San Francisco Fun continued

So after my teeth were declared quite fine, I meandered down past my old workplace walking through the green parkway of the Embarcadero Center and through Justin Herman Plaza. The building I spent more than 8 years in is building one, the one appearing smaller past the palm trees. My office was on the 2oth floor, facing the water towards the Golden Gate Bridge. While I was there, I rarely had time to enjoy the view.

And all the interesting activities constantly going on in the square right in front of me. On this day a happy man with all kinds of interesting pots and cans was 'sharing love' in an impromptu concert.

I always enjoyed looking and shopping at the Ferry Building when I had a chance, and thought I'd visit my favorite places since I had some extra time. Places such as The Imperial Tea Court, Book Passage, and Far West Funghi.

And I picked up some lunch at Delica rf1, an old favorite Japanese delicatessen.

The were starting to put things out on the table for the lunch crowd. I picked up an obento box for the ferry ride back.

Next I enjoyed the view while waiting for the Sausalito ferry.

Since the ferry ride back is only 30 minutes, I quickly set out my lunch, and the book that just hit the bookstore on Thursday, according to the clerk. The End of Food looks like it will be a thrilling read.

I chose a vegetarian bento box, and added a delicious looking onigiri with salmon bits. The box was as inventive, fresh and delicious as I expected, and the onigiri consisting of rice, salmon, sesame seeds and a strip of nori (laver seaweed) was also wonderful. The miso based mushroom and bamboo topping for the grilled tofu was especially flavorful. And I'm always amazed at the Japanese love of reinventing potato salad. There are a lot of good and good-for-you things at Delica rf1 so do try it if you are in the neighborhood! The only glitch in the transportation was an excessively long wait for the Golden Gate bus #22 at the Sausalito Ferry terminal for the last leg of my journey back to work. Although the terminal stop for that line IS the ferry terminal, the timing is not coordinated well with the arrival of the ferries for some inexplicable reason. There was a 41 minute lag between the ferry's arrival and the bus's. It doesn't take a lot of thought to figure that this kind of thing is precisely what discourages people from using public transportation.

Even dull tasks can be made fun

Friday was my six month dental exam. Like many who are reading this, I chose my dentist to be near my work so I could efficiently take care of teeth on the lunch hour. That worked for about 10 years, then I changed work locales, but I love my dentist! So I'm guaranteed a visit to San Francisco twice a year.

With all this hot weather, and a new Translink card all shiny and ready to try out, I chose to use public transit for my trip. And spare the air. Since I needed to come back to work, I drove there, parked the car and grabbed the #2 bus to San Francisco which dropped me off directly in front of the dentist's office! And, I was about 90 minutes early (the bus was quite efficient!), and I hadn't had breakfast, so I looked around. I noticed that an old favorite lunch place on Washington Street, Il Massimo, also served breakfast, which was quite a deal for $4.95!

First off, a delicious 12 oz cup of coffee is included in the price. The atmosphere was quite pleasant, being uncrowded with happy Italian music playing in the background.

I chose to have the breakfast sandwich on freshly baked whole wheat filone bread. The interior was a veggie delight being eggs cooked with spinach and mushrooms topped with provolone cheese. Il Massimo is a great place for breakfast or lunch if you are in the neighborhood. Tomorrow will continue my tale of fun in San Francisco.

Family Pizza

I enjoyed the fun family atmosphere over at Ghiringhelli's Pizzeria & Wine Bar in Fairfax with Dad the other night. It was one of those times when you feel transported back to a nostalgic small-town happy time.

Dad & I thought the pink lemonade at $5 a pitcher a bargain, then gasped when it came to the table. It was a BIG pitcher, and the photo here is with two large glasses already poured! Needless to say, we could hardly make a dent in it.

We ordered one of the thin crust artisan pizzas, the Funghi Misti. It was a unanimous hit, and the friendly waitress agreed with our choice being one of the best. The red onions and fresh thyme added to the roasted wild mushrooms was a fabulous combination. I wouldn't hesitate to come here again for a casual meal, and cute kiddie watching.

Eating pieces of art

Ever had a restaurant experience so perfect that you didn't want to go back and risk breaking the spell? This was my relationship to The Caprice. It wasn't so much the restaurant as the memorable romantic evening (although the restaurant was perfection that evening too). However, it was time to enjoy it again and make some new memories, so I enjoyed the evening, half reminiscing and mostly enjoying the excellent food and view.

