::the food chicks::

2006-06-24T00:15:00.000-07:00

hey everyone...

for your viewing pleasure. check out my kumamoto, japan, food blog.

http://kumafood.blogspot.com

cheers,
melissa

2005-10-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

It's Alive! Yes, this is an update. Do we still have readers out there? Hello...?

Hi.

Butterfly Embarcadero B

Minus my favorite fellow foodie, I had to make do with my second-best culinary pal Elly to try out Butterfly on Embarcadero. We had both been itching for some upscale dining, so a few weekends ago we headed to SF to try out this SuperFusion restaurant. Located on Pier 33, it's not really Bart-able, although you can Bart to Embarcadero and take the F Trolley along the water. Stop at Bay St. and you'll see the restaurant on your right. Inside, the decor is industrial chic with bright slashes of color and a lot of metal. A dj spins tunes on the weekend and the bar is busy.

We have reservations and we are seated in the quiet corner of the restaurant away from the people-watching and with the other young people. Strike one. Our waitress is nice, but unremarkable. Also, there is no free bread while you wait at Butterfly. Strike two. Okay, I realize it is an Asian fusion restaurant and it's a very Garden-state moment to ask for bread. But, for God sakes give us something to do while we wait for service! The food does make up for some of the resaurant's lack of warmth. We order a starter salad of basic greens and a yummy vinagrette ($6) and the pork lettuce wraps ($10) as appetizer. This is a delicious dish that is almost worth the visit. The pork is pulled and piping hot, and the butter lettuce is farm fresh and in copius amount. There is a type of hoisin sauce on the side, which works very well with the soft pork. I highly recommend this dish. Our main courses were next: Elly splurge on the filet mingon with a macamadamia nut and cheese crust($28). It came with some grean beans and mushroom and some other stuff. She thought it was heavenly, and I have to admit the crust was a great touch. I ordered the pork tenderloin ($19), and in the ultimate fusion move, it was served like cha shou, the red barbeque style that you see hanging in Chinatown windows. The three medalions were tender AND wrapped in bacon, with a plum sauce and a goat cheese souffle on the side. Quite the unusual blend of tastes, but it turned out very well. I'd highly recommend my dish as well.

And while we were at it, we splurged on desert as well. The chocolate cake came with coffee ice cream and was very tasty, but the highlight of the last course was our banana lumpias. 3 flakey lumpias served in coconut ice cream were a great way to end the night.

Overall, the food was inventive and tasty. However, the service and ambiance left a lot to be desired, as they seemed to cater to the hip and trendy bar-hopping set. If you want to have a lot of girlfriends for a celebration, this could be the place.

________________________________
Seattle Food!

Ovio Bistro A
The owners of this bustling restaurant in West Seattle call this a “Bistro Eclectico” and the menu fits the name- departing from your usual bistro fare while keeping many of the classics. The entrees here are all very moderately priced for the quality, presentation, and ambiance of this establishment. Jason and I were greeted by a very apologetic hostess who informed us it would be a short wait for a table. As we waited the 5 minutes, 4-5 parties came in to request seating and 3 parties were seated before us. It was a Friday night, but Ovio’s reputation has definitely spread beyond just the suburb of West Seattle. I make it a practice to check out the restaurant’s website before and check out a sample menu to see the food, but more importantly, the prices on the desired dishes. As a note: all fancy or expensive restaurants you consider should have a website and a sample menu if you don’t like to be surprised. I had looked earlier that day and was dying to try out as many flavors as I could. The nice thing about a special occasion dinner is that, in contrast with your usual dinner at the Cheesecake Factory or Chevy’s, you order drinks and appetizers at your whim because you’re spending so much you might as well. We ordered the seared ahi appetizer ($13), which came with seared foie gras and an herb salad to start. This was Jason’s first taste of foie gras and my first real taste. The buttery texture went great with the fresh tuna, and the pinot noir sauce was a nice compliment. We both also ordered the soup of the day ($5.50), which Ovio is also known for- Friday’s was a cream of cauliflower with a goat cheese croquet floating on top. Delish. For our main courses, I let Jason get the pepper-crusted scallops ($19) while I got the fried chicken ($16). See? Eclectic. Jason’s scallops came perfectly cooked, accompanied by a bacon and green chile hash and some greens. My buttermilk infused chicken came atop cheddar cheese and bacon mashed potatoes and long beans. The chicken was tender and juicy and the spices in the skin were just right. The potatoes left a little to be desired, as they were not hot enough to quite keep the cheese from forming big solidified lumps. Enjoyed with a glass of Pinot Noir ($6.75), the meal was very memorable and enjoyable. No dessert here as we were both stuffed and required a digestion-aiding after dinner stroll.

Atlas Foods B
Seattle has this thing with chains that make you think they aren’t chains. Elliot Bay and Union Square Grill (reviewed later) are part of a chain, as is Atlas Foods. But the key is to name all the restaurants something different, even though ownership is the same. Atlas is your usual Seattle-style American restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. By Seattle-style, I mean that there is always a fish special and crab cakes on the menu. Jason ordered the BBQ Pork Sandwich ($8.75) and I got the Joe Scramble ($9.25), which consisted of eggs scrambled with shrimp, onion, mushroom, and spinach. Large sides of hash browns and fries accompanied these meals and I also got a glass of tomato juice. There is nothing better than tomato juice in the morning (or afternoon). Plus it makes Jason gag. The rest of the brunch menu looked okay, although the corned-beef hash at the other table looked great. Food envy, sigh.

Elliot Bay Oyster House A-
The boys like to pretend to be oyster connoisseurs, so we went to a fancy, shmancy restaurant on the waterfront downtown. It was a late dinner, so the crowd had died down but the service was excellent as the waiter gave us a dozen of his favorite variety of raw oysters to start with ($24.50) along with our very fresh fried calamari ($8.75) with a lemon-garlic sauce. The oysters were all very good, with the American Eagle variety my favorite and the Chefs Creek the boys’ fav. Very good, but very expensive. Hog’s Island spoiled me, dammit. For our main courses, Paul got the Sirloin Oscar ($32) which consisted of a sirloin topped with Dungeness crab meat and a béarnaise sauce and your standard sides. He reported it being very good, although the steak, like most restaurant steak, wasn’t big enough in contrast to the big ass plate. Jason got the Dungeness-stuffed prawns ($27) and I got a cup of red clam chowder ($4) and the Crab Chop salad ($17) which featured lots of crab meat on top of a cobb salad. Very large portions for the salad, although the crab meat was eventually picked out and the leaves left. ;) It did happen to be Dungeness month at the restaurant, so all entrees were ordered off the special menu. Again, no room for desert although the chocolate soufflé looked incredible as it passed us. The service at Elliot Bay was great- our waiter (let’s call him Charlie) was very personable and made conversation with us even though we were younger and scruffier than their standard crowd (middle-aged tourists from the looks of things).

Union Square Grill A-
Doesn’t the name just conjure up the image of old people sitting around on dark wood chairs and booths? Well, that’s exactly what it was but with delicious food. I had read that this was the best steak place downtown, so I made reservations for that night. The décor was very Art Deco swanky with lots of crystal and business types. Let’s get down to the food: Butternut squash and tomato basil bisque ($5 and $4) and their delicious truffle fries ($7) to start. I got the pear martini ($7) which was heavy on the vodka (grey goose if you wanna get loose) and Jase got the pomogranate martini ($9) which went down very very smooth. As the main course, I got the jambalaya ($17) which was HUGE with scallops, shrimp, sausage and chicken over rice. Jason got the top sirloin ($27), served with greens and buttery potatoes. Overall the service was impeccable and the food was delicious, if pricey. I would highly recommend the jambalaya as it’s enough for two meals. Again, no room for dessert dammit. I didn’t get desert once on this trip! But we did hit $100 for the first time on the trip. Woot. And of course, it was my treat.

Blue C Sushi B
This is basically a very pop-cultured version of the sushi boat. Plates are color coded to match prices, and the plates also feature different subway lines in Tokyo (or wherever). On the walls, video of breakdancing Japanese youth play alongside of still photographs. The sushi is served on a conveyer belt on little stands that tell you what you are eating. At around $2.75 for your standard Nigiri (tuna, salmon, mackerel), the whole meal cost us around $30.00 for 2. Very good saba, and they also had a sockeye salmon that I thought was better than usual. But it’s kinda a novelty and they love their sushi in Seattle. I’d recommend Chiso in Fremont where we ate last time as well. Very fresh sushi and very good cocktails.

2005-09-08T03:55:00.000-07:00

a special JAPAN post...

i won't post about a specific restaurant, but just about general eating practices over here. food is a passion of the Japanese so I am finding that most pleasant.

japanese food goes way beyond just the teriyaki and tempura that we have back in the states...

- red bean (anko) is a staple of their diet here. you will find anko in almost EVERY single pastry/dessert served in japan.
- they love the pork. you won't find as much beef offered in dishes/at restaurants over here. they love fatty bacon and thick pieces of pork. takes some getting used to, but im getting there.
- sushi here is fabulous. so fresh and so affordable in every market. i honestly think the different taste of the soy sauce makes a huge difference too. the soy sauce here is a bit sweeter and thicker than it is in the states.
- mayonnaise and nori (seaweed) is bound to creep up in 90% of the dishes you order anywhere over here.
- chocolate and desserts: the sweetness is understated in a lot of their desserts, so its actually really nice and you appreciate flavor more than just the sugar.
- you better LOVE noodles and rice cause you will be eating it EVERY single meal. no lie. i didnt finish the rice at one of my schools and the kids were scared that i disliked rice. another teacher explained that i enjoy rice, but cant eat more than a cup at each and every meal.
- individually wrapped snacks. honestly, everything is about the packaging here. you can buy a package of cookies, but inside, each cookie will be individually wrapped. soo nice.. portion control.
-its more than acceptable to buy your meals at convenience stores (7 elevens and ampms abound over here)- bento boxes are everywhere and sooo good and generally really healthy. and you wont spend more than $5 on it.
-the japanese find a way to combine things like peaches and bell peppers (a juice box i had bought) and manage to make it work. crazy fashion combinations translate into crazy food combinations that just work...

i can go on and on, but will stop. come over to japan and i will share a meal with you!

sayonara...ganbatte!
melissa

2005-07-26T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hog Island Oyster Company A-

Located at the aforementioned Ferry Building, this small oyster bar/seafood counter features Happy Hour specials every Monday and Thursday from 5-7, with $1 oyster specials and $2.50 pints of beer.

Raw oysters are an aquired taste, but must be my favorite taste experience in the world. And they must be had fresh, so don't attempt your first raw oyster in the buffet at the Monte Carlo or in Manila... get it from a trusted oyster shucker. The oyster of the day is the $1 special and it varies from day to day, but can always be trusted to be GOOD. We shared 24 oysters, two beers (I.P.A and Hef) and the free sourdough bread, all for about $30 dollars! The service is brisk, namely because of the special, and the lines really back up right at 5, so try to get there a little early if you can. Squeeze a little lemon onto the oyster and you'll be good to go, trust me.

2005-07-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

Our favorite foodchick Melissa left for Japan this past weekend. We love you Melissa!!

Hey Francis, and welcome. I'm not completely gone (yet), so here's a great place I tried last month:

Zax A

Upon browsing the Chronicle's Top 100 Bay Area restaurant's list, I noticed a place that I pass all the time on Telegraph on the way to the highway. Zax Tavern is this nondescript restaurant a few blocks down from Parker (trust me, you know where it is) that has been consistently lauded by reviewers but is practically unknown by Cal students. The diners were mostly post-work professionals; we were the only young couple there. The menu featured items like grilled salmon, pork chops, scallion horseraddish mashed potatoes, sorbets, and amazing appetizers. They are known for their goat cheese soufle, which at around 8 dollars was creamy and delicious. Another famous appetizer is the warm duck-liver salad. YOU MUST GET THIS DISH. Mustard dressing, baby greens, bacon, duck liver, and a poached egg on top. Seriously heaven at $9.75. For the main course, I got one of their gourmet hamburgers ($10). Jason got the rack of lamb, a much better choice at $18. Zax features several tasty sounding desserts; try the blueberry pastry with vanilla ice cream ($6.50), a great way to end your meal.

I highly recommend this place- the food that we tried (including the free bread) was all quality.

2005-07-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Gordo's Taqueria B

Hi there y'all. I'm the newbie around here, and first and foremost I'd like to thank Melissa and Lydia for entrusting you readers with my palate. While technically not a food chick, I hope I can live up to your reputations =). Tonight's review is a place dear to my heart, because I grew up eating at this establishment in San Francisco. Fellow Berkeley-ites can fancy its offerings right next to the famous Trattoria Siciliana on College and Ashby.

As far as Mexican places go, Gordo's isn't the cream of the crop. The burritos and tacos are decent, but aren't too distinguishing in taste (though in terms of size, the super burrito is well worth its money). However, the two jewels of Gordo's would be its carnitas and its quesadillas. With these two combined, you have the best quesadillas this side of California (and even some places in Mexico). The carnitas is a perfect combination of slightly crispy pork, but not too crispy that it loses its moistness. And the quesadillas are perfectly fried so there's a slightly thin crispy layer before your mouth is engulfed in cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, hot sauce, and whatever other delights you want (sour cream and guacamole are extra). The quesadillas run about $5.50 with the extras, and are a satisfying meal coupled with a Jarritos soda.

