Let's not take ourselves too seriously...

And actor Hugh Laurie is SO lucky!

Bolinas Businesses

When I visited the Coast Cafe in Bolinas, I checked around town to see what else was interesting. Just across the street is Smiley's Schooner Saloon which is one of the fourteen bars in California which have been in continuous existence for over 100 years. It serves 'light' meals, and also has a window for take out orders.

Then I saw the Bolinas People's Store which is a local favorite grocer. There were a lot of people hanging about in small groups and talking outside this place.

Then there is the Blue Heron Inn/Restaurant. From what I understand here and here, the restaurant portion is no longer running. A call to the phone was just answered by an voice mail system, and the recording did not mention anything about the restaurant. Their website is down as well. Bolinas is quite a relaxed town so it will be fun to do some further investigation!

English translation not needed

Keep your eye on the glass... These Japanese women are braver than I!

And the burgers were good too...

Another closure to report in San Rafael. Jason's Burger Joint has closed to reopen as "I Love Sushi". Reportedly, the same friendly family is running the new place, so I especially look forward to trying out the new Japanese restaurant in Marin!

Abundance creeps up

As you know, I share a CSA box from Capay Farm with my neighbor Jerrie each week. She has taken on the task of receiving and splitting it for which I'm very grateful. I'm continually surprised at how much fresh organic produce is in just half the box! And just how short a week is to use it. Lucky for me, the recently picked organic produce seems to have a much better shelf life than what can be purchased in most groceries. And you find yourself including some very healthy things in your diet that you may have passed by.

I like beets, but when you get a few every week, and you know that these keep well, before you know it you have about half a crisper drawer of beets! Lucky for me, my friend Cindy had a couple of unique suggestions. Simmering beets with carrots and onions in a savory broth of your choice is a surprisingly delicious option. Everything turns a bit ruby colored, but it lends a bit of intrigue to the dish.

I found myself with a big bunch of Italian flat leafed parsley, some broccoli and a leek which I hadn't managed to use last week. Some beautiful potatoes also came in yesterday's box. Dinner was born!

Since many people don't realize what a powerhouse of nutrition parsley is I thought that my simple dish was worth entering into this week's Weekend Herb Blogging which is celebrating its 4th year this week. Haalo from Cook (Almost) Anything (at Least) Once is hosting and who is now the master organizer after the originator, Kalyn, passed the torch on.

For a long time, I too observed parsley as a decoration. Sometimes the Norwegian relatives would butter up some potatoes and sprinkle some chopped parsley over them and toss. These would generally be served with white fish. The parsley was again really a pretty dress-up rather than an integral part of the dish, even though it was called "Parsleyed Potatoes".

My first realization that parsley could be something much more was when I was in college and a friend from the Middle East put as much chopped parsley as hamburger in a dish called kiftah. Wow, did it ever freshen up the meat!

Later I was introduced to Persian soup making where parsley is one of the main ingredients of several delicious soups. Persian Aash (soup) features copious amounts of green herbs.

[RECIPE]

For dinner last night, to solve my CSA abundance, I boiled some of its potatoes and used those as a bed for an herbed vegetable sauce. I sauteed a chopped clove of garlic with rounds of leek. Once the leek was sweating, I added broccoli flowerettes. The final touch before adding the saucier ingredients was adding about 2 cups of loosely packed Italian flat parsley leaves. Many would think that would be so much as to overpower the dish, but au contraire, it was the perfect thing to pick it up! To the vegetable - herb mix I added one can of Campbell's mushroom soup, and one can of Campbell's Cheddar Cheese soup. I stirred it to mix the soups thoroughly, added enough water to thin to my satisfaction and ladled the bubbling sauce over the freshly boiled potatoes.

[HEALTH BENEFITS]

Simply, where else with 2 tablespoons of an herb and 2.7 calories(!) can you get:

153.8% DV of Vitamin K
15.6% DV of Vitamin C
12.6% of Vitamin A
2.9% DV of folate
2.6% DV of iron

In 2 tablespoons!

I've also read that parsley contains volatile oils-particularly myristicin, which have been shown to inhibit tumor formation in animal studies, and particularly, tumor formation in the lungs.

The potato dish with parsley-leek-broccoli in mushroom-cheddar sauce was a taste hit with my father, and I liked it too!

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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Hidden in Santa Rosa

The photos didn't turn out too well for this lovely Chinese dinner my father and I had with our friend Linda in Santa Rosa. China Room is hidden in a little strip mall a block from Hwy 12. China Room makes their dishes with local organic foods.

