This and that around the Bay Area

Aside from planning out reservations for new restaurants, nostalgic bites, spontaneous eats and recommendations from locals and friends fill the rest of my eating and drinking time in the Bay Area.

My trips back to the San Francisco area always satisfy my cravings for contemporary American bar food, Mexican fare, and Northern Californian wines and beers.  From dishes I used to have as a grade school kid to new discoveries, it all tastes like home away from home these days.

Fish and Chips at Bourbon Pub
Petrale sole, salt and vinegar tots, tartar sauce

Pizzeria Mozza in Singapore

For our last night out, we wanted to enjoy a night out with good food and a bottle of wine.  Mozza at the Marina Bay Sands was the perfect place for a girls night out because of its casual, yet classy atmosphere.  Pizzeria Mozza, opposite the more formal Osteria Mozza, has a great selection of appetizers and pizzas for the whole table to share.

The service was friendly, thanks to fellow Filipinos happy to serve with their warm hospitality.  The food comes out at a good pace to enjoy the sequence of antipastis, appetizers, pizzas, and the sweet endings.

The food quality is up to par with Batali, Bastianich, and Silverton restaurants world wide (at least those that I've tried in NYC, Vegas, LA, and Hong Kong).  And, the pizza ranks up there with some of the best texture and tasting of pie crusts and quality of toppings.

Marina Bay Sands has a great selection of restaurants from international chefs.  Mozza is definitely a place to consider for a tasty night out.

Bone marrow al forno

Weekend eats in Singapore

Back in Singapore for another weekend getaway.  This time around I was introducing the city to a couple of my closest friends.  We stayed at my friend's hotel in the Central Business District, the Westin Hotel, as she was in town for work.  It's a quieter area to stay, but like almost everything in Singapore, it's clean and safe.

CBD is walking distance to Chinatown and the Marina Bay areas.  Over the course of the weekend, we enjoyed bites all around the districts of the city - Marina Bay, Clarke Quay, Chinatown, and Orchard Road - the usual areas that first timers should check out.  We tasted a mix of local and Western dishes.  Tiger beers, chicken wings, chili crabs, and oyster omelettes for the local side; and fries, pizzas, and wine for the Western side of the plate (more on that in my next posts).  For now, here are some of the local bites and neighborhood treats from the weekend.

Friday afternoon beer

And even more of Hong Kong

As I've been reminiscing about my Hong Kong trip, I found myself missing the city again.  So... I just came back from a short weekend getaway.  Yes, I know, I really can't get enough of Hong Kong.

This time around, it was a relaxed leisurely trip to enjoy the city, the eating, and the shopping (even though I didn't actually buy anything - which still feels so weird).  For part of the leisurely feel of the trip, we enjoyed getting up to room service.  Mandarin Oriental's the Statue Square view provides such a breathtaking way to start each day watching the weekend and weekday crowds bustle around Central.

Staying at the Mandarin allows us to readily eat at the hotel's restaurants.  In our past trips, we've dined at Man Wah and Pierre.  This time around it, we felt like taking things more casual.  Cafe Causette is a perfect place for a quality, yet relaxed meal at any time of the day.  Local publications recently awarded this establishment with the "Best Hotel Burger".  After dining at the restaurant for lunch and dinner, with a classic burger for each meal, I can conclude it is a satisfying burger.  They do, however, need to work on the consistency.  At lunch, the simplicity and minimalism made a clean burger with the intense quality of beef shine.  At dinner, the lettuce and mayonnaise were slathered on too much and made for a messier burger experience.

Hong Kong has been all over the international news these past weeks and months.  It was fascinating to see how protestors are still affecting the city.  The partial closure of Connaught Road is surprising to see in person.  It's such a significant road and protestors are successfully redirecting major traffic.

In other current event news, we also witnessed the ceremony of Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day.  While no longer an official city holiday since 1997, it was nice to see how the history of British culture is still alive in the island.

Room service with a view

A classic burger, paired with red wine

Family Style at Ad Hoc

Yountville is Thomas Keller country.  And rightfully so.  French Laundry, Bouchon, Ad Hoc, Addendum - all highly talked about and highly loved.

