Green Friendly Brewpub

The weather has been quite summer-like! After a fun day at Marin French Cheese Company and browsing antique stores in Petaluma with Yukako and Mao on Saturday, Dad and I meandered over to Fairfax and drove by a most happening place. So we turned around, drove back and parked to try it out. Besides having great food and drink, Iron Springs Pub & Brewery is a green certified business, and has an interesting webpage of all the green efforts they've been making.

Having the most marvelous time with a dear friend who dropped by for an evening from parts mid-west, sharing all the marvelous dishes at Alegrias (a Spanish tapas place), veggie or not - I was sure to be completely veggie today. And I have to say that as a town I've found Fairfax to have the best veggie options as a whole of anywhere I've been in the US. That is, most restaurants have several veggie options which are actually appealing and tasty! Iron Springs was no exception with this Grilled Seasonal Vegetable Plate. I couldn't finish this big heap of wonderful flavors and textures! There were colorful grilled peppers, zucchini, eggplant, garlic mashed potatoes, crispy polenta and a garlic flavored mound of crisp green beans, bok choy and carrots. Kudos for making an array of flavors within the vegetables!

Dad was very happy with his Free Range Turkey Burger with fries. Iron Springs was filled to overflowing (to picnic tables on the sidewalk) with families, couples and everyone else enjoying what looked to be food bursting with flavor. The service was friendly and prompt and the atmosphere good. This experience is definitely worth repeating.

Always excellent

I grabbed a quick bite for lunch at Sushi Ran the other day. It can always be counted on for excellence. I tried their seafood soba and found it light and nutritious with lots of fresh seafood bits gently coddled in a light but flavorful broth. And we know how good soba is for you!

The spinach on top was freshly steeped in the broth and was both tender and colorful. This is a nice lunch I'll repeat again if it stays on the menu!

Previously reviewed:
July 2, 2007
May 10, 2007

Cute little bottle

I went again to Greens, so I thought I'd pull this cute little container out of the fridge and share for today! Good Belly is a probiotic drink that also has vitamins. It's surprisingly tart, but has a nice taste and goes down in an instant. The product contains a Swedish probiotic, Lp299v, which is a patented probiotic used by Swedish gastroenterologists to help their patients recover more quickly from surgery. I picked it up at Whole Foods, and will pick some up again next time I'm there as it is a pleasant way to get an immunity boost as well as vitamins.

Third Time is the Charm

I've tried visiting Gaspare's Pizzeria twice before, circling round the block trying to find parking. This is one popular pizzeria! Last night, I was lucky, there were a few parking spots available, right in the lot! This is a happy family place. There were two little girls (one looked like she'll grow up to be a sultry flamenco dancer, the other a Nordic beauty who looked quite sporty) who were SO excited to be at Gaspare's they jumped up on their toes and shouted together "Pizza!" right behind us. The other side by the bar seemed to be the romantic side, as when we left, couples were noticeably gazing deeply into each others eyes with wine glasses in hand. The side we were seated also had spectacular paintings of the Italian seaside, one being of Portofino above my Dad's head.

We decided to try the calamari fritti, and it was a great choice. It was a very large portion, a great value. Tender and perfectly battered this was the best calamari fritti I've had in a long time. If they would only change out the standard tartar and cocktail sauces with something a bit more contemporary (and not bottled tasting) people would come out of their way for this. As it is, just use the fresh lemon and it's plenty fine. We took enough home for me to make linguine and calamari today -- I'll just put these in the oven to reheat, and toss with some linguine which has been tossed with garlic, e.v.o.o. and red chili pepper flakes for a fab re-make. (Someday I'll have to make a post for "Doggie Bag Makeovers"). These were good enough that I might order some take out to transform into this linguine dish, no matter the driving distance from Mill Valley.

Dad & I tried Gaspare's Special pizza which consisted of Fresh Sliced Tomatoes, Roast Bell Peppers, Mozzarella & Feta Cheese and Tomato Sauce on very thin crust. I was quite excited to see how thin this crust was! However, I'm going to have to try a different pizza type next time to see if the sogginess of the middle (seemed almost doughy) was because of all the watery vegetables that were a top or not. Further from the center, the crust was just right. The green peppers seemed rather watery, without any crispness at all. The tomato sauce was just right, not too sweet, not too tangy, and it wasn't so much as to over power the pizza. Despite the sog problem, the pizza was well-balanced overall, and Dad told me all the way home (every two minutes) how much he enjoyed the food, pronouncing it 'just right'.

