Vietnamese Cuisine in Marin

Since there are now three restaurants in Marin serving Vietnamese food, I thought it time for a page featuring the choices.

Corte Madera
La Maison de la Reine

San Rafael
Pho Viet
Saigon Village

Pho Viet

We're lucky to have this authentic Vietnamese family run restaurant in Marin.  Owners Hoa and KimSa Lam have opened Pho Viet with  Cang Nguyen, Hoa's brother, managing daily operations with the former chef of Le Cheval in Oakland,  Tan Le in the kitchen.  Guests are always greeted warmly here and there always seems to be a stream of hungry fans coming in and out of the restaurant.

I was greeted warmly and urged to try the barbecued quail.  I've had quail before and usually don't choose them because of their small-boned nature.  I succumbed thinking that these must be something special to have them so enthusiastically offered.  And that was the right choice.  These temperature-hot pieces were so succulent and the tasty fresh lemon-pepper sauce did little to cool these, however it added a pleasant tang to the dish.  I would order these again without prompting.

What I had my mind on when driving to lunch was the vermicelli bowl, this one was barbecue chicken with egg roll.  Light and satisfying I was  happy with my 'bun'.  I actually had not planned to blog the visit, but thought that it was worth sharing and snapped these with my trusty phone camera without flash.

The staff also encouraged me to try their avocado shake, which was smooth and the little tapioca balls added fun and contrast to the drink.

The latest restaurant inspection results for Pho Viet are here.

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

Chinese Restaurants - Updated

                                                                                                                    photo credit: iStockphoto

Chinese restaurants in Marin

Corte Madera

P.F. Chang's 

Fairfax

Szechuan Chef

Greenbrae

Hunan First

Kentfield

Kin Wah Restaurant

Larkspur

DJ Chinese Cuisine

Mill Valley
Bamboo Hut - To be reviewed

Boo Koo - To be reviewed

Harmony
Lam's Kitchen (name changed from Lily Kai)

May Lee's

Novato

China Express

China House

China Palace

China Village

Dragon Cafe

FuZhou Super Buffet

Green Bamboo Restaurant - To be reviewed

Jenny Low's

Mandarin Restaurant - To be reviewed

Ming Yen

San Anselmo

Chinese Kitchen
China Villa

Hot Wok

San Rafael

California Bakery & Restaurant

Chrysanthemum

Combo King Restaurant

Confucius Restaurant

Happy Garden Restaurant - To be reviewed

House of Lee

King of the Roll II

Little Mandarin

Panda Express 

Peking Wok

Ping's Mandarin Restaurant

Savory Orient

Sunrise Donuts - To be reviewed

Tommy's Asian Bistro & Grill - To be reviewed

Uncle Wing

Yet Wah

Yu Shang

Sausalito
Feng Nian
Panda Express
Tommy's Wok


Tiburon
Lily Kai - To be reviewed
Ming's Restaurant


Other Bay Area Chinese

Richmond
168 Restaurant

San Francisco
Golden Gate Dim Sum
New Hong Kong
Shangri-La (Vegetarian)
Superior Palace
Ton Kiang

Santa Rosa
China Room

Palo Alto
Taipan

Practicing

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.

Chinese in Marin - the complete list

Chinese restaurants in Marin - Yipee! I've checked off having eaten at EVERY Chinese restaurant in Marin that I'm aware of, so it is time to revise and repost the complete list.

Please let me know what I've missed.

Chinese restaurants I've tried

Corte Madera
P.F. Chang's

Fairfax
China Village
Szechuan Chef

Greenbrae
Hunan First

Kentfield
Kin Wah Restaurant

Larkspur
DJ Chinese Cuisine

Mill Valley
Chinese Deli
Harmony
Lily Kai
May Lee's
Peking Wok
Young Can Wok

Novato
China Express
China House
China Palace
China Village
Dragon Cafe
FuZhou Super Buffet
Garden Court
Happy Garden
Ming Yen
Jenny Low's
Shanghai Garden

San Anselmo
Hot Wok
China Villa
Chinese Kitchen

San Rafael
Bamboo Garden
Chrysanthemum
Combo King Restaurant
Confucius Restaurant
House of Lee
King of the Roll II
Little Mandarin
Peking Wok
Ping's Mandarin Restaurant
Szechwan 7 Chinese Restaurant
Tsing Tao
Yet Wah
Yu Shang

Sausalito
Feng Nian
Panda Express
Tommy's Wok

Tiburon
Dynasty
Ming's Restaurant


Other Bay Area Chinese

Richmond
168 Restaurant

San Francisco
Golden Gate Dim Sum
New Hong Kong
Shangri-La (Vegetarian)
Superior Palace
Ton Kiang

Palo Alto
Taipan

French Food in Marin

Looks like I have only two more restaurants to review that are primarily French! If I've missed something, please leave me a comment. A votre santé!