If you want a casual but quality family dining experience, Ad Hoc is the place for you.  On Easter Sunday, we landed a lunch reservation on Open Table.  We were hoping to get fried chicken on the menu, as Addendum was still hibernating.  But you only find out the menu for the day on the day itself.  And what is on the menu is all that you'll get.  It's fixed family style that increases in quantity depending on how many people are at the table.

For our particular menu, we had an Endive Salad, Fish and Chips, Ribeye, a cheese course, and Sundaes.  I was really impressed with the fish and chips - the best fish and chips I've eaten so far.  Perfect batter around a light white fish.  This kitchen does magic with fried dishes.  The salad was a bit underwhelming and the ribeye wasn't too special either.  But everything was fun, quality, and the service was excellent.  They even accommodated with an extra cheese plate when one person at our table couldn't eat the goat cheese.  This is what service is about, and these are the memories you take with you.  The sundaes were a fun ending, especially with kids at the table.  It's admittedly easy to prepare as it was deconstructed.  But, these were some of the tastiest sauces ever - caramel, chocolate, and strawberry.  You can taste the thought put into these toppings.

I'll definitely find myself at Ad Hoc again.  If I really want the fried chicken, though, I'll make it out back to Addendum since it's finally during these warmer months.  It's a fun idea that you don't know the menu until that day and it's family style.  It creates an opened minded dining experience with the warmth of sharing everything with your table.

Apple and endive salad

Fish and chips

Ribeye with Yorkshire puddings and creamed spinach

Feasting in Singapore

The sights, architecture, museums, culture, and nature.  That's a lot to take in for a short getaway to Singapore.  And the highlight of it all is the food.  You can eat cheaply or luxuriously; the choice is up to you and your wallet.  Either way you go, you're guaranteed to end the day with a happy stomach.

Hawker centers and food courts are the way to go for cheap meals.  In the better areas, the price is slightly higher because the quality and cleanliness is what you pay for.  (We actually ate satay in an outdoor hawker center which was really nice, but unfortunately food poisoning was a result.  So you should still be careful of what you eat and the handling of it even if you're in Singapore where the standards for street food are supposed to be better.)  There are so many classic dishes to choose, so it's best to go with hungry stomachs and share everything.

On the other end of the budget spectrum, there are also many choices for big splurges as well as mid-ranged meals from international celebrity chefs.  From Australia, Luke Mangan has his Salt tapas & bar which is a fun restaurant for refreshing sangrias and small plates to share.  From the states by way to France, there's also the iconic Daniel Boulud and his db Bistro Moderne.  There you can enjoy his signature burger decadently filled with short rib and foie gras.  You can have a meal from these reknown chefs from all over the world in just one small city.

In Singapore, there's so much great food for every budget and for any craving.

First stop, hawker centers
Chicken wings and carrot cake

 Nasi Lemak at 1983 Taste of Nanyang

Nibbling around the San Francisco Bay Area

This last trip back to San Francisco was pretty indulgent, a true eat-fest.

Here are pictures from the many other bites that I had during my two week trip.  It was filled with nostalgic eats (like the chicken wings by my alma mater), fun finds while catching up with old friends (which is the root to my love for bar food), and new bites which I can't wait to have again on my next trip (Smore's Pie at Bi-Rite!)

If you cant see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: SF Nibblings

Umami Burger in Palo Alto

In the past, if you wanted to get the best burgers in the SF Bay Area, you'd have to drive up to the city for a quality gourmet burger.  These days, you can stay around the Peninsula.  Umami Burger in Palo Alto is serving up some of the best burgers south of the city.

It's so simple and so quality.  And that makes all the difference.  There are options to really dress the burger up with meats, truffles, the works.  For me, after tasting a few of the different selections, my favorite is the simplest - The Original.  It has all that umaminess that you'll fully appreciate every single bite.

