Shishito peppers – Hog & Rocks

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Shishito peppers Hog & Rocks

Pan fried shishito peppers with sea salt.  $6
Hog & Rocks, San Francisco

They give you quite a lot of peppers for six dollars!  I’ve heard that one out of ten peppers is HOT, but this plate had a much higher percentage of hot peppers.  They weren’t too spicy, just hot enough to surprise you every time.  Shishito peppers have such a great flavor, and they’re longer than, say, padron peppers so they’re funner to eat.  I like the padron flavor better, though.  These shishitos were very good, but maybe a bit too greasy.

Cocktails – Hog & Rocks

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Tom Collins Hog & Rocks

Tom Collins: Gordon’s gin, lemon, simple syrup, soda, garnished with lemon slice and cherry.  $6 happy hour

Dark & Stormy Hog & Rocks

Dark & Stormy: Coruba dark rum, bundaberg ginger beer, lime juice, garnished with lime slice.  $6 happy hour
Hog & Rocks, San Francisco

Have I ever mentioned that I love happy hour, lol!  These drinks were particularly delicious, and even more so at the discounted prices.  The Tom Collins was refreshing and light while the Dark & Stormy was dark and had a great ginger flavor.  I also love it when drinks are served tall (they last longer)!

Shucker’s dozen – Hog & Rocks

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Shucker's dozen Hog & Rocks

I believe these were Baywater Sweet oysters from Hood Canal in Washington State.  Served with a mignonette and lemon wedges.  Being originally from Washington, I say “Noms!”  Actually, I’m not a big raw oyster fan but I’ve got a sense of native pride to upload, hehe.  These were pretty large and you can’t complain about the great happy hour price!  $18 happy hour
Hog & Rocks, San Francisco

Kamikaze roll – Tokyo Go-Go

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Kamikaze roll Tokyo Go-Go

Spicy tuna, albacore, asparagus, scallion, and garlic ponzu.  $12.95
Tokyo Go-Go, San Francisco

I wasn’t blown away by this roll.  The spicy tuna wasn’t spicy enough for my taste.  Compared to the Azteca roll, this barely had any heat.  Everything just blended together so the flavors got muddled.  I couldn’t taste the garlic ponzu at all.  I’m not saying that this roll tasted bad, but the ingredients list was so appetizing that I expected more.

Shima aji nigiri – Tokyo Go Go

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Shima aji nigiri Tokyo Go Go

Spanish white mackerel slices over sushi rice, with pickled ginger and wasabi.  $6.50
Tokyo Go-Go, San Francisco

This was on their nightly special list so we decided to try it.  The waitress told us it was Spanish white mackerel.  I’m not sure if that’s correct because Googling “shima aji” comes up with many different results, none of which are for Spanish white mackerel.  This just adds to my frustration with the use of common names in communicative nomenclature, but that’s for another blog – lol!  Whatever we ate, I really liked it!  The shima aji wasn’t fishy tasting at all.  It had quite a firm texture and a mellow flavor.  I loved the peach color that gradated to a bright pinkish red.

Grilled Hokkaido scallops – Tokyo Go-Go

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Grilled Hokkaido scallops Tokyo Go-Go

With citrus soy butter sauce, tobiko, and wasabi oil.  $14
Tokyo Go-Go, San Francisco

This was such a beautiful dish!  It’s hard to see the grilled scallops beneath all that foamy sauce and tobiko, but it’s there and it’s delicious!  A bit on the small side, but you do get five them.  I’m not sure what the leafy green garnish was, but like most random garnishes, it neither added nor detracted from the overall flavor.  I did like the pop of green, though.  I also wish I could have tasted the wasabi oil more because that would’ve added a nice punch to everything.  The scallops were cooked perfectly and had such a soft buttery texture.  A winning dish!

Cosmopolitan – Tokyo Go-Go

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Cosmopolitan Tokyo Go-Go

Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and fresh lime.
Tokyo Go-Go, San Francisco

I know that cosmopolitan cocktails have been relegated to “girly drink” status, but I don’t care!  I enjoy the sweet, tangy flavor of this vodka classic.  And who can complain when you can get it for happy hour prices!?  Heck yeah!

