Osha Thai @ SF

I think I did a post on Osha Thai a few years ago, but I think it merits another update, especially when pictures are taken with my new Nikon P300. Osha Thai is just as delicious as before, and prices are typical of SOMA.  Honestly, Thai food should not be that expensive.  A bowl of curry should be $6 at most, because in the motherland it's probably $1 if not less! But just like all the other southeast asian food that exists in the states, there's always a markup. Quite sad really. Regardless, Osha Thai is a good place to get thai food if you're in the area, the dishes are a good size, and it's pretty authentic.

Duck Curry

this is ohhh soo good, but it is also ohhh so spciy. you see that red sauce that the duck is sitting in? well that will hurt going in as well as going out. however, it's quite amazing, just need a giant bowl of rice to go with it. best part of the duck? completely deboned! so this is a date friendly food, you don't have to worry about picking out bones as you eat in front of your date

 Pad See Eww

super flavorful and fresh (definitely can taste the fish sauce) but the beef was a little tough, i think they overcooked it

Blue Bottle Coffee @ SF

A pure San Francisco staple! If you're ever in San Francisco, or just hankering for a great cup of coffee without the fuss head to Blue Bottle Coffee.  There is usually a line, but it is totally worth the wait.  The coffee tastes just like coffee is supposed to, there's no burn taste, it's robust, full flavor and full bodied. The snacks and plates that they offer are great too. I love how their bread is from Acme Bakery, oh so yum! Just grab a friend, newspaper, magazine, book, ipad or your kindle and enjoy a nice cup of joe :)

Latte

i <3 coffee art, and blue bottle is amazing at doing coffee art, they pour the coffee and milk somehow, where the milk eventually floats to the top then voila art!

 Girbraltar 

it is so strong but still drinkable. comes in a little shot glass

 Poached Eggs over Kale and other Veggies w. Parmesean Cheese and Tomato Sauce

super healthy breakfast, but definitely sticks to your ribs. eggs were cooked perfectly, but not a fan of the greens

 Croque Monsieur

yummy. i love love love the bread, it was perfect. the gruyere and black forest ham was a great compliment, and a little mustard tops it all. great with girbraltar 

Rocco's Cafe @ SOMA

Last lunch near 7th and Mission. T-Rex, 7:30, Blueberries and I decided to have lunch together at Rocco's Cafe. The three block radius around the courthouse does not provide very many culinary options, and while Miss Saigon down the block is pretty decent, we didn't want to go there today because of the bad service yesterday (T-Rex, 7:30 and I waited 25 minutes to be seated, and never got seated, while at the same time there was two empty tables).

I remember watching Rocco's Cafe on "Diners, Drive Inns and Dives" on the Food Network, and the food looked pretty tasty. When we walked in the place was definitely really busy with the lunch rush. It's a pretty small places, and definitely is unique. The walls are filled with old pictures, articles and random memorabilia. The food was really good, or at least mine was. I think it's safe to say that the other dishes were pretty good too because the guys ate it all, but it could also be a guy thing to not waste food. The pasta portions were huge, and I couldn't finish my plate. I tried, but if I did finish it...I would have comatosed all afternoon.

7:30 - garlic sauteed scallops over fetuccini
he ate it ALL! 7:30 doesn't waste food...good asian

Blueberries - Petrale Sole with Veggies
penguins love fish, and this fish looked mighty yummy. blueberries is going on a 6 month trip to asia, this penguin is jealous of all the scrumptious food he gets to try.

T-Rex - Angel Hair Pasta with Grilled Chicken
T-rex does what T-rex does best...he ordered something that reminded him the most of pterodactyl, and ate it in record speed. I don't think t-rex was quite satisfied, because he kept looking out the window...maybe he saw a raptor that caught his attention?

Me - Sauteed Sausage in Garlic Bolognese with Penne
this was AMAZING, and so full of flavor. i tasted the garlic, the basil, the tomato, the spicyness, cheesyness, etc...it was all there. now i need to learn how to re-create this, if it's even possible! i definitely recommend this pasta dish if you ever come here. however the big question is whether this would pass panda's standards of italian food because he did spend 6 months in italy. as delicious as it was, the portion was huge and i could not finish it...but i did eat more than half, i think.

Courthouse Cafe @ 9th Circuit

If you're ever on 7th and Mission, and you don't know what to eat...and honestly can't see anything that could possibly be edible or sanitary, enter the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Obviously, it's only open Monday through Friday from 9am-5pm, but inside lies the Courthouse Cafe. The Courthouse Cafe feeds the staff attorneys, judges, clerks, US marshalls, docketing indiv etc (all other employees within the four walls) that fear what they will find if they step outside the doors. This morning, T-Rex, 7:30 and I decided to have one final breakfast together. We got the breakfast sandwich, however I added strawberry jam to mine. Sweet and salty...it's a really good combination, try it!

