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Trendspotting: Southeast Asian Fast-Casual Restaurants

Susannah Chen — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:05:50 PDT

In the past year, there's been significant growth nationwide in the number of fast-casual eateries, from burger joints to healthier comfort-food fixtures. The latest craze we've noticed hitting this scene? Asian-themed chain restaurants.

Chipotle could've tackled a number of ethnic eats, so the Mexican chain certainly caught our attention when it unveiled its plan for ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen, "inspired by the traditional shophouses through Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam." Then we raised our eyebrows when a former chef at San Francisco's renowned Slanted Door restaurant opened the first of what will be several Bay Area locations of Asian Box, a healthier riff on Asian street food.

Meanwhile, Canada-based Wok Box has been preparing to bring its stir-fry boxes and curry dishes to the western part of the United States this year. And just this week, a former Hooters chef announced his new venture, a minichain of Atlanta-based Latin fusion restaurants bearing the name Taqueria Tsunami.

Regardless of where diners are in the country, it's clear they're on the lookout for the explosive flavor combinations that come from Southeast Asian cuisines. Are you excited at the prospect of more Southeast Asian cuisine in your neck of the woods?

Photo courtesy Sonya Yu for Asian Box

How Do You Save Calories When You Go Out?

Leta Shy — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:54:35 PDT

The weather's getting warmer here in San Francisco, which means we've got a few things on our minds - mainly, how to enjoy the outdoors with bike rides, trail runs, and leisurely patio brunches.

When it comes to that last part, however, it's all about indulging the right way. While you may want to eat and drink everything in sight, there are still ways to have your cake (or French toast or cocktail) and save a few calories here and there, like skipping the breadbasket or drinking water in between your glasses of wine.

Many of us have a tried-and-true way for being smart while we dine or drink on the town (if you don't, here are some calorie-saving ideas for the next time you eat out). Tell us, what's your favorite strategy for saving calories when you go out?

Source: Flickr User tedeytan

5 Essential Items to Make Dining Out With Baby Fun

Kate Stahl — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:03:44 PDT

It took me almost a year, but I'd like to think I now have dining out with my 11-month-old down to an art form. High chair, Puffs, and a clean surface are immediate necessities, but there are a handful of items that I now consider my restaurant lifesavers. If you dine out as often as my hubby and I do (usually with a very hungry baby whose desire to eat never ceases to amaze me), consider stocking your diaper bag with the following five items, and believe me, your dining experience will go much more smoothly!

Clockwise from top left

Pampers Disposable Bibsters ($2–$8): Your place mat is eco-friendly, so go for ease with these bibs. Available in three sizes, they have their own fold-in pockets that catch spills and solid foods and a leak-proof liner.
Phil & Teds MeToo High Chair ($50): You don't get more portable and easy than this high chair, which weighs only two pounds but can hold a child of up to 33 pounds! It folds flat to fit into your diaper bag and is supersafe thank to vice clamps, an aluminum frame, and a five-point safety harness.
Itzy Ritzy Snack Happened Mini ($13): Not only is this snack bag supercute, it's also washable, making it the perfect, space-conscious way to tote snacks, including fruit.
Skip Hop Bento Mealtime Kit ($24): While a bit more expensive than many snack carriers, this is a diaper bag must have. The 14-piece kit comes with containers that can be used separately or clicked together and are the perfect size for toting baby food and finger foods. The insulated cooler bag and reusable freezer pack make packing up quick and easy.
Tiny Diner From Summer Infant ($9): Though disposable place mats are nice, this is a more eco-friendly option that has some awesome extras. It rolls up for easy storage, five suction cups hold it securely to the table, and it also has an outer scoop that keeps food off the floor.

Do Tablets Have a Place at Your Family's Dinner Table?

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 10:45:10 PST

Any parent who's ever wrangled their kids into a restaurant has faced the dilemma - teach them table manners or surrender to the power of the iPhone, iPad, or other tablet of your choice. According to Nielsen, in tablet-owning households with kids under the age of 12, 70 percent of children use the device. Of those parents, 41 percent say that they use their tablets to keep their kids entertained at restaurants. We want to know - do you bring the tablet to the dinner table, or do you encourage your kids to partake in conversation?

On Party Etiquette: Is It OK to Bring Cake to a Restaurant?

Susannah Chen — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:15:12 PST

Let's face it: dining out is a totally subjective experience, and I've often wished there were hard and fast rules in place for issues like splitting the bill or whether coat checks should be mandatory. The question du jour? Whether it's OK to bring a birthday cake to a restaurant.I've just turned 30, and I'm celebrating by having dinner with a dozen friends at a small, family-owned ethnic restaurant. It feels apropos to have a cake for the occasion, but since the event takes place at a restaurant, I worry that the whole cake-and-candles thing could not only be disruptive, but also put a strain on the restaurant.

