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7x7's Big Eat 2012: Give Us Your Feedback Now!

One of the 2011 additions: garlic pretzels from Absinthe.

While you might all be thinking about this glorious Indian summer day. I'm sitting here wringing my hands about the impending winter—specifically the 2012 Big Eat, our annual 100-things-you-have-to-eat-or-drink-before-you-die bucket list. Though it might not be on the newstands until late January 2012, I have to get it done in the next month or so. This is the life of print.

Luckily, the internet allows me the immediate satisfaction of culling your suggestions right now for what dishes you think should be included in the upcoming Big Eat. For 2011's list, there were 30 new dishes added (such as these completely addictive garlic pretzels with cheese sauce that I discovered one night at Absinthe). And thus, 30 subtracted to make room.

Let me know what you think should go on next year's list. And in turn, let me know what you think is tired and should be ditched. I'm always aiming for a balanced world view made up of dishes from old-school establishments and hot spots, hole-in-the-walls and fine dining restaurants.

Remember, the Big Eat needs to include dishes that are regularly on the menu at restaurants within San Francisco's city limits. Beyond that, the rules are few and far between.

Please give me your thoughts in the comment box below. I can't tackle this without your help!

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One of my SF favorites is at the Hyde Street Seafood House:

Potato-Crusted King Salmon with Pinot Noir Sauce

It's killer.

The Freak at Batter Up. 1/3 Chicken & Turkey w/ Basil & Sundried Tomatoes, 1/3 Garlic Herb, 1/3 Pepper Jack Cheese
Pink Squirrel at Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous
Funghi pizze at Piccino Cafe
Jambalaya at Queen Louisiana's Po-Boy Cafe
Burger Dog at Frisco Fried
Braised tofu egg bowl at Samovar
Egg Custard Tart at Golden Gate Bakery

Cinnamon Bun - Devil's Teeth Bakery
Lucifer Burger - Little Griddle
Hong Kong Style Spareribs - Superstar Restaurant
Strawberry Soju & Kimchee Fried Rice - Toyose
Umami Burger - Umami Burger
Tiramisu & Green Tea Crepe - Crepe Temptations

Focusing on Asian foods...

Pork belly with preserved vegetable at Hakka Restaurant
Explosive chili chicken and salted-egg prawns at Z & Y Restaurant
Chicken stuffed with sweet rice mix at Mayflower Restaurant
Salt pepper fried crab at R & G Lounge
Lamb rib stew at Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
Chicken wings at San Tung Restaurant
Korean pork ribs and oxtail stew at To Hyang (soon to be featured at Anthony Bourdain)
Any fresh sashimi fish at Kappou Gomi
Chicken karaage at Kura
Chef's special meal at Kiss
Lamb ribs and sweet potato dessert at Dong Bei Mama
Bun reiu and bun bo hue at Ha Nam Ninh
Squab at Bodega Bistro
Chicken pho at Quan Ngon

Focusing on Asian foods...

Pork belly with preserved vegetable at Hakka Restaurant
Explosive chili chicken and salted-egg prawns at Z & Y Restaurant
Chicken stuffed with sweet rice mix at Mayflower Restaurant
Salt pepper fried crab at R & G Lounge
Lamb rib stew at Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant
Chicken wings at San Tung Restaurant
Korean pork ribs and oxtail stew at To Hyang (soon to be featured at Anthony Bourdain)
Any fresh sashimi fish at Kappou Gomi
Chicken karaage at Kura
Chef's special meal at Kiss
Lamb ribs and sweet potato dessert at Dong Bei Mama
Bun reiu and bun bo hue at Ha Nam Ninh
Squab at Bodega Bistro
Chicken pho at Quan Ngon

salted coffee caramel milkshake @ greenburger's

The Gratin de Raviole du Royans with truffles and truffle oil at the Amelie wine bar is amazing.

Ike's is back open in SF now, so I'd recommend putting the Menage a Trois back on the list. That or the Super Mario.

