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C is for...cooking
Wednesday, 19 April 2006
A Cote
We went tonight for Chris's birthday. We didn't have a reservation & the hostess said the wait would be 20 minutes, but it ended up being less because we said we wouldn't mind a communal table. We were seated at the end of a table of a large party...it was kinda awkward for me at first...at pizzaiolo it was fine because the communal table was many little parties, but i just felt like we were invading their space...it was a minute detail i guess...(though the latecomers of their party looked at us funny for a sec because they didn't know it was a communal table)

we ordered:

CHOPPED HEARTS OF ROMAINE
with Aparagus, Sieved Egg and Roasted Garlic Dressing
8.

POMMES FRITES
with Aioli
4./6.

MUSSELS
with Pernod from the Wood Oven
12.

GRILLED LAMB SKEWERS
with Fregola Sarda and Fennel-Olive-Pistachio Relish
14.

The salad was sup'd to be one of the best in the world...but i felt like it was well seasoned and not THAT amazing...the asparagus added a nice touch though

The pommes frites were so delish. We got the smaller dish & it was mounded...It was not greasy & well seasoned & sprinkled with parsley. The not greasy part totally baffled me...

The mussels was the best part of the ones we ordered above...It felt like a never ending bowl & the broth was so good sopped up with the bread given (we asked for more & got like half a baguette)... i've never really had mussels like this...& they were super tender & they gave us little forks to pick out the meat...this is something i'd probably crave

The lamb skewers were nice...the relish was very complex. There were only 2 skewers though for a total of about 5 cubes which i felt was pretty pricey for what it was...the lamb was very juicy inside but still not the best lamb i've had (ajanta's was better but i guess the cooking method might've been why it was more tender there...it was in curry)...it was on a bed of jerusalem couscous in a tomato based sauce/stew...it was very complex in flavor as well...but i probably wouldn't order this again...

the dessert though was a different world...
everything was like 4 desserts in one...& we finally decided on

WARM BROWN BUTTER CASHEW TART
with Roasted Banana Ice Cream and Butter-Rum Sauce
8.

This was super delish...it was like bananas fosters decomposed...the tart shell was cookie-ish almost because it was sweeter than most crusts...the filling was a less sweet and lighter colored version of pecan pie filling w/ cashews...the butter rum sauce was exactly like the bananas foster syrupy sauce & the roasted banana ice cream was to die for...i could eat a pint of it myself...it was basically caramelized bananaish & soo good...we agreed we'd lick the plate if it was appropriate...

the server was very not personable..i felt like just another customer...& then at the end of the meal i was given the receipt for our meal but they charged the large party's meal (at the communal table)...good thing i noticed otherwise that meal would've cost me about $350....which would not have made me a happy camper

i liked the meal overall, but now i know what to order to make it worthwhile

random things i liked: water was served in an old washed out wine bottle w/ labels removed; the outdoor patio was made indoor w/ real lights & chandelier & covering & heat lamps...this added over 10 smaller tables & one communal table


Posted by blog/c_is_for at 4:12 AM EDT
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Saturday, 15 April 2006
aqua
so i remember wanting to go here when we went to go see jamie oliver in sf

it was the lunch part of the interview & we walked across the street & remember thinking as i saw the window..hmm i wonder what restaurant this is..it's so nice inside... & then we walked in! & it was aqua & i accidentally interrupted the "interviewer" jason & said "omg i've always wanted to come here!"

it turns out it was ok cuz he was a foodie too

we sat down & jason recommended the ahi tuna tartare appetizer...so i got that & the wild sea bass & he got the seared foie gras (which was on the tasting menu but the waiter said it could replace the trio of foie gras if he wished) & the black cod.

i had never received a better explanation of all my food before...the waiter was very precise in everything he said "the lemon adds a tart freshness & the slivered almonds are for texture....."

i got water & jason got ice tea..it came with a small plate of lemon w/ a mini pitcher of simple syrup...that pitcher made me wish i had gotten the ice tea...

a waiter specifically carry a plate of different breads & rolls covered in a cloth asked what kind we wanted...i chose the olive roll & he got the sourdough...he used tongs to place them on our bread plate & placed a boat of butter in the middle of the table

when the tartare came...it was a flat rectangle of cubed tuna with basil chiffonade & a raw quail egg atop & coriander sprinked around the plate w/ strips of toasted flat bread on the far side & a line of ingredients facing me of lemon zest, slivered almonds, & i think more spices...he used two spoons...picked up the egg & began to mix all the ingredients explaining it to me as he went along...it was soo delicious...i have never had anything like it...i also tasted a bite of jason's foie gras..it was so perfectly buttery & melt in your mouth...

i definitely didn't feel like i was focused on the interview anymore...