Unfortunately, Gordo's chips and salsa aren't free. However, if you like a spicy adventure their salsa is juicy and spicy, and the chips never stale.

So engordar yourself and happy fooding =)

2005-06-27T00:08:00.000-07:00

Rick and Ann's A-

I'm afraid that my review of this Berkeley brunch establishment cannot be completley unbiased, since this place has been talked up by everyone from my roommates to my coworkers. However, I've avoided the tiny restaurant by the Claremont Hotel due to my phobia of restaurant waits which clouds my love of breakfast goods. But with a rare lunch off from work, I decided to finally give the place a try.

Let me say, I love breakfast food. For around $8-9 dollars each, Rick and Ann's offers a variety of breakfast specials that involve pancakes, sausage, and eggs. I got the Down South special: two buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, and turkey sausage. My dining companion Jason got a special with a waffle, two eggs over easy, and chicken apple sausage. Other specials on the menu included omlets and hashes, which Rick and Ann's is famous for. I regret not getting the home fries, which looked great on the dishes of those around me. When you're seated, take a minute to look around the crowded quarters and feel free to ask those around you what they ordered if it looks good.

A small freshly squeezed orange juice goes for $2.50, tomato juice for about $2.00. We went on a Wednesday, and there was a short wait at around 11:30. Rick and Ann's is an insanely small space, so be prepared to be up close and personal with those around you, especially at the community table where you are seated at a long table with others. The small kitchen also means quite a wait for your food, so be prepared for that as well (there is a small bakery next door if you simply cannot hold out). I recommend that you try the place at least once, but on a weekday where it is worth the wait.

For obsessive brunchers, try Rockridge Cafe (College just past Claremont). Melissa and I tried it out a few months ago after attempting to go to Crepevine. The crowd is VERY local and the nice people in line highly recommended the place. Not only was our breakfast delicious, the lunch food I saw on the tables around me (food envy) also looked great. Prices were a little cheaper than Rick and Ann's and I'd rate the quality about the same. Melissa loved her scone. ;)

Raleigh's B

Surprise, surprise, this Telegraph bar also serves bar food. French fries were crispy, onion rings were nicely battered, hamburger was huge, and a dozen plus beers on tap. The avocado, swiss and bacon burger (as do all burgers) comes on a great sourdough bun with a choice of sides ($7.75). Accompanied by a glass of Bass Ale (3.50) and a Guiness for the boy ($3.75), it's filling bar and good quality bar food to enjoy while watching assorted sporting events.

2005-06-16T21:51:00.000-07:00

A Berkeley staple: Everett & Jones BBQ (San Pablo Location) A

What did I do Memorial Day? I headed to the take-out location for Everett and Jones with a few of my closest friends for some damn good BBQ. Why did it take me four years to finally get my ass over here? I’ll never know the answer to that question, but am really thankful that I finally did make it over there!

Located on San Pablo, right off University Avenue, three picnic tables sit in front of the actual restaurant. One foot in the door and you know you’ve arrived at a BBQ place. Smoke infused air fills your lungs and you make your way over to the counter. Three of my girlfriends and I decided to split a whole slab of pork ribs and opted for the medium spicy sauce. The slab comes with three sides of potato salad and slices of store-bought wheat bread. Served on paper plates and wrapped in foil, this was down-to-earth eating. I was ready to get down and dirty and rolled up my sleeves and got to it. The meat basically fell off the bone and the sauce was SO good- brown sugar perhaps, worstechire, tomato, garlic, molasses… these are all guesses but this is what it tasted like to me.

The potato salad was SO creamy and good- simple concoction, no fancy apples or anything thrown in. The bread was bread. Although our hands were covered in sauce and our plates were soaked through, all of us agreed that Everett & Jones gets a thumbs up, way up.

Fellow foodchick Lydia and boytoy Jason and friend met up with us and thoroughly enjoyed the E&J as well.

So PLEASE don’t be a dumbass like me and wait til your time is up in the Bay Area and get to Everett and Jones on a nice sunny day or evening and be a good carnivore.

As the owner of E&J told me when I lamented how sad I was that this was to be my first and last visit at E&J, “Don’t worry baby, the taste will get you comin’ back up here in no time!” She’s right…

cheers,
melissa joy

2005-05-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

Per reader request, a counter has been added to the site. Make us your homepage ;)

2005-05-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

Kentucky Fried Chicken C-

Yes, I risked Melissa's wrath by telling her about my latest food outing. But in my defense, if it's 11pm on a Sunday night and Outback Steakhouse is closed and your pantry is empty, where do you go but to KFC? Exactly.

My love/hate relationship with KFC started at an early age when my best friend's mom used to deliver her lunch to school. Yes, her mom would buy her lunch from a fast food restaurant and drop it off in front of Cupertino High. And while I ate my cafeteria fries (with ranch), I stared longingly at her buscuit, mashed potatoes, and two piecies of fried chicken. Later, KFC would again be made desirable by the image of Aiden lying on Carrie's bed with a bucket of chicken, asking her to rub his stomach. Sexy. And then something about gay porn.

So now to the details. Jason and I split the latest deal at the KFC down Telegraph: 4 pieces of fried chicken, 4 chicken strips, a large popcorn shrimp, two big sides, and 4 buscuits for $14.99. I have to say I have a weakness for buscuits, so I thought they were pretty yummy. They come with a side of solidified margarine in a condiment packet, for your convenience, but I much prefer the gravy dipped buscuit myself. Otherwise, the chicken strips were the best part of the meal- mostly white meat but not too dry. The fried chicken was NOT crispy as advertised. And the popcorn chicken was mostly popcorn and not enough chicken. I didn't dare taste the cole slaw, but it was reportedly "soggy."

Would I eat at KFC again? Well, it is attached to another favorite of mine, Taco Bell. I doubt I'll be returning anytime soon, even for the cute $1 snacker sandwich. But I like myself some fried chicken. I guess I have been meaning to check out Popeyes...

Hong Kong East Ocean Restaurant A-

On the very end of the marina in Emeryville, Hong Kong East Ocean is a relatively upscale dim sum place that my wonderful family took me and my friends for grad lunch. Being that it was a while back and I can't remember specifics, I do know that this is a good alternative to Peony's in Oakland's Chinatown. Located right on the waterfront, the restaurant features a great view of Treasure Island and San Francisco in the background. Dim sum here is not pushed around on carts (how unclasssy), but instead ordered and brought to the table. Highlights included the black bean spareribs (my favorite), the shu mai, the barbeque pork buns, and the dicon pancakes, which my parents thought were the best they've had, anywhere. If you're in the mood for fancy dim sum on your parent's bill, then Hong Kong East Ocean is absolutely the way to go.

The Buffet at Wynn A-

Lastly, I covered this a little in my own blog, but the Wynn Buffet is "damn good." Hand-scooped ice cream, creme caramel, smoked fish, steamed mussels, flank steak, soup, hand-tossed salad, and great wicker chairs at all tables. $20.00 for lunch, so try it out if you find yourself in Vegas (lucky you).

2005-05-29T00:38:00.000-07:00

Today, May 28th, was one of my BEST culinary experiences over my last four years in the bay (aka get ready to read an extra long, but riveting review). Read on...

Ferry Building Farmer's Market A+

This beautiful Saturday morning started off with a trip to the Ferry Building (1 Embarcadero) Farmer's Market. With excellent company in tow- "foodie" Jane and roommate Joyce- we perused a few jewelry and useless knick-knack stands and headed to the FOOD. Fresh organic produce, homemade cheeses, bread dipping oils- we sampled them ALL. I succumbed to the pluots (half apricots- half plumbs) and bought 5 for a mere $1.80! We went from stand to stand sampling as much as we could- heck it was a gourmet and organic costco, so gotta take advantage. I just really really enjoyed seeing all of the yuppie San Franciscans with perfect dogs and tourists milling around the stands. I aspire to be a yuppie one day. Ha, jk.

Why didn't I discover this treasure of a farmer's market say... 4 years ago!!! It was absolutely gorgeous today- with the stands in front of the building and in the back, closer to the water in view of the Bay Bridge. This place is awesome to visit as many Saturdays as you can!!!

After perusing the outdoor stands, we headed inside to check out the vendors that are there everyday- mini restaurants and gourmet food vendors- everything from caviar, to macaroons, to gelato, acme bread co., more dipping oil, and souvenir/novelty shops. We were on our way to...

Slanted Door A

So seductive... I finally made it over to Slanted Door- after hearing great reviews from a boss and a few friends. This Vietnamese/pan-Asian restaurant allowed Jane, Joyce and I to channel our Sex and the City sentiments. Afraid that we were going to be told to come back in an hour (like the hostess had told the couple in front of me), to my surprise, balla Melissa and her friends were seated IMMEDIATELY. The waiter asked: "Were you suprised? (insert smile)" Heck yeah.. anyways, that's how we do.

With the pier and bay bridge in view (floor to ceiling windows), the trendy black/gray/white interior decor set the scene. Think semi-pretentious. After perusing the menu for a few minutes, I decided on the neman ranch steak over lettuce, crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, vermicelli noodles and other veggies ($10.50). My lovely companions ordered a flank steak salad and a grilled pork over greens dish. I figured that most Vietnamese dishes consist of the same staple ingredients, just in different combinations. Nevertheless, my dish was incredibly fresh and the cubed steak was delightfully tender and marinated with a hint of sweet soy. I enjoyed the crispness of the lettuce offset by the warm, tender, juicy cuts of meat.

My friends enjoyed their dishes as well and we left room for a little crème brulee at the end. All the vanilla bean had sunk to the bottom of the crème brulee, that was about an average quality. As different servers brought out our drinks/entrees/dessert, I began to notice how attractive all the servers were and the awesome part was HOW they delivered each item with a hint of seduction. “Enjoy…” (insert seductive look here). It was hilarious and made me enjoy my food that much more.

Slanted door has decent prices for lunch ($10-$12/entrée) but their dinner menu increases by about $5 per item. Check it out there, you won’t regret it. Yay for Asian Fusion, right Lydia?!

Our next stop for the day was Thanh Long in the Sunset District.

Thanh Long A-

Heard of the opulent and trendy Crustacean restaurant in Beverly Hills, well the folks at Thanh Long (4101 Judah Street) are the original owners and creators of that namesake. Along with my pals Katrina and Cheryl, we decided to live it up for my last night in San Francisco and give in to the roasted dungenous crab and buttery garlic noodles that have made Thanh Long famous.

Despite having reservations for 8:30 on a Saturday evening, we were told to wait an extra 30 minutes or so before being seated (BOO…), but I guess the business attests to how much their crab is in demand. The very unassuming and humble outside of this corner restaurant contradicts the white linen clothed tables and elegant décor of this two-story restaurant. Once seated we opted to start with the spring rolls ($6) and ordered TWO dungenous crabs- one roasted and the other one drunken (marinated with herbs an chardonnay, hence the drunkenness) at $33.95 a pop. And of course we ordered the garlic butter noodles ($12). Yes, a pretty penny for the meal, but it was worth it.

The two dungenous crabs provided an abundant amount of meat, flavored with a lot of butter, garlic and herbs. To be honest the only thing differentiating the two crabs was the hint of chardonnay in the drunken crab. I preferred the chardonnay. The garlic butter noodles- basically chowmein stripped to its bare. They could have been served a bit warmer, but they lived up to expectation nonetheless and proved a perfect accompaniment to the crabs. Amongst three hungry girls, we were able to finish all of the crab and all of the noodles.

Go on an empty stomach, tighten your provided plastic bibs and check out Thanh Long, and find out if citysearch’s 8.9 rating of the place is warranted or not. I implore you!

Cheers,
Melissa

2005-05-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

Trattoria La Siciliana A

Finally...I made it over to 2993 college (across from naan 'n curry). Trattoria is the restaurant that at least 8 to 10 people are always waiting in front of- due to the limited number of tables inside AND for the amazing food. On a tuesday night, Frank, Francis, Katrina and I arrived at about 8:30 and had to wait about 15 minutes for a table in their nook upstairs. The wait staff was great at keeping us updated on the status of our table- we appreciated that. The interior is quaint and softly lit, with couples abounding (ain't that sweet?). At our table, they brought over a healthy serving of crusty bread and the greatest dipping sauce you will have EVER tasted- olive oil, flavored with garlic, rosemary, red pepper, salt, and a couple other somethin somethins. ADDICTING... our table went through at least 3 baskets within a span of 15 minutes.

On to the dishes- we ordered family style (if your party is at least 3 people, they do family style- 2x 1 dish, making them perfect for sharing). Appetizer: bruschetta with an eggplant and olive tapenade ($8). Dish 1: Gnocci in a cream sauce, with fresh shrimp and prosciutto ($15/serving). Dish 2: rigatoni with a light tomato-cream sauce, pancetta, peas, with a hint of nutmeg ($13/serving). The appetizer tapenade was really really delicious- be careful of those olives though if you're sensitive to salty foods.. whoa.

Dish 1: gnocci are like little pillows or potato happiness. the shrimp were really fresh and complemented the creamy gnocci perfectly!

Dish 2: the rigatoni (recommended to me by my fabulous roommate Joyce) was equally as excellent. the pasta- al dente with a bit of bite- was well coated by the sauce- not too thick, not too thin- delicious. i love pancetta (italian bacon)- a bit thicker than American bacon and subtle smokiness.

