"Kent" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "Serene" > wrote in message
> ...
>> TammyM wrote:
>>> "Serene" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> TammyM wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Say it ain't so, nb! OK, this clinches it, I'm making the trek to
>>>>> Berkeley.
>>>>>
>>>>> TammyM, any old excuse will do
>>>> :-) If you do come out, let me know when if you want, and maybe we'll
>>>> meet at the Cheese Board for some foodie shopping.
>>>
>>> That would be fun, Serene! Maybe we'll give Lin a call and make it a
>>> girls' day out. You'll love The Spanish Table. I get my olive oil
>>> there, sherry vinegar, lemon-stuffed olives, smoked paprika (although
>>> the last time I went, I bought a LIFETIME supply of the stuff...)
>>
>> I can't wait. I really want to make some Spanish chorizo for my partner
>> the way we did it in Spain -- douse it in high-proof alcohol, flame it
>> until the outside is charred and the inside is warmed, and serve it on
>> good bread. Yumma.
>>
>> Serene
>
> Near there, along with the "Country Store" for cheese is Milan
> International, on the south side of University Ave. near 9th, or so in
> Berkeley. It's an Indian market, and the best place to buy any bulk dry
> spices at rock bottom prices. What costs $3 at the Safeway costs 50 cents
> there. It's a great place for the T-wad, and obviously a great place for
> Indian spices in addition to all the others.

And ANOTHER great tip! I'm going to have to make that trip to Berkeley
soon.

TammyM

"Donald Martinich" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> notbob > wrote:
>
>> On 2008-05-05, TammyM > wrote:
>>
>> > The thing I love about Andronicos is the quality of the meat.
>>
>> Strange. That's why I DON'T miss Andronico's. I bought a $26 t-bone
>> steak,
>> once (hand trimmed, aged for 2 wks, yada...). It was the most flavorless
>> chunk of slaughtered herd animal I've ever experienced. Cotton balls
>> have
>> more flavor!
>>
>> > I've never been to one. You know Sacramento, NB, so you know that
>> > Cortis
>> > is
>> > the place to go for good meat.
>>
>> I know what it used to be. The last time I went to the original Corti
>> Bros
>> on Folsom Blvd (5-6 yrs ago), it was a decrepit, run-down, dump. Talk
>> about
>> filthy! Having shopped there as a teen, when it was a clean and classy
>> example of a gourmet store, I was shocked. They had no goose liver pate,
>> they had no decent cheeses, the wine selection sucked, the produce was
>> wilted, the cold cases were leaking fluids, and the floor tiles were
>> coming
>> up. In short, it was disgusting mess and I've never been back. Such a
>> sad
>> end to a pioneering store.
>>
>> nb
>
> I've got a 'deja' feeling about this post but I'm going to do it any
> way. Yes, Corti had a slump when they went through reorganization after
> closing several stores a few years ago. They only have the original
> store now and it is run by Darryl who knows his stuff. It is back up to
> what it was 20 years ago. Great deli and meat departments, good breads,
> good wine and liquor dept.s for their size and is the only source for a
> goodly number of items in the Sac area. There are some good cheeses but
> it is not as big a selection as you might find at bigger upscale stores.
> It's still the best in town.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a high opinion of them. The store
definitely is NOT a glitzy place. But they reliably have high quality items
many of which I can't get elsewhere locally (as a radio DJ once said of
Sacramento, "don't let the tall buildings fool you, folks, it's still just a
cow town"....) I think Darrell C is a complete jerk, but he knows his
stuff.

TammyM

"Kent" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> "TammyM" > wrote in message
> ...
>> NB, my recollection is that you're in the SF Bay Area, yes? Or am I
>> hallucinating again? Have you ever tried The Cheese Board in Berkeley?
>> It's Alice's Restaurant for cheese :-)
>>
>> TammyM, thinking it's time for another trek to Berkeley
>>
> Our favorite store for cheese is the "Country Store" also in the socialist
> republic of Berkeley, on the east side of San Pablo one block south of
> University, near the Post Office. They have great variety and prices, and
> finding old cheddar has never been a problem. Recently, on sale, we bought
> Stilton for $3.95/lb! They just opened a store on Hopkins, very near the
> Monterey Market[a favorite site for produce].

Serene, are you keeping notes? :-) We need to add these to our foodie
excursion!