If I were to move back to the Bay Area, this would be one of my go-to spots to eat too often.  This SoCal concept has brought some great burgers up to NorCal.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Umami

Hog & Rocks in San Francisco

Of all happy hours out there, the best value is the oyster happy hour.  Most run for $1 per oyster!  That's such a great deal compared to the full price which is normally $3+ per piece.

When my family and I arrived 5 minutes before the end of happy hour at Hog and Rocks in the Mission District we quickly ordered 18 oysters for the 3 of us.  Next time, we're getting at least 2 dozen.  Chilled, fresh oysters are one of my favorite bites to eat.

Aside from oysters (the rocks), there's also a good choice of hams (the hog).  This restaurant and bar has a great menu variety with fun modern twists on bar food.  The whiskey selection is really fun, too.  This is a fun, chill place in the Mission that serves great food with a casual vibe.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Hog and Rocks

Thomas Keller's Addendum

When Thomas Keller first opened Ad Hoc in Yountville, people could not stop talking about the Sunday fried chicken.  Reservations were hot and the weekend special was often the reason to go.  Fast forward a few years later, and with a great business concept, enter Addendum.

Located in the back parking lot of Ad Hoc, Addendum only serves two choices - Fried Chicken and a rotating special.  It's open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11am to 2pm.  Any of those days and during the whole 3 hours, the line is constant.

The setting is perfect for the wine country.  Outdoor eating on benches surrounded by a park-like setting.  It's perfect before and in-between wine tasting.  Plus, you can keep drinking with a choice selection of beers and wines that pair nicely with this American comfort food.

The verdict on the fried chicken?  Soo worth the hype.  Wow, the brine, the batter, and the fried execution is all worth the price, the wait, and the drive.  While critics say the price is steep, I argue that this is Thomas Keller quality that's worth paying for.  You're paying for the whole experience.

If you can't see the slide show here, check out my Flickr album: Addendum

Let's Play Ball!... But first, drink & eat!

The best time to visit San Francisco is from April through September, maybe even October on a great year.  Why?  Giants baseball season!

Every single trip back, I'm either at AT&T park or at a bar with friends enjoying a game.  When I do get a chance to watch at the park, eating and drinking always accompany the afternoon and evening.

The SOMA district is filled with bars and restaurants with pre-game fun.  Beer and appetizers are the best way to go.  One of the best spots is right at the park at Public House.  It's a fun restaurant and bar swarming with Giants fans.  You can even access the bar during the game.

After a couple of beers and snacks at Public House, my brother and I walked around to The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen.  Grilled cheese has been making a scene lately throughout the states.  I love it - it's one of my favorite childhood foods.

A few blocks away from the park are also a handful of taverns and bars, like Pete's Tavern, Pedro's Cantina, 21st Amendment, etc.  There's something for your every mood and craving.

Once you've filled up on snacks and tasty beverages, you're all set and even more excited for game time.  Go Giants!

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slideshow, check out my Flickr album: Pre Game Grub

A sunny day in Half Moon Bay

Sunny days on weekends in the Bay Area.  You need to get out of the house and enjoy the day.

Instead of the usual drive up to the city or down to Santa Cruz, we mixed it up a bit and drove out to Half Moon Bay.  It was one of those lucky days where the skies and the water so clear and blue.  The perfect weather for fish and chips.

Barbara's Fish Trip has been my family's go-to fish and chips spot for as long as I could remember.  Potential traffic along the 92 never stopped us.  We were too drawn to the fresh quality of white fish and that light, fluffy, flaky batter.

It's a relief to know that it hasn't changed.  The fried fish is still as light, airy, and crunchy as ever.  Plus, I love indulging on a plateful of fried artichoke hearts, too.   Prepping and cooking artichokes can be tedious at home, so I usually order it if it's on the menu.

When I came of age (21, that is) I would choose to cross the street to the Half Moon Bay Brewery instead.  Sitting by an outdoor firepit, munching on fried artichoke hearts and sipping on an IPA or an Amber Ale..well, it was usually both by the end of the meal.  If you want some tasty brews, HMB Brewery is the place to go.  If you just want some quality fried seafood, Barbara's Fish Trap is always the good choice.

