Office Perk: Sam's ChowderMobile

I know, it's been over a month since my last post. Don't think I've given up on this just yet. I've just been incredibly busy with my new job, leaving little time to foodie it up. 

Or perhaps not, since Sam's Chowdermobile made its appearance at my office this week. I took this opportunity to have a sandwich that I never had before: Shrimp Po' Boy:  fried shrimp, tomato slices, lettuce and a special sauce between two fluffy, buttery brioche buns. Served with Old Bay-seasoned fries, it costs $9.50 -- a decent price considering the amount of food that you get. Standing in line and being teased by the lingering, fried food scent was too much for my grumbling stomach to handle. I pretty much inhaled the sandwich and was left feeling more than satisfied. 

Shrimp Po' Boy with Old Bay Fries: $9.50

Fish N' Chips: $10.50

My coworker ordered the Fish N' Chips...yes she is a malt vinegar bandit because she's awesome. It comes with a side of coleslaw and tartar sauce. The fish was perfectly crisped and it gives way to a nice flaky, juicy bite. 

It was nice to have seafood following my recent trip to Pescadero, a breathtaking coastal town 20 miles south of Half Moon Bay. I was planning on checking out Flying Fish Grill and their praised fish tacos in Half Moon Bay on the way back, only to find that they were closed on that day.

Wallowing in French Nostalgia at Crêpes Oh la la (Formerly known as Crêpes-a-Go-Go)

Nothing compares to the crêperies in France, but I have to say that there's a pretty decent one in my own backyard. 


What was once part of the Crêpes-A-Go-Go chain, is now apparently independent and now called Crêpes Oh La La. Though the name changed and its location is a couple blocks farther from the Broadway Plaza area in Walnut Creek, the service and food remain the same. Which makes me wonder about the change in the first place, but, I digress...

The Sautéed Chicken with Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Garlic, and Onion ($6) savory crêpe is a new favorite of mine. It's as if they put all the elements of a pasta into a crêpe, minus the pasta. They don't skimp on the ingredients at all, and it's perfect if you're in the mood for something hearty and filling. 

You can't leave here without having a dessert crêpe, especially one with Nutella. I devoured Nutella when I lived in France and so every now and then I have a hankering for it. Pictured is the Nutella Banana Crêpe ($4.75), which is split into two (a perfect serving after eating an entire savory kind!). You get just the right amount of every ingredient, and the best part is the warm nutella coating your every bite. 

This restaurant is for those who want an affordable, traditional piece of France after a long day of shopping.  The menu has a variety of options that'll appeal to any mood or craving, and you can personalize your very own by adding extra elements.

Crêpes Oh La La 

1548 Locust St
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

An Off the Grid Run-In at UN Plaza: Tandoori Chicken USA Mobile

From this angle it just looks like a wrap, french fries, and a questionable green sauce.

But it is in fact a Tandoori Chicken Sandwich Combo ($9), with your choice of french fries or basmati rice, and a drink of your choice.

I found this at Off the Grid at UN Plaza by the Civic Center BART station, and my boyfriend I happened to stumble upon it while we were thinking about where to have lunch. 

I had never had Indian street food before, so I decided to try out Tandoori Chicken USA Mobile Food Truck. It offers Indian favorites such as tandoori chicken, paneer, and chicken curry. You decide whether you want to stick with tradition and get a side of basmati rice or change it up with french fries. I was in the mood for the latter, which are in fact not  of the plain shoestrong variety. They're natural cut and bear some skin, which makes them incredibly addictive. The sandwich combo also includes a side of some tasty green curry sauce, which is mild and has a coriander kick. 

Off the Grid Shoutout: 3-Sum Eats

My boyfriend and I went to Off the Grid last night in North Berkeley -- our second week in a row -- so, we decided before getting there that we'd both try something new. Last week we went to Hapa SF and partook in some sisig action (marinated pork, onions, and peppers that is boiled, broiled, and finally fried).

I was delighted to see 3-Sum Eats, which I had always missed at the main Off the Grid at Fort Mason. The concept behind "3-Sum" is simple: choose a sandwich from list #1 on the menu, move on to list #2 where you can find sides such as Deviled Eggs ($4) and Mac n' Cheese Spring Rolls ($6), and conclude with a dessert from list #3 like a Brioche Bread Pudding ($3.50).


I remembered a friend of mine raving about something on list #1: their Corn Flake Crusted Fried Chicken Sandwich ($8). Bottom line: My friends have great taste.

