The Mission Today
6 A.M. A quiet 53° and a quiet day weather wise in the cards. So even though you spent the weekend celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, you know today is the day, and it’s hopeless to try to avoid it. For cubiclistas in the FiDi, no doubt we will head over to the nearest faux Irish pub for some foul tasting green beer (PBR with food coloring). For those looking for slightly more authenticity, you stand a slightly better chance at the Elbo Room’s St. Paddy’s Day Punk Bash. The Elbo Room however does not rate in the top ten Irish bars to pass out in according to 7 X 7 (maybe because it’s not Irish). Two Mission bars made the cut: The Phoenix (6) and The Liberties (10).
Oh the Shame of It!
EaterSF picks up on a Salon report of hipsters (disguised as young unemployed artists?) buying organic groceries at Rainbow Grocery. Predictably, some will be outraged (the Salon piece assumes a moral dimension to the use/abuse of food stamps that itself approaches the outrageous in its naivete). All morals aside, Will Rogers drawled during the Great Depression: “We’ll be the first nation in the world to go to the poor house in an automobile.” Now we can say we’re the first trendy neighborhood to survive the Great Recession on healthy, fresh and organic meals bought with food stamps. But what will Meg Whitman say?
Empanadas Arrive in the Mission
The San Francisco Weekly has just discovered empanadas in the Mission. Actually, the story isn’t really about empanadas, it’s really about a business deal gone bad, and as such probably belongs in a B school newsletter. Too bad because it is true that empanadas do not get the kind of attention they should. But how can they leave out Chile Lindo, the Mission’s longest running, and only, empandada emporium . Here’s a good story about Paula and Chile Lindo from Mission Mission last year. Since that article was written, Chile Lindo has returned to its previous location, where it’s been for years. Note to SFSWeekly: that’s on 16th street and Capp, a block from BART; hard to miss.
Food Critic Criticized
You might want to reconsider that burgeoning career as a food critic you’ve been dreaming about. True, the passion with which the neighbors approach food can be sizzling, but if you’re going to argue that vegans and vegetarians (veg*n in blogospherese) are destroying the planet, you better keep a bib handy. Last weekend, Lierre Keith, author of “The Vegetarian Myth” made a featured appearance at the Anarchist Bookfair. In response to her argument, Ms. Keith got a pie in the face and called the cops (which didn’t make her any more popular with the crowd). Follow the controversy here and here.
I don’t know why I have to do all the work around here: it was a fast pie to the face, laced with chili peppers. i imagine you will take the anti-veg*n side when you find out she’s from arcata. See http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2010/03/17/ex-vegan-hit-with-pie-says-others-should-be-attacked-instead/
for more.
Re “Food Critic Criticized,” the important unreported issue is the contents of the pie. Any animal products used? And what about the delivery? Fast ball or curve? I expect more in depth reporting from Loco’s Mission Man.
X/pat