If you can't see the slideshow, check out my Flickr album: Barbara's Fish Trap

Tasting our way around Napa Valley

Before leaving for the states, my parents gave me a list of things to buy.  When they said, "Wine," I didn't understand that as going to BevMo to buy a few bottles.  Of course not!  That clearly meant that I had to take a day trip up to the Napa Valley.

On a sunny Sunday, my friends and I made our way up Highway 29.  Our first stop was Yountville (or as I like to call it, "Michelin row" where four restaurants on one road have Michelin stars) for a necessary macaron start at Bouchon Bakery.  Thomas Keller makes some of the best macarons in the Bay Area.  If you're in area, you have to stop by.

With sweets coating our stomachs, we made our wine tasting stops.  We took our time through three wineries in the course of the afternoon.  Robert Mondavi Winery, St. Supery, and, my favorite winery, Peju.  I love that every pourer is friendly and informative.  Some more so than others, which is definitely the case at Peju.

By the time we got to our third winery, we had alcohol-hunger.  We found Rutherford Grill thanks to Yelp (4.5 out of 5 stars from 800+ reviews had to guarantee a great place).  Local Californian cuisine with a friendly neighborhood/tourist restaurant and bar vibe.  I definitely recommend this if you want a food stop before, during, or after your wine tasting day.

I never tire of trips up to Napa.  With great company, it's always a relaxing and memorable adventure full of great sips of several wines.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slideshow, check out my Flickr album: Napa

Tasting Menu treats at 25Lusk

My Bay Area list always includes the following: ramen, pizza, burgers, Mexican, Giants game(s) at the park or at a bar, day trips, happy hours, and a nice dinner somewhere new.

In my past few trips, I've had memorable dinners at Salt House, Wayfare Tavern, and Benu.  This time around I let my friends choose the restaurant.  They chose their go-to spot in the city for a celebration meal.  25Lusk, a neighborhood city restaurant and lounge that has a weekly tasting menu with a rustic, urban vibe.  That sounded perfect for a dinner with friends.

I love the interior of the lounge and the restaurant.  The lounge on the first floor is a great place for friends and for couples for get pre- or post-dinner drinks.  The cocktail menu has a lot of original concoctions that are worth tasting.  The restaurant is spacious, yet still has a cozy neighborhood feel with the darker lighting, brick walls, and wood finishes.

The meal itself was just as enjoyable as the surroundings.  While a couple of the dishes stood out more than others, the whole tasting menu was well-thought out.  I like that the chef changes the menu every week to encourage repeat customers to try more dishes.  There's also an a la carte menu if you don't want to eat or spend as much.  Compared to other tasting menus in the city, though, $78 for 5 courses (starter, fish course, meat course, cheese plate, and dessert) is not too bad at all.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slideshow, check out my Flickr album: 25Lusk

Crepes in Menlo Park

On any perfect Bay Area day, it's a requirement to get outside and enjoy the weather.  So for a late lunch, my family and I went Crepes Cafe for some al fresco dining.

I went here years ago when it first opened.  This place is always packed on weekends for lunch.  Locals here love weekend brunches and lunches.  Fortunately, mid-week and mid-day the place was practically empty, so we had our choice of outdoor tables.

These dishes are definitely good for sharing because of the sizes and to get a variety of tastes.  I was happy to come here because I was craving for smoked salmon for a couple days now.  Smoked salmon crepes?  Heck yeah!

Overall, it was a great place to go to enjoy the day.  The food was satisfying enough for a mid-day meal.  I did find the crepes to be on the heavy side, though.  I tend to go to Cafe Borrone when I'm looking for an outdoor meal in Menlo Park, but I'm glad my brother had a certificate to mix things up a little.  Another plus about this place, they have a nice little beer and wine selection.  You can't enjoy the day without some tasty beverages.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

If you can't see the slideshow, check out my Flickr album: Crepes Cafe

Taking a Break from Local Cuisine

Escapism appeared to be the theme this trip. Escape from our home cities. And now escape from the city we were in.

As much as I love exploring local cuisine, the chaos of the city had us wanting for a taste of something familiar.

