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A Superb Stake & The Maltese Falcon At John's Grill In San Francisco
-By Stacy Poulos http://www.PostcardTra...

John's Grill
63 Ellis St., San Francisco, CA 94102
(between 4th St & Market St)
Neighborhood: Union Square
(415) 986-0069
http://www.johnsgrill.com

When you've been around since 1908 you know someone has carried on the torch. After spending 3 day's at a MacWorld convention I thought I'd treat myself to a great meal. As I walked down Powell Street I passed by an officer and said "I know you must know where a good place to eat a reasonably priced steak is around here". He pointed right up the street to 120 Powell at 'Tad's Steak Restaurant' and said you can get a good steak for around 15 buck's (almost with a New York accent). So I went in that direction, before crossing Ellis St, being a good citizen looking both ways before I crossed the street, to my right 'John's Grill since 1908' caught my eye. It rang a bell for me, so I thought I'd peek in and it was the home of the movie 'The Maltese Falcon'. It's a little more spendi for my budget. But as a filmmaker, I couldn't help but want to sit in a room where Sam spade from the movie sat and be inspired by History. Why not spoil myself once in a while.

I will say, as frugal as I am, I have a very sophisticated pallet for a great quality steak. My mom spoiled us with her restaurant sized indoor grill and teated us to a good T-bone or New York steak once in a while. Not to mention, we got our meat from cows my step dad's family had raised in Portland Oregon. So trust me, I know a good quality steak. I start out on a steak adventure very skeptical, that it will be near as good as what I have grown up to know. A great steak needs just salt and pepper. Sometimes a hint of butter and garlic.

Going in a fancy restaurant as a single female alone, isn't always a nice greeting. I was pleasantly surprised all the way around. The first thing I thought about when they sat me down and brought me bread and butter, was the great tasting San Francisco sourdough bread (my best friend in Alabama makes me bring her a loaf when I visit). Most restaurants have this chewy bread. Even if it's freshly made nothing compares to a SF sourdough bread crust. It has its own taste and texture. Even though there's a "Sam Spade's Chops (Broiled lamb chops)" on the menu, I had myself a nice Medium rare New York USDA Prime or Certified Black Angus, the finest available. Corn-fed in the Midwest, it is specially selected for the highest quality and naturally aged for maximum flavor and tenderness steak.  Yummy! Perfect flame broiled on the outside and rare on the inside. The flavor of the meat was superb, As I enjoyed live jazz filling the air.

33 bucks for the steak includes seasonal vegie, a baked potato and roaming around the unofficial museum of San Francisco's rich History. On the walls are many famous people who have visited including the late Jack Lalanne who said my newest favorite quote "The worst thing you can do to your body is not use it". I sat across from the 1984 Olympic Torch. You know they have to know someone to have that. It's a different experience than going to a museum and observing, than actually sitting where films have inspired a part of your career. Before I left, I got my photo taken next to the Maltese Falcon and Emmy Award to inspire my next generation of filmmaking with a great meal underneath my belt and new technology to expand my horizon.

A Superb Stake & The Maltese Falcon At John's Grill In San Francisco
-By Stacy Poulos http://www.PostcardTra...

Oakland Greek Festival is my favorite of all Festivals.  http://www.oaklandgree...  Always the 3rd weekend in May like a lot of events, but I always find room for it. I have been to Greece and I am Greek. My Grandfather or Papo http://www.oaklandgree...  s Oud (Greek guitar) Player and was best friends and played with Marko Melkon in the 1950's. When my Grand Mother or Yaya, Maria Stevens or Stavos herd my grandfather was coming to America she went down to the ship yard and woo'ed him over to marriage. Maria was coined the Grandmother of Greek cabaret in the 1950's 'Variety Magazine ' and started Belly dancing in the United States. She entertained thousands including Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis. I have a tambourine made by Greek prisoners signed by famous Belly dancers and an original menu. My Yaya got arrested during prohibition for serving alcohol.

The marriage wasn't a match made in heaven but lasted long enough to bare 3 children my dad; John Poulos (A Bay Area Bartender and President of Entertainment East Magazine), twin brother Alex Stevens (President of East Coast Stuntmen's Association, people are most are impressed he was the stuntman for Frank Sinatra, when I was a kid I was enthralled by the fact that he was the Ware Wolf on 'Dark Shadows') and my Aunt Ann Poulos, who I never got a chance to meet. There is a lot of rich Greek/American culture running around the festival behind the scenes.

