PART TWO

Even the heartiest of eaters needs a break between courses and we were no different. In the middle of our 7 plus course odyssey at Relae, there was just a bit of a time lag from the kitchen between the serving of that juice of tomato and olive oil cupful before whatever was coming next. In that time we let our stomachs settle and ended up talking to a couple next to us who were from Seattle, on their honeymoon and were both foodies who had worked in the industry and been classically trained or something like that. They were fun and great to chat food with while we waited--several glasses of wine will make us talkie! Soon the next course arrived, so on we go.

(inside Relae, this lady looked a little like Helen Mirren, or maybe we'd had too much wine)

FOOD ROAD TRIP: RELAE COPENHAGEN DENMARK PART ONE

When traveling, food is not in the forefront most of the times. Seeing sites and trying to relax usually is. When we planned the trip to Scandinavia, it came to our attention after the fact that Copenhagen had 2 of the top 50 restaurants in the world in #3 Noma and #45 Relae. The SO looked them up and of course, at the late date, they were totally booked. Though each had "waiting lists" you could get on in case anyone cancelled their reservations. To be honest we really did hold out much hope but put our names on the lists anyway and jetted out. Then, while we were having a beer in a cafe on the canal in Stockholm (yes, I know how that sounds) the SO's cell rang, it was Relae calling to say they had an opening and were we interested. Through bad international connection we immediately said yes and booked our table for the following week at 5:30pm (the first seating) and were told we'd have the table for 2 1/2 hours. Really? Okay, then why not.

FOOD ROAD TRIP: COPENHAGEN STREET FOOD DENMARK

We are still winging our way through Scandinavia and this time we've touched down in Copenhagen, Denmark. Kind of reminds me a lot of Stockholm but with a slightly edgier grunge to it. The city is becoming known as a new hotbed of creative cuisine as they already have 2 of the top 50 restaurants in the world here Noma and Relae. Those I'll talk about in another post. Seems you turn any corner here and your run into some sort of cafe. Folks here seemingly worship the sun and take every opportunity to bask in it. I don't know how they do it as the rays feel a bit relenting as I run from shade to shade. This is a big walking and biking town and me and the SO have been going all over. Our goal today was to hit up this funky spot over on what they call the Paper Island, as the space used to be an old paper mill. Now it's been turned into Copenhagen Street Food--a giant warehouse space with food stalls and a few trucks inside and tons of waterfront tables to nosh and enjoy more of that sun (fortunately for us there are some inside spots too).