i loved how the waiter...even though there was space between our table & the next would walk the perimeter of the restaurant to get to me instead of slipping through the gap

so the entrees came...jason's wrapped in bacon black cod looked super good & mine was lined up sea bass w/ a piquillo pepper in the middle with a fried calamari garnish (which was super crispy & good i wish i had more)& it had a pesto rectangle outline around the whole entree...the waiter had a small plate with two mini pitchers & he said this is a piquillo pepper sauce w/ something & he poured the sauce around the plate & i realized the pesto rectangle was to prevent it from totally soaking the entree...jason's got a similar treatment with carrot something reduction...

the sea bass was incredibly tender & barely pink inside....it was fabulous...the stuffing of the piquillo pepper however was questionable...i think it had calamari stuffing but it was a very strange texture & i couldn't make out what was inside...so i didn't finish it..it was crunchy but soft but yea i don't know...

we looked at the dessert menu but didn't order anything...one stood out to me....

Citrus Tart
Creme Fraiche & Blood Orange Swirl, Cardamom Crumble, Tangerine Foam
$11

But then I remembered that it wasn't about the food...I was sup'd to be impressing the interviewer...



Tartare of Ahi Tuna
Moroccan Spices, Lemon Confit, Fresh Herbs
$17.00

Wild Sea Bass
Calamari Stuffed Piquillo Peppers, Arugula
$23.00

Trio of Cold Artisan Foie Gras
Orange Terrine, Syrah Poached, Truffled Torchon
$20.00

Artisan Foie Gras
Almonds, Grapes, Smoked Duck, Shallot Sherry Sauce

Alaskan Black Cod
Smoked Bacon, Tomato & Date Chutney, Glazed Carrots
$23.00

With a decent tip, the total for two people lunching was $115.

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 1:05 AM EDT
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Sunday, 2 April 2006
lots to update! bakesale betty again, east bay restaurant supply, gelato milano, epicurious gardens, gioia pizza
ok ok...i know the title is long but i will keep it short...

bakesale betty's
went w/ chris a while back again & then w/ chanda yesterday
chris & i finally tried her famous fried chicken sandwich & i must say it's delish...it had a oil & vinegar based coleslaw (not mayo!) (cabbage, jalepeno, shallot, carrots) & it was on an acme sweet roll i believe? & the chicken was perfectly peppered & crispy
i finally bought a scone w/ apricots. chris had the shortcake later w/ fig jam courtesy of my cousin via mail:). i had a carrot cupcake w/ cream cheese frosting...i don't think i really liked cream cheese frosting til this...it was soo fluffy! i also had the banana bread w/ brown sugar topping it was yummy...it was denser than a normal banana bread & no nuts which was sad but good for chris...as we keep saying she's too good!

east bay restaurant supply
everything is ginormous
i bought pouring spouts...they have those 1 oz pouring spouts we saw in napa...
but yea everything is cheap but i think they might be cheaper at that place in sf pierre took me to...but there's nothing i want as of now...cept maybe a dessert display case for my oh so many cakes i bake a day

gelato milano
chris & i dropped in for a taste after browsing half price & promised to go back after dinner...the asian guy who i think is the owner was very nice & talkative...we decided everyone that works there is really bored & wants to talk to anyone...
they actually make their gelato in the back room which is very cool more than i can say for gelateria naia & you can taste the difference! it's so much i dunno..fresher?
so, we samples & tasting each others i've tried: pistachio, asian pear, gianduja, after 8, panna cotta, chocolate, mango, something flan/caramely...i think my favorite so far is still the pistachio..but that is one of my weaknesses sooo yea (diana you might not have known that one either!)...& of course the fruits are all good..oh yea it's the cheaper than most too! $3 for a small 2 flavor cup

epicurious gardens
went back w/ chanda & chris...he got the pork socca w/ mushrooms..it's soo good it was better than the chicken by far simply cuz it was so infused w/ flavor...i got the apricot, prune, pork stew w/ polenta at soop...it was sooo good...we still crave it...the polenta was super buttery & creamy...& the stew was chunky & fall apart in your mouth pork w/ slightly sweet hints...yum!

gioia pizza
i never knew where this place was but i had always heard of it...so when i saw it when we went to monterey market for the first time i got really excited...
it's supd to be new york style pizza w/ a california flair
it's almost like the pizza nazi someone said
because you can't choose your own toppings...they have stuff & you just pick which one
we went after my physics review & we were super hungry...we both got the student special $3 for slice & drink of choice (pretty darn cheap if you ask me)...the choices were (better described but i can only remember the main ingredients): mushroom (crimini w/ gorgonzola something), asparagus w/ something cheese, pancetta w/ red onion, sausage, margerhita, cheese...
we saw them in the display case & both went for the asparagus (i saw chunks of cheese & i wanted) & i got the pomegrante lemonade which was a bit tart but really refreshing...the slice was thinner than i'd ever had & the crust was super super thick & chewy....it was sooo good i wanted like a whole pie for myself...it was pretty crowded in there but for good reason!




