I feel very lucky to have found a life partner who truly gets me, and appreciates me for who I am. I was reminded of this when, at the beginning of the month, Red opened the front closet door to retrieve the mail and excitedly explained, “Oh, good, the new one’s here!” As he eagerly dropped the newest edition of the Food Network Magazine on my lap, as I sat lazily playing FreeCell on my laptop because we are trying to watch less TV on the whole. Now, I had been amused a whole month before when Red did the exact same thing with the July issue; the scene was probably pretty similar as I play way too much FreeCell in substitution for TV, which I’m pretty sure defeats the entire point of trying to be more productive and engaged. Upon receiving the first magazine gift, I figured he had seen it at a grocery store, was intrigued by something on the cover, and bought it, and I admittedly barely acknowledged the gesture. I was pretty confused when he pulled a brand new issue from our very own mailbox, only to find out he had, in fact, bought me an entire subscription, “Just Because…” he told me. I couldn’t believe it. Not only had he completely accepted and given in to my obsession with all things Food Network, but he was completely unfazed by my original obliviousness, that I didn’t even recognize the loving, thoughtful gesture, and just knew that I appreciate him even when I was too scatterbrained to make it known.
So that is how I have come to enjoy the light, informative reading of the Food Network magazine. However, the other day, Red and I met for lunch (a rarity, but a total treat) I realized that I question the Food Network writers’ research. See, they seem to always include a “Top Whatever” list, such as, Top 50 breakfast spots in all 50 states, or Top 10 most unique eateries, and so on. I must admit, I enjoy them, and just as I watch Diners, Drive-in’s, and Dives and feel the pang of anxiety that I might not get to try every hole-in-the-wall restaurant on this planet, I make mental lists of the very breakfast I would consume if I ever passed through some random town in Minnesota. Yet, the other day at lunch got me thinking. We chose to go to the Full House Café (3719 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland), even though it was almost 2pm, we hadn’t gone all summer, and I was craving what I believe to be the greatest thing to happen to breakfast since…well…ever! I’m talking about the most delicious, tantalizing cornmeal pancake served at this tiny café in the Laurel District of Oakland. I know it is yummy, but every time I order it, I am blown away with how incredibly fabulous this pancake truly is. And let me make myself clear, the only pancakes I would ever consider eating, were the chocolate chip Bisquick pancakes my dad used to make me on my birthdays. Otherwise, I usually find pancakes boring, and a waste of stomach space. But the cornmeal pancakes at Full House…they het the bull’s eye! In fact, everything at this charming establishment is fantastic. I fall head over heals for their Cajun Hash, served up with a vinegar aioli spread and 2 poached eggs which ooze richly over the sweet potato and sausage jumble of deliciousness. It was as I pierced the smooth skin of the egg, and scooped up a bite full, and then washed it all down with a bite of the heavenly pancake, I realized the Food Network missed California’s true Top Breakfast.
And it was mid pancake bite, that I realized, there are a lot of places in the great city of Oakland that appear to go under appreciated. So, here is my list of under appreciated musts:
1) Full House Café for breakfast. Bring cash, because cards are not accepted, and try their fresh baked coffee cakes and muffins.
2) Khana Peena Indian restaurant (5315 College Ave.) for lunch buffet. $7.99 gets you all you can eat, a basket of fluffy Nan bread, and a soft drink. You can’t beat that price, and it’s really tasty. And I hear they do an evening happy hour…
3) The Heart and Dagger Saloon (504 Lake Park Ave.) for an after work drink and dinner on a nice day. They have a great outdoor patio, including a ping pong table. They have a pretty standard happy hour with a few drink deals, but I was impressed by their Bloody Mary. They don’t serve food at the bar, but they welcome outside food, and wouldn’t you know it…there are fabulous to-go joints in walking distance (Lanesplitter Pizza & Pub is practically next door).
4) 2022 (literally at 2022 Telegraph Ave) for happy hour and dinner. They serve up happy hour prices on food and drinks from 5-7, and last time I was there the waitress put a beer on hold for me because I walked in at 6:45, and knew by the time I finished one, it would be past 7, but was certain I would want a second. Their food is really good, too, and $5 a plate for good size portions and variety.
5) Old Weang Ping Village Thai Restaurant (6217 MacArthur Blvd.). Now, the untrained eye would look past this restaurant set in the heart of a residential neighborhood between Seminary Ave. and 63rd. In fact, you have to stand outside the locked door, until the owner (it’s run completely by a husband and wife duo) comes to the door to let you in. But the 3 minute wait is so worth it, because the food is authentic, delicious, and the price couldn’t be better. Plus, you can’t beat $2 beers, or the option to bring your own wine.
