Need some zzzzs. Dad had some memory issues at the end of day, then struck off on his own to come home, rather than waiting for his arranged ride from the library. After some searching, I called on our Mill Valley Police for some help, who found Dad and returned him no worse for the two hour 'adventure'. Needless to say, I'm more tired than usual, so will get back to food blogging tomorrow.

Secret lookout. Friday my client shared with me his secret lookout in San Francisco. The walk up a steep hill, and then some stairs was amply rewarded with this spectacular view! Native San Franciscans know all the secrets...

Supper Club - Chocolate! Our group decided on an unusual theme in my absence from the last Supper Club (Vietnamese). Everyone must have been enjoying the wine, because I thought it was a bit crazy -- a dinner where every dish had to contain some chocolate! Not wanting to bring a dessert, I took a meander through any of my cookbooks thought to perhaps contain something?! Yes, I do have a recipe for mole, but it wasn't stellar, and I wanted to be as unique as this Iron Chef type challenge called for. After some internet research, and a great tip from my client as to a spicy add-on, I came up with the Spicy Spinach Salad with chocolate dressing that I blogged in for Saturday. The rest of the menu was as follows:

Amuse Bouche

Savory Chocolate Napoleons - Tom H

Beverages

On-the-spot Chocolate Egg Creams! - Isadora

Appetizers

Zinfandel-filled Chocolates (more an appetizer than a dessert, with some additional Zinfandel to wash down or dilute the chocolate) - Emil

Starters

Spicy Spinach Salad with Chocolate Dressing - Anna

Chocolate Soup - Janis

Mains

Braised Short Ribs with Chocolate and Rosemary - Tom M

Roast Duck in a Chocolate Wine Sauce - Glenn

Sautéed Chicken Breast with a Sour Cream Mole Sauce - Stephanie

Sides

Chocolate Kahlua Sweet Potatoes - Karen

Holy Mole Frijoles - Isadora

Desserts

Milk Chocolate Mousse - Janis

Chocolate Covered Strawberries - Caren

(Holy) Mole Truffles - Tom H

My goodness -- We ate it all!!! Kudos to creative chefs!

Italian taste explosion! The other day I stopped into the Sausalito Gourmet Delicatessen for lunch on a sunny day, remembering their deck.

The deck is beautiful with all the flowers blooming, birds chirping and fountain flowing. It's a no-lose place on both the food and the relaxing atmosphere.

I ordered one of their newer creations, Prociutto di Parma sandwich with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil drizzled with oil and salted and peppered. Wow. Everything was cut fresh and sliced while I watched on the other side of the exotic European foods-containing case. I couldn't resist their delicious stuffed eggs that I had tried before. The woman who made my sandwich wished me in a happy lilting voice "Have a nice lunch" when handing me the tray. Simple things things like this have changed the course of history!

Finally a recipe! I know I've been short on the recipe side of my blog, I've just been soooo busy! But the Supper Club date came up, and so I found myself making a dish to share for that event, and I will share it with you for this week's Weekend Herb Blogging. This week it is hosted by Haalo at Cook (almost) Anything at least once. Weekend Herb Blogging was started by Kalyn at Kalyn's Kitchen, where an amazing compendium of South Beach Diet recipes can be found.

My herb of the week is serrano peppers. A few of the health benefits linked to chili pepper such as Serranos (as well as turmeric) include, 1) Lowered blood pressure and cholesterol, 2) Reduction in the frequency of headaches and migraines, 3) Improved cardiovascular health and increased circulation, 4) Increased metabolic rate, leading to weight loss, 5) Decreased frequency of colds, fevers and other respiratory problems, 6) Increased endorphin production (counteracts depression), 7) Anti-inflammatory benefits (arthritic conditions), 8) Nutritional benefits (hot peppers and spices are packed with vitamin A, C, beta-carotene, and other antioxidants) and 9) Improved digestive function (wards off flatulence and, in some cases, prevents ulcers).

My recipe is for an unusual salad flavor combination.

Spicy Spinach Salad with chocolate dressing

11 oz. organic baby spinach
1 orange serrano pepper, seeded, with rib removed and chopped finely
1.5 pints organic strawberries, washed and quartered
1 cup sliced almonds

Combine the above and toss together, adding chocolate dressing just prior to serving.

