March Birthdays = Excuse to INDULGE

March is a delicious month to celebrate birthdays, and I'm lucky to have been a part of the celebratory eats.  Dru and Kuya Mike- thanks for being a year older and happy birthday again!

Now- on to the goods.   

BEWARE! The following is NOT for Vegetarians & Vegans, or anyone with meat-phobia.  To the rest of the carnivorous population: you may want to add this next restaurant on your food bucket list.

Ladies and Gents, I present to you SF's famous Brazilian Steakhouse: "Espetus Churrascaria." 

Some facts/ first impressions:  $50/person.  Big, loud, Spanish-artsy ambiance.  Great for parties.  Friendly staff.

First you start off at the salad bar/buffet where you can get appetizers, like salads, paella, rice, fruits, couscous (whatever you want to pair the meat with).   Then the real fun begins.   

  

Upon sitting down from the perusal through the salad bar, all sorts of glorious meat in skewers started appearing.  They were attached to waiters with huge carving knives, ready to cut us a piece of succulent meat.   My favorite was the garlic steak, which I was too busy drooling over to capture a picture.  However, I was able to get a couple of mouth-watering shots.

 

Medium-Rare Top Sirloin Steak

Tender & Juicy.  Tasted excellent with the red sangria.

Beef Ribs 

 

This is how my plate looked 90% of the meal

 My plate was overflowing with meat, and the WHITE sangria (that I have never tried before) was off the hook.  When I thought I had made a dent on my plate, a waiter with a skewer of pork tenderloin or lamb chops would materialize out of nowhere.  Because my eyes are usually bigger than my stomach, I ended up obliging 98% of the time to the meat-wielding waiters.  One dish I was surprised that I enjoyed was the garlicky, tender chicken heart.  Sorry- no pic, but maybe it's better that way? =)

 Dulce De Leche Crepes

After all that meat, we needed a palate change and HAD to have dessert.  We ordered the Dulce De Leche Crepes, which sounded amazing.  Too bad it was every diabetic's worst nightmare.  At least there was vanilla ice cream to offset the caramel sweetness.  In the end, we ended up leaving a "Dulce de Leche" massacre on the plate. 

Although it's a bit on the pricey side, you have to at least try this place ONCE in your life if you have a passion for meat.

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Now, on to the other side of the spectrum: FISH!  For my brother's bday, we celebrated @ "Umami" in SF's Marina.  "Umami" is a Japanese fusion restaurant with a moderately elegant vibe and some memorably tasty dishes, which I couldn't wait to share below. 

 White Tuna Tataki

One of our first appetizers; albacore sashimi with sizzling sesame oil, ponzu sauce, grated ginger, puffed rice & micro red shiso.

Udon Carbonara

Fresh japanese noodles tossed with king crab, smoked bacon, english peas, stinging nettles, hedgehog mushrooms & a miso-white pepper sauce.  There was even a quail egg yolk (in a shell) that we mixed in. The combination of all of these ingredients is a party in your mouth, that left me wanting more.  We ordered 2. 

 Hamachi Ceviche

Yellowtail jewels in a mandarin-sunomono salsa with strawberry & mango; sesame rice crisps.  Although it was very fresh-tasting and unique, there was a lot going on with the flavors, so much that I couldn't appreciate the Hamachi to its full potential.

 Hotsui Roll

Snow crab, avocado & cucumber/ butterfish & hamachi - served new style with ginger, scallion & sizzling oil. One of the best rolls I've ever had due to its exquisite flavors and fresh fish.  Butterfish is definitely making it's way to the top of my sashimi list.

Shogun and Hanabi Roll (Top to bottom)

Shogun Roll: spicy tuna, kaiware & avocado/albacore, tobiko & ponzu.

Hanabi Roll: avocado, cucumber & tobiko/ocean trout, micro cilantro &
yuzu kosho.

These rolls were very fresh, simple, and satisfying.

 Dojo Roll

Snow crab & avocado/bbq eel, eel sauce, tempura flakes, tobiko
& scallions.   

We were in the mood for unagi so we asked the waiter to bring out one of his recommendations.  The eel melted in my mouth and you can't go wrong with the rest of the ingredients.

 

The Cookie Dough Roll

Vanilla bean gelato wrapped with chocolate chip cookie dough, topped with chopped peanuts & drizzled with chocolate & caramel sauces.  