American cuisine, jazz music, and the sight of white people were such warm, comforting images at New Orleans Cafe.

Mulled Wine heated up the chilly night. Fried Chicken and fries brought back familiarity among the foreign chaotic overload. Tandoori Chicken and Roti reminded us where we were. And the Apple Pie capped the night of escape.

Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: New Orleans Cafe - Thamel

Lobby Eats in The Peninsula Manila

When you're craving for multiple cuisines, sometimes a hotel lobby cafe can serve up just what you're looking for. Craving: Burger & Halo Halo. Place to go: The Peninsula Hotel, Lobby.

The burger is hefty, and with the works it's filling. The halo halo is huge and great to share. It's one of the best halo halos in town.

(Pardon the quality of the photos. I didn't have my camera on me, so this is all from my camera phone.)
Place your cursor above "Notes" below to read the captions for each photo.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Peninsula Lobby

A Todd English Classic

If there's a celebrity chef in a city I'm visiting (or living in), I eagerly try to go to all of his or her restaurants to get a fair sense to see if the chef is really a chef or just a celebrity.

One of the my favorite chefs is Todd English. He makes fun, comfort foods. From his restaurant in NYC to Boston, to his Food Hall, and across the states to his restaurants in Las Vegas.. They are all quality and repeatable. The service is friendly, and the food is always surprisingly good with bold flavors that you'll remember.

After coming from the east coast and visiting his places in Boston and NYC, I really wanted to try the place that started it all - Olives. Olives serves Chef English's signature flatbread pizzas. If you're a Todd English, it's a place you have to check out. It's a great, memorable flatbread.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about the food photos.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Olives.

Wolfgang Steakhouse in NYC, A New Favorite Restaurant.

When my family buys high quality steaks and my dad has the ability to grill it up better than an average or above average restaurant, it's so hard to eat a steak outside of the house. It's a rare find for us to enjoy a quality steak in a restaurant. But, I think we finally found a place that makes it as good as home.

Wolfgang Steakhouse in Manhattan. (There are 5 locations in the city. We visited the Midtown East location.) Wolfgang Zwiener is the former maitre d' of the infamous Peter Luger Steakhouse. His steakhouse is very similar to Peter Luger, except you get a Manhattan steakhouse experience. At Peter Luger, you get Brooklyn service in a very casual and old setting. Here at Wolfgang, you get white table cloths with a pleasant surrounding and friendly service.

The whole experience was so memorable.. that we drove into the city from Connecticut the very next night to eat another steak dinner. Yes, it's that good.

And, on our 2nd night, Wolfgang, himself, came up to our table to greet us and take pictures! (I'm not posting the picture because it's a whole family shot - you know, privacy reasons.) He's quite the charming old man and is well dressed in a suit every night. What a fine job he's done with his steakhouses! I can't wait to go back.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read more about the photos.

The slide show here runs of Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album: Wolfgang.

Revisiting Todd English's Ca Va

Each time I visit and revisit a Todd English restaurant, I become a bigger fan. In this past trip into the city, I made a point to visit his Plaza Food Hall in the Plaza Hotel. It's worth the trip! To rank the 3 celebrity chefs with food halls/food markets in the city.. #1, Mario Batali's Eataly; #2, Todd English's Plaza Food Hall; #3, Daniel Boulud's Epicerie. Actually, Daniel Boulud's Epicerie is really just a neighborhood corner market. It doesn't compare at all to Eataly or the Plaza Food Hall. So if you find yourself hungry and around the Plaza Hotel, check out his food hall!

After checking out his Food Hall, we went down to Hell's Kitchen to have dinner at Ca Va. My family enjoyed our Christmas lunch there just half a year ago, so we knew we'd have a good meal. Unfortunately, I was still full from a late lunch, so I only ordered a pasta course. When you eat here, you should come hungry and enjoy the 3 Course Prix Fixe Menu. It's such value - quality food with generous portions. The food was satisfying and filling. Chef English keeps impressing me.

Place your cursor above "Notes" to read a little more about the food photos.

The slide show here runs on Flash. If you can't see it, check out my Flickr album.