[UPDATE 10/12/12: Earlier this year, I finally got a hold of someone at the company. They are no longer doing shipping* and thus the only places you can get this stuff is in the Midwest. *At least I don't have the carbon temptation anymore (see update below.) ]

[UPDATE 4/19/11: As of 2010 sometime, there are no longer any supermarkets in SF that carry this PB You can bulk order it from MN but it comes with a LOT of packaging and C02 emissions ]

Many of you know that there is only one dangerous addiction in my life. I don’t drink, or smoke (bleagh!) or do any of the (frankly, more interesting) substances available. But there is one seriously controlled substance in my life: peanut butter. I luvs me some peanut butter.

I could go on and on explaining that love, but suffice to say there was a point when the young ‘Deep, circa 5 or 6 years old, decided to seek a better parenting opportunity* by running away from home. To begin my new life on my own, I carefully chose the three things I’d take with me: a blanket, a spoon, and a jar of JIF Extra Crunchy: I have always been serious about my peanut butter. It is a conscious effort not to eat peanut butter every day of the week**.

So about a year & a half ago, I came across this blog post by someone who loves peanut butter even more than I do (shocking! & perhaps a bit scary, actually) & ever since I have been looking for this “Parkers Farm” Peanut Butter of which he speaks. It had been a long and fruitless search and I had all but forgotten, until one day on Facebook, one of my friends mentioned her favorite snack*** & happened to include the brand of the peanut butter involved! I realized that she knew where to find it! Woot!

After getting the scoop, I immediately went and bought some. And……. lo! I had been delivered from darkness! It is truly the best peanut butter I have ever had. Whether you like all natural or not, whether you like creamy or not, whether you like sweetened or not, it doesn’t matter. This is IT:

Parkers Farm Peanut Butter
(an photo of the U.S. Strategic Peanut Butter Reserve in my fridge)

• in San Francisco, it can be found at Whole Foods South of Market. [UPDATE 11/23/09: I have been informed that it is also at Whole Foods in Noe Valley & Delessio's Market near the PanHandle.] All Whole Foods don’t carry it, but here is a link to the Parkers Farm company & I think they have a link to some of the distributors.
• It is kept in the refrigerated case (like where they keep cottage cheese and butter.)

If you like mainstream peanut butter (as I do), you’ll find the honeyed ones are where it is at!
If you like natural peanut butter, I still think you’ll like the sweeter honeyed ones, but by all means go for the “Plain” if need be. I prefer the “Honey Crunchy”, but the “Plain” is also great & a significantly different excellent experience from the honeyed ones. The “Honey Creamy” is practically as good as the “Honey Crunchy.” There is a “Plain Crunchy”, but they don’t seem to carry it at my Whole Foods.

The second amazing thing about this peanut butter, after the taste, is that it’s ALL NATURAL – and the ingredients are ONLY: peanuts & salt or peanuts, honey & salt (in the honeyed case). WOW.

The third amazing thing is that unlike all other natural peanut butters I’ve tried, the oil doesn’t seem to ever separate! They have some process miracle going on in there. Fascinating. My mind keeps returning to this question – how do they do it?!!!

So, get to it people! You won’t be disappointed! And if you are ever at my house, feel free to ask for a taste spoon. And thus I shall spread The Gospel!

‘deep

* Since my Mom will no doubt read this, let me state for the record that I was getting fine parenting of course.

** Unfortunately, the latest pictures of me suggest that I have been… BUT I HAVEN’T – which of course, begs the question “What is the point of gaining weight if you aren’t doing it by getting to eat peanut butter 24/7?” – clearly my life (& my waistline) is amiss! I need to fix that – but the good news is that means more PF Peanut Butter for all of you Use it well!

*** THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SHANTHALA!!! And big thanks to my favorite blog Daring Fireball, & ESPECIALLY Davenetics for bringing me to the light.

.ps It is amusing to me that both of my food reviews have taken on biblical tones, and probably heretical ones at that. I’m clearly gonna burn in hell.

[Ed. note: What follows is a slightly edited (mostly punctuation fixes) version of an email I just sent SOMA Fabrications, makers of my current water bottle of choice. Those of you who know me, know how big my water bottle is in my life. I'll keep you posted if they reply.]

[UPDATE: They contacted me 2 weeks after I posted this - see the bottom for the update.]

