To-do list for this summer's Bay Area eating

It looks like I know what I'll be doing this summer--eating! Thanks Vera for sending me my culinary itinerary for the summer. Some items have been nixed for yuck factor or unkosherness.

1. The Crab Roll: Fish Sausalito, CA
I really want to, but no crab will be going in my mouth. Maybe if there's a fish roll?

2. Strawberry Ice Pop: Mandorina San Francisco, CA
When the weather calls for an ice pop, I'm hitting this joint up.

3. Banana Special: Fentons Creamery Oakland, CA
Whatever's so special about this banana, I'll be eating it.

4. Mondrian Cake: Blue Bottle Coffee at the SFMOMA Rooftop Sculpture Garden San Francisco, CA
Dunno what it is, but I'll eat it! Especially in a rooftop sculpture garden!

5. Basteeya: Aziza San Francisco, CA
Nomnomnomnom. I hope I'm eating meat again by the summer.

6. French Onion Soup: Cricklewood Santa Rosa, CA
Say no more. This is the first priority.

7. English Muffins: Model Bakery St. Helena, CA
Huh? Not sold on this.

8. Apple Strudel: Schmidt's San Francisco, CA
Do I need any convincing to eat an apple strudel? Heck no.

9. Green Papaya Salad: Out The Door San Francisco, CA
I'll try it, although I don't especially like papaya.

10. Organic Granola with Fruit & Straus Organic Yogurt: Cafe Fanny Berkeley, CA
Oh, Berkeley. You're so crunchy granola.

11. Phat Burger W/Bacon and Cheese: Pearl's Phat Burgers Mill Valley, CA
YUCK! Pu-pu-pu! Never. Leave this one to the meat eaters.

12. Double Pain Au Chocolat: Tartine Bakery San Francisco, CA
Which is double, the bread or the chocolate? Let's hope it's both!

13. Mongolian Pork Chop: Mustard's Grill Napa, CA
Swine = treyf.

14. Soutzoukakia: Evvia Estiatorrio Palo Alto, CA
Efcharisto! I love Greek meatballs. I hope it's only lamb in there, otherwise it's yuck-yuck.

15. Prosciutto Ice Cream: Humphry Slocombe San Francisco, CA
That's disgusting. Sorry.

16. Prime Rib: House of Prime Rib San Francisco, CA
Not gonna happen. Meatlovers come claim your prime rib!

17. Smore Pie: Buckeye Roadhouse Mill Valley, CA
My mouth is watering at the thought of combing S'mores and pie! Brilliance.

18. Leg of Beast: Incanto San Francisco, CA
Mystery beast. Hmmm. It's not unkosher if it's an unidentified animal?

19. Tsar Nicoulai Sampler: Tsar Nicoulai, Ferry Building San Francisco, CA
Probably not. Sounds Russian (read: pork and shellfish).

20. Warm Sea Urchin with Dungeness Crab: Anchor & Hope San Francisco, CA
Yuck.

21. Kumamoto Oysters: Hog Island Oyster Co. San Francisco, CA
Double yuck.

22. Sam's Sundae: Bi-Rite Creamery San Francisco, CA
Yum.

23. Salumi Cone: Boccalone Salumeria San Francisco, CA
Double yum.

24. Bacon Apple Maple Donuts: Dynamo Donut & Coffee San Francisco, CA
Triple yuck.

25. Baked BBQ Pork Buns: Yank Sing San Francisco, CA
Infinite yuck.

Where are the authentic Mexican fish tacos? This list is not complete without them!

Spaghetti with meatless meatballs

This recipe is pretty much swimming around in my head, but I'll try to get the right measurements.

Start with a box or organic spaghetti from Whole Foods. Put it in boiling water with salt and olive oil. Make al dente.
Saute the following items:
- 1 package mushrooms (white button or baby bella)
- 1 bunch fresh spinach
- grape tomatoes cut in half


Preheat oven to 350 F.
For the meatless meatballs, you will need:
- 2 cups texturized vegetable protein (TVP)
- 2 cups piping hot water
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- 2 eggs
- 1 onion, medium sized, diced small
- 2 cloves garlic, smooshed
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp italian seasoning
- 4 Tbsp nutritional yeast

First, pour the water into the TVP and let it stand for 5-10 minutes. You can put a cover on it. Saute the onions with the garlic in a pan. Add the bread crumbs to the TVP, along with pepper, salt, italian seasoning, and nutritional yeast. Then add the onions and garlic and eggs. Mix well. Now comes the tedious part. Drizzle some olive oil on a baking pan. Make little 1" to 1 1/2" balls and put them on the pan. Drizzle them with olive oil, but not too much. You can also sprinkle them with paprika or cayenne pepper for some kick. Bake for 25 minutes.

You might want to consider using pasta sauce with this recipe, but I like it without.