Local Lemons

The Great American Food and Music Festival at Shoreline Amphitheater

 

Amid the long lines, bewildered staff and a few grouchy attendees, there was some delicious food and good times to be had at The Great American Food and Music Festival, held at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.

Thanks to foodbuzz.com, Alejandro and I were sporting blue VIP bracelets that gave us front row seats to chef demos, access to the wine tent and as much free food as we could handle. The festival featured top regional cuisine from across the nation, including Buffalo wings from Anchor Bar in Buffalo, pastrami from Katz's in New York, hot dogs from Pink's in Los Angeles, burgers from Burgermeister in San Francisco and more.

Bobby Flay is on the lookout for the best burger in San Francisco. Check out the highlights of the day to see who won...

The Great Pizza Debate: Delfina vs. Lucali

I went into this with an open mind and an empty stomach. And while I’ll always have a special place in my heart for New York, like soft cheese on warm bread I have completely fused to life on the West Coast.

That said, after hearing over and over again that Pizzeria Delfina was the best in San Francisco, I knew this was the place that may stand up to, in my opinion, the preeminent pizza joint in New York - Lucali. I was wrong. Very  wrong…

Dinner at Wood Tavern

This is why I love living here.

The Wood Tavern on College Ave. in Rockridge is the quintessential east bay dining experience. A bold seasonal menu, a great wine list, and impeccable service. The last meal I felt this strongly about was that of Chez Panisse, which really surprised me considering the Wood Tavern has only been around for two years. Alejandro and I were celebrating my new job and my birthday, and this meal was not only worthy of the occasion, it blew us away. Now we understand why every time we walk past - even at 3pm on a Tuesday - it's packed. Here's what we ordered:

The Best Burrito I Ever Ate

La Taqueria: 2889 Mission St., San Francisco

I thought the tagline on the sign was a little bold, but that was before I bit into the chorizo, cheese and avocado burrito I ordered. I normally don't order chorizo because, let's face it, bad chorizo tastes worse than a week-old hot dog. But this was the exact opposite of that, and probably the best I've ever eaten. This meal just added to an already momentous day, as I just found out a got the job I was pining for, after being unemployed for almost four months. To celebrate, we're going to Wood Tavern in Rockridge - look out for a full review tomorrow.

I know I'm extremely late to jump on the La Taqueria band wagon, but better late than never.