Jim Barcelona's Philosophy and Food Blog

Really Awesome Pastrami Sandwiches

I've just been making my own lately, and it's pretty simple.

1 package of Columbus Pastrami
2 slices of swiss cheese (smaller eyes won't overwhelm the pastrami)
2 slices of 4 cheese bread from Trader Joe's

Toast the 2 slices of bread. Microwave pastrami for two minutes. Add cheese and microwave for 30 seconds.

Voila, you've got a really good pastrami sandwich that's better than most places.

South Beach Cafe

If you're on Brannan and Embarcadero, I suggest stopping by South Beach Cafe for great Italian Pizza and iced coffee drinks.

I was there this afternoon with the Quinn.com crew and it was great yummy! I had the lasagna and iced coffee.

Google Referrals Have Ruined My Blog

When I started this blog, I wanted to write about philosophy and poetry. To impress some gal with my smarts, I made up a new word called, "Sciurophobia," which means fear of squirrels. Now the only people who visit my blog are those who searched on "fear of squirrels."

I'm not sure what to do with this blog now. Any ideas?

Favorite Food Place in Potrero?

Do you have a favorite food place in Potrero?

I like going to:

Hazel's
Whole Foods
The Taco Truck on Mariposa - just for the tortas. I don't recommend anything else.
Dos Penos
Connecticut Yankee

Any other places that you can recommend?

Whole Foods for a Whole Lunch

I've been going to Whole Foods in Potrero Hill these days. I overheard at the food court, "The one in New York has better food." I think the food court has good value for good quality.

Food ideas...

I've been eating in a lot lately. So far, the sort of cooking I do tends to be from Bon Appetit Magazine...

The latest was snow peas, which are in season, and crabcakes! Delicious!

Another Day, Another Burrito Blog

There are some blogs that go into burritos that you can have in difference states. The Another Day, Another Burrito Blog just focuses on one spot that's on Rhode Island and Mariposa, Liz y Gaby's Taco Truck. I've had the tinga burritos here and they're great.

New Whole Foods in Potrero Hill on 17th and Arkansas

I finally found a place that I love to go to for coffee on my way to work.

It's the new Whole Foods in Potrero Hill on 17th and Arkansas.

Where's the philosophy?

All of you have probably been on pins and needles wondering, where's all the philosophy?

On the 27th at Crepes on Cole at 7pm, I'll be hosting the monthly philosophy meetup. You can check out all the action and info at Meetup.com.

The discussions I've been facilitating focus on not reading philosophy but actually doing philosophy. Particpants are asked to volunteer 1 page of original philosophy.

Sound easy?

It's actually quite challenging, but rewarding, too.

Bloggers Night at the Symphony and Dessert at Sauce

Last night a an awesome friend invited me to Bloggers Night at the San Francisco Symphony. Kevin Smokler organized the event. James Gaffigan conducted three pieces that centered around the theme of romance.

Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet
Richard Strauss' Don Juan
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3

Tchaikovsky's piece starts off slow and builds up to an ecstatic and joyful melody with the flutes alternating between two notes while the violins play the main melody. It ends with a sad and mournful funeral march.

The Strauss piece has the same movement from light to dark.

During the intermission, George Kelly asked conductor, James Gaffigan, "Do you have a blog?" The conductor replied that he didn't because he really expresses himself through his music.

Rachmaninoff's 3rd moves from angst and melancholy to utter joy and transcendent bliss. 23 year old pianist, Gabriela Martinez, played with endurance and excellence a really difficult piece and her rendition floored me. While at dessert at Sauce, I mentioned that in order to get your trance fix before electronica, you probably had to listen to Rachmaninoff.

The dessert at this place is absolutely fabulous. They have a sampler plate on the menu with the phrase "trust us..." After tasting the PB&J, which is pan seared sponge cake layered with homemade strawberry preserve and frangelico peanut butter and a vanilla ice cream center, I am ready to give the creators of such a divine dessert my social security number.

Sauce
131 Gough Street (between oak st. and lily)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-1369
Dinner is from 5pm to midnight. Bar closes at 2am.

Have you tried Mission Pie?

Dear Lazy Web,

Has anybody tried Mission Pie on 25th and Mission yet?

Cheers,
Barce

Brothers Restaurant Lets You Barbecue

The idea is simple. You order a ton of meat. You cook it. You eat it, and then you pay for it, and you are happy. For a more fancy review you might want to check out yelp.

Brothers Restaurant aka Brothers BBQ
4128 Geary Boulevard (cross 6th)
San Francisco, CA 94118 (415) 387-7991
Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.

credits: barce (on camera and voice), Mike Brenzel, Hal Kane, Evan Graham, Gabriella Giuliani

Noodle.ism's Tilted Bowls Slides Food Into Your Tummy

When you walk into Noodle.ism on West 5th and Congress in downtown Austin, the first thing that strikes you is the giant tiled hanging menu with all the food options. Each food option has it's own gigantic 8x10 to tempt your corrupt soul.

The stir fried udon with bok choy, chicken and red bell peppers corrupted my soul so badly that they'll have to event a new circle in hell. The noodles were chewy, the chicken cooked perfectly, and the sauce a pleasant mix of sesame, salty, sweet and sour. They were served in a tilted bowl so that I could lean back and admire the steam rising above this dish. You can have it spicy or mild. The service was both fast and friendly.

Noodle.ism
107 W. 5th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Trials Pub's Comfort Food Won't Make You Feel Guilty

The moment I walked into Trial's Pub, I knew that this was the place to hang out on Monday's, have a pint of Guiness and enjoy fish'n chips.

They've got trivia on Monday.

You can substitute your chips for mashe'd p's (potatoes).

They have poutine (canadian chips with gravy and cheese).

The place is far from pretentious.

The prices for meals are close to under $10.

If you say goodbye, the staff will say goodbye.

The service is friendly.

They've got comfort food.

Trials Pub
265 N 1st St (at Devine St)
San Jose, CA
Opens after 5pm

http://www.trialspub.com/

Super Cheap Tacos at a Bar in Downtown San Jose

The Blue Monkey won't make your pocket feel blue. At a $1.50 per taco and three tacos making me full, it's a great deal!

The lounge upstairs has pimpin' leather couches and is designed like a total pimped out bachelor pad.

1 East San Fernando Street (cross: 1st Street)
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 668-1538