Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

24 Nov 2014

Swan Oyster Depot – San Francisco

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Swan Oyster Depot has been on my list of San Francisco must-eats for quite some time, but I always passed it over in favor of trendier spots. It’ll always be there, I rationalized—after all, it’s been around since 1912.

On my latest visit to the city, I craved fresh seafood and the kind of old fashion charm that can only be found at a century-old dining institution. So, off to the Depot The Astronomer and I finally went.

We were greeted with a line snaking out the door upon arriving at the restaurant on a Monday afternoon. After a 40-minute wait spent snacking on a few choice doughnuts from Bob’s down the street, we settled into two stools along the 18-seat counter.

Owned by the Sancimino Family, Swan Oyster Depot serves up wonderfully fresh, barely fussed seafood. The quality of the catch really shines when the preparations are this minimal.

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Restaurant Review

13 Nov 2014

San Francisco Sweets: Morning Buns, Russian Honey Cakes, Egg Tarts, Doughnuts and more!

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The Astronomer and I traveled to San Francisco back in October for the super-sweet nuptials of two friends (with a side of super-sweet treats).

We don’t always have time for serious gastronomic endeavors when we head north, especially with so many friends and family to see, but we somehow manage to fit in desserts. Lots of desserts. Priorities, priorities.

After years of pining for Tartine‘s famed morning bun, I finally got my paws on one. Dusted with cinnamon and sugar, imbued with candied orange, and most importantly, perfectly flaky and buttery, the bun was as lovely as hoped.

We also indulged in a slice of cake (before noon!) along with our morning bun because that’s what vacations are for. Our choice pick featured lime-moistened genoise cake with passion fruit Bavarian cream, topped with sweetened cream and coconut. Mmm…cake for breakfast—that’s how we do.

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Now Closed

10 Nov 2014

Ice Cream Lab – Pasadena

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I scream. You scream. We all scream for liquid nitrogen ice cream!

Ice Cream Lab, which first introduced its made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream in Beverly Hills in 2013, recently opened a second outlet in my neck of the woods—Old Town Pasadena. The Astronomer and I swung by to check out the new kid on the block during its debut weekend. We cannot resist an intriguing food and science mashup!

The opening menu, which was more concise than expected, featured four “Classic” flavors (vanilla bean, chocolate, strawberry, and cookies and cream) and three “Signature” specialties. All are made with either a custard or yogurt base.

Once we settled on our flavors, the shop’s “techs” used machines that looked like suped-up Kitchen Aids and -320 degree liquid nitrogen to instantly freeze the raw ingredients into ice cream. Very cool. Literally.

Note: The Astronomer, a scientist and proponent of safety, was surprised that the techs were not required to wear safety goggles and protective gloves. He feared for their eyeballs and exposed extremities.

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