Dad wanted dessert, but didn't want to venture into the Italian specialties such as the cannoli siciliani, tiramisu, or spumone, but ordered the chocolate ice cream. He liked it so well it disappeared before I could even get my spoon pulled out of my dessert!

After asking for the raspberry sherbet, and finding that they were out of it (must have been those little girls behind us!), I asked for the spumone ice cream. It was wonderful with bits of candied fruit in most bites. The staff were all friendly and service was prompt with quick refills of the iced tea I sipped down as fast as Dad ate his ice cream. It also has an extensive menu of various well-known pasta dishes. A nice place to bring family, or just come and be comfortable.

Cheerful and Colorful

I had the most cheerful lunch in a brightly colored mosiaced setting yesterday. It had been a few years since my last visit to Picante in San Rafael, but the greeting was just as pleasant, the service prompt and friendly and it just felt happy to be there.

I couldn't resist starting with the aguas frescas of strawberry and pineapple. As delicious as it is refreshing!

I also had a Super Vegetarian Burrito which bursting with flavor and beautifully rolled together. I made a poor attempt using a dull knife to cut it open so you could see inside, but it was made picture perfect before I tried that. If you are in the neighborhood and have a yen for some tasty Mexican food, this would be a good place to stop.

An old Marin name in Italian

Joe's in San Rafael is not to be missed if you like the feel and taste of an old style Italian restaurant. It is family run, and there are a number of Joe's gracing various cities in Marin. Dad and I made our way here last evening for a friendly meal. And I was able to exorcise a first (and last) date from the past that took place the last time I visited this beautiful setting.

About the date, it was obvious from the beginning (to me) that it wasn't a 'match', and I twisted myself up into Celtic knots trying to kindly let this genuine, decent and deserving man understand that it wouldn't be a happy thing in the long run. He greeted me with a red rose at the door of Joe's, and after dinner we went to The Depot Bookstore in Mill Valley, where I picked "I Married Adventure" off the shelf and purchased it, commenting on what a cool marriage that would be, exploring the world together. I read a quote from the back "The essence of this story is that two people, very much in love, followed their dreams, living a life full of risks and far from the comforts of home." Meanwhile he got excited about cookbooks and said how he dreamed of making chicken soup at home for his love, and that he'd never been out of the country, and would be 'afraid' to step a foot out of the U.S. Sigh...

So back to present time, Dad and I each enjoyed a house salad which was lovely with lots of flavorful touches. The waitress had a very cheerful personality and commented how lucky I was to have my Dad with me, that hers was now living in a nursing home.

Dad ordered a 'side' of ravioli with meatball thinking the smaller size would suit his appetite. He loved it, and it was still too much, so we brought a doggie bag home for another meal. Yes, it was generously portioned even for a side dish size. He pronounced the meal 'great' and insisted on picking up the tab.

I had the linguine with clams in white sauce. My long time readers will have noticed what a favorite of mine this dish is. Those who love freshly made linguine rather than the dry style will want to come for this dish. It was the first thing I noticed about it, and these noodles were really great! The clam sauce was done nicely too, and mushrooms were added for interest. The reason that this place has been a fixture in Marin for years was once again demonstrated in our gracious greeting, superb service and delicious food.

Bargain Bite Sunday

Have you ever noticed that the Sunday paper looks more like an envelope to hold all the advertisements? And the Safeway insert caught my eye -- especially the Club Card Special on Wild caught Alaskan King Crab at $10.99 per pound. Needless to say, we ate Sunday dinner in. And it entirely consisted of specials from Safeway, except the Kewpie mayonnaise I already had on hand, oh, and the lemon from the lemon tree at work. So we started with the buy one get one free jumbo artichokes (with Kewpie mayo as the dip) and moved to the steamed Alaskan King Crab legs (steamed to heat them in filtered water and the juice of a lemon), with butter melted in individual cups over a candle flame to keep these warm. The butter was from a 3-day only coupon for a pound at 1.99. We finished it off with the buy one get one free Edwards key lime pie slices. I felt good about the 36% savings noted at the end of the receipt, and even better about having one of my favorite things, sweet and moist crab! (And I don't even want to think about the amount of fat in this meal....)

