Hot Soup on a Cold Day

This past week has been wet and cold, not your typical early fall weather.  Did we even have summer? So, G, will have to tell you all about her next time, we go out to lunch most Fridays--when it's not crazy. Which is not for me, another topic for another day.

Anyway, we said soup will be good on a cold day, this is the second Friday, when we opted to have soup.  I wish I can tell you the name of the restaurant, but it just escaped my mind and google was not very helpful.  Anyway, I had shrimp wonton and she had beef and shrimp wonton soup.  I must say that I can make better soup than they did.  They tried to make it safe to the multi-cultured clientele that it is bland.  I would have put ginger and a little salt, may roasted garlic.  There is no flavor at all, the warm soup hit the spot anyways because of the warm weather.

I like to make soup, so I know what I am talking about, the broth is different from the actual soup the you're making. It is just one of the ingredients, so it you put noodles or wonton to the broth and call it soup, it is a direct violation of the Soup Standards Treaty, ha ha.  And the fortune cookie says,

For dessert we went to the contraband shop mentioned on this blog more than once, I think. G had cookies and I had this wonderful coconut ceam pie.  Oh, it was heavenly, very thin crust so as not to offend, creamy lightly sweet with sparsely mixed roasted coconut top with browned coconut shavings, sugar, nuts. A good way to close a meal.

Thai Food in the Work Hood

We had a craving for Thai food, there is but one Thai resto in the work hood (linked in the title). We were surprised at the attempt to prettify the place, there were curtains that I am sure was not there before. There were not too many people, our food came so fast that it feels as if the food has been pre-cooked. So we were talking to the owner, it turned out that it is their last day. He is retiring from being a restauranteur and will return to Thailand to be a farmer. His son, who is managing another restaurant in Piedmont will take over and convert the place into a white linen restaurant worthy of a Zagat Rating.

There goes the cheap lunch venue, an easy order for meetings, they have been witnessed to some BS'ng at work ha ha. Reportage of yorn, giving assurances that everything will be alright, despite the battle cries outside that damnation is far far from happening and the storm will be over. So for this final lunch, a few hours before the closing, we opted for the specials. This is what I had, rather salty, a combination of fish and shrimp with basil, and beans in brown sauce. Notice the garnish of carrots shaped like a flower.

G had a bowl of chicken with vegetables that looks good. She didn't complain, so it must be good. But then again, she is a happy camper, always smiling. Notice, how Thai food just like other Asian cuisines will have the same sauce and flavor with the vegetables and the meat or sea food that is changing.

While I look forward to the new addition to the list of restos in the work hood, I will certainly miss this no pretense hole in the wall.

The Contraband

The Scene of the Crime

Some Wednesdays after lunch we would go to this nondescript building behind the burger place in front of our building. At about 12:30, a long line would form on the street leading to this place. You would think that they are queuing for a contraband, something that is illegal. Well dressed, some wearing their work badges, carrying their wallets, patiently waiting, some having just just followed the aroma. In this premises, the best-fresh out of the oven cookies or cobblers, pies are lined up, ready to be devoured.

Indeed, it is a perfect picker-upper, those gloomy Wednesdays where there is no inspiration at all. I know, i know, there is the Specialty's Coffee shop downstairs and Farley's Cafe a few doors down. But this place, renders something that is truly desirable. Maybe the defiance to the norm, where the products are beautifully lined in a glass case, tempting the patrons. In this case, the trays are lined in, what looks like cooling racks

This is a new creation, it is a milkshake in a crust, reminiscent of a chocolate drink advertisement, it goes "it is like a chocolate cake that you can drink". Here, it is like a chocolate drink that you can eat.

There is always the romantic in us, desiring tne nonconformist ways, finding the best sugar source.

Ahhh...

Pinoy Food

Pinoy food does not really score in terms of food porn, it sometimes look like it is just a blob of food. There has to be appreciation for the flavor. The pictures here are from the Nayong Pilipino Restaurant in Union City. Hardly a white linen resto, but it hits the spot if one is craving for different flavors of home cooked Pinoy Food.  My friend who is a picky Oakland native, opted for the tamer ones, like adobo and sauted veggie.

Don'ts..

There is diner that I go to, near my place, that has the signs like below.. it looks tacky to me.. I'd rather see things in a positive way.. For me, it is a so condescending to have all the rules listed and yet they are not that efficient too. 



Not really sure what the benchmark is, the more rules the more successful it seems?

High Tea..

 

Tea, not just the beverage can be referred to as a meal -- dinner in England or an afternoon snack in the US. High tea is a fancier manner of having an afternoon tea with petite fours, tea sandwiches, and all that fancy goodness.  When I was growing up, drinking tea was not really a part of our culture/family, tea was said to provide relief for upset stomach and is said to be good for the complexion.  My mom had these fancy tea cups that you can't hold the handle without your pinky poised up. 