So, there you go. My dirty little secrets revealed. Yet, these 5 establishments deserve more recognition, and good deals, good food, and good happy hours deserve good company!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Lake Chalet: A Tormenting Love-Hate Relationship
No one was more excited than I was when I got a call from a San Francisco friend to inform me that the owners of the fabulous Beach Chalet would be opening an Oakland restaurant along side the beautiful Lake Merritt. After more research I discovered that the Lake Chalet was sure to be the greatest addition to Oakland since the 1989 Oakland Athletics team (Ahhh…Glory Days). I was even more elated the day (Last Summer) I was taking a leisurely stroll around the lake to see that the Chalet was open for business. Immediately, I contacted every one of my usual dining companions to ask if they were free for dinner (it was a Friday morning and the menu advertised some sort of Crab Special—and you know I can’t pass up a special!). Once I rounded up a few participants, I skipped through the open doors of the bright and well decorated restaurant, hardly containing my glee and kvelling at the outdoor seating right on the lake, and asked to make a reservation for eight.
**Quick Side Note: There is no quality outdoor seating in Oakland. I really don’t know what the deal is. I search and search for great happy hours with outdoor patios, and they are hard to come by. I am so obsessed with finding a place, that I literally considered opening my own restaurant, and even found the perfect location for my masterpiece. I even had my real-estate agent sister inquire about the desired property. It didn’t work out, and now my dream restaurant is a AAA office…Blasphemy!
Anyway, I was not greeted with the same cheerfulness that I’m sure I exuded. No, just the opposite. I was halted by the frantic stress of an early twenties hostess who laughed awkwardly at my confident reservation request, bursting my bubble with her snide retort, “Eight? We can barely seat parties of two?” I wasn’t sure if she meant that they were booked, or that they actually didn’t have the ability to seat larger parties, but my eagerness to try this culinary palace brushed off her snarky attitude. I continued my inquiries, assuming I’d try again next week. Innocently I asked, “So what is the deal with the Crab Fridays and Taco Tuesdays?” The frantic hostess stared at me blankly, and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I knew I wasn’t crazy; I had read it somewhere…Oh yes, I remember, On-line and again on the printed menu posted right outside in a fancy glass case. So, I took the liberty to educate her, to which she guessed they hadn’t started these specials yet.
Annoyed with the false advertising, I left sans reservation. I didn’t experience Lake Chalet until my birthday, when Red and I splurged on mediocre, overpriced food (and weren’t aloud to sit outside because it was closed). Devastated at the waste of the most perfect restaurant location in Oakland, I gave up on Lake Chalet…but others did not. Here is the course of my experiences then after. 1) I was convinced to go to Taco Tuesday one day when it had begun, and the result was two greasy tacos, one which I was charged full price because either you only get one for $2.50 or because I ordered past the happy hour time. Either way, not impressed (I hear they worked out the kinks, but there are better places for tacos and margaritas). 2) I joined a friend for happy hour, and we ordered beers. Upon getting our bill, we were charged regular prices, only to find out that we were at the wrong bar for happy hour prices (our bad, I guess, for not being specific enough with the bar tender and blindly trusting the website). 3) The food is seriously overpriced and mediocre.
But then it all changed. While researching more Happy Hours on-line, Lake Chalet popped up again. I tried to avoid it, but I had recently met one of their bar tenders at a party, who said things have gotten better and that it was worth trying happy hour again. I was pleasantly surprised to see a 3-6-9 deal being advertised. The details: From 3-6 and 9-Close there is happy hour food and drink specials. Select food (but a great selection) and drinks are all either $3, $6, or $9, including a $9 burger which is actually not bad. One Wednesday this summer, when my buddy Kate was in town from NY for a wedding, I convinced her and Dre to give it a try with me (actually the three of us had dinner plans, but a simple phone call suggesting a 3:00 dinner and cocktails was all the coaxing needed, and the plans changed). I was delighted that we got a table right on the dock, and enjoyed $3 beers and again, decent food (but much more palatable when paying $3-6 rather than $15-20). Things were looking up at the Lake Chalet. The next experience was when I rallied a small group on a Saturday evening to try the 9-Close happy hour. The lights of the lake were spectacular, and the nighttime setting had almost a Seattle vibe. We enjoyed the great value and gorgeous outdoor ambiance, complete with well placed heat lamps. It also didn’t hurt when a waiter brought out a hummus platter “on the house” for no real reason (I’m a sucker for free food)! I asked what days the 3-6-9 specials happened, and another waitress excitedly announced that it was offered EVERY DAY! Everyday? Including Sunday? Comfortable and enjoyable, I had finally fell in love with the Lake Chalet. Yet, it was of course, too good to be true…
Fast forward a month later, when I suggested we hit up the 3-6-9 at around 10:00pm on a Tuesday night after seeing free comedy at the Layover (16th and Franklin, every Tuesday…Fabulous). I called the Lake Chalet, just to confirm the nightly happy hour special, as I am not quick to trust one friendly waitress, nor the web advertising, as I have been spurned before, only to find out that they close at 9:30.
So, the last laugh was on me…nightly happy hour for about 30 minutes on weeknights!
To sum it up: 1) Inconsistent service 2) Overpriced mediocre food 3) Great from 3-6, or on Saturday nights from 9-close 4) Always call first, don’t trust the website, and be clear to your server that you want the happy hour…just in case you are in the wrong wing of the restaurant.
