May 2012
1 post
Europe Days 1-5: London
Ah, London. Home of Big Ben, fish and chips, Kate and William, and… well, I don’t know what I was really expecting. I figured it would be like America, but with accents and older buildings and (potentially) a better public transportation system. The plan was to camp out here for a bit, sleep off the jet lag, and play tourist for a day or two. But as it turns out, London has plenty to...
March 2012
2 posts
Support the California Cottage Food Law
Next week, the California state legislature is voting on the California Homemade Food Act, which will allow small food artisans to produce “non-hazardous foods” (foods that don’t spoil easily) at home. If the legislation passes, it would a huge win for both small businesses and the consumers of their product. Food businesses/hobbyists would see a significant reduction in startup...
No more star ratings for LA restaurants →
Finally! The LA Times says it can’t rate all eateries—-from food trucks to high end restaurants—-on the same 5 star scale, so it’s dropping star ratings from their reviews.
Who’s next? The New York Times? Or better yet—-how about Yelp?? Because comparing a chef’s sandwich shop to his high-end restaurant and docking stars is a bit unfair, if you ask me.
February 2012
4 posts
GF Bouchon Bakery Cookies OK In A Pinch
Finally catching up on blog posts and remembered I had yet to write a review of Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. Ready? Here it is:
They were OK. Just OK.
The contents of the box were not what you would find in your ordinary pre-made cookie mix. There was one bag each of chocolate chips/chunks (not sure why the mix, instead of just one or the other),...
Five Great Gluten-Free Options in SF →
Can’t wait to try the gluten-free hot dog buns and Redbridge beer at AT&T Park when baseball season starts back up. I hope all the gluten-free options are in a separate stall!
via San Francisco Magazine
Eating out now cheaper, but is it healthier? →
According to MSN Money, eating out is cheaper than cooking in due to rising food costs for consumers and decreasing costs for restaurants. But is it good for you? Let’s one of the dinners mentioned in the article, shall we?
The Meal: 10oz ribeye steak dinner w/ soup, salad, and asparagus. Outback Steakhouse If you were being a prudent eater, you would get your ribeye with a cup of chicken...
January 2012
6 posts
Gluten-Free Beers: Not for "beer geeks" →
The folks at Chow recently had a go at a few of the gluten-free beers out now. The verdict? Meh. Read full reviews here.
PS: I’ve previously mentioned that some gluten-free beers aren’t actually gluten-free. If in doubt, doesn’t hurt to call the manufacturer before consuming!
Gluten-free cookie mix from Thomas Keller's... →
Thomas Keller has had a line of gluten-free products out for several months now, but I finally got my hands on the chocolate chunk cookie mix from Williams-Sonoma yesterday. $19.95 per box is pretty darn steep for 12 cookies, but we’re going to give it a shot later this week and see how they taste. At 250 calories per half cookie, expectations are pretty high! Stay tuned…
$5 shipping and new baking schedule!
We’re making a couple of changes for 2012 here at Renby’s Sugar Shoppe. Our biggest news: we’re now offering $5 flat fee shipping or delivery anywhere in the US!* Delivery area is within 10 miles of our bakery near the MacArthur BART; all orders outside of the delivery area will be shipped.
Secondly, we are now baking weekly! All shipped orders will go out on Wednesdays, and...
45 Places to Go in 2012 →
I always love to read about new places to travel, but the best part of this list? #5, right between London and Tokyo, is our Sugar Shoppe’s humble little hometown Oakland. Woot!
via New York Times
2 tags
Happy national spaghetti day! →
It’s national spaghetti day, but just because you’re gluten sensitive doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate! Get down on some spaghetti squash, or get to Whole Foods and pick up some quinoa pasta. My fav is by Ancient Harvest Quinoa, since their combination of quinoa and cornmeal is even tastier than the real thing. Throw on your favorite pre-made, organic tomato sauce and...
2 tags
Beware of "Gluten-Free" Beers →
Turns out the term “gluten-free” or “low-gluten” on beers can be very misleading. Those with gluten sensitivity, tread lightly.
via Discovery News
PS For the curious, here is a blog that has a few reviews of gluten-free beers.
November 2011
2 posts
An obvious, but not so obvious, gluten-free... →
I use ribbons of zucchini to mimic wide pasta noodles, but here’s an alternative to spaghetti so obvious, I didn’t even think of it: spaghetti squash!
via Gluten Free Gluttons
Tuesday, November 15th: Feast of Words with... →
This month, Renby’s Sugar Shoppe will be joining writer Angie Chau at Feast of Words, a monthly dinner where writers and foodies come together to eat, write, and share. Come by, hang out, meet new people, and sample our latest sweet (AND savory!) gluten-free concoctions. Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 7pm-9pm SomArts Cultural Center, San Francisco Tickets @...
October 2011
2 posts
2 tags
GF Flours 101
Here’s a quickie guide for any newly gluten-free folks who are confuzzled by all the flour options out there. I particularly appreciate the omission of garbanzo flour, which I’ve never found to be delicious in baked goods anyway (although super tasty in vegetable pakoras).
NutsOnline via Holy Kaw!
Mexican-Style Chicken and Rice, Ferran Adria-style
I was fortunate enough to see Ferran Adria speak at the Castro Theater last night and snag a copy of his new cookbook, The Family Meal. The book is full of super simple staff meals from El Bulli, and Adria describes them as no less brilliant or well-thought out than any dish at the restaurant. Thumbing through the book, you’ll be surprised at how true that is.
Tonight I tried my hand at a...
March 2010
1 post
“San Francisco is like Manhattan, but it’s more laid back, the people are...”
– European guy at table next to me at Lombardi’s in NYC