Robert Jeffrey & Kiki Eat Out

Robert Jeffrey & Kiki Eat Out

Robert Jeffrey and Kiki helping each other out.

You all know what a big a foodie I am. And I like to think that I make healthy choices when eating out. I have to be very, very drunk to make someone drive me through a fast food restaurant. For some reason it usually happens mainly when I’m in Los Angeles and especially when I’m hanging out with William.

William driving me through Jack In The Box, 2AM

I’m always fascinated when I see people making sober choices about eating at a fast food joint. That’s if you can understand my drunk reasoning. So I asked two boys in my life – Robert Jeffrey and Kiki – who live to eat America’s junk food, to answer a few questions.

No comment.

What is your favorite fast food restaurant?

Robert Jeffrey: Hmmm it’s so hard to pick one! I like each spot for certain reasons. Like when I go to Burger King I always get the Whopper. It’s my fav fast food burger. Arby’s roast beef sandwich, curly fries, and a Jamocha shake rules. I ball till I fall at Taco Bell, especially if there is a KFC. And on a side note KFC is better than Popeye’s. Wendy’s is also at the top of my list. I’m pretty sure they started the whole dollar menu concept too. What’s not to love about a frosty, a burger, fries and chicken nuggets for less than $5? But if I had to pick one I would go with McDonalds. They have the best all around menu and if I’m up early enough there is nothing better than Mccy D’s breakfast. A sausage McMuffin with the hashbrowns on it is heaven to me. If its lunch time I go with the fish fillet. I could probably eat five of them in one sitting.

Kiki: That is like asking who is your favorite child! It’s really a toss up between Popeye’s Chicken and McDonald’s. Depends on how much grease I want running down my forearm and if it is two piece Tuesdays aka TPT…

What is the one thing you’ve ordered at a fast food restaurant without any shame? 

Kiki: “The Stacker” is a devil sandwich that sister Robert Jeffery taught me by taking a McDouble and McChicken and stacking it together.

Robert Jeffrey: My shameless item is ordering pretty much everything at Taco Bell/KFC. I cringe when they read back the order. You would think I was ordering for an entire family. I also like getting a McChicken McDouble from Mc Donald’s and stacking them together into one sandwich. I call it the McStacker or the McGang-Bang.

What is your favorite snack to buy at the grocery store?

Robert Jeffrey: God I can’t even begin to pick a snack from the grocery store. I like getting something from all the food groups. Something spicy, something sweet (chocolate), something sour/fruity (Sour Patch Kids or Skittles) and something salty. If I get chips I usually go Doritos of some flavor. I like Pepperidge Farms double dark chocolate cookies.

Kiki: I always get Lays original chips and pair it with boxed white wine. Every time I grab a bag I say out loud, “I JUST gotta have my Lays!”.

What is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage?

Kiki: “Hurricane” it is a mix of all the fountain drinks in order, but there is a science to it. You can’t just slam your cup and think you’re getting a sugar drink masterpiece!  Sprite and Cherry Coke are the foundation, followed by Orange Fanta, Dr. Pepper, etc… A Rancho Cordova staple!

Robert Jeffrey: Coca Cola is hands down my favorite non-alcoholic drink. The Mexican bottled ones are one of my top 5 favorite things in the world! I drink wayyyy to much pop. I love adding bitters and cherry juice to my Cokes when I’m in the clurb.

How many times a week do you eat out at fast food restaurants?

Kiki: So much so that I have gentlemen suitors at several Popeye’s locations.

Robert Jeffrey: I go thru spurts of eating fast food. Some weeks at least 2 or 3 times, then I won’t have it for 2 weeks – then I’m back at it again. I guess it all depends on my hangover. I will fuck up some fast food after a long night of drinking.

Whats the biggest order you’ve ever placed?

Kiki: $70+ worth of food at Jack in the Box for a friend and I. I told the associate “The items on the menu… I’ll have that.” We sat crossed legged and laid the food out in a semi circle. It felt like a fast food commander center!!!

Robert Jeffrey: My biggest order is when Stanley Frank and I got 99 cheeseburgers for our Monday night party, Viennetta Discotheque. We also got 4 value meals for us to grub in the DJ booth. On a personal level Kiki and I had a pretty gnarly meal at Taco Bell/KFC recently when they released the Cool Ranch Doritos tacos. They messed up our order so we ended up getting like 7 extra tacos on top of us already ordering 10-12 items. It was amazing!

