patrick.net

Please continue to post your thought in the previous thread. Randy, we have yet to hear from you. :)

What do we do for fun while waiting for RE to hit the bottom…

Sushi, sushi, and more sushi.

Oops, no more money when RE finally hits the bottom. :)

Now we are talking. Forget the boring RE discussions. Food comes before shelter.

I fancy myself as a decent cook. So if anyone needs any tips on cooking Indian dishes, feel free to ask.

I am not a Sushi person though. For example, I do not mind Todai. So that disqualifies me from being a "true" sushi person.

The sheer veriety of food choices in Bay Area, makes it one of the best places in the whole world. Mexican, Thai, Chiense, Malay, Persian, Greek, Ethiopian. You name it.

Checking out for tonight. See you all tomorrow.

i am good-looking, and i did have a rich woman in america wanting to marry me - owns $3M in property, renovates them herself, and makes $250K a year mortgage brokering on top... d-ohh!

Let's see here... Well, I've been here for 7 years, and honestly, my favorite places in California are nowhere near the Bay Area. I think the city is sort of overated and dirty. Oakland seems like more of a city with a soul than SF, but if it keeps getting whitewashed, that too will change.That said, we love Alameda because it provides escapism since we're both from small towns ourselves. The locals support all the small diners and restaraunts in town. Ole's Waffle Shop has been there since 1927, and you have to wait to get in every day of the week. La' Pinata is a sprawling Mexican joint that serves great margaritas. We see the same people there every time, and we ran into a guy in the thrift store the other day who said he saw us there last time. The Pop-In bar has been there since 1925.
My favorite areas are in middle of nowhere places, like Auburn,Sonora,Susanville,Red Bluff,Bankroft, and the thousands of other little towns all over the state.I look for small towns that haven't been gentrified and turned into little vacation towns for the wealthy. Every time we revisit some of these places, it seems like we discover one more town that's been absorbed by the elite- latest fatality: Nevada City.Whenever I get sick of the Bay Area, which is about once every 3-4 weeks, We get out the map and pick a place we haven't been.
Perhaps the best time I ever had in my life was when I got laid off for a 6 week period last year. Me and my wife( who was a teacher on spring break at the time) packed up my small truck, put a camper top on the back, Threw in a futon mattress, gallons of water, a stove and other odds and ends and took off for Death Valley. We spent 10 days traveling gravel roads and hiking through sand dunes. It was the most bizzare and breathtaking terrain I've ever seen.
The food in the Bay Area is pretty good, but it seems like you have to pay a lot of dough for the good stuff. We eat in most of the time anyway. The Japanese food is hit and miss. I've had some really great Japanese food, and some really awful japanese food. The best food with the greatest authenticity is the Mexican food... but you MUST get it off of the various trucks and lunchwagons that pull up near the Goodwill in Fruitvale. Their tacos and burritos put anything else I've ever had, even in the fancy resturaunts to SHAME!

At the end of the day, The place that sticks out in my mind as the most beautiful and peaceful place I've ever been was back when I was in college and had a few days off work and school. I chose to go up to the Smokey Mountains National Park and hike the Mt Le'conte on the Abrahm's Falls trail. It was early spring, the trees were budding, and half way up the trail at close to 5000 feet, I came to a grassy bald that allowed me to see in all directions across the mountains for miles. There was a slight haze that made everything look blue, and whisps of clouds were shooting up the sides of the mountain. What I remember most was that it was dead quite except for the sound of a single insect in the grass. I was the only one on the trail that day and just sat there for about an hour. I think moments like that in life are really rare where you can be away from people, noise, and anything man made and just sit there in silence.

I filled up my little truck yesterday.. gas is pushing $1.73. Jesus! It cost me $28 to fill it up. I cannot imagine what it costs to fill up an Escalade. That's serious money.

Whoops... typo.. I meant $2.72. I WISH it was $1.72!

I filled up my little truck yesterday.. gas is pushing $1.73. Jesus! It cost me $28 to fill it up. I cannot imagine what it costs to fill up an Escalade. That’s serious money.

A'right Holmes, you don't live here because I filled wifeys hyundai up and it cost $30.00. Gas is 2.80 for regular. But that's ok because housing only goes up so you can borrow ever increasing amounts of money.

Surfer X: See above typo correction.My truck holds 12 gallons and was 3/4 empty, hence the simple mathematical equation that $3 a gallon would cost roughly $30.