Served in a brioche bun with old bay aioli, carrot-cabbage slaw, and pickles -- it all adds up to perfection. All these elements in a handy sandwich make you wonder why there isn't enough of this stuff out there.

Plus, you can't expect anything less from the man behind this food truck, Ryan Scott, a former contestant of Top Chef: Chicago.

A Concord Treasure: New Lim's Garden Seafood Restaurant

Concord surprisingly has a pretty damn good Chinese Restaurant. It should consider itself lucky. New Lim's Garden Seafood Restaurant has been around for longer than I've been living in the area, so that's more than 15 years. My family and I have been ordering out from this place for the longest time, and it's because we consider it to be one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Bay Area -- comparable to those you can find closer to the city. 

My closest friends in the Concord area value this restaurant as much as I do. 

There's nothing like cheap, good, authentic Chinese food. What's not to love ?


Here's a few of my favorites/usuals: 

For a family of 4, one order of the Yang Chow Fried Rice ($6.25) will suffice. Not only is it incredibly authentic, it's heartily packed with shrimp, peas, egg, Chinese sausage, and carrots. 

Their Peking Pork Chop ($7.25) is crisped and slathered to perfection. Pork, light breading, and sweet and sour sauce is quite an addictive combination. 

The Chinese Broccoli with Beef ($6.75) is a sautéed melange of kai-lan (Chinese broccoli), beef, and carrots lightly doused in black bean sauce. The best part of this dish is the kai-lan, because its texture and flavor pair so well with the sauce. 

You can get two Deep-Fried Flounders for $8.95. Topped with scallions and served with a sweet soy sauce, it's lightly breaded and perfectly fried. I pick this fish like crazy to the bone.









It's amazing how much food you can get for just a little under $30. Their menu is full of Chinese classics and is bound to have your favorite dish. 


Also notable is their lunch special that costs $5.50-$6.50 per person and is held form 11:00am-12:30pm. You can get a selected choice of vegetables, beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, or fish with soup, fried wonton, steamed rice, or fried rice. 


So the next time you're in Concord (for whatever reason), and have a Chinese food craving, this is definitely the place to be. 


Location: 4340 Clayton Road, Concord
Monday-Thursday: 11:00am-9:30pm
Friday-Saturday: 11:00am-10:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am-9:30pm

Power of the Purple Restaurant: King of Thai Noodle House

Cheap and authentic Thai food that's a mere one block away from Union Square? Tourists and locals alike who get hunger pains from a day of sightseeing or shopping can enjoy King of Thai Noodle House on O'Farrell Street in San Francisco. Its walls are painted purple, just like the shirts of its waitstaff, both of which make for a fun, inviting ambiance.

Pad Thai is a hit or miss at Thai restaurants, but I definitely think it's a winner at this restaurant. It's the most popular dish in this cuisine, with its textural and tasty combination of stir fried rice noodles, shrimp, egg, ground peanuts, tofu and bean sprouts in a fish sauce and tamarind juice. At only $6.25, this is practically a good deal meal in itself. 

Their Pumpkin Curry ($8.25) is filled with chicken, squash, Thai basil, and chicken. It's highlighted quite nicely by a bright, spicy flavor -- elements that fit perfectly this autumn season. You'll find yourself drenching the remaining sauce all over your rice to the point that you've practically licked both dishes clean. 

Hoi Jor ($6.95) is deep fried bean curd filled with ground pork, crab meat, ground shrimp, and ground water chestnuts, served alongside sweet plum sauce. The thin, crispy bean curd encases a meaty, succulent interior. I found myself quite addicted. 














Another notable item on the menu is Kao Gra Prow ($8.25), which I didn't order this time around in an attempt to try new things and therefore don't have a picture on hand. It's a combination of any meat of your choice (chicken, beef, pork, or seafood -- shrimp, calamari, imitation crab meat, and sliced fish cake), thai basil, red pepper, and thai chili, all served over a mound of white rice. I always order it with ground beef. It has just the right amount of spiciness, which allows the dish to fare well with rice. 

Location: 184 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA

Caffe Puccini: More than just a espresso.

It's hard to come by a good Italian restaurant, in fact I think the best Italian dishes can be made at home with the right ingredients. But there's nothing wrong with enjoying it while dining out, so long as it comes from homemade, true Italian tradition. 

Such is the case with Caffe Puccini in the North Beach district of San Francisco. Nestled among many touristy establishments with hosts and hostesses beckoning for you to come in, this café/restaurant keeps to itself and tends to be frequented by more locals than visitors. 