We each ordered a dish to share. My Dad was in the mood for Chicken with Garden Vegetables. I tried some of the vegetables and they were obviously fresh and cooked just right. Dad and Linda both liked this dish.

Linda and I collaborated on the second two. Both liking Egg Foo Young (Prawn), we ordered their version, which is deep fried and a huge portion. We all liked it and expressed that it was particularly flavorful to each other as we took seconds.

We also ordered some Prawn Fried Rice. The small kernels of fresh corn and fresh green onion tops were dispersed nicely throughout the golden rice, and the fresh succulent prawns sang through to be the high note of the dish. We'll definitely come back here!

Restaurant Inspection Results
Critical: 4
Noncritical: 5
Last inspected: 8/21/2009

Shhh... it's in Bolinas

My father so enjoys drives over to and around West Marin. We woke up on Halloween morning to such fog that it was hard to see very far ahead over the deck. Ah! Perfect! No one will be going to the coast on such a foggy morning, I'll take Dad to Bolinas for a late breakfast at the Coast Cafe! It will be great to see the scenery in another 'mood', and with a very Halloween-y misty vibe.

Bolinas is having a very severe water shortage, so you are requested to ask for water if you desire it. It comes served in a very eco-friendly cup made of corn. If you haven't already heard, Bolinas likes its quiet nature and would prefer most visitors stay away. There are no signs pointing the way, and my GPS would only take me to the town, not being able to find "Wharf Street". Once I was in Bolinas however, the map clearly showed I was traveling on Wharf Road. Did the town strike a deal to keep its streets off searches?

Bolinas has a long time reputation for being artsy and off beat. Since it was Halloween, I was frequently unsure of weather the people I saw were in costume or not. The staff at the Coast Cafe were in costume, and very welcoming. It was nice to come in from the fog and sit by a cheery fire. The place had both a nautical and Halloween theme with lots of skeletons hanging about. They also obviously adored their local children as there was children's artwork on white placemats adorning the walls. There was a mix of older folk, aging hippy types, young eco-tourists from Washington's San Juan islands, and a cute child in a devil's costume. It is VERY laid back. The man in the cat-in-the-hat red and white striped hat was chatting away to the little girl on the other side of the restaurant, sitting and enjoying the moment. It took quite some time to get our breakfasts, and we noticed that things didn't really move in the kitchen until he went back in!

And the wait was well worth it as it was evident that attention and care went in to our breakfasts. I had the Blackstone Benedict with out the Bacon. It was obvious that they use the fresh local quality ingredients that they say they do. It tasted so. The potatoes were perfectly cooked as well as the benedict.

Dad had the Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble. He liked it, but said 'this is a FULL meal', which translates to 'too much food for me'. However he put a big dent in it and said it was very tasty. If you don't mind a laid back service when you know great food is coming you can't go wrong here.

I took some photos going to Bolinas, and back with some other photos of the town. I'll repost the link here when I write up the trip and other sites.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 6

Noncritical: 5

Last inspected: 7/16/2009

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Happy Halloween!

The Halloween Trick-or-Treating brigade! Toran (King Neptune) & Aurelia (Laura Ingalls Wilder) with their Uncle Glen and Jessica. Dad and I passed out the treats to the tots coming by while this group and Toran & Aurelia's parents, Jonathon & Jo-Ann went on the neighborhood trick or treat trail. What fun!

Awwwh say it isn't so!

I was walking past Debbie Does Dessert in San Anselmo and was so disappointed to see the shop closed and a "For Sale by Owner" sign in the front door. Debbie's has deck on the back that was in a joyful French country style. The deck overlooks a lovely creek with lots of green surrounding it; trees and moisture-loving plants are near the creek. Birds and butterflies frolic about nearby and I've seen butterflies sometimes land on the deck rail. The brunch menu was good and the food delightful! It was one of my favorite Marin brunch places. It looks empty inside and just waiting for the right person to birth its next incarnation.

The cheer factor

Dad and I decided to get back to Mama's Royal Cafe in Mill Valley at lunch time today, prompted in part by a buy 2 beverages + 1 entree and get 1 entree free coupon we received in one of those discount mailers. We were greeted warmly and invited to take any unfilled seat in the house. It was just as we remembered it, whimsical and psychedelic!

Dad wanted a burger, and because at 89 he has difficulty getting his mouth around burgers piled high with extras, he ordered the Nostalgia '57 without onion, but definitely including the 'secret sauce'. He LOVED his hamburger, but wished that there was something more interesting in his salad than just greens, cheese and Ranch dressing.

