Hiatus but Not From Food

As soon as Nick and Kathy picked me up in San Francisco (in their brand new Lexus hybrid BTW) we went to buy Dungeness crab. They wanted to buy already cooked crab. I have never bought cooked crab and convinced them to buy live ones. It was the first time for them. This surprised me and it's not the first time I've been surprised by people I know are foodies but afraid to kill the food they eat. Hey someone has to kill it and if you are going to eat meat or fish I think it's better if you do it. The fresher the better.

They bought four big crabs and I put them their bathtub filled with water and salt. They were so happy. Nick fed them bonito flakes and they played around while we did other things. Then I got the pots of boiling water ready and stuffed them in. I didn't cooked them all the way. Half way through I pulled them out, cracked them, and marinated them for a couple of hours in thyme, toasted fennel seed, parsley, red pepper flakes, garlic and olive oil. Then I roasted them for ten minutes - yummy! With the left overs I made crab cakes - equally delicious.

Later in the week I went to 'Range' (www.rangesf.com) My friend Elizabeth's adorable boyfriend, Jeff, is a bartender there. He made us a gin drink with lemon verbena and egg whites called 'The Fizz'. We had a smoked trout appetizer with pea tendrils, satsuma oranges, and roasted golden beets. We also had pumpkin sage raviolis. For my entree I had duck breast with Brussels sprouts and a wild mushroom crepe - oh yeah! I didn't need dessert but it came anyway: a quince tart with creame fraiche - to die for.

The next night I went out with the girls to 'Nopalitos'. Nopa means north of the panhandle. Nopalitos is their baby Latin restaurant. Unfortunately, I didn't eat all my duck the night before and made a duck and avocado sandwich. The sauce that came with it was better than mayonnaise. It spoiled my appetite for dinner. I wanted to have the pork enchilado appetizer with two types of chiles and queso fresco, but my tummy only had room for the goat in the mole sauce. It was beyond my expectations with their delicious organic corn tortillas. I couldn't even manage a bite of the pozole or the carnitas my friends were having. Everyone else said I was missing out since it was so wonderful.

Last night I went to one of my favorite restaurants, 'Beretta', (www.berettasf.com). Last time I was here I went there three times and each time I had lardo. Lardo (like it sounds) and foie gras are what I would eat every day if I was skinny and rich. I manage to get someone else to treat me every time I go here. Last night my cousin, Catha and her husband, Ron, took me. I had lardo to myself since they were both concerned about their cholesterol levels. We also had: fava bean crostini (I told you before that I make a better one but if you didn't have mine you'd think this was the best), chicken liver pate, carbonato, mixed beet salad, gnocchi, rocket with parmesan cheese, wintergreens with persimmons and pomegranates.

Tomorrow Nick and Kathy are taking me to 'Flour and Water' - tune in for that because it is the hip spot to go. I'll let you know if it is worth it.