At first glance it looks like just a café and nothing more. But you'll most likely see that there are some people twirling pastas or munching on foccacia. If you have a hankering for more than a cappuccino and a cannoli, the mere sight of that might put you over the edge. 

This is a seafood lover's dream. It's called Linguine ai Frutta di Mare ($14.95), a heavenly combination of mussels, clams, and shrimp in a white wine broth. Every aspect of this dish is fresh, from its "hot off the press" temperature to the clean, flavorful finish of every bite. 










This is one of my favorite pastas, Pappardelle alla Lepre ($12.95). It's pappardelle pasta with rabbit in red wine sauce. Rabbit might not be inviting for some, because it comes across as gamey and stringy. I think the rabbit is rich and hearty, pairing well with the pappardelle. 










The service here is great, and on this day in particular, my family and I were helped by a lovely Italian woman who made sure we were well taken care of. Italian hospitality like this just puts the cherry on top of my experience here.


Location: 411 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco

Szechuan Delicacy: Hot and Spicy Pork Shoulders

As a lover of spicy food, I revel in Szechuan cuisine, especially the Hot and Spicy Pork Shoulders ($16.95) at China Village in Albany (Pictured in the forefront).

The meat from the pork shoulder falls right off the bone, as it is cooked for 6 to 8 hours and braised to perfection. You can alter the level of spiciness to your taste. It's best paired with plain white rice as the sauce of this pork dish is rich with spices, bok choy, chili peppers, and star anise.

Another notable item on the menu is the Szechuan Style Spicy Beef ($9.95, pictured upper left from the pork shoulder). Dry-cooked and spicy, you'll find yourself using your chopsticks to pick out those delectable bits of beef among the red chili and green beans.



Location: 1335 Solano Avenue, Albany

Sunday-Tuesday: 11am-9:30pm 

Wednesday-Thursday: 11am-10pm

Friday-Saturday: 11am-11:30pm

Loco for Taqueria Los Gallos Express

An all-you-can-eat chips and salsa bar is probably my favorite (and most lethal) aspect of authentic Mexican restaurants.

At Taqueria Los Gallos Express, you can eat in and find yourself constantly going back and forth for more of this addictive luxury or while waiting for your take-out order, stuff tiny pastry bags to the brim with crispy, shiny, freshly made tortilla chips.

I went to one of their four locations in Concord, which sits on a stretch of fast food joints and restaurants that will satisfy your hunger for anything without burning a hole in your wallet...but if cheap authenticity is what you seek, then this restaurant is a solution. 

At Los Gallos, you can get a lunch special with your choice of a main component (quesadilla, taco, crispy taco, tamale, or enchilada) on a plate alongside beans and Mexican rice plus a soft drink for $4.99. 

Pictured on the left is the Tamale lunch special. With this combination, they can only offer it to be filled with chicken but regardless, you'll devour the fresh, flavorful, comforting food that I, personally, had severely missed while living in France. I'm still making up for it. I heart tamales. I kind of wish I could have taken pleasure in unwrapping a tamale from its steaming husk. 

The Taco lunch special, shown right with Al Pastor, is just as satisfying. With there just being one taco, a lot of meat is piled on top of it -- something that no one can ever complain about. 

Both dishes also give you more reason to get those amazing chips to sop up any soupy, beany remnants. 

Locations (and they're referred to by number, I went to #4): 

#1: 1950A Grant Street, Concord 

#2: 2118 Willow Pass Road, Concord

#3: 1974 Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill 

#4: 4350 Clayton Road Suite A, Concord 

Light Lunch Fare: The Musical Offering Café and Bistro

The Musical Offering Café and Bistro is a short cry from the south side of the Cal Campus. They offer a selection of morning baked goods, espresso drinks, salads, and sandwiches. Sounds awfully a lot like a Starbucks layout, right? Think again. This establishment is actually part-restaurant and part-classical CD store, and is sometimes used as a venue for academic talks (famed social anthropologist and UC Berkeley professor Judith Butler has spoken here before).

Pictured on the right is the Roasted Eggplant and Caramelized Onion ($7.50) sandwich with Provolone cheese, balsamic dressing, and tomato. It's served with a small green salad. The flavors are well-balanced and the ingredients are incredibly fresh. It's the perfect size for a light lunch, one that you can savor for while. 


Their Tuna Niçoise ($8.50), also pictured, is quite substantial, with a half a cup of tuna placed in the middle of a melange of Blue Lake green beans, white beans, tomatoes, capers, Kalamata olives, garden greens, and red vinaigrette dressing. A small sprinkle of lemon brings out a perfect harmony of the flavors. 

