Author Archives: grubgirl

Funny Website: Eat Dangerously

It’s January 3rd…have you given up on your diet resolutions yet? I haven’t yet, so I’d like to have someone else check out the recipes on this site, guaranteed to not help you shed some calories. (But butter, cream, and oil taste so good!)

Posted in Recipes | 1 Comment

Slow Cooker Jook Recipe for a Cold Day

Grubgirl doesn’t want to pay for jook, but she doesn’t really know how to make it “just like Mom,”… so she found this recipe from Kathy Gibbons that offers up a method. We’ll give it a try here in our test kitchen and see if the folks in Northern Michigan can hold their own!

Update: It was pretty darn good, in terms of water-to-rice ratio! I must admit that I used Trader Joe’s “Better Than Bouillion” (blush). A really authenic cook would use plain water, and throw a chicken neck bone into the slow cooker. But alas, my craving was too much and I cut a few corners.

Posted in Budget, Recipes, China, Meals under $5 per main course | 1 Comment

Review: Old Mandarin Islamic

3132 Vicente Street
(between 42nd Ave & 43rd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94116

(415) 564-3481
Continuing on the Chronicle’s bargain bites path, I went with a couple friends to check out this restaurant. Did it really qualify for cheap eats, by San Francisco Chinese food standards? We went for a Saturday lunch, it was a nice day, and so we drove way out there to Vicente and the 40s.

First observations:

  • No one else was there. It was high noon. Where were the diners? Hmmm.
Posted in Budget, China, Meals from $5-15 per main course, Sunset - Outer | 1 Comment

Tops (Topz?) Burgers & Grill in San Mateo

Ok in Yelp the first reviewer has called this place Topz, and I believe that’s what the sign on the door says in the little strip mall in San Mateo, but I’m staring at the receipt and it says “Tops Burger & Grill.” Go figure.

Including tax, my Cheeseburger lunch special included almost McDonald-like fries, and a medium-sized (?) soda, for $4.32. Not bad. Or is it?

Posted in Budget, Meals under $5 per main course, USA | Leave a comment