So delicate that it seems more of a ritual than actually appeasing hunger.  Found these old pictures from a High Tea that I went to in Rockridge, can't even remember the place, you will notice that the pictures were not as rich as the newer pictures.  But going back to the high tea, it is actually a good social activity, it somehow forces one to be demure and gentle.

 The picture below was taken from the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, a birthday celebration.  The place is grand with ornate decors, but they don't seem to have high teas anymore.  The petite fours are soo good, I remember it was a pre fixe deal.  A certain amount for limitless tea and an assortment of pastries and tea sandwiches, yum. 

Looks like this tradition is dying, with the present way of life being so busy, there doesn't seem to have time for events like this. Before we forget how it is, I had to have my own version, as I have a little bit of a collection of different tea pots-mostly Asian inspired.  I got the tea sandwiches from Whole Foods--egg and cucumber. Not so great, it was dry, such that the crumbled eggs were not even bound together.  I did love setting this up, this was for someone at work, but I brought in my stuff. It is actually a fun activity.  You can even make your own tea sandwiches and pettite fours. Perfect in this stormy, wet weather. 

  

 

I Scream for Ice Cream

There is an ice cream parlor in Elmwood District in Oakland that is always filled with patrons, no matter what time pass by that place.

I don't really know what the draw is, it can't be any different from any other ice cream places around but this is wonder.  Care to identify for me?

Another new cafe..

There is a new cafe at the ground floor of the building where I work, it is part of chain in San Francisco and other cities, providing lunch to workers and tourists. I can't say I am thrilled with it, except that it is convenient for people working through lunch. Rather silly but Oakland is cool in the sense that it does not have a mall, save for the coffee shops, drugstores and grocers is free from chains, there are a lot of independent stores, restaurants and bookstores. Oakland, one of the biggest cities in the US is not safe from the assult of Corporate America. I wonder what this will do the Grand Avenue Grill (GAG) and the other restaurants in the neighborhood.

So the aroma of freshly baked bread replaced the stench of human existence. Yeah, that is part of Oakland, a coexistence of hard life, the pain of existence, the result of this trying econmic times and a luxurious wealthy life, a backdrop of the mansions up in the hills. A tableu of reality, a mixture of culture-of backgrounds, and everything else.

Okay, I said enough already. The food is good, cooked fresh all the time, and they deliver for just 2 bucks.

There is a new resto in my neck of the woods..

Some weeks ago, I met a friend at the Sidebar on Grand Avenue, we didn't have reservations, so we sat at the bar--who did we see, people from church, ha ha you can't have an affair in this neighborhood, you just might bump into your confessor. The food was good, we had crostini topped with duck liver, deviled egges, frites, beans with trout, and something else that I can't remember.  For a new place, the place is abuzz, price is good, the ambiance is good, service is surprisingly outstanding. I said surprisingly because it doesn't seem to be a priority anymore.

This first outing -life, projects, faith filled the conversation. On a second outing last week, I was starving and had a bowl of mussels over shoestring potatoes in cream sauce, it's different but I liked it and I had the crostini with duck liver, what can I say, I love foie gras, and there is a new drink that I discover called Zamboanga, which is an island in the Philippines. I have always been a red drinker aside from a rare ameretto, but this is the bomb, ha ha, not because of the name but it is a good cocktail drink, very light with a slow kick.

Single women, that we are conversation of course led to dating and all that.  So, as we were seated at the bar, my friend told me to scope the room and see if the one I would be attracted to was in the room, I said, no. Well, because my type is an average Joe, a boring looking caucasian man, sorry I have the Kingkong mentality ha ha. She talked about a blind date who was all that when they were talking on the phone, a Catholic, prays the rosary regularly, hmmm possible. Who turned out to be a middle-aged Berkely man, long hair, fit, seemed like, he just stopped what he was doing to meet her. Liked beer but didn't check if the Trappist is open on Mondays, wanted to see a movie (on a first date?) can't decide what he wanted to see, went instead for ice cream but he didn't have cash on him. Whoops that's too many whammies! Next, she said.

But going back to the food, it is good, the noise level of the restaurant is a bit high but tolerable.

      542 Grand Ave
      Oakland, CA 94610-3515
      (510) 452-9500
     Get directions

Now, I am going back to bed :) Good morning!

Yama Sushi Restaurant on Franklin St.

Beside the Bistro Manila Restaurant of the previous post is Yama Sushi. The first time I came in after a noon-time mass at the Cathedral, I was surprised-hmm this used to be a Vietnamese sandwich shop where I can get lunch for a measly 5 dollars. So I pulled a chair, can't say no to sushi or California roll with heaps of Japanese Mayonnaise (zero cholesterol.)This is a little different, most items are ordered by piece.