Good Luck!
**Quick Side Note: There is no quality outdoor seating in Oakland. I really don’t know what the deal is. I search and search for great happy hours with outdoor patios, and they are hard to come by. I am so obsessed with finding a place, that I literally considered opening my own restaurant, and even found the perfect location for my masterpiece. I even had my real-estate agent sister inquire about the desired property. It didn’t work out, and now my dream restaurant is a AAA office…Blasphemy!
Anyway, I was not greeted with the same cheerfulness that I’m sure I exuded. No, just the opposite. I was halted by the frantic stress of an early twenties hostess who laughed awkwardly at my confident reservation request, bursting my bubble with her snide retort, “Eight? We can barely seat parties of two?” I wasn’t sure if she meant that they were booked, or that they actually didn’t have the ability to seat larger parties, but my eagerness to try this culinary palace brushed off her snarky attitude. I continued my inquiries, assuming I’d try again next week. Innocently I asked, “So what is the deal with the Crab Fridays and Taco Tuesdays?” The frantic hostess stared at me blankly, and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I knew I wasn’t crazy; I had read it somewhere…Oh yes, I remember, On-line and again on the printed menu posted right outside in a fancy glass case. So, I took the liberty to educate her, to which she guessed they hadn’t started these specials yet.
Annoyed with the false advertising, I left sans reservation. I didn’t experience Lake Chalet until my birthday, when Red and I splurged on mediocre, overpriced food (and weren’t aloud to sit outside because it was closed). Devastated at the waste of the most perfect restaurant location in Oakland, I gave up on Lake Chalet…but others did not. Here is the course of my experiences then after. 1) I was convinced to go to Taco Tuesday one day when it had begun, and the result was two greasy tacos, one which I was charged full price because either you only get one for $2.50 or because I ordered past the happy hour time. Either way, not impressed (I hear they worked out the kinks, but there are better places for tacos and margaritas). 2) I joined a friend for happy hour, and we ordered beers. Upon getting our bill, we were charged regular prices, only to find out that we were at the wrong bar for happy hour prices (our bad, I guess, for not being specific enough with the bar tender and blindly trusting the website). 3) The food is seriously overpriced and mediocre.
But then it all changed. While researching more Happy Hours on-line, Lake Chalet popped up again. I tried to avoid it, but I had recently met one of their bar tenders at a party, who said things have gotten better and that it was worth trying happy hour again. I was pleasantly surprised to see a 3-6-9 deal being advertised. The details: From 3-6 and 9-Close there is happy hour food and drink specials. Select food (but a great selection) and drinks are all either $3, $6, or $9, including a $9 burger which is actually not bad. One Wednesday this summer, when my buddy Kate was in town from NY for a wedding, I convinced her and Dre to give it a try with me (actually the three of us had dinner plans, but a simple phone call suggesting a 3:00 dinner and cocktails was all the coaxing needed, and the plans changed). I was delighted that we got a table right on the dock, and enjoyed $3 beers and again, decent food (but much more palatable when paying $3-6 rather than $15-20). Things were looking up at the Lake Chalet. The next experience was when I rallied a small group on a Saturday evening to try the 9-Close happy hour. The lights of the lake were spectacular, and the nighttime setting had almost a Seattle vibe. We enjoyed the great value and gorgeous outdoor ambiance, complete with well placed heat lamps. It also didn’t hurt when a waiter brought out a hummus platter “on the house” for no real reason (I’m a sucker for free food)! I asked what days the 3-6-9 specials happened, and another waitress excitedly announced that it was offered EVERY DAY! Everyday? Including Sunday? Comfortable and enjoyable, I had finally fell in love with the Lake Chalet. Yet, it was of course, too good to be true…
Fast forward a month later, when I suggested we hit up the 3-6-9 at around 10:00pm on a Tuesday night after seeing free comedy at the Layover (16th and Franklin, every Tuesday…Fabulous). I called the Lake Chalet, just to confirm the nightly happy hour special, as I am not quick to trust one friendly waitress, nor the web advertising, as I have been spurned before, only to find out that they close at 9:30.
So, the last laugh was on me…nightly happy hour for about 30 minutes on weeknights!
To sum it up: 1) Inconsistent service 2) Overpriced mediocre food 3) Great from 3-6, or on Saturday nights from 9-close 4) Always call first, don’t trust the website, and be clear to your server that you want the happy hour…just in case you are in the wrong wing of the restaurant.
Good Luck!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Last Frontier!
I have just returned home from a two week trip to beautiful Alaska, with a brief stop in Seattle on our way home. Aside from seeing the usual tourist sites, Red and I did a great job eating our way through our travels. I love exploring great meals in other cities. So, if you are ever heading to the beautiful state of Alaska, I hope this is a helpful guide to excellent food at good values.
