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C is for...cooking
Tuesday, 13 September 2005
mount everest-indian & nepalese cuisine
in an attempt to make myself feel happy i withdrew money from the atm just to splurge on a huge meal...

& indian seemed most comforting at the time...i've gotten so addicted

so i went to the newly opened mount everest (indian & nepalese food) it took over what used to be uc pizza & pasta & what was once burger king during my brother's time at berk

the prices were a bit steeper than naan & curry but they have more of a selection since they also have nepalese specialties

it was incredibly empty i felt bad for them

they were soo nice

they offered me chai as i sat there (i found out later that it was supposed to cost $1 normally)..their chai was better than most i've had...it actually had a kick of spice in there (it normally just tastes like watered down milk tea)...the wait wasn't too long as the server handed me the bag holding it so it was easy for me to grab a hold of the handle...

i got a lot of food cuz i was greedy & i figured i could eat it later too...
i got chicken tikka masala ($6.99) (i always have to try this at a new place), saag dal ($4.99) (cooked spinach w/ yellow lentils in their dal masala sauce..i don't know why i remember the description), naan ($1), & rice ($1) (i told you i pigged out...it was probably the amt i'd get if pierre was eating w/ me...soo i got home excited to try it...the naan was good...more similar to indus village's than naan & curry's (so more chewy parts than crispy parts) & it was nice because they put the curries in tightly sealed plastic gladware like containers (unlike naan & curry's take out box wrapped 10 times w/ saran wrap only to have it still leak out)...i felt like i got a lot more too...the saag dal was filled to the brim..it was perfectly mushy...& the chicken tikka masala was practically identical to that of naan & curry's...except bigger chicken chunks...everything was yummy

i would rather go there than naan & curry now...same prices but a lot nicer people & they're so empty..plus you don't stink of smoke after you eat there

i would highly reccommend for indian food lovers

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 12:03 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 13 September 2005 3:37 AM EDT
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Sunday, 11 September 2005
bread workshop & buca di beppo
last night we went to buca di beppo to celebrate pierre's dad & his wife sandra's birthdays

it was yummier than i remember & i ate a lot more than i meant to

we had the mixed green salad, side of green beans, margherita pizza, linguine frutti di mare (linguine w/ clams, shrimp, calamari, & mussels in a tomatoy sauce), & eggplant parmesan

everything was yummy..we went back to their place for apple pie a la mode & tea cakes



today for lunch we went to another place on my to do list...bread workshop for sandwiches & brownies

last time i went it was too late for sandwiches (only 11-3) so i got the best brownie i've ever had it's made w/ valhorna chocolate..i can't imagine anything more decadent!

so pierre & i split a turkey meatball sandwich w/ provolone cheese & 2 brownies

the sandwich was a bit pricey at $8 for a whole one (it was one of the more expensive ones) but it was perfectly sauces (not TOO messy) & the meatballs were not heavy since they were turkey & they were very moist & you could see all the ingredients inside...i think red bell peppers & onions & herbs inside...it was very good it was garnished a/ a lettuce & two slices of cantalope (which were really sweet too)...& of course the brownies were as good as i remembered...

the other sandwich choices were cuban (which they didn't offer today i dunno if they still make it at all), classic italian sub, pesto & brie, grilled cheese, niman ranch salami w/ mix of cheeses & pepper relish?, there was also a chicken avacado one that was kicked up somehow....they also offer dinner opinions now too like rotesserie chickens etc...they have a large bread selection because they DO make their own bread...you can see endless shelves of it cooling in the big window to the kitchen...in the pastries case there were lots of choices too...pierre was REALLY eyeing the lemon blueberry muffins they were so fresh looking..there were scones & different croissants including a valhorna choc one too...mushroom turnovers etc....

this is definitely the kind of place i'd love to own...they have a bookshelf in the corner w/ local publications & about 2 shelves of cooking & food related books! it was fun to read them....& above that is a board that asks you to post comments & suggestions it was very very homey...very cool

i will definitely go back

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 6:55 PM EDT
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Saturday, 10 September 2005
hawaiian bbq & more of indus village
last night pierre & i finally went to the hawaiian bbq place cuz it was open til 10:30 (fri & sat only)

pierre got the steamed broccoli w/ chicken katsu & i got the pork lau lau

apparently people didn't know how to eat the pork lau lau so it's been getting "bad reviews" from customers the clerk said...i decided to try it anyways