Posted by blog/c_is_for at 11:48 PM EDT
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Friday, 24 March 2006
update: Venus & Epicurious Garden
Venus

I went for brunch w/ Chanda & Aaron & I got the 2x2x2 which was 2 flapjacks or french toast, 2 eggs, 2 meat of choice. I got flapjacks (added blueberries) & scrambled eggs & their housemade country sausage.

The flapjacks were awesome. I could crave those. They were wheaty but not too textured. They were also huge! I couldn't eat everything. The scrambled eggs were a bit runny for me & I remember liking La Note's better. The country sausage was yummy, but I couldn't finish that either.

I stole some of Chanda's home fries which were perfectly crispy (but she said it was inconsistent) & Aaron's strawberry riccotta flapjacks w/ candied almonds & special almond syrup I think it was. His were sweeter than mine, but they were so fluffy & lightly sweet I kinda wish I had those!

Overall impression was good, but I felt like we weren't getting as much attention from the waitress as we should've.


Epicurious Garden

I got a chicken socca from Socca Oven. It took a while, but that's because it was made to order. It was more like a pizza than I expected. The toppings were piled on! It was all white meat chicken flavored w/ lemon piled on to a thin chickpea flour pancake w/ roasted tomatoes. & it was drizzled w/ a red sauce & came with a little container of olive oil that was really yummy (Erick dipped his soup bread in it). I really liked the socca cuz it was reminiscent of cornbread & the thicker parts of a masala dosa or uttapam. (~$7)

Erick got butternut squash & pear soup w/ croutons. I had a crouton dipped in his soup. The soup was more granular than he expected, but he thinks it was because of the pear & last time he had the soup it was finished w/ cream. The crouton was perfectly crispy & flavorful. (~$6, $.50 for croutons)

We tasted the sample at Allegio which was a chocolate covered peppercorn. Needless to say we were surprised because we just thought it was little chocolate balls. The flavor was sweeter and more subtle than I would've thought. It almost tasted like a passion fruit seed.

We ended the meal w/ small of apricot chardonnay & blackberry cabernet gelato ($3.75). The carbernet was pretty winey, but as I told Erick, it got less & less alcoholic tasting & the chardonnay one just tasted like apricot. It was tasty (but more melty & icy than say naia's). I also tried the blood orange which was too icy for my taste. They had a chocolate guiness & fromage blanc, which I want to try next time.

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 2:01 AM EST
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Wednesday, 1 March 2006
Cafe de la Paz, Bakesale Betty's, Zax Tavern, Thai Temple
Cafe de la Paz

Chris, Chanda, Ai, Jon G, & I went there to celebrate my birthday!:) Chanda had made reservations online, but they never called for a confirmation & alas, they didn't have it in their books. But, we got there at a good time & there was an empty table for us.

When you enter a bar is to a right, & forward is the banquet room, which was empty, & upstairs was the normal dining area. The banquet room was about the same size as the dining area, which I was surprised about.

We ordered:
Tapas:

Cachapas de Jojoto - $6.95
The Cafes Signature Venezuelan Corn Cakes.

Platanos Fritos - $3.95
Ripe Fried Plantains with Ancho Chile Creme.

Quesadilla - $6.95
The quesadilla tonight was different than the one on the menu. It had smoked chicken & mango salsa.

Llapingacho - $5.75
Ecuadorian Potato Cake w/fried Plantains.

Entrees:

Argentinean BBQ - $14.95
Grilled certified Angus carne asada with grilled onions, peppers and chimichurri - a piquant cilantro, parsley vinaigrette served with chipotle-mashed potatoes and black beans.

Xim Xim de Pollo ~ Brazilian, Chicken Skillet Stew - $12.95
Chicken, selected vegetables, & roasted almond pieces in a coconut milk-jalepeno cream sauce served with rice

Tamal Azteca - Vegetarian Tamale Pie - $11.95
Zesty organic roasted tomato & red chile sauce, fresh mushrooms, corn & spinach layered with jack cheese & corn tortillas, served with black beans & avocado

Dessert:

Fresh Fruit Crisp with Kahlua-whipped cream - $5.00
Tonight it was with mango, pineapple, & other fruits

Drink:

Classic Mojito - $6.00

I loved the corncakes. But that's probably because I love sweet & savory things. The plantains were awesome as well. Everyone loved the quesadillas. They were very fancy & yummy. Everything was topped with the ancho chile cream.

I haven't had a mojito before & this was a good one. The mint was not as strong as I thought it'd be, but that's probably the way it was sup'd to be.