OOOhhhhh food!

If you're in the east bay and want reasonable Japanese, go to Tachibana on College - near the Rockridge BART station. They have close to top notch sushi and the traditional Japanese standards like Tonkatsu, Soba and Udon are awesome. The tempura ice cream is great for desert. The sushi chef at the end of the very long sushi bar "miki-san" is the best sushi guy there. Buy him a beer and tell him to make whatever sushi HE wants until you're full.

For breakfast food, the Log Cabin on San Pablo Ave. in Albany is good, standard bacon/eggs/pancake/OJ on the weekends.

For Chinese food, there are two places. Sun Hong Kong on Columbus and Broadway in SF. You can get your late night snack there for a very reasonable price. The BBQ pork chow mien (crispy noodle Hong Kong style) is the best in the bay. And for those of you who like to be the only non-chinese in a chinese restaurant, go to Saigon in El Cerrito. I'm not quite sure why its called Saigon since it's not Vietnamese, but that doesn't matter. The Peking Duck rocks! You want to try something interesting? Try eating the eye in the deep fried rock cod. I personally can't stomach it, but some folks love it.

Gary Danko is great, but I'm a middle class guy, struggling to make a dollar out of 15 cents. Its a whole lot more than any of the places I've mentioned.

Scott J,
I tried that Log Cabin place a few years ago. Expensive! The food was decent, but it was like $11 bucks each for us and that sort of soured the deal. If you want food that's probably just as good,try Momma's Royal Cafe in Oakland down near the Kragens on Broadway near auto row.
If you all like german food, and Beer that you can't buy anywhere else, as in the rich, dark Dunkles and Heifenweisens, try Speicekammer in Alameda right there on Lincoln ave. Great atmosphere too- and saurkraut that's amazing.

East Bay MLS (Alameda & Contra Costa), www.ebrdi.com, reports 8644 active listings, going up on average between 50-100 listings per day over the last couiple of weeks.

@nomadtoons, it was my understanding that there would be no math.

@nomadtoons2,

All right, the next time I'm around Oakland in the morning I'll try momma's royal cafe. The closest thing I've come to German food is in Hayes valley ~ Suppenkuche (sp?), since I'm about as non German as one can get, I have no clue as to its authenticity. So I'll give the place in Alameda a try cuz I love me some saurkraut.

Speaking of Oakland, I enjoy chicken and waffles at Merrit Restaurant on E. 18th. I can't eat that all the time, but twice a year or so, its great.

Surfer X. Are there any more pressing issues that you would likt to adress with my post concerning gas?

Hey Scott,
I've seen the Chicken and Waffles place- the one in Jack London Square. I've never tried it though. Maybe I'll give it a try this weekend.I've heard its

nomadtoons2 Says:

> It cost me $28 to fill it up. I cannot imagine what it
> costs to fill up an Escalade. That’s serious money.

It was just over $60 to fill up my SUV (that is smaller than an Escalade) at the Chevron at the bottom of Ski Run Blvd. on Sunday...

Bay Area Homeowner,
As I've said before, I'm outta here as soon as my target financial savings are met. There is more to do in life than pay for a damned house. I am perfectly willing and happy to move where the quality of life is better, and have the plans to do so now.

peter, youre going to get mercury poisoning. there is an urban legend in NY about a sushi afficionado and a tapeworm. ill leave it at that.

Potential death is not a sufficient deterrent to stop me from eating sushi.

I’m sorry the title sounded like a downer, but this thread is meant to accentuate the positives of BA living.

Okay, let's talk about food...

Any suggestion for a good New York style comtemporary Italian restaurant?

Most people who live here attribute the wonderful weather to the reasoning for wanting to pay out the A## to stay here. That said... what if the rather abnormal weather we've been having for the last 2 years, with 100 year record breaking rain All freakin' winter long becomes the norm. It's not out of the question that with global weather patterns that the Bay Area could be in for a long period of extended wet winters.( There was a mini Ice age in the mid 1800's) Honestly, the weather here is about to drive me insane. Now.. I can understand someone not liking cold or humid weather.. but 6 god-damned months of solid rain!?
So.. if the unthinkable happens and SF's weather is altered in this pattern for who knows- a 50 year time period- is it possible to think that Home prices will fall even more as a result of crappy weather? My parents kidded me all winter long that they had mostly sunny, 70 Degree weather in TN while we got pummled, and they've had winters like this for the past 3 years now.