Clever idea- it combines sushi and cookie dough/ ice cream; what's not to love?  We devoured it in minutes.

Tapioca Crumble

Tapioca pudding & coconut cream mixed with seasonal fruit, topped with coconut gelato.  Get this dessert- trust me.  It is reminiscent to "Rice to Riches" rice pudding back in New York, except it's warm, with a touch of fruit.

I will definitely be back to this place to cover the rest of the sushi and dessert menu....plus I saw that they have "Sumo Hour" aka "Happy Hour"  5:30pm-7pm daily- $4 rolls! (which beats the normal prices by a mile).

When It Rains, It Pours

Pun intended with the weird weather lately.  In addition, this is in directly correlation to the massive amounts of food reviews & pictures I am about to post to make up for lost time. =)

So sit back, relax and let the vicarious eating begin.

1) "Maneki Sushi" - Union City. 

Thanks for the introduction Allen!  Another yummy sushi adventure to add to the books.


Sake (Salmon) and Hamachi (Yellowtail) Sashimi

Very fresh, buttery and lemony-tasting.  I could have eaten the whole plate myself. 

BMW, Red Mountain, GBU, and Lion King Rolls (Left to right) 

Very creative and tasty rolls, although the shrimp tempura was not the best I've had.  Our Lion King was literally on fire; I have never seen that before and appreciated the uniqueness.  

Assorted Sashimi Poki Salad

To top off our Maneki experience, the sushi chef gave this on the house! It was delicious, with a tad of spice and a variety of different fish.

I'd definitely come back if I were in the area.  Too bad it's so far!

2) "Betelnut" - Marina, SF

We had some delightful eats for my cousin Rea's birthday in the Marina @ this modern, vibrant Asian fusion spot on Union St. in the Marina.  The entrees were served "tapas" style and we ordered several dishes, which were a bit on the pricey side considering their size.  However, I enjoyed several of the dishes.  I will point out my favorites.

Firecracker Shrimp

One of my favorites: crispy, juicy, flavorful shrimp with sliced jalapenos, basil, and green onions.  I was even eating the jalapenos after the shrimp were gone. They should be called "crack shrimp."

Chili Crusted Calamari

This is one of the dishes that I frequently test out in restaurants, so my standard for it is pretty high.  I would not order it again here; it was overcooked.

 Little Dragon Dumplings

Freshly made pork and shrimp dumplings.  They were good, but nothing to write home about.

Pork Dumplings

These were very delicious and the sauce complimented them well.

Marin Farms Pork Confit, Szechuan Peppercorn, and Scallion Pancakes

I rarely order confit, but this one was tasty.  The pork was tender and flavorful and paired well with the scallion pancake.  I couldn't eat a lot of it though- the pancakes are filling.

  Malaysian Curry, "Laksa." Chicken, Prawns, Mint, Basil

I was surprised to find noodles on the bottom of this dish.  Of course we accidentally ordered rice with it.  This curry had more of a minty basil taste.   It was good, but not enough to order again.

 

  Penang Rice Noodles, Rock Crab, Shrimp, Sprouts, Chive, Chili-Soy

Hands down- my favorite dish.  It was a cross between Pad Thai and Chow Fun;  I really dug the flavor and the mixture of seafood and egg with the tender rice noodles.  A must-try!

Indonesian "Mee Goreng" Chicken, Shrimp, Tofu, Cabbage, Spicy-Soy

Another delicious dish, all those who are into spicy food would enjoy this one.

Although I had a satisfying meal sampling this upper scale Asian Fusion menu in the Marina, I still love the fact that I can have authentic dim sum anywhere, without the strain on my wallet. 

3) "Dottie's True Blue Cafe" - Tenderloin, SF

My brother, Michael and I were both off Friday, 3/18.  We took this fact and ran with it, stomachs first, through the city's pouring rain in search for some brunch.  Michael had been recommending "Dottie's" to me for a while so we battled through the buckets of rain (literally) and somehow found ourselves at the end of a line out the door of a small diner in the Tenderloin that seats 40.  We were cold, wet, and hungry and an hour passed by the time we got seated.  I kept telling myself that the wait is typical for a small, yet awesome breakfast place. All negative thoughts dissipated once I sunk my teeth into the following.

