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Culinary Muse

Tamara PalmerWest of Pecos currently uses dorado for whole fish fajitas.West of Pecos (550 Valencia) opened May 15 in the completely transformed Bombay Bazar space. The former Indian ice cream parlor
SFoodie

[Photo: Courtesy of Laszlo Bar]

THE LUNCH BUNCH — Laszlo Bar (2526 Mission) launches the weekday Machine Deli on June 1, offering five sandwiches (roast beef, turkey club, pastrami melt, smoked chicken salad, and vegetarian) for between -12. Eat in or take out from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, with liquid “panaceas” (aka adult beverages) available for those who stay. [EaterWire]

CASTRO — Beginning May 16, Butter Love Bakeshop will sell two days a week out of Adorabella (4401 18th St.) on May 16. Look for a selection of flavors of Esa Yonn-Brown’s personal-sized pies, including butter pie, on Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 AM and 2 PM. [EaterWire]

SOMA — It’s already looking good for Forage Kitchen. Iso Rabins launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for it today, and it’s gotten pledges in the thousands in just a few hours. [Grub Street]

SNEAK PEEK — With Cochon 555 just days away on May 20 at the Fairmont, competitor Thomas McNaughton has teased out some details of one of his dishes: Pork broth with espelette, cracklings and brain aioli. Coincidentally, Bay to Breakers is that day as well, so you can do that early and earn the right to pig out, or simply just show up and get ready to oink. [EaterWire]

Eater SF

If you are someone who gets a rush from doing extreme sports, you will definitely want to check out the newest craze called volcano surfing. Yes, volcano surfing is exactly what it sounds like. Brave souls take their boards up to the top of volcanic mountains and surf down. If this sounds like something you would enjoy getting an adrenaline rush from, you should head to Nicaragua. They are largely considered to have the best volcanoes for surfing. If you need to get an expedited United States passport renewal before your trip, you can go online to an internet passport agency that will be able to assist you.

Passport Needs

A passport is a necessary document for anyone traveling out of the United States. They allow an individual to cross into another country as well as re-enter. Because these documents act as an international id and travel permit it is imperative that they stay up to date regarding renewals and name changes. For this reason agencies offer expedited passport renewal services or other services for those who did not plan accordingly. They used to be hassle to obtain and maintain, but now with private agencies obtaining one and keeping it up to date is a cinch.

Surfing Volcanoes

Volcano surfing can be down by either sitting or standing on the board. However, if you are brave enough to attempt volcano surfing, you might as well stand up for the ride. There is danger involved as a surfer can severely injure themselves if they fall off the board resulting in cuts from rough volcanic ash. Protective gear such as jump suits and goggles are highly recommended for such occurrences. Riders walk up the steep volcano and then slide down on their respective board. Consider sledding yet volcanic ash instead of snow.

Other Activities

Volcano boarding has become increasingly popular and there are even trips available for those who enjoy this extreme sport, or for those who want to try it. In addition to Volcano surfing there are also day trips and expeditions to nearby attractions. This makes Volcano boarding in Nicaragua a great destination place.

Other Things To Do

Other attractions include sight seeing in the mystic mountains, the Isla Juan Venado, as well as a Sea Turtle expedition. Trips are also offered that feature hiking up volcanos and actually full day surfing tours in the ocean. The possibilities are endless when it comes to Nicaragua and all the wonderful country has to offer.

If you are going to be traveling to Nicaragua to try volcano surfing you are going to need a valid United States passport. It is easy than ever for Americans to get their expedited passport renewed. No matter what, if you know you are traveling out of the country you should take care of all your passport needs before the last minute. It costs a lot of money to get a pasport expedited and you can’t guarantee you will receive it on time if you wait too long. However, if you are in the situation where you need your passport renewed quickly, you can always go online and find an agency that can take care of it for you.

Chef Chu’s: Restaurant Info + Video | reviews | full episode video |

Other ways to watch episode online (and on video iPod):
Download episode (requires iTunes or QuickTime)
Subscribe to Video Podcast

View Larger Map

Location:
1067 North San Antonio Road (at El Camino Real)
Los Altos, CA, 94022

Parking: Free lot

Phone: (650) 948-2696
Website: chefchu.com
Facebook: Chef Chu’s

Restaurant Owner: Lawrence Chu
Executive Chef: Lawrence Chu

Type of Cuisine: Chinese: Sichuan-Hunan
Signature Dishes: Live Maine lobster over yee mein noodles, Hunan family style tofu, wok-seared basil beef
Vegetarian Options: 3+ items
Alcohol Served: Full bar
Corkage Fee:
Bottle Limit: None

Restaurant Hours:
Monday: 11:30am-9:30pm
Tuesday: 11:30am-9:30pm
Wednesday: 11:30am-9:30pm
Thursday: 11:30am-9:30pm
Friday: 11:30am-10:00pm
Saturday: 12:00pm-10:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm-9:30pm

Meals Served: Lunch, dinner
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: No
Average Dinner Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): –
Average Lunch Price Range (Per person, full meal, tax, 15% gratuity, w/o alcohol): Under
Payment Options: Visa, Master Card, American Express
Accept Reservations: Yes
Do you accept reservations through OpenTable.com? No
Need Reservations: No

Accommodations for Children: Kid-friendly
Dining Style: Casual
Disabled Access: Yes
Restaurant Size: Large (100+ seats)
Accommodate Groups (10+): Yes
Private Dining Room: Yes
Tables with Scenic Views: No
Outdoor Dining: No
Entertainment: No

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Check, Please! Bay Area

Michael’s has two new printable coupons available today through Saturday, May 19th.