it was really good! it shredded pork w/ seasonings & taro leaves wrapped in a ti leaf....i was embarrassed because i never had it before either so according to his description pierre & i were shredding the ti leave to mash into the concoction but the guy said no no you have ot remove that & them mash jsut the taro leaves...but yea it was really good the pork was very fall apart & pierre's katsu was yummy w/ the sauce..it was perfectly crispy...i will definitely go back to probably try the mix bbq plate & mahi mahi

it was very reasonably priced too...everything came w/ rice & macaroni salad...almost everything is 7 or less (some of the stuff is even less than 5)

today for lunch we went to indus village (we were going to go to vik's but i was in more of a curry mood than south indian food) we got the chicken curry korma (which we were curious about cuz the description said nothing about the actually dish it just talked about its history & how it was made popular by the guy that built the taj mahal or something really random so we were highly intrigued but this mysterious dish) & we got the kuna gosht (mutton shank stewed in hand pounded spices) because i was told that was good...i've never had mutton before it was very different any any meat i've tasted...it was a cross between pork, beef, and lamb...it was yummy...it was a huge shank they brought out...& the spices/sauce tasted completely different than any curry i've tasted & it had more of a kick than we thought it would...the chicken curry korma was kind of a less creamy more tomatoy but less mild version of chicken tikka masala..it was good...we finished everything off...but i probably wouldn't go for those dishes again...like 3 people ordered lamb chops & they lookd soooo good it was served on a sizzling platter...maybe i'll splurge for that next time i think it's 8.99

tonight we are going to san jose to celebrate pierre's dad & his wife's birthdays & we are headed to buca di beppo....i was going to suggest maggiano's cuz it's about the same price but i didn't feel like intervening...should be yummy & fun

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 5:29 PM EDT
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Monday, 5 September 2005
oliveto.......indus village, udupi palace
pierre took me to oliveto as promised

it was a really nice experience though it was pricier than i thought it'd be which i kind of felt bad about and it kind of makes me not want to go again unless it i just go downstairs...

i didn't take the menu (it changes daily) but i remember surprisingly well what we ordered & the prices

i didn't really want pasta that night so we both ordered from the grill/rotesserie part which was probably why it was so expensive

pierre went with the spit roasted niman ranch top sirloin with "cranberry" beans & i got the spit-roasted saddle of rabbit stuffed with chanterelle mushrooms and escarole

pierre's sirloin was perfectly tender & medium rare mine was wrapped in bacon/pancetta? & stuffed with what i believe to be fresh chanterelles, escarole, and cubes of freshly dried bread chunks that soaked up the moisture...the rabbit was surprisingly tender & good it was a mixture of chicken & pork in texture but it tasted gamier...there were baby white & orange carrots alongside

the portions were a lot smaller than i would imagine a $26/27 entree would be...pierre had only a few strips of sirloin atop his cranberry beans & i had 3 pieces of stuffed rabbit

pierre was actually still very hungry but we decided just to spring for dessert

pierre got the concord grape sorbetto it was very surprisingly soft & came with two star shaped shortbread cookies with a lemony background & i went with the mission fig honey cake with wild fennel ice cream (i LOVE fig so anything that has it..i must go with) the figs i thought were dried at first but i think they were just drier at the top from the oven because the middle ones were gooier...it was about two layers of figs in a circular "honey cake" it was rougher in texture than i expected because i could taste the cornmeal but i love salty sweet so it really worked for me...it was very complex...& the wild fennel ice cream went great with it...i would never eat a pint of fennel ice cream by itself but with that cake it just worked...sorbetto was about 6.50 & fig honey cake was 9

on chowhound they always talk about the poor service there but we got great service they were very quick to refill our water & our server was very nice...i think it helped that we were not as stuffy as most of the customers probably...the atmosphere was more casual than i'd expect...so many people weere dressed like they were going out for a day in the sun...but it was nice it made it less ritzy & intimidating

i would definitely go back for dessert but i'd probably wait on going back for dinner




earlier in the week we finally checked out indus village because i had heard so many good things

it was really good! we got some sort of lentils & chicken tikka masala & of course rice & naan...they also ahve the option of combos which are pre-chosen entrees piled on a plate w/ rice & naan for about 6-8 depending on the combo...most came with chicken tikka masala & of course the ones w/ more meat cost more...it was only slightly cheaper than naan & curry but the atmosphere is a lot better & you don't stink of smoke after eating...the decor is cute...it was funny though on the menus it said "we set the standar & we exceeds it" pierre & i laughed & said they must not have set them very high but it's ok the yummy food & nice ppl made up for it...the chicken tikka masala was more spicy & less creamy than naan & curry's but we both liked it more & they gave a LOT of lentils...but yea i would def go back...i want to try the mutton or goat curry



today we completely stuffed ourselves ar udupi palace this south indian vegetarian place...we were scared to go at first in case it didn't match up to vik's in quality..but it ended being better in quality & bigger portions & though slightly more pricey i guess it's more clean & the such....i felt bad for stuffing pierre because he ordered two things & i couldn't decide so i ordered two things too but that was stupid because pierre then had to finish off mine which was almost three dishes he had to eat & he was over stuffed....

