New Bistro coming to Tiburon

In Tiburon today for lunch and noticed that a sign has gone up in the old Sweden House window: Coming Soon... Bistro 35 (Patisserie). A window to keep an eye on!

So sad about three greats passing in the last couple days, Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett and now Michael Jackson.

Another fine catch

We had a little celebratory dinner with Glen and Jessica at Pacific Catch the other evening. Celebrating wellness after that bout with H1N1. Glen was instrumental in keeping things going during that period at the house and we wanted to thank him.

The usual table treats were brought over after we were seated.

Jessica chose an appetizer for her main, Seared Ahi Macadamia. The ahi was sprinkled with toasted macadamia nuts, and it was accompanied by a mango salad with Thai style citrus sauce. She said it was great!

I had the Tokyo Salmon, which was basically salmon fish & chips, which were hot and tasty. The fish was really meaty and solid. I opted for regular fries instead of the sweet potato fries.

Glen thoroughly enjoyed the BBQ Unagi (Japanese Eel) Wasabi Bowl. Along with the eel, a generously sized bowl of sushi rice was topped with wakame salad, avocado, daikon sprouts, cucumber, ginger, sesame seeds, shredded nori and soy-wasabi sauce.

Dad enjoyed his regular Fish & Chips with Sweet Potato Fries, cleaning up his whole plate and asking for dessert!

So I had the Mochi Fondue, with several flavors of mochi ice cream cut up and ready to dip in a fudgy chocolate sauce.

Jessica enjoyed a dainty single Mochi Ball, coffee flavored.

Dad went for broke with this special Dulce de Leche with ice cream special. I tried a bite, and it was special!

I'm not sure but that Glen chose the best, the Passion Mango Cheesecake. He said it was great, and it looked very densely delicious. The service was good, the food as well and we were happy.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 5/22/2009

Previously reviewed:
April 24, 2008
February 18, 2008
January 25, 2007

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

Sublime

As I walked in the entrance of the new Indian restaurant in Novato, Anokha, I was greeted by the scent of roses. I looked around for the source, but didn't see any roses. I asked the gentleman who greeted me about the scent, who said that it was rose incense. I have never smelled incense that was so reminiscent of fresh roses, it was amazing. And that was just the start of my positive experience here.

I spotted a dish I'd never heard of before on the appetizer menu, so I had to order the Aloo Tikki. The appetizer is described as potato patties with ginger peas, red onions and spices, served with Chana Masala. This was an awesome dish, and one that I could have eaten as a main course. The smooth canvas of the potato patties was complemented by the chana masala with its complex flavors.

Next came the main course, Malai Kofta and rice. The smooth sauce was so rich and lush I wanted not to miss a drop. The spiced potato and cheese within the sauce was in torpedo shape, and was delicious and filling. In hindsight, as delicious as this was, I don't think I would have ordered the appetizer and main having potato as the main attraction simply because it was SO filling. The combination of cheese, potatoes, nuts and raisins blended with spices was just perfect.

Of course I had to try one of their proffered naan breads, choosing onion naan. This naan had red onions liberally mixed into it and fresh chopped greens adorning the outside. It was wonderful. The service was perfect, every time I was ready to have dishes removed, they were magically whisked away before they could become an annoyance. The waitstaff looked professional in crisp light blue long-sleeved shirts and dark slacks. The whole experience added up to nothing short of sublime. So much so that I to Tweet during the meal:

"annahaight is at Anokha in Novato - wow! Try this Indian cuisine before the masses discover this new place!" (You can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/annahaight)

This restaurant opened very recently, and if the food is any guide, will become a Marin favorite.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 2
Noncritical: 4
Last inspected: 6/15/2009

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

Offending cap

I hope you all have had or celebrated with someone honoring Father's today. Dad requested my Mom's biscuits with eggs this morning, so that's how we kicked off the celebration. Then we had lunch before going to see Food, Inc. The movie is highly recommendable, but be sure and have your meal BEFORE you go see it. And if you don't have a restaurant faux pas like the above, then you'll be in good order. Yes, this is what came off the ketchup bottle that we were handed.

Often restaurants 'top off' the old bottles and put them back on the table. Just after college, I was a waitress for a short period, and recall that if you had the last shift, you were responsible for the ketchup refill. There was a big white bucket on legs with circles of plastic on the top to hold ketchup bottles at an angle to pour in a big mix into the bucket. We would take the ones that had the least amount left in them and pour six at a time into this bucket. Then you put a newer bottle in the middle underneath where there was a little door that opened to top off the bottle by pulling a piece of plastic aside. The one this cap was on had been overfilled, all the way to the brim, and obviously the cap has become disguisting after repeated use and partial dry out. I called over the waitress and suggested that this bottle with ripped and faded label and old ketchup encrusted cap was ready to be 'retired'. She said "Eewww!" very descriptively before picking up the cap and bottle and wisking it from sight.

