Food Librarian

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

B Star Bar, San Francisco - Tea Leaf Salad

I traveled 400 miles for this salad.

Last weekend, I took a quick trip to San Francisco and was slated to go to Burma Super Star. (Unfortunately, Los Angeles doesn't have much Burmese food. I've been to the Golden Triangle in Whittier, but Burma Super Star is a lot better.) I was hungry when I got off the plane!

However, by the time my UCLA roomie, Diane and I arrived at Burma Super Star, there was a typical Saturday night 1 1/2 hour wait. Ugh. The hostess said Burma's sister restaurant was just down the street...B Star Bar.

We headed there and entered heaven. I'm not kidding! We were so fortunate...we walked in and got seated at the counter instantly. The place is cute and has a different menu than Burma with lots of Asian-inspired food...but with some of their favorites including the Rainbow and Tea Leaf Salad.

We split my favorite salad on the planet...Tea Leaf Salad (see above). A delicious combination of romaine lettuce, ginger, fried garlic, sunflower, sesame seeds, tomatoes, peanuts and tea leaves. Soooo good. $9

B Star Bar, San Francisco - Basil Chili Tofu

My friend, Diane ordered the Basil Chili Tofu. Pressed tofu, eggplant, bell pepper, asparagus...over coconut rice. Oh that rice! So delicious. The dish was pretty spicy. While I'm not a fan of the pressed tofu, Diane liked her dish. $11

Although I wanted to try a bunch of different items on the menu, I kept looking at the Ochazuke. This a Japanese comfort food that just says, "Mom." It's the equivalent of tomato soup and grilled cheese for me. Of course, my mom's is nowhere near this fancy.

Rice, salmon, poached egg, topped with an umeboshi (pickled plum) and surrounded by pickled greens and crunchy rice...all in a green tea broth. Delicious! If this dish were a person, I would hug it. $11