Last but not least

And this post marks completion of dining and reviewing ALL of the Thai restaurants in Marin! At least those that I know of, please leave a comment if I've missed a place inadvertently. And it's an old favorite I had not been to in a long time, Bangkok Thai Express.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that this Thai place still serves Shrimp Chips as a treat. This used to be customary at many Thai restaurants, but has disappeared in the last few years. These were crisp and had a great savory dipping sauce.

Speaking of sauces, the one that came with the Crispy Thai Express Veggie Rolls was superb! And the rolls were good too.

Bangkok Thai Express also got the spicing just right, without even asking. It was spicy, yet not so spicy we didn't enjoy it. The Baked Rice Fresh Pineapple dish was beautiful as well as delicious. We had them substitute tofu for the chicken, and it also contained prawns, pineapple, young corn, mushrooms and jasmine rice.

Our other main dish was Railroad Track Veggies with Tofu. It was made with wide rice noodles stir fried with vegetables and basil in a special garlic and Thai herb sauce. It was so good, Dad picked off every last visible piece from the serving plate! And we were each treated to a bottle of water -- with a note that they are treating their customers to a free bottle in celebration of their 18th year of business. Very friendly, very prompt and good food, what more could you ask?

Embraced in the arms of an Italian family

I've been itching to try a new Italian restaurant which has gone into the space Christopher's vacated in Novato. And last night Dad & I tried it out. Aurora Ristorante Italiano is run by a 'real' Aurora, who happens also to be REALLY Italian! On a busy Friday night, the first thing you notice is the 'din' when you open the door, but it is happy noise, and is much like stepping into a large Italian family's dining room.

Before you seen the street sign, you'll notice the enticing greenery around the deck, and the cheerfully lit deck itself. Since it was rather windy and cold, all of the patrons were inside when we arrived.

I had terrible luck with the photos I took. The Caesar salad that was so delightfully dressed, with homemade croutons and very fresh romain came out entirely fuzzy. But I would not hesitate to order it again. And the photo I took of the delightfully fresh capellini pomodoro that I had completely disappeared off my camera! It was made of fresh tomatoes, simmered just right, and had soft sweet pieces of onion flavoring it as well. Aurora brought over a large hunk of Parmesan and grated some fresh, dancing threads of it over my pasta. Dad enjoyed the rigatoni in meat sauce that managed to be the only decent food photo taken last night. Although he was a little grumpy at the noise level since he couldn't hear well, he likened this dish favorably to the food he had made by an Italian friend's mother on one of his furloughs during WWII. I will definitely visit this new found Italian family again!

Something to rave about

Last night was my night out, and I decided to try a place near home I've had my eye on for some time. Bungalow 44 seems to be ever popular and has a reputation for being a 'cougar' hang-out. Personally, I think it has a nice ambiance and good food which is good enough reason to go, and I did see a lot of well-dressed and coiffed creatures there.

I had the PERFECT salad to start, mixed organic greens with whole grain mustard dressing. It was so fresh and crisp, and the dressing was absolutely perfect.

Then I couldn't resist the lobster spaghetti, described as "Nuff said". Oh, but NOT enough said. This is something to rave about. The lobster was so succulent and I loved the addition of carrots and zucchini which was julienned in a style that mocked the spaghetti noodles. I'm afraid I didn't have room for dessert, but it was a tempting list too. Good service, interesting crowd.

Enjoying the waning light over Sausalito harbor

Inspired by a comment asking for my advice on where to have a bachelorette party within walking distance of the Sausalito Ferry Terminal, I decided to take Dad to Horizons last night when he wanted to have dinner 'by the water'. I also had visited earlier but with such spotty quality photos that it wasn't enough to make a good post. So I'm combining last night's visit with Dad with some prior unpublished photos for a mega-review of the food and views of Horizons. And Lynda can take a look (if this post is still in time!) to see for herself which dishes look the best!

There is a very nice view from the deck, and Dad & I enjoyed watching the parade of boats and ferries passing by from just inside the window.

Dad could see the San Francisco skyline behind me, and I had to turn around every once in awhile to enjoy it too. Especially when the lights started coming on and the city started shining like a string of jewels in a jeweler's case.

A Wednesday night before tourist season starts surely is a good time to get a nice seat in the dining room accented with warm wood seating.

Dad (87) was as happy as a clam since I took the stance of being delighted each and every time he told me the same story about meeting my mother last evening. Same goes for his fishing off the dock after work, sewing up sacks of feed grain and working with his water dog by his side on the farm stories. I guess it's much better to forever remember joy at meeting your true love than being able to recall what day it is, or what you had for lunch!

