WTF Da Flora and FREAKS @ The Saloon

The food at Da Flora in North Beach apparently got tired of being gorgeous, succulent and enticing and decided to try "Olive Garden" freeze dried flavor for a change. After being pretty strict vegan for the week, I was really looking forward to slipping a little and diving into the sweet potato gnocchi and a risotto last Saturday. But all four of us were disappointed to say the least. Th Mr. and I both had had a few at Internos before meeting our dear friends (who really had to go all out to get the kids covered for the dinner). So we were super ready to eat - but not to eat that crap. This is the second time I made the mistake of getting all excited about a restaurant that was great a year ago. Just goes to show, you can't count on a SF restaurant to stay consistent. Unless it is Zuni Cafe that is.

Luckily there was a great, loud, grey haired band of Blues musicians rocking The Saloon that night (Duh) so we sauntered over there after a very nondescript dessert and grappa slushy at the bar at The North Beach Restaurant. BTW, a very good place to go if you have a 90 year old relative in town who needs a lot of bright light to read the menu and likes Andy Williams. I had forgotten about just how freaky our freaks are in this town! We forged an immediate and intimate friendship with the disowned son of a " very wealthy" Brazilian (a fat roll of $100 presented as proof) who is not gay (although the following might lead to think so Miss) and who miraculously had so much in common with us that lots of hand kissing and barstool hugs ensued. Being a gentleman, he gave up his seat for a giant gypsy woman who came to enjoy a beer at the bar after apparently having sold out her basket of tourist suckering goods. She slapped me on the shoulder and laughing told me how the old bag lady trying to talk her way past the bouncer had just tried to pick pocket her! Ha HA! Even though they are good friends - the old lady knows the gypsy made a lot of money that night, so you can't blame her - but in the end "You CAN'T pickpocket a GYPSY!" Nutty North Beach Saloon!

I made awesome pizza this past weekend

The Pizza crust

1 pkg yeast and 1t unrefined sugar dissolved in 3/4 cup warm water to proof (10 minutes or so)

add 2t olive oil

1/2t sea salt

1 1/2 C flour

1/2 C whole wheat flour

mix and knead 3-4 minutes until a nice dough forms

oil a bowl put the dough in and cover with a cloth, leave it to rise for 2 hours, punch down and let rise again.

I just left it out on the counter and went out until dinner so the second rise was more like 3 hours I think

Pre heat oven to 500 with one rack on the bottom and one on the top third position.

The sauce

Saute 4 cloves minced garlic in 2T olive oil to soften slightly with

1t each Basil & oregano, large grain sea salt

pinch hot pepper flakes, black pepper (5 grinds or so)

add a small can organic tomato sauce cooking down slightly about 10 minutes

add in 3 more cloves minced garlic and turn it off.

roll the dough thin (we have 2 round pizza pans with holes all over the bottom and this recipe made just enough for them) spray oil the pans well before you put the dough on them, use half the sauce on each pizza spreading it very thin with the back of a metal spoon from the center out in a spiral to evenly distribute. We like cheddar and parmesan mixed but you could use any cheese you like really. Cook the pizza one at a time onthe bottom rack for about 4 minutes or until the dough is starting to look cooked at the cheese is melting - then move the pie to the upper third for another 2 minutes or so - watch carefully - or just until the cheese is lightly golden brown and the pizza pie looks like a garlicky cheese dream!

I realize this is not vegan.

This was also much better than the vegan veggie curry that I made, which is why there was no left over pizza at all but the curry I am still working on...