Anna's Cool Finds

Supper Club - Austro-Hungarian

2011-10-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

October 1 the Supper Club Marin gathered together for a feast from the Austria-Hungary region. We were lucky to have someone with us whose background was Hungarian, having four grandparents from Hungary. She brought this lovely Herend porcelain piece which company is named after the Hungarian village where it originated.

We started with appetizers, and Lana brought this lovely Liptauer (Hungarian Cheese Spread) that we munched while chatting in the kitchen while the chefs put last touches on many of the dishes following.

Tom M put lots of care into these tasty Irinka-Povarenok (Hungarian Chopped Liver) which were the first things served as we sat down.

Kathleen hand made the dumplings which went into the Leberknödelsuppe (Liver Dumpling Soup) as well as simmered soup bones and caramelized onions to make the complex soup. The liver dumplings included liver, saltines and lard among other ingredients.

Bonnie and Barry brought a side dish to accompany the mains. Barry made the Gebackene Kohlsprossen (Brussels Sprouts with Ham and Mushrooms) and people exclaimed that these were the best Brussel sprouts that they had ever tasted! This was the lone dish of Austrian origins. All the other chefs chose Hungarian dishes.

Emil made Hortobágyi Palatschinken (Savory Hungarian crepes) which were filled with a savory pork and veal mixture.

And here is what the center of the Hortobágyi Palatschinken looks like.

Connie brought Hungarian Goulash. The first time she made it, it had more of a burnt than smokey taste, so she made it all over again and varied from the directions to obtain this smooth and silky stew of perfection.

Juliette brought the Oxtail Stew. She had grown up with oxtail stew and was surprised at how hard it is now to find oxtails to cook with. The sauce was reminiscent of a barbecue sauce, with ketchup and mustard among the ingredients.

Juliette also brought the mashed potatoes that were still sporting thei skins. It made the perfect foil for the mails.

Tom H explained about his quest to find an authentic recipe for his dish, and found an extraordinary number of variations. The Csirkepaprikas (Chicken Paprikas) he chose tasted great!

Janice made Uborka Saláta (Hungarian Cucumber Salad) which was also done according to direction to be its authentic Hungarian self. This dish got lots of raves!

Bill's contribution was of Austrian origin, a Salzburg beer - Stiegl Goldbrau Premium Lager. Ir was described as smooth, refreshing and delicious!

Then we rolled around to desserts, starting with Karen's Havasi Kifli (Hungarian Nut Crescents). These melted on your tongue and were perfect with the expresso served with dessert.

The final dish was Stephanie's Szilvas Gomboc (Plum Dumplings) which had a potato based dough around a fresh plum. The packet was steamed, then rolled in a breadcrumb and spice (cinnamon among the spices) mixture and topped with sour cream. Delicious and necessarily heavy. Food to eat in the dead of winter to keep warm in Hungary for sure!

And finishing off the dessert was my contribution of Zwack liqueur, a Hungarian digestif. It was created by Dr. József Zwack, the Royal Physician to Emperor Joseph II in 1790, and the first liqueur commerically produced in Hungary. It has more than 40 herbs and spices in its recipe.

As our custom, each chef told a story of their dish's origin or special cooking notes - whether true or not! The purpose is to have fun and that we did.

Beautiful Sausalito Sunday

2011-09-19T01:27:00.001-07:00

I was following up on a story for this week's Bread and Butter, and had to shoot this beautiful glimpse of Sausalito from Main Street yesterday. I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend, where ever you may be!

An Enchanted Evening

2011-08-17T01:01:00.000-07:00

A friend and I decided to try an evening at The Tavern at Lark Creek when Chef Bradley Ogden was making a guest appearance. I'll bottom line it here: Chef Ogden is making a guest appearance one more time this summer, and it's a great opportunity for a delicious evening! More details on the last opportunity on August 25 at the end of the post.

Years before I moved to Marin, I came to the bay area on frequent business trips. I remember driving by the grove of Redwoods by the the Lark Creek Inn, and thinking it was the patch that reminded me most of my hometown area north of Seattle. It was what attracted me to put Marin at the top of my list when I was transferred here and was looking for a home. And finally I was eating under this very grove!

It was such a pleasant evening, the weather was just right and the setting was elegant. My friend chose to go with Chef Ogden's prix fixe $35 menu.

So she started with the Organic Cucumber and Heirloom Tomato Salad, as did I. This was exquisite! So fresh and bursting with flavor!

The next course on the special prix fixe menu was Mom's Meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and Blue Lake Beans. My friend raved about this dish. She reported that the meatloaf seemed to be made out of delicious and tender steak, very meaty. And the potato flavor of the potatoes actually showed through beautifully. And the beans had a nice snap.

I diverged to try one of the regular menu items, Idaho Rainbow Trout, brown butter, hazelnuts and zucchini hazelnut salad with sauce gribiche. It was delicious, and I especially was interested in the zucchini salad as it was so tender. I wasn't sure if it were steamed or just lightly marinated.

My menu questions were answered since both Chef Ogden Bradley and Chef Aaron Wright came out and strolled among the tables to introduce themselves and find out how guests were enjoying their meals. Chef Bradley mentioned that the zucchini were lightly marinated. Chef Wright and I chatted about Canlis in Seattle where he once was chef, and I knew from growing up in the area.

Instead of the Caramel Swirl Angel Food Cake with plum and blueberry compote that would be the finale of the prix fixe menu, my friend chose the Lemon Cheesecake Brulée, with peach coulis, and strawberries. I took a taste; it was remarkable. Creamy with distinct flavors of peach and strawberries with the cooling sensation of lemon.

I chose the Strawberry Shortcake, with vanilla cream biscuit, mascarpone, and fresh berries. It was a great old fashioned version. Growing up in what once was the strawberry capital of the world (Marysville, Washington) summer isn't summer unless you've enjoyed one of these.

The Redwood grove was cooling off, and my friend and I had a leisurely and delicious evening. Our waiter even quoted us a poem in perfect cadence. What a night!

What I missed was going to the market that morning with the chefs. August 25th one can start the day by meeting up with the chefs at the Marin Farmers Market at the Star Route Farms booth at 9:30 a.m. Shop together and get tips on picking the best produce. In the evening will the final dinner with Chef Ogden, reservations recommended. The menu for the 25th is:

Corn Chowder with corn and shrimp fritter, parsley pesto

Grilled Albacore Tuna with warm tomato bread salad and tomato basil sauce

Coconut Cake with buttermilk ice cream

Watermelon Margarita (for an additional $9.50)

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 3/22/2011

Supper Club - Thailand

2011-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

After a rather long absence from the Supper Club Marin, I was able to join in last night for the Thailand theme. We are a group of both professional chefs and advance home cooks who love to cook and share. We meet about every 6 weeks and bring a dish around a theme chosen after the previous dinner. We particularly enjoy geographic themes and sharing a story or piece of history about the dish or culture. Naturally I brought my camera for this to capture the beautiful dishes prepared by all. Wish that I could have also captured the aromas! Thailand food has some wonderful scents! Here is a pictorial view of the delicious dinner with the name of the dish and the chef behind it! I added some notes where the photo isn't self-explanatory.

Appetizers

Meang Khum (betel leaf wraps - Malabar spinach substituted) - Tom H. Tom couldn't find betel leaves, so found this interesting Malabar spinach. It is a bit misnamed as it is not in the spinach family at all, but a tropical vine. The taste is mild and spinach-like however.

Khai Luuk Khuey (son-in-law eggs) - Tom M. Tom did not know the origin of the name 'son-in-law eggs', but these deep fried boiled eggs with a pleasant sauce were delicious anyway! I did a little research this morning and found that "Almost Bourdain" has some interesting possible stories.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce - Victoria. Victoria elevated this chicken by putting a spice rub on the chicken and making a peanut sauce that balances sweet and salty deliciously.

Salads

Thai Beef Salad - James. Not satisfied that any of the recipes he found really captured the best Thai beef salad, James took elements from several that he thought made one that matched his favorite Thai beef salad tastes.

Som Tam (green papaya salad) - Eddie. Eddie learned that green papaya is not merely an unripe papaya, but actually a type. He brought in a green papaya and another variety and taught us about the differences.

Side Dishes

Vegetable Curry with Coconut Milk - Janis. This mixture of vegetables was so bright and the taste of fresh spices rang through.

Jasmine Rice - Bill O. Yes, a bowl of rice doesn't look like much, but if I could put a 'smell' button here people would really get the aromatics of good Jasmine rice which was imported from Thailand. We learned that a very high percentage of the Thai population is involved in rice making.

Mains

Dry Beef Curry with Peanut and Lime - Gillian/Richie. This beef was so tender and the mix of peanuts and lamb was far better on the tongue than I imagined.

Basil Eggplant - Anna. I made this classic Thai basil eggplant diesh. I used tamari and rice wine instead of fish sauce and granulated sugar to add some complexity and keep it a vegan dish.

Pad See Ew (River Noodles with Beef and Broccoli) - Kim. Kim found FRESH rice noodles for this dish, and the noodles were so soft and absorbent of the mellow sauce.

Massaman Curry - Bonnie/Barry. Bonnie hand selected fresh spices to make fresh curry for this chicken based dish. It also was one of the most fragrant smelling of the dishes and delightfully fresh.

Dessert

Thai Banana with Coconut Pineapple Ice Cream - Stephanie. Stephanie used both rice and corn starch for the batter base along with some 5-spice. This was a wonderful dessert to end the meal with.

And a group shot of the table as we were settling in for the first course of Thai appetizers. Next up is the Eastern Himalayas in July.

Tofu Mozzarella

2011-04-03T09:23:00.000-07:00

My friend Sachiko explained how to make this fabulous vegan tofu 'mozzarella' dish over dinner on a recent visit from Japan.

Tofu Mozzarella

1 block silken tofu (must be silken)
salt
Paper towels (4 piece long, unbroken)
Plastic wrap

Sauce
1 heirloom tomato, chopped
handful of fresh basil, chopped
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Basalmic vinegar

Directions

Start the morning before the day you wish to use it.
Carefully rinse and drain the silken tofu, handling carefully as it breaks easily.
Put an unbroken strip of about 4 paper towels on a plate.
Carefully put the silken tofu on the paper towel strip, towards the beginning end.
Lightly salt the tofu on all sides.
Carefully wrap the tofu in the paper towel strip by rolling.
Carefully wrap the paper towel encased tofu in plastic wrap.
Place wrapped tofu on plate.
Chill in refrigerator all day and overnight.
The next morning, carefully take off the wrapping, and throw away the wet paper towels, reserving the plastic wrap.
Carefully rewrap the now shrunken tofu block in another strip of 4 paper towels.
Rewrap the paper towel encased tofu, put back on plate and into the refrigerator
Just before serving in the evening, take it out, remove all wrapping, place on plate.
You can leave it whole and pour on the sauce, or did as above and slice it in thin slices and spread out slightly so more sauce is absorbed.
Pour the sauce over the tofu and serve.

Sauce Directions

Combine chopped tomato and basil in a plastic bag that zips tight.
Pour in EVOO and balsamic vinegar.
Let sit 30 minutes.
Pour over the sliced tofu.

Alternatively, you can put the freshly chopped tomato and basil over the tofu, then drizzle on the EVOO and balsamic vinegar. The pictured dish uses the baggie approach as I took the dish to a birthday party to share and the bagged approach made transport and assembly easier.

I also think that this 'cured' tofu would take to other sauces well. It has the consistency of fresh mozzarella cheese, very tender and mild. I'm thinking of trying a miso/sesame sauce over it for example.

What I've been up to lately

I had a great evening with my friend who writes Zoomie Station having dinner at Harmony in Mill Valley and attending Michael Pollan's "Sun Food Agenda" at the Marin Civic Center on March 24. He is entertaining and informative (as expected) and worth the effort to procure tickets and move yourself to where ever he is speaking within a reasonable distance of you.

I take my reporting for food news for Bread and Butter for the Marin IJ seriously but with a light hearted pen, and do a lot of research for each column, which lessens my time to blog all the cool finds I come across. I feel lucky to live in Marin where there are always new and cool things percolating up to the surface.

I have had numerous computer glitches, failures and other disasters, the most recent being a near loss of the back up and only copy of files on a computer that failed. So it was no longer the back up, but the primary storage. It failed, and my friends at Drive Savers recovered 90%, and I picked it up with my $2100 miniature flashlight last Wednesday. Now I'm making back ups of my back ups as I don't need any more $2100 recoveries even if they come with a cute flashlight. Naturally it had my photos, so now I can work on posting some cool finds in between my journalistic research and other life activities.

Napa's Domain Chandon: Snippets of Cook with Books Event

2011-03-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

Some beautiful photos and moods from Domain Chandon, and a Book Passage "Cooks with Books" snippet about the new "Domain Chandon Cookbook".

Today's rain is encouraging me to curl up in a blanket and enjoy browsing cookbooks!

Some ideas from our Mill Valley neighbor Tyler Florence

2011-02-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

Sweet treat - Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm here. No swine flu excuse, just general life happenings and working hard at writing a newsworthy column for the Marin Independent Journal once a week.