As we were exploring downtown Anchorage our first day in town, we were attempting to take a picture outside city hall, when a friendly woman from Chicago, offered to snap the photo for us. We took this opportunity to pull out some helpful hints from her and her family on what to see and do, and where to eat. The woman suggested Snow City Cafe, and at her suggestion her sulking, skinny jean wearing teenage son perked up for the first time to announce that Snow City was “Awesome!” How could we say no to that? So we didn’t… We began our edible Alaskan journey at Snow City Café (www.snowcitycafe.com) where I ordered an Alaskan specialty, Salmon Cake Eggs Benedict, while Red ordered Halibut Tacos. The fish in Alaska is out of this world. It’s fresh and delicate and extremely delicious. It was a great introduction to Alaskan fare. After touring the streets of downtown Anchorage, visiting the Anchorage Zoo, enjoying the Anchorage museum and the Native Cultural Center, Red and I (with the help of a local tour guide—Red’s cousin) hit up the night life. We began at Humpy’s Alehouse (www.humpys.com/), a cool brewpub style bar with great food and live music. We ordered the Halibut Nachos to share for the table, and they arrived heaping with lumps of fresh halibut and homemade tortilla chips. Without a doubt, some of the best nachos I have ever had! In addition we enjoyed the locally brewed beer selection. We finished off the night at a bar called The Pioneer, where we rubbed elbows with local NHL players. Anchorage is a terrific city!
Our Alaskan adventure continued on, as we piled the family into a van, and headed south. Along the way, we visited the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center where we saw Caribou, Bears, Moose, and many other animals found in the Alaskan wild. This is a great drive-thru zoo, worth checking out while driving along the Seward Hwy, and a perfect place to try a Reindeer Sausage at their snack bar. We stopped in Moose Pass to visit more cousins and for lunch, and again had more fish (fresh baked Salmon recently caught and packaged by our gracious hosts), as we traveled to the city of Seward. What a gem of a town! From delicious gourmet pizzas and a Caesar salad stacked high with piles of bay shrimp at Christo’s Palace (http://www.christospalace.com/index.htm), to a thick succulent halibut burger (not deep fried) at Nellie’s Roadhouse Diner (http://www.alaskanelliesroadhouse.com/). Not to mention, Seward is home of the Sea Life Center, one of the coolest aquarium exhibits I have ever experienced, and a surprisingly fun night life. No, seriously…we started the night at The Yukon, and on this Tuesday night, Hobo Jim (an Alaskan superstar) was performing. What a great show he put on! If closing at 2pm wasn’t late enough, the party continued at Pit Bar just a few miles away (we shared a cab with a few others heading that way), and rolled home around 4:30 am. Who knew?
Yet the fun continued, as we made our way to Homer, Alaska, a town that boasts being a “Small Drinking Town with a Fishing Problem.” What it truly is, is pure Alaskan beauty! It is hard to not be overwhelmed by the scenic surroundings: Mountains, Glaciers, Wildflowers, Ocean…It also didn’t hurt that we were fortunate to stay with not only the world’s most welcoming, generous family, but a family of Fisherman who had just returned home from their recent fishing endeavors. Upon our arrival, a fresh pot of Venison Stew was simmering in the Slow Cooker, and 10 pounds of freshly caught fish (Black Cod, Halibut, Salmon) was defrosting on the counter. I am still dreaming of the impromptu sushi spread and three fish platter. I have never had true fresh fish til’ this night…
On a side note, there are a few other things worth noting in Homer, Alaska. First, I highly recommend heading to the Ring of Fire Meadery (for info on mead, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mead) and enjoy their free tasting bar. The owner is extremely informative, and makes your mead tasting experience delightful. Plus, it is a great gift or souvenir to bring back home! In addition, don’t miss the Homer Spit, and be sure to grab a beer at the Salty Dawg Saloon while you are down there. Also on the spit was the Glacier Drive Inn, which served up an inexpensive, tasty burger.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
On the Open Road...
I spent the first week of July traveling down the coast of California on a Wedding Tour. What is a wedding tour, you ask? Well, Red and I were invited to 3 weddings in one week. We attended the first wedding on Sunday July 4th, in Santa Barbara. We stayed at the Pacifica Suites, sharing a room with 3 of my best friends (and incidentally once college roommates) and their main squeezes. There were 7 of us total in this hotel suite, but it was a blast! It got a bit smelly towards the end, which didn’t help the massive hangover, but a blast just the same, as it sort of brought me back to our Isla Vista apartment that probably never smelled very good. I enjoyed returning to Santa Barbara, my college stomping ground, and as always when I visit the area, I returned to all my favorite eateries. This includes the Natural Café (Their Tostada Salad rocks my world) in Goleta and the Bagel Café in downtown Isla Vista. I specifically like returning to the Bagel Café to order the Deluxe Melt (A bagel toasted in the oven with sun-dried tomato cream cheese, tomatoes, red onions, and melted cheddar cheese, all topped off with lemon pepper) simply to relish in the fact that this amazingly artery clogging delight was a staple in my weekly college menu. If the excessive drinking alone didn’t kill me, it is a miracle that my eating habits didn’t finish me off back then. Because we were in town for a wedding, I didn’t get to visit all my favorite spots, but the two that were hit, were definitely worth the drive.
