Virbrant way to start the day

The staff welcomes you warmly, echoing the rich hues of the walls and deep wood tones of the tables. It's great to feel enveloped in good cheer first thing in the morning! We didn't arrive at the Barefoot Cafe when it opened at 7 a.m. but soon after. The Barefoot Cafe is conveniently located just across from the big open parking area in Fairfax, and right on the main road in and out of town.

I was drawn to their Spinach and Mushroom Frittata. It is one of the breakfast items which does not come with toast, however it comes with a couple of housemade salsas that are quite fresh and a taste pick me up for the egg dish.

Dad wanted something simple, so he ordered the Eggs with Turkey Sausage Patty. His came with wheat toast and breakfast potatoes. It was a generous portion and Dad said it was very good, and the eggs tasted like the ones he had growing up. I wish this place were closer as I would make it a point to enjoy the wonderful food and atmosphere at the Barefoot Cafe.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 10/1/2009

Previously reviewed:
February 25, 2008

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Who's got moussaka?

I recently made friends with an artist, Andi, who has been transplanted from Marin to British Colombia, Canada for a period of time, and who mentioned that she would miss moussaka when she returns to live here as we don't have any Greek restaurants. And that is true. However so very coincidentally, the same day she wrote me about it (yesterday) Dad and I went to lunch at the Rain Tree Cafe in Mill Valley.

And what did they have on their special Mediterranean menu rolled out earlier this year? Moussaka! Have I ever mentioned this dish is a weakness of mine? I thought I'd be clever and order it for Dad. ahh not. By the time it came, I knew it was destined for me. I now have a refill of B12. The bottom layer was made of thinly sliced potato, nestled atop the potato was sauteed eggplant and ground beef, with a creamy luscious bechamel sauce topping it off. And it was accompanied by a fresh mixed green salad, lightly dressed. I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this indulgence.

Meanwhile Dad ended up with the Veggie burger I had ordered for myself. Which he thoroughly enjoyed as well. It comes plainly served with condiments at the table to add to your taste. The wait service was well timed too. So there is at least one place in Marin where Andi can enjoy moussaka! And it may be the only one, as I called the usual suspects such as the Fair Fix Cafe in Fairfax, and checked The Garden in Novato's menu online and have yet to find another. If you know of someplace else serving moussaka in Marin, please write it in the comments so Andi has a choice when she returns home!

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 4/20/2009

Previously reviewed:
March 15, 2009
September 7, 2007
March 7, 2007

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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)

Expanded menu

Dad and I made a couple visits to Rain Tree Cafe in Mill Valley recently, one time for breakfast, and another for dinner.

My breakfast dish was the Tofu & Veggie Scrambled Eggs. It was full of fresh vegetables such as bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes teamed up with some soft tofu cubes. I liked their version of this a lot.

Dad wanted a simple Ham & Cheese omelet. He said it was great, and the potatoes were good too. I certainly looked appetizing.

For dinner, I had a lovely shrimp pasta. I could hardly finish the half of it though because it has a very rich cream sauce with mushrooms. It did taste good though!

We were quite attracted to the new Mediterranean menu. Dad tried the chicken kebab which came with grilled tomato, rice and pita bread. The kebab was bright with red sumac, and the chicken looked moist and plump. It was interesting to note that this delicious traditional Mediterranean meal has a more generous portion of meat than the Asqew skewers just across the street. The Rain Tree Cafe is a great choice for a simple, yet well made meal.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 0
Noncritical: 0
Last inspected: 4/30/2008

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

Previously reviewed:
September 7, 2007
March 7, 2007

Romantic!

The photo of the front doesn't do justice to Fork in San Anselmo. It was dark and rainy, and I wanted to post this soon, rather than wait for a sunny day to go back. The forecast calls for rain for several days. I had a most exquisite dinner here last night. If you're undecided about where to go with your honey for Valentine's Day -- GO HERE! They have a special His/Her Valentine's Menu as well. And I'm getting ahead of myself.

