( updated September 27, 2023 ) Depending where you're from, BBQ is sure to get a crowd fired up. Just try to convince a Texan that Kansas City, Memphis, or Carolina Style BBQ is the best--I guarantee you're sure to see fireworks. Sadly in the San Francisco Bay Area, Texas BBQ is in short supply--rotisserie is more our style. So when I've got a craving, I head to my Texas favorites and have the BBQ shipped.     After years of getting Texas BBQ shipped, here are my top 8 places to get Texas BBQ shipped to your door. Along with my favorites, I'm sharing tips for ensuring your Texas BBQ arrives in time for your special occasion.   How do you like your BBQ? Dry rub or Sauce? Texas, Kansas City, Memphis, or Carolina Style?     Read on for my favorite meats along with the places in Texas to get them shipped from!  

San Francisco's foodie scene is full of hidden gems, especially because residents often hole up in their base neighborhoods and seldom venture out. If you haven't made Cow Hollow a destination for a girls' night out or a date night, get there as soon as you can. And land at Palm House on 2032 Union Street.     Do you know the history of Cow Hollow?  

SPONSORED POST: This is a paid post. The Road to The Good Life chose to work with McDonald's for their commitment to providing nutrition information about their food and offering families choices that accommodate allergens and stretch their budget dollars. I am part of the Mom It Forward Blogger Network . All opinions presented are my own.   McDonald's and healthy: two words that thanks to Super Size Me ( *affiliate link ) aren't words you immediately associate with one another. But have you been to McDonald's lately? Sure McDonald's still sells hamburgers and fries, but there are now smaller portions and healthier options available. Having grown up only eating hamburgers and fries at McDonald's it's rare that I try something new when I visit. That's changing starting now.   What's your favorite thing to order at McDonald's?     Last week I had the opportunity to join a few other bloggers, a couple of nutritionists, and some McDonald's...

San Francisco is a town for foodies. And every neighborhood hides at least one gem worthy of you stepping away from your chosen neighborhood. In the financial district, Palio d' Asti is that gem you should search out for a taste of Italy and for a venue that encourages you to visit with friends and family.   When it comes to Italian restaurants, as an Italian-American I'm a harsh critic. My lens is filtered through my mom's cooking. I have a certain flavor profile that I expect and that my taste buds crave. So walking into Palio d' Asti to meet Emily, the Jetsetting Fashionista , my expectations were high. Leaving the restaurant later after a filling late lunch, my expectations exceeded, I knew I would return.  

How do two foodies celebrate Mother's Day? By getting the night before Mother's Day off from being parents and celebrating by eating on a farm.     Three weekends ago, cubes and I finally attended an Outstanding in The Field event. (The events sell out very quickly.) We headed south to Ben Lomond to Lindencroft Farm to sample the culinary wizardry of Sean Baker of Gather .     Before we arrived we were advised that there was no parking at the farm. We'd park in the neighborhood and then be shuttled up to the farm. Jeff Emery of Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard and Emily Thomas of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing had set up tables for the guests to have a glass of wine or sample beers. I'm not much of a beer drinker, and I don't do well switching between beer and wine, so we skipped the beers.     Unlike some of the other dinners, this event didn't sell out until a few days prior. I wanted this particular dinner because of the chef, Sean Baker . (When I liv...

The latest addition to the corner of 22nd Street and Guerrero, Company, opening in the Fall of 2012, is a good spot to grab a burger at lunch. Whether you'll want to dine there at night depends on how much time you have and if you're up for eavesdropping.     I've eaten at Company twice now, once for lunch and once for dinner. Company, through its food, wants " to comfort you with the familiar flavors of Tuscany, Provence, and other locales throughout the Mediterranean while also celebrating the bounty of our beautiful state. Our goal is to welcome you as family and treat you like "company," whether you join us for lunch, dinner, brunch, or just a drink at our bar. We want to welcome you. "   The food is competently prepared. And, at lunch, it's the perfect place to venture with a toddler. There's a reasonable buzz from other diners' conversations to hide an inquisitive toddler's antics. (Gates enjoyed her first taste of solid food he...