The BBQ was good, but not fabulous. There was a lot of salad & beans & not very much meat. The Brazilian stew was interesting. The almonds in it added a nice crunch. As Chanda later said that I agreed with is it reminded us of Thai coconut based curries & we liked those better because there was a lot more complez flavors. The tamal pie was delicious, but I could definitely see myself making that myself. It was out of the ordinary. Instead of actual tamal corn masa-y base it was layered with corn tortillas. It was also very difficult to split & eat because it was just big layers. So, we ended up with random layers of the "pie."

Tapas were REALLY good though. I would order a bunch of those instead of any entrees. I wasn't as impressed.

The dessert was not amazing either. The crisp part wasn't as crispy as I had hoped & it was hard to tell the difference between the fruits inside. The whipped cream, however, was amazing. It had just the right amount of Kahlua.

The night was great though. The ambience was very romantic. & the owner was surprisingly nice to us (despite the past experiences of jon g & chris)



Bakesale Betty's

it was busy this time so no freebies or discount which was disappointing but that's ok i guess. chanda got choc chip & choc chip & walnut cookies..she said both were good. she also got the lemon bar & brownie & lamington...chris & i shared a bag of 6 ginger cookies & i also got a brownie & lamington...then we all shared a vanilla shortcake

the shortcake was phenomonal...it was fresh & warm & like a sweet vanilla biscuit topped with sugar...we finished it before heading to zax

the lamington was a vanilla sponge cake with strawberry jam filling & then covered w/ chocolate & coconut...it stayed soft til the next day! i was surprised...it was delish

the brownie was only ok for me...the main part was soft & fudgy but cakey too, but the top was hard & crunchy...some people may like that but unfortunately it's not my favorite...i like consistently soft & chewy texture for a brownie...my favorite is still bread workshop's valhorna brownie..though i have yet to try scharffen berger's adult brownie

i think my favorite there is still the ginger cookie...it stays soft & chewy forever! it's been 3-4 days already! (i've been rationing it)...it has chunks of crystallized ginger that are not too spicy but sweet & add good texture...soo good



Zax Tavern

We didn't have reservations so we were seated near the front window. The hostess seemed to be a little too good for us (we were not dressed up), but tried to not let it show. Our waitress, though, was very friendly and added to our conversation.

We sat next to a man & woman that we couldn't figure out if they were married or not. We were both eavesdripping on each other.

We were very excited to see the butter in a little ceramic bowl (like Chez Panisse). It was yummy.

We started with the twice-baked Goat Cheese Souffle with apple, celery, fennel salad, and cider vinaigrette ($8). It was delicious. The goat cheese was very subtley there & the salad was the perfect complement. It was very light & fluffy.

Chris got the Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs
w/ Yukon gold potato puree, rainbow chard and horseradish cream ($19.75). Chanda got a pressed sandwich with Black Forest Ham, Gruyere cheese,
caramelized onions, and balsamic mustard ($8) and a side of Yukon gold potato puree ($3.75) I got the Seared Day Boat Scallops with warm pancetta-dandelion green salad, potato-chive croquettes and Meyer lemon beurre blanc ($21). We shared a side of crispy sage polenta ($3.75).

Chris' was fall off the bone delicious. Chanda said hers was a bit salty after a while, but the bite I had was yummy too. The puree was very very smooth & naturally buttery. My scallops were super tender & perfect with the meyer lemon buerre blanc. There were only 3 on the plate & I kinda felt skimped. The pancetta was cubed & it was good but it was hard to enjoy in chunks especially in the salad. The croquettes were basically the Yukon gold potato puree with chives in it & pan fried. The buerre blanc made the whole plate. The sage polenta was a perfect rectangular prism. It was perfectly crispy on the outside & so creamy & smooth on the inside.

Then we got the brownie turtle parfait for dessert. It was layers of fudge, pastry cream, roasted pecans, brownie, and whipped cream. It was rich & delicious.

We were soooo full. I think the sides put us over the edge.

At one point during the evening, Chris said he was going to do drinking tonight (motioning drinking w/ his cupped hand to mouth) & the woman at the next table just started laughing. We looked at her & she said "sorry sorry! i just heard i'm going drinking tonight & no you aren't young man!" chris said "but i'm 23!" & she said "you're still too young!" & he said "well i'm staying over afterwards!" & she said "ok i guess that's ok. at least you're being safe about it" & chanda & i were just laughing cuz she sounded like his mom & the man w/ her was listening but seemed annoyed & then motioned to their table "our dinner" & motioned to our table "their dinner" & repeated the motion "our evening" "their evening."

The bill was almost $100 for the 3 of us. It was really good, but not good enough to go back.

We were the only minorities & definitely the youngest at the restaurant. It made us feel a little awkward.