I was greeted warmly upon arrival, and since I was the first guest, offered my choice of seats. I chose a charming window seat in the side room. I was also in time for the prix fixe menu (Tues-Fri 5:30-6:15). Both menus had tempting items, however the prix fixe had original items at a very reasonable price ($29), so that's the one I chose from. Soon this little amuse bouche of fennel soup with lobster salad arrived. It was small and complex and a great start.

This Heirloom Chickory Salad was unbelievable. The ingredients were proportioned so that every bite was a wonderful mix of flavors with no one flavor dominating. This salad was a mixture of Fuji Apples, Hazelnuts, Balsamic, and Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese.

The Papparadelle that I chose as the main dish was over the top. It had Dungeness crab, fennel and frutti de mare gently tossed with house made wide noodles. The mussels were without the shell, and shrimp without its tail, taking away any object that could possibly be in between your lips and the fork. Every bite was tender and flavorful. The small rings of calamari were blissfully tender as well.

I finished with the Pecan Crostata which was served warm with a topping of Hychia Persimmon Cream surrounded by Bulleit Burbon Caramel. Beautiful and delicious, it was the perfect end. There was not even a hint of a misstep in this meal. The service, surroundings and food was perfect. The interior was zen perfect, the floor shone, and the chairs were all aligned perfectly, merely awaiting people to bring the scene alive. It appeared as though the room was freshly painted, although the server assured me it was last painted 4.5 years ago. The space is well cared for and you will be too at Fork.

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 1
Noncritical: 2
Last inspected: 6/10/2008

Celebrating Daniel's 40th Mediterranean style

My friend Daniel had a milestone birthday yesterday - 40! He invited a group of his friends and fans to La Mediterranee in Berkeley to celebrate.

Eight friendly and accomplished men, and two similar women were at the table enthralled with Daniel's amusing stories about living in Budapest and travels in Europe with Peter. Daniel embarrassed most of us with glowing introductions.

In one of those happy happenstances, all the veggie types ended up on my end of the table. Four of us banded together and ordered the Mediterranean Mezza, Vegetarian. This feast consisted of ten generous dishes, and there was plenty left to take home. The first thing to arrive was a large basket of whole wheat and plain pita bread.

Next came two dishes of Baba Ghanoush and Hummus. Simon, who lives nearby and comes to this place frequently said that there must be a new chef training as some of the dishes weren't quite up to standard. For example the Baba Ghanoush was lacking a characteristic smoky taste. It was still good.

Next was the smooth Levant Sandwich which consisted of cream cheese, herbs, cucumbers, lettuce, feta cheese and tomato rolled in Levantine bread.

Blocks of feta cheese with black olives arrived next.

This Armenian Potato salad is usually more lemon and herb-y according to Simon, but it tasted good as it was as well.

We all agreed that this Tabuleh was excellent, with lots of green fresh bits.

These Dolmas are not to be missed, with their delicious interiors of rice, nuts and currants and scented with exotic spices.

The Grecian Spinach and Feta Fillo were fabulous!

And there were Cheese Karni Fillo as well!

We were served a kind of mushroom and cream cheese tart which I couldn't find a description of on the menu. By this time I could only manage a little cut from a larger piece, this was one filling mezza! The others at the table seemed to have ordered various types of kababs over rice, and the plates were clean, indicating that the carnivores enjoyed their repast as well.

Many of us enjoyed hot, sweet Moroccan Mint tea and Baklava. The Baklava triangles were quite large, and were accompanied by a thick rich whipped cream. Of course Daniel's was accompanied by a flaming candle as we sang Happy Birthday. La Mediterranee is recommendable for a comfortable, casual meal, even with the new chef. Another day with another chef might bring it over the top!

NOTE: I forgot to add that one of the guests last night, Jack Passion, is the World Title Holder for a "Natural Full Beard" and a rock musician, a very interesting person.

Why did it take me so long?

In a few days, I will celebrate the 11th anniversary of moving into my condo. And most if not all of that time, there was a sparkling little deli just around the corner, and I hadn't found the time to visit. Shelter Bay Cafe has some nice lunch selections, and some great Middle Eastern/Mediterranean type choices as well. The staff is friendly, prompt and very helpful.

I tried the Mediterranean wrap. It was full of lentils, rice, falafel, humus, cucumbers and tomatoes and I believe tahini sauce. I would order this tasty item again in a heartbeat.