THANKS, Kent!!

TammyM

Kent wrote:

> I forgot. Here's a URL about Milan.
> http://www.yelp.com/biz/milan-international-berkeley

My Sri Lankan friend who cooks meals for hire always recommends that
place. She says it's the best place to get Sri Lankan spices.

Serene

TammyM wrote:
> "Kent" > wrote in message

>> Our favorite store for cheese is the "Country Store" also in the socialist
>> republic of Berkeley, on the east side of San Pablo one block south of
>> University, near the Post Office. They have great variety and prices, and
>> finding old cheddar has never been a problem. Recently, on sale, we bought
>> Stilton for $3.95/lb! They just opened a store on Hopkins, very near the
>> Monterey Market[a favorite site for produce].
>
> Serene, are you keeping notes? :-)

I am! I think the Country Store is the one over by the Freight and
Salvage -- if so, it looks like a cool hippy place from the outside.
I've never been inside, because I'm only in that neighborhood at
night (when I go to the Freight).

Serene

Serene > wrote:

>I am! I think the Country Store is the one over by the Freight and
>Salvage -- if so, it looks like a cool hippy place from the outside.
>I've never been inside, because I'm only in that neighborhood at
>night (when I go to the Freight).

That would be "Country Cheese" and they are potentially a good deal
(although not like they were 10+ years ago when their prices were
way way lower than any competition).

Steve

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> On Mon 05 May 2008 05:56:03p, notbob told us...
>
>> On 2008-05-06, sf <> wrote:
>>
>>> I prefer crap cheddar for Mac & Cheese, it melts better.
>>
>> Hence, the culmination of eons of cheese evolution to that paradigm
>> of the the cheesemaker's art.... cheese whip.
>>
>> nb
>>
>
> Well, you could get the kind that squirts out of a can. :-)

Naw. Velveeta. And yes, I use it

On Mon, 05 May 2008 20:10:58 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>On 2008-05-05, TammyM > wrote:
>
>> The thing I love about Andronicos is the quality of the meat.
>
>Strange. That's why I DON'T miss Andronico's. I bought a $26 t-bone steak,
>once (hand trimmed, aged for 2 wks, yada...). It was the most flavorless
>chunk of slaughtered herd animal I've ever experienced. Cotton balls have
>more flavor!
>
>> I've never been to one. You know Sacramento, NB, so you know that Cortis is
>> the place to go for good meat.
>
>I know what it used to be. The last time I went to the original Corti Bros
>on Folsom Blvd (5-6 yrs ago), it was a decrepit, run-down, dump. Talk about
>filthy! Having shopped there as a teen, when it was a clean and classy
>example of a gourmet store, I was shocked. They had no goose liver pate,
>they had no decent cheeses, the wine selection sucked, the produce was
>wilted, the cold cases were leaking fluids, and the floor tiles were coming
>up. In short, it was disgusting mess and I've never been back. Such a sad
>end to a pioneering store.
>
>nb

you seem to be having a run of bad luck with high-end groceries, nb.

your pal,
blake

On 2008-05-06, blake murphy > wrote:

> you seem to be having a run of bad luck with high-end groceries, nb.

Which is ironic, as I'd now kill for just one. The Walmart leaves A LOT to
be desired.

nb

On May 5, 11:17*am, Andy <q> wrote:
> TammyM said...
>
> > NB, my recollection is that you're in the SF Bay Area, yes? *Or am I
> > hallucinating again? *Have you ever tried The Cheese Board in Berkeley?
> > It's Alice's Restaurant for cheese :-)
>
> > TammyM, thinking it's time for another trek to Berkeley
>
> Alice's Restaurant for cheese???
>
> Explain!
>
> Alice's Restaurant was not a restaurant. Arlo Guthrie and I graduated from
> the same high school in Stockbridge, MA. Never met him. But I DID meet
> Officer Obie!!! They found his son hanging from a tree atop the Berkshire
> mountains behind the school after found out he was trying to infiltrate the
> school's drug trade for his dad. He used to slow cruise through school when
> I attended.
>
> Sent his boy to do a man's job and look what happened!!!
>
> An angry and hopefully remorseful SOB, if the BUM!!! is still alive. If
> he's passed on, he's forgiven.
>
> Andy

Kinda off topic, but my parents went to high school with Jerry Garcia-
I have the yearbook to prove it!

merryb said...

