This popular seafood counter just opened its second location. Here's the best thing on the menu
Each week, critic MacKenzie Chung Fegan shares some of her favorite recent bites, the dishes and snacks and baked goods that didn't find their way into a full review. Want the list a few days earlier? Sign up for her free newsletter, Bite Curious.
Where better to eat raw fish than at a fishmonger? Billingsgate in Noe Valley is a seafood market that sells everything from whole branzino to trays of uni, but they also have a counter and a few tables where you can tuck into a poke bowl or toss back a few oysters. My strongest recommendation is the hamachi crudo ($18), served with thinly shaved slices of hearts of palm and segments of grapefruit. It was all dressed aggressively with finely chopped shallots, olive oil and flaky sea salt (which some of the other dishes were lacking). East Bay residents take note: Billingsgate recently expanded to Oakland, taking over the Hapuku Fish Shop stall at Rockridge Market Hall.
Belfare serves a superior fried chicken sandwich. The Petaluma business got its start at farmers markets and moved into a brick-and-mortar location in a strip mall in 2022. The classic ($18), with sesame mayo and plenty of Cajun-spiced slaw, is always available, but seasonal specials are worth a peek as well. A recent offering featured ingredients you might find on a torta — piquant tomatillo salsa, cilantro, avocado — loaded onto a Parker House bun with grilled spring onions and fried chicken. If I have one quibble it's that the wet ingredients led to a bit of a soggy bottom, but the flavors didn't miss. Pair it with a side of furikake-spiced fingerling potatoes ($11), served with more of that delectable sesame mayo.
Belfare. 1410 S McDowell Blvd. # D, Petaluma. belfaresonoma.com
While in Petaluma, I took a stroll through downtown and passed a sandwich board at the entrance to an alley advertising a business called Once Upon a Slush. After walking past a row of industrial garbage bins, my expectations were low, but I perked up at the sight of two women eating layered frozen desserts out of tiny plastic cups. Once Upon a Slush sells both Italian ices and soft serve, and the trick, one of the women told me, is to combine them. The full menu was overwhelming with various syrups, floats, shakes, frappes and such, so I just copied her order — creamsicle, with a belt of vanilla soft serve bisecting two bands of orange Italian ice ($5). As the owner of the shop handed over my kiddie cup, he said confidently, 'See you tomorrow.' If I lived in Petaluma, he probably would.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kinchley's Tavern, with bar pies and retro charm, an essential North Jersey restaurant
I see a horse on the roof and so I know I'm there: Kinchley's Tavern in Ramsey, the next stop on my journey to the 25 most essential restaurants in North Jersey, as determined by you, dear readers. Many of you recommended Kinchley's, and I've always heard it in conversations about the best bar pie in the state. Yet where one stands in that debate is based on gustatory preferences and personal associations and histories with the establishments that serve them; that is, it's hard to name a winner when so many subjective factors are in play. Nonetheless, with a table full of said pies, a house red ale and some meatballs, I was eager to enter the fray. A fellow diner eyed my spread on his way out and said, "That's an amazing order," and I asked where he'd put these pies in the North Jersey pizza hierarchy. He thought for a moment and said, "Some people think they're overrated, but I've been coming here for 50 years and they've always worked for me." Picking up a wafer-thin slice of Kinchley's fra diavolo bar pie and folding it in half with an audible snap, I wonder: Is this pizza going to be worth all the fuss? But then, I look around the wood-paneled dining room to the tables packed with families. I think of the guy eating lunch here 50 years after his first visit, and the value of familiarity and consistency. I consider the dining's quirky accents collected over nine decades and the totem of the rooftop Clydesdale, and think: Oh, there's much more to Kinchley's than pizza. Kinchley's opened in 1937, making it one of the oldest pizzerias still running in the state. Although it's had three owners in its run, current owner George Margolis says the bar pie recipe hasn't changed since 'Mrs. Kinchley' created it some 80 years ago. The bar pie has