Thai Temple

Chanda & I went at 10:15 ish. It was already a lot more crowded than the first time I went. Chanda got the yellow curry, squash curry, & pad thai over rice. I got the noodle soup. It looked like pho, but you could choose the noodles (vermecelli, rice stick thick or thin). The soup was complex: salty, spicy, sweet, sour. It came w/ a little bit of meat, meatballs, celery, cilantro, pickled something. It was really good. I would totally crave it. Then we shared a mango w/ sticy rice for dessert. It was so good. I've never had it before. We got the plain one because I thought the other one had red bean & chanda isn't a fan of that, but it turns out it was just black sticky rice like the one my mom used to make. Some came with this custardy stuff. We will get that next time. The sticky rice was mixed with sugar & coconut milk & chewy in contrast to the sweet/tart and crunchy mango. Yum-o

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 2:49 AM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 1 March 2006 1:08 PM EST
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Monday, 20 February 2006
passport to thailand, dinner at ina's, & "40 sightings a day"
so yesterday erick & i went to thai temple brunch at about 10:30am

i didn't even notice the temple until we actually walked to it & i saw colorful adornments on the building with gold and a walkway into the back that reminded me just of taiwan night markets

there was fast talking in thai behind the stands but confused Americans wandering around looking at each food & sign trying to understand

we first went to convert our money to "the local currency" as erick put it which were aluminum tokens imprinted w/ thai temple donation and pictures (1 token = $1)

then we proceeded to stare at everything because we really didn't know what anything was called & even when we ordered we just pointed & said "that"

erick got a "rotie," some sort of sugary coconut thing in a tub, & yellow curry (which was vegetarian by accident (we were observing carefully enough)) & i got the rotie & curry & this other sweet thing that was made of sugar, coconut milk, & taro & we both got thai ice tea

sweet things: $2/each
curry: $4
thai ice tea: $1

the yellow curry was good & filling

the rotie was basically a pancake w/ many many layers filled with sugar & condensed milk & then rolled into a long shape & wrapped in foil

it was like a really really oily & sweet & never ending doughnut we agreed

erick said, "next thing you know all the police will be walking around with these" & we both pretended to look like tough police people

& my taro coconuty things were good..they kinda were like a harder mochi texture...i gave the rest to my mom to try

they unfortunately didn't have the coconuty pancake things everyone seems to talk about & erick is sad cuz the last two times he's gone they haven't had them...

but it was super yummy & highly recommended

......

great china

i've been wanting to go for a while thus it being on my list & since my parents are probably better at knowing what to order i went with them today to celebrate my birthday

i ordered what chowhounds said to order (duck & double skin)

so...we got the tea smoked duck (because it was a half & we didn't want a whole)($12.95), double skin($11.95), honey walnut prawns(?), and seafood dumplings($6.95)

there was complimentary hot & sour soup that tasted really fresh

the double skin was a thick clear noodle w/ shreds of egg & cucumber & carrots & sea cucumber & shrimp & squid & wood ear & pork...it was then tossed at our table with sauce & hot chinese mustard...it was very good...(it was a cold salad)

the tea smoked duck was fab...it was garnished w/ oranges & served w/ two steamed buns...the skin was crispy & the meat tender & you could definitely smell the tea smoke

the honey walnut prawns were not as lightly fried as the more chinese places but we agreed it was still good because the prawns were so big

oh yea & the seafood dumplings were soo good...handmade wrappers (haven't had that since my grandma still lived with us) & it was filled with pork & all sorts of seafood & it came with a garlic chili soy dipping sauce that was light & yummy

& the fortune cookies as "take as many as you want" because there's a basket above the fish tank

it was really yummy & i'm glad i went w/ my parents cuz otherwise i wouldn't have ordered so much & tried so many different things

it's more of a korean-chinese or san dong cuisine

i will definitely be going back for dumplings for myself!

.....

yesterday chris & i had a very food nerdy conversation about food network

we talked about who's life we wanted the most out of all of them & we both agreed on barefoot contessa's ina garten

as the commercial says "she's a caterer, a partygiver, and a hostess who knows how to have fun!"

to describe her life briefly...she's a caterer w/ what looks like a rich husband (& they're totally cute together) & she has all these gay friends that help her do a lot of the decorating if needed (she's great at doing it herself too) & she's always having friends over for parties & she makes everything look soooo simple & she goes to beach picnics & what not & she has a garden w/ all sorts of veggies & fruits & herbs...ANYWAYS

so we decided we wanted to be her friend & chris said it would suck too though because when it was our turn to cook she'd just laugh at us cuz we suck!

& i said she'd say "these are my good friends chris & connie & they're always good for a laugh!"