Happy Valentine's Day to all. My sweet niece Aurelia made me a birthday cake on Saturday, delicious! Lemon with lemon sour cream frosting. And those fresh raspberry decorations were also good. Our households have had the minor but long lasting 'bugs' going around on alternating weeks so it just took this long for us all to get together.

I have had a few food adventures I've been wanting to share, and I'll be doing a major clean up of the site -- so many restaurant openings and closings!

I hope you all have all the love you want for this special day!

How to Set a Holiday Table

2010-11-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

I met Ryan Cole, General Manager of Michael Mina in San Francisco at its opening party. He was very gracious and in this clip he gives pointers on setting a holiday table.

Live from China: Get your scorpions!

2010-11-08T15:05:00.000-08:00

I love Skype. I chatted with my friend Jonathon this afternoon over the Skype-line about how he's finding being in Bejing after many years. He's there this week for to speak at an environmental conference. Naturally China's changed since he was a student, and yet it can still be counted on for some surprising food adventures! Jonathon described walking along Wang Feng Shi Boulevard in Bejing's commercial district and happening on the scene above. Yes, these are live scorpions on a stick, squirming and waiting to be fried in the hot oil fryers to the left, and be bought as street food by the crowds passing by. Jonathon gave me permission to use the photo he snapped and sent me above.

Go Giants!

2010-10-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

We are just having serious fun! My Dad is calling the pitches with the rest looking on and cheering. Glen, Art, Jonathon, Toran and Aurelia are all here while Jo-Ann is racing to sew up the Halloween costumes for the kids. My little niece Collette came through surgery for an aneurysm with flying colors today as well. Much to celebrate. As I write this we are at the top of the 9th with SF Giants leading 11 to 4. It doesn't get better!
We're celebrating with hot dogs and SusieCakes Giants cupcakes!

Michael Mina Opens Tonight

2010-10-19T09:41:00.000-07:00

Fellow blogging friend Catherine of Albion Cooks and I went to Michael Mina's opening party on Saturday night. It was a late cocktail party with dancing, nibbles and quaffs. We arrived early so were there for the beginning and enjoyed speaking with the staff. It got going in full swing around the time we left at 10:30. An unnamed drink of kaffir kaffir lime, pineapple gum and Beefeater was the evening's favorite, which our waiter dubbed 'Kaffir Collins' and said it wouldn't stick.

I enjoyed the various nibbles; first being lobster corn dog with mustard aioli and tuna tartar on a crisp toast round which came out on a large white rectangular tray with a stylish waiter who encouraged us to try everything. I liked the tuna tartar best, it went down smoothly and had a perfect balance of seasonings.

I next tried the crab cake, which was great and had some green color in the interior which I couldn't identify. It was SO noisy with people enjoying themselves that I couldn't hear what the waiter said the other piece was, a lamb bruchetta? I especially missed the 'lamb' part. The base was made of lamb and perhaps potato for a soft bed for a little cheese tomato and marinated pepper, I think. It was an inventive bite.

There was a peanut butter and jelly sweet and crunchy bite too, the flavors were perfectly layered and made a nice finish after multiple savory hors d'oeuvres. Eater also reported on the evening here. The redone interior with the ironwork and walnut wood was beautiful and I think Michael Mina's will get off to a flying start.

Eric Gower and the Japanese Kitchen: Bacon Recipe

2010-10-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Eric Gower and the Japanese Kitchen: Bacon Recipe

Quick and tasty-looking - pork loin 'bacon' from Marin's own Eric Gower.

Fresh! is playing

2010-10-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

Marin's Nicolette Hahn-Niman is giving a post-screening talk at the Rafael tonight. See last week's Bread and Butter for more details.

Joan Gussow interview

2010-10-03T08:11:00.000-07:00

Joan Gussow talks about local and sustainable.

Myths revealed

2010-09-25T18:01:00.000-07:00

I had a mega-evening at Tara Firma Farms, so this will be a mega-post! So the flow of the blog on this will be 1) pre-event and previews of coming attractions, 2) reception, 3) farm tour, 4) program - Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice and Sustainability spoke, 5) dinner, and 6) Joe's Chicken Shack - the Tara Firma Farms store. The bottom line is if you are interested in local, sustainable food and great events you'll want to pay the farm a visit! The next opportunity is this very weekend for the Sonoma Farm Trails event, the next is a family friendly Pumpkins on Pikes Halloween event.

Tara Firma Farms is close to Marin in Sonoma county between Petaluma and Novato. It is so close, yet when you leave Hwy 101 on San Antonio road it isn't long until you feel like you are in a different world. When you see the sign in the photo above, you are ready to turn onto "I" street and nearly to Tara Firma Farms.

When you see this sign, you know you are there! When I drove in, I was immediately greeted by cheerful farm dogs, and then cheerful farm staff who indicated that I drive through(!) a barn to get to the event parking.

After driving through the barn, the second barn became visible. There were tables set up for check in out front and the large barn accommodated the reception on one side and the dinner on the other.

And in front of the barn was a peaceful pond.

I went inside the dining tent to see the activity and also get a seat where I could take good photos. Ah, Straus Family Creamery at the coffee station, good sign!

The table set up was beautiful as well.

I meandered over to a greenhouse next to the barn on the way to the reception in the back of the barn. How lush!

In the back half of the barn there was a band playing in the background and the appetizers and drinks followed. The Caprese Salad on a Stick, consisting of cherry tomatoes, Mozzarella and basil on skewers was a great first bite.

And these happy servers gave any takers Olive Tapenade Crostini and Figs Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Candied Walnuts. It was all very tasty of course. Montemaggiore was there pouring their 2009 Rose’ of Syrah (Estate) for the reception.

Next, those who were new or/or interested in a farm tour left the reception with Tara Smith and walked down a path towards the pigs. The pigs were awfully cute, even when muddy.

Then there were the chickens. Tara explained the sustainable principles that are actively followed on the farm. The animals at Tara Firma are all natural pastured animals roaming and eating the abundant grass on the farm. These animals are happy. Joel Salatin of Polyface farm visited Tara Firma Farms and gave some advice to make the farmers lives easier too, recommending such things as a gravity fed water supply for the animals. Now animals and people alike are happier.

The henhouse is mobile and contributes to the enrichment of not only the fowl, but the farm soil as well.

I just couldn't stop taking photos of these cute hens.

There was a diversity of types, ages and stages. Some were moulting. That brought me back to my grandfather's farm, the first of several experiences of old familiar sights, sounds and tastes taking me out of the present. I remember my grandfather patiently explaining that the hens weren't hurt but undergoing a natural process when I came running to him as a young child afraid the hens were dying. I haven't thought of that since until the evening at Tara Firma Farms. During moulitng the feathers are renewed as well as the hens strength for laying eggs. My eyes were always being opened to new things growing up visiting grandfather's farm. I thought this is the perfect place to bring kids to have a similar experience.

The farm tour ended, and we went back to the barn for the program. Some very tasty Veggie Pizza was waiting on the table for us.

Tara Smith started the program off, not only giving us some background of Lierre Keith, the featured speaker, but of how she and her family came to start farming in mid-life. The kep point was that her son instigated it when he challenged his parents after hearing them express frustration at the food choices they were finding.

Lierre Keith, author of The Vegetarian Myth: Food, Justice and Sustainability was not only thought provoking but indeed she shattered some widely held myths, particularly those among vegetarians. One of the most eye opening parts for me was learning that eating vegetables also causes the death of animals, and not just things like insects. When we destroy ecosystems in order to plant annuals in a monoculture type way animals perish. I bought her book on the spot during the after dinner book signing.

Vince Ciolino, the owner and vineyard manager spoke about his Montemaggiore wines. We also had the 2009 3Divas (White Rhone blend of Marsanne, Roussanne & Viognier) and 2007 Paolo’s Vineyard Syrah (Estate) with dinner.

Laura Howard, the woman behind Laloo's Ice Cream, which topped our dessert spoke about Laloo's unique goat milk ice cream.

And now, the dinner. I'll let the photos do most of the talking. This was the first course, Potato Leek Soup and it was thick, smooth and well seasoned. All of the vegetables and meat were gown on the farm, how more local can it get?

The Mixed Greens with corn, tomatoes, cucumbers in cumin vinaigrette dressing was bursting with fresh flavor.

The Chicken Marbella, Roasted Chicken with green olives, dried plums, capers was absolutely amazing. Moist and succulent the meal could have stopped here and been something to rave about.

Then came the Beet Carpaccio which had an earthy and satisfying flavor.

The only 'complaint' I can make about this dinner is that the platters were SO heaping that one could barely lift them! The Braised Short Ribs with carrots, onions, potatoes being no exception. The dinner was served family-style so we were passing the dishes along both sides of the long tables.

This is a close up of the plated Braised Short Ribs with carrots, onions, potatoes and beautiful bones. This was fork tender and quite delicious.

The Cucumber and Tomato Salad with balsamic vinaigrette was cooling and refreshing.

Did anyone have room for dessert after this? Well, we managed having to at least try the Grilled spiced peaches.

The Grilled peaches with walnuts and brown sugar were self topped Laloo's Vanilla Ice Cream out on the front area of the barn where we wandered while the book signing was set up and the band got set up for dancing!

The band was Olive & the Dirty Martini's. The band featured Marin singer Stefanie Coyote, wife of actor Peter Coyote, guitarist James Redford, son of actor Robert Redford; and Steve Riffkin, Eric Lyons and Justin Ganz.

The evening was a lot of fun with plenty of food! There is some more background information in Bread and Butter column about the event.

I wanted to see the store as well, so I came back to Tara Firma Farms to visit Joe's Chicken Shack.

It's the green building near the entrance and before the 'drive through' barn.

I picked up some pastured eggs.

And then some leeks, rainbow carrots, heirloom tomatoes and yellow summer squash.

And I took a walk through the back where whole chickens and other pastured meats were all prepared and waiting for pick up. Everything was clean and neat. After gathering all the vegetables and eggs that I thought I could squeeze into my already laden refrigerator, I took instruction on the self-check out table and settled up. I headed out with my insulated bag full of produce and blue ice to keep the just-picked freshness in.

If you have made it this far, I just want to note that I've just scratched the surface here of what is available from and with Tara Firma Farms, it's a very cool place. I'll be back again soon.

Weekend Herb Blogging #251 - the week in review

2010-09-20T23:37:00.000-07:00

We've blogged herbs for a week, and here's the fun that was had together in this fresh flavorful adventure. This time, I'll let the photos do most of the talking with the caveat that in some cases it doesn't do the originating post justice. Each of the posts has its own charm, voice and are worth the read through, especially if you like new ways with herbs!

Name: Rachel

Location: Saratoga County, NY

Herb: Anise hyssop

Blog: The Crispy Cook

Post: Anise Hyssop Simple Syrup

Name: Winnie

Location: New Paltz, NY

Herb: Pecans

Blog: Healthy Green Kitchen

Post: Sweet and Spicy Pecans

Name: Megha

Location: Mumbai, India

Herb: Parsley

Blog: Live to Eat!

Post: Sauted sausages with parsley

Name: Janet

Location: Toronto, Canada

Herb: Pomegranate

Blog: The Taste Space

Post: Salmon Fillets with Eggplant and Pomegranate

Name: Haalo

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Herb: Butternut Pumpkin

Blog: Cook Almost Anything

Post: Crumbed Pumpkin Slices

Name: Peggy Polaneczky

Location: New York City

Herb: Rosemary, Thyme, Tarragon

Blog: The Blog that Ate Manhattan

Post: Herb-Roasted Potatoes

Name: Brii

Location: Valsorda, Garda Lake, Italy

Herb: Aubergine (Eggplant)

Blog: Briiblog in English

Post: Aubergine (eggplant) and Orange Jam

Name: Johanna

Location: Athens, Greece

Herb: Courgette (Zucchini)

Blog: Food Junkie not Junk Food

Post: Courgette Carpaccio

Name: Cinzia

Location: Garda Lake, Italy

Herb: Star Anise

Blog: Cindystar

Post: Plum and Apricot Jam with Star Anise

Name: Oz

Location: Netherlands

Herb: Nectarine

Blog: Kitchen Butterfly

Post: A Nectarine Tart & the Colour Red

Name: Anna Haight

Location: Mill Valley, CA

Herb: Lemons

Blog: Anna's Cool Finds

Post: Refreshing Lemon Syrup

This weeks host of Weekend Herb Blogging is Winne at Healthy Green Kitchen.

Weekend Herb Blogging

2010-09-18T23:59:00.000-07:00

And it's time for me to post my entry to Weekend Herb Blogging. This week it is hosted here at Anna's Cool Finds. Founded by Kalyn at Kalyn's Kitchen and now organized by Haalo at Cook Almost Anything it is a continuing source of finding new ways with herbs. There's a four year recap available here.

I had to choose this versatile and nutritious Lemon & Honey Base as a friend in Japan called me to tell me about this one she thought it so fabulous. She learned about it from an accomplished athlete in Japan. It's quite simple. Just slice lemons and place in a clean jar, and fill the jar completely with honey. Leave for three days, and it's ready to go! I sliced mine in wheels since I intended to use the base in drinks. It can be used with hot or cold water as is for a refreshing drink, or you can add it to other drinks to perk them up. I also tried adding it to unsweetened iced peppermint tea, and hot Earl Grey tea. I understand the athletes also make it by cutting the lemons in wedges and then sucking on the pulp without mixing in water for a boost between activities. It is chock full of vitamin C, and the honey gives a quick energy boost. I noticed that mine had some of the honey rather thickly on the bottom with lighter syrup mixed with lemon juice on the top, so it was necessary to stir the base before using to even out the thickness.