racked up accolades over the years; readers have named it their favorite pizza in Bergen County in our annual (201) Magazine Best of Bergen poll each of the last six years. Barstool's Dave Portnoy graded the bar pie a respectable 7.5 upon his 2018 visit, and quick Google search reveals just how popular Kinchley's is for the influencer/pizza bro crowd. Beyond the menu of familiar Italian-American dishes and pub grub, Kinchley's charm is rooted in the marriage between nostalgia and peculiarity. That roof horse is a life-sized Clydesdale replica named Great Scott placed there in the '80s, and Kinchley's does indeed encourage diners to use it as a north star, but it's just the first of many throwback tchotchkes and accents at the tavern. In the dining room, you eat in booths on tables perma-matted with spill-proof red and white checker tabletops. Walls are dark wood panels with the occasional mirror branded with a major American brewery producer — and if you didn't get the hint that you're supposed to drink here, the chandeliers are a hodgepodge of stained-glass fixtures bearing old-school beer logos. You'll also find memorabilia like various cars of an old model train behind a glass display, artifacts from a time when Mountain Dew was just a quirky soda pop from the mountains and not jet fuel for preteen gamers, and placards with quaint, boozy sayings like 'The truth comes out when the spirits go in.' The bar, partitioned off from the dining room, features a long, slim tabletop with TVs and a giant mirror on which the Kinchley's logo — Clydesdales pulling a horse — is displayed. Taplists, drink and food specials and words of wisdom are etched in colorful chalk onto framed boards throughout the space. All of it — the story, the decor, the vibe — primes you for a good experience and echoes the culinary approach: comfort Italian food and pub grub. So much has been said about the bar pies at Kinchley's that I wasn't expecting the bar itself to be notable. My mistake. With so much of the decor heralding Big Beer brands, I was pleasantly surprised that the tap list (which rotates) included some craft bangers: Allagash White, Dogfishhead 60 Minute IPA, Franziskaner Weissbier and their own Red Checkered Ale, brewed by the folks at Toms River Brewing. It's a red ale, which you seldom see these days, and was an excellent representation of the style: malty but crisp with a touch of sweetness. Though the food menu includes burgers, sandwiches and entrees like coconut shrimp and a roast beef platter, I stuck with some Italian American staples and, of course, the bar pies. The meatballs were the best thing I ate at Kinchley's (and, to spoil it a bit, I liked the bar pies). Pillowy soft and oozing with moisture, they're some of the best I've had in recent memory. The sauce helped; chunks of meat in balance with bright tomatoes and a citrus zip to liven everything up. The veal parm sandwich I'd classify as 'fine.' The veal was pounded thin, heavily breaded and topped with mozzarella and sauce; all the components are there, it just didn't move me. The bread, however, was stellar: a halved ciabatta loaf, singed with char spots on the outside. It kept the sub's innards intact and actually added the biggest pop of flavor to each bite. With those out of the way, I headed into the culinary main event at Kinchley's — a bar pie flight of their three most popular pies: original, vodka and fra diavola. People can disagree in good faith about whether they like the crust of Kinchley's bar pies. For some, it might be too thin; for others, there's no such thing as that. I fall into the latter camp, and so I was pleased at how each slice — as thick as maybe a dozen sheets of printer paper — snapped like a cracker. I liked how the crust bubbles made for even thinner, even roastier bites. As for the varieties, the fra diavolo stood apart in large part because of the sauce. This wasn't just marinara with red pepper flakes; Kinchley's manages to extract both the spice and the red fruit flavor from the pepper, so you end up getting a sweet-spice experience, which blends with the bitter char on the crust and the fat and salt from the cheese for a balanced bite. As a counterpoint, the vodka pie was just a little too sweet for my liking. If I were to order it again, I'd cut it with a topping like hot peppers, black olives or maybe anchovies. To round out the meal, I ordered one of Kinchley's New York-style vanilla egg creams. Now, egg creams have never been a part of my life, so