Table for One, Please

Danny Choo, son of shoe mogul Jimmy Choo, likes to eat in the company of his anime figurines. Some without panties (correct, sans pantsu).  Here are some photos direct from Danny's blog from his meals in Tokyo. How do you make eating alone fun?

The Modern Picnic

I always think of a picnic as a big production with a checkerboard blanket, picnic basket, plates and glasses, and special homemade treats. It turns out that it can be easy, cheap, and a great way to relax with your friends. No need for bougie, just grab a buddy and a sandwich and enjoy the nice weather.

At Dolores Park, it turns out that Safeway is the number one source of goodies because it's easy and inexpensive and nearby. Homemade food was also popular as well as Ike's Place. Also making a showing: Truly Mediterranean, Tartine Bakery, BiRite Market & Creamery, Jay's Cheesesteak, and Foods Co. Although the food carts weren't around that day, except for the ice cream carts of course, check Twitter in advance to see if the food carts will be in your area. Using Yelp, you can see which other restaurants are near Dolores Park.

It's a crime not to enjoy warm picnicking weather in San Francisco so go make the most of it! The Modern Urban Picnic doesn't require much effort.

Supporting Your Cause with Cupcakes

Many people wouldn't think twice about where the proceeds are going if they are facing down a delicious-looking cupcake, cookie, pie, or coffee cake. And there were definitely tasty ones at the San Francisco branch of the Worldwide Vegan Bakesale last weekend.

The Worldwide Vegan Bakesale took place in cities all over the world. By May 3rd, over 120 sales were held and the event was extended an additional week in over a dozen cities. Last year, San Francisco's sale raised $4200 for the Food Empowerment Project and SaveABunny! Worldwide, the sales last year raised over $25,000.

This year, San Francisco's sale benefited WildCare (treating sick/injured wild animals) and Virunga National Park (protecting gorillas in the Congo). Regardless, I found the strawberry shortcake cupcake delightful (does anyone know who made those?). Treats were available Bike Basket Pies, Black Orchid Bakery, Brassica Supperclub, Scarlette Poppy (Team of Heather and Mike Jimenez), Sugar Beat Sweets, Violet Sweet Shoppe, and other purveyors.

All You Can Eat...For 30 Minutes

Combining the concept of an all-you-can-eat buffet and a u-pick farm is a strawberry farm near Tokyo called Koyano Orchard (Koyano Kajuen).

One and a half hours by train from Tokyo, this farm in Hanno City, Saitama allows you to pick and eat as many as you like for 30 minutes.

Our hotel advised us that there are two types of strawberries available at the farm. 1) Akihime - not as acidic with tender pulp, and 2) Beni-hoppe - with the best balance of acidity and sweetness.

In Nirayama-Tada, an area famous for its Benihoppe strawberries, 60,000 honeybees were recently stolen as part of a major increase in honeybee thefts all over Japan. I don't know if this will affect the coming crop but you should call ahead anyway to make sure they're not sold out before you go. I discovered that they also have u-pick grapes, but don't know which time of year. The following images are from their website.

Black Panthers' Hot Sauce

Former Black Panthers, plus one BP widow, and musician Al Green worked together to produce an organic hot sauce called 'Burn Baby Burn.' It's slightly more spicy than Tabasco and with stronger flavor. Although we still prefer Tabasco's flavor, no hot sauce has as much fascinating history behind it as this one does.

Terra Bakery - Masters of Cheesy Bread and Bagels

Picked up Mother's Day brunch bagels and could not wait to bite into the warm cheddar and olive bagel. Stupendous. So soft yet chewy with a bit of crustiness on the outside. I think the olives were kalamata.

I've also tried their cheese bread (larger than a bagel) which I think was made with asiago. Tasty! 

P.S. Little known fact is that they do take reservations for their tables.

Mortadella Hot Dogs at Boccalone

Chris Cosentino's and Mark Pastore's Boccalone is now serving these tasty morsels.
Sold in packs of 3 for $9.00 or prepared in a bun with house-made pickles and mustard for $7.50.

They remind me of soft bologna. Any other Russians grow up with meals of fried soft 'baloney' with potatoes?

No Jewish Delis in the Holy Land?

Have you eaten so many corned beef sandwiches that you deserve to be an honorary Jew? You may have to wait indefinitely for that title because delis and the Holy Land are like ham & cheese - a fine combination to outsiders.

It turns out that the Jewish deli is such a distinctly American creation that it's rare to find one in Israel, because they're not very popular. Even in travel guides, these delis are listed under "American Food."

According to the Jewish site Forward.com,  Eastern European Jews invented delis only after they arrived in the New World. According to Forward.com:

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David Sax, author of “Save the Deli,” which describes the increasingly endangered Jewish delicatessen, says there are a number of reasons that the deli never made it to the Holy Land.

“The climate made it very difficult for people to grow the produce, especially raise cattle for such a meat-based food,” Sax said in a telephone interview from New York. “Also, the food itself doesn’t suit the climate as much. Then there was the clear philosophical break Israel’s founding fathers made with the Diaspora, and [the indigenous] falafel became the official food of Israel.”

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While a new deli called Ruben has just opened in Tel Aviv and is planning a second branch soon, previous delis have not done so well. Many food mavens have given up hope on great American-Jewish delis in Israel. Here's a quick roundup of the most significant delis in Israel.

• Ruben
• Mendy's deli (Tel Aviv) is now closed
• New York deli (Herzeliya) is now closed
• New Deli (Jerusalem), which Chowhounds don't like and is focused on fast food
• Hess German deli (Jerusalem), which foodies like but report that it's pricey and focused on sausages
• Chofetz Chaim (Jerusalem), which foodies like
• Chicago Chef Deli (Ra'anana) is actually not a deli
• Kedma (Jerusalem), which promotes its "corned beef experience"