The food it the best! Gyros in Greece are much different, they don't have ground meat, but they are excellent just the same. They serve; Gyros (meat, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce -yogurt, sour cream, garlic & cucumber, served with pita bread), Spanakopita (Spinach & feta pie in phyllo.), Tyropitakia (Feta Cheese Pie Triangles in phyllo), Loukaniko (Greek Sausage (Cooked on grill with oregano and lemon), this year they added a treat; Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup). All of which I eat on my first day! I'm still full. It's not everyday you get this quality of Greek food in one location. These are not trained professionals in the kitchen, they are authentic Greek grandmothers showing off their talents (maybe with a little grandma to grandma, or yaya to yaya competition) in the kitchen handing down there skills and tradition to the next generation.

There is also Souvlakin (marinated chunks of meat on little skewers Chicken and beef), Greek Halloumi cheese grilled, topped with capers salad dressing, Dolmathes (Stuffed Grape leaves), Greek salad (lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, feta cheese, vinaigrette), and to my surprise they had a Greek salad in a pita with my favorite salad dressing 'Greco Fusion' from Elio's Family Restaurant (The  Eliopoulos's) they now bottle and sell. Ironically they had an AD at the Gyro booth for the dressings that I made (Photos, layout and printing). They happen to be a customer of mine, I also made the restaurant and the dressings website http://eliosfoods.com and http://eliosdining.com

It's as close to Greece you will get in America.  You can get discount coupons from there website http://www.oaklandgree...  Elio's and Luks Grill in San Leandro http://www.yelp.com/bi... have some Greek dishes for those of you who crave Greek food in betweenGreek Festivals.  The next one up local to me is the Castro ValleyGreek Festival sometimes hosted in at the Hayward http://www.cvresurrect..., another place to enjoy great Greek food and entertainment.
I'm not even going to start with desserts but mention my favorite; Baklava - Flaky fillo filled with ground walnuts & cinnamon, topped with homemade honey sauce. Yummy! Maybe on Sunday.  You might even run into Dee Andronico volunteering, she is one of the founders of Andronico's markets (http://playback.net/cl...) also another client of mine. A few years ago I was honored to make a video of their 75th year History, played at the prestigious Paramount theater, my first video on the silver screen.

If you end the day with a Greek espresso be prepared to have something that resembles mud in the bottom of your cup, Greek style they don't filter out the grounds. When you go to a Greek festival be prepared to do as the Greeks do. What I love about the Oakland Greek Festival is the atmosphere, they import a Mykonos type windmill as you walk through the front door, the center piece is the beautiful Greek Temple, with rows of pillars, Greek blue windows. Inside is one large room where a wispier will echo throughout the temple, icons painted on a copper sealing. Not many know but the rocks are also imported from Greece...

Space is limited so you'll have to read the rest at my travel site where I also have pictures...  http://www.PostcardTra...
Also I have photos of the real Greece.

http://postcardtravele...

I was introduced to JCX Expendables by Glen Gustafson A real Cinematographer he studied Cinematography under Ingmar Bergman famous Swedish director. Glen was always a fascinating nerdy genius type person. He invented a walking TV for a commercial he made for Evening Magazine or PM Magazine I forget. He started his own business taking 3D photos of Rickey Henderson http://www.holoprint.c...  (this is not his company but I found the card) and monsters like Dracula, the Wolfman for Pizza Hut. I was introduced to him by a friend that said we were a lot a like because we were both passionate about film making. When you hang out with a guy like this you listen to what he has to say, I could have warn a fan tee shirt with his photo on it. I was fortunate to hang out with the Cinematography genius for several years before Hollywood took him away, and heir him on a couple of Productions, one that won a award. ("Best Of Festival" Berkley Film Festival).