First off was amuse Bouche one, creamy strawberry, peanut butter and foie gras, I wondered at this, but it was surprisingly refreshing.

Amuse Bouche two consisted of scallop sashimi with cracked lava salt and lemon oil (I think). Ooh, this was even better than the first.

And then arrived the first course I ordered, Shellfish 'chowder'. First carefully placed in the square bowl was the Lobster salad and consomme vello with some foam mounds and some purple basil flowers resting gently on top. Then from a silver pot the waitress poured the soup of fennel and creme fraiche gently around the artfully arranged ingredients. Not only pretty, but interesting and delicious!

Next is Amuse Bouche three, a refreshing basil lime sorbet pallet cleanser.

The second course arrives as Day Boat Scallops with foie gras, fiddlehead ferns, morels, pea leaves, and green garlic pea puree. Not only artful, but all was tasting perfect.

The dessert I chose was a "Rubarb and Strawberry" which consisted of a warm compote of those with Sicilian pistachio streusel, vanilla creme brulee, and 25 yr. balsamic. It was topped with a couple rings of a puff pastry. It was quite good and displayed dramatically in a bowl with large wings.

The Caprice is located past the traffic circle by the water and past the Tiburon Railroad-Ferry Depot Museum just a bit. There is parking across the street in a public lot.

Elephant rock is just before it, past the blue fencing. The proprietor told me that kids love to fish from it.

Since the glass obscures the view from the camera, I took a couple shots to show the kind of view there is from the restaurant. I noticed a lot of sailboat activity, and a ferry from Angel Island pass by during dinner.

This kind of scenery along with the washing of the waves underneath the dining room paired very well with the relaxing classical music playing during dinner. This is a beautiful place for a special evening.

Refined Thai

Arawan Thai Cuisine in Sausalito has been around for around ten years and is a local favorite. It has a comfortable yet visually interesting decor, and the staff makes everyone feel right at home.

For those who want to take a look at the menu before deciding, Arawan does one better and publishes photos of its dishes under its signpost by the door.

I ordered a simple Pad Thai for dinner, and found the rice noodles a refined smaller version of the ones I've seen elsewhere. These noodles held much more of the sauce than the normal ones and so gave a flavorful kick to the dish. There amount of shrimp was also generous (lots piled throughout the noodles). An intimate place, it would not only be good for romantic meetings but as a comfortable yet tasteful place to enjoy a meal.

Last reviewed:
March 5, 2007

Old Favorite in Santa Rosa

I was up north getting a haircut and Dad went along for the ride. He was so enjoying the vineyard scenery that we decided to head up Hwy 12 until we came upon a place for dinner that called to us. As we passed Kenwood, we remembered a casual but good Fish & Chips place that our friend Linda had introduced to us. Betty's Fish & Chips has been a long time family favorite of Linda's, and this was our second visit.

The interior was clean and inviting. It's a casual place, and there were locals with their dogs enjoying a meal on the outside where a few tables have been set up as well.

The fish batter is perfect, the main part being mostly Icelandic cod with just enough batter to crispy it up without overpowering the fish. The chips are made with fresh potatoes with their skins on, cut up in the back. The tartar sauce is smooth, without appreciable chunks in it, and well flavored. This would be a great place to relax and change gears from wine tasting to a good beer with the fish & chips. The service was friendly and prompt as well.

Anyone have the scoop?

The last few times I've been in Fairfax, I've noticed a 'closed' sign on Cafe Amsterdam's door. Anyone have the scoop on this? I've heard this is temporary, but no timing nor why...

Real Italian Chef Inside

In heavy report writing mode last week at the office, I looked up and it was nearly past lunchtime, so I stopped in after the rush was gone at Rustico on Caledonia in Sausalito. The bartender subbed as waiter as well, and was friendly as could be. The chef came out of the kitchen thinking lunch was past at 1:20 I'm sure, but then he noticed me.

