#40: Cheeseburger with sweet potato fries at Taylor’s Automatic Refresher

There are a few cheeseburgers on the list (three to be exact) so I was excited to knock one these out early. Besides, I needed a break from my PB&Js I'd been making for lunch at work.

I am currently in desperate need of a nap thanks to Taylor's Automatic Refresher. You'd think I would be automatically refreshed, but this cheeseburger knocked me on my ass. As the magazine says to do, I had the cheeseburger with sweet potato fries (accompanied by the obvious side of ranch).

Going...

The burger was great -- cooked perfectly on a really good egg bun -- and it had American cheese on it, which I LOVE on my burger. One thing of note: If you want tomatoes on your burger, you must request them. They do not come standard. Kinda weird, huh?

Going...

The sweet potato fries were probably the best sweet potato fries I've had -- and I do not like sweet potatoes. They had some yummy chili spice on them and the ranch was really good (it's made with chives, parsley, yogurt, garlic & buttermilk.)

Going...

If you go at lunchtime, get there early ... a line forms and seating is hard to get.
Aside from me spilling the ranch all over my black pants, I had a great experience at Taylor's!

Gone!

Sidenotes:
$7.99 for the cheeseburger/$3.99 for the sweet potato fries.
No, it was in no way better than In 'n Out.

#58: Chicharrones from 4505 Meats

Stopped by the 4505 Meats booth outside the Ferry Building today to get the chicharrones. What are chicharrones, you ask? Pork rinds!
I've always been kind of disgusted by pork rinds. I never really understood what they were and I'm pretty sure I've never had one. I would see them in the grocery store when I was a kid (but of course we were never allowed to have them ... MOM). So I was pretty intrigued when I saw these on the list. How were they? Hmm ... ok, I guess. They taste ... well ... like pork ... with a little bit of sweetness to them (there's sugar in them). The consistency is weird -- they melt in your mouth. Frankly, I'd rather have M&Ms melt in my mouth because the thought of pork skin melting anywhere near my mouth makes me want to vomit.
Would I get them again? Nope. They don't taste that awesome and they got stuck in my teeth. I shouldn't fail to mention that they're not the most healthy of snacks either. Unless you're some sort of pork rind freak, I wouldn't bother trying them.

Sidenotes:
$3.00 for a bag.
4505 meats also makes sausages and sells them pre-packaged at the Ferry Building.

#46: Chips and salsa at Papalote

I just had a really good experience at Papalote tonight -- where I went to try the chips and salsa. I know ... chips and salsa ... kinda boring -- but I can see why people rave about this stuff. It's not the BEST salsa I've ever had -- and I've even had better in the city -- but it was definitely GOOD. SFers, you know that salsa at Tortilla Heights? Not the green one, not the chunky one, but the other one (the orangish/reddish one?) It tasted A LOT like that -- except the Tortilla Heights one is better. Chips were good too but let me tell you what was really good: the chicken mole tacos. Holy Mole (is that my boy Masoli?) Two big tacos for $5.95 (order it "super" with cheese, guac and sour cream for an additional 99 cents.) I was like scraping the plate for every last bit.

Yummy chicken mole tacos with lots of fresh ingredients!

Check out the menu and definitely go check this place out.

Sidenotes:

$1.50 for chips and salsa

Papalote has two locations: 24th/Valencia & Fulton/Masonic -- I hit up the Fulton one.

'Throwdown with Bobby Flay' on the Food Network is having a burrito throwdown with Papalote on Feb. 17.

#80: Apple fritter at Bob’s Donuts

Since I'm going to be eating bad food all day long at Rager's Super Bowl party, I figured it's a good day to eat this apple fritter for breakfast. I mean, the day is a complete wash as far as nutrition and well-being go, so f**k it.

I'm not sure if I went on a bad day, or if it's been so long since I've been to Bob's Donuts that I just don't remember, but the apple fritter was average. More cinnamon-y than most and definitely bigger chunks of apples in it than most (I'm guessing that's the attraction here for whomever put this on the list) but it's thicker and breadier than I like. I like my apple fritter more flat so that they're more glazed, ya know? Becca, I know you know what I'm talking about.

I mean, it didn't suck. Do donuts EVER suck? I just cannot possibly imagine why this would be on the list, but more importantly why this apple fritter is better than any other one in the city.