you'll have to excuse me that once the server plopped down a full liter glass of frothy white liquid on the table, I stealthily Googled what one was: neither egg nor cream (as I'd assumed), it's made of milk, seltzer water and vanilla syrup. So voluminous was it that I barely finished half of this sweet, creamy, fizzy concoction, but so pleased by the experience was I that I can certainly see a day when I crave it again. I won't weigh in on whether it is indeed the best bar pie in the region; that's a choice for only you and your maker. But I'd certainly go out of my way to get another and would recommend it to those who haven't been. And kudos to Kinchley's for keeping the prices low; everything I mentioned in here totaled to under $70. I left Kinchley's enamored with its charm; its affinity for quirky historical flourishes and its commitment to comfort. It bucks change in the broad sense but it's not stubborn in the details; the quality of the food, the modern taplist and the quick service are testaments to that. But I'm also left thinking there's something unique about North Jersey that fosters the continued presence of old-school restaurants like Kinchley's, Rutt's Hut, Holsten's, Patsy's and others; something in between the notes in every Springsteen song, something earnest, something like: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. In other words, something essential. Go: Kinchley's Tavern. 586 Franklin Turnpike, Ramsey; 201-934-7777, Matt Cortina is a food reporter for Record. If you have recommendations for other essential North Jersey restaurants for him to visit, go here or email him at mcortina@ This article originally appeared on Kinchley's Tavern in Ramsey one of most essential restaurants in NJ
Boston Globe
37 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Vintage touches help give a New Hampshire summer home a ‘little cottage in the woods' feel
She quickly realized she wished to honor the home's 'little cottage in the woods' feel. 'I want it to feel familiar, like you've been here before,' McSherry says. 'I also want it to be a place where I can be a more relaxed version of myself.' Antiques (and near-antiques) were crucial to achieving the lived-in look. Any furnishings that aren't vintage are inspired by ones that are. 'To me, old is comforting,' she says. The home also needed to work year-round; the family would be there as often to ski as to swim. McSherry points to the Mulberry wool-plaid fabric she used on the living room sofa as epitomizing the design concept. 'Plaid feels equally at home in a summer house as it does in a winter house,' she says. She loves that the colors are a bit off, too. 'They look dirty, faded, and worn,' McSherry says. 'Those are not bad words; I don't want clean, crisp, and fresh.' Advertisement Guests come and go through the mustard front door, where they step onto a vintage Turkish rug. A midcentury tapestry picturing stylized figures of Mayan and Aztec dancers, which remind the designer of bugs, hangs on the wall straight ahead. As much as she wants things to feel familiar, McSherry also appreciates fun, and the quirky tapestry sets the tone. New stairs to the now-finished basement are painted Benjamin Moore's Patina, a color that McSherry describes as 'dirty salmon.' Not only does the unexpected shade render the stairs a statement, it symbolizes McSherry's vow to push herself to take risks that she never would in her traditional Colonial in Newton. 'I'd tire of this color if I saw it every day, but for a weekend, it's so freaking fun,' she says. The entry is inviting thanks to colorful architectural features and vintage finds such as the 1960s Italian rattan and bamboo pendant light. Jared Kuzia Ditto for the color in the kitchen: Benjamin Moore's Caponata, a dark plum. The upper cabinets and range hood disappear into the wall — Sherwin-Williams's Ivory Lace — while the plum-colored paneled fridge, base cabinets, and furniture-like island are earthy anchors topped with black granite. The hand-painted Tabarka Studio tile backsplash echoes the carefree greenery outdoors. Stools are conspicuously absent from the island, which has glass-front cabinet doors to show off the creamy dishware inside. Not having island seating is a controversial decision, McSherry concedes, but she didn't want to clutter the space, and there's a banquette nearby. Needham woodworking studio Saltwoods made the table based on an antique McSherry loved and the vintage razor blade chairs inject woodsy Danish style. Advertisement Martha's Vineyard artist Avery Schuster Bramhall created the painting in that corner. 