> Kinda off topic, but my parents went to high school with Jerry Garcia-
> I have the yearbook to prove it!


merryb,

KEWL!

Jerry was GREAT!!! We used to see The Grateful Dead practically every
weekend in S.F.

I once sat with the sound crew center/balcony at Winterland. I was making a
bootleg and was sitting right behind them. The usher saw my tape recorder
and tried to remove me but the sound crew graciously said "he's with us!".
The usher backed off and roped me in! Spent the show having beers from
their bottomless garbage can of ice cold Heinekens, and "other" stuff. They
even listened to my bootleg after the show and to my surprise, they liked
it. SURE they did. LOL!

Never got to meet the band other than Jerry getting out of a U-Haul truck
and a cloud (more a fog!) of pot smoke drifted into the street as he walked
in for the show.

Santana who always played first, were equally as great and Carlos is still
with us!

Thanks for the memories!

Best,

Andy

"Steve Pope" > wrote in message
...
> Serene > wrote:
>
>>I am! I think the Country Store is the one over by the Freight and
>>Salvage -- if so, it looks like a cool hippy place from the outside.
>>I've never been inside, because I'm only in that neighborhood at
>>night (when I go to the Freight).
>
> That would be "Country Cheese" and they are potentially a good deal
> (although not like they were 10+ years ago when their prices were
> way way lower than any competition).
>
> Steve

"Country Cheese" is correct. My mistake.

Kent

"Serene" > wrote in message
...
> Kent wrote:
>
>> I forgot. Here's a URL about Milan.
>> http://www.yelp.com/biz/milan-international-berkeley
>
> My Sri Lankan friend who cooks meals for hire always recommends that
> place. She says it's the best place to get Sri Lankan spices.
>
> Serene
>
I'm sure you already know this. A mandatory stop for us on the Berkeley,
Albany, El Cerrito food run is the original Acme Bakery on the corner of
Cedar and San Pablo.

Kent

On Tue, 6 May 2008 16:35:51 -0700, "Kent" > wrote:


>I'm sure you already know this. A mandatory stop for us on the Berkeley,
>Albany, El Cerrito food run is the original Acme Bakery on the corner of
>Cedar and San Pablo.
>
>Kent
>
>

Also in that little shopping area, is Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants. And
Cafe Fanny (from the Chez Panisse folks).

Christine

Hi Tammy and Serene,
How about another person joining you to visit TCB, etc? I would love
to go to these places and would drive or take BART from the Peninsula.
Best,
Ellie

Kent wrote:
> "Serene" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Kent wrote:
>>
>>> I forgot. Here's a URL about Milan.
>>> http://www.yelp.com/biz/milan-international-berkeley
>> My Sri Lankan friend who cooks meals for hire always recommends that
>> place. She says it's the best place to get Sri Lankan spices.
>>
>> Serene
>>
> I'm sure you already know this. A mandatory stop for us on the Berkeley,
> Albany, El Cerrito food run is the original Acme Bakery on the corner of
> Cedar and San Pablo.

I've never been. I don't buy much bread (I mostly make the bread we
eat). Is it wonderful?

Serene

wrote:
> Hi Tammy and Serene,
> How about another person joining you to visit TCB, etc? I would love
> to go to these places and would drive or take BART from the Peninsula.

That sounds great! rfc Field Trip!

Serene

"Serene" > wrote in message
...
> Kent wrote:
>> "Serene" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Kent wrote:
>>>
>>>> I forgot. Here's a URL about Milan.
>>>> http://www.yelp.com/biz/milan-international-berkeley
>>> My Sri Lankan friend who cooks meals for hire always recommends that
>>> place. She says it's the best place to get Sri Lankan spices.
>>>
>>> Serene
>>>
>> I'm sure you already know this. A mandatory stop for us on the Berkeley,
>> Albany, El Cerrito food run is the original Acme Bakery on the corner of
>> Cedar and San Pablo.
>
> I've never been. I don't buy much bread (I mostly make the bread we eat).
> Is it wonderful?
>
> Serene
>
If you get the sweet rustic baguette when it comes out of the oven, it
raises bread to a new height. You will think you're on the left bank. You
have to take the first bite in your car. I get 4-5 at a time and freeze
them. This can't be compared to what you get at Safeway from Semi-Freddies.
I like the sweet better than the sour.

