Cheap Date: Potrero Hill

Going to start posting about the cheap dates my husband and I go on around the bay.  These aren't formal four course dinners or anything like that.  No, that would require some $.  We're just trying to be creative with what we have and take advantage of all the free and cheap things to do around here!

Tonight's date, Cruising Potrero Hill 

Tonight we are hoping to shatter the myth that there is "nothing to do except be a family" in this little neighborhood between 101 and 280.  We are thinking of moving here so we hope to find otherwise on this date.

First up: Sourdough thin crust at Goat Hill Pizza.  Please be good!  Also, I will be having an Anchor Steam to make up for not being able to tour the brewery, which is just down the hill and around the corner.  Who can actually go on a brewery tour at 10AM on a weekday? Seriously.  They need to add some evening tours or opening a bar would be good too.

Next up:  Stroll down 18th Street, which is supposedly where it's happening on the hill.   Planning on taking a peek into Farley's, a cafe! Because every neighborhood needs a good one.  Just in case you need to walk there at 10pm.  I would also like to spot an O.J. Simpson mural, since I've heard there are several (still?!) in the area.  Potrero Hill was his childhood home.

And finally:  Catching a show at Bottom of the Hill!  Tonight, I The Mighty, Scissors for Lefty, Via Coma, and Fight the Villain are all playing (although we're really just going for Scissors) and tickets are only $10 a pop!

Can't wait for my date!  I'll let you know how it goes and if Potrero is still on the list of possible relocation destinations.

Anyone want to join us for the show???

Roast Beast Feast

Last night my husband and I had a guest chef in the kitchen, the culinary master, Mr. Willus Withrow. We tried our hand at roasting again (I guess this is the season for roasting) - this time with a chuck roast, for less than $10. We used a rub of garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes and Willus concocted a sauce with sherry, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, red onions, and clementine juice. Needless to say, it was delicious! Very tangy and spicy. Our sides were roasted butternut squash and white rice.

We had a bottle of 2007 cabernet sauvignon from Firefly Ridge. Nice light berry flavor, and there's no beating the price at $5.99/bottle.

We also did a little beer taste testing. Willus is looking for the right beers to supply for his upcoming nuptials in Davis, CA this May. We tasted three California beers, all at a decent price - Blue Star Wheat Beer from North Coast Brewing Co., Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout from Anderson Valley Brewing Co., and ACME Pale Ale. My fav was the Blue Star, mostly because it tasted like sparkling cider, Avi preferred the oatmeal stout, and I think we all loved the ACME pale ale.