French restaurants I've visited -

Corte Madera
Champagne French Bakery Cafe

Greenbrae
Cafe Z Epicerie

Larkspur
Left Bank

Mill Valley
Champagne French Bakery Cafe
La Boulange

Ross
Marche aux Fleurs

San Anselmo
Bistro 330

San Rafael
Le Chalet Basque Restaurant

Sausalito
Le Garage

Still on my list -

Mill Valley
El Paseo Restaurant

Novato
La Boulange

Although I wouldn't call most of these restaurants 'French', they do serve a very French food - Crepes! Some only serve crepes at brunch, so check the menus before choosing where to go.

Corte Madera
Champagne French Bakery Cafe

Greenbrae
Cafe Z Epicerie

Lagunitas
Valley Grove Cafe

Mill Valley
Champagne French Bakery Cafe
Piazza d'Angelo
Rain Tree Cafe

Novato
Hamilton Cafe
Mary's Place

San Anselmo
Easy Street Cafe

San Rafael
Crepevine
International House of Pancakes
Joe's Cafe

Sausalito
Il Piccolo Cafe Specialita Italiane
Murry Circle

Japanese Flavors in Marin

I finished the list, and then a new Japanese restaurant opened. It's great that we have so many options for Japanese food in Marin. "Fusion" in this group seems to mean 'serves more than one cuisine' rather than the actual fusion of the dishes. At any rate, I've updated the list!

Japanese and related Fusion

Corte Madera
Pacific Catch - Fusion

Larkspur
Fukusuke
King of the Roll
Sushi Ko

Mill Valley
Amberjack
Ino Sushi
May Lee's - Fusion
Robata Grill & Sushi
Samurai
Sushi Gourmet
Tsukiji Sushi

Novato
Masa's Sushi & Appetizer Bar
Matsuyama
Neo Tataki - Fusion
Sushi Holic
Taki Japanese Restaurant

San Anselmo
Sushi 69

San Rafael
Arigatou
Fujiyama Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Kamikaze
King of the Roll II - Fusion
Mikado Sushi
Sushi Boat Restaurant
Sushi-to-Dai-For
Tenkyu
Umi Sushi & Grill
Yu Shang Restaurant & Sushi Bar - Fusion

Sausalito
Sushi Ran
Sweet Ginger

Tiburon
Ginza Sushi

Japanese Restaurants reviewed elsewhere...

San Francisco
Ai Sushi
Anzu
Cha-ya
Delica rf1
Hime
Japanese Tea Garden (A nice place to enjoy Japanese Tea)
Kabuto
Kamakura
Oyaji
Shabu House
Sozai Restaurant & Sake Lounge
Sushi Bistro

San Franciso's Japantown
Izumiya
Juban
Kuishinbo
Kushi Tsuru
Mifune
Mifune Udon
Miyako
On the Bridge
Osakaya
Sanuki Udon
Sapporo-ya
Suzu
Takara

Sonoma County
Boat House Sushi
Gohan

East Bay
Tokyo

Choices in Indian Cuisine - Marin

Woman sorting Cardamom pods in Kerala

Photo credit: iStockphoto

We are lucky to have some wonderful choices of Indian cuisine in Marin County. Vegetarianism is widespread in India, and each restaurant has wonderful treats in store for those seeking a new take on vegetable-based dishes. Here is a summary of all the Indian restaurants in Marin.

Indian Restaurants I've explored

Fairfax
Cafe Lotus

Larkspur
Table Cafe

Mill Valley
Avatar's Punjab Burritos
India Palace

Novato
Anokha

San Rafael
Bombay Garden
India Village
Lotus Cuisine of India
Om South Indian Cuisine

Sausalito
Avatar's
Sartaj India Cafe

Homey Japanese in my backyard

When my friend Daniel came by the other evening, I thought I'd introduce him to a local Japanese restaurant with a very homey style, right in my back yard. Samurai in Mill Valley has been a place I keep returning to ever since I moved to Mill Valley in 1997.