Kent

Kent wrote:
> "Serene" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Kent wrote:

>>> I'm sure you already know this. A mandatory stop for us on the Berkeley,
>>> Albany, El Cerrito food run is the original Acme Bakery on the corner of
>>> Cedar and San Pablo.
>> I've never been. I don't buy much bread (I mostly make the bread we eat).
>> Is it wonderful?
>>
>> Serene
>>
> If you get the sweet rustic baguette when it comes out of the oven, it
> raises bread to a new height. You will think you're on the left bank. You
> have to take the first bite in your car. I get 4-5 at a time and freeze
> them. This can't be compared to what you get at Safeway from Semi-Freddies.
> I like the sweet better than the sour.

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to try it!

Serene

On May 6, 1:10*pm, Andy <q> wrote:
> merryb said...
>
> > Kinda off topic, but my parents went to high school with Jerry Garcia-
> > I have the yearbook to prove it!
>
> merryb,
>
> KEWL!
>
> Jerry was GREAT!!! We used to see The Grateful Dead practically every
> weekend in S.F.
>
> I once sat with the sound crew center/balcony at Winterland. I was making a
> bootleg and was sitting right behind them. The usher saw my tape recorder
> and tried to remove me but the sound crew graciously said "he's with us!".
> The usher backed off and roped me in! Spent the show having beers from
> their bottomless garbage can of ice cold Heinekens, and "other" stuff. They
> even listened to my bootleg after the show and to my surprise, they liked
> it. SURE they did. LOL!
>
> Never got to meet the band other than Jerry getting out of a U-Haul truck
> and a cloud (more a fog!) of pot smoke drifted into the street as he walked
> in for the show.
>
> Santana who always played first, were equally as great and Carlos is still
> with us!
>
> Thanks for the memories!
>
> Best,
>
> Andy

Very cool story! Did you grow up around there? Me, born in Sebastopol,
grew up in Santa Rosa, and moved to Puyallup,WA when I was a teen-
talk about a culture shock!! San Francisco is one of my favorite
cities!!

Serene wrote:

>> I forgot. Here's a URL about Milan.
>> http://www.yelp.com/biz/milan-international-berkeley
>
> My Sri Lankan friend who cooks meals for hire always recommends that
> place. She says it's the best place to get Sri Lankan spices.

Is the mustard oil labeled "not for human consumption"?

Bob

In article >,
Kent > wrote:
>
>"TammyM" > wrote in message
...

<recherche des fromages perdus>

>> NB, my recollection is that you're in the SF Bay Area, yes? Or am I
>> hallucinating again? Have you ever tried The Cheese Board in Berkeley?
>> It's Alice's Restaurant for cheese :-)
>>
>> TammyM, thinking it's time for another trek to Berkeley
>>
>Our favorite store for cheese is the "Country Store" also in the socialist
>republic of Berkeley, on the east side of San Pablo one block south of
>University, near the Post Office. They have great variety and prices, and
>finding old cheddar has never been a problem. Recently, on sale, we bought
>Stilton for $3.95/lb! They just opened a store on Hopkins, very near the
>Monterey Market[a favorite site for produce].

Country Cheese! And they totally rock. Excellent line of import
groceries at good prices as well.

It's one of the few places around that consistently has farmhouse cheddar.

And the west Berkeley store is walking distance from the Spanish Table.
And walking distance from my house. (Tammy, I'm just catching up, work
has been kicking my ass. I'd love to go shopping!)

The Northside store is in a little foodie mecca of its own, with the
afore-mentioned Monterey Market (which has been the subject of a
documentary - "Eat at Bill's") and other specialty stores.

I liked Safeway's extra sharp cheddar for a reasonably-priced good cheddar
- I grew up being fed Cracker Barrel - but they seem to have changed
the formula recently. *sad face* Now I buy Cracker Barrel when it goes
on club card special.

