Wednesday, November 30, 2005 

reminiscing Berkeley eats

Zachary's Pizza
http://www.zacharys.com/

Consistently rated as one of the best pizza places in the Bay Area.


i'm not even a big fan of pizza but Zachary's pizza is in a class all by itself. their chicago-style deep-dish pizza's are THE best pizza i've ever had. there's something magical about their pizza sauce - there's something about the combination of spices they use, the sauce is so tasty and full of flavor. there's often a long wait to eat at Zachary's. unfortunately, Zachary's is located on Solano Ave., close but not within walking distance of the Berkeley campus. of course if you had a car or were willing to take the bus ou there, that's a different story. so my friends and i had to be content with only going to Zachary's a few times during our undergrad years.

you know what, it's been so long since i've been to Zachary's that i can't possibly do it justice by describing how i faintly remember how great the pizza was. definitely incentive to return and try it again so i can describe it more fully. =)

Caffe Strada
2300 College Ave.
(510) 843-5282

ahh, Caffe Strada. i have many fond memories of some great cafes in Berkeley...this is the place where i learned to love coffee. surprisingly, there was a time in my life when i did NOT like coffee (the follies of youth...). until college, i disliked coffee. could not understand why anyone would like or enjoy that vile, dark bitter liquid. but then i started drinking coffee because 1) it was necessary. i didn't drink it to wake up, i drank it to stay awake into the wee hours of the morning. 2) perhaps it was peer pressure. so many other people were drinking it and it seemed like such a mature and adult thing to do. (thank goodness smoking never interested me otherwise my lungs would be tar-filled. forget running!). and i had an epiphany after having my first mocha - coffee drinks did not have to be bitter! and the rest is history...

i think coffee is very much like red wine. to the neophyte, only what is sweet is considered good. but with time, your tastes become more refined and you begin to appreciate the complex flavors of the other options. um, in terms of red wine, i haven't arrived to that point yet. give me more time...

Caffe Strada is one of the nicest cafes in Berkeley b/c they have outdoor seating where you can catch up with friends or study and do some homework. i remember spending many evenings and weekends studying outside of Strada. last time i was there i might have been studying for the GRE...

Strada makes one of the world's best mocha bianca's (white mocha as it is known elsewhere).

Strada has some of the best, fresh whipped cream. it's so good it's like eating ice cream. this ain't no Cool Whip!

Cafe Milano
2522 Bancroft Way
(510) 644-3100

Cafe Milano was probably the cafe I frequented most during my undergrad years. it was centrally located on my way to class from my apartment. they also make great mocha bianca's. spent many hours studying here as well.

one thing you'll learn is that the cafes in Berkeley serve their coffee quite dark. dark roasted coffee with a very potent caffeine content is very typical of Berkeley. i don't know if it's b/c the undergrads need their caffeine but this is the most popular brew around Berkeley (and the Bay Area in general).

La Note
Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA
(510) 843 - 1535

http://www.themenupage.com/lanote.html


nope, unfortunately, haven't eaten here yet. definitely heard a lot about this place and look forward to trying it out and writing about it on my blog. =)

it's supposed to be a really cute place for a romantic weekend brunch. they serve provencal french food and their prices are very reasonable.

Chez Panisse Restaurant and Cafe

http://www.chezpanisse.com/

how can we mention the Berkeley food scene without mentioning Alice Water's Chez Panisse? unfortunately, i haven't eaten at this Berkeley (and national) food landmark. as an undergrad with limited financial resources, eating at establishments such as this is not very usual. they have a set menu every day so you arrive and eat what the chef (Alice Waters) decided to prepare that day (based on the freshest local ingredients in season). so you and everyone else in the restaurant have the exact same thing. quite an unsual concept.