The miso soup had depth and the brilliant flavor of the dashi shone through. The always favorite crisp cucumber salad was served up too. The big missing for me was the flavored potato appetizer which was signature dish of theirs, and always was served as part of the first round of food with the miso and salad. I was told not many people liked it, and it could be ordered from the 'sides' menu now ($2.50).

Daniel ruminated awhile over what the difference between 'grilled' and 'broiled' teriyaki chicken would be before settling on the grilled chicken teriyaki. He reported his chicken to be tasty, but vegetables were ice cold.

I glanced over the combination dinner choice which were always a good value at $13.50, and found, in keeping with many other places, prices had risen in the last year to $15. If you add back the simmered potato appetizer that was there last year the price for the same meal would be $17.50, or a $4 increase in one year. I decided I was in the mood for a simple Seafood Teppan. My vegetables were very uneven in temperature, some exceptionally hot, and others cold like Daniel's. The seafood however was a stand out in its variety and deliciousness. There was a piece of salmon, two scallops, four oysters and a couple prawns. These were head seared on the pan and had a lovely brown caramelized exterior. I loved this dish and vowed to come back for it again. We also had a very polite and helpful young man as a waiter who managed our table and service superbly.

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

Previously reviewed:
April 29, 2008
December 13, 2006

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

Thai Restaurants in Marin

photo credit: istockphoto

Well I managed to do it again, that is visit all the Thai restaurants in Marin at least once. Marin is fortunate to have a large number of very good Thai restaurants. I last summarized a list of reviews on November 26, 2008. Links to reviews on this blog, or other information about the restaurants appears organized by city below.

Thai Restaurants I've discovered

Corte Madera
Tub Tim Thai

Fairfax
Siam Lotus

Inverness
Thepmonggon Thai On The Bay

Larkspur
R'Noh Thai
Tha Siam

Mill Valley
Thep Lela

Novato
Chao Praya
Thai Bistro

San Anselmo
Lanna Thai Restaurant
Orchid Thai

San Rafael
Bankok Thai Express
Bay Thai Cuisine
Citrus & Spice
My Thai
Royal Thai Restaurant
Signature Thai
Thai Smile

Sausalito
Arawan Thai Cuisine
Kitti's Place
Thai Terrace

Other Greater Bay Area Thai places I've reviewed

San Francisco
Be My Guest

East Bay
Da Nang

Sonoma
Rins Thai
Sukhothai
Thailand Thai Cuisine

Middle East/Mediterranean

Moroccan Market (credit: iStockphoto)

The number of restaurants in a single definition "Persian" seem to be dwindling in Marin County, so rethinking the category, it seemed time to update the name to be more inclusive. Pondering the name, I did a little research and found there are a number of overlays that would be more inclusive of restaurants with a Near/Middle/Greater Middle East, North African or Mediterranean flavor. The term Mediterranean seems to have some popularity as a self-appellation in the Marin food scene as well as Middle East, so I go with those as the new title.

I don't have all the distinctions between the cuisines, but if I know that there is a particular area that the restaurant is emphasizing, I'll put that in parenthesis beside it. If you have information about a restaurant I've left off or mislabeled, please write a comment. Happy eating!

Those I have tried

Fairfax
Fair Fix Cafe (Middle Eastern selections)

Mill Valley
Asqew (Fusion)
Cafe del Soul (Fusion)
Dipsea (Falafel Burger, Greek Salad, Gyros)
Rain Tree Cafe (Mediterranean Menu)
Shelter Bay Cafe (Lunch selections)
Strawberry Gourmet Delicatessen (Mediterranean selections)

Novato
Sam's Place (Falafel available)
The Garden (Mediterranean)

San Anselmo
Bubba's Diner (Gyros)
Insalata's (Mediterranean/Middle East)

San Rafael
Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers (Falafel available)
Cafe Gratitude (Raw Mediterranean selections)
Crepevine (Mediterranean selections)
Falafel Hut (Middle Eastern)
Hanna's (Italian/Mediterranean)
Hatam Perisan Kabab House (Persian)
Rumi (Persian)
West End Cafe (Middle Eastern selections)

Sausalito
Bridgeway Cafe (American with Persian options)
Louie's Deli Cafe (Mediterranean selections)

Those yet to discover

Fairfax
Chad's Grill & Garden Cafe (Falafel Pita available at lunch)

Markets/Grocerers

Hatam (Persian & Mediterranean)
Jasmine Market (Mediterranean & Persian)

Greater Bay Area

La Mediterranee (Berkeley)
Tajine (San Francisco)

Japanese Restaurants in Marin, and Beyond

Sushi Holic's Special Vegetable Multigrain Roll

Well, I did it. I've visited every Japanese restaurant in Marin at least once. At least until the next new one opens up! I've visited a few in San Francisco as well, and that list is expanding too. If I'm missing any in Marin, please let me know!