Here is the start of putting the lemon wheels into the jar. I used about six lemons in a glass Weck canning jar. I thought it would make a pretty container. I stuffed it with as many lemons as I could.

Then I poured nearly 32 ounces of honey over the top and watched it seep through the lemons. It indeed looked so pretty! I put this jar in the refrigerator and waited for three days.

It didn't look much different three days later.

The first thing I did was to make a simple iced lemon and honey drink. It was refreshing and tasted great!

I will likely post the round up on Monday, stay tuned for what other bloggers around the globe have been up to with herbs.

Banana Grapes?

2010-09-13T00:34:00.000-07:00

Well, that's what I thought these were the first time I saw them nestled next to the bananas in Sausalito's Molly Stone's. But banana grapes they aren't. These are fresh Barhi dates, which the produce manager told me are rather bitter when yellow, but just leave them out and watch them turn yellow to black (the manager used the word black, but it's more of a deep caramel color), and then they would be sweet. I bough a bunch and set them out, eagerly waiting for the transformation. Wow! Not only are these sweet when they turn dark enough but they have a rather fruity taste unlike any date I've had before. The produce manager also told me that these are locally grown in California. In their yellow state, they are called Khalal dates, and have a limited season in California, only being harvested in August and September. The first paragraph of this article says it all. I'm going back for more!

Hosting Weekend Herb Blogging #251 here

2010-09-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Weekend Herb Blogging #251 is hosted here this coming week - September 13 -19 so put your herb hats on if you'd like to participate. Participants start by reading the rules before posting and sending me their entry. Haalo of Cook Almost Anything is the organizer of this event originally started by Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen.

Entries should be submitted by the following times:

3pm Sunday - Utah Time
10pm Sunday - London Time
11pm Sunday - Rome Time
7am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) Time

Send your posts to anna AT annalou DOT com with WHB#251 in the subject line and the following details:

Your Name
Your Blog Name/URL
Your Post URL
Your Location
a photo sized:328px wide

Get prepared for the holidays

2010-09-10T23:34:00.000-07:00

One of Marin's own shows us how to carve a turkey, making something that can be challenging look easy! Thanks Gordon Drysdale!

My life in tomatoes

2010-08-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

It's summer and that means tomatoes in all their variety, shapes and colors. I started tomato 'farming' on my deck a couple years ago and was so amazed at the taste and output with so little input. Just some good soil, water and lots of sunlight.

And sunlight is the key word. Now I know why we are hearing of 'climate change' rather than global warming. There was not much warm about most of the summer here in Marin. Where there would usually be a bounty of ripe sweet tomatoes from my containers beginning in July, the above photo is what my container tomatoes looked like mid-August!

And it wasn't a fluke. My cherry tomatoes looked the same.What! August and no juicy sweet tomatoes? Yes, the tomatoes from my CSA, organic red and ripe were starting to trickle in, but they still didn't come close to those homegrown ones.

Then I fell into some luck. I was invited to the set of "Bringing it Home with Laura McIntosh". She and Tyler Florence were going to shoot together about some great ways to include healthy fresh food in your ballpark snacks. Naturally we were at the AT&T Park, home of the Giants.

Unfortuntately, Tyler fell ill and couldn't make it, but his ball park dogs with his tangy grape relish did. I was impressed with Laura's ability to improvise and tape it all solo. I met some friendly people from the California Grape Commission who gave me some freshly picked California black and white table grapes and the recipe (Google Tyler Florence and Grape Relish for the recipe, it's all over the net), and I tried it at home with tofu dogs. It goes well with those too. I was a little skeptical combining garlic, onions, mustard seed and fresh grapes but I liked the result. I used the black ones in another way too, which you'll see later in this post. You can get fresh California grapes in many ball parks now, including AT&T Park. The good people of the Table Grape Commission also gave me a Susan Volland cookbook, "Green Black Red", naturally a book full of grape recipes. You may see some made up and pictured here in the future.

Back to Laura McIntosh and tomatoes. Laura grew up on a farm in Northern California, and knows a lot about healthy farm grown produce. In her show, she brings us to the farms that grow our bounty of top quality food that we bring home to our families. I applaud her concept. I eat mostly organic and local and a good part of the reason is I like knowing who grew the things I put in my mouth. Laura and I talked about peach farming a bit taking me back to summers on my Aunt and Uncles peach and grape farm. I had forgotten all about the fuzzies that rubbed off on all our clothes from the old fashioned Alberta peaches, and Laura took me off into sweet memories about that. She talked to me between takes about her new line of heirloom tomatoes, tomatoes good enough to put her name on.

Laura told me that heirloom tomatoes have to be at least 50 years old and not hybridized to be called heirlooms. The bees do the matchmaking for heirlooms. Laura's organic heirloom tomatoes are from Golden Bear Ranches Joaquin Valley. And she's not the only one that's discovered these beauties, Chefs Thomas Keller of the French Laundry and Bouchon, and Michael Chiarello of Bottega also source their heirloom tomatoes from the same place. All the photos of tomatoes in this post (other than my green tomato photos) are her brand from the Golden Bear. She gave me some large cartons of many sizes and colors to try myself, as well as her cookbook "Entertaining at Home with America's Top Chefs". These tomatoes had just been picked that morning. These were indeed sweet, the sweetest I can ever remember tasting. If you want some, they are available at Lucky Supermarkets. I wrote a small bit in Bread and Butter, and have been so grateful that some place in California has some sun and can produce such beauties since my garden certainly has not been producing. Take a look at just some of the ways I've been preparing and enjoying these at home.

The first thing I made was a salad that included the cherry sized Laura McIntosh heirloom tomatoes, and it also had romaine lettuce, black grapes, pumpkin seeds and feta cheese. All topped with EVOO and balsamic vinegar. My Dad asked for seconds on this salad. He never asks for seconds on salad!

And how about waking up to this for breakfast? Pastured fried egg, half a yellow organic heirloom tomato slice all on an organic whole wheat bun. Yellow juice dribbled out the corners of our mouths, but we were in heaven.

I made a simple pizza of a premade crust brushed with EVOO and covered with fresh mushrooms and Laura's heirloom tomatoes then smothered with jack cheese. I put torn fresh basil leaves on the top after the cooking. Simple and satisfying.

I picked up some cognac and dill steeped gravlax at the Mill Valley Farmer's Market. I think the gentleman that sold it to me always has the first stall on the right when you enter the market. At least every time I've been there. His brother catches salmon wild in Alaska and air ships them down here for hand curing and then selling to we lucky ones who find him. I toasted a wheat bagel and spread some of Three Stone Hearth's tangy yogurt cream on these before draping the gravlax, covering with capers and brightening up with Laura's yellow heirloom cherry tomatoes. The dish was enhanced with a burst of sunshine when biting into these sweet yellow rounds balancing over the top of the usual capers and gravlax creation.

Then there's the classic tomato stacked with buffalo mozzarella and topped with basil leaf. I just poured a little EVOO and balsalmic over these bright yellow, white and green layers and what a perfect start to a meal.

And that was not the end. I gave some to my neighbor who remarked on their sweetness too, more importantly that she could actually eat them as she usually even has to pass on the organic tomatoes in our shared CSA box by because of the acidity. When I heard that, I shared some more. After all I can happily get some more of Laura McIntosh organic heirloom tomatoes at my neighborhood Lucky's.

Taste is finally here!

2010-08-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

Taste of the Himalayas in Sausalito opened just last Friday for dinner after much anticipation. I've been watching the build out closely and looking forward to having food from the Himalayas so close and available! I had some correspondence with one of the owners, Pemba, wanting to know the moment the new place would be open! Some of the correspondence happened on their convenient Facebook page where they showed the progress towards completing the build out and opening. I've also been following the progress on Twitter. And I wrote about the opening in last week's Bread and Butter.

I was happy to finally meet Pemba and his sister Dawa in person this evening when I stopped by for my first dinner at Taste of the Himalayas.

And how is the food? Well see what I had!

This appetizer is called Pani Puri ($6). I was so excited to find a new taste treat! I had never heard of this Nepali street food which is described as semolina puffs stuffed with fork crushed spiced chick peas and potatoes, and chilled masala infused pani. The small white decanter in the photo above holds what looks like water, but it is a watery topping which contains black salt, which I was told is very good for your body. All this and a delicious light bite too.

For my main course I tried the Alu Bhanta ($10), which is potato and eggplant curry which comes with a side of the lightest saffron basmati rice. I had it spiced medium and the spicing was just perfect for my taste. Usually I eat the items in the curry with the sauce on the items, but do not eat much of the curry sauce itself with these type of curry dishes. I scraped every drop of this curry sauce out of the bowl, it was just too luscious to leave any.

I asked which of the desserts was the most Himalayan as the restaurant draws its offerings from Nepali, Tibetian and Indian foods, and I was told the Ju ju Dabi ($5) would be it. Pemba sent me out one as a treat, and it wowed me. It is described on the menu as saffron infused sweet creamy yogurt in a raw clay pot. Dawa told me that she had brought back the authentic clay pots from Nepal. The pot was so cute! She said that the raw clay pot was used because it is absorbent and that it drew out the watery liquid of the yogurt, making the texture creamier and thicker. There were pistachios scattered on the top, and the wax paper covering was artfully scrolled part way back. It has a satisfying sweet yet tart taste, and reminded me of a bit thicker Greek yogurt.

The space is also simple yet elegant and I understand that they are starting with a simple menu and will be expanding and exploring new menu items as they ramp up over the next few weeks, including adding a vegetarian Momo (dumpling) next week. Other Himalayan genre restaurants I have been to tend to be a little more family style with less emphasis on presentation. Sausalito's new Taste of the Himalayas chef shows much more attention to beautiful presentation which only enhances the experience.

Restaurant Inspection Results

The Taste of the Himalayas is too new to be listed and inspected at the time of post publication.

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

More than worrisome

2010-08-12T23:49:00.001-07:00

My friend Daniel alerted me to a tragedy about to happen. In Russia, the Pavlovsk Experiment Station—part of the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry is about to have some parcels auctioned off for housing developments. Biodiversity experts are naturally concerned because "More than 90% of the station's 5000 plants—including almost 1000 varieties of strawberries and hundreds of strains of fruit and berries that are extinct in the wild—are thought to be unavailable elsewhere." The full story is here. Where is Superman?

Tyler Florence in Bolinas

2010-08-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Dinner served

2010-06-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Woodlands Cafe in Kentfield hosted a dinner preview party the night before the official dinner opening, where happy guests sampled bites from the new dinner menu. Woodlands Cafe has been open for breakfast and lunch with counter service, and now it is full service for all three meals. Owner Don Santa was there and told me about his vision of an open airy space for the restaurant, accomplished in part by raising the ceilings and lowering the floors. He and his sisters Joanne Santa and Sue Santa are not only involved in the management of the cafe, but also the Woodlands Foundation which has donated over $2.5 million to local schools over the years. The party was a class act with cheerful live music, attentive staff roaming and keeping guests well fed, delicious samples of menu items, and even weather cooperation for a perfect evening on the patio.

You couldn't help but be wowed by the display of cheese, crackers and fruit and cured olives that greeted you just inside the door to start. And not far behind was one of the wandering staff, offering bruschetta with the most ruby red tomatoes.

This is the second table loaded with even more cheese, cured olives and beautiful presentations of cured meats. And I was quite amazed to find green olives that were wonderful. This woman has never met a green olive that she liked. I can't say that any more as the Sicilian Greens charmed me with their mellow flavor such that I returned a couple days later to the adjacent Woodlands Market just so I could pick up a carton of these! The tray of Silcilian Green olives is visible just behind the flowers on the table above. And what paired with all this local bounty? Wines from local vintners Pey Vineyards of Marin and Yorkshire Vineyards of Mendocino.

At yet another serving area there was chicken salad and peasant salad in little bamboo boats for the taking, as well as hot out of the oven pizza margherita, and soft polenta bites. If you are wondering what is in the peasant salad, it consists of mixed greens with endive, Fuji apples, red grapes, gorgonzola cheese, spiced candied pecans, and dried cranberries in an apple shallot vinaigrette. If all that wasn't enough there were samples of soft serve ice cream made using Straus Family Creamery products, and house made sorbets including a tangy buttermilk-Meyer lemon creation.

Dinner service is now in full swing at Woodlands Cafe, and evenings on the patio near the fountain are a perfect summertime retreat.

Credit for the photos in this post go to Stuart Lirette who generously sent a selection from his snaps during the evening. I also had a severe case of camera envy when I saw his!

Happy 25th

2010-06-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Orchid Thai in San Anselmo celebrates its 25th anniversary today. I wrote about the conversation I had with one if its owners, Peggy Thongnopneua in this past week's Bread and Butter. Now for the dish on the tasty lunch we shared.

