Mmm, bacon + pesto = NOMS! This was delicious and why didn’t I think of this first?! $3
Jake’s, Palm Springs CA
Birba “B” sign a couple doors down from Jake’s.
Basil pesto bacon – Jake’s
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Tag Archives: basil
Pho do bien – Hometown Noodle 2
Seafood noodle soup with prawns, fish balls, and squid, accompanied with a plate of bean sprouts, basil leaves, lime wedge, and sliced jalapenos. Large $7.95
Hometown Noodle 2, San Bruno CA
This tasted pretty good, but they were definitely skimpy with the seafood. You got two pieces of each if you count that the fish balls were cut in half. Meh.
Purple blazing star or prairie gay feather flowers (Liatris spicata, Asteraceae), West Field Road. It’s always interesting to post flower pics on this blog because that’s usually when I find out what the actual names are. I can usually get them to at least the family level before I have to do additional research, but there are just way too many ornamentals out there! 🙂
Combination seafood with spicy basil – Thai House Express
Sauteed shrimp, squid, and scallop with onions, chili, carrot, bell pepper and basil leaves. A la carte $13.95
Thai House Express, San Francisco CA
I like the flavors in there, but the squid was a bit overcooked so it was tough to chew. The service also tends to be inconsistent. It ranges from the most attentive service to having to flag down the waiter depending on the night.
Salvia “Hot Lips” (Salvia microphylla, Lamiaceae). I love the vibrant red and white flowers of this plant (Baby sage, Graham’s sage, Blackcurrant sage).
Basil tilapia – Basil Thai Restaurant
Lightly floured, deep fried tilapia fillets, topped with vegetables, stir-fry sauce, side of carrots, cabbage, and lettuce. $16.95
Basil Thai Restaurant, Charleston SC
Mmm, this was very tasty! Having traveled through Thailand, I think I can say that this wasn’t authentic Thai food, but it certainly had a lot of flavor and was nicely prepared.
View from the Rooftop Bar at the Vendue Inn. You can see Saint Michael’s Episcopal Church in the distance.
Duck roasted on the bone – McCrady’s Restaurant
Allium, sumac and African blue basil. 4 course dinner $60
McCrady’s Restaurant, Charleston SC
There were so many components to this dish, but all I could think was, “Where’s the bone?” I guess it doesn’t say that the duck is actually served with it, but the “bone” is so prominent on the menu description that I just assumed it would be. Along with the cut of roasted duck breast is a seared tower of duck thighs! I actually preferred the thighs, lol, but the breast was perfectly cooked and very flavorful as well. I enjoyed that they included all parts of the allium prepared in different ways, the grilled bulbs were SO sweet and delicious! The white rice and onion sauce was on the boring side, but the duck reduction(?) was delicious. This dish is one the heavy side, so pace yourself! Hehe.
McCrady’s sign in front of the restaurant. The restaurant entrance is located in a small alley just south of the Market area, don’t miss it!
Pizza margherita – Pizzeria Delfina
Tomato, fior di latte mozzarella cheese, basil. $13
Pizzeria Delfina, San Francisco CA
I love, love, love the pizzas at Pizzeria Delfina! Their crust is so light, airy and flavorful and their sauce tastes amazing. They must use great quality ingredients because no matter how simple the pizza may be, it’s always spectacular. The service is always friendly (not so much when they first opened) and I love sitting at an outside table and people watching.
7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
Breadsticks, chili flakes, grated parmesan, dried oregano leaves. Complimentary
Dolores Hidalgo church bell replica, Dolores Park. This park is one of my favorites in the city, partly because it’s so close to my apartment. My doggie loves running around and playing fetch at Dolores Park too.
British chicken, tomato and basil pasta – Waitrose
Penne pasta with sliced chicken breast tossed in a tomato and basil sauce. £2
Waitrose, London ENGLAND
Ew, this was gross! I wasn’t a fan of how this pasta was executed. You would think that tomato and basil is a standard Italian combination, but I guess that making it British-style ruined it. The texture and flavor didn’t sit well with me. I could only eat a few bites before trying to pawn it off on other people.
Baby dragon stone wall sconce, Westminster Abbey. The outside of this Gothic church has great decorations and stone work.
Pasta all’ matriciana – Ristorante Romano
Rigatoni pasta, tomato based sauce made with smoked bacon, onions, tomatoes, and red chilies with basil and parsley. €13
Ristorante Romano, Dublin IRELAND
This was one of the weirdest Italian restaurants I’ve even been to. All the workers were Asian which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I will say that the food certainly had some Asian flare. They even offer sriracha as a condiment for your meal. This pasta tasted ok – I liked the deep smokey flavor of the sauce and the bite of the rigatoni. But OMG, can you make a pasta this greasy!!! I was actually disgusted. Granted I was starving so I ate everything, but I was still grossed out by what I found at the bottom of the bowl. I’ve never seen that much grease separate from a pasta dish before!
St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We didn’t get a chance to walk inside, but this is a beautiful church from the outside especially looking at it from St. Patrick’s Park. The tulips were in full bloom!
Boquerones – Firefly
Spanish white anchovies on toasts with roast red pepper, yellow pepper vin, avocado, basil chiffonade, olive oil. $5.50
Firefly, Las Vegas NV
Mmm, I love white anchovies! They are SO flavorful and Firefly does a great job topping them with even more delicious ingredients. I just wish the bread was a little more toasted – these were limp and soggy.
Pineapple basil mojito – Grand Lux Cafe
Bacardi Superior and Cruzan pineapple rums, mint, basil, pineapple, lime.
Grand Lux Cafe, Las Vegas NV
This was funky tasting. I don’t know if I like the pineapple-basil-mint combination. It just didn’t work for me, and there was barely any cocktail in this thing. Oh well, never know unless you try!
Housemade Pimm’s Cup – Starbelly
Served over ice and garnished with cucumber and basil. $8
Starbelly, San Francisco CA
Wow, I love the presentation! The longitudinal slice of cucumber looks really pretty especially with the basil leaves peeking through. And the Pimm’s Cup tasted great, very refreshing!
Jungle mosaic mural, 24th and York Street Mini Park. This is such a cute mini park and the artwork is so colorful and fun!
Jake’s spaghetti and meatballs – Jake’s on Market
Beef, pork and veal meatballs slow-cooked in a tomato basil sauce. $14.50
Jake’s on Market, San Francisco CA
Another definite comfort food. The meatballs were super juicy and the sauce was delicious! I liked that they didn’t go overboard with the amount of pasta.
Extra grated parmesan cheese.
Large hen-and-chicks plants (Echeveria sp., Crassulaceae), Dolores Street. I love the dramatic, upright inflorescence.
Vittle Monster 