& then we started saying all sorts of stuff she'd say (cuz after watching too many shows you just know)

& then we got to dessert & chris said she'd make something reminescent of our childhood..ice cream sandwiches! w/ scharffen berger chocolate

& then she'd say "this one is for chris, the big messy one!" (she always seems to give the guys the big pieces)

& after this convo was over chris said, "i wonder if this is what sports fanatics do...sit around & dream up a hypothetical situation in which him & his favorite player are playing"

me: "probably not..."

.....

& then a few minutes later i had the funniest image of a show on food network about the other food network stars

like paparazzi photos of them leaving their house & then footage of them at the gym!

& chris said "it could be called 40 sightings a day! or stalks on the street"

& then we both agreed that we would have too much footage of sandra lee, giada delaurentis, & michael chiraello because they're all in california

wow...we really are losers...actually i'd rather be called a food nerd:P

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 7:39 PM EST
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Sunday, 19 February 2006
monterey market & food nerdy
went to monterey market for the first time today it was quite exciting...i went with chanda & her friend jon who also enjoys cooking

it was like an indoor cheaper farmer's market

it was really cute...

there's also a butcher & fish market & cheese shop right next to it...

i will definitely go back

they were squeezing blood orange juice which i will probably try next time


.....

me: i was thinking that planning a brand new kitchen from scratch when i get a real one would be so fun but soo much work...& then i started thinking about how i wanted to use an olive oil sprayer instead of pam but then i thought but i can't use that for baking so i need 2 cuz i need one for vegetable oil & i had this whole convo in my head & then i was like wow i'm a loser

chris: sometimes, when I'm not thinking of any really, i think about how fun it is to sear things.
i love searing steaks and breading chcken pieces and pan frying them. i also like the idea of rendering bacon and then adding a veggies to it and scrapping the brown bits off the bottom

me: have you seen that calphalon one anodized cookware commercial?

chris: hahhaa, i just saw it today

me: when they scrape [the pan after they pour in the red wine & say "richer pan sauces"] i'm always like ooooh

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 3:39 AM EST
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Saturday, 18 February 2006
much needed update
i haven't updated this thing in months & i apologize

so...

1) the cheesesteak shop

the farthest back i can remember that i never said anything about was the cheesesteak shop...there is one on university ave. & it's a chain so there's probably one near you...

pierre got the pizza cheeesteak & i the spinach mushroom. both were dripping w/ juices as we bit into it & both were very good. it was a lot better than i thought it'd be. plus you get a frequent sandwich card thing to win a free one after 10 or so...

2) maggiano's

pierre came down to visit me at home & we went to maggiano's...we got the bombalina platter because i was very interested in tasting the other appetizers everyone seems to love...everything was yummy on the platter but i have to admit that zucchini fritters are still my favorite (i dunno if it has to do w/ the memories or taste)...we also got the chopped salad as usual & the large Farfalle, Chicken, Asparagus, Spinach, Parmesan Broth...the pasta was way too big & even pierre couldn't eat anymore...i was stuffed beyond belief i probably gained 5 lbs that night...

i probably won't get a pasta again because it kinda gets boring since it's so much of it but i still love maggiano's

3) pizziolo

chris was up in berk working w/ the improv group & so we got dinner together...it was raining & it was an hour wait but we're dedicated eaters so we waited:P plus it gave us the opportunity to go to bakesale betty's which is a few doors down...

we got the fritta misto (?) for the appetizer, greens with housemade sausage and red onion pizza & braised beef w/ roasted butterball potatoes, fennel, carrots & roasted pear w/ creme, caramel, and chocolate sauce...

the fritta misto was basically a fried platter but fried so lightly & crisply...there were brocolini & lemons & artichokes &...i can't remember but i know it was served w/ a lemon aioli:)...super tasty

the pizza was very very thin & crispy yet still chewy it was very good but i don't know if i'd say it was my favorite..the crust was sprinkled w/ sea salt which was very nerdily cool for us & gave it a nice crunch...

the braised beef (i forget the exact description because i forgot to take the menu!) was really good oh yea..it had a horseradish cream drizzled over it & it was a very good amount of food on the plate...the roasted vegetables were my favorite part..i don't think i've had fennel before but this definitely left a good impression...& we agreed this was probably a better deal than the pizza

the dessert on the other hand was amazing...chris & i argued over whether the pear would be sliced or whole & i won...(it was whole) haha...it was super good...tender but not mushy & the caramel & chocolate & creme were perfect compliments...

we actually sat at a communal table in the back (for a shorter wait) & we had run into chris' theater rice friends so we talked a lot & they had gotten pizza ala pizzaiolo (the chef does whatever he wants & they got red onions & pancetta & egg i think?) & this mushroom pasta thing (& part of the reason why they ordered that was cuz the mushroom's name sounded like fag) & sorbet w/ cookies..they said everything was yummy

4) Bakesale Betty's

let me just start out by saying that chris & i want her life...