One of the rotating specials is asparagus salad. The ends had been carefully shaved so all the bites were tender and it had a very tasty creamy dressing with it as well. This dish definitely had a French flair and showed off Chef Tom Thongnopneua's experience at Le Central prior to opening Orchid Thai.

The spring rolls named propia tod came out next. These hot and crisp vegetarian bites were filled with silver noodles and vegetables.

The pièce de résistance was the salmon baked in a banana leaf with a chili green sauce and freshly steamed vegetables. The salmon was ultra fresh and the chili green sauce with hints of cilantro and lime did amazing things to the flavor. If this is on the specials menu, by all means order it, you won't be disappointed.

These Vegi Noodles consisting of pan fried rice noodles with mixed vegetable, ground peanut, tofu, scallion and bean sprouts, made a perfect foil for the rest of the meal.

If you have a chance to go by, be sure to wish the Thongnopneuas a happy anniversary, and I hope many happy returns.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last Inspected: February 26, 2010

Previously reviewed:
June 21, 2007

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

An opening in Sausalito

2010-06-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

I've been watching this place being constructed for months. Finally this afternoon I saw an 'open' sign as I drove by. La Hacienda Bar & Grill in Sausalito opened officially Thursday night, and tonight Dad and I had our first meal there.

We were given the freshest, crispest chips and salsa that was fresh and had a little bit of a kick without being overwhelming. It was refreshing to enjoy them in a new, very colorful decor.

I decided to try one of the house specialties, Arroz con Cameron. It was so hot and fresh, with plump shrimp and grilled onions and peppers over rice, smothered in cheese. Not pictured are the flour tortillas that came on the side. It was so good. The onions were crisper than I like, but that's a personal preference. The onions were still pretty sweet. The guacamole was also fresh, cool and went wonderfully with the dish.

Dad didn't feel hungry until he got a bite of his chicken tamale 'small plate', which wasn't small at all. He soon was scraping the plate for every morsel he liked it so well.

Dad asked for dessert, so I ordered one too. I went for the Mexican Flan, which was a great choice. It was one of the best I've ever tried. It was dense and rich and reminded me a little of ricotta pie.

Dad asked for strawberry ice cream and he said it was creamy and sweet and he polished it off too. Considering this was only the second night of operation this one has a bright future if the level of service and excellent execution stays in place.

Restaurant Inspection Results

This restaurant has not been inspected yet.

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Weekend Herb Blogging #237 - Recap

2010-06-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

And here we are at the round up of the herbs posted around the web for this Weekend Herb Blogging #237, organized by Haalo of Cook Almost Any th ing, and hosted here this past week.

And starting with our organizer Haalo of Cook Almost Anything, she brings us Potato Sage and Onion Cak e for this past week's entry. She talks about the aroma of sage, and that's precisely what attracts me to this herb as well. She had such a lovely photo of sage on the blog, I felt inspired to include both the herb and the dish in photos above.

Maninas of Maninas:Food Matters made Cuttlefish St ew for her entry. Maninas highlights parsley and celery leaf in her mother's unique recipe.

Next, Janet from The Taste Space contributes Olive Oil Granola with Dried Apricots and Pistachios. Although Janet does not name which herb she is highlighting, she has made a truly interesting Middle Eastern inspired treat.

And the ever creative Brii from Briiblog in English brings us Candied Ginger. First she takes us to church with some lovely photos of her day, and then on to how to make Candied Ginger.

Stacey from Fessenden Farmstead brings us lovely Lavender Wands. The secret is in the weave!

Lastly, I highlighted Sunchokes (or Jerusalem Artichokes) in a Cheesy Cauliflower Sunchoke Potato Soup.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, with the heavy competition for attention when World Cup Soccer is going on. Rachel who writes The Crispy Cook is already gathering entries for this week's Weekend Herb Blogging, so participate if you find this fun!

Uncle Wing is promising

2010-06-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

Tsing Tao in San Rafael changed hands and names and now is Uncle Wing. Seeing the bright yellow Grand Opening sign I just had to stop since it was lunchtime. A friendly staff seated me immediately and brought both water and tea, and of course a menu. Lunch specials all run under $7 for soup, appetizer, entree and rice.

The egg flower soup was hot and flavorful. Simple and satisfying, I enjoyed it.

I was delighted to see a number of vegetarian and faux meat choices, and promptly chose the meatless lemon chicken entree. It came with a spring roll and fried rice. The faux meat was moist, flavorful and had a pleasant texture. It was a hit with me. I had this meal a couple weeks ago, and liked it well enough to have the same thing today. The only difference was that today, the spring roll appetizer had been morphed into fried wonton skins with some sauce. That was disappointing, but the main dish was still quite delicious.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last Inspected: April 15, 2010

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Sunchokes

2010-06-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

I am lucky to have friends who bring me interesting things from time to time. I received some sunchokes and counted myself lucky. I forgot to take a photo of the ones in this recipe before I used them, so I'm using a photo of some others I took a photo of at another time.

I made a Cheesy Cauliflower Sunchoke Potato Soup on one of those cold days we seemed to have in unusual times. I didn't measure ingredients precisely, and it all seemed to turn out delicious anyway.

Cheesy Cauliflower Sunchoke Potato Soup

Half a head of cauliflower
4 small potatoes
3 sunchokes
white cheddar cheese
1 bullion cube (vegetarian or chicken as desired)
salt & white pepper to taste

Peel and chop the first three ingredients and boil until tender in water nearly covering. When tender, pour the hot mixture into a blender, add the bullion cube and whir. Return to the pan.

Add white cheddar by handful, melting in and tasting and adding more until it's to your desired cheesiness. Add salt and pepper to taste.

When it's just right, pour into bowls and serve. Garnish with any interesting thing in your fridge or shelves. Chives, croutons, fried shallots, use your food artistry.

And this is my entry into Weekend Herb Blogging, hosted here at Anna's Cool Finds this week. Founded by Kalyn at Kalyn's Kitchen and now organized by Haalo at Cook Almost Anything it is a lot of fun to participate and to read about new herbs and new ways with herbs. There's a four year recap available here.

Obviously my herb this week is sunchokes. Sunchokes are also known as Jerusalem artichokes, sunroot, earth apple or topinambur. The sunchoke is the root of a type of sunflower native to the Eastern United States. High in inulin, a one-cup serving of sunchokes also provides 28% of your daily value of iron, and 10% of your daily value of Vitamin C. The same serving also provides 3 grams of protein. Sunchokes also have about six times the potassium of a banana!

I plan on posting the round up of Weekend Herb Blogging on Monday evening Pacific time, if not earlier. It's not too late to participate!

How sweet it is!

2010-06-08T00:04:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to taste some sweet little bites from Sweet Things in Tiburon and I knew that I had to visit the origin of such delightful mouthfuls. Luckily it was not much of a drive from my Mill Valley condo to The Cove Shopping Center in Tiburon.

Among the more usual selection of drinks on the board was Mariebelle Hot Chocolate which read that it was 60% cacao. I had to try it, and I was given a choice of whipped cream, chocolate shavings, cinnamon or combination to top it. I chose cinnamon. I enjoyed how it was sweet without being cloying.

I went over the top and ordered a Mud Puddle to go with my Mariebelle. The Mud Puddle is a cupcake with cooked meringue under the slide of fudge frosting. I won't kid you, it is very sweet, but what a treat!

Sweet Things also has some very tasty mini-bite cupcakes. It's a great idea for those who want a little something with coffee or tea and yet don't want a whole cupcake.

My box contained vanilla vanilla and fudge bites. Dad and I enjoyed some while watching Sherlock Holmes on On Demand. Dad said, "I could eat these again". High praise!

Getting started on herbs

2010-06-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

I didn't make the sauce for the pasta with arugula pesto and pine nuts pictured above, however I liked the variation from basil based pesto. It was so simple to put together, and yet so tasty!

I got the arugula pesto from Three Stone Hearth in Berkeley, a community supported kitchen devoted to cooking nutrient dense foods.

Refreshingly, the first ingredient listed, arugula, is actually the main ingredient. Next in order are Arbequina olive oil, parsley, crispy walnuts, parmesano reggiano, garlic, sea salt, lemon juice, lemon zest. I have some more products from Three Stone Hearth and also some other locally grown and produced goodies I'll be telling you about. Since I have been eating at home more often from my Capay Farms box, I've not had as many blog worthy meals. Yet I've been enhancing meals with some local condiments and foods which are interesting, such as this one. Stay tuned!

Weekend Herb Blogging here this week

2010-06-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

Weekend Herb Blogging #237 is hosted here this coming week - June 7 - 13 so put your herb hats on if you'd like to participate. Participants start by reading the rules before posting and sending me their entry. Haalo of Cook Almost Anything is the organizer of this event originally started by Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen. By the way, I met the delightful Kalyn in Salt Lake City over the Memorial Day Weekend. More on that in a future post.

Entries should be submitted by the following times:

3pm Sunday - Utah Time
10pm Sunday - London Time
11pm Sunday - Rome Time
7am Monday - Melbourne (Aus) Time

Send your posts to anna AT annalou DOT com
with WHB#237 in the subject line and the following details:

Your Name
Your Blog Name/URL
Your Post URL
Your Location
a photo sized:328px wide

Mill Valley Beerworks is open

2010-06-05T15:06:00.000-07:00

Brothers Justin and Tyler have opened Mill Valley Beerworks which is open 7 days a week from noon to midnight. I ambled by on this sunny afternoon and snapped a shot of their window. The interior looked nice through the window with lots of wood and directed lights. I'm personally curious about the housemade root beer on the menu. I have pleasant summer picnic memories of my great aunts making this cooling beverage out in the woods next to a quickly running river up near Mt. Pilchuck in Washington State.

A "Reel" deal

2010-06-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

photo credit: McCormick & Kuleto's

I heard about an opportunity for summertime movie fun that comes with a meal at either McCormick & Kuleto's in Ghirardelli Square or Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto in Berkeley at 1919 Fourth Street. Buy an entree at either restaurant and then buy a movie ticket for just $5. The movie tickets purchased at McCormick & Kuleto's are good at AMC Theaters, and those at Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto are good at Regal Cinemas. This "Reel to Reel" promotion is good through the end of September 2010, or while ticket supplies last. And most importantly, the food at either restaurant is good too. I shared about my birthday dinner at McCormick and Kuleto's a surprising nearly three years ago (seems like it just happened!).

Oh, and if you don't have time to use the ticket, you can gift it away.

Fresh in the Financial District

2010-06-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely opportunity to have lunch with a former colleague, Lloyd, in San Francisco recently. He had thoughtfully surveyed the area and found a place he thought I hadn't tried, Georges. What a delight! As we met another colleague in the hall before walking to Georges, he approved and told us not to miss the grilled halibut sandwich.

We ordered a couple appetizers, first the grilled asparagus. It was dressed in a Dijon vinaigrette and topped with shaved Parmesan. I was impressed with the intense asparagus flavor and true sense of it coming directly from a grill. It was a great starter.

Next up was the sauteed calamari which I didn't try, and Lloyd said was good.

Lloyd went for the recommended halibut sandwich. It was just as billed. I had a hard time resisting having the same, but I was really attracted by a different sandwich. It was accompanied by some handsome fries.

I had the Dungeness crab roll (I've become very partial to these on anyone's menu these days). The crab roll has dandelion greens and roasted peppers on a brioche roll with a little dish or fresh tomatoes and onions and house made potato chips. I was impressed by how well the roasted red peppers and dandelion greens set off the fresh crab. I would definitely order this again.

It's open!

2010-06-02T23:56:00.000-07:00

I attempted three times to go to the new Dish in Mill Valley, the last being Tuesday night. I was informed that there was a 'soft' opening over the Memorial Day weekend, however Dish would be open for good starting tonight, Wednesday. Unfortunately I already had conflicting plans for this evening, so the taste of Dish will have to happen sometime later, but hopefully soon as it looks great! Read more about Dish in Bread and Butter.

Best Momos in the Bay area?

2010-05-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have become quite a fan of Himalayan food whether the Tibetan or Nepalese variety. And momos are the first reason why. I first fell in love with the momos at Cafe Tibet. And later I also enjoyed the momos pictured above at Taste of the Himalayas in Sonoma. I heard that the very best momos in the bay area are served once a year at the Himalayan Fair in Berkeley over Memorial Day Weekend. Alas! I am going to be at a long awaited reunion with the group of students I lived in Paris with this coming Memorial Day Weekend. If one of you happens to make it and try the momos, let me know if the rumor is true!

What's up

2010-05-14T05:40:00.000-07:00

photo credit: iStockphoto.com

The weeks are flying by and Bread and Butter has popped up for May 5, 2010, and May 12, 2010. Now writing for a newspaper, I am full of appreciation of how much care and effort goes into bringing you the most accurate and relevant news. I am also appreciating now many interesting things are happening and available for us here in Marin. Take a look at the Marin IJ's Food Calendar just as a start. And I am loving the interest that people are taking in keeping an eye out and letting me know new things to check out. Thank you all!