1/24/06

Cheeseboard Collective Co-op

http://cheeseboardcollective.coop/

and how could i have forgotten to mention the Cheeseboard Collective Co-op? i remember going to their location on Shattuck and getting the freshly baked sesame baguettes and a wedge of brie...

it's too bad the Cheeseboard wasn't closer to the Berkeley campus.

before being introduced to the Cheeseboard, I would've scoffed at a simple meal of bread and cheese...yes, there was a time when i didn't like any kind of cheese other than mozarella on pizzas. but in undergrad, at the end of semester party in my french class, one girl brought some baguette and cheese and it was delicious. it was by far the best food at the party. i asked her where she got them and she told me she got them from the Cheeseboard. at the Cheeseboard, their baked goods are made fresh everyday and their menu varies day to day. in addition to their fabulous bread and pastries, they are also famous for their homemade pizzas which can be bought baked or ready-to-bake. (Arizmendi is their sister co-op so many items found in one location are found in another).

the cheeseboard also published a cookbook. they have a recipe for my favorite scones: corn-cherry. =) i have to try that recipe sometime and if i do, i will provide an update on how they turned out.

7:20 PM | |

Tuesday, November 29, 2005 

Susan's Faves in SF

a few of my favorite places in SF. these aren't fancy but they're the cozy, neighborhood places which define home. and most importantly, they have good food at good prices.


Arizmendi Bakery
http://www.arizmendibakery.org/




whenever i'm home, i look forward to my morning routine of going for a walk as i head to Arizmendi Bakery to get my coffee and occassionally, breakfast. i don't know if it's b/c i get to spend quality time with my family dog (who i only get to see twice a year) or b/c i get my dose of caffeine along with a warm pastry. their pecan rolls are decadent and i really like their corn cherry scones. their sesame baguettes are also wonderful...it was from Arizmendi's sister cooperative in Berkeley (The Cheeseboard) that i learned to love the combination of bread and cheese (particularly brie). Arizmendi's has a bread and pizza schedule - they bake and sell a variety of yummy goods which changes daily.

Crepe Vine
624 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122-2402
(415) 681-5858

Crepe Vine is a place where my friends and I have been going for years. they make awesome crepes, period. sweet or savory, they make it well. we usually go to the Crepe Vine for a weekend brunch. several of us are spread throughout the country now so it's a rare opportunity (usually only once or twice a year) where we gather around and catch up. of course we keep in touch via phone calls and email but nothing compares to actually spending time and sharing the comforting presence and companionship of old friends...

we order our crepes at the counter, then bring our drinks to our table and wait for our food to be brought to the table. brunch crepes are like omelettes in a crepe - think sausages, eggs, cheese, etc. the breakfast crepes come with a side of roasted potatoes. it's a hearty meal so it's difficult to finish.

one of my favorite dessert crepes is the Sunset - imagine -nutella spread on a warm crepe, filled with strawberries and banana slices, topped with whipped cream AND with a side of french vanilla ice cream. this crepe is one of the ultimates in comfy, feel-good desserts. the warm crepe brings out the sweetness of the fruit, the warm gooey melted nutella balanced the cool richness of the vanilla ice cream. my friends and i have been known just to go to the Crepe Vine in the evening just to share and indulge in a Sunset.

Bubble Tea

Wonderful Foods Co.
2110 Irving St.
415-731-6889

Double Rainbow (right next to Wonderful Foods)

Bubble Tea or Tapioca Milk Tea or Pearl Milk Tea is sweetened tea with milk, usually served with large black tapioca balls (hence the name). people usually either love or hate this drink. if you like British style tea with milk, you'll probably like this tea. however, i'm not sure whether or not you'll like the tapioca balls. i think some people like the idea of having to drink and chew this drink while this is too weird for others. this drink is somewhat addictive. as in, every now and then, i need my bubble tea "fix". it's not the same as needing a caffine "fix" but nonetheless something that i require every now and then for my sanity, health and happiness. =)

i'm not sure what the origin of these drinks are (taiwanese or Hong Kong?). but i was introduced to it years ago and have tried many bubble teas since. these drinks are becoming very popular and prevalent (even found in shopping malls in the west coast!). however, unfortunately, there are few places that make it well. one of my favorite bubble tea places is the Wonderful Foods Co. they make it well, consistently. and they have a huge variety, catering to tea, coffee and fruit lovers alike. you can get the traditional milk teas or your watermelon slushies, etc. the best part is, they use real fruit and ice cream in their drinks. none of that artificial flavor powder stuff. i remember once, i asked my dad to stop by Wonderful Foods on the way home straight from the airport... (hey, i figure i was patient enough, having to wait half a year to get my fix).