Kiki, Robert Jeffrey and I.

Robert Jeffrey currently holds DJ residencies at Viennetta Discotheque (every Monday night at SF Underground), Dial Up (monthly at Public Works)  and Booty Call Wednesdays in San Francisco.

Kiki currently serves sass at Bliss Spa in San Francisco.

The Perfect Day Off at Tout Sweet

A trip to Union Square always wraps up with a stop at my friend Yigit’s pastry shop Tout Sweet. I’m always secretly hoping that when I arrive there will be my favorite cake in the case. You may know Yigit Pura as the winner of season 1 Top Chef: Just Desserts. His shop on Macy’s 3rd floor boasts a dessert zen den of macaroons, cakes, and tarts along with tasty breakfast and lunch fare.

Mille-Crepe

The Mille-Crepe is approximately 20 paper-thin crepes layered with a vanilla bean custard scented ever-so-slightly with orange flower water and topped with bruleed sugar.

Pair with your favorite digestif liquer and you’ve got the perfect flourish to a much deserved day off.

So delicious! We loved every bite!

Yigit Pura

A must read restaurant review…

This read of Guy Fieri’s new restaurant in Times Square is just hysterical.

Guy Fieri

Todd Barket Eats Out

Todd Barket

Todd Barkett is always smiling. And, its an endearing one. He opened Unionmade in November of 2009 in a pre-1906 earthquake Victorian storefront at 493 Sanchez Street, situated on the border of San Francisco’s Mission and Castro districts. Voted one of the country’s 10 best independent mens stores by GQ Magazine and San Francisco’s best mens store by SF Weekly, Unionmade is known for our outstanding selection of men’s casual and fine clothing, shoes, new and vintage books, and men’s grooming products.

Todd is a great friend and has been a big supporter of my annual Pride Event. His shop is an inspiration in its devotion to showcasing American made goods. If  you’ve seen my kitchen you know that I have no room for another cookbook – but seem to walk out of the store with not one but two more every time I visit. This fall I got to further my modeling career by modeling for their second annual Unionmade Indigo Collection campaign.

Unionmade Indigo Collection

What is your favorite dessert?

Vanilla Ice cream with olive oil and sea salt.  So simple and so tasty.

What restaurant would you call your home?

Bar Tartine.  I love the updates with all of the wood and pottery and the menu is crazy!

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

Japanese bean curd candy in Tokyo.  The colors and shapes were amazing.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

Rice Krispies

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?

Good bread with cheese.

Todd and I at Pride.

Kevin Hoskins Eats Out

Kevin Hoskins Eats Out.

Kevin Hoskins at Moby Dick

Kevin is one of my friends that agrees with me when I say – “Tripe sounds good today”. How many people can you say that about in your life? He’s a great cook. He likes things simple. One of my favorite things Kevin has ever made for me are his Black Olive Cookies. I probably get them about once a year – which isn’t nearly enough. They are rich from oil-cured black olives and have a great balance of sugar and salt. He confesses his love for Lemon Cake here – and this past year for his birthday I got to make him one. I don’t know if it matched up to his Aunts – but I think it satisfied his craving. Kevin is currently part of the team that brings you the weekly party Some Thing (the art, drag dance party) at The Stud.

What is your favorite dessert?

Hmmmm… My aunt always made a lemon bundt cake with lemon juice and powdered sugar frosting for my birthday. It was simple and refreshing. I love semi-sweets. When I do bake its usually olive cookies. And when the first strawberries come in around February when they have flavor but it hasn’t gotten warm enough for them to be sweet, I love dipping them in sour cream and brown sugar.

What restaurant would you call your home?

I just ate at Zuni Cafe and realized how much it is like my home. I’m friends with like half of the staff. Unfortunately its not exactly like my home since I don’t have a wood oven to roast my broccoli and cauliflower with my pork chop. It always inspires me to cook simply and a little out of my comfort zone.

What is the strangest thing you’ve eaten?

When I was fifteen I went on a student exchange to Kazakhstan. A Kazakh version of a toast is centered around a roasted goat head. The host hands a piece of the head to you with choice words and you eat it. My last night there – my host father gave me and my host brother each an eyeball saying he hoped “we would be such great friends that we always see in the same direction.” Eyeballs aside, I am always looking for Central Asian food, and I’d love to not have to go to Coney Island or Beijing to find it.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

My sister ate Golden Grahams, and the smell really grossed me out. So I liked Corn Bran, or when I was on vacation, Cap’n Crunch Berries. My sister and I were allergic to milk, so we used Mocha Mix which also may explain why I didn’t need sweet cereal. It was sweet enough.