I decided the Black Sheep Crepe was for me. The crepe is filled with sauteed spinach and mushrooms, and topped with sour cream. I didn't notice until I got it that there was no cheese listed for the interior which I thought unusual for a crepe. However, I liked it this way. It had a fresh taste and the sour cream flavor was more prominent in this style. We came towards the end of lunch hour, and I'm not sure if that is why, but the potatoes were a bit crisp and dried out. Mama's has a long history in Mill Valley and is so unique and cheerful that who cares if the potatoes aren't quite perfect? We had a great lunch together.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 0

Last inspected: 9/29/2009

Previously reviewed:
August 3, 2008
October 24, 2006

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Lovely brunch

I was treated to brunch at Piazza d'Angelo in Mill Valley by some good friends one recent Sunday. We had a peaceful corner to ourselves (once the music from a speaker directly overhead was turned down). There were quite a number of delicious-sounding menu items, but we managed to choose.

Michael and I both chose the Wild Mushroom Frittata. We were being particularly precise about our opinions on the frittata. Michael thought it was a bit thin and overcooked, it could have been made a little fluffier for his taste. Personally, I was looking for the mushrooms. It didn't contain many to carry the moniker "Wild Mushroom Frittata". I thought the addition of the potatoes on the top was particularly decorative.

Michael's wife ordered the Pan Fried Trout. It looked luscious! She loved it, and we decided it was the best dish at the table.

Their older daughter was in the mood for veggies, so ordered a Grilled Vegetable Platter. She asked the waiter for some Parmesan and made quite a tasty and healthy dish for herself.

The younger one thought the Omelette Campagnolo sounded good with its filling of onion, mushrooms, bell peppers, fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese. She asked them to leave out the mushrooms, however it was served with mushrooms when it came. Our waiter was new to the restaurant so was still getting used to things. She just removed them and was ok about it.

Since it was a bit of an occasion we shared a couple of desserts. The first was a feather-light yet creamy Tiramisu. The chocolate shavings on the top gave it an extra air of festivity, and of course we chocolate lovers dove in!

The other dessert was an open pastry puff with pineapple flavored cream. There were small chunks of pineapple in the filling. It was light and sweetly satisfying. I was having difficulty with getting a good shot of this without shadows, so Michael took the photo on my camera from a different angle. Although there were some glitches in our service, having been here many times it was definitely the exception and I would not hesitate to come here again for delicious Italian food.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 1

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 7/21/2008

Previously reviewed:
November 7, 2007
April 27, 2007

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Home cooked meal

I just couldn't bear to go out in traffic again this evening after struggling just a short way home from Sausalito to Mill Valley. That cable snap incident closing the entire Bay Bridge has snarled traffic all over. So I sliced a beautiful red tomato out of my friend Linda's Glen Ellen garden, added E.V.O.O., rice vinegar, salt & pepper and enjoyed it while cooking the next thing.

While stopping at Molly Stone's for some goat milk, there was a man dressed as a chef (was he?) offering samples of a German Brie, double-cream with mushrooms. Oh, it was delightful! A triangle of it slipped in right next to the goat's milk in my cart. I also ended up with a bag of mixed lovely fresh pears.

I thought this creamy brie would make a great topping for my organic potatoes and thought that caramelizing a red onion for it would not be a bad idea either. So as the potato was boiling, I slowly sauteed a cut up organic red onion in E.V.O.O. Placing a layer of sliced cooked potato on my plate, I topped it with a generous amount of the very soft, sweet red onion. I placed some Champignon Brie slices on top of it all, and microwaved for about a minute. Dessert was a naked fresh pear. I'm glad I stayed home!

No Calorie Halloween Treat!

Photo credit: iStockphoto.com

Try "Scary Halloween Treats for Kids", a debut album of fun Halloween stories and songs by two of my good friends, Jo-Ann Moriyama-Gurish & Michael Pollock. Jo-Ann is a Marin mother of two lively elementary school students so it's a local find indeed. Scary Halloween Treats for kids is available as an album or individual tunes at iTunes.

Local organic find

I was intrigued to see a display of "North Coast" organic apple cider in Whole Foods the other day and took home a bottle to try.

It was one of those particularly cold days, so I had the idea of making mulled cider. It was good, and I thought of the Gravenstein apple orchards near Sebastopol and fun times at their August fair in years gone by. I'm going to pick up another bottle and have it again as the leaves continue to fall and the kids are out in the fields harvesting their Halloween pumpkins.

Home made dog food

In honor of Cookiecrumb's new family member, Bartlett.

Fresh bargain

One of my friends, Stephanie came to visit from Walnut Creek the other day and was in the mood for Chinese. Not having been to Little Mandarin in San Rafael for some time, I suggested this family run, happy and inexpensive place. So we met at Little Mandarin.