he ordered the pineapple uttappam (a pancake like bread with onions & pineapple served w/ lentil soup & this coconut dipping curry thing & this ketchupy/spaghetti-o's sauce) & masala dosa (an armlong crepe stuffed w/ spiced potatoes served w/ the same things as the uttappam) & i got the i can't remember the name but it's a big fried puff of dough served w/ some raw veggies, chickpea curry, & this pickled stuff & a spinach masala dosa which we both had not seen before it ended up being the same as the masala dosa except the insides of the crepe was smeared with cooked spinach (mine was better haha) the average price of each of these was $6-7 it was yummy i would definitely go again since it's closer than vik's


i have been consistantly updating my eating out list though i'm sure most of you guys don't care i will link it here: i have been checking things off slowly but surely!

eating out to do list

Foods to do list

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 10:56 PM EDT
Updated: Monday, 5 September 2005 11:12 PM EDT
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Tuesday, 30 August 2005
cocktail cakes
i made cocktail cakes for chanda's bday

i don't feel like elaborating

these are what the labels said:

Mai Tai
Rum soaked light yellow cake with lemon and orange zest with pineapple cream filling topped with a maraschino cherry

Mojito
Lime zest perfumed cake soaked with lime & mint simple syrup filled with Bacardi Gold rum pastry cream and covered in a light mint frosting

Mudslide
Irish Cream filling sandwiched between fluffy devil’s food cake layers lightly brushed with Kahlua and topped with chocolate shavings

it took up so many hours of my life...haha i was so tired from yoga & work & i spent the rest of the time doing these for the end of the week

i realized that i have the ideas but i really don't have the skills to pull this kinda thing off..it's not very professional..but whatever what can i expect i'm pretty much an amateur

oh yea & the things under the cakes are beer coasters












Posted by blog/c_is_for at 3:17 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 30 August 2005 3:22 AM EDT
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Tuesday, 23 August 2005
caribbean cove
saturday chanda & pierre & i went to caribbean cove to "escape" all the freshman moving in

it's such a quiet little court...it's nice

the food was pricier than i remember but chanda got a student special which was 3.50 & pierre & i went for the entrees which were about $10 & $12

pierre was craving fried chicken cuz we were watching bad news bears in the morning
& i got the es-cove-ich fish (a fried fish w/ vegetables & vinigrette) both were served w/ rice & beans & plantains & salad

both were good but not amazing

they were a bit skimpy on the main dish...it was just loaded w/ rice & beans

i probably won't go back...i prefer tropical paradise things were a lot more flavorful & cheaper

sooo yea

that night pierre's brother marc & pierre & i went to zachary's for our favorite spinach & mushroom w/ garlic it was yum of course & i bought cheap cookbooks next door that i'm really happy about:)
both aren't famous...one is a healthy french cookbook by famous french cooks...it's little preset menus it's cute & the other has beautiful pictures & it's about simple food...it has menus too

anyway this morning i made thai green curry & some sauteed cabbage w/ rice....it reminded me how mcuh i love to cook & i need to do it more! i really have been lazy

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 3:09 PM EDT
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Monday, 15 August 2005
3 checked off
i know i have no updated this thing in forever but i really haven't been cooking much

i've been fattening up i guess

i really need to start cooking more but i just seem so exhausted all the time...& i kept going between home & berk that i never had the time to go grocery shopping

anyways...