After the wedding, we began our journey down the coast of California to our next wedding destination, San Diego, on Friday July 9th.. An old friend who had attended the wedding in Santa Barbara mentioned that if we were heading through Santa Monica (we were), then we should try Cha Cha Chicken (we did). After a night walking down Santa Monica Pier and 3rd St. Promenade, and the next day cruising down Venice Beach (we had lunch at the Figtree Café right on the Boardwalk, definitely worth checking out), we met a friend at Cha Cha Chicken. This was such a cool little hole in the wall, serving up dishes with Caribbean flavors. The food was delicious, and because they don’t serve alcohol, they don’t mind if you go down the street to a nearby liquor store to purchase your own beverages. I bought a six-pack of Tecate and enjoyed my SALMON NEGRIL, a salmon fillet smothered in a garlic, curry sauce. It was served with plantains and rice…YUM! Red ordered the Coconut Fried Chicken, which was really good. After dinner, we said our goodbyes to Santa Monica, and headed south to Orange County, and then to San Diego.
Whenever Red and I are in an area we don’t know well, we consult our food bible. In other words, we get online, head to the FoodNetwork website, and scroll down Guy Fieri’s adventures on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I admit that sometimes I watch the show and get panicked about all the great places to eat that I may not ever experience…I’m working on that irrational anxiety! We selected a place called Crazee Burger, fascinated by the opportunity to try Kangaroo, Alligator, or Ostrich in burger form. We weren’t disappointed! I was, at first, a bit annoyed that the Kangaroo burger was temporarily not available, but I didn’t dwell on it. As promised, the Alligator burger, with curried fruit compote was really flavorful and delectable. Red’s venison burger with wine soaked pears and mushrooms was also really yummy. It was another fabulous meal, on a great California road trip.
The next day, we had a few morning hours to kill before Red had to meet up with the Groom-to-be to get fitted for Tuxedos and attend the wedding rehearsal. We woke up early, and headed to the San Diego Zoo. One thing I will say about the Zoo is that you can really learn a lot about parenting styles by people watching there. Fascinating! We were so captivated by the mating habits of the monkeys that time flew by, and pretty soon, we were running late. As usual, I was beginning to get hungry, since we didn’t really grab breakfast before we left for the Zoo. Not wanting to blow our money on the exorbitant Zoo food prices, Red called to check in with the Groom-to-be and asked for a recommendation of a quick food stop on the way to his house. He suggested Evolution, a vegan (and partly Raw Food) restaurant. Now this suggestion may have been our favorite meal of the entire trip. I had a pesto “burger” with “cheese”, and Red’s “burger” had guacamole. I am really starting to warm up to the whole vegan (and raw for that matter) foods movement…they have really brought their cuisine to a new level. If you are ever skeptical, seriously, suck it up and give it a try! The only thing is, don’t be fooled, vegan does not equal healthier (in a caloric sense). The rest of San Diego was pretty wedding centered, but fun all the same.
We rounded out the Wedding Tour that Saturday morning, waking up early, and driving 6 hours north to Paso Robles. While the drive was barren and boring, we were welcomed by a dip in the hotel pool, and then an evening of love, local wines, and delicious BBQ. It doesn’t happen very often, but when I returned home that Sunday evening, I needed a break from restaurant dining for a while. After a week of decadence, I craved fresh veggies and light salads. But don’t worry…that never lasts long. A trip to the farmer’s market and the gym knocked me right back on track.
After the wedding, we began our journey down the coast of California to our next wedding destination, San Diego, on Friday July 9th.. An old friend who had attended the wedding in Santa Barbara mentioned that if we were heading through Santa Monica (we were), then we should try Cha Cha Chicken (we did). After a night walking down Santa Monica Pier and 3rd St. Promenade, and the next day cruising down Venice Beach (we had lunch at the Figtree Café right on the Boardwalk, definitely worth checking out), we met a friend at Cha Cha Chicken. This was such a cool little hole in the wall, serving up dishes with Caribbean flavors. The food was delicious, and because they don’t serve alcohol, they don’t mind if you go down the street to a nearby liquor store to purchase your own beverages. I bought a six-pack of Tecate and enjoyed my SALMON NEGRIL, a salmon fillet smothered in a garlic, curry sauce. It was served with plantains and rice…YUM! Red ordered the Coconut Fried Chicken, which was really good. After dinner, we said our goodbyes to Santa Monica, and headed south to Orange County, and then to San Diego.