Dessert: we all decided to split a block of tiramisu ($6.50). the sponge bread was soaked with the right amount of rum. i hate tiramisus that tease you with a meager amount of rum. this one was excellent.

our famous friend frank was slick and paid the bill when he supposedly just went to the restroom. totally caught off guard, this gesture was more than touching. the food was great but the company of friends was invaluable. these are the moments and people that i am going to miss in berkeley...thank you so much frank and my treat in tokyo.

a few more days. who wants to take over this blog?!!! are you worthy enough... leave a comment.

cheers,
melissa

2005-05-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

Dorsey's Locker: Authentic Soul Food B+

A few weeks ago, me and a few little ladies headed over to some soul food at 5817 Shattuck Avenue. An unassuming and windowless building mark this Oakland spot. We happened to the the very first customers on a beautiful Saturday morning, and the staff was incredibly obliging and welcoming.

The menu consists of fried chicken, catfish, snapper, pork chops, chitterlings, short beef ribs, barbeque, etc. Catch my drift? The sides- collard greens, yams, black-eyed peas, green beans, mac n cheese, okra.... delish. I opted for their "wing ding" plate ($6)- 3 crispy fried chicken wings, Texas Toast, Jalapeno peppers and pickles on a bed of lettuce. These wings were SO crispy and tasty. They even threw in free glasses of lemonade for us since the chicken was taking a bit longer than expected.

The side of yams were tender, and sweet, and chalk full of cinnamon. My companions' dishes- the snapper and catfish- generous servings with the perfect condiments of tarter sauce.

Although we couldn't finish off the meal with some sweet potato pie (they didn't have any that early), we were thoroughly satisfied by the end.

Give soul food a try, your soul will thank you!

Cheers,
Melissa

2005-05-21T02:22:00.000-07:00

As Melissa said before, our time as students at Berkeley has ended and in our time, we've shared warm meals with people we love. While some of us (Melissa) have more concrete plans than others (Lydia), we want to see this collection of personal food memories going. We will update from wherever we are: Japan, Italy, Berkeley. But if any of you readers are interested in contributing to this site, please let us know by contacting one of us or leaving a message. Qualifications: must love food, this site :P, and the Berkeley/SF area. Mel and I consider ourselves privilleged to be foodies in a city that is so much about food and we hope that we've shared that there exists culinary and cultural experiences beyond what you know and encouraged you to seek them. The moral of the story: take the time to notice the little restaurants and cafes that are all around, but don't be afraid to go back to TGIFriday's for the buffalo wings (the best, ever).

Lydia

2005-05-21T02:09:00.000-07:00

Gregoire's A-

After hearing both Melissa and fellow foodie friend Carol rave about this tiny take-out place on Northside, I finally convinced Mel to take me there. Shattuck Ave. on Northside is really a mecca of eclectic dining experiences from Party Sushi to Barneys to Cesars to Poulet to Gregoire's and most of them are worth your time. If any of you remember back to our freshman year (2001-2002), there was actually a KFC somewhere there.

Back to this adorable little place: it really is tiny- a small counter with a view of the entire equally tiny kitchen. The menu is seasonal and features mainly sandwiches. I ordered the rack of lamb with carmelized onions on ciabatta, which was so-so. Melissa ordered the calamari and white bean salad on some sort of bread as well. All sandwiches run for about $6-$8 for lunch. The dinner menu is a little more extensive/expensive so figure around $15 per entree. However, the highlight of Gregoire's and what drives Carol to make the trek often are the potato puffs. When I first heard of this dish, I pictured this light, airy creme puff type dish. But imagine the creamiest, tastiest mash potatoes you've ever had, deep fried with a crispy outer shell and dipped into an herbed tartar sauce. Yeah, they are good. At $6 for about 8, it's a great start to any meal or a meal by itself.

Overall, it's a place you have to try out while in Berkeley. 3 cool points for knowing about it. ;)

I'll let Melissa write more about Hong Kong East Ocean Restaurant- where I had my graduation lunch today, but let me say they had the best luo bo gao me and my family have had. And not a shabby view.

2005-05-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Thai Temple A+

just a little reminder to all of you who read this blog... go to thai temple on sunday mornings (russel & mlk), starting at about 10 to 1:30ish (when they run out of food). the members of this buddhist temple open up their hearts and kitchens to the community. a token system ($1-1token) is in place here, making it much easier for you to spend more than you think, but the prices are SO reasonable that you don't mind droppin those tokens in their respective boxes.

fellow foodchick, lydia, and i spent a lovely morning there with a few other friends. you'll end up running into folks you know for sure.

this quintessential berkeley spot features excellent thai food, a friendly community ambience (and hipster), and 5 cool points added to your score if you go.

we recommend: the noodle soup ($5), fresh papaya salad ($5), khanom krog ($3) (coconut milk patties), khanom b... (fried coconut cookies), mango & sticky rice ($4).

it seriously is one of my absolute favorite things to do in berkeley (hence the several mentions of it throughout this blog.)

so i IMPLORE you to check it out.

love,
melissa

(as lydia and i prepare to leave berkeley, we want to thank you all for reading about our food excursions. it's been our SINCERE pleasure sharing our taste experiences. thank you as well for all of your own personal recommendations. we plan on keeping it up wherever life takes us after this month, so expect a few more global reviews. so please keep checking in!)

2005-05-10T01:03:00.000-07:00

Puccini & Pinetti B+

Last week, my supervisor at my internship in San Francisco treated me out to lunch for my last day in the office. Since our office is right in union square, we just scooted over to Puccini and Pinetti's at 129 Ellis Street. I've passed by the joint before (diagonal from a foodchick favorite : First Crush) and have noticed it being particularly crowded on previous ocassions. Arriving at about 1:00, we were seated right away, however. The lunch menu boasted a wide array of antipastis, soups/salads, sandwiches, lunch sized pastas, etc. Both my boss and I opted for some panini (grilled sandwiches). I chose the MARINATED FLANK STEAK WRAP WITH TOMATOES, ARUGULA, AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS and she had the GRILLED CHICKEN, SWEET PEPPERS, TOMATOES, ARUGULA, AND BASIL PESTO, ON FOCACCIA BREAD. Both were about $10 each and were accompanied by mini tossed salad.

As we chatted, we dipped blocks of soft foccaccia in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Our food came out shortly and it was delicious. My wrap was nicely plated with grill marks abounding. The flank steak was a bit overdone in some areas, but the soft naan-like wrap that it came in, along with the sweet carmelized onions and special sauce, helped make up for that fact. My boss's sandwich was reported as being quite delicious.

The price is decent for the quality of the food and service! I wouldn't mind checkin in for dinner and trying out their selection. So, the final review, good as expected- business lunch worthy, yes!

til next meal,
melissa

2005-05-03T02:02:00.000-07:00

O Chame B+

To celebrate our anniversary, I wanted to take Jason out to a yet-untried but recommended Berkeley restaurant. After checking out Grasshopper and Pearl Oyster Bar, I nixed the small plate idea and settled on O Chame. On Berkeley's hippy-meets-yuppie Fourth Street, O Chame has long been recognized as one of the city's culinary staples. A charming wood-fenced storefront near Sur la Table, the place seats few, so remember to make reservations for weekend dinners. While the decor (very Zen) implies a more formal atmosphere, patrons were dressed casually for such a serene setting. Not quite a Japanese restaurant, but not quite Asian fusion, the restaurant is known for its noodles: udon or soba in a fish broth and different choices of delicacies. It is also known for its appetizers. We sampled the grilled eel on endive salad ($9), the sea scallops on baby greens ($9.50) and the scallion and shitake mushroom pancakes ($6.50). While all the dishes were tasty (the eel and scallops were grilled perfectly), the pancakes were the best value. A considerably large portion of light batter and plenty of scallion and mushroom, the pancakes also come with a miso-type dipping sauce.

In comparison to the appetizers, the noodles appear to be quite a bargain at $10.50. Jason and I both ordered the udon: the pork tenderloin and the grilled oysters. The udon noodles were cooked perfectly and my pork was tender, a good addition to the salty soup. Jason's oysters were tastier, however, and I'm definetely getting that the next time around. The soup comes with spices to make the broth spicier, which I also recommend as the soup base can be slighly bland. With the three appetizers and the two soups with tax and tip, our total bill came out to around $60. Not too bad for the amount of food we had. I was pleasantly suprised by the portions for the soup and the pancake. O Chame also serves entres like salmon and skirt steak (each about $20) which, from my observation, come in miniscule portions.

O Chame is an intimate setting for a small group or a first date. Tasty appetizers and filling soup make this place great for a special occasion and is one of Fourth Street's highlights.

2005-04-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

SEA thai bistro, Brooklyn, NY A

FINALLY!!! since i have some down time, i decided it's time to appease all the foodchick fans and finally post.

the first New York spot that i wanted to let you all know about is SEA thai restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. are you a garden state freak? do you remember that Sex and the City episode where Samantha meets Smith? well, both of those popular media scenes were shot at this very restaurant in the heart of brooklyn (114 North Sixth St. between Wythe and Berry streets in Williamsburg).

upon entering the restaurant, my friends Leslie-Anne and Jamila, and I were overwhelmed by the hip atmosphere, asian decor, incredible lighting... it's hard to describe. check this link for a picture (http://www.go-brooklyn.com/index.html?html/issues/_vol26/26_05/sea.html)

we actually had to come back a second time,since the first time, the wait was about 1.5 to 2 hours. this time, we were immediately seated and were given the world's cutest menu. bundled up thai postcards with the different courses listed on each. we were definitely tempted to steal one but ended up giving them all back.

with thai iced teas all around, we ended up ordering pad thai, a chicken dish, and a beef dish. all ranged in the $6 to $8 range... EXCELLENT prices for the restaurant ambiance and new york cost of living.

we were continually mesmerized by the fact that zach braff had been in the same restaurant and that SJP had been in the very same seats that we were. therefore, we had to check out the restrooms,cause their asses may have touched the same toilets. the restrooms were out of this world. each (unisex) was it's own independent round room.. think of a huge tree trunk with a toilet in it. and the faucet was a common sink that resembled a sort of drinking fountain.

the food was delicious! at the quality you would expect for that price,but the ambiance enhanced the whole experience overall.

for dessert, we ordered a coconut custard... delish.

more specifics later...
and more new york reviews later...

2005-03-31T08:26:00.000-08:00

Ruen Pair A-

I finally made it over to supposedly one of the best Thai restaurants in Berkeley (Best Thai Restaurant 2004-Daily Cal, Best Thai Restaurant 2002-2003, East Bay Express). Along with three lovely ladies, Christine, Jamie and Lydia, we all concur. Located at 1045 San Pablo, the restaurant is just a mere 10 minute drive from campus. The restaurant was lit by candles on each of the tables had plentiful seating. We ordered the appetizer Mee Krob (crispy thin rice noodles tossed with prawns and chicken in homemade sweet Thai sauce served with fresh crispy bean sprouts) for $6.95. The appetizer was par for Mee Krob, I must say that I've had better but it sufficed for that moment. We decided to do family style and ordered the Spicy Red Curry ($7.95), Pad Thai ($7.95), and Garlic Baby Back Ribs ($7.95). The spicy red curry was delicious- a medium serving of bamboo shoots, green beans, sweet basil in coconut milk with tender pieces of beef. The garlic baby back ribs, however, were a bit tough and dry. However, the reason this restaurant received such a high rating from me is the PAD THAI. As Christine points out, the quality of the pad thai can make or break a thai restaurant rating. I will stand by saying that this pad thai may be one of the best if not the best I've had in Berkeley. We all tried to describe why this was- "creamier," "not as tangy," "I just can't describe it." It really was delicious!!! You jus thave to try it for yourself and let us know what you think.

Cheers,
Melissa

and as lydia pointed out, an EXTRA special review of all the spots I hit in NY will be coming VERY soon!!! (pastis, sea, tacu tacu, alice's tea cup, a salt and battery, etc.)

2005-03-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

I'm sure Melissa will do the same, but this is a reminder that I mean to update with all my on-the-road culinary experiences.

Beacon Hotel Bar and Grill
The Bombay Club
Sign of the Whale
Genaro's
assorted NY Chinese food experiences

2005-02-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Ryowa B

Tucked between Eastwind Books and a random pizza place, Ryowa is a non-descript noodle house on University just past Shattuck. You enter and face a soji screen, turn left right into a bookshelf full of manga. It's that Japanese, ladies and gents. My friend Carol introduced me to this place a while back and I went back recently with an old friend. I ordered the regular ramen ($6.75), which features a pork and chicken broth, plentiful ramen noodles, actual pork, and a hard boiled egg. Now, this isn't the Korean style ramen that you might be used to. Ryowa serves traditional Japanese noodles, and the richeness of the stock takes getting used to. The egg comes fully cooked, which was slightly dissapointing. However, on every table is plentiful seasonings as well as a small crock of kimchee. My friend orded the vegetarian ramen, which came with a vegetable broth and too many vegetables to name. And tofu, I guess. While that soup is tasty, I highly recommend the regular soup base for its flavor. The very basic menu also features gyoza and other appetizers and an affordable lunch meals. While Ryowa isn't my favorite noodle house in Berkeley, it's a welcome change once in a while to Ph or Bear's Ramen. If you find yourself downtown and looking for refreshing noodles on a cold night, try it out.