Japanese Restaurants and others serving "Japanese" food (and link to my review, if I wrote one, or other info)

Corte Madera

Pacific Catch - Fusion

Larkspur

Fukusuke
King of the Roll
Sushi Ko

Mill Valley

Amberjack
Ino Sushi
May Lee's -Fusion
Robata Grill & Sushi
Samurai
Sushi Gourmet

Novato

Masa's Sushi & Appetizer Bar
Matsuyama
Neo Tataki
Sushi Holic
Taki Japanese Restaurant

San Anselmo

May Lee's Asian Bistro - Fusion
Sushi 69

San Rafael

Arigatou
Fujiyama Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Kamikaze
Mikado Sushi
Oedo Grill
Sushi Boat Restaurant
Sushi-to-Dai-For
Tenkyu
Umi Sushi & Grill
Yu Shang Restaurant & Sushi Bar - Fusion

Sausalito

Sushi Ran
Sweet Ginger
Tsukiji Sushi

Tiburon

Ginza Sushi

Japanese Restaurants reviewed in other places...

San Francisco

Ai Sushi
Anzu
Cha-ya
Delica rf1
Hime
Japanese Tea Garden (Not really a restaurant, but a nice place to enjoy Japanese Tea)
Kabuto
Kamakura
Oyaji
Shabu House
Sozai Restaurant & Sake Lounge
Sushi Bistro


San Francisco's Japantown

Izumiya
Juban
Kuishinbo
Kushi Tsuru
Mifune
Mifune Udon
Miyako
On the Bridge
Osakaya
Sanuki Udon
Sapporo-ya
Suzu
Takara


Other Greater Bay Area Places

Boat House Sushi
Tokyo

Oh what a beautiful day!

Winding up at the beginning of Saturday's mini-trip, Dad and I headed from Mill Valley to Thepmanggon Thai on the Bay in Inverness. Door to door,it was a 58 minute ride through hills, around a mountain and through redwoods to the west side of Tomales Bay. A Scotsman, Judge James Shafter, came here and named it after a place in Scotland. Some of his family still remain in this peaceful spot on Tomales Bay.

We arrived after usual lunch hours and so there was only one other party in the restaurant. Lucky them had been kayaking and their package included lunch at Thepmanggon. Noticing that it would not be a problem, I requested that our meal come in courses, and slowly so that we could savor the meal with the view. The staff timed the courses perfectly, starting with the Thai iced teas we ordered.

As we sipped we noticed how the interior, which had previously been a seafood restaurant called Barnaby's, had been transformed to a Thai hideaway. I also picked up a take out menu, and noticed that the restaurant had thoughtfully listed the health benefits of Thai ingredients:

Galangal (Thai ginger)
*Assists in digestion
*Cures hiccups

Lemongrass
*Reduces fevers
*Reduces headaches

Coconut Milk
*Lowers bad cholesterol while promoting good cholesterol
*Boosts immunity

Turmeric
*Helps those with arthritis
*Improves cardiovascular (heart) conditions

Thai Chilies
*Helps you sleep better
*Keeps your heart healthy

So we were definitely psyched for the meal! And soon our Taro Egg Rolls arrived. Stuffed with bean thread noodles, cabbage, taro, and carrot these light and crispy rolls were a hit with us.

The Tom Kha Soup served next transported me back to a very enjoyable time in my life when I first tasted this soup. I was spending a fun weekend in Pt. Townsend, WA and discovered it in a Thai restaurant there. This has to be the best one I've had since. The spices were so well blended and it was brimming with fresh and flavorful ingredients, with the protein choice being tofu. Dad and I savored this one especially slowly. I also loved the presentation in a traditional clay pot.

And while we were sipping we enjoyed the lovely view outside the window next to us. Dad was reminded of his young teenage years being a helper at a local resort, the Purple Pennant in Lake Steven, WA which was within walking distance from his home. I listened intently as he brought up details I hadn't heard before. Apparently, along with doing some room and boat cleaning, he helped guide guests to the parts of the lake that had the most fish.

