Recession-Proof Valentine's Day Celebration!

Celebrating Valentine's Day as an engaged couple is a funny thing. In Mark's own words, "We've kinda been on a Valentine's Day high for the last 4 months since engagement!" I thought - very true. Perhaps that was Mark's way of getting out of a V day celebration... Hmmm... Fine by me! In any case, we decided that we would cook in instead to respect the recession we are in, as well as save money for the big day. Plus, cooking together is more fun anyways. So the plan was set...

We woke up on Valentine's Day wondering what we were going to make from the French Laundry cookbook he had gotten me for Xmas (I still can't believe that The FL doesn't take reservations even if you physically walk in. It's out of respect for the international clientele who can't be there in person, they say. Ridiculous!!!). However, Mark ended up craving the amazing pulled pork sandwich at Universal Cafe. So, we thought, let's go eat brunch there and look through the cookbook to see what we would make for dinner. Again, the plan was set...

Just as we were about to reach the Cafe, we received a call from Diana and Roger announcing that they would like to join the PhoNATICS club Mark and I had initiated (details in January blog posting) and invited us to a pho outing. Of course we couldn't turn down prospective members!!! The solution? We decided to eat our round 1 brunch at Universal cafe as planned, warming up our stomach for the pho. Sounds crazy? Maybe so. The huckleberry donut (photo on left) with lemon curd cream was as "life changing" as the waitress promised. And the fried chicken (our fave!!!) sandwich was pretty good too. Now onto round 2: Pho Tan Hoa, here we come!

We were excited to learn the authenticity of new PhoNATICS members Roger and Diana. Roger actually claims that his favorite food is pho. What a statement! The best part is that he actually L-O-V-E-S tendon in the pho, just like Mark and I!! Mark and I actually had a big debate about whether Mark's nickname in the club should be Tendon or Sriracha, which he ultimately went with given his obsession with this amazing sauce. It looks like Tendon is now taken by Roger - congrats Rog, very deserving. Diana went with Bean Sprouts, Sprouts for short.

Tenderloin's Pho Tan Hoa is bright and spacious. To sum it up, Pho Tan Hoa had: 1. amazing tender tendon (one of the best I have ever had), 2. fantastic thinly-sliced steak pink and rare (the pho photo outside the restaurant was no false advertisement - see photo on right for actual pinkness of meat), 3. great noodles (coming from the self-claimed noodles expert in the club - I am not nicknamed Noodles for nothing!), and 4. awesome portions (I assure you that it is impossible to walk out w/o feeling stuffed, esp. if you order the large size that comes in a HUGE bowl). The thing that bothered me, however, was the broth. Perhaps I am too used to the rich broth pho usually is in. The lighter broth at this place, albeit healthy, just didn't quite do it for me.

Here is our collective ratings (as shown by the # of chopsticks in the photo) - who needs stars when you can have chopsticks anyways?!?!




#1 Mark Sriracha: 3 chopsticks
#2 Amy Noodles: 3 1/2 chopsticks
#3 Roger Tendon: 4 chopsticks
#4 Diana Sprouts: 4 chopsticks

Looks like our newcomers were a little more generous with their chopsticks.

Overall, our first official San Francisco PhoNATICS outing was a huge success. Everyone left happy and full, but managed to squeeze in some Humphry Slocombe ice cream afterwards for some extra happiness and fullness. Life was good. So was our didn't-go-quite-as-planned Valentine's. But, we did manage to cook. Again, while we had planned to make lobster and clams linquine, the not-so-planned-food-sold-out part resulted in dover sole on asparagus and seared scallops on brussel sprouts instead. And lots of champagne - which always makes a Valentine's Day celebration end on a good note! Happy Valentine's Day!!!!