Chocolate dressing

1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup walnut oil
1/3 cup red raspberry white balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
2 tablespoons chocolate extract

Blend together until creamy in appearance, then pour into the salad and toss.

It's hard to imagine the taste of this from reading the recipe, but my Supper Club companions genuinely loved it; it's surprisingly delicious!

Belated Friday. It's been one of those crush weeks, but I did enjoy a lovely dinner with my neighbor Jerrie, at Marche aux Fleurs in Ross, a first time for both of us. I was excited to hear that her new book, Kismet, has just been published and am looking forward to reading it. It was a beautiful evening and the setting couldn't have been better. This s a place where you can actually hear your dinner companion, and enjoy a nice conversation. It was a bit dark to get a good photo of the outside, so I scanned their card in as an introduction.

Jerrie started with roasted carrot soup with chive oil, a nicely balanced soup with depth.

I tried the traditional French onion soup, and was rewarded with a beautiful rich broth well blended with soft onions and bubbling cheese.

Jerrie went on to try the Grilled Cedar River hanger steak, borlotti beans, chanterelle mushrooms, frisée, salsa verde which sounded so interesting. She asked for it rare, and they took her a little more literally than she meant, but she said the flavor was good although a little redder than she would like. The beans had a smoky flavor and the dish was nicely presented, as you can see.

I tried the spinach paperadelle with lamb meatballs in a zucchini and mint sauce with green garlic and a lovely soft cheese (I forgot the name, shame on me!). The pasta was so freshly homemade, and had a perfect bite. It was fresh, inventive and flavorful. This place thoroughly deserves its good reputation.

It had to happen. But let me tell you what later. Dad had a pretty big day with doctors and new things and all, so I coaxed out of him what he wanted to have for dinner. "An Irish place we've never been", came the reply. My brain whirled, then lighted on The Mayflower, where some years ago now, a date who plays bagpipes introduced me to, being familiar with it as a musician who played the venue. By sheer happenstance, we wandered into the pub on "Irish Music Tuesday". This has and will be happening for as far as my eye could follow down on a calendar composed of just Tuesdays.

We were greeted by a most warm and welcoming woman with a definite accent (Irish I supposed). She managed amazingly to work the entire room checking back with friendliness to all. I asked when the band would start, and she said, "Oh, sometime when they all roll in, one of them is sitting right next to you (gesturing to man at the next table). They're coming now, rolling in as they come." And roll in they did, one or two at a time until there were seven or eight musicians stuffed into a small corner, jamming those Irish tunes.

I looked down the menu with such items as "Gardenburger", and said to her that my Dad expressed a preference for Irish food, so which menu items were Irish? She made a sweeping gesture over the entire entree section of the menu and said, "All of them dear".

Dad chose the Fish & Chips. And then it happened, as I was snapping this shot. I will tell you still LATER in the post what happened here. I was having my doubts about bringing him here, he was starting to get a little cranky about not being able to read the menu in low light, and then the Fish & Chips were "too hot" and he couldn't see what he was eating. But the music started, and soon he was tapping his feet and telling the waitress that he used to play bugle in the army. All of a sudden, the food tasted good, and was a good quantity!

I ordered the Traditional Shepard's Pie. From past experience I knew this could be risky. But I'm sure glad I didn't order the soup with the crusty bread! Why! Well, because as I was snapping the shot of Dad's Fish & Chips, my small Sony Cybershot camera slipped out of my hand and landed right in my pie, making a goodly dent! Thank goodness for the buffer of the gooey cheese and mash. I tried spreading the cheese over the big rectangular dent, worried that I may have really ruined the nice presentation.. then I decided to pose it with the fork in the end to help disguise the damage. I think I managed that pretty well, don't you? The Shepard's Pie was pretty good comparing it to others in my memory, and having a smaller portion than others and adding a nicely balanced salad (you can't see the grape tomatoes or cucumbers and other goodies in this snap) makes it more attractive to order. Yes, this is a typical pub fare type place, including a selection of beers that match the flavors, and the experience with the music bringing the entire space together in toe-tapping as we munched made it definitely worth the trip.

Worth troubling yourself to find. At Jerrie's recommendation, I sought out Jason's when I was in the neighborhood. I circled about several times trying to nail this elusive location. It is in an improbable spot mixed amongst industrial buildings and car repair shops. But you CAN find it, if you persist!