In that time he introduced me to JCX Expendables. At first you pull up in a neighborhood you wouldn't think it's there and nor do you recognize anything that resembles a store front. When you go in there, there is lighting equipment, camera bags, gels, etc. Just ask for it, there is another room behind the counter. In my experience of buying equipment and being price gouged by Gassers, and other places, finding JCX Expendables was a relief. Not only are they reasonably priced but you feel good supporting a small business that appreciates their customers and your business. (Also women owned by Janet). It's a place mostly found by insider information. Insider info from one real Cinematographer Producer and Photographer, to another. Cinematographers to the stars. Make it your first stop.  - Stacy Poulos Owner http://www.playback.net

THE BEST of Pennsylvania!!
I went to 4 Hoagie places in Pennsylvania, some twice (two Lee Hoagie locations, and the Food Network's famous 'Pat's' and 'Gino's' ) in Philly and hands down my last day, I wanted to go back to end my Pennsylvania eating experience here at Sessano Cafe and Deli. I recommend award winning Roast sandwich with sweet peppers. They start slow roasting the meat 4 hours before they serve it. It's run by a small Italian family.  The father; Santino Ciccaglione is from Central Italy out side of Roma and somehow landed in the odd small town called Norristown, PA.  The food is worth the trip. Don't expect a fancy environment, it's a deli style restaurant with seating and just good food, the atmosphere is your happy taste buds. Santino said he has shipped the sandwich to people out side the State, it's REALLY that good!!! (I am personally plotting to get him drunk one night, hoping to have him spill the beans of how he makes it). In the meantime, Santino my address is....

I took to photos that are on Yelp check them out.

Bon Appétit - Stacy Poulos PostcardTravelers

OMG This is insanely cool! I'm a scuba diver and have never seen coral so alive and beautiful. They have hundreds of fish. It's quite a education. Not to mention a gigantic fish tank that hosts a live shark! What the heck is Norristown, PA doing with such a extraordinary place? One can be mesmerized for hours.

Stacy Poulos http://www.postcardtra...

I've never been to PA and was looking forward to going, a friend Jendi Gurtz of http://www.LocalPagesP... (a local phone book) recommended I try 'Lee's Hoagie House' for a Pennsylvania style Hoalgie while I was in the Norristown Area. So I tried there special an "Italian Hoalgie", and I loved it. I loved it so much I wanted to go back for dinner but they were closed. So I tried another place nearly accost the street, and it ruined my experience. Just cuz there in Pennsylvania doesn't mean everyone who claims to make a good one does. It actually bothered me me so much, I went back the first opportunity I had to have another one. The freshness in the bread took it over the top and the dressing gave it a nice kick. The other place was like eating a dry sponge. My guest let me try her stake Hoalgie with mushrooms, and that was good to. I can go to Pennsylvania and be happy just eating the Hoalgies. Next time I'll just get a stake with mushroom. The atmosphere was a deli / sports appeal. I don't like sports but I love the charm and love the food. It's a good get it and go. It's located in a not-so-fancy strip mall. But the quality is outstanding. Just a few doors down from a fish store you have to see http://www.nemosaquari... I don't know if you can bring in your lunch and hang out but I promise you will want to see there shark tank and 100's of different fish, but most of all the amazing live coral I have never seen before and I'm a diver.

Stacy Poulos http://www.postcardtra...

I like yelp, but I really think it should be expanded into Europe and world wide. Right now the map doesn't have a CLUE where Greece or Italy is. I want to work with a website that is world wide. You can't just mark a map. I'm very surprised. Ya, knowing where to go locally is good, but we want to get out of here. Why have boarders and limitations? It's the world WIDE web! I would do it before someone else does. I hooked up with Yelp specifically because of that and that it's built into google, and now??? Sometimes the view and outer location is just as important as the food.

I See you expanded to the UK congratulations. I went to do a review Fira Center1, 84700, Santorini, GR and it can't find it.

Also Why doesn't it show on our profile all the photos we take? If you want to influence quality photographer on your site to attract advertisers we would like a little credit for our hard work.  There are a few other things. Like video?

Don't get me wrong Yelp is awsume and I recommend it. But it's dam near 2010 and people want to travel the world out there, bring it to there computers so they can make the right decisions about travel.

Stacy Poulos http://www.postcardtra...

Well I guess my client list of over 100 clients, letters of recommendations and awards will tell the story. See for your self. http://www.playback.net

I love eccentric places, Warehouse Café is one of those places you can hang out and look on the walls for hours. It's not for the timid, it's a favorite hang out for bikers. During the summer they have a lot of visitors. I was told by the locals, in the day The Warehouse was a brothel. It over looks the north bay under the Carquinez Bridge. You can even pull up on a jet ski as a couple of guys I chatted with did. The best part is you can get my local beer 'Punkin Ale' Everyone was friendly that I met. I'll be back in the summer for there famous BBQ's. PS I asked permission from the people in the photos to take there photos.