2005-02-26T16:06:00.000-08:00

Bittersweet: the chocolate cafe A+

After the trip to Gregoire, Jane and I headed to Bittersweet: the Chocolate Cafe. Thanks to daily candy : San Francisco (I implore all of you to subscribe to daily candy- daily updated to what's hot in fashion, food, style for various metropolitan areas), I came across information regarding this "kill me now" cute all-about-chocolate store. It just opened about 3-4 weeks ago. Located in the Rockridge District at 5427 College Avenue, they boast about 150 chocolate bars from all over the WORLD, and a menu of exotic hot and cold chocolate drinks and teas.

I enjoyed "Spicy!" ($3.25)- hot and spicy, a kick of pasilla pper and a hint of rose. Jane had "The European" ($2.50)- a deeply chocolate experience. Non-dairy, rich and wonderful. Believe me, the names and descriptions live up to the "experience." It's more than a drink. The spicy definitely had a kick in the back of my throat after the first sip. But it wasn't a kick that lingered- it came and went and left me wanting more.

Their pastry case boasted an awesome selection of croissants, white chocolate macaroons (which we had- light, crispy, and decadent), a bread/butter/chocolate/cheese plate, cookies, a beautiful chocolate German cake, etc.). The chocolate case had a few dozen chocolate pieces- with screenprinted images, exotic flavors, beautiful displayed.

The line was out the door and Jane and I could hear others boasting the praise of DailyCandy for pointing them here. Families, babies, college students sat amongst the green/yellow/brown tables among soft lighting and awesome mixed media pieces on the walls. This place is uber cute and a must check out when you have a free Saturday to indulge your chocolate cravings.

Let me know how it works out for you, cause it's certainly workin on me right now.

Cheers,
Melissa

2005-02-26T15:46:00.000-08:00

Gregoire A

If you're a Berkeley student and have not yet tried Gregoire's- Berkeley's finest take out, you are no longer my friend. A little dramatic I know, but I'm begging you to take the trip to 2109 Cedar Street (at Shattuck) as soon as you get the chance. Open everyday- lunch 11 am to 4:30, dinner 4:30 to 9:00, this quaint take out place (two tables outside), is quintessential Berkeley, gourmet ghetto.

My lovely friend Jane and I just had lunch there a few hours ago. There was a buzz about the place, with folks waiting around the tables, looking directly into the kitchen where the chefs were busily prepping the meals. You could have a full on conversation with them if you wanted. The folks there are always friendly.

Even with a fresh menu every month, there are a few staples that are a MUST try- namely their crispy potato puffs ($4.25). Just imagine- perfect creamy mashed potatoes, coated in a light bread crumb, fried to perfection and served with a garlic/tomato aioli. You get 9 puffs total, so this is a great side dish to share with a friend.

I ordered the grilled chicken with fresh mozzarella & pesto in crispy lavash ($7.00). PERFECTION- the pesto was right on point, and the lavash was crispy and light, the mozzarella melted and the chicken tender. Jane opted for the grilled montana beef patty with spicy Indonesian sauce ($7.00). A mini pasta salad with gourmet cheeses accompanied each of our sandwiches. She liked my sandwich a bit more, but her dish was excellent nonetheless. Gregoire's trademark is their cute square box that all the dishes are served in.

I haven't tried dinner (i.e. du ngeness crab cake, baked maine pollock, grilled montana flank steak, grilled veal chop, baked polenta, etc...)yet, but prices range from $15.00-$17.75, or vegetarian items will put you back around $8.50. Desserts are $3.75 (coffee bread pudding, creme craamel, almond fold).

Because their menu is always changing, I suggest checking out their website at www.gregoirerestaurant.com

Be good to yourself and take a cute boy/girl to Gregoire's.

Til next time,
Melissa

2005-02-12T00:47:00.000-08:00

Saul's Delicatessen B+

"Jewish comfort food," as described by my Jewish lunch buddy- Saul's Deli is a bustling restaurant/deli located by Long's Drugs on North Shattuck. At the deli counter, you can get bagels, lox and whitefish salad New York style. Ask to be seated and you'll encounter a menu full of classic Jewish cuisine. Expect rye, latkes, and pickles. And lots of old, white people. I must have been the only Asian person in that restaurant, and we're talking about Berkeley, California.

I've been to Saul's a few times before and the one thing I always get and highly recommend is the Chicken in a Pot. A gourmet chicken noodle soup, Saul's version comes in a big porcelain pot. Tasty broth, herbs, celery, a chicken leg and thigh, and MOST importantly, a big matza ball. I LOVE matza balls. The soup for one will cost you $9.95, while the soup for two goes for 16.95. This is classic Jewish cuisine is a staple and must be tried. We also split a spicy fish sandwich, a special for the day. A tender sole filet, tomatoes, avocado, and basil on a french roll, all served with fries ($9.95). All meals also come with the day's pickles and bread.

Overall, Saul's is a great place to check out classic deli food and pretend you are in New York City. And it's a Berkeley staple- a must try at least once.

2005-02-07T23:56:00.000-08:00

Filippo's Pastaria B+

Located in the ultra yuppy College/Elmwood District a few stores down from La Med and Shin Hua, this quaint Italian restaurant is what Lydia called a "glorified Pasta Pomodoro." To a large extent, I agree with her. To test her hypothesis, I ordered the same dish that I had at Pasta Pomodoro a few months ago- butternut squash ravioli.

I went to Sunday brunch there last weekend with a few of my girlfriends. The menu offered a nice selection of breakfast items ranging from 5 to 8 dollars. I opted for the lunch menu item, costing me about $8.95. Swimming in a few tablespoons of browned butter and sauteed sage, the seven ravioli on the plate were small to medium-sized. I love butternut squash ravioli for the hint of sweetness and creaminess that the dish provides. If you want to be full of carbs, this probably won't be the best selection for you. I opted to share half of my dish with my friend Katrina, who ordered my second favorite item- a caprese (basil, tomato, fresh mozzarella) panini (pressed & grilled sandwich)with basil pesto that cost $7.95. The thin crusty bread that they used for the panini was delicious.. however, I would have preferred the mozarella to have been a bit more melted, but overall a good choice.

Our lovely friend Jina suggests ordering their chicken gemelli, with a special request for their tomato-cream sauce. I'll have to save that one for the next time. So.. who wants to go out with me?

The prices are comparable to Pasta Pomodoro, however, the closer location to campus provides a bit of convenience.

Check it out, let us and the world know what you think. The Comment option is open to all.

cheers,
melissa

2005-02-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

First Crush A

Located in the vicinity of Union Square, this romantic, candlelit American bistro proves to be an amazing getting to know you restaurant- your date will be full off the food and tipsy off the wine. We went last night to celebrate my partner in crime Lydia's 22nd birthday. Our group of ten was seated in the dining room downstairs- we were greeted with clean, crisp modern architecture, candlelit tables, and 20-30 something young professionals scattered about. First Crush as the title suggests is a wine bar/restaurant/lounge. Some couches were scattered about as guests can enjoy a "flight" of wine and a sampling of small plates (appetizer size entrees).

Our table chose a plethora of items. The served foccaccia with olive oil/balsamic vinegar that was quite fluffy and delish. We had to ask for more. Our table chose to share a bottle of white wine- you have to get wine here of course ($30), a Green and Red, the flavor very light and crisp, without a strong bite at the end. If you want to sample a group of three wines, as our friend Cynthia did, you can order a "flight" ($9-$15) a menu of preselected wines in groups of 3 that you may order, if you want to try and tell the difference between them. (I am nowhere close to that point.) They will serve about 1/3 of a glass of each wine.

On to the entrees, I chose the roasted chicken breast, with a butternut squash risotto cake, and baby carrots ($17). Lydia had the ribeye steak, flavored with a balsamic vinagrette and covered with mushrooms, served with shoestring fries ($21). Our friends chose a crush salad ($9), horseradish crusted salmon fillet ($18), and sea bass ($19). EVERYTHING was beautifully presented on large, triangular, white plates. My chicken breast was well-seasoned and well-cooked, not overly dry and not undercooked. The risotto cake was pan fried, giving the sticky rice mixture a bit of a crust. This proved quite delicious and provided a nice range in texture.

Of course, after sharing the stories after our "first crushes", we enjoyed a "flight" of dessert- smores pie with a marshmellow meringe, creme brulee (flavored with lavender), 3 sorbets (mango, raspberry zinfandel, blackberry)- all for $16. We ended up finishing the dessert in under 3 minutes- all extremely good.

The place definitely got a high rating from both lydia and me. So, if you're in the mood to look good in a dimly lit room while being intoxicated by excellent food and good wine, check out first crush. (www.firstcrush.com)

til next time,
Melissa

p.s. first crush received a very high rating on city search. please use city search when figuring out where to eat/club/etc. it's an awesome tool that I use and just enjoy searching on when i'm bored.

2005-02-01T11:20:00.000-08:00

Citizen Cake

In our attempt to try San Francisco's Dine About Town, my friend Elly and I made a lunch date at one of many featured restaurants. Citizen Cake, according to her, was quasi-famous, having being featured on the holy grail of channels: the Food Network. Located a little west of Civic Center Plaza on Grove St., this tiny restaurant seats about 45 people max, with generous window seating for most tables. The interior is what I'd call "loft chic." After we glanced at the Dine About Town special however, we quickly decided that we'd order off the regular lunch menu. While munching on delicious wheat and sourdough bread with butter, I ordered the warm spinach and bacon salad ($10) and Elly ordered the Croque Trouffe ($11), a fancy sandwich with cheese baked onto the bread and mushrooms with essence of truffle. By the time our meals arrived, we were already pretty stuffed (that's the sign of a good restaurant). The spinach salad was delicious- warm dressing, real juicy bits of bacon, yukon gold potatoes and a poached egg topped off the dish. Elly's croque was even better: the cheese complimented the mushrooms perfectly. For the alcohol-inclined, Citizen Cake is also a bar and cocktails ranged from 7-10 dollars. How can you eat somewhere called Citizen Cake and not get desert? We shared their citrus desert with frommage blanc ice cream($9.50). While we were a little dubious about white cheese ice cream, the desert turned out to be very pleasant. A little too sour on the citrus, but paired perfectly with the ice cream and the poppyseed cake at the bottom. Overall, the wait staff was very attentive and sincere and the lunch crowd was noisly animated. Citizen Cake is a cute place to go for lunch or even just desert. Make sure you check out the bakery attached to the place as well, which sells beautiful torts and cakes for $5-10.

P.F. Chang's Emeryville

Now, I don't usually review restaurants I don't eat at, but I'm launching an all out boycott of this dining establishment. Yes, I understand the difficulties of running a busy new restaurant. But the host staff does not need to be rude or condesending. Let's just say that the host Jeff(?) was snippy, not to mention a liar. Plus, who wants to pay $15 for what is just Chinese food on a big-ass white plate? Enough said.

2005-01-23T23:45:00.000-08:00

Fatapples

The weekend is for brunching, as Sex and the City has taught a generation of young women. The roomies and I made an attempt to visit Rick and Ann's, the Claremont brunch staple. However, upon notice of an hour and a half wait, we hightailed it out of there and to Fatapples, an equally expensive if not as yuppified brunch establishment in North Berkeley (MLK and Vine). Jina and Jen ordered the pancake special: two whole wheat pancakes, an egg prepared your way, a meat selection and an orange slice for garnish that you should eat anyway to get your money's worth. The special will cost you about $6.50 and a small OJ, $1.60. I opted for the priceir two-egg special with chicken apple sausage for $7.50, which came with the eggs, sausage, home fries and toast. Fatapples is a popular joint for breakfast, so expect a wait on the weekends. Other selections include waffles along with burgers and sandwiches. The pancakes were on the doughy side, but the whole wheat buttermilk was a refreshing change from the usual. The homefries were fried to perfection, while the apple sausage and bacon were crisp and tasty. The OJ is much smaller than you think, so think twice before ordering.

The highlight of the meal, however, was spotting the man of our collective dreams at the table next to ours. If anyone out there knows a hot guy who resembes Nick Cannon who mentors/babysits a white kid, please email me immediately. Or call me.

Espresso Roma

The bustling coffee shop on the corner of Ashby and College is popular with the sorority set, as well as the bougie Claremont crowd. That said, their focaccia is the best I've tasted here in Berkeley. Get your sandwich hot and you'll find your bread crispy and chewy, not oily at all. I got the tuna melt at $5.50, and it lasted me two meals today. The sandwiches come with a side of mixed greens with vinagrette and cheese. Coffee goes for about $2.50-3.00 while an italian soda goes for around 2 bucks. For those who live on this side of Dwight, Ashby is actually a pretty short walk along college, and quite pictureque as well. A great cafe to get some reading done, people watch, and enjoy the classical music piped in.