This place obviously is a labor of love by someone who loves food and a good atmosphere. There is a very nice flow and decorations. This ruby-jewel-like Hawaiian Poke was absolutely as good as it looks, floated on a bed of crispy seasoned cucumbers. I could go back just for this! This dish has nice flavors, and a bit of a green seasoning which elevates the sensation of uniqueness in the dish.

The Granny Smith salad was no slouching dish either. Beautiful greens, curls of crunchy bacon, crisp Granny Smith apples and luscious raspberries made this salad a work of art that was a pleasure for both the eye and palate. Definitely recommendable!

Revisit at lunch. I dropped by Sushi Lin for lunch, but didn't have my camera. I enjoyed the soba with tempura shrimp and vegetables topping and a California roll. The soba (the skinny 'quick' noodle type) was ok, warm and filling - the topping was nicely lacey tempura. The California roll was fresh and inviting and was well executed. The staff were quite friendly and prompt. Would visit again for a quick and filling lunch.

Italian breakfast. I love slow mornings when I can be greeted by Antonio and listen to Italian opera in the idyllic atmosphere of Caffe Oggi, a slice of a bright Italian morning in Mill Valley. I've always wanted a home with wisteria growing around it, so that it's blooming so abundantly over the sign and walkway doesn't hurt my mood either. Dad & I revisited this old favorite, and I was hard pressed not to order my favorite vegetarian frittata, but to venture onto something new.

But first, Dad ordered a Spinach Omelet, however it really seemed to be a frittata as it wasn't folded over in omelet style. He enjoyed it except for the Italian toast, which I like because of its crispness, but it's a bit hard for elders to chew. When asked about the frittata, he replied "Great!" between bites.

I tried the Bacon & Egg Breakfast Sandwich. I loved that it had fresh tomato slices in it, and that the bread was soft and sturdy at the same time! It was great, and quite substantial. This is really a great place for a delicious and relaxing start to the day!

Spring has sprung with a bunny hop. We enjoyed a lovely Easter Picnic near Bootjack on Mt. Tamalpais. Wishing that all who read this had as beautiful a day with family and friends!

A little Brazilian music with lunch. I was surprised by the jazzy mellow music in the background as I waited for my lunch at the Pomodoro Pizza Cafe in Marin City. I was also surprised at how thoughtfully the place had been put together for a sleek yet warm design.

My meal came with a festive green salad included, and there was artistic flair in the white and green stripes of dressing. It was as good as it looks.

I ordered a Spinach, Cheese and Meatball Calzone, as I hadn't had one to my memory since I lived in Maryland in the 80's. It was rustic and delicious! The staff was attentive and friendly, and it was a very positive experience. I noted that breakfast is also served here daily. The waiter mentioned that pizza delivery is an option. Oh, and prices are reasonable too, one of the best values around!

Fun in Marin. My loyal readers may have noticed that a new section popped up in the side bar labeled "Fun in Marin". Unlike Sam's April Fools joke, this one is for real. No, I'm not leaving food blogging behind, but I do enjoy living in Marin, and thought as long as I'm collecting links about places and events here, I may as well share. You'll see it evolve and subdivide so that it will be easier to use, but for now, I'm just adding links to things Marin. Why now? Well, I started researching places for a Spring/Easter picnic celebration with my Groundwork business partners and families to enjoy tomorrow. So welcome along for the ride!

Dinner on the run. Wednesday night I had a meeting with the Marin Entrepreneurs at the Aroma Cafe, and little time between my Jin Shin Jyutsu treatment and the appointed time. Just at the parking lot outlet was Il Davide, which reminded me of a previous visit and how I wanted to blog the good experience there previously, but was sans camera. The interior is done in cheerful, earthy colors, with a beautiful mural on the lower dining area wall. And there was a wonderful guitarist playing Spanish guitar softly behind me.

The waiter was prompt, friendly and had a sense of humor. I ordered the Penne with Italian Sausage, Arugula, peppers and onions. My cheery waiter said as he was putting it down that it was so pretty I should take a picture of it, to which I replied "I will!". I did have to wonder if he saw me snapping the outside photo before I came in... I usually wait until after dinner so as not to give away my intent to write up the meal, but in the waning light, I took a chance for a better photo before I went in. My quite enjoyable meal was served and finished all within my alloted 30 minutes allowing me to be on time to my meeting around the corner. The well crafted penne was consistent with my positive visit the last time, and so I can unequivocally recommend this for an enjoyable dining experience.