Japanese Fast Food

2010-05-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I spied a new sidewalk sign outside Amy's Cafe in Sausalito noting that it has Japanese cuisine. It took me awhile to check this out, but I did get there. I found that Amy's had been transformed again with a new concept. Japanese food was indeed the main feature, with udon, yakisoba and donburi dishes galore. A couple favorite Korean dishes sneaked on to the menu somehow as well such as bibimbop,

I tried the Seafood Yakisoba. Wow! It is SO colorful. Purple cabbage, red and yellow bell peppers, green broccoli and light white mung bean shoots, and cocoa colored shiitake mushrooms. All sauteed with scallops, shrimp and mussels. It was a fresh palate pleasing dish, and generous portion for less than $11. The other half of the colorful menu above the counter lists Smoothies with such names as Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Sausalito. I had the Golden Gate Bridge which was made of strawberries and banana with a soy base. It was quite cold, thick, and tasty. Quick, tasty and inexpensive, it is a cool find for a casual lunch. Amy's Cafe no longer serves breakfast.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 3
Noncritical: 4
Last inspected: March 22, 2o1o

Previously reviewed:
April 29, 2009

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

What's new

2010-05-03T16:11:00.000-07:00

photo credit: iStockphoto.com

I saw my host family off yesterday afternoon after a lot of fun and travel. We spent a couple days in Mendocino - that was gorgeous. We caught the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden at just the right time for rhododendron blooms. I'll post some up another day. Another Bread and Butter column published while I was out and about last week.

Bread and Butter
April 28, 2010

And in just a couple days the next one is publishing already!

You know how it goes when one thing that is a major pin supporting your work has trouble (computer), it's been really slow going and I'm still not back to normal. Look for more posts this week however.

I hope those of you in Marin are able to stop and enjoy this lovely weather. I've been keeping my windows open now 24/7 (at least for the last couple days). Dare we believe that the good weather is here to stay?

Right now at Ghirardelli Square

2010-04-23T10:55:00.000-07:00

Well this is up to the minute writing, I took this photo just a minute ago with my cell camera. Did you know that Ghirardelli Square has public WiFi throughout? And that there is a sign behind me announcing that Gary Danko is opening "An American Brasserie" here soon?

I am musing as I wait for my former host sister, Mika and her family to join me here. I dropped them off on Leavenworth, just below the famous crooked hill which they wanted to walk UP (oh my) and take a cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, join me here at Ghirardelli to see how chocolate is made (10 year old Shohei will love this), then on to City View for some dim sum. Later we're meeting up with friends at Marin's Wipeout Bar and Grill, voted 2nd best restaurant for kids in Marin. What do you like to do with guests that have children?

Practicing

2010-04-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

My Dad is such a good sport. He'll let me get away with anything for breakfast, as long as it is accompanied by a slice of hot buttered toast. That's what defines breakfast for him. I learned the "anything goes" for breakfast in Japan, and since my host sister Mika, husband Satoshi and quickly growing son, Shohei are arriving from Hokkaido tomorrow, I thought I'd best get my Japanese breakfast skills up to snuff.

So we had a very crisp and cool Persian cucumber salad (dressed with E.V.O.O., rice vinegar and a sprinkle of red Hawaiian salt), and Pears and Plums dressed in Greek strained yogurt, freshly squeezed Myer lemon juice, some raw agave nectar and a garnish of a Capay Farms organic strawberry. My father's requisite sourdough wheat toast is not pictured.

I've been thinking about my now dual roles in writing Anna's Cool Finds, and now for the Marin IJ, Bread and Butter on Wednesdays. I thought I'd try this - since Bread and Butter is primarily about food news in Marin, I'll concentrate my writing about openings, closings and such in Bread and Butter, and provide a link here each week so if you are interested, you can check out those happenings. There is a lot going on in Marin! At Anna's Cool Finds I will continue posting the photos and descriptions of meanderings through the restaurants of Marin and sometimes beyond, and personal notes. We'll see how it goes.

Bread and Butter
April 21, 2010 (I got the scoop on Pandoro!)
April 14, 2010 (The first)

You are always welcome to post comments on the various restaurants reviewed at Anna's Cool Finds. If you know of some hot news about opening, closings and what our chefs are up to, you are welcome to email me at annahaight AT gmail DOT com. (Or if you just want to drop me a personal note). Twitterings are at annahaight.

High standards still prevail

2010-04-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

I dropped in after a long absence at Sushi 69 in San Anselmo. Hiro (Hiroyuki Makino), the Executive Chef and owner was smiling behind the sushi bar as always. He informed me that the other long time Chef at Sushi 69, Takeshi, is returning to Japan today, his last day behind the sushi bar being last Thursday, so I just missed him. And miss him I will. Takeshi, like Hiro, has a fine hand at slicing up the sushi so that it melts on your tongue and he sometimes made little variations that he thought would suit my taste.

I ordered one old favorite straight away, the Tuna Lily. The combination of the crisp shrimp chip shell filled with soft pieces of tuna mixed with onions and caviar and a tart sauce just dances on your palate in a pleasing way.

In honor of Takeshi, I ordered the Takeshi roll which I had not tried before. A wonderful pairing of tastes, expertly executed by Hiro, included tempura shrimp, spicy scallops and cool, crisp cucumber on the inside, topped with maguro tuna and slices of shiso leaf on the outside. This is worthy of a repeat in the future.

I finished with another favorite, tamago nigiri, noticing that Hiro's fine sense of style has been refined since my last visit to include a decorative brand on the ends of the egg. It is served on a fresh leaf on the granite counter in front of you (if at the sushi bar). Sitting at the counter, watching the careful preparation and plating of food I noticed the care and attention that Hiro puts into the beautiful food that comes to his customers has been maintained at the high standard that he has kept from the beginning .

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: February 26, 2010

Previously reviewed:

February 7, 2008
January 18, 2007

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

What's cooking now

2010-04-14T00:41:00.001-07:00

photo credit: iStockphoto

I have tremendously enjoyed blogging about the delicious meals and variety of dining venues available in Marin County. Writing this blog brings a little joy and passion into my day as I sit, contemplate and write, not to mention when I'm out on the town dining. Who would know that this sharing of joy would lead me to writing a new column for our local Marin Independent Journal? Yes, the debut of "Bread and butter" is today!

I'm continuing Anna's Cool Finds with its emphasis on describing the experience of dining at local restaurants in snapshot fashion. One of the things that excites me about "Bread and butter" is that I will have a great excuse to answer those questions that I have had in my mind as I have meandered through various local restaurants. I'll be finding out about the chefs making the food, and the people making the restaurants happen. And I will have my ear to the ground for events and other interesting food news in Marin. So the experience will broaden and deepen my relationship with all things food in Marin. I hope you will enjoy both of these expressions of my love of the food, land and people of Marin. And if you have any Marin food news tips, please let me know at AnnaHaight@gmail.com.

Maria Maria closes

2010-04-08T21:37:00.001-07:00

Oh well... and Maria Maria was right in my Mill Valley back yard. It happened rather abruptly and the scan I made of internet sources did not have any reasons why.

I'm still working away on my crashed computer.. have to save as much as possible (slow work) and wipe it clean :-(.

Zululand "Queen" Pineapple

2010-03-28T14:04:00.000-07:00

I spied this mini-pineapple called a "Queen" Pineapple at Molly Stone's the other day. The cashier was kind enough to inquire if I really wanted to buy this $5 small fruit. Well yes... I thought it was cute, although I realized I could get more pineapple for the $. It smells aromatic in my kitchen, and I'm going to have to cut it open soon. Key limes are appearing around as well, and those make such a lovely tart dressing for a fruit salad mixed with some raw agave nectar.

I've been in computer struggles -- the computer where all my recent photos are stored is freezing up within minutes of starting. So I've been in a very S-L-O-W process of moving them before I attempt a windows reinstall or repair. My father has also been sick -- a coldish kind of thing with a dry cough. He has and is needing some extra care. Between all of this, I've not been creating new posts. And meanwhile I see that there has been some progress in Sausalito on the two new restaurants I mentioned awhile back... always something to look forward to!

Chipper

2010-03-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

These organic Falafel Chips caught my eye, so I thought I'd try. They tasted slightly falafel-like and had the near crunch of a corn chip, but with slightly more body. I liked them, but didn't love them. It would be a unique thing to serve with hummus dip. I do like that they are high in protein and fiber, not to mention 5% of the daily value for calcium and even more impressive 16% of the daily value for iron at about 11 calories a chip. I got mine at Molly Stone's in Sausalito.

The fragrance alone...

2010-03-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

Jo-Ann and I were in San Francisco's Japantown a bit back, and had to decide where to have lunch. We went for one of the places Jo-Ann had not yet visited, and I had had previous good experiences with, Miyako Restaurant. It's located just across the street from the Peace Plaza, in a downstairs location.

The Miyako Ramen Combo was a very nice set. Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, gyoza (pork), California Roll and assorted tempura was a grand meal and it all tasted like the chef was attentive to the flavor and arrangement.

Miso Ramen we knew our meals were coming as the scent of this bowl wafted out of the kitchen as it was brought out and we wondered who was getting something that smelled so good that we exclaimed in unison about it. Jo-Ann loved this ramen meal and we vowed to come back sometime in the near future. The service was attentive and the place was clean and modern. Definitely a place to return to often.

Previously reviewed:

July 11, 2008

Kitsch and Kool

2010-03-17T23:56:00.000-07:00

'in the Central Valley where the motto is "Eat fresh, feel fresh" Where am I?' I sent this little message a few weeks ago from my Twitter account (annahaight) right from this restaurant. I was drawn to stop at a Taste of India in the town of Buttonwillow as I was hurtling as fast as I dared home on I5 from Long Beach. A few miles out I noticed a very rustic sign indicating that there was vegan food ahead. Vegan this far out?? I had to check it out. There was another one or two signs after that that I believe also included their tag line, Eat Fresh and Feel Fresh, which I liked.

Yes, the interior cannot be describes as other than kitsch. There was an attempt to lighten up the space by painting walls a saffron color, and also filling the space with colorful silk flowers. I asked to be seated near window, so the waiter allowed me to sit in an unused section (so I overlooked the white board that was sitting in front of me since I was not expected to be there).

I started with a soothing and delicious lassi which set the meal off in a positive direction. It seems that Taste of India must be stop for buses as every table had a number, and there are quite few tables in the large place.

I was astonished at the size of the bowl of Malai Kofta which arrived. I was very impressed. The soft balls in the sauce were obviously made freshly, and these were extraordinary.

Here are some of the malai kofta balls with the rice dish I ordered.

The rice dish is Egg and Onion Biryani. This was tasty with bits of fried egg and soft onions in the rice, and made a perfect foil for the Malai Kofta. I enjoyed my meal and the portions were quite generous especially for the reasonable prices. Luckily, I had a cooler with ice in it so I took the leftovers home to enjoy at a later time. If you can get over the ambiance, the food is good, particularly considering the fast food alternatives nearby.

And Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Luckily, not found in Marin...

2010-03-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

see more Engrish

And I'm still alive... a new post coming soon.

One rainy night

2010-02-24T00:38:00.000-08:00

Cold and dark was the night I skipped through the puddles on the parking lot to get to the warm interior of Panchitos in San Rafael. I remember this place as the first restaurant that I tried taking photos of the actual meal that I ate for posting.

Of course the crisp chips with very red salsa comes out.

I tried the Vegetarian Burrito this trip. It was pleasing to the eye. I loved the whole pinto beans, and the rice was flavorful too.

The inside of the burrito was stuffed with fresh sauteed vegetables. It was slightly heavy on zucchini for my taste, but overall it was really good. I ordered it with guac and sour cream which melded the Mexican flavors. This is a nice neighborhood place with good service and solidly good food.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: December 11, 2009

Previously reviewed:

July 7, 2006

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Cheerful chomping

2010-02-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

I wandered into the Blue Skies Cafe in San Rafael early one morning to sample their breakfast fare. The Blue Skies Cafe is tucked away in the Marin County Health and Wellness Connection Center complex near "The Loop". The Blue Skies Cafe is a Buckelew Program, which only makes it even more of a positive place to visit. Buckelew a non-profit organization which assists older youth and adults with mental illness, into homes, jobs and recovery services.

The staff were so cheery and worked with me to find a breakfast of my choosing from their array. The food and drink are all mostly on the politically correct list, and good for the planet!

I found a beautifully sunny table and enjoyed my meal. The blackberry scone was WOW, and the hard boiled eggs and mocha were great too. You won't find cooked items like omelets or pancakes here, it is mostly boxed for take out and to eat-with-coffee kind of fare. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by for good items within their repertoire, and enjoy the sun!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last Inspected: March 9, 2009

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Seafood in North Beach

2010-02-22T23:55:00.000-08:00

I met my friend Lori for an Italian seafood dinner one evening in December at Sotto Mare in San Francisco's North Beach. It was one of those cold, inky-black nights. The interior was warm, cozy, and well-loved.

We started with the clam chowder, which being hot and creamy was especially satisfying coming in from the cold.

I continued the clam theme with Linguine with Clams. It was perfect. The linguine was perfectly al dente, and the clam sauce was classically good.

Lori chose Prawn Saute which she enjoyed, including the fresh steamed vegetables which were a colorful and delicious accompaniment. I would certainly revisit this restaurant again for it's solidly good food and friendly ambiance.

