Drinking food: I'm not talking about liquid food, but about the kind of food that insists on being accompanied by a good drink. In this case, Exhibit A is the cheesesteak, a wonderful sandwich with sautéed steak, onions, peppers, mushrooms and cheese served on a toasted roll with, usually, a little mayo and maybe some mustard. I'm a big fan of the cheesesteaks at Jay's (553 Divisadero). I get mine to go, however, because Jay's doesn't serve beer and I think the proper cheesesteak experience is not complete without a good brew. You can go with a lighter style lager--a Budweiser, for instance--but I like something a little richer and more flavorful, as the cheesesteaks at Jay's are pretty rich themselves and also quite savory.

My choice for a beer pairing is one of the underrated but spectacular local beers, Anchor Brewing's Liberty Ale, which is available any store with a decent beer selection.