Location: 
2430 Bancroft Way, Berkeley
Monday 8am-5pm
Tuesday- Friday 8am-8 pm
Saturday 11:30am-8pm
Sunday 11:30am-5pm

Autumn in San Francisco Calls For a Warm Specialty's Cookie

Sometimes we find ourselves walking around San Francisco and are succumbed to the fog and biting wind that autumn brings. We escape the cold to grab a cup of coffee most of the time, but sprinkled throughout the city is Specialty's Café and Bakery. Though they serve soups, salads, and sandwiches, they are famously known for their incredibly fresh selection of heftily dolloped cookies. 

With seven locations in San Francisco, you can run into one easily if you're in the downtown area. They also have stores all over other parts of the Bay Area and southern California. 

With this many locations you can find out which store has the freshest cookies by checking out their website's Cookie Radar. I found this out when I accessed their mobile site on my iPhone. What's additionally amazing is the fact that you can narrow it down to where your favorite cookie is hot off the press.


Speaking of which, it's hard to choose a favorite but the ones that tops my list of favorites would have to be the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip and Milk Chocolate Chip. Pictured on the right is the Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chip cookie. Notice how the chips melt all over the paper. Imagine that in your mouth. It's pure magic. Wash it all down with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee, and you're all set to continue your chilly trek in the city. This isn't Mrs. Field's. You'll probably even forget her existence after you've had a bite out of Specialty's.

The Peanut Butter and Snickerdoodle are excellent as well.




San Francisco Locations: 

22 Battery Street
500 Howard Street
101 New Montgomery Street
369 Pine Street
1 Post Street
505 Sansome Street
150 Spear Street 


For other locations, refer to their website.
 

Tartine: Nom Nom Nostalgia

I first heard about Tartine Bakery & Cafe from my lovely editor Anne while I was an intern at California magazine. She raved about their Lemon Cream Tart, and given that she is quite the foodie and I forever have a hankering for French boulangerie/pâtisserie fare, I had to go check it out. 

Tartine is owned by a chef couple, Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson. They both share their culinary experience from France through their rustic goods -- wood fired brick oven breads, French pastries, and savory quiches. This bakery was established in 2002,and their talents earned them James Beard Award nominations in 2006 and 2007, before finally winning the award in 2008. 


Upon arriving at Tartine, there is a line out the door. It's not a big establishment and it's rather cramped inside but it all looks like a good sign for a great find. 


You pay for expertise and quality here, so be prepared. 

For instance, the Lemon Cream Tart is $6.25. Yep, the little beauties pictured on the right. But it's worth every penny. It's wonderfully tart and that tartness is cut really well by the small dollop of whipped cream. An edible flower petal is an adorable added touch that tops off this insanely perfect dessert. 

I wanted to see how their Croissants stack up. And it's pretty much this: Parisian croissants on steroids. At $3.75 each, it's well worth the buttery, flaky goodness that I came to appreciate while living in Paris. Every bite took me back to those days.

The Valrhona chocolate-clad Friand ($2.90) is petite but richly dark and indulgent. You can't help but feel sinister when you take your first bite into it. 









What I look forward to trying next time: 
 

Croque Monsieur ($9.75) 

Quiche ($4.75 per slice) 

Location:

600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco

Monday 8am-7pm/ Tuesday, Wednesday 7:30am-7pm/ Thursday, Friday 7:30am-8pm/ Saturday 8am-8pm/ Sunday 9am-8pm

  

My Trucks of Choice at Off the Grid

Off the Grid is a food truck meetup event that happens every Friday evening at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. It started last fall and has been a hit ever since, including their smaller installments at the Ferry Building, Civic Center, North Berkeley, and San Mateo.

It can be incredibly windy at Fort Mason, seeing that it is by the Bay. There aren't many seats available within the food truck circle, but there are picnic tables just beyond it for bigger parties. A lot of families arrive and stay during the first part of the evening, and then trickle out as the sun goes down and the younger crowd moves in. It's a great place to meet with friends, or run into new people who share your love of food and the food truck movement. Live music varies every week as well.

Pictured on the left are Sisig Nachos from the truck Senor Sisig. Filipino food never really has made itself very prominent in the culinary limelight, but luckily its cuisine is very food truck-able. Sisig is cubed pork marinated in vinegar that has been broiled and fried. Turning it into a nachos dish is just genius. They top it off with jalapenos, tomatoes, sour cream, guacomole, cheese, and french fries. It's the perfect hangover food. ($9)

JapaCurry offers a delicious Tonkatsu Curry, and at $8, it's a great value. Tonkatsu is breaded and fried chicken or pork cutlets. You wouldn't want to waste the spicy green curry (you can go mild if you'd like) and will probably find yourself drenching the rice in it. Most food trucks offer small portions for a pushy price, but this definitely plays fair. 