Taco tropical and tuna tacon at Loló Restaurant, Mission

Gnocci @ Heirloom Cafe

French toast baguettes at Bisou Bistro

All thedifferent bruschetta at Barbacco
Pho Ga at Turtle Tower
Shrimp Tapa at Esperpento
Chicken wings at SO

In response to your comment: "Remember, the Big Eat needs to include dishes that are regularly on the menu at restaurants within San Francisco's city limits," I went to Delfina to order the pork sugo with pappardelle back in May, and it was unavailable. The waitress told me that it would be available later in the summer, but I haven't had a chance to go back yet. As someone who *lives* by the Big Eat list, I was very disappointed to find out that I couldn't order the dish I had gone to the restaurant to try (it would have been nice to have a heads up about the seasonal menu and not have to be stuck ordering something else at an expensive restaurant).

As for the items that should be ditched, I feel that the dishes that require people to go to expensive restaurants (1,000 year old quail egg at Benu; Popovers at Wayfare Tavern, etc.) should be the first ones to be ditched just because people like me (students/younger crowds) are less likely to go to these places because we don't want to spend a hundred dollars on a meal just to try something on the list (but at the same time I really want to check everything off!).

Other items on the list that I feel could be replaced would be: Puka Punch at Smuggler's Cove (the bar is really cool, but I have heard there are better tasting drinks available there), the Laphroaig Project at Rickhouse, and the Fried-shrimp po’ boy
at Brenda’s French Soul Food, and lettuce cups at Betelnut (all of these locations are really cool though so I understand why it would stay on the list). I LOVE Katana-Ya ramen, and in my opinion the fried chicken ramen is better than the chasu ramen.

I have only tried 35 things on the list but my favorites would be:
Prime rib at House of Prime Rib, Pork Belly Bun from Chairman Bao, Salted-caramel ice cream at Bi-Rite, Duck Larb at Ros Thai, Super Carne Asada burrito at El Farolito, Apple Fritter at Bob's Donuts, and Korean Taco at Namu's stand!

clam chowder at scoma's
lasagna from ristorante parma
grilled chicken burrito from gordo's
arctic char from bar crudo
the works burger from bill's place
butterfish blasters from sushi bistro
foccacia from ligoria bakery
dungeoness crab omelette from mama's
scallop dumplings from gourmet dim sum and cafe
the johnny donson from the sandwich spot
bbq chicken plate from cordon bleu vietnamese restaurant

Ravioli from seven hills
Any deep dish from little star
Pasta al Antonio from caffe sport

Butterfish @ Noriega Okazu Ya
Hella Nutella Cupcake @ That takes the Cake
Fried Chicken @ Front Porch
Tuna sliders @ Eat curbside
Dumplings @ Happy Dumpling
Crispy brocoli @ Broken Record
Coffee Crunch Cake @ Yasukochi
Sweet and Sour Gluten @ Enjoy Vegetarian
Samosa Salad @ Mandalay
Cookies and cream cookie @ Anthony's Cookies
Philly Cheesesteak @ Phillies

Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!
Pho Ha Nam Ninh: #25 DRY!!!

Philz: Mint Mojito Iced Coffee

ravioli uovu at seven hills
clam chowder at hog island oyster bar
shanghai soup dumplings at yank sing

Ravioli Uovo at Seven Hills!

Hawaiian burger and sweet potatoe fries from barneys
Fish and chips from buffalos burgers
Combination gyro from park gyros
Beef chown fun,egg flower soup from jade cafe
Combination popusas from el zocalo

Nana Joes Granola at Outerland for Sunday brunch or at The Summit SF every day of the week with different seasonal sets.

Nana Joes granola at Outerlands Sunday brunch or at The Summit SF every day of the week. Different seasonal sets.

bruschette of crescenza & broccoli rabe from Beretta
neapolitan meatballs in sugo from Delfina Pizzeria
chocolate budino tart with sea salt & extra virgin olive oil at A16
breakfast pizza from Rose’s Cafe
lime meringue tartlet from Miette
carnitas taco from Tacolicious
Prather Ranch cheeseburger from Magnolia Pub

Mint mojoto coffee at philz
Cioppino at sotto mare
Mac and cheese w truffle at citizens band

Beignets at RN74
The Whole Hog at The Pub
Bacon Beignets at Frances
Bananas Foster at Bix
Deep fried Ding Dongs at Bullit
Chicken and Waffles slider or Monte Cristo slider at Marengo
California Burrito at Tacko

That's just a start!!