If you were actually concerned about mercury poisoning, I found this site via wikipedia

I am not concerned at all. But thanks!

Take this from tropical medicine person, tapeworm stories are NOT urban legend, but on the upside they are easy to treat and they can keep your weight down!

Since my weight is still stable, perhaps I do not have a tapeworm yet. :)

Yes, proper tapeworms are easy to treat (praziquatil), but the sushi worms can require surgery!

Yes, but it is probably far more risky driving to eat sushi.

Yes, I have been almost killed in a car accident but my worst food experience was a nasty salmonella (maybe typhae, not sure).

Oh no.

I may have to get a big SUV next time just to be safe.

Anyone here have advice on specialty grocery stores or farmer’s market? In particular, I really want to start eating humanely raised poultry and meats without signing over my whole paycheck.

There are Draeger's and Whole Food. You are not against foie gras, are you? :)

I hope you’re being sarcastic. Lots of reports about SUV safety have already come out. They’re generally no safer for their occupants compared to large sedans and wagons, and much more dangerous for everyone else.

They are not safer in single vehicle crashes but they may protect passengers better in multiple vehicle crashes. Many studies assume that the crash is with a similar vehicle in terms of weight and size. This is not realistic at all. Physics will eventually prevail.

I cannot afford a sedan that is heavy enough (about 3 ton). The cheapest one starts at 200K.

Used Rolls are cheap. Have fun parking it.

Very expensive to maintain though.

That would reduce your sushi budget.

Hopefully, I can still afford the rice part. :)

Nothing against foie gras, I just find real free range chicken and pork much more tasty than caged animals. Plus, factory farming is such a cruel practice that I prefer to avoid it if options are available.

Good. I agree. :)

I heard that the French actually prefer duck liver to goose liver, can anyone confirm or deny?

That is odd. But if Peking duck liver tastes better...

Bay Area guy,
I'm taking advantage of my low rent- high savings situation. I'm planning for the future. Basically, I've been house-sharing with 3 other people for the last 4 years.Happily and comfortably in a large house I wouldn't be able to afford to buy. That means I pay $450 a month to rent with few other costs. I've never bought anything unless I had all the cash up front. That's the way I do business, and so far it's kept me out of financial trouble. I had hoped to buy a home out here, but since the prices are impossible, and I don't want to have to make decisions in life- like should I stay at this job to pay the mortgage, or NOT have kids... because of the mortgage, or NOT retire at the age of 50... because of the mortgage. Instead, I'm turning a bad situation into a good one, which would be a house that is paid for, savings in the bank or in other investments, and the freedom to make those choices, at will, without as many consequences. I will be 31 by the time I make the big move, and to own your home free and clear, have signifigant savings, and be free to live life to the fullest without financial burden will be well worth 3 more years of grunting it out for the other 50 or so more years I may have to enjoy it. I know very few people who have this kind of status in the Bay, and frankly, I believe the future of national economic development is heading in the direction I am planning to move. Of course this is all my own opinion, and I certainly hope that less rather than more people come to this conclusion or else the severe advantage I'm poised to take a piece of may be gone.

A well made sedan or wagon with side airbags, good frame and good brakes will probably get you more safety for your dollars and be a lot more fun to drive.

True, but lower height makes sedans less safe when they are broadsided by higher vehicles.

Side airbags are absolutely essential.

As far as vehicular safety, Well much can be said about my 2nd car- a 1955 Mercury with what you can really call "bumpers" because they're made out of 1/4" thick steel, weigh almost 100 pounds for the front, and almost 50 in the back. I installed shoulder belts, and new disc brakes. If anyone hits me, well they'll probably ricochet. I've actually nailed a gaurd rail with this thing and it did no noticeable damage to the car. There's a lot to be said for having a car built like a Sherman tank.

There’s a lot to be said for having a car built like a Sherman tank.

Cool.

I can't recommend anything in SF, but here are some SoCal suggestions:

Tam O' Shanter on Los Feliz in LA. This restaurant was the inspiration for the Lawry's prime rib chain, but it's cheaper. They have all kinds of weird English dishes that are hard to find elsewhere, like Yorkshire pudding and Scotch rarebit. And it's not just unique -- the food is great! You can basically get the same meal you would have at Lawry's for about half the price.

