Incanto - redux

Okay, it's been a while, but i still wanted to mention a dining experience we had way back in San Fran.
We went to Incanto again, this time with Jenifer's parents and her Mom's cousin Liz and her husband John.
Now, we had lots of recommends of places we hadn't tried yet (thanks Billy and Andrea Robb - who actually made some calls and internet requests on our behalf), but we weren't sure what the plans were going to be until pretty late notice, and we were trying to find something on the right side of town for Kathy's cousins who live in Mountain View, so they didn't have to add another 20 minutes to their drive. I was itching to try A16, which happened to be right by our hotel, but they didn't have reses for 6 at a time that worked, and we weren't really willing to chance it at a walk-in table (they have designated walk-in tables; also ruled out SPQR, their sister restaurant, which doesn't take resevations).
All other top options being exhausted I called Incanto (if you have to eat somewhere twice, it might as well be the one that's know for its use of offal). Just-a-by-chance they had just had a cancellation for 6 at 8pm. Rejoice.
Now, amongst other things to make this a memorable meal, I got to eat Porchetta di Testa, the Expo suggested the venison ribs when I took a short poll on the way to the men's room and we got to to try another Masciarelli wine, the Marina Cvetic Montepulciano, which was great.
So after the meal we're waiting for our cab in the lobby and I see some gentlemen about to leave. Hmmm, that guy looks like Nathan Petrelli. Wow, he's hanging out with a guy that looks like Peter Petrelli, that's odd. Holy Shit - that's Hiro Nakamura!!!
Before I could stop myself I yelped "Hiro!" half (one quarter) under my breath, but still hoping he might hear. Thankfully they didn't even pause.
Normally I would scoff at someone approaching a movie or tv star with their character's name, but they were all hanging out together!!
Isn't that kind of weird?
Also, truthfully, I have no idea what those actors names' are. And I was a little drunk.

Graffiti watch: Albany Waterfront Trail

My sister Jen likes graffiti a lot, so I took a bunch of Pictures at the Albany Waterfront trail, where Lucy & I went while the Subaru was getting serviced.
(They dropped us off in a dealer shuttle, saying we could get a ride back if Lucy didn't go swimming. We all know how that ended. It wasn't too bad a walk back though.)

So this portion of the Bay trail was all fill, so there's remants of trash all over the place. A kid I talked to said it's kinda like a hobo village at night. Really neat art with Found objects, plus a whole row of mini billboards lined one section of the path.

Graffiti watch: Meth Ads (blog)

For Dan and Alicia.
Saw this blog post and thought of you.

One more series of ads that we're over.

I Lost Me (and Interest In Anti-Drug Awareness Campaigns) to Meth

via SFist by Brock on 3/25/08

Photo credit: Nature abhors a vacuum

Pho

Golden King Vietnamese Restaurant.
Needed a little Hanger-Aversion Therapy.
Pho fit the bill.
Our Phos are a lot alike, except mine has more parts of beef and meat.. balls.

Friday in the Haight, Man

Jennifer and I checked out the Haight (upper?, lower? couldn't tell you) near Ashbury Friday for 2nd hand clothing stores. Literally it was overwhelming; both the amount of 2nd hand clothing stores (and selection) and the smell of incense.

We walked to the edge of Golden Gate Park, but we were a bit hungry, so we stopped at Cha Cha Cha on a recommendation of a classmate of Jennifer's. Kinda Caribbean tapas. For as crowded as this place was, the food could have been better. I get the feeling people come for the scene and the Sangria. We had a Malbec-Syrah, the Ceviche (good acid) and Musrooms sauteed in butter and garlic with parsley. The host was persistent in helping us get a seat at the bar, where they have a posted sign telling people they had to eat to sit there. Not to mention the 'cakage' on the menu which I thought I coined years ago (and would never put in print).


Afterwards we checked out the Axum Cafe, which is in the Slow Food Guide. No frills dining room or service, but good food. We tried the platter for 2, which is all 5 of their traditional Vegetarian options. This was my first time with Ethiopian food, and it was pretty tasty. Also it means I have no comparison. I like the scoop-it-up-with-bread (I'm sure it's not 'bread', but you know what I mean) style, that's for sure.
Jennifer's honey wine was interesting with kind of a malty finish. I had an Ethiopian beer, which led me to contemplate generic international beers.
The picture doesn't make it look very appetizing, but it was fast and plentiful to boot.

Places yet to try

It seems as there are almost as many food blogs as there are restaurants here in SF, but here are some locals favorites high and low end from the Tablhopper blog's get together, might help us narrow the field, especially on the low end. We should try and get in on one of those dinners, though they just had one.

Jennifer found MyOpenBar.com, a website that posts listings of free events, or at least events that have free elements, with an emphasis on alcohol, natch. (e.g. open bar w/ $10 cover etc.).
2 this weekend: Free hot dogs at Frankenart Mart, and Free Outdoor Alley Opera

Apartment

Our Little Apartment.
The window is our unit, there is one other accessed by the front door, and one accessed via the fenced-in yard.
We have to go out the front and through a gate to the back yard.
Key codes on all doors, so we don't have to carry keys!! If I hadn't gotten used to not carrying them on the Grand Canyon, I'd still be constantly checking to make sure I had my carabiner.