So anyway, I'm going to go eat my face off at Rager's Super Bowl party -- and if I had my way, Sharon's deviled eggs would be on the Top 100 Things to Eat & Drink in San Francisco Before You Die.

Go Saints!

Sidenotes:

Cost: $1.65

Anyone have a suggestion on where I could find a REALLY good apple fritter in the city?

#6: Basil gimlet at Rye

On our way to Joe & Jim's Valentine's Day party, the crew and I stopped by Rye to try the basil gimlet. I am a fan of anything that involves gin, so I was excited for this one (not sure my friends were in favor of me starting the night off with gin considering my tendency to turn into the Incredible Hulk when I drink it.)

It was good. I didn't LOVE it, but I liked it and I probably would've ordered another one if time permitted (and if it wasn't $10 ... more on that later.) The gimlet wasn't uber basil-y tasting, but when I took a sip I could smell the basil -- and it smelled gooood.

Rye is a cool bar. Dark, warehouse-y, clean and it smelled really good -- I think they had smelly candles or something. Ordinarily, I would go back here and would definitely take friends from out of town here (it's close to Union Square) but there's one major issue: I DON'T LIKE PAYING $10 FOR A DRINK. Especially a drink that isn't that big -- or that rad for that matter. All their "specialty cocktails" were $10 -- but I just don't see how London gin, lime juice, basil and simple syrup warrants a $10 drink. Whatevs ... it's done and I'm officially done with 6 out of the 100 things.

Sidenotes:

Learned a new word from Timmy tonight: samesies. Example: We went to the Owl Tree pre-Rye for a quick cocktail because Rye didn't open until 7:00 p.m. (On a Saturday? Seemed a little weird.) It was happy hour there and Timmy picked up the round of drinks. I tried to give him money and he said, "You can get the next round." So we get to Rye and while I'm about to pay for Timmy's drink, he gives me two 5s. I'm like, "No, remember? I'm buying your drink!" And Timmy says, "No, it's not samesies." So I give him a $5 back and he says, "Ok, that's samesies." You heard it here first...

#23: Beer sausage with sauerkraut and grilled onions at Rosamunde Sausage Grill

Cruised up to Rosamunde in the Haight to try the sausage for lunch. I was not looking forward to this one -- not because I don't love sausage -- I just detest sauerkraut. So I kinda cheated a little bit ...
I brought Nadeau with me and had him order a beer sausage with just grilled onions, while I ordered what I was supposed to: a beer sausage with sauerkraut and grilled onions. After one bite, we switched and well ... I was happy.

The sausage was so good and the bun was perfect. I definitely recommend it!

Sidenotes:

Beer sausage = $6.00

Didn't have time to go next door and eat it at Toronado with a beer -- but that is definitely the way to do it.
Sauerkraut is disgusting.

#55: Chicken porridge for breakfast at the Bush Street Out the Door

Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved to eat -- and loved a challenge. This girl's name was Jacquie. Jacquie had a little friend named Bindilocks who loved to eat too. Bindilocks had been out drinking the night before with the Three Bears (Christian, Aileen & Rager) and needed a good breakfast so that she could feel good for Joe & Jim's Valentine's Day party that night. So Jacquie asked Bindilocks to go to Out the Door with her to get some chicken porridge, which is #55 on 7x7 magazine's Top 100 Things to Try Before You Die. Jacquie didn't know what was better about this experience: the fact that the chicken porridge was really good, or the fact that Bindilocks had no idea that this place existed -- and she lives like 3 blocks away.

Jacquie was very impressed by the chicken porridge. She didn't even know what porridge was -- but she was very happy that her porridge wasn't cold. It had delicious chicken in it, Vietnamese cilantro (called rau ram), crispy shallots and black pepper. It also had this drizzle on it that she was pretty sure was fat from breakfast sausage.

"Mmm mmm," Jacquie said. "This is certainly worthy to be on the 7x7 list."

So Jacquie and Bindilocks parted ways but made a plan to meet up before the party for a drink. Jacquie went home and got into bed, where thankfully, nobody had been sleeping in it.

Sidenotes:
Cost of the chicken porridge was $8.
Bindilocks had the soft scrambled eggs with dungeness crab, chives, soy and a baguette -- with a vietnamese coffee. I think she liked it because she said she wanted to come back for lunch.

#50: An obscure Belgian beer at The Monk’s Kettle

So since it was a Friday and I hadn't had any alcohol yet (just didn't seem right), we cruised by The Monk's Kettle for an "obscure Belgian beer."