As we were musing, the next dish arrived with a bowl of rice. The Asparagus Prawns sauteed in red curry sauce with Thai herbs and bell peppers was absolutely divine. The server had inquired about the spiciness level we liked, and the chef got it prefectly, mild yet with a hint of spiciness. Everything was so fresh and easy on the eye!

The other dish we tried wa Masaa Mun Curry, and we requested it with tofu instead of chicken. It also contains potatoes, carrots and onions with a topping of peanuts. The sauce seemed to be peanut based, and was quite good, and rich. We thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely, relaxing meal that was well-paced and given with thoughtful service. Thepmanggon is on the north end of Inverness, but well worth the extra way to enjoy.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 3
Noncritical: 11
Last inspected: 1/15/2009

Completing my list

I found that there is a new place in Novato with a Japanese twist. TJ's Take Out has been purchased and is transitioning the menu and signage to become Neo Tataki. The inside has been spiffed up with new paint and menu and the greetings and service are quite friendly.

There are a few Japanese crackers served as the rest of the order is prepared.

I thought the miso soup sounded like a good place to start. Although the bowl is a little nontraditional, the contents were delicious!

There was a distinct effort to make the presentation very pretty. The Philadelphia roll I ordered sported some decorative lettuce. There is a selection of sushi items every day.

Neo Tataki is more an ecletic neighborhood hang out than a formal restaurant and is not purely Japanese. Dad was happy that he could order a standard turkey and cheese sandwich while I was enjoying more exotic fare. Actually the sandwich was stuffed with veggies in a way that gave it some flair and spike of antioxidants. There is also free WiFi inside!

To my knowledge, I've now eaten at every Japanese Restaurant in Marin, including those which may just have the Japanese part as a sideline! We do have quite a variety, and I'll have to update the summary for Marin Japanese restaurants soon.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 2
Noncritical: 3
Last inspected: 12/15/2008

Tough times, literally

On our previous visit to Sushi ko we were quite impressed and enjoyed the experience immensely. We thought it a good time to revisit Sushi ko for dinner one recent evening.

Dad and I came early so there were only a couple other parties in the restaurant. It was clean and quiet and the service was prompt. My meal came with a miso soup, which came out promptly. The soup stock tasted great, but I was swishing around the bowl looking for the usual ingredients. There were only two very tiny cubes of tofu and a small piece of wakame inside. Miso is cloudy, so it wasn't as though they were trying to be decorative. When I finished the soup, the Chirashi Don that I ordered came out and looked gorgeous in its lacquer bowl.

The trouble began when I dipped my chopsticks down through the fish to grab a little rice. Clunk! The wooden sticks ran into something that wasn't giving way. There was a layer of nori (laver seaweed) on top of the rice. Putting sheet nori on rice in obentos (decorative lunchbox meals) is not uncommon in Japan, but they use TENDER nori sheets that are not a problem to break apart with your chopsticks. These were like old nori, where they've been kept in the cupboard too long and turned leather-like (yes, this is what happens to nori kept too long). Then, when I finally got to the rice, it was not sushi rice, just plain. I found myself obsessed with trying to taste the sweet sour vineagar and rice wine tang with every bite. Not a recipe for enjoying your meal. The only time I tasted a little tang was the small spot of rice under the ginger, and we know it wasn't because of it being sushi rice. The fish and seafood topping was fresh -- that's the only good thing other than the pretty appearance than can be said for this disappointing dish.

Dad had the Chicken Teriyaki entree which came with salad. Dad was obviously having a difficult time chewing the chicken. I noticed he had bitten into one end and was pulling hard with a fork on the other. The bottom line is that it was TOUGH. If you are squeamish, stop here. I kid you not, this is what happened next. I look down and when I look up, Dad is asking "Did I forget to put in my teeth?". My mind started racing as I see that his upper lip is sunk in, with no teeth to hold its shape! I was sure that he had his full set in when we left the house! Did he swallow them - oh no- oh he couldn't have, he'd be choking! I said lamely, "Are you sure that your uppers aren't in there somewhere? I mean really, how could a denture plate hide itself somewhere else in his mouth! Then he said, "Oh here, I've found them" as he puts his fork on the salad and pulls something toward him. Yes, there his teeth were, nested atop of the salad pearly side up with a stringy piece of chicken strip laying in the hollow! Oh the perils of eating out with the elderly! Someday I'm going to write a post on the traps that restaurants inadvertantly set, blocks to the ability of older people to enjoy a dinner out.