3 new places are checked off of my list of places to eat in berkeley before i leave

1. ryowa ramen
2. cafe baguette
3. tropical paradise

the ramen place was as good ramen could probably get for me...i like ramen but sometimes it's almost too simple & i think to myself i could make this better...but i guess the key is the soup...the soup for mine was a sesame miso..it was yum..obviously i wouldn't be able to make a soup like theirs

cafe baguette was so empty i felt bad for them because the food is actually decent & cheaper than eat-a-pita...the plates have a lot more variety though they probably don't give as much i got the mediterrnean plate it had on it 2 falafel, baba ghanoush, hummus, pita, 2 dolmas, some cucumbers & tomatoes, & i chose lamb kebab (there was also chicken kebab & shwarma) audrey got the 1/4 roasted chicken plate...they were out of rice but gave her extra veggies...she said it was slightly spicy...i'm sure if i wanted med food i'd probbaly go there again...& supposedly it will have indian food soon

tropical paradise was a nice surprise...it's ghanian/caribbean food & besides having a bite of chris' jerk chicken from the emeryville public market & trying to make jerk chicken ourselves i haven't really had experience w/ caribbean or ghanian food...i got the jerk chicken lunch special it came w/ fried plantains & jollif rice & either a black eye peas or spinach casserole-ish thing & a mini salad...i chose black eye peas cuz i was curious even though i wasn't sure if i chose the right one..both were sup'd to be good...the spinach one was sup'd to have melon seeds in it which sounds interesting...but yea the rice had bay leaves in it & it was good...the black eyed peas were excellent & the jerk chicken was skewer style not what i was expecting but it was good too...plantains kicked butt too....each thing had such a distinct flavor it made me feel like i had so many options on my plate...it was yum

yesterday i went w/ pierre to khana peena because my coupons from teh good life expire today...w/ the coupon the buffet there is incredibly worth it...$8 normally but w/ coupon it was $12 for 2 people...w/ tax....but that's about $6 something a person & that's sooo cheap...even cheaper than just going to naan & curry...the chicken tikka masala is creamier there now...it used to be more tomato based i think..but then again that was almost a year ago i had it...crazy (i forgot it was that long ago...we ate there the night we cooked for chanda's dinner because we couldn't eat the food we made for her) sooo....yea it was tasty too bad for expired coupons...we went to ben & jerry's afterwards & i had "in a crunch" which was pb ice cream w/ fudge & krispy swirl & choc covered peanuts...it was yum too though i was full beyond belief

we went to a going away party for chanda's yogurt park co-working & since it was a alcohol but more win & cheese party we brough guniess & a bottle of pinot grigio...(i had gone w/ chanda to pick cheeses earlier that day...we got brie & smoked gouda & amce baguette & herb slab)...pinot grigio is yummy so is guniess..both fo which i had for the first time...i couldn't finish either though cuz i was too full


hmm & now i must start cooking more

oh yea when i went home we went to the farmer's market & my mom & i discovered the most amazing white peaches...& we wanted to buy more but when we went back they were already closed...& it makes me feel like the berk farmer's market is just way too pricey...they have so many $1 produce stands...we barely have that in berk...i think berk ones focus too much on organic & whatever...everything was more expensive even the fruits by the lb....

ah well

ok i need to restart my cooking because i don't have money to spend going out anymore...yay for that

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 5:04 PM EDT
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Tuesday, 26 July 2005
so much to say!!
ok ok so i'll finally update this thing!

i haven't really talked about a lot of things...

i've cooked more in the last week than i have in the last month

i did go out w/ maheen, audrey, & chanda last thursday though for dinner...

i suggested ryowa ramen, cafe baguette, or pie in the sky because those were open later & walking distance

audrey craved pizza so pie in the sky it was

it was wonderful

it was very cheeseboard-esque cept you can choose the toppings...i had the sky pie...i forget the things on it...i think goat cheese, eggplant, walnuts, tomato, etc....the other main one what son of sky pie it was pesto based & i'm not a huge pesto fan...but it looked & sup'dly tasted great too

chanda opted for the tuna sandwich she thought it was ok but i finished it off & i thought it was very good..pretty gourmet..there were capers & sun dried tomatoes & such...the other sandwiches all came w/ a salad & they all sounded sooo good..there was a pear & brie one & etc...

sup'dly the pastries are really good too but we got there at about 9 so they didn't have anything left...

hmm let's see

what have i cooked...

i did a mexican night

mexican rice, black beans, enchiladas, guac

i literally ate enchiladas at work for the next 4 days...

then yesterday i still had some sauce left so i made two more enchiladas & quesadilla & lime chicken tacos...

then i forget what night i made london broil w/ roasted brocolli & a side of pasta tossed w/ parsley, capers & sun dried tomato oil

the roasted brocolli was so good..i surprised even myself...i was just trying to figure out a diff way to make brocolli...we ate all of it...it was probably 2 or 3 crowns worth...just garlic, salt, pepper, & olive oil & into the oven at 350-400


i've taking this slight attraction to cherry tomatoes again...

