One of the best meals I ever had was in House of Nanking in San Francisco about 15 years ago. Someone took a group of us there at 3.30 pm in the afternoon which seemed to early, but we found out why later. We were looking at the menu and he told us to not to. He told the waitress to bring food - she brought a bowl of rice to share, then she would bring a main which we would share, when it was finished she would replace it with another. One main was a plate of mushrooms which seemed ridiculous but tasted amazing. The place was basic, chaotic and busy but the food was fantastic. Eventually the waitress came back and asked if we had enough. When we left at 4.30pm there was a long queue outside and we found out why we went so early :-). Undoubtedly my memory has played tricks and romanticised the meal - but I think that is true whenever anyone thinks of the great meals they have had.
Hi Mark, thanks for the encouragement. I agree that the great thing about cities is those places where you can just rock up and let the professionals take care of you
I'm not really much of a food person, but your writing made it interesting. I lived in San Francisco in the seventies. In spite of the tail end of the hippies still hanging on, for the most part it was beautiful. No restaurants for me, though. I was a semi-starving student and most of my meals were 25-cent packets of boiled ramen, with a hard-boiled egg.
I do remember one visit to the basement cafeteria of Liberty House department store, where they had the best French onion soup I've ever tasted. I don't know if the place still exists.
I'm still trying to find another cantaloupe with vanilla ice cream like the one I first had in Miami, FL over 40 years ago. Big producers took all the taste out of food.
Another great piece.
One of the best meals I ever had was in House of Nanking in San Francisco about 15 years ago. Someone took a group of us there at 3.30 pm in the afternoon which seemed to early, but we found out why later. We were looking at the menu and he told us to not to. He told the waitress to bring food - she brought a bowl of rice to share, then she would bring a main which we would share, when it was finished she would replace it with another. One main was a plate of mushrooms which seemed ridiculous but tasted amazing. The place was basic, chaotic and busy but the food was fantastic. Eventually the waitress came back and asked if we had enough. When we left at 4.30pm there was a long queue outside and we found out why we went so early :-). Undoubtedly my memory has played tricks and romanticised the meal - but I think that is true whenever anyone thinks of the great meals they have had.
sounds fabulous!
Hi Mark, thanks for the encouragement. I agree that the great thing about cities is those places where you can just rock up and let the professionals take care of you
Wow, you write well!
Thank you, my dear mother-in-law
I'm not really much of a food person, but your writing made it interesting. I lived in San Francisco in the seventies. In spite of the tail end of the hippies still hanging on, for the most part it was beautiful. No restaurants for me, though. I was a semi-starving student and most of my meals were 25-cent packets of boiled ramen, with a hard-boiled egg.
I do remember one visit to the basement cafeteria of Liberty House department store, where they had the best French onion soup I've ever tasted. I don't know if the place still exists.
Food, when done well, makes a foodie out of us all as it builds memories
I'm still trying to find another cantaloupe with vanilla ice cream like the one I first had in Miami, FL over 40 years ago. Big producers took all the taste out of food.
Big Agri is a problem for sure. When profit seeking overacts, actual consumer value is the goal; there will always be long-term problems.