she & her husband run the place a few doors down from ex-colleague at chez panisse at pizzaiolo & she lives literally in the apartment upstairs...she just comes down in the early morning & starts baking

she gave us samples of the lemon bar (which i found out were the same as the ones i had the night before at pierre's sister's bday party & i didn't know!)..they're super tart...but i can't say they're my favorite...the crust is a bit too crispy for me

she was sooo super nice..telling us recs for pizzaiolo & talking to us about everything food related

i had heard about their sticky date pudding w/ caramel sauce from chowhound so i got that ($12) it was kinda pircey but after i realized it lasts forever (cuz it's so many servings) it wasn't so expensive...

chris was REALLY excited because she doesn't use nuts in anything & he doesn't like nuts & raisins...which i kinda forgot about...

so he got a loaf of banana bread & we got a cookie each that we split (one chocolate chip & the other ginger) i loved the choc chip but i loved the ginger even more...

she asked out names & everything

i really want to try the chicken pot pie & the fried chicken sandwich everyone seems to be talking about...

basically w/ all the samples she transforms you into a bakesale betty loving machine! it's evil! but oh so yummy

5) Ruen Pair

I went w/ pierre to ruen pair for the 2nd time & i'm reminded again how good that place is...like i know it was good but when i think about it i'm like oh it was ok i guess nothing special...but it's soo freaking good...like i didn't know thai could be so yummy

we got the grilled thai sausage, veggie green curry, pineapple fried rice....

the pineapple fried rice was soo good...i didn't know it could taste like that (i mean i like it already but it was different) it had curry & pineapples & cashews & raisins & shrimp & chicken & onions (both green & white)..i plan to try to make it myself...but i told my mom & she said she tried to make it once & my brother & i refused to eat it...so maybe if she can't replicate it, i can't either:P

the green curry was good but not spectacular i guess & the thai sausage was yummy though i dunno how to describe it...


6) Bread Workshop pizza crusts

last time i was at berk bowl i saw rosemary pizza crusts made by bread workship i was curious so i bought them..they were about $2.69 for 3 small crusts...i LOVE them...i've never used those premade ones before & it's fun...i made mine zachary's esque w/ spinach & mushroom & chicken w/ chunky basil tomato sauce & just piled it on...tasty:) a bit messy though but that's part of the fun

7) Julie's Healthy Cafe

this is not a great food whatever but it's always been a place of comfort for me since freshman year i dunno why..it's probably cuz of the chili & the nice ppl...the chili is't even that great..it's just pretty healthy cuz it's basically all beans & tomato....& they have the best cornbread i've had in berk thus far...granted i've only had a few...but it has the kernels of corn which i like..



oh yea i passed by epicurious gardens & they are very very close to done w/ that place & i'm super excited:)!

anyways..that basically sums up my food adventures for the past month

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 2:10 AM EST
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Friday, 9 December 2005
wow-update
wow i did not realize that i had not updated this in months...

soooo....

since then my adventures in eating out have been...

Tacubaya:
Pierre & i stuffed ourselves there the whole day eating & doing sudoku....we basically had almost everything on the menu & everything was great esp. the sope con chirizo i believe it was called...it was perfectly crisp & topped w/ guac & chirizo & i can't even remember what else...we also had a steak taco, chile relleno, 3 sopes (they were that good), a pork sandwich (it's small plates mind you but it was still a lot)...we went there for fresh churros which are to die for but we were so full we never did in the end...(from start to end we ended up spending about $40)

Bread Workshop:
I went w/ Erick & Alex on our way somewhere else...I got the cuban sandwich..the price was steep but it was decent...not like i would've expected...almost asiany marinated pork...alex's apple pie was yummy too...i'll probably stick to the turkey meatball sub pierre & i got last time (cuban sandwich was about $7)

Bittersweet Cafe:
pierre & i went after a big meal at crepevine..we got a brownie & a hot chocolate...the hot chocolate was really good..it was like a melted dark chocolate...we tried the original one i believe...i would def go again for those..the brownie was disappointing..it was good but i still like bread workshop's valhorna brownies more...