Three pieces of sushi or rolls for 99 cents after 1:30 pm.  who can't dig that.  1 order and a bowl of udon soup with a bottle of soda will certainly hit the spot. One of the servers used to work for the Chinese Restaurant on the other side of Grand Avenue, who remembers my preferred drink is diet coke on a glassful of ice. I can almost see my friend smirking, they don't put ice on their from their side of the world.

This place is a good find, fresh inexpensive, friendly staff, not crowded. You can people watch while eating or immerse on a good book. 

     Yama Sushi Restaurant
     1814 Franklin St. #2
     corner of 19th St.
     Oakland, Ca 94612
     510.986.1226 
     M-F: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Bistro de Manila (Filipino Restaurant) in Oakland..

It's not really the bistro that we know of, metal and glass tables with antique looking chairs, outside seating, cozy. It turned out that the origins of bistro is french and russian and that it means something that is quick.  This Bistro is actually an all you can eat restaurant.  Although, how much can one eat for lunch is relative,  it is a place lined with trays of different types of food, certainly can make one eye-hungry.  I think in the 70's  this type of restaurant is called smorgasboard.

 And here is what yelp had to say.  I have sworn off this place several times, but I always come back-to fulfill the craving from Pinoy food.

365 19th Street
Oakland, Ca 94612

Newsflash! We were at the restaurant that week, chatting with the owner who gave us a frequent diner card. What do you say, a few days after I came back, the place is closed and is under construction for a Vietnamese restaurant.  Oh well, that's the PInoy.. no details whatsoever..

You love her, she loves you; What's the problem?

Don't really care about the place, my first outing was a disappointment.  The beef stew was not as flavorful as I wanted, there is nothing redeeming about the place and it was expensive too.  A friend wanted to go there to check it out, the girlfriend is into these kind of places.  Though, I must tell you that the neighborhood is in serious want for white linen tables, such that anything new is wowed and salivated on.  So when the text came, "anyone for lunch?" I said yes, imagining Pho.  Ditched a Pinoy lunch, was ditched for Japanese noodles, so I said okay. 

The service was slow, between lectures on friendships, I am not judging but, and I didn't call because..  I managed to ask the wait staff, "What makes the sandwich Cuban?". The response I got was, "It is a traditional food that their family have everytime the chef's family have a get together in Cuba." Okay, that didn't answer my question, I rephrased the question and got an answer about maybe it was the roasting of the pork. Raised eyebrows about my impatience, I decided to enjoy my lunch and listen and react.

The sandwich was alright, a little pricey for a Friday lunch.  Cuban sandwich, it turned out was a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with pickles and roast pork in between. The bottom line of the afternoon, however was that friendship is not just going out to lunch, attending get togethers, we have to look also when we are enabling or when do we get off and remind them that there is always the alternative. I was reminded of the gospel last week, about calling the attention of a brother who has erred. But how do we know when we are reminding and not interloping. When are we not judging, if someone's behavior runs counter with the norm, knowing full well that the norn is not necessarily the right one. Ahhh, that is why we have to be in constant prayer, for guidance, for peace, for light, for trespasses, for compassion.. 

The lunch hour proved to be an hour well spent.  Back to work, where I took the rest of the afternoon off, I need to run errands and do the housework that needs my attention.  Well.. if only I didn't go to Antioch the day before for a "tulingan" lunch, the Tagalogs will understand such a call.. ha ha..

Franklin Square
2212 Broadway
(between Franklin St & Grand Ave)
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 251-0100
www.fswinebar.com

Poor service (part 2)

I went to a physiocist, a Pinoy at that, and we didn't even speak a single tagalog word, awkward.  I would have said, bakit ba ang sakit, take the pain away will you.  Anyway, I didn't even attempt, he could have been mistaken for a Chinese guy, but the lozhic (logic) is definitely Pinoy.  The way I deal with these professionals is almost here's my arm, it hurts like crazy and impedes my movement, now makit it go away.  NO, he has to present the choices and give me examples and awaits my decision.  Of course, I opted for the quick fix, an injection, later on I will have to go into therapy and limit my my mousing and keyboarding acitivities.  At worse, I will have to find alternative means of making moolah..

 Oh well, after the doctors appt., it was almost lunch time, I saw a sign that says Oakland grill, I followed the sign and it took me to an almost seedy side of town, where the produce and flowers wholesale district. As I entered the place, I said I will order to go, just want something grilled and easy.  After I ordered, I was looking for a chair to park my rear when somebody said hello.  Okay that's weird I wouldn't know anybody here, this is a little far from my hood.  Who could it be but the person who botched my delivery a couple of posts ago.  It turned out that this restaurant is the owned by the brother who half owns the cafe where I had breakfast catered.  Anyway, so as I was paying, the owner, said he heard about what happened and he talked to his dad, he said my money is not good in his place. They had to recompense me for that stress..

The food is not that great, but how can I complain, they took it away from me because I didn't pay for it.  Oh well, having missed breakfast that day, I'd say it had to hit the spot..