Dan Chew

24/02/2024

I think I have tried everything on offer at over the years, but this may be the best thing I have ever had here. Melts cheese (Gruyère?), yellow squash, courgette, and red pepper on their impossibly flaky pastry crust. This was as delicate as their signature butter croissant, but still savory and satisfying.
While lacking the charm of the original the Civic Center location was non-stop busy and perfect for a pre-theater snack.

22/11/2023

One of favorite “hidden gems” in the Bay is El Chaparro in Richmond., CA. They are known for their barbacoa borrego estilo Hidalgo. The lamb is tender and succulent with a mildly gamey lamb flavor without too much funk. I got the barbacoa plate which comes with rice, beans, a little salad and homemade tortillas (5 pieces). The portion was more than generous and comes with all the fixings; chopped onions & cilantro, limon and green and roasted salsas. Because it was cold out, I got a small consome for sipping too. Great flavor and not too salty or oily like some. Check them out!

22/09/2023

Great anniversary dinner last night at Chez Panisse Cafe. Zucchini, squash blossom and gremolata pizza, tomato soup with Indian spices, grilled quail with red polenta & figs, halibut with Provençal tomato, pork loin with tapenade, coconut ice cream with a ridiculous bittersweet chocolate sauce & candied coconut, Dapple a dandy & Emerald Beaut pluot galette and vanilla Kirsch cream puff with strawberries l great food and even better service! A fantastic experience!

06/08/2023

Ran into Alex at Home Depot. Super cool dude, and look out for big news coming from him and very soon! They have been doing big this in the Bay for a minute, and I can’t wait to see the next chapter. Stay tuned and make sure to support this small, local, AAPI owned (and delicious) company!

06/09/2022

Had a great time on a private Chinatown food tour this weekend with Mele, Sarah and Kai. Thanks for being so adventurous , engaged and hungry. Had some great food, met some great folks and spent the day walking, talking and eating… a perfect Sunday!

03/07/2022

Had dinner tonight at one of favorite sushi spots in the Bay Area, Sushi Sam’s in San Mateo before they close for vacation July3-13. Pictured are Kibinsgo (baby sardine), Super Sam Special (tempura shrimp with avocado hand roll), a deliciously fatty Toro, Spider Roll (tempura soft-shell crab), Unagi hand roll, Negihama maki ( albacore and green onion), Chili Dog (spicy tuna hand roll), Umimasu (Ocean trout with onion). Service was super as usual, headed by the gregarious Sam and our old pal Kenny.

03/07/2022

01/07/2022

I’ve had some pretty good hot dogs or Frank’s in my day….. NYC, Chicago , LA, even Seattle (cream cheese and grilled onions? Yes please!), but the one that is closest to my heart (and belly) is Top Dog in Berkeley. There are still several locations, but the old-school shack on Durant is the one I’ve been going to for more years than I care to admit. All the sausages are good, but my go-to order is a Top Dog and a Garlic dog topped with chopped onion, Russian Hot mustard and warm sauerkraut. If you know of a better dog in the Bay, please let me know in the comments!

04/05/2022

Great weekday brunch at the UTR Just For You Cafe in the Dogpatch. Never had a bad meal here. This time had the Hangtown Fry (with the cornmeal crusted fried oysters on the outside), a super tasty Carnitas Omelette with fresh pico do Gallo, avocado and sour cream, Low Country chicken & waffle with country gravy, and a flight of beignets (cinnamon sugar, traditional and chocolate sauces). Highly recommend for a low-key neighborhood spot with great food and friendly service. Pro tip: pull up, put your name & number on the ipad waiting list, then look for parking. They will text you a few minutes before your table is ready, which will give you time to look for parking, which can get tough on the weekends. #

22/04/2022

Finally got a chance to stop by Dumpling Home on Gough in Hayes Valley. Delicious pan-fried Juicy Pork bao,, Dan Dan mein, Pork XLB, Boiled pork and Napa cabbage dumplings and Soybean noodle salad. It’s usually packed night and weekends, so if you get a chance to go during the week, you should beat the crowds. One of the better of the new-wave du@piling houses.

