Even Glam-Pop Guys Have to Eat: Scouting Ejector's San Francisco Food Stops

Photography: Arturo Cosenza, Stylist: Pablo Pavia

Ejector Report: Where do Ben Holder and Ricky Terry go to eat when they aren't performing and producing a new album? Holder and Terry make up the local band Ejector, an electro-pop duo behind the original title song for Billy Clift's Baby Jane? film that premiered at the Castro on Tuesday night, for San Francisco's Frameline LGBT Film Festival.

Terry confessed via phone interview that the Baby Jane? song was “one of the fastest recordings we’d ever done,” and that the two were excited about being able to see the audience reaction when the song played at the close of the film. One of Clift’s requirements for the song was that the audience feel like dancing when they heard the song. Because Ejector is in such a busy and creative phase, Holder said that being involved with the Baby Jane? film project was an accomplishment, but that “we haven’t had time to think about it,” and that they were needing to figure out logistics for the premiere like “what to wear, and where to meet (before the film). We’re thrilled.” Ejector will be playing at the Main Stage on Sunday afternoon at the San Francisco Pride celebration, and have been featured at the Folsom Street Fair; they are booked for two SoCal shows for the San Diego Pride celebration as well.

Baby Jane? Music Video (warning: some explicit language)

Holder and Terry both live in San Francisco. Holder said they consider themselves lucky to have Richard Doyle ("Big Red") who will cook for them "a lot when we are working. Often it’s 'to order.' His food is healthy, organic, and fresh." The duo shared with Bay Area Bites the restaurants and eateries that they like to visit together, as well as solo (or with a date). The duo’s picks have been edited for length and grammar.

EJECTOR'S FOOD PICKS

Green Chile Kitchen
1801 McAllister (Baker) Map
(415) 440-9411
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11:30am to 9pm
Saturday-Sunday: 11am to 9pm

Ricky: “Just around the corner from my apartment. Organic veggies and free range meats. Best breakfast burritos, super chicken! Crispy taco plate and home style chicken enchilada plate, and they now have a New Mexican version of a hamburger AMAZING!!! We lived off this menu while recording our album.”

Ben: “You can tell when we’ve worked on something (music-wise) and eaten Green Chile Kitchen. The (resulting) music is playful and light.”

Escape From New York Pizza
508 Castro Street (at 18th Street) Map
(415) 252-1515
Hours: Daily 11am to 12am

Ricky: “Best sin ever; get a slice at 12am just before heading home after a grand night out.”

Barracuda Sushi
2251 Market Street (between Sanchez Street and Noe Street) Map
(415) 558-8567
Hours:
Lunch Monday-Friday: 11:30am to 3:30pm
Dinner Monday-Friday: 5pm to 10:30pm
Saturday-Sunday: 11am to 11:30pm

Ricky: “Spicy garlic edamame, Rainbow roll and that wonderful brewed sake!
Strange thing, we always end up here for spur of the moment band meetings.”

Ben: “I like to order my rolls with rice paper or soy paper, which they do.”

DeLessio Market & Bakery and Falletti Foods
302 Broderick Street (at Oak Street) Map
(415) 552-8077
Hours: Sunday-Saturday: 8:00am to 9:00pm

Ricky: “Neighborhood bakery, best desserts in town!! Oh, and the chocolate tower cake…YUM!!!!!!!”

Ben: “Their hot plates to go save us.”

Orphan Andy's Restaurant, for "after hours survival"
3991 17th Street (at Castro & Market Streets) Map
(415) 864-9795
Open 24 hours

Ricky: “The Monte Cristo sandwich, with sour cream and strawberry jam on the side!”

Ben: "We lovingly call it Orphan Andrea’s," adding, "It’s a no-brainer. Such a local staple, and always reliable."

BEN HOLDER'S FOOD PICKS

Toast Eatery on Church Street
1748 Church Street (at 29th Street) Map
(415) 282-4328
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7am to 9pm
Saturday-Sunday: 7am to 5pm
Ben:

"My comfort food pick is a ham-cheddar-tomato omelet. I'm kinda traditional."

Bur-Eat-Os No. 2 Restaurant
345 Spear Street (between Folsom Street & Harrison Street) Map
(415) 362-1384

Ben: "During the week, this is where I go religiously for their breakfast burrito with coffee."

Recchiuti Confections
One Ferry Building (on the Embarcadero), Shop #30 Map
(415) 834-9494
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 10am to 7pm
Saturday: 8am to 6pm
Sunday: 10am to 5pm

Ben: "Dark chocolate is my favorite. Recchiuti's toasted sesame burnt caramel is for when I’m shopping, feeling good, or… not so good. To be able to sit by the water and watch the antics there. We live in heaven, and I can’t think of anything more heavenly."

RICKY TERRY'S PICKS

Marina Submarine
2299 Union Street (at Steiner Street) Map
(415) 921-3990

Ricky: "At lunchtime the line is out the door and this is a one man sandwich-making operation. I think this guy has a photographic memory or something. He takes several orders at a time and remembers my order from the last time I was there… over a month ago?!! Turkey sub, lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, with oil and vinegar."

Tsunami Sushi
1306 Fulton Street (at Divisadero Street) Map
(415) 567-7664
Hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 6pm to 12am
Thursday-Saturday: 6pm to 1am

Ricky: "Volcano Roll with spicy tuna avocado, New Yorker Roll with smoked salmon avocado cream cheese. Best cocktails and a fabulous date night spot!"

Slanted Door
1 Ferry Building #3 Map
(415) 861-8032
Hours: Daily 11am to 12am

Ricky: "I could go on for days about this place. First birthday dinner after moving to SF from LA, was absolutely the most spectacular meal I have ever eaten at a restaurant. The Ginger Lemonade was too easy to drink! This is a very special restaurant! Seasonal and organic, local veggies, meats, seafood, even local organic alcohol! The staff is AMAZING! Courteous, gracious, generous, a class act from A-Z!!"

Star India
3721 Geary Avenue (at 2nd Avenue) Map
(415) 668-4466
Hours: Daily 10:30am to 10:30pm
Ricky:

"Vegetable Samosa, naan, raita, chicken Tikka Masala, best saffron rice. I have mostly ordered take out, but have eaten in a couple times. Either way, the food is consistently wonderful!"

Ejector performing at Folsom Street Fair in 2009. Photo by Wendy Goodfriend