El Porteño has great empanadas. $4 gets you a Pollo Empanada, whereas $5 gets you Carne or Jamon y 
Queso. My favorite is their chicken (pollo) empanada, which is filled with Fulton Valley all-natural chicken, chicken chorizo, raisins, and olives.

Location: Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, every Friday from 5pm to 10pm 

Buy Right: Bi-Rite Gourmet Organic Ice Cream

My parents swung by Bi-Rite Market in San Francisco and brought back two incredibly delectable pints of Salted Caramel and Strawberry Balsamic ice cream. They are $8 a pop, but worth every bit. Across the street from the market is the Bi-Rite Creamery, which constantly garners a line around the block. But if you've had and know what you want and want to bring your favorite flavor back with you, head to the market. They use sustainable, organic ingredients in their handcrafted small batches of ice cream. Pick up each pint and you'd be surprised to feel how light it is.

Though this is my first time having it and therefore I've only had both of the above-mentioned flavors, the Strawberry Balsamic flavor is by far my favorite. It's a creamy, harmonious combination of the classic strawberry flavor and a slight tang from the balsamic vinegar. 

Almost devoured. 

The Salted Caramel flavor is fantastic as well. Like the Strawberry Balsamic, it's light and airy but packed with an excellent, can-do-no-wrong marriage of salty and sweet. Combining this and the Strawberry Balsamic is not a bad idea either, in fact I encourage it.

Looks like we're leveling with the Strawberry Balsamic remnants.













Location:

Bi-Rite Creamery: 3692 18th Street (@ Dolores), San Francisco
Sunday-Thursday: 11am-10pm
Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm

Bi-Rite Market: 3639 18th Street, San Francisco
Everyday: 9am-9pm
 

American-French Bistro: Chef Tyler Florence's Wayfare Tavern

Tucked in San Francisco's financial district is famed Chef Tyler Florence's Wayfare Tavern. It's timeless exterior and interior ambiance is inviting as it does stick out like a sore thumb, a memory-burning one at that. My sister (right) and I are pictured in front of the restaurant before we went in with my mom for lunch. 

This is the view from our table, all of us hoping to catch a glimpse of Chef Tyler Florence. The waiter informed us that he's mostly active in the kitchen on nights, but occasionally would pop in during the afternoon. Unfortunately, no sight of him this time around. I'll be back for more. 

The Monterey Bay Sardines ($14) are drenched in heavenly parsley butter, roasted garlic, and herb roasted crumbs, all upon which you would squeeze some lemon juice for vibrancy. If only there was some nice French baguette to sop up the remaining sauce...

Instead, Wayfare Tavern serves complimentary Popovers, which are eggy hollowed-out brioches. There is a designated person with a stainless steel basket of popovers who'll replenish your small plate if you wish. It's fresh out of the oven, to the point that it instantly absorbs the olive oil butter that you can't help but lather on.

Inviting, no?

The Lobster Cobb ($24), my sister's main dish, is a freshly tossed mix of romaine lettuce, soft boiled Jidori eggs, tomato, smoked bacon, avocado, corn, beets, radishes, and succulent pieces of lobster. A massive, hearty melody.

The Smoked Sonoma Pork Ribs ($26) with Florence's BBQ sauce, roasted plums, and corn on the cob is what my mom ordered. Its meat falls right off the bone and pairs superbly well with the bitter, tangy plums. 

Now, this is what I ordered. The quintessentially French bistro fare, Steak Frites ($27). This heaping serving showcases perfectly cooked Santa Maria tri-tip, truffle butter, watercress, and French fried potatoes. The fries are drizzled with a bit of the truffle butter, which gives them a nice  flavor, like a strong olive oil. I think this could easily be shared with another person, as are the other main dishes above, unless of course you are really that ravenous. 

To top it all off, we decided to dig into the Chocolate Cream Pie ($9). Was it necessary? Knowing that I had reached my limits, it probably wasn't. But why not. Who could resist caramel ganache, devil's food cake, Scharffenberger chocolate pudding, and whipped cream? It's surprisingly not as sweet as you would think, and a perfect dessert following my main meal. 








I walked out of there feeling like an anvil, but it was worth it. 

Location: 558 Sacramento Street, San Francisco 
Open Monday through Saturday 11am-11pm
Open Sunday 5pm-11pm