A Broad Reference

After getting my ART scene on at the Legion of Honor, I was hungry and wondering what to eat driving down Clement when I saw the sign for PPQ Dungeness Island Vietnamese. Since Dungeness season is in full swing, I decided it was time to finally try out the crab that I'd been hearing so much about. I only had to go around the block once in order to find a spot to wedge into, and so parkma determined it was meant to be.

The place was pretty deserted around noon on a Sunday, so we were seated immediately. You get a whole set of crab eating/cracking tools, including a plastic bib. The staff were very helpful in explaining the different items on the menu. We were hungry and ordered:

Green Papaya salad with beef (5 spice) crisply julienned, tangy vinegar dressing topped with deep fried garlic and peanuts. Yumm

Peppercorn Crab crispy fried with a mild heat, chopped into segments with legs and served on a bed of fried garlic and peppercorns. Succulent meat and a fabulous treat- they serve the head with the goop! Wow I ate till crabtosis set in.

Garlic noodles were only ok, taste was good but the texture was a little lumpy and grainy. I like the noodles a little thicker and more al dente, as well as a silkier mouthfeel for the sauce.

We were served hot tea, and I ordered a Vietnamese coffee which was served as drip over condensed milk.

The total came to $70, which I felt was a little expensive for just two people, but the food was great and thus an ok price to goodness ratio.

Still I'm excited to go back and try other styles of crab on the menu. More people would allow for wider sampling. Who's up?

Posted by Misty at 08:33 PM | Permalink

This picture is of a galette by my cousin Monica and her friend till I can get one of my own pix up.

Working up at the peach farm is always a fun experience. Each week I come away with new ideas for how to use my peaches. Gayle used to work as a pastry chef at Postrio and she passed on a fabulous recipe for pie dough.

I recently used it with a peach galette for a friend, who commented that I made it look so easy but it was probably very hard. I demurred, coz it really is quite simple. You just have to be careful not to overwork the dough.

Ingredients:
1 C flour
8 Tbs butter
up to ¼ C ice water (you can replace 2 Tbs with vodka if you have a wet filling)
¼ tsp salt
2 tsps sugar (optional)
Mix dry ingredients together.
Cut in butter till sandy crumb consistency.
Add water and mix till the dough just comes together, sort of "shaggy".
Pat into ball, wrap in clingfilm.
Rest in fridge at least 30 minutes to allow gluten to relax & flour hydrate.

Flour counter and flatten ball into disc. Generously flour dough and rolling pin.
roll out quickly, repair tears by pinching together lightly
Roll out ~1/8 inch on parchment paper and transfer to baking sheet.
Form around peach slices, folding edges up to contain filling.
Pinch lightly to seal. The rustic look is the point behind this method.
Preheat oven 400o bake at least 30 minutes till crust is golden brown, depending on filling.

Posted by Misty at 06:27 PM | Permalink

Hi it's Gwynie here...

With the start of the rainy season, we were invited by some friends to the annual opening day of mushroom hunting season which always happens three weeks after the first substantial rain.

We met in the square for lunch from the Downtown Bakery and Oakville Deli and then caravanned up to The Patio high above Healdsburg. Based on instructions we dressed in rain boots, rain jackets, and carried knives, gloves and collecting bags. Even though early rains have come to the Bay Area that particular November day was warm enough to be in short sleeves, I needn't have dressed as warmly as I did. We gathered hunting tools (aka an old ski pole, others had more fancy rakes etc due prior experience). There was a mixed group of newbies and veteran hunters who acted as guides. Off we set, a party of about 15, hiking around the hills, rooting around in areas around the trees shifting the ground cover and leaves. We were supposed to be looking for small mounds pushing through the cover.

However the warmer days after the rain have dried out the ground and while I saw mushroom spoor I didn't find any mushrooms. I did feel like a pig rooting through the leaves ever hopeful of finding something. Up ahead we heard screams of delight and a crowd (ok so maybe it was 3-5 of us) gathered to watch the lucky person dig/cut out the mushrooms. The mycologists in the group would examine the specimen and declare whether or not the mushroom was safe to eat and what kind it was. Some of the poisonous ones were puff balls, and I was slightly apprehensive about the mushrooms we would find but alas I did not find any. Sort of bummed and relieved at the same time. I was sort of torn because I wanted the excitement of finding them but then I'd have to pick, cook and eat them and I was a little doubtful about that...

We followed the dirt road winding down the mountain and cut off into the woods on each side. After about 2 hours we decided to turn around and hike back to the cabin. Back on the patio overlooking the valley, Cecile served hot apple cider and cold water. The Patio has an amazing open air set up with a fireplace, dishwasher etc. The deluxe style of roughing it. It was so fun to see her prepare beef stew & polenta, gumbo & rice and peas over a large grate in the fireplace. All the pots were sturdy and fire proof, she even had an oven that positioned over the fire to heat the macaroni & cheese my Aunt made. We brought the membrillo we made a couple of weeks again, along with manchego and cold cuts. Everyone else brought dessert.

After dinner we pooled the mushrooms we found- chantrelles, Butter Bolete, & button mushrooms.
Those more seasoned hunters and confident people took a share, we passed...

I found a recipe for pickled chantrelles and thought of our adventures

Posted by Misty at 09:33 PM | Permalink