2004-12-23T01:29:00.000-08:00

Garibaldi's On College: This outpost of Garibaldi's On Presidio in San Francisco has a slightly suburban feel. It could be the clientele -- older, moneyed, conservative -- or the plush decor, which looks as if it were ordered directly from a catalog. Expect solid, satisfying California-Mediterranean dishes, such as herb-crusted Ahi, thin-crust pizzas and filet mignon. 5356 College Ave. (between Bryant and Hudson)

So I'm feeling a little lazy and copied that right outta sfgate.com. Once a semester, Jon and I like to splurge on a luxe meal. Last time, it was Cafe Rouge on Fourth Street, where we shelled out for a $13 cheese and pate platter. This time, we visited Rockridge, only to find that many of the area's upscale eateries were open for dinner only. So we settled for Garibaldi's, a chi-chi restuarant that caters to the business lunch crowd. Thankfully, we both looked presentable. The lunch menu at Giribaldi's features sandwiches, wood fired pizza, soup, salads and a few main dishes. The dinner menu is more expansive, but also more $$. Jon ordered the hamburger, which came with shoestring fries and a side of gorgonzola cheese for $11. I ordered the steak sandwich- tender steak, arugula, gorgonzola on foccacia ($14). Their wine list is expansive- Jon ordered a glass of pinot grigio ($7) and they feature a few draft beers ($5). Both of our meals were very satisfying if not very basic. Highlight of the meal, however, was dessert. A lemon-pear mousse with crispy filo and a frozen pear puree. The tartness of the lemon balances perfectly with the sweetness of the pear, all topped with candided orange rind ($7). We had a difficult time picking between that and the creme brulee sampler, but I'm glad we picked that one. The total bill, plus tax and tip came out to around $60, which was a good price for a chance to chat it up with a friend and run around Rockridge and feel all grown-up and yuppie-like.

2004-12-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Liaison (North Berkeley, Shattuck and Hearst)

Many of you have probably passed this quaint French Restaurant (located under the Berkeleyan Building, damn Panoramic Interests), without giving it a second thought. I, too, have passed it many a times but figured I should check out the place for the benefit of my stomach and all of you reading this.

A few girlfriends of mine and I decided to have dinner there a few weeks ago. Once inside the restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised to see a half-open kitchen, candlelit tables, French decor, and lots of people! Than God we made reservations (highly recommended). Even on a random Tuesday evening, the place was bustling with people and servers. Once seated, we were treated to a well-rounded menu that featured appetizers, a fromage (cheese) plate, entrees, desserts, etc. We started with steamed mussels in a garlic, wine, butter sauce that cost $12.75 and frites (fries) at $4 i believe. DELICIOUS! the appetizer was enough to wet the appetite of five college girls. Each of us ordered diffrent dishes in order to guarantee a taste of as much of the menu as we could. I ordered the bouillabaise- a seafood assortment (fish, mussels, clams, scallops) in a tomato sauce chalk full of different fresh herbs, served with a side of croutons and spiced mayonnaise. my dish ($19.75) was amazing!! I ordered a side of spinach ($4) that was sauteed with pine nuts and raisins. the balance of flavors was refreshing and soulful. One of my friends ordered a creamy crab dish that was excellent as well. I didn't get to sample my other friends' dishes as much as desired but they all gave their respective dishes a thumbs up as well.

After we enjoyed the entree portion, we requested a dessert menu from our server. To our surprise, the server cleared off our tables, wiped the crumbs off, and then stamped the dessert menu on to the paper table covering in front of each of us. Yes, she stamped the menu on there. Clever and charming I thought- saving paper is always a good thing. The dessert menu featured a chocolate parfait/mousse in a champagne glass, creme brulee ($5), and an assortment of sorbets and other items. Of course we opted for the creme brulee- the ultimate dessert, in my opinion. We could smell the chefs torching the sugar on top of the custard from the dining area. once our server brought it out, and we cracked through the crisp shell of burned sugar to reach the creamy and decadent custard, we were all smiles.

the bill ended up being about $25 to $30 for each of us. for above decent french food at a reasonable price, liaison is the place to go. check it out and let us know what you think!

til next restaurant,
melissa

p.s. check out gregoire's french take out next to dara's thai and elephant pharmacy when you're on northside. another one of my recommendations!!

2004-11-26T01:59:00.001-08:00

Melissa and I have both been uber busy this month and we apologize for the lack of updates. Or I do, at least.

Your Place

On her recommendation though, a friend and I checked out Your Place, a Thai restaurant down University near San Pablo. An unassuming exterior hides a rich decor and very good and affordable Thai cusine. Featuring a wide selection of vegetable curries and dishes, alongside your Thai staples, Your Place offers each dish for $5-8. We ordered the yellow curry and the basil chicken, both of which were delicious. If you have a car, or enjoy the 51 bus, I highly recommend you check this place out. In a city bursting with Thai restaurants, they all start to blend in together. But the friendly service here and the quality of the food make this a place you must check out. So pass up Plearn or Thai Basil and try Your Place.

Sunrise Cafe at the Palms Casino and Resort

The roomies and I went to Vegas over Veteran's Day weekend and ate three meals. (Okay, four.) Here was our meal plan for the three days we were there: day 1) Bellagio buffet for lunch. Palms for after club meal, day 2) Aladdin buffet for lunch, day 3) Paris buffet for lunch. Two of the buffets I've reviewed before, but we tried Aladdin's Spice Market Buffet this time. And after my third trip to Vegas in a year, I've got to say that Paris has the best buffet. So if you have to pick one to splurge on, Paris is it. Don't bother stopping at Aladdin. However the place I do want to talk about is the Sunrise Cafe at the Palms. After a night at Rain, we ventured over to the Palms requsite all night diner for late night specials. Besides almost slipping and breaking my neck and Jen's imaginary run-in with Britney, the Sunrise Cafe features the best steak and eggs I've ever had, hands down. For $4.99, you get two eggs your way (over-medium), home fries and a huge steak (medium-rare). Jen and I insightfully ordered the meal while Jina got the chicken strips (5.99). The meal comes with free biscuits as well. The cafe is in the back of the casino, near the nightclubs. It's a great place to go while you're at the Palms anyway, at Rain, Ghostbar, or just trying to spot celebs in the casino. Don't gamble there tho- they'll rob you blind. But at least you'll be surrounded by young hip people. Or young people who think they are hip. Anyway, take my advice, get the steak and eggs for $4.99 between midnight and 5am. Maybe I'll run into you there ;)

2004-11-01T01:41:00.000-08:00

damnit lydia. you were right. i haven't updated in a really long time. but here it goes folks...

today, i was able to enjoy the beautiful halloween sunday morning at thai temple with fellow food chick lydia and our pal jon. if you have not headed over there for sunday brunch yet (russeell & mlk), you must before you leave berkeley. look through our archives for that review...

cafe milano: why would she be reviewing this place?!? well here is the answer- i just want to make sure all of you have tried a mint hot chocolate. i ordered one at cafe milano last week and seriously, i fell in love. it's like a melted andes mint ($2.40, pricey but worth it) on a cold day. please do yourself a favor and treat yourself to one at any cafe. also, others may disagree, but i think milano has the BEST sandwich on southside. i suggest you try the hot turkey on either foccaccia or the mexican roll. the sandwich has sun-dried tomato pesto, roasted bell peppers, your choice of cheese, the meat, all toasted to perfection. it even comes with a nice side salad, all for $4.50!! try it and let us know what you think.

shen hua: a few weeks ago, my friend jane treated me out to FABULOUS "chinese" food on college, right across from another FABULOUS cafe in berkeley, the Beanery. the restaurant may appear a bit pretentious from outside- modern architecture, white linen cloth, nice lighting, wooden fixtures, blah blah. but don't be intimidated. safe this trip for a celebration cause it can set a college student back about $15-$20 for the meal. alright, so we ordered the mu shu pork ($9), Ching Hua Prawns ($13), and the Chicken & Mushroom Noodle Soup ($9). the ching hua prawns.... amazing. lightly coated and fried prawns, sauteed in a semi-spicy tomato chili sauce, with scallions sprinkled on top. the best dish we ordered for sure. the mu shu pork was an excellent starter and the noodle soup was full of veggies and meat. on a scale of 1 to 5, the prawns took home a 5, the mu shu a 5, as well, but the soup a mediocre 3.5. this is an excellent date place (hint hint... yeah right, who am i kidding)

thanks lydia for all the updates. please let us know if you'd like to tag-a-long with me and lydia on our next culinary adventure. til next time, have a fabulous day.

~melissa joy

2004-10-31T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hah, so I was right. Melissa hasn't updated in forever. We had this discussion yesterday as we finished up our meal at Sahn Maru, a new Korean restaurant down Telegraph. She argued that she had recently updated, but as evidenced- she has not. So here's a long one for those of you who wait patiently.

Sahn Maru

Melissa and I have made a pact only to eat at places neither of us have tried before, in attempt to expand our palates in the time we have left in Berkeley. We decided to venture down Telegraph, almost stopping at a Taco Bell in our hungry daze. However, we spotted a colorful sign at 43rd street and stopped to investigate. Turns out, our choice was good. A relatively new Korean restaurant, Sahn Maru features unique furnishings and a very hospitable staff (which spoke little English-another sign this was a good pick). We were served a sweet rice tea when we sat down, in very nice stoneware. I'm a sucker for decor, and the restaurant's natural tables and cushioned chairs were a refreshing change from your usual vinyl covered chairs and tables. As some of you may know, Korean restaurants serve a variety of kimchee and other little appetizers with your meal. Sahn actually serves a little more than other places I've been, which is another plus. We ordered the dol sot bi bim bab ($10.95) as well as the combination tofu soup ($9.95) and had quite a bit left over afterwards. The manager came over and mixed up our dish for us, and was very attentive to getting us what we needed. The bi bim bab was one of the best I've had, very freshly made with just enough rice sticking to the bowl. The tofu stew was good- a little mild- but chock full of seafood goodies. With prices ranging from 10-20 dollars, this isn't your fast food Korean restuarant- it's a real sit-down kind of joint. But for very warm hospitality and very good Korean food, it's very worth the splurge.

Cesar

Located next door to the venerable Chez Panisse, Cesar is a tapas bar/restaurant on Shattuck and...I want to say Vine. It's a pretty small establishment, so seating for your party of 14 might be difficult, as we found out. But the atmosphere is lively- academic and romantic. The experience starts with some olives to whet your appetite. Drinks go for around 6-8 dollars, while the tapas (Spanish appetizers) cost around 5-10 dollars. These dishes aren't meant to fill you up, mind you. The idea is to share a few with friends, so everyone gets a little taste of each. I tried the glorified potato dish, fried with a mustard sauce. I also had the Venetian Martini on Jen's recommendation, which was decent. Others shared the Sour Apple, which was very tasty. Cesar is on the pricey side- especially if you are hungry going in. Think of it more as a cafe, where food is for tasting and not for satiating your ravenous appetite. Or as somewhere to take your impressionable freshman date.

Ikea

You guys know you've all wondered at one time or another whether that cafeteria at Ikea was any good. Well, lucky for you, Jen and I were brave enough to venture into that scary world of Swedish cafeteria food. Famished on a recent trip to Ikea, we decided to give the place a try after being taken by the low advertised prices. I ordered the pesto with crayfish and Jen ordered a quiche. We split an order of their "famous" Swedish meatballs. From what I can remember, both meals were less than 4 dollars. On this summer afternoon, there were no shortage of families in this Ikea-furnished cafeteria (it was a little trippy eating on Ikea tables with Ikea plates and silverware, with Ikea lamps over us). It is a good place to go to feed your non-discriminating, hungry children. However, I'd rate the quality of food as DC level. There are some ppl who really enjoy DC food, and some who can't stomach it. I found my pasta to be decent, and the meatballs to actually be enjoyable. While I wouldn't send anyone to Ikea for the food, I'd say the cafeteria is suitable for killing those hunger pains before you venture to the bottom floor.

Parkway Theater

Located on Park Avenue in Oakland, the Parkway theater is an unique moviegoing experience. Showing films on two levels, each theater features sofas and big tables in the front for guests to sprawl out on while watching second-run films that have recently stopped playing at your big name theaters. The sofas are worn, but comfy. The Parkway also serves as a restaurant, which serves appetizers, pizza, pasta and drinks. Be warned, the theater is 21+ becauese the beer and wine is freeflowing. My roomates and I went to see Garden State, and we shared some popcorn of the generic variety, and had their pear cider which was delicious at $4.50/glass. Tickets to the movie are an affordable $5, which appetizers run from $5-$8. Slices of pizza go for under $4 and salads are about $6-$8. All beer is $4.50 a glass and $12 for a pitcher and they have a wide wine selection. The theater has a homey feel, which is what its owners hoped to create. They show the same movies for a week or so, then change depending on what movies they can get. It's an affordable moviegoing experience, with the added luxury of food brought to your seat. It's a fun place to bring a group of friends, or even a date. Make sure to get there a little early, as the sofas fill up fast. To get there, take 580 East to the Park Ave. exit. Exit and turn right and travel down for about 5 minutes and you'll see the big theater sign on your left. While my law abiding apartment decided not to break the law, feel free to park in the Kragen lot next door, as we saw many other people doing so.

2004-10-01T01:18:00.000-07:00

Merritt Bakery and Restaurant

Lake Merritt in Oakland is known for its cheap rent, Berkeley ex-pats, and being the gateway into "scary" Oakland. However, there is a gem of a restaurant and bakery, located just a short drive away from campus. Located on E. 14th and Lakeshore, the Merritt Bakery has been a long-time neighborhood landmark- open late hours for big portions of diner food, pastries and their famous deserts and ice cream. My friend David sent me an article written about the place and I knew I had to go and try their famous chicken and waffles immediately.

Open until midnight or later, this joint is a great place to hang out with friends, chat, and share fresh shortcake and strawberries. Dave and I met up for some lively conversation and shared the roast beef au jus ($9.50) and the two chicken leg and waffle ($8.25). While the atmosphere is homey and the crowd diverse, the prices are a little steep for regular food. The famous chicken and waffles came with two very crispy fried chicken legs and a huge waffle. The sandwich came with a side salad or fries, but the roast beef was dry and dissapointing. However, the service was very friendly and quick. Overall, the bakery pastries and the dessert look to be the most promising at this restaurant, who's food is also excellent for the nights where you come back famished from the clubs.