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes

Love at first bite.  Big juicy blueberries with the soft buttery texture and the intermingling taste of buttermilk and cornmeal puts this as one of my top breakfast items of all time.

 

Whiskey Fennel Sausage Scramble with Mushrooms, Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Cornbread 

A perfect salty match for the pancakes.  The sausage was amazing; I did not taste any nitrites, it was very fresh.  The potatoes and grilled cornbread were yummy, but definitely expanded in our stomachs. 

The special's board housed several mouth-watering items that I would like to try, so YES I will definitely be back.  However, I would probably be more prudent in choosing when to go so I don't have to wait an hour for a seat.

4) Anthony's Cookies & Humphry Slocombe - Mission District, SF

Our stomachs led us to the Mission District in search for some dessert.  By this time, our other friend, Jodie met up and wanted to join in on the food gallivanting. 

First we stopped by Anthony's Cookies.  Pricing is $1.25 per cookie and they are a bit small, but delicious.  If you want to get a better deal, get MORE.  I believe you can buy 6 for $6.

 

Double Walnut Chip Cookie

Crispy with soft center.  Walnut are fantastic.  I recommend the "Cookies and Cream" and "Chocolate Chip."

Next we headed to Humphry Slocombe's for some gourmet ice cream.

Jasmine Green Tea and Black Sesame Ice Cream 

I could probably live off gourmet ice cream.  I love sampling their flavors.  Some recommendations are "Secret Breakfast," (it has bourbon and cornflakes) and "Rosemary's Baby."

5) "Turtle Tower" Tenderloin, SF

Since it was cold, we were craving soup.  What better meal than Pho?  Northern Vietnamese Pho.

We managed to find ourselves back in the Tenderloin, dodging the random crack addicts and hookers, to get to my favorite Pho spot in the city, "Turtle Tower."

#4 -  Beef Noodle Pho - Steak, Tripe, Flank, Brisket

Everything about this dish spells comfort food.  I feel like I'm at home eating some warm tasty broth, fresh tender beef, and homemade noodles.  A squeeze of lemon completes my meal before I dig in.  

You must try this spot- but go early because they close at 7:30pm.

To be continued.... More to come but I need some zzzzzz's!

My Current "Favorite" Dessert.

Since I'm a dessert person, I am fond of a variety of desserts; cookies, cake, cupcakes, macarons, ice cream, gelato, cobblers... you get the picture.  That being said, it's difficult to have a "favorite" one.  Hence, I have current favorites.  Everyone wins.

Recently, I've become captivated by one.

 

Fruit tarts.  They are just divine.  I mean, what's not to love about the crisp buttery, flaky crust, creamy vanilla bean topping, and a kaleidoscope of exquisitely arranged fresh fruit?

So where do I quell my cravings?

"La Farine" on Solano Ave, near Albany and Berkeley.  It is a patisserie that specializes in French desserts.  There are other locations, but this is the closest one to me.  I have to thank my coworker, Amy Miyagi, for introducing me to the tarts as our "snack" for our road trip to SC earlier this year.  I devoured my blueberry/blackberry/strawberry one 5 minutes into the ride, and couldn't quite get my mind off it since.  I had to visit.

Opportunity presented itself on Monday 3/7 as I was on the way back from picking up my mom from the airport.  Since I was on the other side of the bridge, I decided to make my mark on the legendary patisserie on Solano Ave.

But before we delve into that, let me tangent on what we ate for lunch.

We stopped at a nearby dim sum spot, "King Tsin" on Solano Ave.  It had fresh, delicious dim sum, but we were not too thrilled by the long wait.   Here are some quick pics for all you dim-sum lovers. (Top to bottom: pork and shrimp shumai, mushroom dumpling, and shrimp dumpling)

Had to get that out of my system.

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Upon entering La Farine, I  gradually soaked in the bright, homey, French ambiance.   Freshly-baked baguettes, friendly staff, and a myriad of delectable tarts were irresistibly smiling at me.

 

There were also samples of different types of bread in baskets that I generously helped myself to.  I ended up buying a rustic baguette, hazelnut tart, raspberry-walnut scone, 2 chocolate macarons, and of course, 2 fruit tarts (strawberry/mango and blackberry/blueberry).   I believe my bill was close to $20.  Not bad for a grocery shopaholic.