Guidelines on birthday cake etiquette seem to vary. Some restaurants are happy to do it; some request a call ahead; many other high-end establishments charge an (often pricey) cake-cutting fee. Still, others think it's a practice that should be cut out entirely. "I'm always baffled by people bringing their own cake. Do you bring your own steak?" one commenter asked rhetorically on a discussion board about the topic.

I want to hear what you think: if a restaurant doesn't focus on dessert, is it OK to bring your own birthday cake, candles, and lighter to dinner? What do you think of a per-person plating fee? Please weigh in below.

Mario Batali's Quips on Restaurants Today

Susannah Chen — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:03:06 PDT

To kick off the third morning of the NYC Wine & Food Festival, four of the industry's top tastemakers, restaurateurs Mario Batali and Marcus Samuelsson, TV host Andrew Zimmern, and Food & Wine editor in chief Dana Cowin gathered for a panel discussion to talk about what makes the best restaurant experience.

They all had plenty to say about the state of dining - especially the jocular Batali. Here are just a few of his one-liners.

On turning tables: "We have loud music at Babbo while you're eating soigné food. From 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. we turn it up and make it faster to get people out of there."
On tables in New York: "The beauty of New York is, even if five million people on Yelp hate me, there are still eight million left."
On how far the industry's come: "Thirty years ago, restaurant staffs were people who just got out of jail or people who'd just gotten out of the military and were on their way to jail."

Keep reading for the rest of Mario Batali's restaurant zingers.

How to Eat at a Trendy Restaurant

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:21:30 PDT

Many new and popular restaurants do not accept reservations. While I understand an establishment's motivations for not taking reservations (it's more convenient, cost efficient, and eliminates the issue of no-shows), it can be incredibly frustrating as a diner to want to eat at a trendy establishment that is known for its long wait. As an avid girl-about-town, I've devised the perfect plan for minimizing the wait. Here's what you do:

Research the eatery before you arrive. Some places don't take reservations, but they will let you call in advance and add your name to the list. If that's the case, call up to two hours before you want to eat and politely give the hostess your name.
Go earlier or later. Show up at the restaurant about 15 minutes after it's opened; chances are they won't be full yet, and you'll be able to enjoy a meal without having to wait. The opposite option is to get there on the later side: after 9 p.m. You'll miss the dinner rush and hopefully be greeted with a shorter line.
Be prepared to wait. Don't eat at a hot spot when you have a limited amount of time to dine. Got to be someplace after the meal (the theater, a party, a sporting event, etc.)? Then, select an eatery that can get you in and out quickly, not one that has a long wait.

To see the rest of my tips, keep reading.

What's the Most You're Willing to Spend on Street Food?

Susannah Chen — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:28:41 PDT

We spent last weekend at the San Francisco Street Food Festival and didn't walk away with too much damage to our pockets, but that could be changing. According to SFoodie, the latest event to hit San Francisco is a Street Eats Benefit Gala that'll set attendees back as much as $225.

The price tag - which is awfully steep to pay for something coming out of a cart or a truck - got me thinking about what the price ceiling is when it comes to street food. What seems like a reasonable amount to pay for offerings such as banh mi tacos and caramelized s'mores? I don't think I would spend more than $12 on any single item I've ever seen come out of a food truck. Do you, like me, have a magic number?

Want to Open a Restaurant? 6 Things to Consider Beforehand

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:42:34 PDT

San Francisco food festival SF Chefs is in full effect! Yesterday I attended an interesting panel discussion in which many of the Bay Area's most successful restaurateurs talked about what it's like to open an eatery. It was fascinating to learn the things that a restaurateur has to consider. It's not just about finding the right chef; everything from the location to the lease of the building matters. If you've dreamed of opening a restaurant, read on to see what you should think about before you make the investment.

How to Save Hundreds of Calories, but Still Eat Out

Michele Foley — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:26:54 PDT

It turns out that posted calorie counts on restaurant menus aren't always accurate. For those of you watching your weight, this might feel like a major blow, but it doesn't have to be. The next time you dine out, follow these easy tips to keep calories in check.

Research the menu before you go
A few days before the reservation, check out the restaurant's menu online. It gives you time to assess if there are healthy menu options, and, if there isn't, you can call the restaurant ahead of time to see if it can make any modifications to its menu for your diet. Most restaurants don't mind making a diet-friendly plate, but giving advance notice will give the chef time to think out a special plate for your needs.

Skip the bread basket
The bottomless bread basket is an easy way to tip the scale when you're watching your weight. (Not to mention that the crusty baguette is probably made from refined grains.) The average piece of bread contains about 100 calories, while a pat of butter adds another 36. The apps haven't even hit the table and you've already eaten 150 calories. If you absolutely can't pass on the bread, try and limit your portions and skip the butter for olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead.

See more calorie-saving tips after the break!