Tandori Kitchen

Melissa and I met up a long while back for a late night dinner at Tandori Kitchen, now located conviently close to both our new apartments. On the corner of Parker and Telegraph, Tandor Kitchen offers similarly priced meals as your usual Indian restaurants. However, what I feel sets this place apart is it's low-priced tandori chicken. For $2.99, a chicken leg will fill you up, supplemented by a side of naan. For $3.99, a wing and breat combination will be cooked tender. While other dishes range from $5.99-9.99, the tandori chicken goes into the oven when you order and comes piping hot. Melissa and I have already been a few times now, and I'm sure she'll want to add that there is complimentary chai as well. :)

2004-09-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

Claim Jumper

In celebration of the ageless Dave Lai's 24th birthday, an ecclectic group of pals ventured east into dar woods to steal territory clearly demarcated as anothers. In simple terms, we visited the homage to meat and more meat known as Claim Jumper. Now, Concord is the land of the few. Why would you really go there besides to eat at this very establishment? Lord only knows.

Now, I have to admit- I like myself some ribs. And on the rare occasion that I can partake in such gluttony, I like to go all out. So I ended up sharing what apparently is the holy grail at CJ's, the Ore Cart. Featuring three types of ribs and seemingly superfluous rotissere chicken, this dish is $26.99 of meaty goodness. The baby-back ribs were tender, falling off the bone with just the right amount of sauce. The St. Louis ribs were a little dry in comparison, but filling. The chicken was very juicy, and not just "filler" as Abe called it. (As was the potato, the sourdough bread and the garlic cheese bread) However, I'm a sucker for beef ribs. Baby-back ribs are nice. They are easy. But beef ribs- that's some serious stuff. You have to work at it, and that, my friend, is what ribs are all about.

Now, you have to understand that every time Dave eats at CJ's, he orders the I-Declair, an eclair the size of a football. Add the seven-layer chocolate cake, and you have our dessert that night. Both were very good, very rich and the night ended with most of the whipped cream on Dave's face. Overall, a very nice way to end a great Saturday (Go Bears!) with lots of people enjoying mounds of food. The prices range from about $15-30 dollars, but most plates are great for sharing and even then, you're guaranteed leftovers for tommorow.

Next time, however, I'll get the cheese potato pancakes, which Joyce called the "fried heart attack."

2004-09-12T01:41:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been five months since our last post!! So many places visited and more importantly, foods eaten, since the last time we have checked in. Here's a quick rundown of my summer: studying abroad in the Philippines, in Los Angeles for a month at a time, Maui for a wedding... yes lots of food to catch up on!!

if you ever find yourself in the philippines, you MUST try:
- dirty ice cream: of course it's not really dirty, but it's one of the many foods you can buy from vendors off the street; usually from yellow box carts and flavors include avocado, mango, cheese (sounds unappetizing, but seriously don't knock it til you try it), mango, chocolate.
- taho: a breakfast, snack item sold by vendors who carry it on a stick on their back- warm, silken tofu and tapioca, mixed with a sweet, cane sugar syrup... it was my breakfast everyday while i was over there.
-jollibee: spaghetti...sweet spaghetti actually. in the philippines, they make spaghetti with ketchup! and hotdog.. don't ask me why, but it's freakin good. jollibee is the national fast food chain of the philippines, just recently branching out to the bay area and southern california. for dessert, get the peach mango pies... deep fried and delicious- the philippine way.
-turon: this is a typical dessert/snack; it's plantain/bananas wrapped in eggroll wrapper and then deep fried, sometimes stuffed with jackfruit or cheese... we like cheese in the philippines. the banana eggroll is sometimes drizzled with a caramel syrup that adds a nice crunch to the whole dessert. i love it!
-hot monay: at various snack stands in the philippines, they will have warm rolls available in the mornings and in the afternoons (we love afternoon snacking- "merienda"). the warm roll ("pandesal") is accompanied by a slice of cheese. the saltiness of the cheese goes perfectly with the slightly sweet taste of the roll.
- other notable mentions: the candy yemas, "sariwa mani"- garlic roasted peanuts, fish balls, green mango shakes, tapsilog (garlic fried rice, fried egg, fried cured ham)... i miss everything...

the greatest thing about all of the items listed above is the price... everything except the spaghetti will cost you about $.15 to $.20 after converting from pesos (56 pesos= $1). it would be my fantasy in life to bring filipino cuisine to a mainstream audience. so please please, whenever travelling abroad, open your sights to local foods and local markets and you will be pleasantly surprised.

cheers,
melissa

coming up: reviews on places in kihei, maui; berkeley- tandoori kitchen (telegraph ave. + parker)

2004-05-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

Foreign Cinema

Once in a blue moon, there is an occasion worthy of a hip, expensive restaurant. Graduations, perhaps, or anniversaries. On those occasions, you can justify eating at places like Chez Pannise or Farallon, restaurants you see featured on the Food Network and in inStyle magazine.

On the occasion of my friend Carol's bachelorette party, I thought it would be fitting to take her out to Foreign Cinema, a trendy restaurant in the Mission district in San Francisco. THe night before the party, I opened up my issue of Newsweek to find the restaurant had been featured in a special on outdoor dining. There is nothing like having your choice be backed up by some big name publication.

The outside of the restaurant is innoculous, tucked away in a seedy portion of Mission, between 21st and 22nd. A long corridor leads to the actual industrial-style restaurant, with minimalist tables, chairs and benches. There is a small bar in the back that serves cocktails for about $7-8. Try the Blood Orange or the Vixen. Indoor seating features the warmth of a massive indoor fireplace, but outdoor seating is where the name of the restaurant comes in. After nightfall, a monthly foreign film is projected onto the outdoor wall and sound played softly through drive-in movie speakers located along the walls. If you try the place during the summer, be careful as the film doesn't begin to play until about 8:45.

The menu features a very ample oyster selection, with more than 15 varieties of oysters. I bought two Miyagi for Carol and I to try (her very first!) and they were both fresh. If you've never had raw oysters, go to a renowned establishement and try with just a sqeeze of lemon. Raw oysters are probably the best food I've ever tasted, though only on special occasions. Single oysters priced at $2, half a dozen at $12 and a dozen at $18-20.

However, there is more than the oyster bar. Ladies at the table tried the roast chicken (18), the lamb loin (24), the pasta (17) and the poached salmon (23). In all honesty, the best value would be the roast chicken, which was herb marinated and came in copious amount. I ordered the lamb, which was pretty sparse as far as amount of food, but came atop a very tasty lemon risoto. Shelly's salmon was also delicious, but a little too rare for her taste. (but good in my opinion) The meal is served with very good bread which was very quickly refreshed.

At any of these pricey places, the amount of food you get for your money will always be a problem. You must go into the experience knowing that you are paying for the ambiance and the name and not the amount of food. At Foreign Cinema, the atmosphere is lively, the service friendly, and the food delicious. Check your budget before you go.

2004-05-26T20:50:00.000-07:00

la Mediterranee

This quaint restaurant, located at 2936 College Avenue, provided me with one of the best, most balanced meals I have eaten in quite a while. I went to lunch there today with two lovely ladies at about 2, not having to wait at all for a table. They have a choice of outdoor seating as well as indoor. We opted for indoor and were treated to a room of skylights and fresh flowers on each table. I ordered the chicken pomegranate lunch special- 3 drumsticks marinated in pomegranate sauce and baked with wild herbs, served with rice, fruit, cheese, pita and hummus, served with a green salad... all for $7.25! The waitress was friendly and the food only took about 15 minutes to get to our table. The dish was DELICIOUS. The chicken was cooked to perfection, tender, juicy, flavorful, falling off the bone. The rice was seasoned and mixed with a few garbanzo beans and raisins. The salad was dressed with some feta cheese and the hummus on the plate was accompanied by a basket of wheat pita rounds. A wedge of pineapple, banana, and orange, along with a slice of creamy cheese served as a perfect balance to the protein and starch of the chicken and rice. I was extremely happy with what I ordered from this place. My friend ordered the small middle eastern plate, a combination of three items- chicken cilicia fillo(flaky pastry, filled with chicken, almonds, chickpeas, raisin, cinnamon and spices- really nice sweet/salty balance), spinach and feta in fillo, and a levant sandwich (cream cheese, herbs, cucumbers, feta, tomato). Awesome combination as well. My other friend ordered the chicken kebab combo- this one didn't turn out as lovely as the other two combinations. The chicken was a bit dry and too chewy for our taste. Go for the chicken pomegranate or middle eastern plates, you won't be disappointed! Each combo was only $7.25.

Other menu items include appetizers of hummos, baba ghanoush, lamb kebabs, quiche, a selection of 5 different fillo dough specialties, and baklava, pistachio nests for dessert. definitely try out this place, you won't be disappointed!

have a beautiful summer everyone. it's been a pleasure reviewing berkeley eats with my hillarious partner in crime, lydia. i'll be back in a few months (watch out for special socal and philippines reviews =)

cheers,
melissa joy

2004-05-18T04:05:00.000-07:00

Chez Melissa, Jamie, Shinie and Kathy

A culinary treat that you readers won't be able to try (unless you just so happen to be one lucky enough to befriend these lovely ladies) was the scrumptious dinner these girls created this past saturday. While the food was sadly not for the women, I was lucky enough to try some of the shrimp scampi and was treated to the perfect amount of butter, garlic, pepper and LEMON. With six George Forman grills, steaks were cooked to tender perfection and topped with sauteed mushrooms. The meal began with a lovely green salad with tomatoes, raisins, mandarin oranges, walnuts, avocado and feta cheese, creating a symphony of freshness. (Haha) Thanks to the fly that flew into the very salad pictured below, us girls were able to try some of this great salad. The night was topped off by lovey deserts in the form of cheesecake and lemon tarts. The orange/lemon/lime punch concoction was the perfect blend of juices, ice and a touch of soda. Simple recipies (easy enough for us to follow), but great tastes and flavor. Awesome job girls!

2004-05-17T17:23:00.000-07:00

Khana Peena

Last week, Lydia and I were able to take time out from studying and enjoy a meal at Khana Peena on Oxford, between Oxford & Allston (next to Ben & Jerry's). They have a lunch buffet that includes a bottomless soda for only $6.49. For quality Indian food, that's a steal my friends.

This mini restaurant is an outlet from their main restaurant on Solano, which looks pretty schnazzy I must say. At the Oxford restaurant, they have outdoor seating, bar seating, as well as seating upstairs. For their buffet selection, they have an endless supply of delicious naan, rice, spinach + potatoes (aloon), creamy chicken tikka masala, lamb, tandoori chicken, lentils, salad, lamb curry, among a few other selections. The tikka masala is perfectly cooked, creamy with tender bits of chicken. Dip your naan into this dish, and you'll shake your head in agreement. The spinach and potatoes was a bit on the watery side for me, but for a $6.49 all-you-can eat buffet, what can you expect. The tandoori chicken was tender and tastes delicious with their naan and basmati rice. I recommend pouring a bit of their cucumber/cilantro (green) or tamarind (brown) sauce on any of your dishes for an extra dimension of flavor. I went back for two plates, but left room to try the traditional Indian dessert, honey balls. Basically they're bread balls that have been soaked in a honey syrup. It's delicious, but one is pretty much all you may be able to stomach.

Lydia and I had a satisfying lunch here and we hope you check it out too.

Enjoy those finals everyone, but don't forget to eat in the process.

Cheers,
Melissa Joy

2004-05-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

King Dong Chinese Restaurant

I'm not too sure how I like this new blogging interface. It's too cartoon-y for me, too 6th grade.

For a brief week, my lovely fellow food chick and I reveled in the prospects of living together next semester. But it seems that providence has dashed those dreams.

With finals and end-of-the-year stress upon us, I find myself a little frazzled and a lot hungry. John and I had dinner Sunday night and I was being pretty pissy about not going for Japanese food. He recommended a Chinese restaurant called King Dong on Shattuck and between Channing and Haste, and I went along reluctantly as I am weary of Chinese restaurants in general. However, we entered to find the restaurant bustling with take out orders and families dining in. John was craving the Mushoo Pork and a friend of his recommended the King Dong Chicken, so we shared the two dishes. Now, I never quite knew what Mushoo Pork consisted of, but I was pleasantly suprised by the stirfried pork, cabbage, vegetables, bean sprout medly that came with four tortilla type wrappers and plum sauce. The plum sauce gave the dish just enough flavor and there was plenty of filling to satisfy the two of us. The King Dom chicken is fried chicken cutlet in a ver spicy garlic sauce. Although the sauce was tasty, the chicken was a little dry and was breaded a little thick. A bucket of rice cost a whopping $.80 extra. Located just minutes from downtown Berkeley in the ghetto direction, King Dong was a very pleasant surprise. Prices ranged from about $7-10 dollars for dinner and slightly cheaper for lunch. If you are looking for a solid Chinese restaurant, the popularity of King Dong speaks for itself. The take-out pick up line was about 3 people long the entire time we were there. Check it out when you are tired of hitting up the same generic Chinese places. And avoid the shady massage parlor next door.