Whenever Red and I are in an area we don’t know well, we consult our food bible. In other words, we get online, head to the FoodNetwork website, and scroll down Guy Fieri’s adventures on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I admit that sometimes I watch the show and get panicked about all the great places to eat that I may not ever experience…I’m working on that irrational anxiety! We selected a place called Crazee Burger, fascinated by the opportunity to try Kangaroo, Alligator, or Ostrich in burger form. We weren’t disappointed! I was, at first, a bit annoyed that the Kangaroo burger was temporarily not available, but I didn’t dwell on it. As promised, the Alligator burger, with curried fruit compote was really flavorful and delectable. Red’s venison burger with wine soaked pears and mushrooms was also really yummy. It was another fabulous meal, on a great California road trip.
The next day, we had a few morning hours to kill before Red had to meet up with the Groom-to-be to get fitted for Tuxedos and attend the wedding rehearsal. We woke up early, and headed to the San Diego Zoo. One thing I will say about the Zoo is that you can really learn a lot about parenting styles by people watching there. Fascinating! We were so captivated by the mating habits of the monkeys that time flew by, and pretty soon, we were running late. As usual, I was beginning to get hungry, since we didn’t really grab breakfast before we left for the Zoo. Not wanting to blow our money on the exorbitant Zoo food prices, Red called to check in with the Groom-to-be and asked for a recommendation of a quick food stop on the way to his house. He suggested Evolution, a vegan (and partly Raw Food) restaurant. Now this suggestion may have been our favorite meal of the entire trip. I had a pesto “burger” with “cheese”, and Red’s “burger” had guacamole. I am really starting to warm up to the whole vegan (and raw for that matter) foods movement…they have really brought their cuisine to a new level. If you are ever skeptical, seriously, suck it up and give it a try! The only thing is, don’t be fooled, vegan does not equal healthier (in a caloric sense). The rest of San Diego was pretty wedding centered, but fun all the same.
We rounded out the Wedding Tour that Saturday morning, waking up early, and driving 6 hours north to Paso Robles. While the drive was barren and boring, we were welcomed by a dip in the hotel pool, and then an evening of love, local wines, and delicious BBQ. It doesn’t happen very often, but when I returned home that Sunday evening, I needed a break from restaurant dining for a while. After a week of decadence, I craved fresh veggies and light salads. But don’t worry…that never lasts long. A trip to the farmer’s market and the gym knocked me right back on track.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Sisterly Bonding!
I love summer time! I especially love this summer…the first summer in two years that both Red and I have decided not to work. We have spent the last few weeks getting all the daily, household and personal crap done that just piles up over the school year. Anyway, summer is very exciting for teachers because we can finally see what goes on during the week while we are confined to the prisonlike walls of the public school buildings. I mean it, a simple trip to The Home Depot at 10:00 on a Tuesday morning, rather than rushing to grab gardening supplies after a long day of work at like 6:00pm only to stand in massive irritating lines, is like Chanukah and my birthday rolled into one. Another joy of summer is having the luxury of opening up Happy Hours at local bars! So you can imagine my elation when in The Home Depot last Tuesday, I got a call from one of my favorite Happy Hour participants, my sister.
Her busy morning schedule was clearing up, and my sister despises idol time. And if she’s not wheeling and dealing on the job, she loves to kick back and enjoy a mid afternoon cocktail. Something we have in common, although, during the school year it can be hard to coordinate in time for Happy Hour deals. I suggested we try the Lake Chalet 3-6-9 Happy Hour because I had been dying to give the Chalet another shot, since it offers the best outdoor seating in all of Oakland. I had had two very disappointing experiences, first with their unimpressive Taco Tuesday special, and second when I went in for Happy Hour, ordered drinks, only to find out later that Happy Hour specials did not apply to the area that I was sitting, even though the Happy Hour menu had been provided with the usual menu…infuriating! In spite this, I am a sucker for outdoor, daylight drinking, and a fabulous seat aside the beautiful Lake Merritt, so I figure…Why Not? Since their early bird Happy Hour begins at 3, I tell my Sis that I will pick her up at 3, to which replies, “Can we make it 3:30?” This is the part of the story in which we strongly disagree, because as 3:30 rolled around Sis was far from ready. 3:30 turned to 4:00, and then finally at 5:00 I was picking her up at her house, and at 5:20 she was piling into my car. I was getting anxious about missing the deal, not to mention that I was beginning to get violently hungry, since I didn’t eat anything, assuming that we were going to be snacking by 3:30...This is yet another issue in which my sister and I disagree.
To make a long story short, the car ride went something like this. I started driving quickly, announcing that I was extremely hungry and that we weren’t going to make happy hour. My sister, never sensitive to my low blood sugar meltdowns, promptly repeats her usually refrain, “You know, you should really keep a granola bar in your car in case of emergency” and continues to get under my skin as she tells me what horrible company I am when I’m hungry…this doesn’t help. When we arrive at Lake Chalet, there is absolutely NO parking…I mean NONE! We drive another 15 minutes around and around, and still nothing. I am frantic and crazy at this point (this irrational hunger mood is really intense when it rears its ugly head), and then pull over to the side of the road proclaiming that we only have 15 minutes left, and that it isn’t worth it. To my surprise, sister calmly suggests a new place to try…Chu’s. Now normally I am very skeptical when it comes to fancy Chinese food, usually overpriced, especially when we were about 5 minutes from Chinatown. However, I was desperate, and my sister said, “Trust me,” and then called to find out when their happy hour ends (thankfully 7 pm).