Inventive and delightful

2010-02-16T00:08:00.000-08:00

Weezy's Grass Fed Shed has been on my mind for some time since its opening (and before). Located near Scotty's Market in San Rafael's Terra Linda district, it was just enough out of the way that my visit was delayed. I was happy to find a slice of time to get there and try this wonderful well thought out concept - grass fed beef and veggie burgers served in and with compostable containers, napkins, etc.

I was greeted warmly, and ordered a couple burgers. The sizes are small so you can try a variety of toppings. These are just the perfect size for kids. I got a budget-wise combo that included either regular or sweet potato fries, or a mix. I chose the mix, and got a free sample of their dip for the sweet potato fries too. The dip was really great - creamy (cream cheese based?) with a hint of seasonings. No less so the burgers. The vegetarian moo-less burgers were very good. These don't have the texture of a hamburger, and the good taste made that aspect very forgettable. There is a small bar of condiments to top your burger, and I loved that the tomatoes were the Roma type, just the right size to top these 1/8 lb. beauties. I also convinced (it was not very hard) the staff to use a garden patty in a Contiki style burger that has Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce and a piece of pineapple adorning it. I enjoyed them both, and am looking forward to going back.

I was also lucky enough to be there at the same time as Weezy's brother. He enlightened me about Weezy and her hope as a mother to create a great community place where kids and the rest can enjoy healthy food quickly in a earth friendly way. She also lives nearby.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 2
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: December 22, 2009

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Something new in Corte Madera!

2010-02-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

SEA Thai Bistro has opened in Corte Madera where the old "Simmer" was located. I've heard the sister restaurant in Petaluma is awesome, so I hope to visit soon and confirm the same of this new and exciting venue.

Large portions, good food

2010-02-14T16:30:00.000-08:00

Dad and I stopped in at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse the other day in San Rafael's Northgate Mall. We had been searching for men's slippers, a daunting task indeed after the holiday season is over. Having exhausted ourselves finding a pair, we saw the big BJ's sign as a beacon of welcome. We were greeted and seated promptly.

We had some Calamari to start off with while we perused the rest of the menu. It was tender and crisp and had a delicious pair of sauces, spicy marinara and lemon garlic aioli.

I could not resist the Garden Vegetable Potato, a HUGE potato stuffed with fresh vegetables and an alfredo sauce. There was also both jack and cheddar cheese melted on top. It was nearly as big as a pee wee football! It tasted good, however, there needed to be a bit more stuffing to really have enough sauce for that sized potato. And most would not be able to finish it anyway.

Dad had the Old Fashioned Pot Roast, slow-roasted Angus beef pot roast that is served with white cheddar mashed potatoes, mushroom brown gravy and over roasted vegetables. He loved every drop of it! The only thing that didn't work about this place for my father (and perhaps others) is that the noise level is HIGH. It's hard to carry on a conversation with someone who has good hearing, and is rather miserable for those wearing hearing aids.

All in all, it's a recommendable place if you want good food in generous portions in an upbeat, noisy atmosphere.

And Happy Valentine's Day! I'm in Seattle right now and am looking forward to sharing some finds on this trip too!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritial: 0

Last inspected: November 13, 2009

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Very sweet

2010-02-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

I enjoy trying new drinks so couldn't resist this new product "First Blush" which was offered as a BOGO (buy one get one) at Safeway. There are several varieties of wine grapes represented in the product line up, and this one is from Cabernet grapes. How thick and luxe! It reminded me of homemade grape juice from my Aunt Dorothy & Uncle Jim's ranch. There are also 1.4 servings in this plastic bottle (it easily turns over so be careful with this bright red juice!), and 154 calories per serving... oooh, I consumed over 200 calories by drinking this? Grapes are definitely sweet! There is no added sugar, and with this calorie load, antioxidants or not, this has to be an occasional treat I'm afraid.

Speaking of Aunt Dorothy, there have been a few things keeping me away from blogging, as much as I enjoy it. I got one of those calls you never want to get, and found that after a full and happy life, Aunt Dorothy passed at age 94. So I've been trying to put things in order and make travel arrangements to attend her funeral in Yakima, WA this Friday. Unfortunately, the care of my father has become much more involved recently as well. I am too tired to write coherently these days after getting him tucked in, so Anna's Cool Finds has not been having those daily posts that I so enjoy writing. I'm not giving up on this, however, I'm not sure how frequently I'll be able to post for a while.

Wowed in Petaluma

2010-01-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

Linda and I went to see The Young Victoria in Petaluma this evening. I don't like period pieces generally, however, this one was really good. What a love story! Afterwards little Olivia joined us and we went to Hiro's Japanese Restaurant just a couple blocks away. What a gem! It is so beautifully appointed and has such attention to detail. The sushi plates that floated past looked like they were stills in a museum.

My photos do not do the food justice, and give a pale echo of each dish. The miso soup was piping hot and tasted just right!

Linda chose the Tempura Dinner and Olivia dittoed the choice except in appetizer portion, fitting for an 8 year old. They both reported that it was delicious, and I tried a couple pieces at the end of this generous portion, and would have to agree. Linda remembered the amazing tempura we had with my host family about three years ago in Tokyo. In Japan the best restaurants use fresh oil each day, and the old oil gets sent down the line to a second tier tempura restaurant. Fresh oil really makes a difference. Hiro's oil tasted quite fresh, and it was all exquisite!

Hiro's has two choice of chirashi on their menu. Hiro's Special Chirashi sounded quite inventive, but I decided to stick with the Traditional Japanese Chirashi Zushi. I was so excited to see this glistening, fresh and artistic bowl be put in front of me. Again, the photo just doesn't do it justice. I very much enjoyed the choices and variety in this pretty lacquer bowl.

The staff and owners were so friendly and welcoming too. Our waiter struck the perfect balance of attention and sharing of knowledge of the menu. I would definitely come here again in a heartbeat!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 1
Last Inspected: January 28, 2010

No more moussaka

2010-01-27T21:56:00.000-08:00

My friend Andi Bird came visiting from Vancouver, BC and I thought it would be fun to let her know when Rain Tree Cafe would be having their fabulous moussaka as a daily special this week. I was so shocked to find that it had slipped away...no signage, no tables and chair, just one of the cleanest spaces I've ever seen for a move-out. I didn't let it spoil my fun with Andi today however, we had a great time talking at Taste of Rome this morning!

Weekend Herb Blogging #217 Recap

2010-01-24T23:43:00.000-08:00

And here we are at the end of the week (already!), and time to round up the creative herb blogging done for the Weekend Herb Blogging event hosted here today. Weekend Herb Blogging is a weekly event, so if you enjoy this post, consider entering yourself! Haalo at Cook Almost Anything keeps it running in an organized fashion - the host list is here, and rules here. I'm going to organize this time by type of dish, and I say desserts first!

Desserts

Haalo of Cook Almost Anything features dessicated coconut in this dreamy Coconut and Pineapple Steamed Pudding. Haalo cooks and writes from Australia.

Katie in cold Haslett, MI writes Eat This announced in her post about these luscious Dried Fruit, Nut and Coconut Truffles that she's moving to Georgia. She also has a hint on how to more effectively chop dates.

Brii living in Valsorda, Italy is so tenacious as to not give up on finding the meaning of the main ingredient in this cookie. She writes Briiblog in English, and shares her tale of Norwegian interpretation and recipe for Hulled Oats Cookies. She also leaves me curious as to where I would find something called "Horn Salt"! in the U.S.

Soups & Stews

Cinzia has taught me new things about cabbage in her post about Neapolitan Vegetable Soup. Cinza lives in Lake Guarda, Italy and writes Cindystar. Don't miss the cabbage story as it is sure to hold new information on this ancient powerhouse vegetable.

Appetizers

The Cooking Ninja is Pamela of Clermont-Ferrand, France who brings us a unique recipe for Crispy Bacon Wrapped Prunes. Read the post for her prescription for improving service people's dispositions!

Fruits & Jams

Anna of Morsels & Musings, writes from Australia about Passionfruit Curd this week. Listen to her explain about tackling what was in the 'too hard' basket successfully!

Nate of House of Annie brings us a post about a truly unusual fruit in a large part of the world, a Buah Tarap. Nate writes us from Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Mains

Hailing from Salt Lake City, Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen brings us a healthy breakfast recipe for Eggs Fried in Olive Oil with Wilted Greens and Sumac. Now that's a way to get a head start on the day! Thanks to Kalyn for starting this Weekend Herb Blogging tradition which has been a rich source of information on unique herbs!

Mangocheeks writes Allotment 2 Kitchen from West of Scotland and brings us a dish so luscious looking I can almost smell it from the photo. Her post features leeks in a Winter Vegetable Cobbler.

Kalai out of Houston, TX writes My Recipes Diary, and brings us an interesting post about gourds and recipe for Bottle Gourd Curry.

Christine from Vancouver, Canada write Kit's Chow, and submitted an awesome post about making Beef and Onions with Thai Basil. Thai basil is unlike ordinary basil, and you'll want to find out how by reading Christine's post.

This is Yakisoba I made this week featuring nutrition-packed portabello mushrooms. The recipe is simple, and the cold-flu and cancer fighting properties are in abundance in this dish.

Sides

Wizzy of Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Punch spins a tale of adventure in pursuit of the everywhere and nowhere purslane from the Caribbean. Don't miss this tale of winks and extraordinary research efforts.

Yeoh Cheng Huann of Singapore writing Eat.Live.Recipes brings us a post about the great qualities of carrots, and a recipe for Raw Fish Salad!

Oh did my eyes bug out when I read Winnie's unusual use of Aduki beans in her Simple Seasoned Aduki Beans recipe. I'm used to adzuki beans being sugared up and paired with starch in Japanese-style desserts so was surprised by this savory dish. Winne writes Healthy Green Kitchen from New Paltz, NY and gives us no excuse for not using dried beans.

Well that's it for this week in herbs. Enjoy!

Simple and Healthy

2010-01-23T10:15:00.000-08:00

Casting my eyes about for lunch earlier this week, I noted that I had some leftover cooked soba noodles. Ah ha! Yakisoba time! I also had a beautiful organic shallot, and organic broccoli from Capay Farms. Oh, and a fresh Portabello mushroom of medium size. A meal packed with protein, antioxidants and Vitamin D. With all this rain, a good shot of Vitamin D would be helpful.

And yes, this is my entry for Weekend Herb Blogging, organized by Haalo at Cook Almost Anything (with a new look on its 4th birthday too!). Historical recaps of this event can be found on this page of her site. Weekend Herb Blogging is being hosted here at Anna's Cool Finds this week, and it's not too late to enter!

So back to the Yakisoba. The protein in buckwheat, the main ingredient in soba, is nearly equivalent to egg protein, the standard for a complete protein. I use Eden's organic soba bought in 10lb boxes for a healthy buckwheat base. The friends who are around me most frequently know I'm a Dr. Oz fan, DVRing his shows so I don't miss a one. Last fall he emphasized the role of Vitamin D in preventing infections and overall good health. The Mushroom Lady has posted some more technical aspects of Vitamin D in mushrooms and some of the light enhanced versions in stores. Portabello mushrooms are also one of the best sources for L-ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant. Crimini mushrooms are baby portabellos, so this nutrititional information also applies.

Yakisoba is very easy to make. For the one featured here, I sliced one large shallot, one medium portabello mushrooms and a cut up 3-4 broccoli buds into small pieces and sauteed in a bit of toasted sesame oil. When the vegetables were a bit softened I added cooked soba noodles and tossed.

When almost done, I added the special ingredient - Bulldog Tonkatsu sauce. I just striped the pan full of the noodles and vegetables with it, tossed and heated through, then plated it for a lovely hot lunch on a cold rainy day in Northern California. Don't forget to visit again tomorrow, when there will be a round up of Weekend Herb Blogging with others magical ways with herbs!

So cheerful!

2010-01-21T00:28:00.000-08:00

Cafe Z in Greenbrae was just as bright and cheerful as my last visit. I was just in the mood for something simple. I toyed with the idea of crepes once I'd spotted them on the menu, and then I saw some other simple things.

So I ordered a cup of French Onion Soup. It was warm and I loved that there were plenty of onions, however the stock was just a little thin for my taste, and compared to my memories of other French Onion Soups. The accompanying roll had a crust that was more chewy than crunchy.

The Grilled Cheese Sandwich wasn't completely described on the menu, so I was surprised to see that it was panini style. I was delighted to see that it had sliced tomatoes in it. It also has fontina, bleu, mozzarella and Gruyere cheeses in generous portion. If you are a cheese lover, you'll be in heaven with this one. It was a little rich for me, but I can still be appreciative.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 6
Last inspected: 12/9/2009

Previously reviewed:
December 18, 2006

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

What are you cooking up?

2010-01-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

Weekend Herb Blogging is hosted here this week, and I'm starting to get some fun entries in the email box.... Although I've cooked a couple things, I haven't quite decided what to post forthe event yet. I was hoping to be inspired by my Capay Farms box, but although it held some great things like this broccoli (last week), nothing GRABBED me.... stay tuned, and if you want to participate, take a look at the rules.