Double Rainbow right next door to Wonderful Foods on Irving St. is also very good.

Others:

Yank Sing (went there for my friends' wedding banquet - food was awesome)

Hing Lung (one in Chinatown makes the best thousand year egg/pork porridge - one of the ultimate comfort foods)

R & G Lounge (haven't been here yet but i've heard many good things from many friends. their seafood is supposed to be really good.)

8:20 PM | |

Monday, November 28, 2005 

Best of Boston

love food and trying out new dishes/restaurants/recipes so this is perfect for my blog. courtesy of the U of M alumni club of the greater boston area (with a few modifcations):

Best Restaurants

Best Overall
Blue Room
Elephant Walk
Chart House
Four Seasons
Legal Sea Foods
Clio
Olives
Boston Harbor Hotel
224 Boston Street
Blue Ginger (Wellesley)
Mistral
Radius
Lockobers

Most Romantic
Bay Tower
Upstairs on the Square
L’Espalier (Back Bay, Boston)
Top of the Hub
Aquitaine
Four Seasons
Blue Ginger (Wellesley)
Tapeo

Best Deal
Fire and Ice
Grendel’s Den
Anna’s Taqueria (Cambridge)
El Phoenix Room (Allston)
Delux Café
Tim’s Tavern
Artu
Pho Pasteur
Vinny Testa’s Bar Ristorante
Blue Ribbon
Sunset Grill
S & S Deli (Inman Square, Cambridge)

Best Italian
Marino Ristorante (Cambridge)
Terramia (North End, Boston)
Il Capriccio (Waltham)
Daily Catch
Appetito (South End)
Monica’s Restaurant (North End, Boston)
Famiglia Giorgio’s (North End, Boston)
Antonio’s (Beacon Hill, Boston)
Piccolo Nido (North End, Boston)
Cucina Italiana
Emma’s Pizza (Kendall Square, Cambridge)
Restaurant Pomodoro Pignoli D’Parma Restaurant (North End, Boston)
Il Panino

Best Chinese
Changsho (Cambridge)
New Shanghai
Sally Ling’s Restaurant (Boston/Newton)
Lotus Blossom (Brookline)
Chef Chang’s House (Brookline)
Yum Yum Restaurant Inc. (Somerville)
Carl’s Pagoda (Chinatown, Boston)
Mary Chung (Central Square, Cambridge)
Billy TSE (North End, Boston)
Chef Wok (Wellesley)
East Ocean City
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (Back Bay, Boston)
Chau Chow City

Best Mexican
Border Café (Harvard Square)
Picante Mexican Grill III
Sol Azteca (Brookline/Newton)
Boca Grande (Cambridge)
Anna’s Taqueria
Ole Mexican Grill
Casa Romero

Best Café/Coffee Shops
Someday Café (Davis Square, Somerville)
Peet’s Coffee
Cafe Sonsie
Feretti’s (Boston University Campus)

Best Ice Cream
Christina's
Ben & Jerry’s
J.P. Licks
Toscanini’s
Rancatore Ice Cream (Belmont)
Herrell’s

Best Pastries
Rialto
Finale
Mike’s Pastry Inc. (North End, Boston)
Cardullo’s (Harvard Square)
Modern Bakery (North End, Boston)
Pieces, a European Pastry Shop (Natick)
Rosie’s Bakery and Dessert Shop (Inman Square, Cambridge)

Best Bars
John Harvard’s
The Burren (Davis Square, Somerville)
Clery’s Bar & Restaurant
Sunset Grill (Allston)
Matt Murphy’s Pub
The Good Life (Cambridge)
Capri Pizza
Boston Beer Works
Wonder Bar
Jillian’s
The Kells (Allston)