28/03/2022

Great Sunday brunch in the Wine Country at I Yountville. Spinach salad with smoked salmon, red onions, capers and croutons with Dill Ranch dressing, their famous fried chicken with bacon and chive waffles and Hoc sauce, Corned beef hash with poached eggs and Oatmeal cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

27/03/2022

For a unique twist on traditional English afternoon tea, check out in Alameda. The sweets included a Pandan sponge cake, pineapple panna cotta and strawberry mousse in a chocolate shell. The scones had a flaky, yet tender and crisp texture , and are served with a housemad clotted cream (!) and lime curd. They tea list is carefully curated, but I had to go with the pulled tea, since it was a Malaysian inspired place. They started with a savory canapé- seasoned whipped potatoes with fish roe on a rice cracker. The sandwiches were tasty and some of the most unique I have tried. My faves were the kaya (coconut jam) and butter and the Southeast Asian-style sardine prepared in tomato sauce, calamansi and red onion. The curried chicken, bitter marmalade and butter and turkey, Brie and fig preserves were also standouts. We also tried the chicken apple salad, smoked salmon with chive cream cheese, Malaysian pork belly jerky and meat floss with basil spread. The decor is reminiscent of Malaysia circa 1920. Highly recommend this spot!

11/03/2022

Was in the area yesterday, so had to stop by the homie in South City for a late lunch. Legit fish tacos and of course the OG birria tacos. Believe it or not, these are STILL my favorite wuesabirria anywhere, and if you know me, you know I’ve had a lot in my day. Great food, super cool family run small business, catch them if you can, you won’t be sorry! If it’s your first time, tell Chris that Dan sent you!

21/02/2022

Nice dinner with our fam from Folsom out in the Richmond at Dragon Beaux. Had the Five Guys XLB (from top right: black truffle with squid ink skin, juicy pork with natural skin, kale with spinach skin, beef with beet skin and crab roe with turmeric skin); Spinach beef shiu mai, jumbo scallop shou mai; roast duck; “Sand storm fire Dungeness crab; dry fried chicken wings; stir-fried green beans with diced meat, and shrimp fried rice.

05/01/2022

For a sweet treat while you are near Disneyland, check out Joe’s Italian Ice. They feature Philly style Italian water ice made with fresh fruit as well as premium soft serve shipped in from Pennsylvania. Lines are usually pretty long all day, but they move fast. Here is the Mango Tango flavor, and you can also get it as a Joe Latti- half Italian Ice and half soft serve. Fruity and smooth with the consistency of a very fine slurpee almost. The flavors were bright and not overly sweet or artificial tasting.

13/11/2021

Sad to say goodby to the , our home away from home on Maui! Only in town for a quick trip for a wedding, but a nice reminder of why we always stay at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel while on Maui. Of course , you expect the clean spacious room, and the little touches like the massive smart TVs with streaming and the rainfall shower head are nice, but the Aloha spirit in the people here make you feel like ohana. Mahalo to Anela, Malahini , RJ and the rest of the KBH team for always making us feel welcome.

10/11/2021

A trip to Maui is not complete without a stop at . Not only the best pies on the island, but the friendliest staff around! Breakfast of Lilikoi chiffon pie, Olowalu lime pie, Chocolate Mac nut pie, banana cream pie and a delicious chicken pot pie served up with Aloha by the sweet (and humble) Gisele! Gotta try this place if you visit Maui.
❣

10/11/2021

Great night last night at the . Things have changed slightly since my last visit- the buffet has been replaced by a 5 -course dinner (AYCE), but the food was still delicious, the bottomless cocktails string, and ambience was perfect and the show still highly educational and entertaining. meal started with kalo and sweet potato chips with kalo hummus, and fresh pineapple with black lava salt. Following the salad were the Hawaiian dishes: pua’a kalua (traditional imu-roasted pig), ahi poke, lau lau, lomilomi salmon and pa’i’ai. Next came the main course of braised beef with truffled mushrooms, pan seared mahi mahi, grilled barbecued chicken breast with a mango barbecue glaze and. Roasted island grown vegetables. The dessert course was pineapple upside down cake, kilotons (grated taro root steamed with sweet coconut, haupia and house made ice cream. you haven’t gone, I’d highly recommend this luau!

08/11/2021

Today’s lunch at the beach… half pound Shoyu Pole from Foodland and a Hawaiian Plate from Nagasaki Okazayu Deli in Lahaina. Lau lau, lomi salmon, two scoops rice, sweet potato and haupia. Great deal at $12!

