Dessert 1/1/11

Homemade peppermint ice cream and chocolate filled Piroulines!

My New Year's Resolution

My New Year's Resolution is to actually use this thing. I take so many pictures of food, and eat at so many great places, I really shouldn't let this blog just sit here... that's my laziness for you. I made this thing mid last year and did a whole two posts! 2011 will be different... I hope.

My goal is to post 1-2 times a week. I'd love to post daily... but that's probably asking too much of myself (maybe next year...)

Tonight, my menu consists of chicken breast marinated in mango tequila jalapeno sauce and various spices and baked potatoes. The potatoes were given to us by Tony's parents. They came all the way from Idaho. I rolled the potatoes in garlic olive oil and sea salt before popping them in the oven. They will be topped with extra sharp cheddar and garlic butter (pictures to follow).

I think I will follow tonight's meal with some homemade peppermint ice cream that I made using my KitchenAid Stand Mixer and ice cream maker attachment.

Click here  for the ice cream recipe.

Last Sunday's Epic Food Extravaganza!

Last Sunday Tony and I decided to head over to Ike's Place on 16th Street and Sanchez. 

It is, hands down, the best sandwich shop I've ever been to, and arguably the best sandwich shop in San Francisco.  The line proves it. When we strolled up to the tiny sandwich shop, located in between two residences, the line was a good 45 minute wait just to get up to the register and order. It took another 10-15 mins after ordering to actually get the sandwiches. We are veteran Ike's Place patrons, so we knew what to expect, and also knew that the wait was more than worth it.

The menu itself has dozens of original creations given lively names, like the Fat Bastard, and Lizzie's Lips. Two sandwiches that used to be our regular order at Ike's. On this particular day, we decided to go for something new, and in the spirit of baseball season, we both ordered the Lincecum. Turkey, ham, bacon, avocado and havarti cheese. The sandwiches come with all the fixin's, tomato, lettuce, pickles, peppers and the infamous "dirty sauce".  The greatest thing about Ike's Place is that they really do have something for everyone. Their menu offers a wide variety of vegetarian sandwiches and even offers gluten free bread.

After our hour long adventure to the sandwich mecca, we sauntered over to Dolores Park to enjoy what I can only describe as the greatest sandwich I have ever tasted. Here it is, the Lincecum, turkey, ham, no bacon on mine, avocado, havarti, lettuce, tomato, peppers, pickles, and dirty sauce on a french roll. Tony got the same, with bacon, on dutch crunch.

After some much needed R&R, we walked the streets of our old neighborhood, Lower Haight. We had been planning a dinner of bbq ribs and decided to stop at our favorite bbq joint, Memphis Minnie's located on Haight and Steiner, to pick up a couple bottles of Texas Red Sauce, and bring a little bit of Minnie's to our BBQ at home. Minnie's has some amazing food, but that, I shall save for another entry.

Before getting on the bus back to SoMa, we stopped by our favorite organic ice cream shop, Three Twins on Fillmore and Haight, for a refreshing treat to cool us down. Since our last visit their menu of options has grown significantly. When they first opened in 2009, they offered 8 flavors which rotated constantly and two or three types of toppings. Now they have a freezer with pre-packed pints and quarts, lemon cookie ice cream pies, a large variety of toppings and syrups, sundaes, and even milkshakes! We couldn't believe how much the place had changed in the few months since we moved out of the area. We were delighted to see that our favorite flavor, Earl Grey Tea, was one of the flavors that day, and both decided to try a milkshake. It was a little piece of ice cream heaven, and perfect for us since we had to get on a bus.

That night our bbq turned out fabulous thanks to our Memphis Minnie's Texas Red Sauce, and it was a 

perfect, end to an amazing day of eating, reminiscing and soaking up the nice weather that San Franciscans so rarely get the opportunity to enjoy. I'm pretty sure I gained at least five pounds, but, it was totally worth it.