food

Looking back, the Cheap Bastard has come to realize that this humble old site, cheapbastardsf.com, has been around a while now! In fact, we've been around long enough that the landscape of cheap is shifting right out from under our feet.

First and foremost, if you haven't noticed already, there's been a huge financial catastrophe which is continuing to unfold before our eyes. The upshot is that a lot more folks are in need of saving money 'case they don't have the money that the once did. On top of that, there's been some inflation too. Not out of control inflation, the actual rate is quite low, but some factors, such as the requirement that businesses such as restaurants provide health care coverage to their workers has caused lunch prices to go up.

If you're familiar with cheap food in San Franciscoo, and we hope you are!, then the burrito probably comes to mind as the iconic food. It's cheap, quick, delicious, and filling! If you're more prone to think of burritos as the dung bags you find frozen next to the microwave in a gas station convenience store, let us change your perprective - a proper burrito is a beautiful thing, food for the masses, the people's meal!

By now, regular readers of the Cheap Bastard's Guide to San Francisco Blog will know that our resident Cheap Bastard, Karen Solomon, is also an accomplished cookbook author (cookbooks, of course, are crucial to the Cheap Foodie Bastard's lifestyle - they offer a way to make delicious food without going to an expensive resaturant). But did you know she also hosts a quarterly food swapping event at local food community resource 18 Reasons?

Unfortunately, I really can't vouch for their burgers -- they might be awesome for all I know!

As you may know, the SF Bay Guardian is the leading & original weekly "alternative" newspaper here in San Francisco.  They're feisty & venerable, bringing a real local perspective on the issues that matter (or should matter!) to San Franciscisans.

Way back when I was in college at the University of Florida, the local troupe of Hare Krishna devotees would set up in the Plaza offering free food to all who were hungry (which was basically all of us students!). There was definitely something to be desired about the quality of their curried offerings, though -- you can get a bit tired of ghee-soaked potatoes day in day out.

When you're craving sugar and coming off the 24 bus at Castro and Market, you needn't beg from crumbs. Stop at Hot Cookie and chow down on their day old cookies - just $.85 each or three for $2.50, about a third of the price of a regular "hot" cookie. Trust me, these babies aren't like stale bread - they are totally still sinful and choco-nutty the next day.

My current job has taken me into the belly of San Francisco's Corporate Beast (so to speak), and I now find myself, during my 30-minute lunch breaks, wondering, "Where can a Cheap Bastard like myself find a good place to eat?"

New England-style fish joint Woodhouse Fish, Market at 14th, has dollar oysters and $3 pints (mmm...$3 pints) every Tuesday from 4:00 on - usually until about 9:00. That's many, many hours in which to imbibe the cheapness. Split a clam roll with a pal and you're in business.

The Chowhounds know everything about food. Here's a great link on some amazing eatin' bargains Bay Area-wide. And thank you, Kungful, for your kind mention of CBGSF...

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/465237