A slice of Nepal

2010-01-19T22:50:00.000-08:00

While in Sonoma on Saturday, I lunched at Taste of the Himalayas. I was greeted warmly by a woman who shared with me lots of interesting information about Nepal and the restaurant.

My lunch started with Dal - a yellow lentil soup which also had a hint of ginger and garlic. I mentioned that the menu seemed to list things with the same names as Indian food. She said the names and most of the ingredients would be the same as the Indian menus, particularly Northern Indian cuisine. She also said that the Nepalese cuisine was lighter than Indian, and I noticed it in this delightfully refreshing yet satisfying soup.

I ordered Veggie Momo's, a Tibetan inspired treat. These had a thick dough that was steamed around cabbage, spinach and onions. It was good as well. I liked the light tomato-curry sauce that accompanied it. It had flavor without heaviness.

I enjoyed the Alu Bhanta as my main dish. It was described as Himalayan style cubes of eggplant and potatoes in curry sauce, and that pretty much sums it up. It was Indian like, yet lighter as I heard earlier. It came with a Papad (papadam equivalent), basmati rice and naan. All were warm and fresh. We also had quite a conversation about vegetarianism in Nepal, the inhabitants being mostly Hindu, it's quite prevalent as a lifestyle choice. The most popular meat is water buffalo! She said that most Himalayan restaurants in the US substitute beef. She mentioned that it is actually against the law to eat beef in Nepal. I asked about salmon in Nepal and she giggled softly, saying it's not to be found there, but locals love it! However, river fish is eaten in Nepal. I came away please with my meal and charmed by the good conversation and service!

And she gave me a little scoop on a Taste of the Himalayas that is soon to open in Sausalito. Although the restaurants are not related, one of the partners in this restaurant is opening the one in Sausalito -- and he's a great chef that will probably feature more fusion foods in the Sausalito venue!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: November 20, 2009

Left overs Anna-style

2010-01-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

Last night there was a little impromptu party at my place. Jo-Ann, Toran & Aurelia had spent the afternoon with me, Toran & Aurelia having discovered the joy of extra pocket money for doing chores at Auntie Anna's! Jo-Ann and I enjoyed a coupon-clipping and chat session concurrently. It became dinner time and I invited them to stay and so Jonathon drove down and I made a quick supper using things on hand... Chirashi and Soba.

I had some of both left over from last night, so after a drip to Nijiya Market in Japantown today where I picked up a couple deli items, this was the dinner I made for myself. Left over chirashi was the anchor in the middle . The chirashi contained langostino tails and green peas (and was topped with avocado and nori slivers last night), and augmenting the plate are a flavored egg, okara (tofu lees with seasoning and veggies), and sliced, dried radish which was reconstituted and seasoned, the seasoned radish then mixed with fried tofu bits. I enjoyed my supper!

I've been in reunion-land here for the last week, this time connecting with friends who experienced a year in Hiroshima, Japan in High School. The above is me on coming-of-age day (2 years later as that is a celebration of 21) at age 23 in Hokkaido, Japan. It is rather refreshing to connect with friends who went through such a formative experience when we were just teens (I was 16 when I left), and the reconnecting brings an air of youthful enthusiasm into the whole week!

Weekend Herb Blogging Hosted Here!

2010-01-18T00:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm hosting Weekend Herb Blogging #217 here at Anna's Cool Finds this week! Cook up something in accordance with the rules, photograph it and blog about it. Then send me a link and photo according to the host-specific instructions here. And I'll be posting a round up on Sunday. Now what shall I cook up??

A Glimpse of Sonoma

2010-01-17T23:37:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I enjoyed a leisurely half-day in Sonoma having my hair cut and lunching. I enjoyed looking at the town and surrounding area with new eyes. Everywhere I went, I found charm.

On the way up I got in the mood when passing numerous fields with the delicate and bright mustard flowers popping up.

I tried capturing some on the way out of town, but it wasn't nearly as misty as when I drove in, so I didn't capture that mysterious misty look low on the green fields filled with mustard. I enjoyed seeing it in the rows between fields on the way back.

In town, I walked through the little breezeway to the shops at El Paseo.

From the street you have no idea of the thoughtful beautification of the walls,

and the ceiling just a few steps from the shops inside.

The back of Sonoma Square also looked charming. I just had fun looking, lunching and loving the beautiful day!

Definite fusion

2010-01-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

Craving one of those amazing Rose Lassi's, and having Avatar's within walking distance from my office, I found myself seated at Avatar's in Sausalito before evening thinking about it.

And here is my favorite Rose Lassi.

As soon as I placed my order, a fresh and crisp Pappadum showed up.

Then the pickles came with a bonus Chappati. The fragrance was amazing! It reminded me of the whole wheat bread my mother made with freshly ground flour (she loved grinding her own just before baking). My mother never made Chappati's but beyond the smell, the wholesome grain taste of the Chappti is something special.

I decided to go with an interesting fusion dish, the Punjabi Enchilada stuffed with curried sweet potato. It was an interesting medley which tantalized and pleased the taste buds. Be sure to tell your server what level of spicy hot you would like, foods here tend to be a little spicy. And Ashok, the owner, is very good about adjusting foods to your dietary requirements, such as gluten free, vegan, dairy free etc. Avatar's has good service and a unique fusion menu with many tasty things to try!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 7/29/2009

Previously reviewed:
September 21, 2007
April 6, 2007
January 20, 2007

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Crepe choices

2010-01-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

One fine weekend day, Dad and I made our way over to Crepevine in San Rafael. We were on the early side, so there were plenty of tables both inside and sidewalk style.

Dad wanted the Denver Omelet. He liked the omelet and thick slices of toast, however, he invented a new culinary term for the potatoes -- Baaaa! Yes, he did not enjoy these, and with his memory problem, kept forgetting and trying them again, finally throwing his fork down violently, and yelling 'Baaaa!'. The problem was that they were cooked VERY unevenly. Some were crispy critters, so hard they were painful, and some had one side nearly burnt, and the other raw and crispy. Mine were the same, but I could remember not to eat the questionable ones.

I tried a unique-sounding vegetarian savory crepe, the Kyoto. It was filled with marinated grilled tofu sauteed with spinach bell peppers, shitake mushrooms and peanut sauce. The crepe itself was too crisp and hard on the outer third, occurring more as a dosa crepe than a French-style one. The interior ingredients were a good combination and tasted great. I liked that there as both a little salad, and potatoes, if only the potatoes were better cooked.

I've had better experiences at the Crepevine, and I hope this one was just bad luck and not a trend.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 3/27/2009

Previously reviewed:
December 2, 2006

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Daniel's Birthday

2010-01-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

Again rolls around Daniel's birthday, and this time he chose Zachary's Chicago Pizza in Berekely as the venue to gather his friends. I've heard nothing but good things about Zachary's since moving here in 1997, and somehow I'd never made it there until now. Partly it could be that I've never been a fan of Chicago style thick pizza... seems sooo heavy. It's a good thing to go somewhere despite your preconceived notions, since the pizza was fabulous!

The interior walls are well covered with awards and amusing posters about eating at Zachary's.

Daniel ordered four large pizzas, Mediterranean, Super Veggie,

Spinach Mushroom, and Roasted Red Pepper. All were delicious according to my tastebuds, and reports of the other 9 people around the table.

Here's a close up of my slice of Super Veggie. It was so stuffed with vegetables that it lightened it up.

Miraculously, I found a no sugar added pecan pie after search four bakeries for something non-sugar per Daniel's request. The ingredient list ready rather spookily, but it actually tasted quite fine. We had a little fun with Daniel's candles. Happy Birthday Daniel!

Thai in the Heartland

2010-01-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Last month I visited Fayetteville, AR for a short business trip and enjoyed the atmosphere of a place new to me. The first night we arrived, we were given an enthusiastic recommendation of "A Taste of Thai" from the hotel staff. They weren't the only ones who knew about this place as we found that we had a short wait to secure seats.

We started with a cup of the House Vegetable soup which contained chopped small zucchini, cabbage. cauliflower, and celery with clear vegetable broth. I always have a small fear that these type of vegetarian soups will be thin and watery, and was pleased to find this one was light and flavorful.

We then had some Poh Pia Tod, which is Thai Spring Rolls. The rolls were filled with clear noodles and mixed vegetables, deep fried and served with sweet and sour sauce with ground peanuts. These came to the table piping hot and were quite a tasty treat.

I tried the Pad Woon Sen Tofu as my main dish which is stir fried crystal bean noodles with fried tofu, black mushrooms, bamboo shoots, cabbage, carrots, celery and green onion. I really enjoyed this light, yet filling dish.

An eggplant fan, Michael tried the Ma Kur Yao. This dish featured sliced eggplant sauteed with tofu, garlic and basil. Although he didn't feel it deserved superlatives, it was a solidly good dish.

We enjoyed our time and the friendly service, and no doubt we'll visit this place again and try out more of their extensive vegetarian choices on a future trip to Fayetteville.

Totally hidden in plain sight

2010-01-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

Here's one I was amazed to find. California Bakery & Restaurant is located in San Rafael on an industrial street tucked away not far from Bellam Rd. With its $4 specials and generally well-worn interior it would not be off to call it a 'dive'. Upon entering I immediately noticed two square tables surrounded nearly 2 men deep where card games were played and Spanish was being spoken. I was the lone female in the place besides the woman who took my order at the counter and served me. She gave wonderful service and exuded peace and grace.

I found the drink selection of large sizes and unusual flavors interesting, deciding to try the Watermelon Fruit Juice Cocktail by Arizona.

The hot and flavorful Egg Flower soup was served nearly simultaneously with my meal.

There was no problem substituting prawns for beef in a delicious stir fry which then consisted of prawns, fried tofu and vegetables over rice. It was hot, had fresh ingredients and was a very satisfying lunch. If you don't mind the 'dive-yness' of this place, the limited menu of Chinese rice plates are healthy, tasty and the price is sure right.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 2
Last Inspected: 3/11/2009

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Supper Club - Holiday Party 2009

2010-01-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

I joined up with the Supper Club again for its annual Holiday Party - although this posting is after the holidays, these dishes are great any time of year.

First thing up was an amazing, and I do mean amazing, Poached Pear and Truffled Pate Mousse. Glenn made this masterpiece, and the fois gras with truffles and spiced poached pears topped with pistachios was one of the most delicious dishes I've ever tasted.

The Pecan Amaretto Baked Brie, although looking over-caramelized was totally delicious as well. Janice and her daughter Victoria teamed up on this, being Victoria's recipe and made by Janice.

I believe that Janice brought and made on behalf of her husband, Bill, the tasty Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. Glen recommended eating these hot, risking top of mouth burn. They are tastiest piping hot!

Our fearless leader, Tom H succumbed to food poisoning from a tea party the day before and left our party early, but leaving good instructions on how to finish of this smooth and savory Fennel Soup he brought.

Next up were the delicious main dishes, and their sides:

Dungeness Crab, Tom M. - peak of season perfection.

Gingersnap Style Sauerbrauten, Connie. Very good rendition and it used two different cuts of meat one leaner than the other for a taste comparison. Both were great!

Well, the plainness of my Whole Foods purchased Mashed Potatoes paired well with the Sauerbraten, but it wasn't the intended dish. The Scalloped Potatoes that I prepared, fell out of my hands in its crock, just steps from the party door and broke in pieces, yellow cheese sauce and potatoes streaming down the sidewalk in the rain! A clean up and a quick trip to Whole Foods yielded these... In fact when we went around the table discussing our dishes we found that many of us overcame kitchen disasters this time before coming out with our final dish.

Janice brought some wonderful corn pudding too.

Karla and Wayne brought a wonderful caramelized and pecan-sprinkled Brussels sprouts dish -

as well as taking the mystery out of bringing out the sweetness of both Brussels sprouts and cauliflower with careful roasting.

The meal was topped off by two lovely desserts - Karen's lovely Citrus Bundt cake and Stephanie's equally dazzling Chestnut Torte.

We have such fun at these events! I would recommend anyone loving to cook and enjoy good company create a opportunity for yourself and friends to showcase and experiment with delicious foods this year!

Hospitable

2010-01-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

One cool evening last month I paid a visit to Tenkyu in San Rafael. It's so dark in December! And the staff at Tenkyu are so welcoming that it makes you forget the cool outdoors, and settle in to enjoy leafing through the extensive menu with a surprising amount of vegetarian choices to find your dinner.

Most dinners include miso soup, which sure tasted hot and soothing that night.

And they were nice enough to let me flex around the combination dinners to come up with a combo that suited my taste that evening, vegetable tempura and salmon teriyaki plus their regular sides - salad - gyoza - rice. (The gyoza was vegetarian). It all was fresh, hot and tasty. It was typical home-style food prepared well. I intend to come back more often, and try out some of the interesting vegetarian selections.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 2/10/2009

Previously reviewed:
December 30, 2006

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T23:36:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had some fun ringing in the New Year!

I've been attending to things apart from the virtual world which we all need to do from time to time. I have plenty of things to write about, so will be back as all goes back to normal in the new year.