A few years ago, before I had my daughter Gates and before cubes and I started trying to have children, I shared a Michelin star dining experience with a four year old.   So what better way to celebrate our one year old's birthday? She loves food. Relatives were staying near by, so it was the perfect opportunity. For Gates' first birthday, we took her to dinner at a Michelin star restaurant: Luce .     Now, don't roll your eyes. We didn't decide on a whim to simply take her to a Michelin star restaurant. We started preparing Gates for the experience months prior.   How are you introducing your child to different cuisines and elevated dining experiences? What are your tips and tricks?  

When cubes and I first started dating we had a standing Wednesday dinner date. Each Wednesday, we'd explore a new restaurant either in his neighborhood, The Mission, or in mine, SOMA. Now that we have somewhat of a routine with Gates, we've been able to bring back this tradition on our Tuesday date nights.     The Mission is filled to bursting with food options. Even if we never went back to a restaurant, I don't think we could finish eating at all of the restaurants in a year. Last week, we headed down Valencia to Lot 7 .   Update May 17, 2013: Lot 7 is no longer open.   Lot 7, a seafood and grill restaurant, has been open just over a year. The menu we were able to order from was more limited than the one they had posted on their website. It was missing Plateaux Shellfish, Oysters, and Gulf Shrimp Cocktail. I'd had my heart set on oysters, not remembering having had any since June.     What we ordered: The starters: Grilled Prawns "Ras Al Hanout" (...

The gorgeous clear weather continued in the Bay Area and we decided to take advantage of it by grabbing brunch with my parents at Nick's Restaurant in Pacifica.     On Saturday, we introduced Gates to scrambled eggs. At first we didn't think she liked them, preferring the potatoes instead. Then, we discovered that Gates does not like children sized silverware. (She also prefers to eat while seated in your lap over a high chair.) Once we switched to a regular fork, Gates was happily chowing down on both the eggs and the potatoes. Unsurprisingly, Gates also likes bacon; another item she got to try for the first time.     With Gates, we've been following a strategy of baby-led weaning. Basically that means Gates takes the initiative. We knew she was interested in our foods when we could no longer casually eat in her room while she played. We had briefly turned our attention to the cat and she raced across the floor to the charcuterie platter. Of course I proceeded ...

In San Francisco, you can go years without ever leaving your corner of the city. While we've lived in The Mission for over two years, we hadn't really ventured out past 18th for dinner. With our move to The Station we're now exploring spots south of 18th.     Recently we discovered LoLo on 22nd. We found it while walking to meet friends at the Foreign Cinema. The smells wafting from the open door were tantalizing. Also, it was packed. Two signs that move a restaurant to the top of our date night idea list.   Do you explore beyond your neighborhood? Or, do you stick to familiar haunts?   Turns out filling LoLo to capacity isn't hard to do, as it, like Sushi Zone, is small. They have a couple of tables out in front on the sidewalk (nice for when the weather warms up) and maybe five tables inside, two two tops in the window and at least two four tops. To avoid disappointment or a long wait, make a reservation ahead of time. Sure, it takes some of the spontaneity ou...

Saturday night, the last night of Chanukah, we held Gates a little tighter and silently thought of the Connecticut families. For us, the celebration of Chanukah is about spending time together.     With our busy schedules, often the only times during the week we get time together are mornings with Gates on Wednesdays and then at dinner. The ritual of lighting the candles and saying prayers takes us out of the hustle and bustle and puts us in the moment.   This year we did things a little differently than before. We had friends over for the first night and ordered our Chanukah goodies from Wise Sons Deli on 24th. We didn't limit ourselves to just the traditional latkes and Sufganiyot ; we added Mandelbrot and a dinner of brisket and root vegetables with salad. The minimum order for the meal was enough for three dinners. The brisket was moist and flavorful, so good that one night we ate it without any sides.   The latkes from Wise Sons were smaller than those from...