Charlotte
--

"Charlotte L. Blackmer" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> Kent > wrote:
>>
>>"TammyM" > wrote in message
...
>
> <recherche des fromages perdus>
>
>>> NB, my recollection is that you're in the SF Bay Area, yes? Or am I
>>> hallucinating again? Have you ever tried The Cheese Board in Berkeley?
>>> It's Alice's Restaurant for cheese :-)
>>>
>>> TammyM, thinking it's time for another trek to Berkeley
>>>
>>Our favorite store for cheese is the "Country Store" also in the socialist
>>republic of Berkeley, on the east side of San Pablo one block south of
>>University, near the Post Office. They have great variety and prices, and
>>finding old cheddar has never been a problem. Recently, on sale, we bought
>>Stilton for $3.95/lb! They just opened a store on Hopkins, very near the
>>Monterey Market[a favorite site for produce].
>
> Country Cheese! And they totally rock. Excellent line of import
> groceries at good prices as well.
>
> It's one of the few places around that consistently has farmhouse cheddar.
>
> And the west Berkeley store is walking distance from the Spanish Table.
> And walking distance from my house. (Tammy, I'm just catching up, work
> has been kicking my ass. I'd love to go shopping!)
>
> The Northside store is in a little foodie mecca of its own, with the
> afore-mentioned Monterey Market (which has been the subject of a
> documentary - "Eat at Bill's") and other specialty stores.
>
> I liked Safeway's extra sharp cheddar for a reasonably-priced good cheddar
> - I grew up being fed Cracker Barrel - but they seem to have changed
> the formula recently. *sad face* Now I buy Cracker Barrel when it goes
> on club card special.
>
> Charlotte
> --
I just visited the Hopkins Ave. store for the first time on a produce run to
the Monterey Market. It's not quite right! The cheese may be a bit more
expensive and the variety may be a bit less. It's maybe a bit yuppyish, a
bit too normal looking.

Kent

merryb said...

> On May 6, 1:10*pm, Andy <q> wrote:
>> merryb said...
>>
>> > Kinda off topic, but my parents went to high school with Jerry Garcia-
>> > I have the yearbook to prove it!
>>
>> merryb,
>>
>> KEWL!
>>
>> Jerry was GREAT!!! We used to see The Grateful Dead practically every
>> weekend in S.F.
>>
>> I once sat with the sound crew center/balcony at Winterland. I was
making
> a
>> bootleg and was sitting right behind them. The usher saw my tape
recorder
>> and tried to remove me but the sound crew graciously said "he's with
us!".
>
>> The usher backed off and roped me in! Spent the show having beers from
>> their bottomless garbage can of ice cold Heinekens, and "other" stuff.
The
> y
>> even listened to my bootleg after the show and to my surprise, they
liked
>> it. SURE they did. LOL!
>>
>> Never got to meet the band other than Jerry getting out of a U-Haul
truck
>> and a cloud (more a fog!) of pot smoke drifted into the street as he
walke
> d
>> in for the show.
>>
>> Santana who always played first, were equally as great and Carlos is
still
>
>> with us!
>>
>> Thanks for the memories!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Andy
>
> Very cool story! Did you grow up around there? Me, born in Sebastopol,
> grew up in Santa Rosa, and moved to Puyallup,WA when I was a teen-
> talk about a culture shock!! San Francisco is one of my favorite
> cities!!


merryb,

No, moved there for college in the early 70s, and was glad I did!!!

What a place!

Was there for the summer of love, I think!

Andy
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay

The best Mac & Cheese recipe I've come across is from the 'Joy of
Cooking' copyright 1997.

Recipe 'Baked Macaroni and Cheese'
To use a worn out phrase "It is to die for".


On Sun, 04 May 2008 21:18:04 -0700, sf <.> wrote:

>
>and it's not from a box!
>
>1 pound pasta (elbow macaroni or penne)
>
>1/2 cup butter
>4 T flour
>4 cups milk
>1/2 pound or 3 cups shredded mild or medium cheddar cheese
>
>4 cups milk
>
>Optional:
>1 cup commercial bread crumbs
>2-4 T butter
>
>Melt the butter in a saucepan, take off heat. Add the bread crumbs
>and stir.
>
>Boil macaroni one minute less than according to directions in salted
>water. Drain. Place in a large bowl. Dot with butter. After the
>butter melts, sprinkle with flour and stir. Stir in cheese. Place in
>a 9X13 baking dish that has been coated with cooking spray. Pour in
>milk.
>
>Bake for 30 minutes at 375° in the bottom third of the oven. Sprinkle
>with buttered bread crumbs (if you wish) and bake for another 30
>minutes.