As quick as a wink he wisked my breadbasket of foccacia slices away saying they were old, and do I like garlic bread? "Yes", I replied, and hearing his accent, asked if he was from Italy. "Just got off the boat!", he responded as he walked back into the kitchen, also hearing that I'd like a small Caesar to start. And in no time flat some tasty cheesy-garlic warm bread was placed in front of me. "You know we have a great meat lasagne today", he said temptingly. "I'm eating vegetarian these days", I responded with great control. (It's usually very rewarding to follow the recommendations of an Italian chef!)

And out came my well portioned and crisp Caesar salad.

And not long after I finished it, my Spaghetti Puttanesca followed. Ah! What a delight! Notice how the spaghetti is artfully swirled in a perfect pile, with no wild tendrils hanging out? The sauce was well integrated, clinging seductively to the al dente pasta. You could see well-bodied crushed tomato drops holding the pasta gently, all the way down its silken length. Imagine smoothly blended taste exploding freshly on your tongue with a finish of kalamata olive flavor. Ohh... I'll be back here for lunch again!

Previously reviewed:
December 17, 2006

Complete with butterflies

I'd overlooked this place for sometime, it just looked like a small bakery with a narrow footprint. Then I passed around the back of Debbie Does Dessert one evening, and saw what a lovely deck it opened out to the wooded path by the creek.

So Dad and I chose to have brunch there one recent weekend morning, just after it opened at 9. We had our choice of seats, and took a corner place at the back of the deck. It was so sunny and charming with bright yellow sunflowers gracing the tablecloths.

Dad tried the Crépe Compléte, a buckwheat crepe with eggs, ham and gruyere cheese, with country potatoes on the side. He loved it and asked when we would visit France, or this place again.

The woman who seemed to be the point person for everything effusively suggested Raul’s Heavenly Ratatouille Omelet, which is a very fluffy 3 egg omelet filled with Provencal vegetable ragout and gruyere. It was also served with French country potatoes and toast. The bread for the toast was made on premises and grilled. It certainly was a 'heavenly' combination! Towards the end of our breakfast, as if on cue, a lovely pale yellow butterfly with black markings fluttered and flitted around our table and throughout the deck, flying off into the sunlight when it had made its rounds. I'll have to come back some evening for the tapas!

View dining, and good too!

After some absence, I visited on old favorite, The Spinnaker in Sausalito which has one of the most fabulous dining views in the bay area. In previous visits the entrees were always fresh and fabulous, but the sides could be a little hit and miss. This time everything was 100% delicious.

The windows are floor to ceiling, and the restaurant is build out over the water which maximizes its already good vantage point. The seating is also arranged to maximize the views. I was sitting against the back wall, directly facing a bank of windows and the banquette was slightly elevated. The silhouettes of the happy romantic couples only added to the ambiance.

Remembering the crab potstickers as a special treat, I ordered them instead of the usual soup or salad starter. The ginger and cilantro Thai sauce goes very nicely with the crab stuffed dumplings.

And I had to give in to one of my favorite dishes, petrale sole dore. And not only was it delicious, but the sides were perfection. I especially liked the colorful medley of vegetables which were flash pan fried to a tender and crisp sensation which intensified the flavors.

The waiters are mostly men of a certain age, who immediately give you every confidence of flawless service. And certainly my waiter delivered on that. He was masterful - and despite my fullness, nearly had me ordering dessert! But this time I resisted. There was also a beautiful blue heron greeting people passing his way next to the restaurant. I tried to get his best side while waiting for the valet to bring my car.

They should add a dance floor

Positively peppy, the Cactus Cafe pleases again. Obviously the new management has found the right note from the music to the prompt and freshly prepared food. The charming waitresses looked like sisters and were so cute and happy and eager to please one couldn't come in in a bad mood and maintain it.

Nearly as soon as we sat, we were asked if we'd like some chips and salsa, and being hungry we said yes immediately. And in a jiffy, we had chips and two fresh salsas on the table.

The famous 'Bowls' have turned inside out into platters, although the moniker is the same as last time we visited. Dad wanted to have the Grilled Vegetable Bowl which had artichokes, summer squash and red onions among the grilled items. The platter is generously portioned and Dad enjoyed as much as he could eat of it.

I ventured out for the Tropical Bowl, which had succulent grilled shrimp and a chunky mango salsa which set off the shrimp very well. There is also a choice of black beans, but the both of us chose pinto, which were mellow and tasty. I'm heading here again the next time it rains it's so sunny on the inside!

Last reviewed:
October 25, 2006