Ah! The simple pleasures

Simple is good. Elegant in fact. Being in Sausalito at work, it was a natural thing to mosey over to Fish the other day for lunch. I was taken with The Crab Roll. It was described as "A West coast rendition of the East coast favorite. Sweet Dungeness crab served atop a toasted Acme torpedo roll with organic Straus butter and chives. Served with shoestring fries or greens on the side."

And here it is. You don't have to do much to sweet, fresh Dungeness crab to make it a show stopper. This was the best!

I enjoyed walking along Clipper Yacht Harbor where Fish is located and taking a couple of shots in this early summer perfect weather.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 5/26/2009

Previously reviewed:

September 23, 2008
May 25, 2008
August 14, 2007
February 10, 2007

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

Nice vegetarian selections

I felt in need of a fortifying yet light lunch the other day, and thought I'd see how Rumi was faring since the last visit. It is still bright and cheery with fresh flowers in the dining room.

And the freshly baked Taftoon bread came quickly with some sweet butter.

It was nice to see a vegetarian section which had a lot of choice. The rice was delicate and delicious, and the Vegetarian Gheymeh with its lime punch was a great antidote! The Vegetarian Gheymeh contains yellow split peas and caramelized onions and usually has cubes of tofu in it. The tofu was blended into the sauce in this case, which actually was quite good. The split peas and onions are simmered slowly in a tomato saffron sauce with a whole dried lime. I enjoyed it and hope to explore some of the other vegetarian choices in the future.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 4/20/2009

Previously reviewed:
March 17, 2009


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

Cute new spot in Sausalito

Dad and I got over to Cibo in Sausalito the other day for lunch, which I turned into brunch. It's a simple yet very elegant and pleasant place. It's great to see a new restaurant with all the closings in the past few months.

The freshly made lemonade with fresh mint in it in a large glass container on the counter looked SO good we had to have it. It was very refreshing.

Dad wanted a panini, so he ordered one stuffed with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, and pesto spread.

I went the brunch route and had their French Toast. Wow. I usually don't like thick French toast where it has been soaked all the way through, but this was quite the exception. It could even convert me to this style when executed so well. The interior of the French bread was the perfect texture, like a soft custard. The fruit that garnished it was a peak of flavor and the whole dish was fabulous. Cibo is only open for breakfast and lunch. I have a feeling this new restaurant will be a keeper here in Sausalito.

Restaurant Inspection Results
This one is so new, it's not listed. If you want to check on it, go to the County's main search page at: http://marin.ca.gegov.com/marin/search.cfm.

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

Early Father's Day brunch

Holidays such as those honoring our parents seem to fill up the restaurants with noisy hordes. My father is uncomfortable around noisy hordes since at 88 he has trouble hearing and trying to make sense of all the inputs around him. So it seemed the perfect solution to celebrate Father's Day a bit early. So we tried Il Fornaio's Sunday brunch in Corte Madera yesterday. And it was the right thing. Besides the food, Dad loved the friendliness of Alberto our waiter, not feeling rushed and of course, being able to carry on a good conversation.

We were delighted to see freshly squeezed juices on the menu. Dad enjoyed his small fresh orange juice.

While I was ecstatic over the taste of freshly squeezed grape juice. It bears no resemblance of the purple stuff in the store. It reminded me of my Uncle Jim and Aunt Dorothy's ranch where they grew grapes, and squeezed them fresh for juice in the morning as a special treat. I would come back just for this.

Dad was in the mood for Pancakes with pure New England Maple Syrup, and noted how good these fresh Italian flapjacks are.

I had a special Eggs Benedict - sauteed spinach, poached eggs and fresh crab cakes on filone bread with lobster cream sauce and parmesan; served with potatoes and caramelized onions.

I was impressed that the waiter inquired how done I'd like my eggs. I chose medium. I loved my breakfast. It all melded together and just burst with flavor. I was so impressed with how beautiful the eggs looked, I had to take a close up. The cantaloupe and strawberries were was at their peak and the fruit was a nice finishing touch. Dad enjoyed his early Father's Day all the way through, and Alberto was so kind and thoughtful to my father which also added to his delight with the outing. This is a wonderful place to treat anyone.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 2
Last inspected: 4/24/2009

Previously reviewed:
December 3, 2008
December 21, 2006

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

I'll Toast to that

Dad and I met our friend, Linda last month at the new location of Toast in Novato. It's a new location for the restaurant that had its start in Mill Valley, and is still quite popular there. I remember being impressed with their breakfasts, how would dinner at the new location be? It seemed a good sign that although we were on the early side, there was still a line to get in, and it is a large space. The new Toast has a clean and happy look inside that is sure to please the casual diner.

Dad ordered the Brick Chicken which is half a deboned chicken that is served atop potato dumplings, spinach drizzled with natural jus. He liked it so much he cleaned every last bit off the plate, and half a chicken is usually an automatic take home box for an uneaten portion with him.

Linda and I ordered a special, the Wasabi-encrusted Salmon which was served with fingerling potatoes and broccoli rab. It was all topped with some fresh thinly sliced cucumber and the sauce had a bit of dill. Linda substituted mashed potatoes for the fingerlings to good effect. I was afraid the wasabi might be overpowering, but it was PERFECT. I hope to find this on the special list again!

