Ruby Tuesday - Out in San Francisco with Poetic Shutterbug - May 3, 2011

Joanne Olivieri, aka Poetic Shutterbug, has been a friend long before our blogging
days began.  We try to get together once a month, when we can fit it into our busy
schedules.  Our rendevous usually include food, drink, photography, music or
everything on the list!

Last week, I read about a San Francisco Creole - soul food restaurant opened by
New Orleans native, Brenda Buenviaje.  I emailed Jo and she suggested we have lunch
there today.  We arrived at Brenda's to find a line ahead of  us so we added our name
to th chalk board and sat down to wait. 

The restaurant is tiny with tables very close together, against a wall, on each side,
with a center aisle.  The noise level makes conversation almost impossible. 
If you are like Jo and me, ordering multiple items to taste, there is barely any
room to accomodate all the dishes.

The coffee served I remember well from my nursing school days at Charity and my six

years of living there - Community  coffee with chicory!  The display fit in well with our

Ruby Tuesday theme!

I thought the service was VERY poor.  People sitting next to us finished, another

couple was seated, and their order was served at least ten minutes before our first

dishes arrived at the table.  Also, we requested water which did not arrive for five

minutes.



I was rather disappointed to learn that, in spite of  the Steen's Pure Cane Syrup can on

each table, there was none of my favorite Southern syrup available - so I didn't order

pancakes or biscuits. 



Jo did opt for the pancakes but they arrived "blackened" - I've heared of other blackened

dishes but pancakes?  She said they were still good in spite of the charred taste!



My side order of andouille sausage was over cooked.  It was more like andouille jerky!

The cheddar grits were as good as I've ever eaten - better than my mother used to make!

The hushpuppies were fabulous - soft, light, spicy, with onions and corn - I might have

added jalapenos if I'd been cooking but I've never had better.  The remoulade sauce was

a nice accompaniement.  As for the fried chicken thigh, I didn't find it anything special.

I'm a Georgia girl, who went t school in New Orleans.  I've had much better.



These are the shirts worn by the wait staff.  I'm not sure they eat responsibly.





The gumbo was outstanding!  I haven't had better, even in Bayou country.  It was spicy,

full of andouille and I'd go back for more!

The red beans and rice was also very good - not better than mine but almost as good!

Here's a happy Jo, now that  she is no longer hungry!  We were sad that they didn't have

a bar, though!  No Ramos Fizz or Sazerac cocktail.  What kind of New Orleans place

is this?



Eating a hushpuppy in my Ruby Tuesday garb!

So, we leave downtown San Francisco, saying we are stuffed and can't eat another

bite and, as we head down Geary toward the Ocean, Jo looks at me and says, "Why

don't we go to the Cliff House and have a drink?" 

"Okay,"  I say, delightedly!  After all, it's a gorgeous day and we didn't have wine with

lunch and, maybe, just maybe, we'll digest a bit of food in fifteen minutes! 

Of course, there was no parking at the Cliff House so we drove a little further down the

beach and decided to stop, instead, at the Park Chalet.  Perfect, handicapped parking,

ground level, lovely spot.  Interesting cocktail menu.  I chose a "Beach Basil Ginger"

made from St. Germain liquer, Grey Goose vodka, basil leaves, ginger syrup, and

lime juice.  It was so delicious!

Jo opted for a Pacific Punch which was made with Parrot Bay rum, orange & pineapple

juice, grenadine, Myers’s dark rum.  It was really very tasty, too!  Please note, it is

perfect for Ruby Tuesday.

The Park Chalet is all glass and open, with views of Golden Gate Park and the Windmill.

They have an incredible bar menu with a huge selection of liquors.

There are murals, commemerating California history in the lobby between the Park

and Beach Chalet.



Finally, since we hadn't eaten dessert at Brenda's, we decided we couldn't call it a

day without a few more calories.  Heeding my son Jeremy's pleas to watch my weight,

Jo and I opted to split a hot fudge brownie sundae.  Oh, my gosh, we will never do

that again.  From now on, we each have our own!



This is the main dining room at the Park Chalet. 

I am participating in Ruby Tuesday!

Check out the site and join in the fun!!