 I was mostly excited about the fruit tarts and they did not cease to amaze me.  I was in fruit tart bliss for a good 10 minutes as I savored each bite.

You know it's the real deal when you remember everything about the first bite of whatever you're eating and can't wait to relive it again. 

I wonder what my next "favorite" dessert will be.

"The Breakfast Burger"

So this is going to be a quick blog because I was messing around too much with the template designs, colors, etc. and before I knew it, it's 2am.  I'm tired, cranky, and I'm beginning to think the caffeine from the chai latte I had earlier was spiked with Tryptophan.  Nevertheless, I DID have the intention of sharing something yummy.

It was hangout night with my two buddies Roy and Jason and we ended up @ "Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe" in Emeryville, which is right across the street from Pixar.  The menu held a plethora of "gourmet" diner food, but I zeroed in on an item called "The Breakfast Burger."  When I saw the words "fried over-medium egg," "bacon," and "cheddar," I was sold.  It even came with the option of sweet potato fries for $2 more.  Without further ado......

Price: about $13

Taste: scrumptious after the first 4 bites.  Then I started to notice that the medium-well patty was a little dry and the sweet potato fries did not complement the burger.  (I would recommend regular fries for this one)  For the record, I still like the sweet potato fries of Boiling Crab and Gott's (aka Taylor's before) better.
 
After our meal, we were stuffed and couldn't run to Berkeley for a dessert quickie.  "Adjustment Bureau" was going to start in 10 minutes.

I'm surprisingly in a slightly better mood after blogging this.  Thank you food.

The Birth of a Food Blog - by Rachel Molano

Ladies and gents, the long-awaited food blog is finally born!  

It took me a while to get this started, mainly because I thought:

1) I'd have no time.  (I didn't even update my own Yelp reviews on a regular basis and no matter how many times I tried to justify it, "checking in" simply doesn't count.)  

 2) There were certain rules to follow (Do I need to write about specific topics?  What if I don't feel like blogging all the time?) 

So I put it off and was seemingly content with uploading my food pics on FB.  

As my list of food adventures grew longer, so did my friends' suggestions (OK- demands) for a food blog.   Soon, comments from my pics of caramel macarons from Bouchon and short ribs from Bottega started turning into, "Rach- when are you going to start that food blog?!"

I think it was time to oblige.

So here I am: a mid- twenties food fanatic in the midst of eating her way through the world, one bite at a time. 

Ready to live vicariously? =D

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March 4, 2011. DESSERT-HOPPING IN BERKELEY

One thing that I am known for is my sweet tooth, which has led me to some scrumptious adventures, some of which I may disclose in the future.  Today, it led me to Berkeley, one of my favorite foodie spots.  I headed out to Telegraph St., which was teeming with Cal students.

I stopped by "Cream," which I heard is the Bay's version of "Diddy Reese" in LA.  For those who are Diddy Reese virgins (like me- unfortunately), think Otis Spunkmeyer cookies meet Double Rainbo ice cream.  After poring over the menu behind the line of ravenous students, I decided to go with Butter Sugar cookies wrapped around Cinnamon Caramel ice cream.  Heaven in your mouth.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cream-berkeley

Still not convinced?  It was only $1.50.  Quick tip: Make sure to say "Can I have the soft warm cookies?"

I still had some time to kill so I jetted to a spot that I've been wanting to taste: Crixa Cakes.  It is located on a nook on Adeline St. in the midst of vintage-like stores.  The cafe was very quaint and upon entering, had the sudden urge to order a dessert and read my kindle.  There were several desserts on display, including Tiramisu and Apple pie.

I was instantly drawn to the flourless chocolate cake, which was $4.60 per slice.  I was expecting a dense chocolate, but was surprised by the light & fluffy taste of the eggs intermingled with the bittersweet chocolate.  I was also pleased that it was not overly sweet. (As if that excused the fact that I had just eaten an ice cream sandwich at "Cream" 30 minutes prior.) 

http://www.yelp.com/biz/crixa-cakes-berkeley

To all of you foodies out there, any recommendations on dessert spots in Berkeley?  Also, what would you suggest I taste from these spots? 

Thanks for reading - Happy eating!