-Ceasar Salad and Beef Tartare at Alexander's Steak House
-Beef Empanada at Limon rotisserie
-Duck fat burger at Seasons Lounge in the Four Seasons
-Garlic bread, Steak, and Mac n cheese at Boboquivaris
-Short ribs, lamb, pan fried Feta, and Octopus at Kokkari
-Mac and cheese bar at GRUB in the Mission
-Fried Chicken at Wayfare Tavern
-Shanghai Dumpling at Yang Sing in Rincon Center
-Pastrami Sammie at Deliboard
-Delfina Pizza

yea!!!hanna's house pasta is soooo soooooooo good!!!

House Pasta @ Hanna's Italian Mediterranean Restaurant

Twenty Five Lusk: Soft pretzels with truffle gruyere sauce and grain mustard AND the strom hill mini burger with
quail egg, seascape cheddar, bacon, avocado puree.

8+12+olives from Tomasso's. Best crust, sauce and cheese topped with pepperoni, black olives and then finished with a final layer of fresh baby spinach tossed with garlic. Parmesan shavings are the finishing touch. This pizza is a work of art and the most delicious combination of flavors. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Oh, and the spinach makes it almost guilt-free!

Grasshopper Pie at Mitchell's
Carnes Asada Fries at Taqueria los Coyotes
Dim Sum at Ton Kiang
Lex Luthor at Ike's Place
Chicken and Pesto sandwich at Lou's Cafe
Rose Ice Cream at Bombay
Coconut Rice at Burma Superstar

Poached Egg Sandwich from Local Mission Eaterie
Pommes D'Amour from Knead Patisserie
Frozen Foie Gras at Atelier Crenn
Canelle at La Boulange
Rose Geranium Macaron at Miette
Shitake Dumplings from Namu
Carnitas Tacos at La Palma (with handmade tortillas)
Beer and Pretzel rolls at Schmidt's (while you're there, get the smoked pork chop)
Pickles from Paulie's Pickling
Bone Marrow and Beef Cheeks from Monk's Kettle

Shanghai Soup Dumplings at Shanghai Dumpling King!!!

And, c'mon, who's payin' for all the Bomb Truck posts... ;>)

Seafood Chowder – Bar Crudo

Duck Salami – Fat Angel

Beef Noodle Soup – Old Siam Thai Restaurant

Frog Legs – Alegrias

Pork belly at incanto

Ragu di Campagna at Zuppa (best.pasta.dish.ever)

shiitake dumplings in a dashi mushroom broth @ Namu
tea leaf salad @ Burma Superstar

Slow milk braised Pork Osso Buco with Shelling beans at Aperto Potrero Hill.

Moules Provencale + Frites at Baker Street Bistro

Lemon and Basil Leaf Burrata from Park Tavern
Rum Raisin Rice Pudding from Loving Cup
Sake at Oyaji
Strawberry Fields at Tipsy Pig
Carpaccio di Zucchini at Jackson-Fillmore
Chicken Paillard (Wednesdays) from Balboa Cafe
Roasted Bone Marrow from Marlowe
Steak Tartare at Wayfare Tavern

sand dabs at Tadich Grill has got to go! Get those off the list- they are tasteless. The crab cakes there are where its at- those are amazing.

I'd add on the burger at Epic- wow! you get tons of fixings to add on-its the best.

Ginger snaps at Miette were gross-buttery and just gross.

Korean taco from Namu should be off too.

I'd add on the tamale lady- those are awesome.

The steak at Kokkari is the best ever.

Breakfast at Judy's in the marina should be on the list too.

Passionfruit mango macaron from La Boulange is amazing..

Noodles with Special Sauce from Kingdom of Noodle!

Chicken Tiki Masala burrito - CurryUp Now Truck

The Pie Shake at Chile Pies & Ice Cream

The PuclicHouse/Mijita Nachos with a pint of Pliny the Younger

Fried Egg Sandwich from Mission Beach Cafe

The Cinnamon Roll biscuit from Biscuit Bender!

tuna tacon at lolo

lemon cookie ice cream from three twins