2004-05-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

Cafe Durant, Tanaka, Cancun

okay, just to put off work for a few more minutes and before i forget the food places i have eaten in the last week, i decided to update!

first of all, i have reiterate how incredibly gorgeous the weather in the bay was today. it was absolutely wonderful! incredible blue sky, sunny, and cool. can it get any better?

well last wednesday morning, i finally ate breakfast at cafe durant. i shared an early breakfast with three cool chicks- norey, christine, and jen. we got there at about 9 am and of course were the first patrons. they have an outdoor patio and seating inside. they have a great variety of combination plates for breakfast. i ordered one of the sundeck combinations- spinach/tomato omelette, french toast, strawberry-banana pancakes, and homefries.. all for $6!! i have to say it was pretty tasty. the portions were definitely enough for each item. the french toast was buttery and crisp at the same time, the pancakes had bits of strawberry and banana interspersed within and the homefries and omelette were up to par as well. oh and they have this crazy orange squeezer machine. order fresh oj just to see the machine work! my friends ordered crepes. they have a HUGE serving of crepes when you order them for about $5. two crepes filled with different fillings of your choice- fresh fruit, nutella, etc.

tanaka. you know those moments when you just crave some miso soup, the sweet taste of teriyaki, and raw fish. ahh yes that's me every other day. try this japanese restaurant on university, just two doors down from mcdonalds. they restaurant features a mix of contemporary decor around a central sushi bar. the menu is extensive and offers different combinations, individual dishes, and boats to share. i had the combination- $9.95 with a selection of two items from a list of about 10. i ordered the teriyaki salmon, and 4 pieces of sushi (tuna, salmon, himachi, and ebi- sweet shrimp). the dish is accompanied by salad, miso soup, and rice. although the salmon piece was a bit on the small side, the balance of vegetable, protein, and carbs was just right! the sushi could have been a bit fresher i must say. nevertheless, i ended up finishing the whole dish and was thoroughly satisfied. their miso soup was just right in the level of saltiness and their miso type dressing on the salad was excellent! tanaka is definitely worth checking out as it is one of the more decent priced japanese places around the area. if you want the creme de la creme of japanese, check out kirala down shattuck near adeline (i get mixed reviews about kirala, however).

check it: cancun, on allston located next to the gaia (excellent americanized mexican food) is having their $5 for every item on the menu in honor of cinco de mayo this wednesday. take advantage! i recommend the prawn burrito... you'll love it with a side of mango salsa!!

cheers,
melissa joy

2004-04-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

Ann's Kitchen, Crepevine, Market Hall

oh how i've missed blogging... wait... did i just say that?

well, i feel like i've been neglecting my duties as food chick. well i hope you ALL went to Ben & Jerry's today for free cone day! the line moved along pretty fast, and i waited only 20 minutes! i had the dublin mudslide, it was EXCELLENT. irish cream with chocolate/chocolate cookies/chocolate swirl.

some breakfast reviews for yall:

Ann's Kitchen: on Dwight and Telegraph. i went there for the first time with fellow food chick Lydia and some other friends for an Easter brunch. They serve breakfast there all day! I ordered the banana pancakes and one scrambled egg for the side and spent less than $5. The pancakes were cooked to perfect fluffiness and had bits of banana mashed right into the batter. You can get toast, two eggs, and a HUGE helping of homefries for less than $4 at Ann's. They also have huge omelettes that can be stuffed with anything you want- spinach, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, etc... for about $5 (also comes with a side of toast and homefries). The setting is cafeteria style- you order at the bar then look for your seat for yourself. Warning, it does get pretty crowded on weekend mornings, so if you have a large party, scope out some tables and then order. If you wake up late Saturday or anyday really, head on over to Ann's to enjoy some down-to-earth hearty breakfast choices.

Crepe Vine: on College Avenue, right after Rockridge Bart. If you're looking for a semi-yuppy and delicious breakfast, crepe vine is the place for you. You'll spend an average of $8 for your meal. The setting is quite nice: big windows, a little balcony/ outdoor patio to enjoy the yuppiness of college from. They have huge chalkboards that list their savory/dessert crepes/breakfast items/pasta/salads/drinks. They have a very extensive menu. Last time I went there (about two weeks ago) I enjoyed my two scrambled egg whites, toast, chicken apple sausage, and homefries. all i can say is aww yeeah. I love breakfast. Crepe Vine just reinforced that love. They have a huge array of omelettes/pancakes/waffles/french toast/juices/coffee. I really like crepe vine not only for the food but also for the setting. Their yellow walls and bright windows add to the nice saturday morning feeling. It's a great place to meet up with your girlfriends =)

After eating breakfast, head across the street to Market Hall bakery for the BEST almond cookies ever, and some meringues =)

That's all for now!

Cheers,
Melissa Joy

2004-04-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Not too many food jaunts this week, but did have a chance to enjoy some quality food with the wonderful Melissa before a SuperB comedy show this week. She's the one who makes the fliers- did you know? We got to head into Wheeler early as we munched on food from Cafe Intermezzo. Since I'm confident that y'all have been there or heard of the place, I review the sandwich that I tried for the first time, the PBHB. I'm one of those girls who always says she'll try something new on the menu but always ends up ordering the roast beef when the friendly tatooed person asks me what I'll have. So I decided to be daring and try the Peanut Butter and Banana sandwich. However, Jen's comments on the sandwich ring true: "why pay for something you can make at home?" And although it was on Intermezzo's famous honey wheat bread, the sandwich was too much PB and not enough banana. And the honey was also probably a mistake. I've decided that with something like a peanut butter and banana sandwich, you really need to customize it to your own tastes. It's not like roast beef au jus, which is the SAME every single place you go. Plus the bread needs toasting, and the PB needs to be crunchy. So moral of the story: stick to your food intuition. But NEVER, EVER ask for extra horseradish in your roast beef sandwich. That stuff will kill you.

2004-04-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Again, Lydia is here to mix it up, review wise. Today's food journey finds Lydia shopping for groceries for the first time since early February. For a solid, affordable selection of ecclectic food, venture over to Trader Joe's in Emeryville for salmon jerkey, mochi ice cream, and cheap wine. Trader Joe has long been popular as Whole Food's cheap younger sibling, with its wide variety of organic food and fresh flowers. Check out the wide selection of all natural dried fruit, as well as the chocolate mint truffles. If you are looking for a real meal, the frozen food section features mexican and italian dishes- from enchiladas to tamales to feta cheeze pizza.

Had a little of a existential crisis in the wine aisle though. As a 21 year old, it's high time I knew the difference between the varieties of wine available. Merlot, chardonnay, cabernet sovingioin, blah blah blah blah. White wine with red meat the red wine with white meat? Shellfish? I want to be able to pick out a hearty wine to go with my microwave pizza.

2004-03-31T07:43:00.000-08:00

Lydia, awesome review once again!

Well, since my dear fellow food chick reviewed her spring break, I will review my food experiences as well:

If you ever find yourself in Huntington Beach, a.k.a. Surf City, you must eat at Sugar Shack . This charming, surfer and family-friendly place is located on Main Street and PCH. You will find a long waiting list in the morning, as breakfast is served there all day. They have outdoor and indoor seating, allowing customers to stroll in with their flip flops, sunglasses, and be among some of southern california's finest beach bums. I had the raisin french toast with a site of scrambled egg whites, and an iced tea. The french toast was delicious! Perfectly battered and cooked to a slight crisp, covered in powdered sugar and served with a side of butter. The egg whites had some flecks of yolk, however, but I'm not anal enough to freak out over that. My friend Andrew had the avocado and cheese omelette with a side of hashbrowns. The avocado melts so beautifully into the omelette. Each meal only set us back about $5.50. Affordable AND delicious! Try it out for yourself! The servers are young and friendly, and the place is just a few steps from the beautiful beach! Eat and then study on the beach as I did (hey we're berkeley nerds here AND everywhere else).

Also over break, I was so thankful that I was able to introduce my dad to the Benihana Sushi Bar. At lunch, they have special discount prices ($1 for california roll/ spicy tuna; $1.75 for shrimp tempura handroll - my favorite- $1.75 for sashimi). They have daily specials for $1 as well. The fact that you can just take as much as you want on the floating conveyer belt adds to the fun of eating sushi. The chefs are attentive to your needs and are always willing to take special orders. My cousin and I once ordered the Las Vegas Roll (off the menu, of course). This roll is sooooo good. It is tuna, crab, and shrimp tempura in rice and nori, the whole roll is then battered and deep fried tempura style. The chef then slices the roll and tops it off with this tantalizing spicy sauce. The tuna gets slightly cooked, and the crunch just adds this crazy dimension to the roll. This roll will set you back about $7, even at lunch time, but it's enough to share between two people. Lunch at the sushi bar (a filling and quality lunch at that) will not set you back any more than $10. As for sushi, that's a bargain! Try it out for yourself!!

'til the next culinary journey,

Melissa Joy

2004-03-31T03:02:00.000-08:00

Someone asked me yesterday, "You have that food blog right? Do you have a recommendation for me?" and I blanked. In the spotlight, I balked under the pressure to find a somewhat obscure, affordable, quality restaurant to recommend. And I vow never to be in that situation again. Next time, I might go the safe Kirala or Zachary's route, or I might recommend Carol's ramen place on University.

However, in this 3 am entry, I want to talk about Las Vegas buffets. I was in Vegas for 3 days and ate 3 meals in between my incessant gambling, all buffet style and here is the rundown:

Dinner- Monte Carlo, $15.95:
The most basic of the buffets we sampled, the Monte Carlo offers an affordable buffet dinner with some of the perks of the fancy places. I enjoyed the BBQ ribs as well as the herbed chicken. As with all the buffets, I did not bother with salads or other non-meat items. This buffet also featured oysters on the half shell, which seemed a litlle shady to me. However, I did end up eating all of mine as well as my friends, with no ill side effects later. There is a made to order pasta bar, but the pasta ended up a little overcooked. The actually eating area itself was pretty standard restaurant style, with booths and tables. The buffet is on the small side, but with plenty of room to manuever. There is $5 blackjack at the Monte Carlo, so make your way to the buffett if you're in the area.

Lunch- Bally's Paris, $17.95:
If you only have time/money for one Buffet in Vegas, this is it. A little pricey yes, but Paris has got to the the most charming casino we visited and the buffet lives up to that title. Off the main casino floor, the buffet is Parisian themed from the seating areas to the waitresses. The food area is very spacious with separate areas for different themed food. Highlights included the CHEESE bar, as well as the smoked salmon and the whitefish salad and the fresh mozerella. The flan was amazing, as well as the lamb (though I still think it was mislabeled beef) and basically everything else at this buffet. The ambiance is very quaint and the theme is VERY well established here.

Brunch- Bellagio, $12.95:
I personally thought the Bellagio's buffet was a little overrated. The decor did not quite match the elegance of the establishment, and the selection of food wasn't quite as wide, though we went at the transition between breakfast and lunch. Standouts included the smoked salmon and bagels, as well as the french toast and the steak. The scrambled eggs were a little mushy, however, and there was a random selection of Asian food. However, the price before 11:30 can't be beat for Bellagio quality, which is why I would rate this higher than the Monte Carlo.

Overall, all were great deals- at weekday prices. Weekend prices shoot up exorbitantly. Lydia's tips include avioding all asian type food b/c frankly, you didn't go all the way to Vegas to eat fried rice or sweet and sour pork. Also, don't bother with the salad bar- salad bars are all the same. Everything else is game- but don't stuff yourself silly. It ain't worth the money.

2004-03-22T13:22:00.000-08:00

Don't think that just because we are on Spring Break, we will not be bringing you the food news you have come to know and love. To the contrary, in fact. Lydia is bringing this show on the road. Travel with her to the exotic locations of San Francisco and Los Angeles in this edition of...the Food Chicks.

For a solid fusion of Chinese and Vietnamese food in San Francisco's Sunset district, try PPQ on 19th and Irving. Although the acronym might inspire giggles, the quality food at a good price is nothing to laugh about. (haha, I could write like this all the time) I had the Satay beef pho with ho fun (thick rice noodles) which had just the right amount of satay sauce broth, beef and noodles for 6 bucks. Rice dishes come with fish sauce and rice paper wrappers on the side, which Korey demonstrated use of by dipping in warm water and making your own spring rolls. The five spices chicken is also recommended, coming in vermicelli bowls and in soup. Basic noodle soup and rice plates ranged from 6-8 dollars. The most expensive dish of the night rang in at 9 (fried calamari). Irving in the Sunset is a cornocopia of food delights- from Naan and Curry to Plutos (plutos!), but if you are looking for a good value on Vietnamese food, try PPQ.

If you find yourself near the UCLA campus and hankering a hearty breakfast, try Norm's on W. Pico near Sepulveda. Okay, honestly, this place is on par with your local IHOP or Holden's Country Inn. However, the character of the place is uniquely LA. You know those diners in the movies where the detective goes to interview clients and such? Or just diners from the movies like Memento and Muholland Drive? Yeah, its that kind of place. Booths and booths of senior citizens, some guys in trenchcoats, and the random Asian people (us). I had the french toast (mediocre), eggs and sausage, for about 6 bucks. Before 11:30 am, there are breakfast specials on steak and eggs as well. The steak is actually decent, and very worth the money coming with hashbrowns, two eggs and pancakes. A carafe of OJ will cost you about 5 bucks. Be sure to get your money's worth and ask for the free LA Times with each entree! Great atmosphere for people watching, or pretending you are in a scene from Ghost World or Eternal Sunshine or Go or any of the hundreds of movies featuring a seedy diner.