Now given our experience tonight, with my Dad muttering all the way home, "That's the toughest bird I ever ate", I can't imagine coming back in the near future. However, we had quite the opposite experience the previous visit, so all hope is not lost. I'll just have to get this visit out of my mind first...

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 3
Last inspected: 11/25/2008

Previously reviewed:
January 13, 2007

Space, transformed

I noticed that Napoli Pizza and Pasta has opened in a place that has been completely transformed from its former appearance. Donato, the owner, greeted Dad and I in a very friendly and helpful way, and we were on our way to a fabulous meal. Donato said that the restaurant has now been open for a couple months, and is holding its own in this down economy so far. Every guest that came in after us smiled and commented how the buzz is that this place is great!

The garlic and cheese bread was delivered bubbling not long after we ordered it. Yes, it was great!

Had we known what a basket of freshly baked bread would be served with the minestrone, we likely wouldn't have ordered the garlic cheese bread, good though it was.

And the minestrone was freshly made with lots of deliciously simmered vegetables tucked inside.

Surprisingly, Dad ate every last drop on his plate of Spinach Ravioli with Meat Sauce - even after all that bread. He asked when we could come back as we were leaving, so his feelings about the food are quite clear.

And I had a seafood pasta entitled "Capesante alle Provenciale". The dish was composed of sea scallops simmered in wine and garlic, topped with diced fresh tomatoes. The dish usually has a red sauce, but Donato was quite accomodating in making it a simple white sauce instead. This mixture was served over capellini. It was delicious, and the portion so generous (especially after the bread), that I could not finish it. And I would not hesitate to order it again. Donato told us of all the delightful desserts, but there was no way we could enjoy any further food and noted that we need to come and eat lightly some time so we can try the desserts. I would recommend this place for its warm and friendly atmosphere and the reasonably priced and delicious neighborhood Italian fare.

Sushi Magic

Sushi Gourmet is very much like the kind of sushi restaurant you would find in Japan -- it's all about sushi, not cooked items.

It's located in Mill Valley's Strawberry Village, not far from Starbuck's. It's always sparkling clean and everything is lined up with zen precision.

I started with some Nameko Miso Soup. Nameko Mushrooms are small and gelatinous, and considered great brain food with anti-tumor properties. The broth had depth and there were plenty of nameko and tofu cubes in it, making a nice balance.

I had a Crunch Dragon Roll for my entree, which consisted of tempura shrimp in the middle, and the rice wrap topped with eel and avocado. There were crunchy tobiko on top as a generous garnish. It was fresh, delicious and satisfying. The service was prompt and friendly as well.

Previously reviewed:
September 25, 2007

Picnic at Agate Beach

Jonathon, Toran and I struck out for Duxbury Reef at Agate Beach near Bolinas today, while Jo-Ann took Aurelia to a birthday party, and my Dad relaxed then had his exercise appointment. We packed a very impromtu picnic, and found some seating at the beach where we spread out the food and enjoyed an expansive view of the ocean.

Just sitting and listening to the waves and watching the surfers was quite relaxing. There must have been some Halloween revelry nearby as there were quite a few smashed pumpkin remains.

There were also a lot of dogs on the beach, so Bobby the dog fit right in. Duxbury Reef had a lot of tidal pools, and Toran had some amusement leaning over to see clams and being squirted in the eye! It was a lovely day

Comfort pizza on a dreary day

It was a dreary, rainy day earlier this week and some pizza seemed to be a good warming idea. Particularly since I found a parking spot nearby Pizza Antica in Mill Valley's Strawberry Village.

The Heirloom Potato, Caramelized Onion and White Truffle Oil pizza was a perfect fit. It was crunchy and comforting at the same time. Shook away the cold feeling from the rain. However, I was very sad that on this outing my trusty Sony Cybershot completely died. Or more precisely, the focus did. The photos were really wild, like a camera on some kind of trip. These were taken with my Nokia N95 camera, which can take some great shots, but it's rather uneven, and does terribly in low light. Luckily Pizza Antica has lots of windows which lightened things up despite the gray sky. I'll probably stick to home shots until the new and improved Cybershot that I ordered arrives...

Previously reviewed:
July 12, 2007