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?

If my neighbor is up, I like to go to his house and make baked eggs. I don’t mind cooking them, but I like him to clean the ramekins.

Kevin and I at an art opening in NYC, 2004

Chef Towers the Mayor and my big titties.

Chef Jeremiah Towers and then San Francisco Mayor Frank Jordan and my big titties at Stars Restaurant in San Francisco, 1995. Frank loved it. And, Jeremiah just blushed.

Foie gras everynight until July…

I’ve sang praises about award-winning / Iron Chef Traci Des Jardins many times in the past. But as the month of June quickly heads to its end – the only thing on my mind is eating any dish Traci serves with foie gras.

I first got a taste of it when she was working at Rubicon and have not had any better since. Every time I stop into her restaurant Jardinere – it’s the first thing I look for on the menu. I’ve been known to sit at the bar (the most genuine bar staff in town) and order the foie gras terrine and also add to that the foie gras appetizer off of the dinner menu. Hey – I’m old enough to do what I want to do.

Starting July 1st California law goes into effect banning foie gras. We will be the first state in the country to ban it. And that is hard to swallow from a San Francisco foodie. The ban has spun a frenzy – driving the demand and prices at its highest. I’m gonna try to see Traci as often as I can this month – I sure hope she has stocked up.

Eat me is what I have to say to the California legislature that passed the law in 2004.

Wesley Taylor Eats Out

Wesley Taylor Eats Out

Wesley Taylor

I got to meet Wes when he was in San Francisco starring as Michael “Mouse” Tolliver in the world-premiere musical Tales of the City (based on the book series by Armistead Maupin), at the American Conservatory Theatre. In the middle of the second act Wes (as Mouse) sings the coming out song “Dear Mama” – and in the half-dozen times I saw the production there never was a dry eye in the house. My tears continued as my phone starting ringing in my purse – I had too many drinks during intermission in the lobby and forgot to turn it off. He has the most infectious smile and delightfully devilish demeanor. We didn’t get to share any food together while he was here – but we did share some beverages – so I’m gonna count that as food intake.

Wesley Taylor as Michael “Mouse” Tolliver in Tales of the City The Musical

He is currently on Smash, NBC’s new TV series about producing a Broadway show. Wesley plays Bobby, a flamboyant ensemble member who is not afraid to say what is on his mind. (That last sentence was lifted off of Wikepedia – the term flamboyant is an understatement).

“Flamboyant”

Wes Taylor answers my foodie questionnaire here:

What is your favorite dessert?
Banana ice cream on top of brownies…you know, healthy stuff.

What restaurant would you call your home?
Well, the restaurants that I’ve probably spent the most time in are Lovely Day in Soho, Caselulla in Hell’s Kitchen, The Grove in San Francisco, and Kitchen in Hollywood. They make me feel cozy and the food is consistent.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?
There’s this restaurant in downtown LA called The Gorbals. It’s very hip and has a live band, the head chef is Ilan Hall, I think he won Top Chef…and he cooks some pretty “inspiring” Squid.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?
Captain Crunch, hands down.

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?
Fast Food. In&Out / Mc Donald’s / Chick-Fil-A (but I’m boycotting because those waffle fries are bigoted).

Image by Corey Hayes

Walter Gomez Eats Out

Walter Gomez Eats Out

Walter Gomez

I don’t know if you’ve had the pleasure or in some cases the misfortune of meeting my son – the walking / talking Puerto Rican Parade of ONE, Walter Gomez.  Anyway, I’m sure that you will be extremely entertained by his razor-sharp tongue and fiery mouthful of sass that he spews on everyone and everything in his sight. All joking aside (although I’m not joking) he’s simply a joy. He’s patented his own little dance – arms flapping furiously, whilst turning from side to side and doesn’t normally like to wear pants. On the food front he is always a welcome guest at my table and has enjoyed many a gourmet meal here at Chez MORE! When we travel together, our priorities are to seek out new and exciting restaurants, ordering everything possible and all of the desserts.

We host a monthly party together every third Saturday of the month at the notorious SoMa bar Powerhouse called BEATPIG. It brings together the worlds of music, leather, fashion and drag.

