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.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
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)