Lately we've taken to exploring our neighborhood on date night, specifically the corner of 23rd and Guerrero. First, it was Beast and the Hare . Recently, Kiji .     Kiji reminds me a lot of my favorite sushi spot in San Francisco: Sushi Zone . There are marked differences: Seating: Sushi Zone seats 16 intimately; Kiji more. Reservations: Sushi Zone is first come, first serve; Kiji takes reservations--perfect for those with babysitters. Menu: Sushi Zone offers Baked Sea Bass with Mango and Baked Mushrooms stuffed with Salmon and Mango for appetizers and rolls with Mango and Papaya; Kiji does not. Kiji offers an array of carpaccios and tatakis; Sushi Zone does not. For our first dinner at Kiji, we decided to start with Gyoza and then order a mix of fresh fish nigiri: Toro, Walu (Butterfish), Ankimo (Monkfish Liver), and Uni (Sea Urchin) and some house specialties: Live Scallops, Aji Tataki (Horse Mackerel), and New Albacore Tataki.   Kiji offers a choice of filling w...

Walking home from grocery shopping one Saturday earlier this month I noticed a brunch option in The Mission: Hog & Rocks . Better than this discovery was learning that they have high chairs.     By the time cubes and I have gotten ready on a weekend, we're usually smack in the middle of the brunch or lunch rush in The Mission. Or worse, we've just missed the end of brunch and face shuttered kitchens. Discovering a spot that offers charcuterie and oysters (two things that I couldn't eat during my pregnancy that I'm now devouring like the world is going to end) is amazing. (Another restaurant that we discovered this summer that's open between lunch and dinner in The Mission is Esperpento .)   With Gates we've found the best time to explore new restaurants (and for her new foods), is between rushes. As some of Gates favorite foods at Hog & Rocks are on the lunch menu, we try to time our meal between 1:30 and 1:45 pm so that we can order brunch items like...

The corner of Guerrero and 22nd Street offers a variety of dining and drinking options. One dinner choice, Beast and the Hare , is sure to please your inner carnivore.     I first discovered Beast and the Hare when we walked from our flat to Bi-Rite Market to go grocery shopping. It was closed, neatly set up and waiting for the evening rush. Two months and two cancelled reservations later, cubes and I secured a corner window table for a two hour date.   There were two things I knew walking into the restaurant: arrive hungry and order the rabbit. Previous diners were right on both accounts. We wanted a representative sample of what the kitchen had to offer. A big believer in first impressions, I went to FourSquare for additional recommendations. I'm glad I did or we would have missed the most amazing deviled eggs I've ever eaten. (Up until these, Mooflyfoof's deviled eggs had that honor. )   Do you make a killer deviled egg recipe? Please share.   What did ...

Sometimes the third time really is the charm. After two visits on days they were closed, I finally made it into Wise Sons Deli on 24th Street. Was it worth the wait? Short answer: Yes.     cubes' jury duty had finally ended and he was off for the day. While the office where I work is being painted and recarpeted, I'm working from home in the city, giving us the perfect opportunity to have lunch together. Having tried to eat at Wise Sons on Monday (I always forget that they're closed on Mondays and Tuesdays), I suggested Wise Sons.   It was after 12 when we arrived. They were busy, but the tables turned quickly. We opted to get our food to go. I was originally going to order Pastrami on Rye (my favorite at Saul's) and what I got a taste of at a Street Food Festival this summer. But then their twist on a burger caught my eye. I'm a sucker for a good burger. Their deli burger is ground with pastrami and comes with a beet-horseradish spread, deli mustard, iceberg l...