- Get Off Your Purchase – good for regular and sale prices
- 40% Off Any Regular Price Item coupon
 

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My San Francisco Mommy – Extreme Couponing

This year brings a full array of beautiful new restorations, beloved favorites, rediscovered classics, and revelations

San Francisco Silent Film Festival

If you are someone who is looking to go with your family on an exciting international vacation, consider taking a trip to Brazil. If you are looking for interesting activities to do while you are in Brazil, consider going to the flooded desert of the Lencois Maranhenses National Park. This park is home to an odd phenomenon of a desert range being flooded throughout various times of the year. It is one of the most interesting natural wonders in all of Brazil. It is important to remember, if you are taking your children to Brazil with you, that you will need to fill out a child U.S. passport application. All minors must now have a valid US passport in order to be able to travel overseas.

Passports

All minors, including newborns, are required to have a passport for international travel. The evidence you can show to get a passport can vary, but a valid birth certificate is the most common for children. You must present the original copy of the birth certificate, however, because it has unique markings on it to show its validity that a copy would not have.

Parks

The Park features large, sweeping, white sand dunes, and has often been described as an archetypal desert. Because this park lies outside of the Amazon River basin it is often subjected to a large amount of rain during the rain season. This park featuring a desert that is occasionally flooded is located in the Maranhao sate of northeastern Brazil. It is classified as a low, flat, area that contains large discrete sand dunes that is occasionally inundated with water. The national park was formed in 1981; however there are still a fair number of inhabitants that work as fishermen during the water months and then move to the city to take care of land in the dry months.

Where To Stay

There are tours offered to the national park by different tour agencies. The best time of year to go is between July and September. This is when the water levels are low but not low enough so that the mimic desert is completely dried out. There is a bit of wildlife and fauna to be seen, but for the most part the site is exactly that a flooded desert. Most tourists stay in nearby towns and take a daytrip and then focus the rest of their vacation time on nearby cities and attractions. For those interested in geologic and natural phenomenon this is an awe inspiring site to see.

Brazil offers great family trips that will be remembered for a lifetime. The Lencois Maranhenses National park offers a glimpse of the basin at the end of the Amazon River. The desert like topography of this site mixed with a lagoon makes for a very interesting attraction. When in Brazil it’s an interesting site to see and to experience. So make sure your US passport is ready and don’t forget to fill out a child passport application for the kids so they can go along too.

Check, Please! Bay Area’s seventh season episode 3 (#703) profiles and reviews these three Bay Area restaurants:

1) Chef Chu’s: | restaurant information + video | reviews |

2) Lanesplitter Pizza and Pub: | restaurant information + video | reviews |

3) chiaroscuro: | restaurant information + video | reviews |

Other ways to watch the episode online (and on video iPod):
Download episode (requires iTunes or QuickTime)
Subscribe to Video Podcast

View photo gallery (flickr.com)
Contribute your food photos! (flickr.com)

My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. I will also share some wine tips with each episode.

2010 Trione Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Grape growers in Sonoma for more than three decades, the Trione family is well known in the wine business. Only recently have they begun to bottle their own wines and their commitment to quality is evident. This white is juicy and fresh but with a creamy character that makes it ideal for pairing with foods from shellfish to cheese.

2009 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California
I’ve long been a fan of Cabernet from the iconic Stags Leap District. This unique sub-zone of Napa produces reds that are elegant yet still powerful. They’ve been called “an iron fist in a velvet glove” and that sums up the supple style of Stags Leap Cab. A rising star, Cliff Lede winery is producing some of the best from the area and this is a stunning wine. Drink now or cellar for up to a decade.

Related posts:

1. Check, Please! Bay Area: The Peasant & The Pear, Spork, Ristorante Ideale
2. Wine Tips: About Shiraz, Syrah and Petite Sirah
3. Lanesplitter Pizza and Pub: Reviews

Check, Please! Bay Area

The Lusty Lady in North Beach made national headlines in the 90s when the strippers there organized an exotic dancers union, and ultimately formed a cooperative to buy out the club owners. Now the club has fallen on hard times, and they’re appealing to the city, or anyone, for some help to keep the club open. C.W. Nevius gets characteristically curmudgeonly about it all, noting the “the tattered and stained rug in the back room” and the sad, dollar-operated, window-booth structure they have now for watching the dancers. Also, he says, “This is truly a San Francisco place, but I can’t say there is a compelling reason to keep it open.” [Chron]

Read more posts by Jay Barmann

Filed Under: endangered, nightlife, the lusty lady

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