2004-03-13T04:35:00.000-08:00

Dude, I am so jealous of Melissa's food experiences. Take me to Cheeseboard, girl! Also, we have a date for Edoko if any of you would like to join us to try out the buffet.

Another week of restaurant eats for Lydia, but here are two "local" glimpses into my food week.

Grabbed dinner at Cafe Sorrento, a small restaurant across the street from Thai House on Channing and Telegraph. I've heard not to get the pasta there, but the salads are better than average and moderately priced. Get the Chinese chicken salad ($4.75ish), which comes with a copious bed of lettuce topped with mandarin oranges, shredded chicken, and pasta. Ask for the dressing on the side. There are other varieties of salad, including ones with tomatoes and avocado. Also available are the aforementioned pasta and sandwitches. It's a very non-descript little place- great for having good conversation.

For you late night partiers with a designated driver, try Daimo, a Chinese restaurant located by Ranch 99. Local: take University to San Pablo, right on San Pablo until Center where you take a left. Highway: 80 East- Exit Center. Open until 3 AM, Daimo offers affordable noodle soup and congee, as well as family-style dishes. John and I shared a plate of highly-recommended Malaysian Chow Fun (thick noodles, shrimp, pork and curry sauce.) for $8 (yum), fried calamari (too salty) for $10 and half a roast duck (don't know how much that cost). Service is sparse, but quick. Prices for non-noodle soup dishes are a little steep, but it is one of the few restaurants that are open past midnight for your late night cravings. It is quite a drive away, however, but can accomodate large after-event groups.

2004-03-11T00:52:00.000-08:00

well, i just got back from superb's bear's lair show with the velvet teen, and this show rocked!

and i just finished enjoying a fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato- foccacia sandwich from yali's cafe on oxford, across from GPB (think north-west side of campus, near west circle) under the berkeleyan building. this cafe kicks ass. open everyday, they have the probably the best almond latte (my favorite) that i've had in berkeley. well, they have the standard cafe menu but they do boast a wide array of fresh scones, croissants, tortes, cookies, etc every morning that look soo delicious.

onto the sandwich items. they have chicken salad, tuna salad, my favorite mozzarella, turkey, roast beef, on a selection of breads- baguettes, foccacia, white/wheat. most sandwiches range from $4.95 to $5.75. they come with a mini salad served with a garlic, balsamic vinagrette. i must say the mozzarella is so satisfying. fresh crisp basil, freshly sliced tomatoes, and light and airy fresh mozzarella (emphasis on fresh) on herbed focaccia, you can't get any better than that my friends. you can get the combo deals (1/2 serving of two selections: soup, salad, sandwich) for an affordable $5.

the cafe is always buzzing with people and has an adequate amount of chairs/tables for students to utilize.

oh and they have internet hookups as well!

alright kids, the weather has been so incredibly beautiful and odd at the same time. to celebrate, treat yourself to a limonada and slice of cheeseboard pizza (it's truly the ultimate in the high class pizza experience) soon! (north shattuck, across from chez panisse).

life is a matter of taste.

til next time,
melissa joy

2004-03-08T21:04:00.000-08:00

for you organic food lovers (or not): you must try Razan's Organic Kitchen located next to California Theatre on Kittredge. I live right by the place and I had not tried it until last night. Tuned in concerning the great benefits (health and ethical) of eating organic meat by my friend eric, I found myself quite excited to try out their menu.

last night, i ordered the grilled chicken burrito (wheat tortilla)- organic chicken, organic rice, organic beans, cheese, sour cream, and salsa. i must say, it was DELICIOUS. the quality of the meat was much better than any chicken burrito you could get at other burrito places around here. there was a perfect proportion of beans to rice to cheese, ets. however, be warned, because everything is organic, the prices are a bit higher than the average la burrita deal. i paid $6 for the chicken burrito. tonight, i went back to Razan's with eric and ordered the garden burrito- grilled veggies, basil, spinach, organic rice, beans, salsa. it was quite tasty as well, setting me back about $5.50. Also on the menu are some international wraps, as well as a side menu of falafel, fries, pita, and some tasty lookin smoothies ($3.75). oh and my friend recommends the raspberry-ginger ale with your meal.

the place is tiny with a few two-seater tables inside and out, colorful walls, with a view of touchless carwash and all the people waiting out of Great China. I'll save that review for later!

expand your experience with organic; your mouth and the environment will thank you!

cheers,
melissa joy

2004-03-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

With the weekend comes a plethora of oppourtunities to eat outside the home- I ate out every meal this weekend. Placed the earned my patronage included Sufficient Grounds (Across from Unit 3 on Durant), Steve's Korean BBQ (Durant Food Court), Yogurt Park (Across from Sufficient Grounds) and a new place I will highlight in this entry.

So my friend John and I started a very complicated quest for lunch this Sunday. Neither of us having eaten all day, he first suggests that we meet at Cafe Intermezzo (Dwight and Telegraph). However, like on most days at lunch, Intermezzo's line runs out the door and around the corner. So we hop in my car and head down University to look for Adoko (University and Sacramento-ish), which is an all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant, which we find out is not open for lunch on Sundays, though it is every other day for a solid price of $10 or less. Since we are headed to the Fourth Street shopping area of Berkeley, we decide to just eat there- but we remembered the pricey selection from our last trip. At San Pablo and University, John suggested two nearby eateries that both sounded delicious. Everett and Jones BBQ has a little hole in the wall stand on San Pablo, turning right from University headed west. We go there first and discover that the line is atrociously long, with people looking like they've been waiting around for ages. So we book it and head across the street to the other side of University and the Cheesesteak Shop, a place praised by John's frat brothers.

I must admit I'm not a fan of the cheesesteak sandwich. I simply don't get it. Beef sauted with cheese, add pepers and onions. All the ones I've tried before (IB Hoagie, Steak Escape) have left me with a meh opinion of the menu item. However, the Cheesesteak Shop changed my conception of this food from Philidelphia. With 10+ varieties of cheesesteak (garlic, mushroom, pepperoni, bbq, bacon- to name some) and an equivalent chicken menu, the menu at the Shop can't be beat. Also available are a few regular sandwitches (vegetarian, italian), fries, onion rings and the like. I tried the original cheesesteak sandwich with fries and a medium drink for about 5.50 (with a Cal Student ID discount- show it to them at the register). The cheese was perfectly melted and there was an ample amount of beef. The sandwitch comes topped with green pepers and spicy red peppers, for a spicy and sweet mixture. Now, be aware that a 7 inch sandwitch is deceptively small, so order up if you are especialy hungry. The fries are made to order, good and served piping hot. There was no line when we got there, but soon people started showing up. Take advantage of the frecuent customer card and get free stuff. Another cute aspect of the little storefront is that they have the days sports page tacked up by the counter so you can eat and catch up on Cal basketball's dismal road record.

The CheeseSteak Shop definetely opened my eyes to the delicacy that is appreciated by frat guys the world over. While I still may never crave one of these things, I know where to go in case I ever do.

On a non-food note, but equally important- the North Face Outlet at Gilman and Fifth St. is having a MASSIVE sale. It's too late for you little girls (there were NO ladies smalls left when I went), but men's fleece and jackets are 50% already reduced prices. There are sleeping bags, backpacks, shoes and casual clothing at 30%-50% of too. I wish I could justify purchace of a new backpack.

2004-03-06T23:37:00.000-08:00

dude... you're so right lydia. garlic rocks. the best way to eat garlic.... ROASTED. it's like butter. i grossed my friend charlotte out when i ate four cloves of roasted garlic by itself off her bread from gypsy's. i'm telling you, it's the best stuff ever. AND i hear it helps lower cholesterol, thereby preventing heart disease =)

here's how you do roast garlic:
cut the top off a whole head of garlic. then drizzle some good olive/vegetable oil on it, sprinkle a bit of salt/pepper as well. wrap the head of garlic in foil, making a little pouch. pop the pouch right into the oven at about 350 degrees for a good hour to hour and a half. roast until the garlic looks carmelized/ light brown/ and almost as soft as room-temperature butter. you'll be able to pop the cloves right out of their skin once it's ready. i'm telling you, you'll fall in love. it's GREAT in mashed potatoes or just spread on bread.

melissa's berkeley food insight: La Note on Shattuck. a quaint and charming french restaurant. as recommended my dear friend ramona, try the brioche (french toast) for breakfast along with the best hot chocolate in berkeley (total about $10). it gets quite busy during the breakfast hours on the weekends, but it's definitely worth the wait. check it out soon!

2004-03-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

You know what was missing from my linguine and clams? Well, for one, linguine. But the most important thing was: GARLIC! I heart garlic.

With no food in her apartment, Lydia eats out at least one meal per day. Today's food experience was lunch at Le Cheval on Bancroft and Bowditch. An airy space hidden behind the YWCA, La Cheval offers a 3-item lunch buffet for $5 (tax included). I had the curry chicken, the lemongrass chicken and the green beans, but they have a lot of other dishes offered including eggplant dishes, spicy tofu and a plethora of chicken. The curry chicken was mediocre, but the green beans and the lemongrass chicken more than made up for that choice- the green beans were crisp and lemongrass chicken was sauted with onion. The three selections come with a large scoop of rice; a drink is another dollar with free refills. This was actually my first time at Le Chaval for lunch and I have to say that I am very impressed with the amount of food you get for the price as well as the spacious dining area. $5 even for a very full stomach is a good deal indeed. Entrance is on Bowditch facing Urban Outfitters.

2004-03-04T22:57:00.000-08:00

Pho Hoa IS good, for those of you who've never been. It is a chain, though, with stores all across California and the Pacific Northwest.

Also on Shattuck is High Tech Burrito, which is also a chain. See a pattern running in the Downtown district? High Tech offers your basic burrito (chicken, steak, etc) for around 5-6 bucks. For a little more, you can get special ones that involve seafood or mango chutney and exotic things like that. I had the steak burrito with a spinach tortilla, black beans and extra cilantro. Honestly, I wouldn't eat at this place if it wasn't a 30 second walk from my apartment. They don't serve chips with their burritos and the burritos themselves are super dry. Its hardly worth the money, especially in a 100 burrito town like Berkeley. Could there BE any more burrito places? Everyone has thier favorite, and mine is La Cascada on Center right by the Starbucks. Carol and I frequent that place MUCHO and thier chicken burrito is to DIE for, as is the tomatillo sauce they put in. They make everything fresh and have a nice selection of salsa as well. I've also tried the nachos (HUGE) and the tacos (BIG), both of which are delicious as well. The workers are very nice and like Carol, so I benifit by association. If you're on Center, try it out.

2004-03-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

ahh, thanks lydia for that riveting review!

today's food experience:

Pho Hoa on Shattuck. the vietnamese noodle soup was just calling my name today. i had a small chicken bowl at $5.55. other dishes, like seafood pho or the tantalizing beef trip and tendons (mmmmmm....) will set you back about $6.50. honestly, i haven't had too many pho experiences, but this is the third time i've gone to pho hoa and it's not bad at all! there are always a good amount of people eating there, so they must be doing something right. service is fast, the restaurant is clean, and the hoisen and chili sauce are free flowin. if you're craving soup on a cold night, check out pho hoa!

i think i'm craving some naia gelato now (formerly known as mondo gelato); if you go, i recommend their tiramisu, ferrero roche, or the cranberry mueli! manigifico!

life is a matter of taste.

cheers,
melissa joy

2004-03-03T23:49:00.000-08:00

Never order the fish ball soup at the Old Teahouse. Some of thier food is adequate, but that dish is horrific. $4.50 for that?! However, the black milk tea with egg pudding was solid as usual- a very filling drink. Try it today if you've never had pudding in your milk tea.

However, in the past, the Old Teahouse has provided good food with filling quantity at moderate prices. I recommend the seafood udon as well as the singapore style chow mein, both for around $5.50. Apparently, baked dishes are huge down in SoCal, but they kinda freak me out. Why is there cheese in there?! But apparently those are good as well. Lots of selection, all for around 5-7 bucks, and you get a pretty chill atmosphere with the chinese music videos that always provide good conversation fodder.

It's also open until 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Smart move, Chinese people.

2004-03-02T23:45:00.000-08:00

hello world as well (esp. you berkeley folk),

thanks to lydia's insight, you all are going to get to enjoy some "fresh" restaurant reviews from us and whoever else would like to join us.

berkeley and the bay area is a food mecca, to all you who don't realize yet.

this week's recommendation:

thai temple @ russell and mlk. every sunday morning from 9 to about 1, the people and monks of this buddhist temple prepare an array of authentic thai food for everyone in the community to enjoy.

it's a token system- $1/1 token. you can use the tokens to buy a variety of thai dishes at various stations: papaya salad ($4), curries ($4), pad thai, noodle soups, desserts (fried taro/coconut), chicken wraps, fried chick, and the MUST have mango over sticky rice and coconut milk ($4).

the great thing about this is the fact that it is a true community event- all people, young and old, from all over the place, coming together for the love of thai food.

come for the food, stay for the atmosphere!

til next time,
melissa joy

life is a matter of taste

2004-03-02T23:33:00.000-08:00

Hey world!!

First, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Melissa, who's profile updates about food inspired this little site to begin with. Secondly, I'd like to welcome all food lovers out there in Berkeley and/or the Bay Area.

So I made my own dinner tonight. I tried to make linguine and clams with red sauce. It turned out alright...but I think I lack the right seasoning. Too much basil. Not enough oomph.

Lesson: Lydia shouldn't try this at home.