Tuesday night cubes and I shared a rare date night. While our friends Helen and Icka watched Gates, we headed back to our old neighborhood and one of our favorite haunts: Mission Beach Cafe.     Like the other diners in the restaurant our occasional sanfransocializing focused on checking in on the presidential election as well as local and state measures. Mostly we put our phones away, except for me to photograph our food. (I'm a little out of practice as the photos did not do the presentation justice.)   cubes started with the seasonal soup: a butternut squash soup with herb oil, apple, and creme fraiche. Unfortunately for me the chef had used butter and cream. Their vegan version of this soup is my all-time Fall favorite.   For me, the star of the meal was the grilled flatbread of the day. Crisp thin flatbread smeared with romesco sauce and topped with pancetta, goat cheese, braised greens, arugula, and Sheep's Milk parmesan. The sweetness of the romesco sauce ...

One of my favorite spots in The Mission is Farina. Last night we dined there for their Vincoloa Benanti: Unique Wines from Sicily wine dinner.     This month my husband and I have been spoiled -- not one, but three dinners out. October is a big month in our house: our wedding anniversary and cubes' birthday. cubes' birthday is tomorrow, so last night's dinner at Farina was an early celebration.   We've primarily been drinking red wine lately, so we considered the two offered reds: a 2005 Rovitello and a 2000 Serra Della Contessa. (We did the same at Farina's last winemaker's dinner.) Our waiter brought us tastes of each; we selected a bottle of the Serra Della Contessa. Both reds had a hint of spice, the one we chose had a more nuanced finish.   cubes and I opted to split two appetizers, a pasta course, and a main dish. We usually order way too much food, so this approach was a first for us at Farina. The meal started with Flori di zucca ripeni con carciofi...

A couple of weeks ago, cubes and I enjoyed a late lunch of tapas at Esperpento on 22nd in The Mission.     We started off our meal with two glasses of Sangria. We then ordered four tapas to share: Patatas Aioli, Almejas A La Plancha, Ropa Viejo, and Rabo Toro. (To see full size images of the food we ate, visit my Flickr gallery.)   Of the four dishes, I was most excited about the Ropa Viejo. While the flavor was good, the meat itself was overcooked and a little tough. The Rabo Toro was the opposite. The flavor was a little lacking, but the oxtail was perfectly tender and moist. Of the tapas, our favorite was the Almejas A La Plancha; on our next visit to Esperpento, we'll be sure to order two! The Patatas Aioli was also good, but as other reviewers on Yelp have stated ask for the Aioli on the side.   Where do you go for tapas in the city?   Bon Appetit! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Last night cubes wanted Thai. Craving Tom Yum soup -- something our last dining in experience lacked -- I went to Yelp in search of a new Thai restaurant and found Pad Thai Restaurant .     For me, the Gang Khiaw Warn Curry with Chicken was the stand out dish. The flavor matched my expectations (exactly the same as the dish I make) perfectly. The chicken was moist, not stewed. The only criticism was that there could have been more chicken.   The other hit was Gung Gra-bog; with bacon, it was guaranteed to be yummy. Gung Gra-bog is bacon wrapped shrimp wrapped in a egg roll wrapper and deep fried. It was paired with a sweet chili sauce that I really liked.   The soup and Pad Thai were good, nothing out of the ordinary. The soup almost had the right flavor profile; a little more fish sauce was all it needed. Unlike many soups offered in the city it wasn't cloyingly sweet.     With the exception of the Gang Khiaw Warn Curry nothing was spicy. We didn't specif...

Saturday night we ventured down 24th in search of sushi; we were looking forward to our first night out as a couple since Gates was born. As usual, Sushi Bistro was the happening spot. We decided to do things a little different -- go with specialty rolls -- rather than order our stock favorites.     It's often said the best guest is the one you wish didn't have to leave so soon; this was definitely true of Arwa and Todd. I was sad to see them leave last night. While here they treated us to not one but two meals out without Gates and a night out on the town (which for me turned into a full night's sleep).     We started out date night with drinks at Pops which is across the street from Sushi Bistro (we even got to see the game ending catch that sealed the win for the Giants over the A's). When our table at Sushi Bistro was ready, the host gave us a call. This is a super cool service: directs business to other local businesses and frees up the sidewalk in front of th...