How sweet it is!

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!

Easy breakfast

My friend Daniel tipped me off to Bridgeway Bagel in Sausalito, not far from my office. He said the bagels were good and the smoothies even better. I didn't try the smoothies, but I did have a double mocha (yum) and a breakfast bagel.

I chose a toasted onion bagel with egg and Swiss cheese. The service was friendly and prompt, and the tasty bagel was oozing with a very rich and smooth Swiss on perfectly cooked scrambled egg. I could make this a habit.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0
Noncritical: 6
Last inspected: 2/6/2009

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It's open!

I've been watching with interest the site of the former World Coffee Cafe as a sign appeared announcing the new Cafe Trio in San Rafael. A phone number recently appeared in the Montecito Plaza directory, so I called it one evening to find if it was open. The news was, that opening day was the next day, September 2nd. Guess who got up early to go with her father?

We were greeted warmly and found one woman eating pancakes (that looked wonderful) had preceded us. The menu was interesting, and I couldn't resist ordering the Vegan Benedict. It sounded so unique with tofu topping English muffins covered in a curry sauce. It was very good, and I would order it again. The curry sauce is made with coconut milk, however the kitchen didn't have it yet and I accepted a dairy substitution. It still was quite good. The potatoes were spiked with rosemary and the fruit was sweet. What wonderful palate awakener this dish was.

My father wanted something a little more traditional so ordered a mushroom, bacon and swiss omelet. He said it was tasty and the volume was more than he could finish. He especially appreciated the bread as it was hearty and looked like it was a home baked type, whether or not it was. I could smell it's fragrance across the table. The atmosphere had a bit of a middle east feel, and the interior has mixed neutral colors placed in a way that feels quite elegant. It also has a comfortable looking bar area. Another tidbit I heard was that Cafe Trio shares an owner with Aroma Cafe. I definitely recommend breakfast lovers try this place.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Cafe Trio has not yet been inspected.

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A hopping Sausalito Breakfast Place

I stopped by Taste of Rome in Sausalito the other day. One of those mornings that had a cool start and you know fall is coming around the corner. It was already quite the happening place with lots of folk with fork in one hand, MacBook Pro open in front of them. Others preferred a more convivial start to morning and were chatting to neighbors.

I decided it was time to try the Veggie Benedict. The first time around, there was a little glitch as a regular Eggs Benedict with rounds that looked like ham sticking out had an attempted delivery... I was so hungry and it looked SO good I almost became a carnivore for a meal. However I did bring it to their attention and as quick as a wink there was an apology and a very delicious freshly squeezed orange juice came my way on the house. They certainly had the guest relations down that morning, although I wouldn't expect anything other than what I actually ordered delivered as soon as they could. And soon enough the most delectable Veggie Benedict arrived. Poached eggs over sauteed spinach and mushrooms with a very tasty Hollandaise sauce. The eggs were cooked medium and the potatoes were perfect. There were two generous slices of fresh, sweet fruit on the plate as well. I enjoyed my meal and was very satisfied with how they turned things around with the mistake so quickly. I'll be back, friends in tow for another breakfast in the near future.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1
Noncritical: 4
Last inspected: 1/7/2009

Previously reviewed:
December 5, 2008

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Sipping in Monterey

Last week I was away for a couple days on business, missing a post or so. On the way back from Oxnard, we stopped into Monterey. I enjoyed strolling the old wharf and stopped in a cute coffee shop Plumes, for a little rest before meeting back up again with my business companions for dinner.

The place was cute, had WiFi and was pretty busy. Seemed popular with the Mac set and the staff were quite welcoming. The mocha was smooth and tasty too. I particularly liked the cup's cover design, made so that no matter where you gripped it, you wouldn't burn yourself.

I didn't take photos, but had a great dinner with business associates in nearby Carmel, at Robata Grill & Sake Bar located in "The Barnyard". We had tempura, edamame and agedashi tofu appetizers, followed by a table full (no exaggeration) of the finest nigiri sushi around. If you are in the Carmel area and have a craving for Japanese food I highly recommend this place.

Food for the mind and the tummy

Although The Depot Cafe in Mill Valley has been a favorite hang out of mine for a long time, and it has been some time since my last visit. The Depot is in the heart, and some might say IS the heart of Mill Valley. A former rail station converted to bookstore and cafe, it's a hub of activity on the weekends, and you may think you've come to a dog show there are so many handsome ones prancing about. The back of the building opens out into the square and there are tables where you can sit and watch the activity.

The Depot Cafe has a simple menu, and everything I've had here has promptly come out to the pick up area in good order. I ordered the "Quiche of the Day", which contained green beans, broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers and carrots. It was accompanied by a fresh spring salad. It was light and delicious and I'll have to keep it in mind for enjoying again for lunch again soon. This is also a great spot to meet people. Hang out with a book and coffee until you friends arrive!

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 1
Last inspected: 3/12/2009

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Another closure

I noticed as I sped by the other day that the oval "Northpoint Coffee Company" sign was off, and the lights were out. Apparently, it closed sometime in January. This place had the best view of the Sausalito harbor off the back deck! I hope someone does something fun and tasty with it soon!

Previously reviewed:
April 19, 2008
March 25, 2007

Coffee to the People!

[5/27/2009]Yes, I'm writing this post from Coffee to the People on Masonic in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. My day has gone sideways and life has taken over for me in the most elegant way. I gave up early on and just went with the flow....

I'm surrounded by large posters of Gandhi, Emma Goldman, Nelson Mandela, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, Frederick Douglass, Cesar Chavez, Chief Joseph and Martin Luther King to read the walls a bit. Why does it not surprise me that I'm also surrounded by Macs with their little white apples glowing all around? It's everything you would expect of a Haight coffee house.

Yes, even the coffees are unique and Fair Trade. I'm drinking Flower Power, a totally vegan mix of espresso, chai and soy milk. Sipping and writing, I'm reading words of People encouragement - bumper stickers pasted to the wall with such sage advice as:

"Live Simply that all May Simply Live"
"Be the change"
"Well-behaved women rarely make history"
"Support your local revolution" and so on.

I started the day by picking up Dr. Arya who was going to demonstrate an Ayurvedic healing technique, I was going to give him some papers, and finally we were going to meet a colleague for lunch. Long story short, I've been having a completely different, yet quite an enlightening day with him, and have three more of his books (Ayurveda for the Western Mind, Ayurveda: Holistic Technology of Self Healing, and Ayurvedic Panchkarma Simplified). Which I'm now going to start reading before picking him up to meet another friend at the New Delhi Restaurant, in San Francisco also. [Later note - this restaurant was excellent, but too dim to take photos and the flowing conversation didn't make it appropriate.] And of all coincidences, the friend who joined us lives only a few houses away from the Gadar Memorial Building! A place I'd never heard of before today. You never know what bits of history may be just around the corner in San Francisco!

Back to Coffee to the People - it's a cool coffee shop with interesting music - Beatles to World, and great coffee. Oh, and free wireless Internet connection.