when i was little my grandma's church friend used to grown them in her garden & i'd eat sooooo much i thought they were incredible & then at some point i got really scared of them....& i wasn't huge on tomatoes in general....

but then once i started cooking on my own i buy them often & cherry tomatoes are back in my life

i use them for a really summery feel pasta

i've become the queen of pantry pastas

i always have garlic & onions...sometimes i put in artichokes...sometimes i roast red peppers...sometimes sun dried tomatoes...olives...capers...parsley...basil...even tuna....it all tastes good

& now w/ cherry tomatoes:)

pierre has probably had it more than he wants it haha...too bad!


saturday we went to takara sake factory for the museum & tasting

it was wonderful...if you ever get the chance you should go...

it was really educational & you get to see the bottling! it's like unwrapped...kinda...(unwrapped as been there)..you see the traditional way they make it & the current way...very cool

& there's a free tasting i was expecting maybe a couple of tastings but no we tasted at least 12 different kinds!

i learned so much...they all taste soo different...

we tried them w/ another couple

& we all ended up liking the same ones...

this one that's in a frosted bottle i'm sure you've all seen at the asian store & this plum & white wine one..it's very sweet...even the smell...

we didn't buy anything cuz i wanted to see how much they were at 99..they ended up being almost the same prices...sooo yea...

we went to vik's afterwards cuz pierre had never been...we had the uttappum?, masala dosa, & papri chaat....goooood stuff

then we went to ranch 99...bought 2 bottles of sake & shrimp for the couscous w/ shrimp scampi i plan to make...& some fruit...& misc...

ok maybe i didn't have that much to say...i really feel like i've been cooking a lot though...

ah well...more food adventures to come

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 2:43 AM EDT
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Monday, 11 July 2005
random updates
grub n go

grabbed a sandwich there for lunch friday i got the turkey cranberry on dutch crunch...it was really realy good...pricey though & i had a coupon...it was about $5.37 with the $1 off coupon...it had fresh spinach & basil leaves in it...very nice

crepevine

pierre & i went there after running one day we were starved...pierre got the san francisco crepe..he said it was a bit salty...they probably don't know how to control the capers or rinse them or something & i got a scrambles for the first time...i got the goat cheese smoked salmon one...there was a lot more topping & less egg than i thought it'd be...it was soo good pierre was jealous haha...but we both ate everything...& still had a cherry blintz crepe...but pierre doesn't like sweet crepes that much so i guess we won't do that again:P

top dog

i had only been once before & i got the vegetarian one but this time i got one i forget the name..calbrese? maybe not...but the one with paprika & peppers & such it was really really good...i might be heading to top dog more often

shanghai dumpling house

we started off with a light soup w/ cabbage & chicken & crispies & we got the shao long bao (little buns steamed w/ juice inside) & these vegetable dumplings & bean curd sheets w/ lima beans & 3 cup chicken & green onion pancake...everything was really good




i haven't been cooking lately...it's bad..i've been lazy & things in my fridge keep going bad w/out me even touching them...gah...esp after the bike i need to start cooking...out is expensive...

oh yea i haven't even opened the yellow watermelon i bought at farmer's market last week...the sample was so good i had to buy one ok...i can't think of anything else

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 5:17 PM EDT
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Thursday, 30 June 2005
tuk tuk thai & le cheval
haha not as fancy as it sounds...

soo tuk tuk thai we went to cuz it was late-ish & it's open til 1 am...

we ordered green curry w/ chicken & some basil-y beef dish & bbq pork

the green curry was not reccommended
all the ingredients were cooked & then stuck in a sauce of curry..none of the flavors were in the veggies or chicken & pierre said the chicken was "rubbery"

the basil beef thing was pretty yummy but it was pretty regular too...it could've been gotten anywhere

the bbq pork was really good...a bit fatty but it was worth it...i tasted cumin...it was good & it almost redeemed the meal...

but of course eating pierre is always fun so i wasn't too picky about the food at the time


yesterday we went to le cheval...i love going there...everytime i go i'm reminded..they're so nice & it's so reasonably priced...


at night we went to tgi's sushi for aiball's bday for sake bombing..it was fun...the girl next to me ordered food food & it looked yum...the portion was huge...maybe i'll go back for food...but pierre says he needs to take me to this other place for sushi first...i also never realized that ryowa ramen was right there!...it was right across the street...i've heard some good things about them...maybe that will go on my list too...we'll see

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 9:33 PM EDT
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