Walter and I at BEATPIG.

Walter Gomez answers my foodie questionnaire here:

What is your favorite dessert?

I don’t think any meal is complete without dessert. In fact, I won’t assess a restaurant’s prowess until I get to the dessert. There’s very few dessert things I wouldn’t try, aside from the combination of mint and chocolate (it makes me poopy). After moving from Puerto Rico, I’ve become obsessed with trying flans whenever available. It’s such an easy dessert to make, but people in the west coast have perfected the art of fucking it up. So, a simple and smooth flan will make me a happy piglet.

Sassy face.

What restaurant would you call your home?

It would be a tie between Rocco’s Cafe and Basil Thai, both in SoMa. The pork chop sandwich (with added cheddar cheese) from the former is a must for lunch. And I’m pretty sure I’ve had the roasted duck curry from the latter roughly 49 times..

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

Back home, morcillas (pig’s blood sausages) are kind of a big deal, especially over Christmas. I think they’re disgusting, and as a child, I was pressured into eating those abominations every year. As far as inspiring, I have to give props to Skool for introducing me to their uni flan; I never thought I’d enjoy sea urchin. Also, any pizza with an egg on it, because it’s fucking genius!

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

I had surprisingly boring tastes as a kid, so Frosted Flakes or Corn Pops usually did the trick.

What is your favorite food to pig-out on after the club?

Denny’s now has a burger that has bacon, hash browns and a fried egg in it, and there’s one ‘conveniently’ located about 2 blocks from my house and open 24 hours. The heartburn you get from it the morning after is about as close to God as one can get.

Walter as a human ketchup holder for my fries.

Robert Polacek Eats Out

Robert Polacek Eats Out

Robert Polacek

My friend Roby is the Chief Creative Officer and Partner at Puccini Group. The San Francisco based design firm that specializes in creating restaurants with personality and style. You’ve probably stepped foot into one of his firms countless sophisticated, chef-tailored, noteworthy restaurants across the globe for clients such as Jumeirah, Kimpton, Fairmont and Four Seasons among others. He heads up the concept development and design side of the company. He’s promised me over a few drinks (I said a few) that I would someday be the inspiration for a boutique hotel and restaurant. Can you imagine? “I’d like to stay in Juanita’s suite and can you send up an order of  the MORE!marrow appetizer with a bottle of champagne from room service”.

Enjoying “a few drinks” in the Tenderloin.

Robert Polacek answers my foodie questionnaire here:

What is your favorite dessert?

Hands down – Goat Cheese Cheesecake! There is something about the fact that it has to be made fresh in order to serve it.  I love the tanginess of the goat cheese combined with the sweetness of the cheesecake. I think it is the perfect combination.

What restaurant would you call your home?

The  very establishment of a restaurant in general is my home, given I’m always on the road researching them for upcoming concepts and designs. But if I had to choose one in San Francisco, it would be Anchor Oyster Bar. Everything about it feels like home – the simplicity of the concept to the welcoming staff. I love that everything is fresh and local and there is a ‘feeling’ of genuineness that truly defines what a restaurant experience should be.

Roby and I. We are way overdue for a lunch date.

What is the strangest or most inspiring thing you’ve ever eaten?

Most inspiring and strangest was when I dedicated two full days (all in the name of research) to Singapore Street Food. Everything from pig intestine soup, to chicken feet, duck heart stew, you name it tired it. Long story short – every organ of every animal in two days! In Singapore, one of the most vital food cultures in the world, eating, or as the locals say, ‘makan’, is more than just food. It’s a national obsession, a passion, a way of life. Friends don’t greet each other with hello, instead they’ll say, “have you eaten?”. This philosophy struck me because I share that thinking and which is why my passion in life is creating the perfect stage for eating and enjoying  meals with friends and family.  That exploration in Singapore enlightened me to look further into the culture of eating for my inspiration to design.

What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a kid?

Growing up with divorced parents, I learned at an early age the joys of choices and never just settling for one of anything! During the week and at my mom’s I shoveled Fruity Pebbles before they got soggy and during the weekends, sans sugar and sweets, I enjoyed Honey Nut Cheerios at my dad’s house.

What is your favorite food to pig out on after the club?

Cheddar cheese, peanut butter and dill pickles. But that’s only if don’t make it to Cybelle’s pizza – I love a mushroom slice with tons of hot pepper flakes.

Roby in my apartment.