Fresh Specials at Avatar's. I wrote a full review of Avatar's in Sausalito in January, and just recently about it's sister, casual Avatar's Punjab Burritos in Mill Valley. I was feeling a little illish from bending over a vexing computer most of the day (think complex PowerPoint animations) and just wanted a place to relax and eat something nourishing and healthy. Avatar's immediately came to mind. I didn't intend to blog the visit, but since the specials were so nice and I came away feeling much lighter than when I went in, I thought I should share my meal here.

Dad chose the Sea Bass with Roasted Vegetables in Curry Sauce. He ate everything on his plate and said it was the best Indian food he'd ever had!

I chose the Crab Enchiladas, it seemed like it would be light and healthy at the same time and I was quite curious as to what a combination of crab, pumpkin and curry could possibly taste like. The waiter said it was made with fresh crab, and that it was a dish that if you were asleep and dreamed of the most delicious dish, this would be the one in the dream. I did enjoy it, but if you expect to distinguish the taste of crab through such strong flavors as pumpkin and curry, you'd be disappointed. There was a generous portion of crab inside the enchiladas, as you can distinguish it by its texture. The spiciness (and I ordered mild!) also plays a part in hiding the delicate flavor of the crab. But for me it was perfect for being very nutritious, and light enough so that I really did feel much better than when I walked in the door. The friendly service didn't hurt either.

Smiling in San Rafael. Dad and I tried a new Thai place hidden away in a sleepy corner of San Rafael called Thai Smile. It's has a lived-in feel, but everyone from the chef to the greeter pay attention to making your meal great. It was our first time here, and we were favorably impressed.

Often to cut costs, or for lack of attention, ceiling treatments and lighting can be ignored in restaurants. I was impressed that although they didn't build out a beautiful ceiling, they added touches to make it more pleasant, like making 'sky' lights out of the fluorescents.

And the general ambiance of the place was good.

Our waiter, noticing that our table was bereft of flowers, brought over some pink carnations. Although there was the start of some browning around the edges of a few, it made the smell of them all the sweeter.

And the Thai Iced Tea was so richly brown in color!

I usually order lamb with trepidation, but my risk was rewarded. The BBQ Lamb was tender, cooked deftly, and seasoned to perfection.

We enjoyed our beta-carotene shot with the Pumpkin Curry which was not overly spicy hot. It's not easy guessing people's spice tolerance!

Now this was a dish worth coming back just for it! It was the first time I'd ever tried Basil Fried Rice with Shrimp, and there was a beautiful melding of the taste of basil with the other ingredients. Since this is in a quieter area of San Rafael, not far from Whole Foods, there was ample free street parking, and it is definitely recommendable for a casual lunch or dinner.

Twenty Years and going strong. This is a real neighborhood Italian Restaurant. Tucked away on a street where cars pass quickly on the way to Larkspur, Benissimo is a real cool find.

The Caesar salad was pretty standard, but it used crisp romaine and was refreshing.

I chose a Flat Iron Steak in Pomegranate sauce with mashed potatoes and spinach sauteed with garlic and red onions from the tempting specials. The steak was tender and seasoned to perfection, and the spinach was enlivened by the garlic and red onions.

Dad wanted to try the eggplant pizza, which he said was full of wonderful surprises. It had fresh basil, sauteed garlic, and fresh tomatoes as well as the grilled eggplant gracing a thin crust. With food and service like this, their success is assured for the next twenty years.

An old-fashioned community. I happened into Dave & Mike's Restaurant for lunch yesterday, after having my curiosity roused every time I passed and read their tag line - "An Adult Day Care Center". Now what could this mean in Tiburon?

I soon found out. The menu showed a simple breakfast and lunch menu, and when I started to ask about Dave and Mike, the woman behind the counter motioned to the kitchen and said "Mike's cooking". Looking around I saw lots of memorabilia from years past, and besides the customers of middling years, there were definitely a couple who were more my father's contemporaries, who moved a little slower. Everyone seemed to be friends.

I ordered a teriyaki chicken sandwich. Care is taken with the food here, simple as it is. No transfats, french fries are cooked in rice bran oil, and grilled items in corn oil. The chicken breast was well seasoned and had a moist interior. I enjoyed spending my lunch hour time warped in another era, when people had time to listen and share in a community space, and all were graciously welcomed. There's more than food served here.