We arrived at Restaurant Chu, in Rockridge on College Avenue, just after 6. The sun was still shining, so we took a seat at one of the street side tables (great people watching on College Ave., by the way). I immediately ordered a $3 happy hour Tsingtao beer, and my sister orders the Edamame ($4), assuring me that they are the best she has tasted. I don’t complain because at this point, I’d eat anything. However, when the edamame arrived, she was absolutely correct. They were smothered in this garlic, chili sauce, and they were truly delicious. So now, I have some food in my stomach, a cold beer in hand, and the mood has shifted to lighthearted giggles and declarations that Restaurant Chu’s was no ordinary fancy-shmance Chinese cuisine, but had something really special…A fabulous happy hour menu! We ordered the fresh rice-paper wrapped spring rolls (ask for the same sauce that smothers the edamame to dip them in), and a Chinese chicken salad. Prices range from 4-6 dollars a plate, but the portions are generous, and for two people, three was more than enough. Despite our sisterly squabbles, usually surrounding the fact that I am hungry and she is running late, I couldn’t ask for better company! Two thumbs up for Restaurant Chu!
Restaurant Chu
5362 College Ave
(between Bryant Ave & Manila Ave)
Oakland, CA 94618
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Her busy morning schedule was clearing up, and my sister despises idol time. And if she’s not wheeling and dealing on the job, she loves to kick back and enjoy a mid afternoon cocktail. Something we have in common, although, during the school year it can be hard to coordinate in time for Happy Hour deals. I suggested we try the Lake Chalet 3-6-9 Happy Hour because I had been dying to give the Chalet another shot, since it offers the best outdoor seating in all of Oakland. I had had two very disappointing experiences, first with their unimpressive Taco Tuesday special, and second when I went in for Happy Hour, ordered drinks, only to find out later that Happy Hour specials did not apply to the area that I was sitting, even though the Happy Hour menu had been provided with the usual menu…infuriating! In spite this, I am a sucker for outdoor, daylight drinking, and a fabulous seat aside the beautiful Lake Merritt, so I figure…Why Not? Since their early bird Happy Hour begins at 3, I tell my Sis that I will pick her up at 3, to which replies, “Can we make it 3:30?” This is the part of the story in which we strongly disagree, because as 3:30 rolled around Sis was far from ready. 3:30 turned to 4:00, and then finally at 5:00 I was picking her up at her house, and at 5:20 she was piling into my car. I was getting anxious about missing the deal, not to mention that I was beginning to get violently hungry, since I didn’t eat anything, assuming that we were going to be snacking by 3:30...This is yet another issue in which my sister and I disagree.
To make a long story short, the car ride went something like this. I started driving quickly, announcing that I was extremely hungry and that we weren’t going to make happy hour. My sister, never sensitive to my low blood sugar meltdowns, promptly repeats her usually refrain, “You know, you should really keep a granola bar in your car in case of emergency” and continues to get under my skin as she tells me what horrible company I am when I’m hungry…this doesn’t help. When we arrive at Lake Chalet, there is absolutely NO parking…I mean NONE! We drive another 15 minutes around and around, and still nothing. I am frantic and crazy at this point (this irrational hunger mood is really intense when it rears its ugly head), and then pull over to the side of the road proclaiming that we only have 15 minutes left, and that it isn’t worth it. To my surprise, sister calmly suggests a new place to try…Chu’s. Now normally I am very skeptical when it comes to fancy Chinese food, usually overpriced, especially when we were about 5 minutes from Chinatown. However, I was desperate, and my sister said, “Trust me,” and then called to find out when their happy hour ends (thankfully 7 pm).
We arrived at Restaurant Chu, in Rockridge on College Avenue, just after 6. The sun was still shining, so we took a seat at one of the street side tables (great people watching on College Ave., by the way). I immediately ordered a $3 happy hour Tsingtao beer, and my sister orders the Edamame ($4), assuring me that they are the best she has tasted. I don’t complain because at this point, I’d eat anything. However, when the edamame arrived, she was absolutely correct. They were smothered in this garlic, chili sauce, and they were truly delicious. So now, I have some food in my stomach, a cold beer in hand, and the mood has shifted to lighthearted giggles and declarations that Restaurant Chu’s was no ordinary fancy-shmance Chinese cuisine, but had something really special…A fabulous happy hour menu! We ordered the fresh rice-paper wrapped spring rolls (ask for the same sauce that smothers the edamame to dip them in), and a Chinese chicken salad. Prices range from 4-6 dollars a plate, but the portions are generous, and for two people, three was more than enough. Despite our sisterly squabbles, usually surrounding the fact that I am hungry and she is running late, I couldn’t ask for better company! Two thumbs up for Restaurant Chu!