Dear Soma Folks,

First off let me say that I love that you are here in SF & that you make awesome bike stuff. Keep on Rockin’!

The reason for my email though, is my love/hate relationship, no – let’s say “love/deep-abiding-sadness” relationship with your Crystal Polypropylene Water Bottle. The love comes from the fact that as a constant-water-drinker I tried out one of your bottles a few months ago & it was love at first sip. No rubbery taste! Clear and large and clean! I felt a revolution in my water intake was afoot! And so simple! Seemingly, so obvious! Happy Happy Joy Joy!

But a few days in, I noticed that it leaked around the top. Must be a dud I thought, a one-of-a-kind manufacturing mistake, I’ll just get another one! That will be perfect! Sadly no – it still leaked.

Sometime into my third one (having lost my second one) I just tried to ignore the drips of water on my face as I drank, or the small puddle of accumulated leaks in my bike bag. But how much can you ignore at 4 in the morning when you reach for a sip of water in a cozy half-asleep daze, only to be awakened fully by the needle-like prick of ice cold water on your chest? No – there is no ignoring, only sadness.

When I lost my third one, I briefly thought about going back to an older water bottle – but the thought of all those rubbery chemicals that I have imbibed all through the years was too scary to consider. “Maybe they have fixed it!” I thought. This was just three days ago mind you.

So I bought my fourth one, but no, it still leaked. I actually lost it a day after I bought it*, but today, I sadly & resignedly bought my fifth. It seems I am your customer regardless of what happens now. But know that with every drip upon my chin, there is also occasionally a tear in my eye.

yours
‘deep
SF Bike Coalition Board Member (FOR ID PURPOSES ONLY – My views have NOTHING to do with the SF Bicycle Coalition)

*Yeah, I DO lose a lot of water bottles! What IS up with that!?

UPDATE: So two weeks after I posted this, Stan at SOMA Fabrications found my website somehow & responded (I had sent him an email, but he never got it, due to an outdated email address I found for them). Anyway, he was super helpful and interested. But of course, now that I finally got their attention, Water Bottle #5 turned out to not leak. Theoretically, I’m happy about this development…..

Seriously, though THANKS STAN & I do love my water bottle, so I recommend ‘em.

[UPDATE: 2/13/2013 - At long last, my friend Linshao Chin has SOLVED THE MYSTERY! What I guessed was called "Lai Won Bao" is actually "Nai Won Bao" or "Nai Wong Bao" which means egg custard bun (of course)!. I'm updating this post!]

Those of you who know me well, know that I am I’m never one for hyperbole or rampant enthusiasm. In fact, if there is anything wrong with my life, it is that I get excited about too little. Amen.
 
Thus when I tell you I have had the best pastry ever, know that such a statement, like all such pronouncements from me, can be taken for what they are worth: Gospel.
 
Thus I shall speak unto you: 

1. Go to Garden Bakery in Chinatown, on Jackson St. (just downhill from Stockton St.)
2. Walk in.
3. Order a “Lai Wan Bao” “Nai Won Bao” which means “egg custard bun.”(my apologies to the Chinese.) (Ok Adrian, hit us with the translation)
4. Praise the Lord.

 
It looks like a large bun made of something like “Dutch crunch” bread but more yellow. The two I had (Well… I had to make sure the first wasn’t a fluke! I SUFFER for you guys) were both warm and just slightly crunchy from being in the heater. The first bite is yummy, soft, slightly sweet bread, with a lightly crunchy crust – yum! But soon thereafter you hit the custard bomb payload at the center and then… then the angels start singing….
 

Get Thee To Garden Bakery (Jackson & Stockton.)
 
 
Hallelujah 
‘deep
 
.ps
Ok, fine.  I didn’t discover this on my own, there was a Moses involved:  Brian Kusler.  Brian & Kelly were introduced to this by their friend Adrian, who’s family owns a shop nearby.  Brian then introduced this to me. Thanks Brian – though don’t think I don’t realize your nefarious homosexual chubification agenda! 
 
.pps
I can already hear Peat complaining ” but Tartine Tartine” – get over it.  I nubs me some Tartine too, but this is the deal.  In fact, if anyone else has a different great pastry, leave it in the comments.  If enough do, then there shall be a Pastry Off!

Well folks, I’ve owned the Precious, my iPhone for a week now & given how much I’ve been obsessing about it (since before it came out) & how many people have been asking me about it, I thought I’d write down my ramblings (that’s why I have a blog isn’t it)… so if you’re not sick of all things iPhone read on…. and even if you are – you should at least watch Pogue’s musical….

