Frida's? Oh, I see.

So, I had vowed to never set foot into a Chili's, Friday's, Red Lobster, Olive
Garden or anything similar, ever again. I knew that this was an unrealistic vow, since in some areas, it's the only place to find "professionally" made food.

So, with this vow in my head, I really tried (really!) to steer the group in another direction when I found myself in SoCal, at an amusement park (Knott's) with my 2 god-sons in tow. But, being the good non-parent, I realized that whatever was convenient for the kids would be best. So, when dad said, "What's this Frida's over there?" I almost got excited, until I turned around and saw it. The "Y" was missing, but I could smell the faux-happiness from where I was standing.
It was Friday's and there was no line to get in.

My bigger problem...I wasn't hungry...at all. It's a long story and I'm not getting into it here.

This was a newer Friday's, not as "striped" (red and white) as other versions I've seen.
It looked modern, not stuck in some 1987 daquiri-potato skin smelling, fern decor that these places usually feature.

The server was the typical bubbly, over-coached, young go-getter. Nice personality, and did a nice job taking care of us and the kids.

Now for the food. I had a bowl of French-onion soup. It tasted fine.
I would get it again and not complain. The rest of my dining partners had some sort of sizzling pasta dish, or some sizzling fajita dish, or some large (non-sizzling) salad. None of the other dishes looked very appetizing. But that's not really the issue.

I went to Friday's, didn't complain to anyone, ordered and ate food in peace, and actually had a decent time. That was a big step. Now don't tell anyone about this.
This'll be our little secret.

Now for a real review.
The wife and I met for lunch near her office and we chose a new place, called...oops.
I've lost the menu and I can't remember the name. It's French. La Coulte or something like that. It's from the folks who brought us Chez Papa and Chez Maman and as soon as I track down that menu, I'll post the review.
Let me just say that it was very good. Very French.

Still Here

Just wanted to tell all my fan (Hi Wifey!) that I'm alive and relatively healthy, back from a SoCal trip over the holidays, fresh off a week (pre-holiday) of bed and painkillers due to a whack back, and chock full of restaurant reviews and mini-harangues, all disorganized and not quite fully fleshed out...

As a tease, I'll give you a brief synopsis of a new restaurant in the Marina.
In the former space of Cafe Marimba, we now have Mamacita.
Still a Mexican restaurant.
Still a hoppin' bar and hangout for the young marina types.
Still hard to get in to at night.

But...

NOT Still brightly painted and festive (it was reminiscent of Day of the Dead)
NOT Still featuring dumb-distant servers, hired on appearance over skill
NOT Still serving lunch (the one I'm most bitter about)

Ok, how about the food?
To be honest, I can't remember too much. Sorry, but it was in early December when we went. The overall impression was that it was good, not great, but could be as we continue to go through the menu. I remember the Tortilla Soup being outstanding and the Ahi Tartare being better that usual. Nothing else stands out.
Don't get me wrong, we're looking forward to another visit.
We want to try the Chilequiles (tortilla chips with Chipotle cream sauce and roasted chicken) and few of the entrees. You really can't get a good "feel" of a place, especially a new restaurant, on only one visit.

Tomorrow (hopefully) I'll tell you about this little place in Buena Park, California, right next to Knott's Berry Farm (UGH!) that I ate in last week.
A quiet little "mom and pop" place I like to call TGI Fridays!

PS...according to Mamacita's website (and confirmed by an employee) they will be serving lunch and brunch shortly.

Something, Anything!

You know, it's quite hard to come up with something every single day.
Sure, I could take the easy way out and just do the "link to other bloggers" routine (sure, once in a while it's ok) but I'd just feel cheap, and you people deserve better.

I've got this piece on Tea' Leoni that I'm working on. (whaaaaa????)
Ok, here's the deal. The amount of publicity she receives is not in proportion to the work (amount AND quality) she produces. She's on all the talk shows, magazine covers, etc..., and what has she done? Jurassic Park 3? I feel like someone somewhere is forcing me to pay attention to and like her. And it really bothers me. And I've always felt this way about her.

There...I feel much better.
I'm also working on my first annual "Best of the Marina/Rest of SF" Food edition.
Actually, those are two different things. My favorite things to eat in SF AND a Marina food review.

And then I remembered what day it was! Friday!!! And we all know what that means...
First let me explain the "remembered it was Friday" deal. When you're out of work, days of the week lose much of their significance. Monday really doesn't feel all that different from Wednesday (Tuesday has the loud air raid/terror alert siren at noon, so that makes it special) and Friday just seems like another day.
But Friday for me means that I have an automatic-instant-blog-post all ready to go!
It's like the "Thanksgiving Busy Airport" or "Kids Getting Fat" or "Housing Market Set to Crash" stories that are run yearly without any thought to what is being said.
Just plug in updated words and show the same old file footage...
Think Mad-Libs, but not funny.


Back to me.
Today is the Itunes Party Shuffe-a-thon 2005 (December Mix)
Here we gooooooooo!

Fool--Hootie and the Blowfish
Close to me--The Cure
Break on Through--The Doors
Take Me Home--Phil Collins (my favorite Phil Collins song)
Bicycle Race--Queen
Tere Bin Nahin Lagda--Partners in Rhyme (Bend it Like Beckham soundtrack)
Even the Losers--Tom Petty
Syeeda's Song Flute--John Coltrane
Back to the Old House--The Smiths
My City of Ruins--Bruce Springsteen


Ta Daaaah
Thank you, I'll be here all week.