'I sent her swatches of the pillow fabrics and tidbits about our family, asking for a still life that speaks to where we are at this time in our life,' McSherry says. 'She incorporated motifs that represent all of us, including the dogs.' In the living area, cheerful still-life paintings hang in a line above the mood-defining plaid sofa. McSherry paired it with a slouchy sofa in a dewy morning blue Fermoie fabric that's printed with large-scale, wispy wildflowers meant to harken back to a great aunt's floral sofa. 'The flowers, butterflies, and weeds are fitting; I'm not tending to the yard here,' McSherry says. McSherry avoided safe colors for the kitchen cabinetry, opting for Benjamin Moore's Caponata. Jared Kuzia Aside from the bunk room downstairs, the home has two bedrooms just past the salmon-colored stairs. The primary bedroom is wrapped in dusty mauve, while raisin-colored beams echo the rich kilim rug underfoot. 'The tone-on-tone-on-tone is enveloping,' McSherry says. 'I never lived with this color before, but I love it.' In the guest room, wallpaper with garnet vines and spiky blooms tops the chocolate brown beadboard wainscoting of the built-in bed, where a vintage Indian throw offers a random hit of glow-y blue. The decor here in New Hampshire, McSherry says, explores her alter ego: the loose, chill side of herself that doesn't need things to match. It also represents who she hopes to become. 'I want to be the cool older lady who wears a caftan, chunky jewelry, and red glasses,' she says. 'This house shows how I can do that.' Resources Interior designer: Meg McSherry Interiors, Contractor: Frank Wiggins Construction, Advertisement More Photos Designer/homeowner Meg McSherry curated botanical paintings for the living room; artists include Shann Spishak, Chelsea Lyons Teta, and Jose Luis Pelaez. Jared Kuzia The primary bedroom is painted Hint of Mauve with Sequoia trim on the beams. Jared Kuzia Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
City amongst favourites for FIFA Club World Cup, says Aguero
Sergio Aguero says City's success under Pep Guardiola means they have to go into this summer's FIFA Club World Cup as one of the favourites. We're one of 32 teams vying for glory in the US across June and July as part of the freshly expanded tournament. Advertisement Starting on 18 June, we'll contest Group G with Moroccan club Wydad, Abu-Dhabi based Al Ain and Italian giants Juventus – with the top two to progress to the knockout stages. GET YOUR FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 TICKETS NOW It's all live and free on DAZN in most countries around the world, with a free, registered account all you need to sign up! Speaking to FIFA in the buildup to the competition, City legend Aguero believes his former side could potentially challenge for the new, glamorous trophy. "They're always favourites, and it all comes down to their mentality, as it's not easy to always carry the tag of favourites. City are where they are because Guardiola knows how to keep that mindset,' he stated. Advertisement WATCH: Gvardiol: We could achieve something really special at FIFA Club World Cup "They've been doing the same thing for years, which is why they're favourites. Pep simply never rests. Nor will you see him playing a different way; he's going to play the same way he always does, even if he loses. 'He's not going to change his style, and that's something positive. He's got a great bunch of players – a dream team you could say, and Pep knows how to talk to them." WATCH THE FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025 ON DAZN As well as being City's record scorer, Aguero also boasted a proud record for his native Argentina. With six South American clubs in attendance – four from Brazil and two from Argentina – Aguero is hoping to see his continent shine. Advertisement "These [Club World Cup] games will be an opportunity to show everyone the South American mindset and nature,' said Aguero. WATCH: WATCH: See who City drew in Group G of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 'I expect our sides to really battle – it's something that comes natural to we South Americans. "I also believe it's very important for clubs to be at this tournament. It's not going to be easy, but I think they'll do their utmost to go as far as possible and ensure South America comes out of it with its head held high."
