FOOd BLOG

By Phyllis Bowie

Guava Wood Fired Ribs

This first video is for permission to use Gregory Porters' song Take Me to The Alley in the Living With Phyllis Urban Food Show closing - VIEW VIDEO CLIP HERE

In San Francisco as the population of African Americans is at a low 3% and steady decreasing. So when a Black owned restaurant opens in the historically Black community in the Fillmore, I celebrate, promote and support them with enthusiasm. Isla Vida is one of those rare restaurants. Specializing in the broad spectrum of African Diaspora through Afro-Caribbean eats. By far the Guava Ribs are my favorite. GUAVA RIBS VIDEO

Isla Vida Exterior Video This may sound strange but they had me at the Water Ca...

By Phyllis Bowie

BBQ Oysters - Butter, Lemon & Garlic

The truth is I enjoy all festivals – street festivals, music festivals, cherry blossom festivals, but when it is up the street from my home and on Fillmore street, I am extra excited. This was the 36^th Annual Fillmore Jazz Festival. I was honest with myself this year, food is my priority – funnel cakes, corn on the cob, garlic fries, chicken on a stick and the list goes on and on. The first day I was very early because I took my morning walk in Alta Plaza park. After a refreshing brisk walk and 3 sets of 10 pushups, my summer routine, I headed to the farmer’s market for my weekly shopping. Once I turned onto Fillmore the...

By Phyllis Bowie

Happy Hour Crawl $5 drinks at Fat Angel

By Phyllis Bowie

Savory Scone

By Phyllis Bowie

Farmer's Market Organic Arugula

I am thrilled that I find extreme joy in the simple things in life. The Farmer's Market is one of those simple joys. I am in heaven at my local Fillmore Farmer's Market in San Francisco. Fillmore is a histortically African American community. Due to gentrification and soaring outragous rents the population of Black folks in San Francisco is down to 3% and steadily decreasing. So the Fillmore Farmer's Market brings me that extra joy as I watch a few Black families strolling and shopping the market. It gives me a warm sense of community as we all gather to support our local farmer's. Building relationships with your farmers is key to having an in...

By Phyllis Bowie

Salad with Chicken White Wine Sauce & Mushrooms

I created this quick salad with the last of my weekly Farmer's Market Haul. I basically, took the last of the veggies in my frig. Arugula, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Onions, Avovado, I dressed with EVOO and reduced aged Balsamic Vinegar and topped with crumbled aged Blue Cheese. These are my staples - avocado and cherry tomotoes. Having the avocado as a staple is a challenge. The challenge is buying them hard and then waiting for the magical 1 day window when it is perfectly ripe, before it is unripe with dark spots. Tip: I buy 4 Avocados weekly from my local Fillmore Farmers Market. The trick is to select all 4 in differant stages o...

By Phyllis Bowie

Plant Based Nacho Salad

I love when my vegan God-sister comes to visit. Because it gives me an opportunity to explore plant based recipes. I create this soy chorizo nacho salad. My favorite brand of soy chorizo is by Trader Joe's, spicy, great texture and delish. In a large skillet I sautéed chopped red onions in EVOO added the chorizo and browned until caramelized. I then added 2 cans of diced organic tomatoes, chopped jalapeños, cilantro, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cumin and let simmer for 15 minutes. I also, heated a can of Wolfgang Puck's organic black beans. Plated - on a bed of chopped romaine, I spooned on the warm chorizo, drained and spoo...

By Phyllis Bowie

Chillin' & Grillin' California meets Louisiana

African Diaspora Food - My baby brother and I are children of the African-American Great Migration. Our grandparents migrated from Louisiana to California to escape the brutality of jim crow. The truth is when our grandparents and great-grandparents arrived in San Francisco and Stockton racism, discrimination and redlining prevented our family from buying property or even renting. Those who stayed were able to buy in the blight areas of Fillmore and Bayview Hunterspoint. The Fillmore Japantown area had vacancies because of the Japanese being forced into internment camps. We were allowed to buy in Bayview because ...