First off, let me say that I don't get down to Christian's neck-of-the-woods often, but damn is that place doing well. Packed to the gills! We actually had to wait outside to go in until two people left.

Anyway, I ordered the Affligem blonde from Opwijk, Belgium (sounds obscure, no?!) and it was pretty good. Listen ... I'm not the one to go raving on and on about how rad some obscure beer was. I like Bud Light and Guinness and well ... yeah ... those are my favorites. Anything else tastes too bitter er ... SOMETHING. (I dunno.)

Paul had some obscure Belgian beer that was better than mine and I was jealous. So I ordered a pomegranate beer to make myself feel better. And then realized that after a beer and a half, I was pretty tipsy. So there's one thing that quality beer has going for it.

Sidenotes:

My beer was $5.75 and had a 7.0% alcohol level. Speaking of percentages, I am 3% done with this whole 7x7 adventure. Yay me.

#45: Secret Breakfast from Humphry Slocombe

When I first looked over the 7x7 list and saw the Secret Breakfast from Humphry Slocombe, I thought, "Ooooooh, how cool! You must go to this little cafe and without looking at the menu, order the secret breakfast and then the chef just makes you whatever he wants and you run the risk of liking it or not!" Ok, I'm an idiot ... for a couple of reasons:

1) Humphry Slocombe is an ice cream shop!

and 2) I knew this!! I knew this because I have a couple of friends that are opening up a place in Santa Cruz that is slightly modeled after this place.

So as we were leaving La Torta Gorda and walking back to civilization -- dodging sidewalk-hogging hipsters right and left (did I mention I hate the Mission?) , I saw Humphry Slocombe. Since I didn't really finish dinner because the egg & chorizo torta sucked so badly, I thought what the hell ... one scoop won't hurt.

HOLY HELL, I HAVE FOUND HEAVEN!

You guys, listen: the secret breakfast ice cream is bourbon & corn flakes ... and it ... is .... DELICIOUS. I took one bite, my eyes rolled back in my head and I said, "THIS is what ice cream should taste like." I never in a million years thought this combo would taste so good -- and after the "eh" experience at La Torta Gorda, I was really happy that I found a place that I believed really probably was one of the best 100 things to eat or drink in this city.

Sidenotes: When I go back here (AND I AM GOING BACK HERE), it's going to be really hard for me to NOT get the secret breakfast again -- but I am dying to try the Jesus Juice sorbet, which is red wine and Coke Classic. Are you dying off the name?!

Cost: $2.25 for a one scoop kids cone.

#39: Pierna Enchilada Torta from La Torta Gorda

And we're off! The adventure officially began today with a trip to the Mission (the Mission houses the most places on the list so I'm going to be spending a lot more time than I want to down there. God, I hate the Mission. More on that later.)

Yesterday I decided I would kick this off with a burrito in the Mission, but then like an idiot, I went and got a burrito at the Brothas last night after my nap -- and back-to-back burritos just wasn't happening. So randomly I picked #39 on the list: the Pierna Enchilada Torta at La Torta Gorda. I've never had a torta -- nor did I know what a torta was -- but anything that has the word "enchilada" in it has me as a fan.

So in case you are in the dark on what a torta is too, it's simply a Mexican sandwich -- served on a white sandwich roll. Condiments on the sando are: refried beans, avocado, queso fresco (that creepy white Mexican cheese), onions, mayo, jalapenos or chipotle (I got it with jalapenos.) The "pierna" part of "Pierna Enchilada Torta" is pulled pork. F**k yes. Overall it was good, but not great. Would I get it again? If there was a place closer-by that made these ... yeah probably. But there's not a chance I'm hoofin' it down to B.F.E. for it again.

One down, 99 to go!

Sidenotes:

Nades accompanied me on this adventure and ordered the egg & chorizo torta. NOT GOOD. We went halfsies on our tortas and after two bites of the egg & chorizo one, I called it a day. Bland times a million.

Also, had the agua fresca (they had cantaloupe or mango ... I had cantaloupe) and it was pretty good. Tasted refreshing and healthy.

Very clean bathrooms with plenty of soap and paper towels. Hey ... this stuff matters when you're in the Mission, ok?

Cost: $7.75 for a regular / $5.45 for a junior. I totally should've ordered the junior.