INTERVIEW: Alex (At Our Heels)

We sat down with Alex from the Bay Area hardcore band AT OUR HEELS and asked a few questions over some food at SATURN'S CAFE...

Check out this live video from AT OUR HEELS at 924 Gilman in Berkeley....

Review: St Francis Fountain

If you are in the mission and you like greasy-spoon style diners... St Francis Fountain is required eating. Operating out of San Francisco's Mission District since 1918 (No... it hasn't moved...ever...), St. Francis has all your favorite menu items from milk shakes and burgers to breakfast scrambles.

Their vegetarian options are very impressive as well. The Tofu Scramble a friend ordered was great and my Devil Burger was (despite its rough appearance...pictured above with a side of mac n cheese) a delicious shredded-seitan delight.

If you get a chance... check out St Francis Fountain ASAP.

http://www.stfrancisfountainsf.com/

Review: Hitachino Nest (beer)

I am not quick to spend $12 on 2 bottles of beer. However, I had run into this brand of beer a few times and I finally decided to indulge.

I went to my local Japanese fish market and purchased one bottle of their Red Rice Ale and one of their True Ginger Brew Ales. Both beers were 7% alcohol. Both beers had a similar crisp carbonation with a light head that reminded me of a cider or a belgian lambic. I found the ginger brew to be really lacking in aroma and any hints of ginger were only found in the after-taste with a slight burn in the back of the throat. The Red Rice had a more rosy color and even rose colored head. It was more aromatic than the ginger but not anything too noticeable. Both had very mild bitterness and a slight hint of sake-like flavor.

Although both beers had a great color and consistency (if you like dryer drinks), I was disappointed by the lack of flavor and aroma. I am glad I finally tried these beers but next time I will be buying a six pack or getting my growler filled at a local brewery.

Ginger Brew: A nice color (brown with hints of red), very little head, no noticeable aroma, well balanced, crisp, very little noticable ginger. Only after completing each sip didn't i notice the burn of ginger in the back of my throat. A good beer with the consistency of a cider. Was expecting more ginger (both taste and aroma).

Equally crisp, rosey in color. Slight Sake taste

RECIPE: Vegan Confetti Cupcakes

Submitted by Jan at STAY SWEET CUPCAKES (Click HERE)

makes one dozen cupcakes (double for 24)
Preheat oven for 350 degrees
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup soymilk
(mix apple cider and soymilk together and let sit for about three mins)
3/4 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon fresh squeezed orange juice
(put sugar, oil, and extracts into a large bowl and pour in the soymilk mixture, mix until smooth)
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
1/2 salt
(In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch)
2 tablespoons vegan colorful sprinkles
(add the sprinkles to final batter, give it a final mix with a spatula, scoop the batter into the cupcake pan (best to use an ice cream scooper) )
bake for 20-22 minutes
keep in pan for about five minutes after
transfer to wire rack
cool completely

Now,
Orange buttercream
3 tablespoons fresh squeeze orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 stick of earth balance natural butter spread
1/4 stick of earth balance natural shortening

1. mix butter and shortening until combine (about 5 minutes)
2. mix in the sugar (5-7 minutes)
3. add in extracts and OJ mix until nice and fluffy

pipe on cooled cupcake sprinkle with color sprinkles

Eat and share with no one.