Restaurant Chu
5362 College Ave
(between Bryant Ave & Manila Ave)
Oakland, CA 94618
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Friday, July 2, 2010
The Culinary Adventures of an Oakland Teacher!
Six years ago, I began my journey as a Special Education teacher working in Oakland. It was at my first teaching placement where I met my boyfriend, my love, and my culinary partner in crime. For the sake of this Blog, we will call him Red. While working closely together, we became instant friends. Our immediate connection was not only because we shared the same passion for educational equity and empowering kids with learning disabilities through self-advocacy, nor was it because of our dying devotion for the city of Oakland, Ca (although finding two Oakland natives actually committing to teaching in Oakland is a rarity in this day and age). No, from our very first lunch date at the Drunken Fish sushi restaurant on Piedmont Ave. @ Broadway, it was our love and immense appreciation for culinary delights, and let’s just face it, all things edible, that truly solidified our love.
Because Red and I, new teachers, were both money conscious, I suggested we head to Drunken Fish to get their amazingly delicious and major deal, Power Lunch special. At the time, for $9.95 we enjoyed a large sashimi salad, served over rice, with ample chunks of assorted sashimi (raw fish), and a fabulous chili dressing, in addition to a large udon noodle soup. The power lunch offers a choice of 4-5 Japanese main dishes (we both chose the sashimi salad then, and continue to choose the same today) and either udon soup or soba noodles. Although we still enjoy Drunken Fish Power Lunches today, the price is now $10.95, and the portions are smaller (including the amount of fish). Don’t get me wrong, the Power Lunch still offers an exorbitant amount of food and I always leave feeling satisfied, and believe for a sushi lunch, the price is right! What I love most about Drunken Fish is that the Power Lunch is offered even on Saturday. For a teacher who doesn’t get to enjoy weekday lunches out and about for most of the year, it is nice, and quite rare, to get the same special on the weekend.
Anyway, the other day Red and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary….ok, ok, it took us an entire year to recognize our friendly admiration for what it actually was…but we finally figured it out and that is the most important part! What did we do to celebrate 5 fabulous years together? We dined, of course! We selected Picán a fun, hip restaurant whose chef serves up southern food with an elegant culinary twist. We decided to sit at the bar because I find that there is no better way to get to know the vibe and ambiance of a restaurant then to sit up at the bar and schmooze with the bar tender. Red enjoyed the beer selection on tap, while I opted for a great glass of Zin to complement our meal. As usual, even when splurging, we remained money conscious. We decided to order two small plates, and then to split an entree. Upon the recommendation of our friendly bar tender, we started with the Peach and Heirloom Tomato Panzanella (a bread salad, where crispy croutons soak up the light vinaigrette dressing), and ordered the Maple-Glazed Pork Belly served with collard greens and a poached egg. I had never had a Panzanella before, but the salad came more like a traditional salad, yet with the freshest peach slices and perfectly ripe tomatoes, combined with the dressing to deliver a light, deliciously satisfying dish. The true star of the night was the pork belly. It was served in a small cast-iron dish, and we were instructed to puncture the poached egg, to let the yolk ooze into the sauce the accompanied the greens. The maple crust of the pork was sweet and the meat practically melted in my mouth. The combination of all the flavors, the richness of the egg and butter sauce was out of this world. It probably wasn’t the healthiest of dishes, but the portion was just big enough to truly savor every last, indulgent bite, but not excessive (which we have been known to get gluttonous and go overboard). We left room for our final order of the night, the grilled salmon with wild mushrooms, onion puree, and a mustard bbq sauce. The salmon was fresh and cooked perfectly, and the sweet onion puree was a fabulous accent to each bite. I especially enjoyed the bbq sauce and felt that they drizzled over just enough so that it was light, and not overwhelming. Overall, the meal was delicious, the bar tender friendly, and the chatter of the folks at the bar gave off the feel of a true neighborhood establishment. We finished off the night heading to Luka’s Taproom & Lounge (just across the street from Picán) because I am absolutely obsessed with their chocolate fondant dessert.
Some money saving tips: Just because you are on a budget, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a great culinary adventure out… Here are some things I might do next time:
Some money saving tips: Just because you are on a budget, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a great culinary adventure out… Here are some things I might do next time:
1) Both Red and I agree we didn’t need to indulge and have the salmon. We would have been equally as satisfied with the two small plates, and maybe one other small plate or side (Cauliflower and Crab soup? Gouda Mac & Cheese) which are less expensive.
2) We could have brought our own bottle of wine: While corkage fees may run $15-20, my
two glasses of wine alone cost me $17. It may be worth it to just bring your own bottle (call first to ask about the corkage fee).
3) Choose Pican when you are looking for a lighter meal, because the portions are generous, and one or two of the small dishes could satisfy the hunger of two (less hungry) people.
4) If you don’t order drinks, you’ve practically cut your bill in half!
Restaurant Information
Drunken Fish:
Restaurant Information
Drunken Fish:
3314 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611
Picán:
2295 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
Luka Taproom & Lounge:
2221 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94612
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)