I had a fun celebration with friends at my place to ring in 2010, with the features cuisine being Korean. One of my friends brought over a Korean feast! And I didn't think to photograph until all there was left was the remains of the fun.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T23:59:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Dinner for 10 turned out fabulously! We had an Alaskan King Crab feast which we ate, talked and laughed through. This was the ending, a 'traditional' Japanese Christmas cake, a lightly sweet and creamy end to a marvelous occasion!

I hope everyone celebrating Christmas had a joyous day! And everyone else too!

It's almost time...

2009-12-24T18:41:00.000-08:00

for a Merry Christmas! and happy holidays whichever ones you celebrate.

I've not succumbed to any strange and new disease... just caught up in the general holiday busy-ness... and since I'm hosting 10 for dinner tomorrow, I'm especially working on making my house be in tune with the season. I'm making Alaskan King Crab with garlic sesame soba noodles with some lovely side dishes coming with friends, and a beautiful white Christmas cake from Japantown!

I'll be back with more reviews when I can catch my breath again.

It's my birthday...

2009-12-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

and I'm not crying. It had a fun lead in last night at Jo-Ann & Jonathon's with my Dad, Michael, Hal, Toran & Aurelia. Jonathon & Aurelia made the birthday cake pictured, a lemon cake with lemon cream cheese frosting, made with fresh lemons hand carried from San Diego. It was the perfect balance of sweet and sour. The candles each represent 6.375 years. Aurelia, being 8 thought having 8 candles on the cake would be a fun shared experience, with her birthday not far behind me.

It was fun to have a dinner theme from my Northwest origins, near Seattle. Jonathon made cedar planked salmon, thought it needed cooking on the outside grill a bit faster, and this was the result. The salmon came out well done, but not burnt, just the way I like it! We also had fresh steamed asparagus, and a wonderful wild rice mixture with onions and mushrooms. Oh and not to forget the butternut soup starter. What a feast, and what good company. We had a poetry reading around the table using the book of poems Hal brought, and Toran accompanied the Happy Birthday song with his violin, which made for a haltingly beautiful melody. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Tonight I'm enjoying watching Miss Olivia as a cast member of "A Christmas Carol" and having dinner with her grandma, my friend Linda. My day is and is going to be fabulous!

What's in a name?

2009-12-17T22:25:00.000-08:00

According to The SF Chronicle, Fondue Fusion has become Ray's Hot Pot. This would have been a great place to go during the past cold spell!

I've been in the area, just in a bit of overwhelm between big projects at work, and the holiday season. I will be back as I can.

Lights of the Ozarks

2009-12-12T23:33:00.000-08:00

Zoomie asked me to say more about Arkansas. I arrived one evening, conducted some business, and left in the afternoon the next day so my exposure was brief. The evening we arrived, we had dinner at a restaurant near "The Square" in Fayetteville. The Square enthralled us with its Christmas finery -- the entire area was decked out with lights and Christmas displays, and there were Christmas carols playing from speakers in the night air.

Fayetteville is home of the University of Arkansas, and there are Razorback mascot images everywhere! I didn't take a snap though.

Fayetteville is also known as the "Track Capital of the World" because of the numerous awards won by the University of Arkansas track team.

Everyone I ran into was charming and helpful. That certainly put a shine on the already positive experiences there.

My business took me to the RFID Research Center of the University of Arkansas. It was quite an amazing place, and this gadget-girl really enjoyed the tour after the business aspects were done. There were amazing applications of this technology demonstrated in several areas of a very large laboratory. Imagine taking a dress into the dressing room where there was an interactive screen where it 'knew' what you brought in and could suggest accessories, or you could press a button for someone to bring you a different size of the item(s) you had? Or a smart jewelry case that keeps a constant, automated inventory and locks things up tight at the end of the day?

The countryside on the way to and from Northwest Arkansas Airport, when out of the city, did look like yesterday's photo with gentle rolling hills, lots of grass and winter-scene bare trees.

I was charmed by it and thought it would be a interesting place to explore if you like peaceful prairie environments. My intuition tells me that the quality of life here is pretty high. I look forward to returning there.

Arkansas

2009-12-10T20:46:00.001-08:00

Yes, I've been out of town again, and quite busy leading up to the trip. This visit was to Fayetteville, Arkansas and the above photo is typical of the surrounding area that I visited. I saw some unique things like a drive through liquor store, with pick ups lined up (in 21F weather!) for a cold beer through the drive in window! Wish I got a photo of that, and I'll remember the mental picture for a long time. There were lots of BBQ places, and the typical national chains along with a selection of ethnic and deliciously unique places. I'll be blogging a little more about the food and sights in future posts.

Great Neighborhood Breakfast Place

2009-12-05T22:05:00.000-08:00

I had a craving for breakfast crepes and realized that it had been some time since we visited Mary's Place in Novato, and we'd never tried their crepes. So we jumped in the car, and took off! A nice surprise for us was to find that there is actually a Mary behind this all, and she's very friendly, efficient and manages to single-handedly keep all the tables happy at breakfast time.

After Dad arrived and saw the photo in the window of the pancake breakfast, he lost his interest in crepes. And loved his meal of pancakes, eggs and bacon.

I stuck with what I intended, and ordered the vegetarian crepes. The crepe came with home fries which were quite crisp on the outside and soft and potato-y on the inside. I liked the green onions included too.

When I opened up the crepe, I was happy to find it not only included spinach, onion, tomatoes and mushrooms, but scrambled eggs! It was hearty and delicious. I would recommend Mary's Place for a great neighborhood-style breakfast with good service.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 10/16/2009

Previously reviewed:

August 4, 2007

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

The Wasabi Incident

2009-12-04T23:39:00.000-08:00

Dad & I went to Robata Grill & Sushi for a lovely lunch today. When I saw Dad's hand on the pretty green wasabi, I warned him- that' s hot mustard, it goes in the dish with soy sauce, not directly in your mouth! Oh, said he. He had a lovely obento special for $10.50 that included Teriyaki Chicken, Deep Fried Scallops, Salad, Miso Soup, fresh fruit, and an eel-cucumber roll (hense the wasabi). I had a combo of Teriyaki Salmon and Tempura. About three quarters of the way through our meal Dad suddenly looked like he was choking! Coughing, teary-eyes and redfaced suddenly, I jumped out of my seat thinking he'd inhaled something, and started patting his back and trying to remember the Heimlich maneuver. However, as he calmed down he said that it was something too 'hot', and I looked at the empty spot the wasabi tower had been. He'd forgotten that he wasn't to eat it. Next time, I'll have to ask the waiter to hold the wasabi from his plate.

Cool Find in Walnut Creek

2009-11-29T23:01:00.000-08:00

I went out to a movie (The Men Who Stare at Goats) with a friend last week, and heard that Kabob House is a great Persian restaurant with good values. My friend was willing to give it a whirl, so that's were we found ourselves after the movie. When you enter the first thing you notice is the mouth-watering aroma of freshly cooking food.

As soon as we ordered, some fresh, hot Persian bread came out. I couldn't find it listed on the menu, but I believe it's called Taftoon. Whatever you call it, delicious is its second name.

A tossed salad is included with each meal. It was fresh and flavorful.

The Chicken Kabob Platter smelled SO good, and looked fresh and well cooked. My friend Stephanie said it was great!

I ordered from the extensive vegetarian menu section, finding the Spinach Treat intriguing. It is described as spinach and eggs sauteed with garlic and onions, served with saffron basmati rice. Somehow I expected something more omelet-like from this description than the savory, lemony spinach treat with bits of egg and topped with fresh tomatoes. I liked it!

I was one of those who couldn't choose between a rose water flavored ice cream, or Faloodeh (a Persian slushy - rice noodles coated in rose water, topped with a touch of lime juice and sour cherry syrup). So I had the Makhloot, which tops the rose-flavored ice cream with Faloodeh. It was a bit much, but what a delicious taste treat!

Stephanie knew what she wanted for dessert the minute she walked through the door - Baghlava. It was great that their rendition is so good. It was very flaky with the right pistacio sweetness. The restaurant seemed to be run by an extended, very warm and gracious Persian family. I would definitely go back.

Fun find

2009-11-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

Dad and I were together in San Rafael, and thought Foodles would be fun to try. The first thing we noticed is that it has a very reasonably priced breakfast menu! However, it was lunchtime, so we chose options from their daily specials. Foodles is a casual breakfast and lunch place, and it has a sign in the window about using fresh and wholesome ingredients.

Dad opted for the chicken teriyaki which came with rice and a green salad. The portion was generous, and Dad liked it enough to finish the plate!

I chose the salmon teriyaki, which was amazing! There was a generous portion of perfectly grilled and sauced salmon and the salad was so very fresh. It's been a few days, and I forgot to right it down, but I believe this plate was $8-9. It is a casual, order-at-the-counter type place that has a bit tied interior, and the food and service was great. The burgers the couple had next to us looked awesome too.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 6/15/2009

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

The day after

2009-11-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

We had such a lovely Thanksgiving with friends, and I was so busy assembling and making biscuits from scratch on the spot that although I took my camera, I took no Thanksgiving festivities photos. However, before I left home, I did snap a shot of the fruit salad I made, which had pineapple, Capay Farms pears, banana, blackberries and mint freshly picked from my deck, with a whole lemon squeezed over top. It was good and there was not a bit left to bring home, including the bowl that slipped off near the sink after dinner and flew into many pieces!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T11:04:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving has a spectacular meal and much to be grateful for. I made a Tofurky feast with the tofu-turkey roasted with fresh root vegetables from the CSA box a couple nights ago, paired with a green bean casserole. I didn't mention that it was not meat, and Dad didn't notice the difference.

I am grateful for many things, not the least of which is a busy business season, which has made my blogging a little irregular lately. Never fear, I am here and will continue as I can without crazy-making.

Dad and I are having Thanksgiving dinner with Jo-Ann & Jonathon and their extended family and friends. And I will eat some actual turkey today, and will be making my mother's special oyster stuffing....

Happy Thanksgiving!

There goes another one

2009-11-23T23:40:00.000-08:00

I liked Sam's Roadhouse in Novato. Now it's gone.

There is already a new establishment operating in its place, Points South. It advertises both Yucatan and Mayan cuisine. It also serves breakfast!

I'm becoming my mother

2009-11-22T21:45:00.000-08:00

Never thought that would happen, but I have to admit, there are sure some signs. Such as improvising a recipe measuring nearly nothing... I promised Dad to make him a apple cake this morning, and I have a French recipe my friends are raving over that I wanted to try. Then we ended up going to "New Moon" with our friend Daniel, and I invited him over for cake. And that means NO sugar. Hmmm.. the recipe I was planning to make definitely has this ingredient. So that set me off on my improvisation. I didn't even refer to the original recipe, nor any for that matter. And it turned out! It was mildly sweet rather than what is typical of an American cake. I remember that I fluffed 2 eggs and other wet ingredients (molasses, vanilla extract, E.V.O.O.) then blended in the apples (3 medium chopped), then the dry ingredients, cinnamon, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and all purpose flour until the batter looked the correct consistency. I used Pam baking spray on a non-stick cake pan, and then cooked at 350F for 25 minutes once I had it in the pan and the oven preheated. Daniel insisted I take a photo and blog it, as he liked the result, and I have to admit it worked out too.

Invisible, until now

2009-11-21T20:45:00.000-08:00

I must have passed Caffe Acri in Tiburon hundreds of times. I thought it was just a coffee and ice cream place. I recently heard that there is breakfast served, and I immediately opened my schedule for Dad and I to visit one morning. The restaurant faces Main Street with the well known Guaymas just behind.

I tied the Mushroom, Avocado and Tomato Omelet. It came with home fries and thinly sliced whole grain bread. It was all quite good, I'd have it again in a heartbeat. There were a few things that could be improved however. There were no napkins given with the meal, and none were set out with the usual coffee condiments, you had to request a napkin! Also, the toast was not only not buttered, but there was no butter on the plate, another trip to the counter to request it. Lastly, the women behind the counter seemed much more intent of flirting with the men who stood and chatted with them over the counter than noticing or acknowledging those waiting for service.

My Dad had the croissant sandwich, he said it was a winner. Bacon, eggs, cheese and tomato all pressed against croissant halves and pressed in a panini grill from the looks. I think that this place is a perfect place to wait for the ferry as the entrance is just a couple businesses away. They also serve simple lunches.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 4/22/2009

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.

Nouveau Tarte

2009-11-19T22:22:00.000-08:00

It was a warm and beautiful day in Larkspur, and the perfect parking spot appeared! So I found myself visiting an old favorite, the Left Bank at the Blue Rock.

The interior is still warm and inviting, and I was sitting next to the fireplace with a good view of most everything. The waiter was quite friendly and brought me an iced tea while another brought some fresh French bread!

I went a little crazy for caramelized onion and cheese, first ordering this flavorful French Onion soup. The stock was great and it had lots of soft and simmered onions.

I ordered a Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Tarte which was also topped with melty cheese. I have to say this was not your mother's french tarte! I had imagined a petite, well - tarte! This was more like a French flatbread pizza and took up an entire dinner plate! I took some home and had it again for dinner with some vegetable soup. It was tasty, just unexpected, and I realized my faux pas in ordering two dishes with onions and cheese as main ingredients.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 7/3/2008

Previously reviewed:

January 15, 2007

Find address/phone number/directions on Anna's Map.