And after that half a chicken my Dad wanted dessert! He thoroughly enjoyed the TOAST Sundae.

Linda and I decided to share a dessert special which was described as a custard with fresh fruit made with a dessert wine. Sounded interesting and the cool fruit idea was tempting as it was still a hot day (although Toast does have air conditioning). Unfortunately this was the one thing that disappointed both of us, so much so that we sent it back. If the waiter had just said that it's a version of Zabaglione we would have gotten the picture immediately and chosen accordingly (probably not for that evening). However the picture of 'custard' set a very different expectation so I think that was a lot of the problem. Overall, Toast was a great experience and a good value. I recommend it and definitely will be back for dinner again.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 2
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 6/11/2009

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

Grant Avenue Cafe is toast

I was very sorry to read the report in the Marin IJ about the Grant Avenue Cafe fire that happened this morning. It was so badly burned it doesn't look like it will be back soon. It was a nice family run restaurant that I hope finds another home close by, or comes back to this one when it's rebuilt.

Miso to the rescue

When I was past the "Otter Pops" stage of being sick, the first thing I craved was miso soup. It's Japan's answer to Chicken Soup, but actually much better for you! "Miso soup is rich with antioxidants and protective fatty acids, and a healthy dose of Vitamin E. It also boasts protein and Vitamin B12, and a nice selection of minerals to help boost the strength of your immune system.", according to an article in AC Content. It certainly made me feel better as I had a small bowl for dinner each evening as I was feeling my appetite come back.

Luckily, I am right around the corner from Robata Grill and Sushi, so those helping me would stop by on the way and pick up the soup, and later the entrees that sounded nourishing. One of the first things after a succession of mild tofu dishes, such as yutofu, was their famous 'hella' roll. However, they were kind enough to modify it so that there was no raw fish ingredient, substituting shrimp for the tuna. I love raw tuna but thought it may not be the best thing to try early in the recovery process. After all though of all the things I ate, I do believe that the miso soup was the most health building. And it's said that a bowl a day keeps breast cancer away, so all the more reason to continue the good habit.

Fairfax find

Last month Dad and I made it over to Fairfax and found that Szechuan Chef was open. It is not open for lunch, so I've had to wait for a dinner time to try it. There are cheerful prints for the tablecloths, as well as window dressing. It seemed more popular as a take-out the night we were there as there were only a couple other parties there besides ourselves, and not at the same time. There were at least 10 parties grabbing take out bags when we were there. Although bright, the tables were in a bit of dissarray with the tablecloths on some tables rather wrinkled and skewed.

We chose to have a family style dinner option, so a very tasty and hot appetizer of spring rolls came out first.

Then our seaweed soup came out. We were shocked at the size of it. It had a nice flavor but we could have made an entire meal just from the eggrolls and soup. The photo is just my serving of it.

The first entree to come out was the Empress Prawns. I asked for mildly spicy, and the chef hit it right on. These prawns are VERY garlicky. However mixed with the carrots, bamboo shoots and sliced water chestnuts it was quite a hit with Dad and I. And we weren't going to visit anyone that night, so the garlic was just a healthy add.

The other entree we had was Vegetable Chow Mein. The vegetables were fresh and flavorful and the chow mein was perfectly al dente with just the right amount of sauce. I'd order this again in a heartbeat. We were also served by the owners son, who was very pleasant, friendly and added a positive note to our visit. I wouldn't take a date here, but for take out or a very casual (and cheap) family dinner it stacks up quite well.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 4
Last inspected: 3/11/2009

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

To Market, To Market

I roused myself out of the house today, I mean it's opening day of the new Mill Valley Farmers Market! How could I miss that! Now open for the season every Friday between 9 - 2.

It was smallish, but it was the opening day. There were plenty of people looking about and a nice variety of things to buy.

Whole Foods gave out free reusable bags, and I picked up a 'large' basket of Rainier Cherries for $7, and two of Sukki's samosas for $4. I had a samosa and left over Pad Thai for lunch, with a few of those luscious cherries for dessert. My appetite is returning!

What's Happened to Anna?

Hello my dear readers, I am sorry to have been suddenly absent so long. I fell ill with the H1N1 virus on May 16th, the evening of the previous post! For me, it was no 'mild' virus. It weakened my system such that I got follow on secondary infections. I am now recovering from those, double pneumonia and cellulitis on the lower right leg. My father fell ill on Saturday, we have to assume it is H1N1 too, however his symptoms are thankfully milder, and the Marin County Public Health department kindly sent over some Tamiflu for him. I have been surrounded by a wonderful doctor and staff, and good friends who are getting me through this. I am over the smell of food making me feel nauseous, however, I'm not in full food exploration mode yet, and have not been out of the house except to the doctor and hospital. I have turned the corner, and hope to be back to my usual adventures in the near future. But for now, it's still lots of rest and water. I will post as I can. Stay well!