10 Food Firsts for 2008
By Tamara Palmer
Wednesday, Dec. 31 2008 @ 7:00AM
(Palermo vs. Tokyo by Chef Ian Muntzert for Mission Street Food)By Tamara Palmer
It's only been a few months since I became your faithful daily food blogger, but it's a position I've been unconsciously training for all of my life. I have always been interested in the world of eating, from the political and scientific levels all the way down to an unabashed love of snacking. I'm making a concerted effort to try the new and different as much as possible, but have yet to achieve an Anthony Bourdain-level of experimentation. (That may well never come; I'm realistic and doubt I'd ever eat a boiled grasscutter in Ghana.)
I'm sure I'll continue to be more adventurous in 2009, especially if it gives someone else a vicarious boost to just read about it. I did manage to push some of my own personal tasting boundaries this year at least 10 times, and while not every bite was appealing, the thrill of the new remained. These are my top food firsts for 2008 in no particular order, with the hope that there will be many more to come.
1. Bone marrow at Zaré Fly Trap (606 Folsom)
Yes, many people eat and love bone marrow, but I had a life-long aversion to even the thought of trying it until Chef Hoss Zaré prepared a crostini of marrow, preserved lemon and Persian pickles and handed it to me with such enthusiasm that I had to say yes. I'm not sorry I did.
2. Maple bacon apple donut at Dynamo Donuts and Coffee (2760 24th St.)
I am, however, sorry that I tried this. 2008 was definitely a huge year for bacon as it splashed out in everything from chocolate (by Chicago's Vosges) to lattes (served at Pirate Cat Radio in the Mission). But this donut just isn't a good idea.
3. Crab and crawfish cheesecake at Cajun Pacific (4542 Irving)
The concept of cheesecake with seafood still isn't music to my ears, yet I'll taste anything that Chef Chuck Maddox offers at his weekend restaurant. And this is a keeper.
4. Mango ostrich from Red Jade (245 Church)
One of the most important facts I learned this year: Ostrich doesn't taste like chicken, it tastes like beef!
5. Soy sauce chocolate by Oriol Balaguer at Cocoa Bella (865 Market)
I applaud Spanish chocolatier Balaguer for experimenting, but soy sauce in chocolate (and in white chocolate) is not sweet.
6. Halo halo at Jollibee (200 4th St.)
I love this Filipino wonder sundae!
7. Tibetan yak cheese at Rainbow Grocery (1745 Folsom)
Rainbow cheese buyer Gordonzola says this seems to be temporarily off the market, but they'll restock it if it does come back around. This one, for me, was more about the novelty than it being a taste I want to revisit.
8. Wasabi-ginger lollipop from Lollyphile
Lollyphile's latest pop (other flavors are absinthe and maple-bacon) sounds wild but is a subtle delight. We're looking forward to the new varieties sure to come next year.
9. Palermo vs Tokyo at Mission Street Food
The last installment of MSF for the year brought this mash-up of Japanese sushi and Italian seafood, with sardine "nigiri" on arancini (fried rice balls) with romesco. Sardines weren't a first for me, but the arancini was. I could eat a dozen.
10. Secret Breakfast ice cream at Humphry Slocombe
One of my last bites of the year from a brand-new place that I'm sure will be the source of some of my food firsts for 2009; the forthcoming foie gras ice cream sandwiches will definitely make the list.
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