And no one could complain about the view. A friendly woman asked if she could share my table, and we had a nice chat. She works in the office and had nothing but good things to say about the staff and the great food she consistently gets here. Nice to have a confirming second opinion. I also noticed a good selection of breakfast items. I'll have to try breakfast here next!

In search of Greek food

A friend of mine had a taste for Greek food and all I could think of in Marin County was Fair Fix in Fairfax. So we went to find that it was not Greek, but Mediterranean. Close enough for me, but not for my friend, so I made a mental note to come back and try it. Fair Fix has been a fixture (pun intended) for a long time in the community, and locals feel comfortable hanging out here with an eclectic mix of suits, barefeet in sandals and dreadlocks.

Noticing a Couscous plate on the menu brought me back to student days in Paris, enjoying couscous on the Left Bank. Unfortunately the comparison left this plate wanting. The couscous of my memory had flavorful stewed vegetables while these, although fresh and good quality, were rather watery and bland. The couscous rather than being a soft and fragrant foil for the vegetables was rather crunchy and tasted dry. I really loved the fresh carrot-orange-ginger juice though! It has other interesting Mediterranean dishes I'd like to come back and try. I understand Aroma Cafe in San Rafael is a sister cafe. The cafe is cash only, and they offer free Wi-Fi (it also occurs more as a coffee house than a cafe).

Feminine and green. The Garden Restaurant is tucked away along Hwy 101 in Novato. It's a little like visiting your aunt's house, with a Mediterranean flair. Delicate sheer embroidered curtains, nice artwork, and a relaxing patio help set the tone. The waitstaff were quite friendly and prompt.

A tray of bread and a creamy, cheesy sundried tomato-tinged butter was served quickly while deciding on a dinner choice.

The French Onion soup looked inviting, and was as good as it looks.

The Garden Vegetarian Platter came promptly afterwards, hot from the grill with tender and smoky-grilled taste for the vegetables, with a generous serving of hummus and a couple of pita quarters. Also on the platter were falafels (a tad too dark), tabouli, and a rice and lentil pilaf. Very good, and enough to share or take home another meal.

Italian with a Middle Eastern flair. I had a very busy day, and Dad didn't leave the house so we decided to go afield for a little gastronomic adventure for dinner this evening. I drove to San Rafael, and recalled that there were a number of interesting restaurants further north on fourth street than I usually venture. When we drove to the north end, I noticed Hanna's and remembered a great meal there from my pre-blogging days and asked Dad if he were in the mood for Italian. He concurred so we stopped in at Hanna's which was already busy at 7 p.m. with Friday night diners. Who I later discovered to be the owner, Mr. Hanna Anki, warmly greeted us and we were seated in the wine bar area as the restaurant was full. It was a bit more bustling than would be a restful meal in that location, however, the plus side was that I had a great view of all the dishes coming out of the kitchen which looked very well executed.



Dad & I both started with the Fatoush Salad, a lightly dressed romaine salad with cucumbers tomatoes, feta cheese (was so smooth I suspect it was French Feta), and crunchy pita triangles. It was a light, crisp and flavorful start to the meal.



I followed that with the intriguing sounding "Pork Loin Scallopini - With ginger orange creame sauce". The pork cut was the loin, thinly cut, but short of what I would consider "scallopini" thickness. It was nicely seared so the juices caramelized on the outside and left the center tender. The saffron rice was a nice accompaniment, and the sauce was not a coat-the-spoon type, but a thinner flavorful cream. The broccoli was cooked crisp-done, and retained its nice green color. You'll notice that this presentation is more of a family-style look rather than the haute cuisine which would likely have the sauce more decoratively placed on the plate.




Dad enjoyed the tender lamb shish-kababs over saffron rice and flat bread. He enjoyed the yogurt-cucumber dipping sauce as well. Hanna's has the lived-in air of a well-loved neighborhood restaurant. Nice garden green entrance, cheerful lights outlining the windows, and candles on every table. It's a place where you are not afraid to come laugh out loud with your friends and enjoy the warmth of Mediterranean hospitality. I'll definitely not wait so long to return this time!