I have to quit my job.

How is it possible to work AND blog? 

There have been many eating adventures over the past few weeks, but the highlight for me was probably December 18 when we had a Crabstravaganza in honor of Chris's birthday (the big three-oh).  I'd post a picture but we ate everything and I completely forgot to capture it before I brought it all out.

We (and when I say we, I mean Chris) went to 99 Ranch and picked out 9 (about 18 pounds for 12 people) of the liveliest Dungeness crabs they had out of 3 GIANT tanks.  For $2.99 they cooked and cleaned them, and for free I cracked them with a mallet.  This part is not really fun and I recommend you prepare extra for this part as it can get really messy with crab bits going everywhere.  I then made a sauce out of soy, dry vermouth, chicken stock, large pieces of ginger, scallion, lemongrass and garlic, white pepper and some salt and sugar.  I poured it all out over the crab that I had put into my All-Clad roasting pan (I heart that thing) and roasted it in the oven for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees.  It was so good, I could not believe it.  It was worth the mess of cracking to get that fresh of crab for sure.  And we ate every last claw.

We also had the BEST BREAD EVER by a bakery called Crepe & Brioche. I am so excited to have stumbled upon this bakery as I constantly am on the lookout for the BEST BREAD EVER.  I got some at the Farmer's Markets in Burlingame and San Mateo and then we started to see it served at a few restaurants (Astaria, Anjou and Bouchon).  I asked the waiter at Anjou where they got their bread and he said that the bakery only sells to restaurants and at Farmer's Markets so there was no other place to buy it.

BUT I GOT THE SCOOP!
I called their bakery number and found out that they are planning on opening a retail store at 210 Columbus in January 2005! Sweet! In the meantime, check them out at Farmer's Markets across the Bay Area.

Comments

[Sam]

molly - they also serve 'crepe and brioche' bread at Flytrap. I know because i love the bread there and so I asked. I researched high and low on the internet to find them or somewhere to buy it to no avail. I think the only thing I found out is that they are based in Potrero Hill. Eventually I asked on CHowhound and someone mentioned farmers markets, as a source, but to date, they haven't been at any of the farmers markets I've visited. Maybe I'll have to venture south...

[Sam]

oops - i just reread and saw they are opening on Columbus. Good detective work, thank you! January 2005 = now! woo hoo

[Darren]

This is my first time reading a food blog, and I'm hooked, or maybe it's just the way you write about food. It's amazing that I was present at two of the occasions described in your blog: Zibbibo and Crabstravaganza, but didn't realize how amazing there were, until, reading about it in your blog, after the fact. Keep it up Molly, your thoughts are not underappreciated; you provide a window into some amazing restaurants and dining experiences. I look forward to being invited to future events.
DK