08/11/2021

Just touched down at OGG, and you already know my first stop…Zippy’s for the Zip Pac Deluxe! #

07/11/2021

Last meal before heading back to Maui…. Dinner at Tselogs. One order of Shanghai, chicken sisig and Pares silog combo and finished off with a slice or Buko pie. If you haven’t tried the Pares, it is beef braised in soy sauce with onion, star anise and ginger, similar to Chinese beef stew. Cool folks too!

03/10/2021

Fantastic meal with my buddy Charlie at Chef new Miller and Lux in the Chase Center. The truffled deviled eggs were the best I’ve had (and check out the vintage-inspired serve ware), the California Caesar salad tossed table side was a bright, citrusy take on a classic Caesar featuring organically grown lettuce cut from the plant at your table, preserved Meyer lemon, Spanish anchovies and melt-in-your mouth super thinly sliced Croutons (Firebrand bread I think), the filet with bordelaise AND beeaise was over the top, and my now favorite burger in the City, displacing the one from Wayfare Tavern. I didn’t save room for dessert, but the complimentary pate au fruits were just enough for me. Great service from the warm and friendly staff, and they seem to have the details all worked out already. I’ll be back to try the sole which is deboned tableside(so old school, you rarely see this anymore). Thanks Chef Tyler for you hospitality and graciousness!

23/09/2021

Had a chance to catch up with the homie Chris at his pop-up at the Bus Stop Bar on Union, and had the delicious double fried Honey Garlic wings! These were jumbo , meaty wings with crispy skin and a unique sweet/savory sauce. I’ve been enjoying his food since he was cooking out of the garage and now he has his own truck! Make sure to catch him when you can… his quesabirria is the best I have had anywhere ( including SF, Oakland, Richmond AND Several places in Mexico!). Check out his schedule .

11/09/2021

That jiggle…original soufflé pancakes at Gram.

26/08/2021

It’s been too long since I last had the roasted garlic crab at Thanh Long! Still as delicious as ever, but had to get the shaking beef, garlic noodles and the sea bass as well. As if that wasn’t enough, had the fried bananas with vanilla bean gelato to finish.

22/08/2021

Had a delicious dinner at tonight featuring the Sonora style enchiladas (chicken enchiladas in a tomato-cilantro broth with a fried egg) which dates from 1923, my favorite, the seasonal Green Tamales(fresh corn off the cob, Ortega chiles , cheddar cheese steamed in it’s own husk) also from 1923, and a decent Chile Verde with Nopalitos. The Green Tamales were spectacular, with the sweet, light & fluffy masa steamed perfectly around the fragrant Chile and melted cheese! Get it when it’s available!

10/08/2021

Stopped by for a late night boba for the kid at the newish Lilikoi SF on Fillmore in Cow Hollow. Great concept with island-inspired flavors featuring cold brew teas on tap. Got the ube horchata, lilikoi black tea and the house milk tea with house cream. If you are near Shake Shack, stop@by and say hi to Andrew and Leo!

26/07/2021

Great lunch yesterday with my buddy Charlie at the a Wayfare Tavern. The Tavern Burger (with a sunny-side up egg) is one of the best burgers in the City! The organic fried chicken, New England lobster boil deviled eggs and buttermilk fried artichokes were delicious too. Great looking spot with great service too.

23/07/2021

If you ever travel to Maui and want to stay at a place that doesn’t feel like every other hotel in any city, check out the Kaanapalu Beach Hotel. The is our favorite place to stay because not only are the rooms huge with great views (check out the shots from my balcony), there is plenty of parking, they have large smart TV’s, and most importantly, all the staff treat you with such aloha that you feel like you are part of their ohana. Their slogan is “Hawaii’s Most Hawaiian Hotel”, and I can’t argue with that. Still having withdrawals from returning home 3 weeks ago, but happy to be heading back there in November, and staying at the ! This is not a sponsored post, but I feel that strongly about this place that everytume I visit Maui, I will be back here to collect another white kukui nut to add to my lei!

08/07/2021

One of the best dessert spots on Maui is Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop in Olowalu. Try the Olowalu Lime, chocolate macadamia, fresh strawberry, chocolate haupia or pineapple macadamia, you can’t go wrong with any! Pro tip, their chicken pot pie (not pictured) is one of the best you will eat anywhere! They are currently takeout only, an while you are there, check out the smoothies truck and fruit stand in the adjoins parking lot.