King Taco. This is a chain that can only be found in immgrant neighborhoods, though they recently opened one on Old Town Pasadena for some unknown reason. Although it is a chain, the food is as hardcore Mexican as you will ever find. The tacos are stricly onions, cilantro, and meat, no lettuce, cheese, or chopped tomatoes here. They sell all of the exotic Mexican meats, like lengua, cabeza, tripa, etc. The salsa is fantastic, but the red stuff is toxically hot, I mean hot. This place is not for the faint of heart, it is hardcore working-class Mexican food, but if you have a taste for that and speak Spanish (the menu is in Spanish only) there is nothing else like it.

Neptune's Net in Malibu. This is our absolute favorite resteraunt. It's a seafood dive way up the coast on the PCH, on the LA/Ventura County border, that draws bikers, surfers, and rich Malibu residents in roughly equal numbers. I do mean dive, by the way, the place is alwyas filled with drunken bikers, surrounded by clouds of marajuana smoke, and there are no bathrooms, only port-a-potties. The food is basic fried fish, but the quality is extremely high and the prices are very low. They also have fresh stuff like lobster and crab, but I would suggest that you stick with the fish becuase we have tried the lobster and it is not that good. The restaurant is right on the PCH and overlooks the beach and the ocean, the setting is magnificent.

The Pantry, downtown LA. The food here is horrible, really awful, but the restaurant is interesting becuase the menu literally has not changed since 1940. So if you are in the mood for some London Broil or Creamed Chipped Beef, this is the place for you. Again, the food is revolting, absolutely inedible, but it is really interesting to eat in a diner that was literally transported forward in time from the late 1940's, so you might want to check it out.

California Roll Factory, Beverly Hills. There are two of these, they are storefront sushi places that offer every kind of CA roll imaginable at dirt cheap prices. Dirt cheap. The quality is superior, the prices are increidbly low. The one on Olympic is actually run by FOB Japanese guys, they will scream out your order to one another in Japanese and shout "Hai!" when you step up to the counter, and the cool thing is that they are not putting on an act, they really are that into making your sushi.

SUVs are a collective action problem. The way to make everyone truly safer is to make SUVs scarce except where they’re needed.

Yes, very true. It is comparable to nuclear arm race. Hopefully, higher gas price will reduce the median vehicle weight on the road over time.

I propose a proposition to tax vehicles by inches over 50” off the ground as a solution to your dilemma.

That makes sense. Of course, we need exemptions for commercial vehicles like big rigs.

And really, if you drive fast enough on the 5, LA and SF are only distant suburbs of each other

How fast? At reckless speed (90mph+) it will still take more than 4 hours.

Unless you fly a Cessna. :)

Also, we already have a rail transportation system. Why can’t more transportation happen there, instead of competing for road space with commuters?

Rail is way too expensive for many types of goods. It is really not a feasible alternative.

We need to get back the 55mph speed limit for everyone. And we need to aggressively enforce that.

We also need much better driver education.

Food recommendations? Hmmm....
Here are two of my San Gabriel Valley favorites:

MEXICAN

Carambas, Main Street Alhambra (1 block east of Huntington Drive).
Best Mexican food in the entire valley, IMO --and cheap too. The salsa is fresh, spicy & hot --just the way it should be. Their ranchero sauce is best I've ever had, and the chile verde is right up there. Ambiance is 1970s era dive: vinyl seats, cottage-cheese ceiling, velvet paintings on the wall (no joking).

LEBANESE

Caesar's Grill, 488 N. Allen, Pasadena.
Small, family-run place off the beaten track (not in Old Town or Colorado corridor) that serves excellent fresh kebabs at decent prices. You will not leave hungry or disatisfied. I recommend anything with the word "lula" in it. If you go, tell Tatteo "HARM sent me".

For dessert, I recommend a big helping of California housing soufflé. Now available EVERYWHERE.

I have also wondered about our latest weather patterns. When the earthquake that caused the tsunami hit, they (meaning the experts) said that it actually caused the earth to shift on its axis. I am no scientist, but it seems to me that something that drastic could very well have lasting effects, such as a change in the weather pattern.

I wonder if that will change my horroscope.

Hey HARM-

Do you live in the SG Valley? We are in Alhambra, on First and Garfield, just a few blocks away from the first restaurant you suggested.