Before I get into my thoughts though here are some video links that are MUST see for those iPhonically inclined:

• NY Times tech columnist David Pogue, lays it all out hysterically via the iPhone Musical. This link has better quality, but if you’re not a registered NYTimes user, go to YouTube below:
• PCWorld drop tests the iPhone – WOW & EEEK – it takes a licking…
• Apple’s video tips about Using the Keyboard on the iPhone

Also, before I go further there are a few important caveats to know. As an Apple employee, writing a blog entry about Apple products is a dicey proposition & one that I won’t do often – but I’ve been so obsessed about the iPhone that this will be a rare exception. So to that end – if you are reading this, keep in mind the following:

• all opinions here are MINE MINE MINE and have NO RELATION TO APPLE’s POLICIES OR PLANS
• There is NOTHING in this post that is not already public knowledge. It is not like I have many iPhone secrets to spill anyway – I’m just a happy little cog in the Apple machine & in very little position to know anything major about the iPhone. And if I did, I wouldn’t be talking anyway.
• Unlike most posts of mine, I’m not going to be completely transparent with my criticisms: sure there are things about the iPhone I wish were different, but as an employee, this is not the forum for them.

So on with the ramblings:

Short Answers:

• Yes, I nub nub nub it.
• Yes, it has flaws, but they are overwhelmed by its upsides.
• Yes, it is as cool as all that.
• No, the AT&T network won’t give you rabies. (a.k.a. It’s not that bad)

Long Answers

• How Do I Like It?
• More Does NOT Equal Better
• A Golden Apple

Click HERE for more…

Pronounced Eye-Pee-hOn
So I’ve been wanting to talk about the iPhone for weeks – both its ups and downs & why I’ll be getting one ASAP!! and what tradeoffs I’m willing to live with. But I can’t because, as an Apple employee, I can only talk about stuff that has been made public. Luckily the reviews are starting to roll in & here are the tech industries biggest two columnists weighing in on the iPhone & they do a good job ‘splaining it all……

Walt Mossberg from the Wall Street Journal
David Pogue from the NY Times

‘deep

.ps
Does anyone use AT&T in SF? I’d love to know how you feel about coverage since I’m switching from Verizon (Verizon – how I loathe thee for crippling my phones – though I’m a slave to your coverage area!)

.pps
Ok – here is one more – Steven Levy from Newsweek – he captures the feel of it (& it is funnier!)

So for years now I’ve been attempting to try a Deep Fried Turkey. You see, every year I make the Thanksgiving turkey for my peeps, so this is like the 8 or 9th turkey season for me. They are always good, but occasionally dry.

Hence the quest to try a Deep Fried Turkey. And I’ve tried. A deli opened that sold DFT sandwiches. I went within a few weeks. It had closed for business. A friend offered to lend me his. I said yes. We made arrangements for pickup. At the last minute, he checked with his girlfriend. She had promised it to someone else. Finally, this year I could take it no more.

mmmmm deep fried goodness (Thanks Adrian!)

I decided it was time for ‘Deep Fried Turkey (I hate this pun. Unfortunately it is more powerful than I am. Every time I try to ignore it, someone foists it back at me. If I wrote this post without this pun, people would fill the comments section with it. I give up. Resistance is futile. Ha. Ha.) I would get a fryer and make my own dammit.

So the next question was how do I get a fryer? Click HERE for more…

So for a recent trip into the car-necessitating wastelands of suburbia I was faced yet again with the thousand year old question of how to connect an iPod to a car stereo, (Ok, nitpickers, technically, yes, originally it was how to connect an iPod to a chariot, but essentially it is the same question – so nyehh!) & I came across a solution that I liked & figured that some of you might want to know.

Click HERE for more…

So last week Eulalia and I went to see the performance of “The Good Body” by Eve Ensler (of The Vagina Monologues fame) – it was really fantastic. I recommend it for anyone who has a female body or knows someone who does. Nicely produced, very funny, thought-provoking and even disturbing, it was a great performance. It even briefly touched on some of the truth of being a guy who is quite fond of the female body (my favorite shape!) and sometimes compromised by this fact on numerous levels .

(Read no more if you want to form your own opinion of “The Good Body” first!) Click HERE for more…