Now I'm going to just let the pictures speak for the food as everyone who ordered these dishes has reported that they were good! So the first is a big plate of oysters on the half shell.

Next up, fried calamari in a cone with aioli and cocktail sauces.

The clam chowder is excellent!

The Caesar salad is dressed just right!

The fish & chips made of tilapia are as delicious as pretty. (Dad & I split this order).

The seafood paella looks fabulous!

The day boat scallops with ravioli are art for the eyes as well as the tongue.

And the "Fishbowl Sundae" is surely big enough for a crowd, and it's Dad's favorite dessert here. Gas prices may be wild, the stock market wilder, the exchange rate surreal, but in the city called Sausalito meaning 'little willow grove' in Spanish (incidentally it was named so by a British Seaman, William Richardson), life goes on with happy moments strung like pearls on a silken thread.

Previously reviewed:
June 13, 2007
December 16, 2006

Convenient, Fast Mexican

I'm not a fan of to-go, so when a restaurant is ONLY to-go, it takes me a long time to get around to trying it. Any number of people said that I should try Lucinda's Mexican Food To Go, which is very close to my home, and so I made it a point when I needed a quick lunch last week to try it. It's very close to Strawberry Village in Mill Valley.

I was pleasantly surprised at the menu which offered brown rice as an option and touted a number of healthy improvements over standard Mexican fare. It is obviously a local favorite as there was a line out the door from when I arrived, and still when I left. I thought I'd try a couple things although sure I'd not finish (correct). First up was the bean and cheese tostada for which I chose black beans. Tasted great and I loved the finely sliced romaine. The person who made it thoughtfully put some waxed paper over the sour cream so it didnt' stick to the lid. The one thing I would do otherwise is replate this salad before eating. The ecological paper plate had a tendency to sog and I ended up cutting and eating pieces of it, thinking it was part of the tortilla!

Next up for sampling was the spinach quesadilla filled with spinach, tomatoes and sundried tomatoes, red onions and cheese. It wasn't my cup of tea, but all the ingredient were quite fresh and the sundried tomatoes were a nice flavorful touch (even though I don't like sundried tomatoes!). Fresh and quick, Lucinda's is nice to have in the neighborhood.

A dinner that makes me want to dance!

It was a beautiful evening yesterday, and after being reminded again of the precious moments of life by the death of a good friend's mother this weekend, I thought I should take Dad out somewhere special. A lot of times going out for somewhere special equates with heavy and indulgent, but I wanted the indulgent without the heavy, so we headed towards Greens in San Francisco.

Lingering for the view while the cool breezes blew was the first indulgence.

After we were seated comfortably inside, we started with a cup of the lentil soup with a roasted mustard seed garnish, which warmed us up and was heavenly. Lentil soup usually isn't thought of as 'light', but this was light and full of fresh flavors, including a touch of tamarind. It had some mild red peppers and what looked like quinoa in it among other things.

Dad kept commenting how the enchiladas were 'just right'! And he loved all the bright vegetables enclosed. Stuffed into the corn tortillas were butternut squash, sweet potatoes, grilled onions, poblano chilies, cheddar and salsa roja. On the side was tomatillo salsa, creme fraiche, Rancho Gordo beans and rainbow chard. No wonder he felt so good after finishing every last speck on his plate.

And I could hardly resist indulging in what was described as Mascarpone and Spring Onion Risotto Cake with griled asparagus, roasted carrots, turnips, meyer lemon cream and grana padano. This was beautiful to look at, and absolutely divine on the tongue. Tender vegetables gently immersed in the cream sauce almost had me begging for a spoon to enjoy every last drop (but I did resist that).

We continued on reading through the dessert menu with our sparkling fresh mint iced tea, and Dad chose an Apple Tarte Tatin with Buttermilk Ice Cream. I just had to try a bite of the ice cream since it seemed so novel. It was smooth and did have a slightly sour sweetness which would have contrasted nicely with the sweet apple tarte.

I chose the Walnut and Honey Torte with Lavender Ice Cream. I was afraid the nut and honey combination may be too sweet, like some pecan pies are, but it was perfectly balanced and the hint of lavender in the ice cream went very well. And after all this, I still felt so light I could have gone dancing! This place is highly recommendable if you would like to have a special dinner that includes a rainbow of colors and flavors.