Breakfast Sandwich
[eggs, cheddar cheese, ham, and strawberry jam all inside a toasted english muffin]
this can be easily re-created at home, and i'm sure all of you know how to assemble one, but of course it is time consuming, especially when one is rushing out the door in the morning. t-rex managed to finish this whole thing in 45 seconds...man that dino can eat

Osha Thai @ SOMA

After drinks at John Colins we headed over to Osha Thai, which is only half a block away. We actually went in here earlier, but they didn't have a happy hour and we wanted some drinks first - hence going to a bar first. After a couple drinks, we were getting hungry and got some delicious thai food. From the looks of the website (of course I studied the menu meticulously before actually arriving at this place) this restaurant looks like a small chain around the city; there's one on Union Street, Embarcadero, Mission, Diamond St, and Geary. The idea of a thai chain restaurant around the city reminds me of King of Thai, however Osha is by no means a King of Thai. Osha outshines King of Thai. King of Thai is at the bottom of the thai cuisine, and Osha...well after tonight is rising up in the ladder.

The decor is very modern, and obviously attracts the yuppie and bougie crowd. I defnitely noticed some people who were at John Colins who also went to Osha for dinner. The menu is reasonably priced. Remember it attracts the yuppie/bougie crowd and it's in Soma. I was impressed with my Duck Curry, T-rex seemed to like his thai basil (i'm sure he was thinking it was brontosaurus) and 7:30 said his pad thai was alright. I feel like this place would be a repeater for me, and that says a lot.

7:30 - Pad Thai
he ate this with rice...so asian..hehe

big portions...or at least i feel that way

T-Rex: Brontosaurus...just kidding. Spicy Basil with Beef
this past summer T-rex has always been the first one to finish eating. he literally devours food like a t-rex should...or enhales, it's gone in a matter of seconds. however, tonight i do believe that 7:30 finished first, then me...and then t-rex. he lost his game? didn't taste like the brontosaurus like mama t-rex makes it?

me: duck curry
[roasted duck breast with pineapple and tomatoes in red curry sauce]
this was AMAZING, and delicious, and scrumptious, and i wanted to just drink and eat it all. however, in all honesty i almost didn't finish it...but i mustered up the courage. the skin on the duck was crispy, the curry wasn't overpowered by coconut milk like it is at most thai restaurants, the tomatoes were not completely cooked through - just the way i like it, and well the sauce could just be poured over the rice over and over, with each kernel of rice soaking up all the flavors. panda we gotta come back!

i eat my small portions: some rice, sauce, two pieces of duck, and tomatoes. eat..and repeat with another serving

John Colins @ SOMA

Me, T-Rex and 7:30 (externs @ 9th circuit) went out tonight after work. We were celebrating. We just finished our last presentation yesterday in front of the judges, and well drinks were definitely well deserved to us. It was our extern outing. Yes it looks quite funny: a penguin (sniper), a t-rex and 7:30 going out into the city after work, but hey without either of us this summer the dynamic would have been completely different at the office, and most definitely not as much fun. We stopped over at John Colins on 2nd and Natomas in the SOMA. Like most places, the outsides doesn't look too attractive, but you walk in and about 2-3 feets you'll find that it is a pretty chill place. There isn't really a name for the crowd that comes in here, so this place doesn't fit into a neat little category. However, what you will notice is that the drinks have a somewhat hawaiian theme and there are oil paintings of pitbulls. Quite interesting.

Sweet Leilani
[mixture of sake, pomegranate juice...and two other things]
i don't remember what exactly went into it, but it was GREAT. when i say great it is great because i taste no alcohol, but definitely felt it and i took every last sip without having to make the face where the alcohol flavor stays on my tongue.

Tony Baloneys @ SOMA

I have been to this place three times during my time at the 9th circuit, and of those three times 2 times my stomach and Tony did not agree, and even the other time it was not great. All I have to say is STAY AWAY! If you decide to eat here, or end up coming here because there is nothing in the area, do not...I repeat DO NOT get the chicken salad under ANY circumstances. I am sorry there are no pictures to show of the sandwich that I had for lunch today. But I can tell you in all certainty that the sandwich did not last in this penguin's stomach for very long. There will be no more Tony Baloney's in this penguin's future.