Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Fremont always evokes for me memories of high school and stifling suburban boredom. Though things have since begun changing, back in my day, (heh) Fremont had little to offer a restless high schooler but sprawling track housing and hills. Maybe it’s an age thing, but with time I began finding diamonds in the rough. Small cafes, restaurants, and dives that give Fremont more character than I had initially given it credit for. For one, Fremont’s large Indian population brings with it some damn good Indian food. And among the pack, Pakwan has quickly become my place of choice for warm, hand-made naan and spicy curry. Ho, yes.
(Continued)
Monday, December 24, 2007
You may have guess this already, but just in case you didn’t… I love ramen. The rich saltiness of the soup, the chewy goodness of the noodles, the tender meat that melts in your mouth – a meticulously prepared bowl fills my senses with nothing but pleasure. No doubt you’ve seen my reviews of purveyors of the most venerable noodle (don’t worry, there will be many more). Juzo Itami’s film, Tampopo, is a love letter to this classic Japanese dish as well as a somewhat quirky look at the connection between food and Japanese culture. The storylines are fused together, much like the Rashomon-ified tales Traffic, Babel, or Crash, etc., but in a much different and almost perverse way. Makes for a good watch and definitely made me crave a bowl of ramen.
(Continued)
Pizza is one of my great loves. I have to admit, I was not the biggest fan when I was a young lad; it must be the options that were given to me – Pizza Hut, Domino’s, etc. Well, something must have clicked during those long nights studying in Berkeley and the pie and I became buddies. While Cheeseboard first got the juices flowing, the Bay Area provides quite a myriad of options when it comes to pizza. Golden Boy Pizza always does the trick when I’m in North Beach. If you’re craving the Sicilian stuff, this is your spot. In fact, Golden Boy is arguably the best pizza in all the city. I said it.
(Continued)
Thursday, December 6, 2007
I’m sure you love finding hidden gems; movies, books, shoes, music, etc. Who doesn’t? Since this blog is about food, yeah, you guessed it, we unearthed a very fine gem hidden in one of the most unlikely of places. No really, I don’t know how anyone would find this place without the internet. Anyway, Hogan’s Cafe is that little secret place that serves all the favorite homestyle meals, both breakfast and lunch, in a very comfortable setting. Hearty and filling portions make this place a winner.
(Continued)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Well well, I’m in the middle of helping my mom with our own family Thanksgiving dinner, but I thought it would be an appropriate time to showcase some of our house’s creations. We had a few folks over (thanks to everybody for helping with/bringing food and cleaning up also!) and although it was a hectic Sunday, it was a success. A very tasty one. Mark down one food party victory for our house. On to the entrees!
Starting with our little salad, Nate prepared a little persimmon and pomegranate jewel salad. The fruits were sitting on a bed of arugula, drizzled with lemon-mustard vinaigrette, and topped with toasted pine nuts. We were thinking about splashing it with some tangerines and grapefruit to make it a bit more citrus-y, but we ran out of time. It was tasty, though. Haha, we still have a lot of dressing left.
(Continued)
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Berkeley has tons and tons of unearthed gems when it comes to delicious food. When I first stepped foot on campus as a student, I distinctly remember strolling down College Avenue during the fall, avoiding puddles and watching the golden ginkgo leaves float in the air. I noticed that there was a plethora of restaurants close in the Elmwood district and I made it a goal to give each one of them a go. This Italian restaurant captured my fancy with its simple, yet authentic food. However, since I slurped down my first linguini four years ago, Trattoria La Siciliana has gained a lot of pub from both locals and Zagat hypebeasts alike, with very good reason.
(Continued)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
First things first. Watching Fresh Prince is about the closest I’ve ever been to Philly. So, when dealing with something as fiercely defended as the venerable Philly Cheesesteak, I guess I’m forced to admit that I’ve never had a real Philly cheesesteak. That being said, I’d like to think that Jersey Joe’s comes pretty close. Jersey Joe’s has quickly become one of my local favorites…not only because it’s close, but simply because I love cheesesteaks. I mean, what’s not to love? This is unpretentious Americana fare at its best: fatty meat, gooey cheese, and minimal vegetables, all conveniently stuffed into a deliciously artery-clogging sandwich. Throw in some fries and a pint of beer….and….damn, I am having a good day.
(Continued)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
It’s been a while since the event, but I actually lost these pictures for a while, so sorry for the delay. Anyway, I had the privilege of helping a friend out with dessert at her sister’s wedding. And while I wouldn’t exactly call her an amateur, she filled a table with some beautiful and professional treats. I had a blast working with her and a bunch of other friends and who knows, you might be seeing the first fruits of a budding pâtissier. That crazy girl ended making over 900 items and everything was from scratch (well, except for the cream on the mousse, but I’ll excuse that). She even took off work that week; that’s freaking commitment. Enough spitting from me, take a peek at the goods.
Valrhona chocolate mousse topped with raspberries, mint, and whipped cream. Mmm, Valrhona… very simple, but the flavor was rich, just the way I like it. We had some trouble keeping it cold, so we ended up building it in the walk-in. Bad idea if you’re only wearing a t-shirt.
(Continued)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Ah yes, the near-mythical Santa Ramen. This review is going to be quick and dirty. Simply put, Santa Ramen is the best ramen you can get in the Bay Area. No exceptions. Some places may be close, but nothing can top the king of ramen in the Bay. Seriously. See for yourself. You’re going to have to wait in line, but trust me, when the noodles hit your lips, it’ll all be worth it (our house goes once a week, no joke).
(Continued)
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Sorry about the lack of updates; it’s been busy for me these past few weeks. Anyway, my family “asked” me to accompany them to Honolulu and I “grudgingly” accepted. Funny enough, this is somewhat true, because the Cal-Tennessee game was happening that weekend and I, under no circumstances outside of death, was not going to miss it. I ended up making it out to O’ahu right after the extremely satisfying victory. Even though the trip was short, it was well worth it. Of course, the sun and sand was great, but I was excited to clobber my tastebuds with some Hawaiian treats, which I am more than happy to share with all of you.
(Continued)