Immediately after sitting down, egg flower soup was placed on the table before we even ordered. It comes with the meals, so why not?

Stephanie loved her Cashew Chicken, fresh, hot and lots!

The Prawn Chow Mein I ordered was delicious too, with plump, fresh prawns in visible evidence of its name. It was so much, I took home a box for another meal. And mine was on the most expensive list of the menu at a reasonable $6.85. For a fresh hot meal at a bargain price, I haven't ever had a miss here.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 0

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 9/23/2009

Previously reviewed:
February 5, 2008

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A top ten

A few weeks (months?) ago, a comment was left encouraging me to make a top 10 list for Marin restaurants. She said she was moving to our fair county, and this would help her in transitioning. I mulled it over a lot (obviously). I find it problematic, since there are a lot of good restaurants in Marin, and the 'best' can depend on your mood, formal or casual, etc. However, I can say that when someone asks me about the 'best' restaurant in Marin, I know I do not steer them wrong when I send them to Sushi Ran in Sausalito.

One sunny day, I decided it would be my lunch destination. Pretty much whatever your lunch choice, a delicious bowl of miso soup precedes it.

When I saw that there was a Vegetarian Bento Box Lunch on the menu, I couldn't pass it up. From the left it includes, snap pea, fermented black bean & basil, grilled tofu (seemed to be a miso/sesame sauce on it), and a salad including cucumber, takuan (yellow radish pickle) and gobo (burdock root). It was accompanied by some rice I didn't get in the photo. It was all tasty and inventive as I'd expected. It was light, more like a model's lunch than a working woman's.

So I overdid it a bit and ordered two more add-ons. The first was a squash tempura. It was made with kabocha I believe and it was great. And filling. This would be lovely to share as an appetizer or accompaniment to a dinner.

I finished with some tamago (egg) nigiri sushi. It tasted great, and there was something just a little different about their rendition of the egg. I asked and was told that chicken stock is used rather than dashi in the ingredients. Ah ha! It was tasty! There are cheaper places to eat good Japanese food in Marin, however, if you want a real treat or don't want to chance it, you can't miss with Sushi Ran.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Critical: 3

Noncritical: 1

Last inspected: 2/25/2009

Previously reviewed:
April 12, 2008
July 2, 2007
May 10, 2007

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Breakfast Herbs

This is doable, this is SO doable, I think as I clip green in the early morning light. I have no garden space, and these herbs are grown in their shiny containers on the deck without any effect from the fact that they are not in their more natural habitat. A wisp of basil smell wafts to my nose, followed by a fresh minty scent. I will take these herbs directly inside to make a morning mint tea to sip while washing and preparing the basil leaves and green onions to join a fire engine red organic tomato grown on Capay Farms in a lemon yellow frittata for breakfast. Who knew that the good life comes so easily?

New restaurants popping up like flowers in spring

I received a tip that the new Antigua Mexican Grill that is in my Mill Valley backyard opened up! So that was my venue for last night's dinner. The place has absolutely been transformed! The space bears no resemblance to the previous Peking Wok that previously occupying the space. The color scheme incorporates warm oranges and orange leather chairs made in Mexico. It is a casual, yet upscale and warm feeling space. It must be a sign of an improving economy that a bunch of new restaurants are opening here in Marin.

First thing up was chips and salsa. I loved how the salsas were put into bottles that you poured from the amounts you wished into a bowls provided on the tables. You could taste the freshness in the green and red varieties. The chips were fine, but heating them would have taken these to the next level.

I decided to have a treat of some guacamole with these. It was fine, but for $7.50 I expected something a little more extraordinary.

The Prawn Fajitas were out of this world! The waiter recommended these, and he was right on the money! These came with three flour tortillas to wrap the goodness into. The portion was generous, so three didn't quite make it if you want to roll most of the grilled fajitas into a tortilla. Extra tortillas come in foil packet of three, and cost $.50 extra.

The side of rice, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream was also generously portioned. The Prawn Fajitas are priced at $13.95 (before the extra tortillas). I was happy to find out that the whole pinto beans were cooked vegetarian style, and that there is a nice selection of vegetarian items on the menu. The couple next to me ordered one of their large shared plates, I think it was called The Molcajetel. It came in a bowl with legs and the pieces were artfully arranged such that it almost looked alive! The couple gave it a thumbs up, and it was HUGE. The service was prompt and friendly, and all the patrons were checked in on regularly by staff and even the friendly owner, Mike. He said that they have a restaurant called QuiXote Grill in San Francisco as well.

Restaurant Inspection Results

Antigua Mexican Grill has not yet been inspected.

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