Best Dim Sum
Hei La Moon
China Pearl

10:07 PM | |

 

Thanksgiving Weekend

a close friend of mine visited me in Boston over Thanksgiving weekend. i love it when friends visit b/c 1) i get to see them (not often enough, unfortunately) and inevitabely, whenever we get together, it means 2) good eating!

and this visit was no disappointment in the food department. we covered a lot of ground!

it was one of those times when getting lost was a fortunate incident. on the drive back from after thanksgiving shopping at the outlets, we got lost and took a slight detour...in which we end up in downtown Boston, near Newbury St. it was already early afternoon and we hadn't had lunch yet so it was a perfect opportunity to check out:

Cafe Sonsie
http://sonsieboston.com/

very cute cafe on Newbury St. grabbed a coffee there once and had been wanting to return to check it out for brunch/lunch sometime. ordered off their light cafe menu. i ordered a hot cubano sandwich which was pretty good. if you like ham and cheese sandwiches, you'll like this.

they're known for their weekend brunches - it's also supposedly a fun place to hang out at night. would like to try their brunch sometime. mmm, the idea of brunching in a cafe on a weekend morning, watching people pass by, then maybe even do some shopping nearby afterward - that sounds lovely. that would definitely be something to look forward to.

East Coast Grill
http://www.eastcoastgrill.net/

ECG is known for their fresh seafood and great BBQ. i've been there three times and have always enjoyed eating there. this is where i was first introduced to raw oysters (idea sounded a little revolting to me, until i actually tried it) and monkfish (known as poor man's lobster. this fish has the texture of lobster, go figure).

this time, i ordered their Uncle Bud's Trio Platter (again). it comes with BBQ ribs, brisket and pulled pork with beans, cornbread and a slice of watermelon. this is a great choice. my favorite is the brisket - so tender! last time i was there, we were seated near the kitchen and received a complimentary plate of fried plaintains. yum.

i also tried their mango caipirinha...love this stuff. it's a very potent drink but it's addictive. when i was first introduced to it, my reaction was - whoa, this stuff is strong! but then i liked it better with each consecutive sip. must be something about the sugar and limes and the fact that the liquor is made from sugar canes. something in it must've been talking to my sweet tooth...

Brick Alley Pub and Restaurant (Newport, RI)
http://www.brickalley.com/



it's this place we stumbled upon while we were visting Newport. there were many awards posted at the entrance so we were encouraged that this might actually be a good place. we were lucky enough to grab a few spots near the upstairs bar. lunch was indeed very good. my friend really enjoyed her lobster reuben (very fresh). I also had a very good, very fresh tilapia sandwich. the accompanying fries were perfect - cripsy outside, moist and piping hot inside. i was very thankful the food was not a disappointment. when you go on a road trip, it's always hit or miss when you eat at local restaurants. when it's a miss, it somehow mars the whole experience. but when the food is good, it makes the trip even better...


and before my friend left, of course we had to hit the North End for some Italian pastries. we went to:

Mike's Pastry

http://www.mikespastry.com/

my friend ordered a cannoli and tiramisu (she was very disappointed with their tiramisu but i had warned her, she didn't believe me). i ordered the nut jimmy rum upside down cake and a pistachio cookie and rainbow cake cookie for us to try. my friend liked the pistachio cookie, even though it is on the too sweet side. i liked the rainbow cake cookie. i didn't expect the marzipan layers but it was a pleasant surprise since I like marzipan (almond paste). unfortunately, i don't think Mike's makes very good coffee drinks anymore. my cappuccino was very disappointing, so was my friend's mocha. to get our coffee fix, we had to go next door to Cafe Vittoria's.

9:21 PM | |

 

Susan Says...begins...

ok, so this blog is a concession to all my friends who have been urging me to put together my food recs for good eats. by no means do i consider myself a connoisseur but i DO like the idea of sharing with friends which places i like to eat or hang out. i also enjoy cooking/baking when i have time so posts may include my attempts at new recipes. or it may simply be to share recipes i come across and sound interesting...

9:12 PM | |