Azteca roll – Tokyo Go-Go

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Azteca roll Tokya Go Go

Spicy crab, cucumber, avocado, gobo, lightly seared suzuki, sliced chiles, chili aioli, tobiko, and scallions.  $14.25
Tokyo Go-Go, San Francisco

Wow, this roll was frickin’ amazing!  I loved the heat from all the spicy components, and it looked pretty cool too.  I thought I would experience Montezuma’s revenge afterward, but I didn’t – hehe!  The lightly seared sea bass tasted great and had a great texture.  The chili aioli was so flavorful and I loved the pale yellow color of it.  The sliced chiles added extra heat and flavor.  Not sure I could really distinguished the gobo (burdock root), but I actually didn’t know what it was when I ordered the roll.  I will definitely order this delicious roll again!

Azteca roll Tokyo Go Go

Chocolate hazelnut croissant – La Boulange de Noe

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Chocolate hazelnut croissant La Boulange de Noe

I’ve been on a chocolate and hazelnut kick lately, which isn’t a bad thing.  These flavors are delicious and simply amazing together.  This is my favorite croissant at La Boulange and I get it often – I’m a pig, I know!  My only gripe is that the sliver of chocolate inside is kinda small and is always pushed off to one side.  I wish there was more of it and evenly distributed.  Other than that, this croissant always makes me smile.  $2.75
La Boulange de Noe, San Francisco

Chocolate hazelnut croissant La Boulange de Noe

Nutella & Raspberry macarons – La Boulange de Noe

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Nutella Raspberry macarons La Boulange de Noe

I’ve made it my personal mission to try all the different macaron flavors I come across, lol!  La Boulange has a colorful array of flavors displayed in their pastry case and they look absolutely beautiful.  I loved the nutella macaron – it was dark, nutty, and not too sweet.  The chocolate hazelnut flavor was prominent but not overpowering, and the chopped hazelnut bits on the outside were cute and provided a great texture.  The raspberry macaron was a bit of a disappointment.  It was too soft and almost disintegrated upon the touch.  I guess I don’t like my macarons that flimsy.  $1.50 each
La Boulange de Noe, San Francisco

Nutella macaron La Boulange de Noe

Nutella macaron

Raspberry macarons La Boulange de Noe

Raspberry macaron

Chicharrones – 4505 Meats

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Chicharrones 4505 Meats

Deep fried pork skins seasoned with chili, sugar and salt.  $3.50
4505 Meats, San Francisco

WOW, these things are SO flavorful and addicting!  I grew up in a traditional Filipino household so I’ve had my share of chicharrones, but these are like none I’ve ever tasted.  They are so light and pillowy and they practically melt in your mouth to form a sticky, caramelly substance that you have to pick out from between your teeth.  Absolutely amazing!  I quickly ate an entire bag in one sitting and could have easily devoured a couple more bags afterward.  I can taste them in my mouth as I write this – they’re THAT good!

7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2010

Lamb shawerma – Truly Mediterranean

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Lamb Shawerma Truly Mediterranean

Thin marinated slices of lamb and beef, broiled tomatoes, parsley, seasoned onions, tahini sauce, hot sauce and wrapped in a grilled lavash.
Truly Mediterranean, San Francisco

The shawerma at Truly Mediterranean are SO big and SO yummy!  The meat is tender and flavorful, and I love the meaty broiled tomato wedges.  The seasonings they put on everything is so good, as is the tahini sauce.  I always agree to add the hot sauce, but it’s not very hot.  So for those who need the heat, don’t expect much.  Regardless, this wrap is very delicious and will definitely fill you up.  The guys at the 16th Street store are very friendly and helpful.  It’s a tiny shop with a stand up counter and a couple sidewalk tables.  I don’t go there for the ambiance, I go for the food!

7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die

Lamb shawerma - Truly Mediterranean//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js
April 5, 2015. $9.99