Monthly Archives: February 2016

Food styling hits food kiosks at SFO’s T2

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Fly enough and you begin to notice a lot of differences between airports. In fact, one of the nicer differences being noticed across the country is “Style Food Porn”. So while in the past some of the nicer restaurants at airports served nice dishes to balance the fast food option, snow even the kiosks are getting into the game.
Airport management & leadership seems to be finally getting on board that just because people are traveling, this shouldn’t mean that the food that they buy shouldn’t look nice, be diverse, fresh and have flavor. (I know real concept, right). So they’ve begun to spend a lot more time on the food making them look appealing and appetizing as well as diversifying the options. Think of it as “runway stylists” for food kiosks.

These are a few shots from down in terminal one at San Francisco airport at Dogpatch Bakehouse Cafe. 

Now if they could just figure out how to get themselves open a half an hour earlier so that you don’t have such long lines specially for those flyers who have to get here by 4 o’clock am in order to get on a flight that’s boarding at 5:25 am.

  

    
   

   

 

Birthday dinner with the Gang at Broadway Prime

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Some of my friends and I, when we get together tend to aim towards a few favorite restaurants – but this week we went to a new place. Broadway Prime had been one on my list for a while to try as I havIMG_9750e been a huge fan of House of Prime Rib in San Francisco – so when one of us decided to pick Prime as the goto for a group birthday celebration, I was excited.

An easy drive south of San Francisco, located in a cute village like setting – it was easy to both find and park. With more than half of the group arrived -they seated us pretty fast up on the second level. (we weren’t happy they they had broken out group up into two tables which wasn’t what the host had asked for – but the only response provided was that we would have had to wait until the the other party ended) – not the nicest customer service (but I wasn’t the host so I didn’t say anything).

Now here is where the evening started to take a turn. With another large group up there and several smaller tables of 4, it looked like only one server was assigned. So it was well over 20 min before our drink orders were taken, then at least another 15 min for the food order. Luckily we were chatted and catching up and only a few side comments surfaced as to “gosh it was taking a while to get service”. Once the orders were placed, the meal came out pretty well timed after the salad course. IMG_9728

Ok so- the Strengths! The meats was great. At our table we had several different cuts, including one end cut, and everyone agr
eed they were moist, tender and had good flavor. The Baked potatoes were nicely steamy and melty good – always a treat when getting ready to toss some calories away.

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The Opportunities: Not all the plates arrived with hot food. Several of the meats were barely warm (including mine and I had the end cut) so that was a disappointment. The sides were on the bland side – both the creamed spinach and corn were lacking any “wow”. The spinach actually was almost pasty and lacked much in the way of seasoning at all. (maybe some nutmeg would have helped?) even salt and pepper at the table didn’t do much and again they weren’t particularly hot either.

We figured that they may have been hit with a rush, understaffed, or maybe the kitchen got slammed – but even the pop-overs which were good didn’t get to the table until well after we had started eating. I couldn’t see any bus-persons assisting and it felt as it we had one server to divide between the two large groups.

Overall – I would try the resturant again with a smaller group or a few couples when in the area. But not sure I would make it a destination again as a “must go to”.

 

 

Oh Nuts!

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Because cashews made into milk wasnt enough. Now I have to contend with hazelnut/chocolate beverages !! At least they are the only two nuts I have an allergy too. But it’s a shame they are such popular additions to so many recipes. 
   
 

The Lee Hello is a Goodbye

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She nails it on how many continue to feel, as we loose the “heart” of San Francisco to growing $’s. 
Even for me after 20 years here, it’s only been the last 10 years of which I made a yearly income over $20k because of my committment to gay mens health, HIV prevention and substance user services at a non profit and social justice level. 

So without having purchased property back in the day to sell now, I’m priced out from owning here. Which frustrates me to get that feeling of “if you can’t afford to buy, go ..” from the entitled new rich and old established power brokers who want more . 

 I’ve paid my dues San Francisco and it’s time you deliver 

Here is the sfgate article on the video http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/Anti-Super-Bowl-Adele-Cover-Hello-Candace-Roberts-6811321.php

 Candace Robert’s Hello Ed Lee video:
http://youtu.be/Qa9KZzYetD4

The Lee Hello is a Goodbye

by

She nails it on how many continue to feel, as we loose the “heart” of San Francisco to growing $’s. 
Even for me after 20 years here, it’s only been the last 10 years of which I made a yearly income over $20k because of my committment to gay mens health, HIV prevention and substance user services at a non profit and social justice level. 

So without having purchased property back in the day to sell now, I’m priced out from owning here. Which frustrates me to get that feeling of “if you can’t afford to buy, go ..” from the entitled new rich and old established power brokers who want more . 

 I’ve paid my dues San Francisco and it’s time you deliver 

Here is the sfgate article on the video http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/Anti-Super-Bowl-Adele-Cover-Hello-Candace-Roberts-6811321.php

 Candace Robert’s Hello Ed Lee

Sometimes trying something new like @Sprig doesn’t leave a good taste in ur mouth

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Wow tried the food app service Sprig tonight and not impressed so far. After several recomendations earlier this week I placed my first order. 

 A short time later I happened to check email to find they issued a refund. Ended up calling to ask why a refund email was sent and about the status of the food.

Only to be told the order was cancelled with a vague mention that its a rare occurance but during my order placement an item ran out. 
But that doesnt explain why the system doesnt trigger a call, or text about placeing a substitution on the 86’d item. 

The phone support didnt seem very concerned and while they did offer some credit they didnt even have curtesy to initiate a “we can have an order out to you asap if you choose a replacement on us” instead he wanted to play word games about my telling him what I wanted as if it was on me that the error was made and to correct it.  I think more training is needed. 

I still think its a good concept but needs some work in its customer engagement and technical engineering. Unclear if I will risk another attempt in the future.