Ajanta:
Pierre & i went there to celebrate...it was phenomonal...we got tandoori portabellas w/ the rec of a chowhound & they were AMAZING...what is w/ solano ave. & good portabellas (rivoli's on solano too & their portabella fritters are sooo good)...& we both got the prie fixe which comes w/ an entree, papadums, appetizer, rice, naan, dessert...pierre chose a catfish curry dish & i a creamy lamb one...we both chose the potato pancake w/ shitake for our appetizer & the mango sorbet for dessert...the papadums were really really good..they were like a thin lentil chip studded w/ spices...they came w/ a minty sauce...super good...& the entrees came w/ spinach & potatoes too...this was creamier than most i've had...the entrees were really good too....lamb was surprisingly tender i don't know if this has to do w/ it coming from niman ranch...& the catfish was excellent too but we both agreed mine was better...we ordered another naan because there wasn't enough...& the mango sorbet was probably not housemade but yummy as well...we were super super full at the end we didn't know what to do w/ ourselves(the total was about $50)
i ended up getting the ajanta cookbook from chanda thanks to erick's tipoff to her for christmas & i read it from beginning to end..it's worth it

La Med:
I went there for lunch today w/ pierre...i got chicken pomegrante & he got chicken kabob...mine came w/ a healthy dose of 3 drumsticks & his only one skewer..not sure why i had more...both came w/ hummus & a basket of mini pitas & a choice of potato salad, soup, or salad...pierre said his fava bean soup was good...my green salad was yummy as well....the hummus was good but not amazing...but my chicken was super super tender...it was delicious...(both were lunch specials for $7.25)

Ozzie's Soda Fountain:
After La Med, we went to get dessert at this old fashioned soda fountain also on College Ave. it just reopened after finding a new soda jerk...they use micthell's ice cream...we got a root beer float w/ chocolate ice cream because pierre has been dying to try that...it was yummy...& very cute..i felt like i was in pleasantville...the prices were a bit high ($5 for the root beer float) but it was a lot of ice cream & good root beer...

I will update my food to do list now...i need to add some & get rid of some in which i have lost interest...

http://www.angelfire.com/blog/c_is_for/cooking/index.blog?entry_id=1012540

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 5:36 PM EST
Updated: Wednesday, 25 January 2006 12:22 AM EST
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Friday, 30 September 2005
kolo-last week?
i forgot when but i posted this on chowhound:


On my walk to work today, I noticed that Kolo Kitchen was finally open. It has been meaning to open for about 2-3 years now. Maybe more. I didn’t have time to really observe too much but I ordered a turkey provolone kolo. It was generously filled with (disappointingly) I feel like Fosters Farm Deli style turkey & provolone. The clerk put it in some contraption (a microwave? though it didn’t beep) I couldn’t see under the counter & handed it to me warm. I grabbed a menu on my way out.

My overall feeling of the kolo was that it was very very similar to the filled breads from the Asian bakeries. The bread is chewy & sweet. It’s a nice treat. I’d probably have to have 3-4 for a meal though (they measure about 3” x 2”)

On their menu:

What’s a Kolo?
A kolo is a soft bread roll stuffed with gourmet fillers: cheese, eggs, veggies, and sweets. Adapted from a traditional Czech pastry called “kolache,” our recipes mark the return of old-world baking combined with the panache of contemporary ingredients.

2101 Milvia St.
Berkeley, CA 94704
P: (510)704-8217
F: (510)704-8697
www.kolokitchen.com

Pricing:
Meat $1.75/each $17.50/dzn
Vegetarian/Egg $1.50/each $15/dzn
Mixed Dozen (half meat, half veg) $16.25
Sweet Kolo $1.25/each $12.50/dzn
Parmesan Roll $.40/each $4/dzn

Here are the options:
Kolos served until 11am
Egg & Caramelized Onion
Egg & Bacon
Spicy Egg
Sweet Italian Sausage
Sausage & Cheese
Breakfast Kolo (Pear, Peach, & Ginger)
Vegi Tofu
Toasted Onion & Cream Cheese
PB&J
Glazed Cinnamon Raisin
Strawberry Jam
Cherry Cheese
Chocolate Banana

Kolos served after 11am:
BBQ Chicken
Peppersteak & Onion
Sweet Italian Sausage
Chicken Fajita
Pepperoni & Cheese w/ Tomato Sauce
Turkey & Provolone
Ham & Havarti
Onion & Mushroom w/ Tomato Sauce
Vegi Tofu
Spinach & Feta
Broccoli & Cheddar
PB&J
Strawberry Jam
Cherry Cheese
Chocolate & Banana

They also have soups & salad & smoothies & other sweet treats & Mr. Espresso Coffee…






in other random news...gomnaru (our "korean bbq" place on northside (near my classes)) raised there prices...it sucks..now i'd rather go to the other korean bbq place..cuz for a few cents more they give you that sesame-ish clear noodle stuff...oh..gomnaru used to be $5 flat (tax included)...but yea i guess it's smart for them..now ever 3 ppl that come in they earn $1 more


there was a rockridge food festival thing in which the oliveto guy roasted a whole pig to make sandwiches..but i didn't get to go:( it's ok..i'm over it..

i also missed cheesebar on thurs...a wine & cheese shindig that cheeseboard put on

there's a spice of life festival on the northside of berkeley sunday w food & demos...we'll see if i go...

Posted by blog/c_is_for at 7:21 PM EDT
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