NEX OAKLAND - Lookin’ for Food and Feelin’ Hungry...



Pressed Watermelon Salad - pretty AND delicious!

 Ok, so maybe my song puns aren’t the best, but my experience at Nex in Oakland was something to sing about. It so happened that last April the BH and I had tickets to Paul Simon at the recently refurbished Fox Theater in Oakland. We made reservations at Nex, the sister restaurant to Mua. Both restaurants are owned and operated by the former owner of Soizic formerly on Broadway in Oakland. Soizic was one of our favorites right up until it closed some time after August of last year. Soizic was one of the first fine dining establishments in Oakland, featuring a hybrid of French-California “other” cuisine done very successfully, long before Oakland’s dining renaissance was a twinkle in anyone’s eye.


When we arrived, we were seated promptly and began to peruse the cocktail menu. One has to have a cocktail before a show, right? After all, ya need to get in the mood for music. Warm up the senses and all. Lucky for us, there were several scrumptious drinks offered, and while we pondered them, we noticed that Paul Simon was on the ambient sound system. Clearly this is an establishment that knows from whence it’s audience has come. The music continued to highlight Simon and artists of his genre, and the spot on music choices really added to our overall dining experience. A little “show before the show,” if you will. Kudos.

Pate de Campagne (Country Pate)


I selected my drink, which was a lovely concoction titled the Rex Gimlet. It was a light margarita-inspired mixture of Don Julio, cucumber and a hint of cilantro, herbaceous and refreshing. The BH had a pineapple infused drink, blended with just enough sweet to keep him happy. He’s a guy who loves himself a pomatini from time to time, after all. Both drinks had a well-blended mix to them. The world, post Scott Beattie, is a beautiful place.

We began with appetizers. Time to kill and bears in our bellies. Our Paté de Campagne (pickled red onion, radish, whole grain mustard, toast) - was the sliced meat version of compacted pate. The texture was dense and the flavor delicious, it was simple country fare with heart and a lovely combination of seasonings. Excellent as an appetite enhancer.



Melt in your Mouth GNOCCHI

 The Pressed Watermelon (feta, mint, olive oil) - may have been one of my absolute favorite versions of this dish. New to me, the flavors produced when the oh so sweet summer watermelon is blended with aromatic herbs and a dash of balsamic. Such a magnificent pop of palate-exciting flavor. The meat of this particular varietal was an amber gold color, its texture dense against the tongue before a burst of flavor as the sugars released into the light dressing it had been drizzled with. I cannot describe it aptly, as you kinda have to experience the taste for yourself to understand. Yeah, I know, you can imagine the taste of watermelon, but the way it blends with a tiny burst of acid and oil is spectacular when it’s done right. Mingle that sweet hit with tangy cheese and minty summer cilantro, yeah, now you’re talking. Watermelon has a way of releasing itself into the mouth, that when blended with the other flavors, cheese, tangy balsamic, fatty oil, well it’s just outstanding.

Scallops over Asparagus

After we’d primped and prodded our palates with appetizers, the Gnocchi (mascarpone cheese, Italian porcini cream) arrived. There was a nice hint of tomato in this dish that was reminiscent of one of the best gnocchi dishes I’ve ever enjoyed. Milano on Grand Avenue (before it changed ownership and lost its footing) had a spectacular gnocchi dish I’d insist on partaking of monthly. This really reminded of everything that was good about that gnocchi— the light fresh tomato sauce, the exact blending of spices in that tomato sauce, and the cheese. The gnocchi was soft but resistant enough not to just become mush. Just the way grandma would have made hers.

We shared another plate, this one was a Seared Rock Cod “Scallop” (grilled asparagus, English peas, lemon caper beurre blanc) . It was presented as this lovely flower of fish. It was lightly grilled as scallops should be, one side golden and the meat still moist, toothsome and flaky. The seasoning was also spot on. Really fantastically flavored.

The duck blew my mind. They menu titled it Grimaud Farms Duck Confit (white bean, carrot, frisée) and it may be one of the smoothest duck dishes I’ve had to date. I have to say, I’m on a duck-loving roll these days. It just got better and better, the buttery beans beneath the fatty meat melting against my tongue as soon as the fork had delivered them. Fab-u-licious.



Duck Confit, with spring carrots
with perfectly soft white beans...

 Of course, after a perfect meal, one must enjoy a hint of sweet to finish off the palate. The day had been lovely, so something that hinted at the summer around the corner, with its promise of stone fruit, fresh corn and lush garden delights in abundance... that mindset produced a longing for the Poached pear with Cranberry Torte & Vanilla Ice Cream. Can’t say it was a let down, even if pear isn't a stone fruit! We were in the mood for natural sugar and the high that goes with a great fruit blended into a pastry. This was a lovely little example of that delight. Made from cornmeal it had a weightiness to it that spoke of the farmhouse, conjuring up a dense summer pie chilling on the windowsill made by the hands of a loving Auntie Em.  No pie ever tasted better. ... just heavenly. The vanilla ice cream they paired with the pastry dessert was spiced, almost gingery. The chilled vanilla melting into the hot pear and cranberry, nothing could have been better than that.

After coffee we headed to the show. It was a perfect continuation of the evening. So Beautiful!
So What? you say? I say head on over to Nex and check it out for yourself! As always...Bon Appetit!



Poached Pear & Cranberry Torte

 Nex Restaurant
2442 Webster St
(between 24th St & 25th St)
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 238-8224
http://www.nexoakland.com/

Table size: adequate
Price: moderately expensive
Sound levels: could get noisy, we enjoyed the ambient sound and had no problem conversing
Service: Excellent!

ABSINTHE ~ Magic in the Pan & The Little Green Man!

Absinthe is a lovely little Brasserie on the corner of Hayes and Gough in San Francisco. It's within walking distance of the theater where Wicked is currently playing, so it was once again our choice for a pre-show dinner. It often has been so, ever since my eldest child was performing at the Marine's Memorial one holiday season. Absinthe was recommended by a good friend who knows food, we went, we fell in love, the rest is history.

The bar is always crowded at happy hour and there is absolutely nowhere to sit if you are waiting for a table; but we were seated at our table promptly, so it wasn't a problem. We arrived right at five-thirty for what we hoped would be a leisurely meal before our show, and wasted no time ordering from the specialty cocktail menu. On this trip we tried the Fool's Gold, which was a new twist on tequila. This particular drink is a lovely concoction of Benesin organic mezcal, Verveine du Velay Jaune (a delicious herbal liqueur), and a dash of orgeat and lemon juice. It was refreshing and tasted a bit like citrus-kissed sunlight. One of us had the Citron Lemonade, a nice combination of Hangar One vodka, ginger syrup, lemon juice and ginger ale with a splash of cranberry juice. It was delicious as well. Lastly the BH tried the Sacred Heart, consisting of La Pinta Pomegranate-Infused Tequila, a dash of Absinthe, Limoncello and a splash of lemon juice. It tasted like a margarita, but with a dash of licorice from the absinthe. We also had an order of their Spiced Chickpeas with our drinks. They are a specialty of the house, and I highly recommend you try them when you visit.

We also tried a variety of their cheeses. I am a sucker for a cheese plate these days, and this was no exception. We requested the three-cheese option, and our selections consisted of a Smokey Blue (Oregon), an Idiazabal (Spain), and a La Tur (Italy). The blue was good, not overpowering, with a subtle earthy tones of hazelnut and caramel. The Idiazabal was paired with a fig-cake and had a lovely texture and flavor. The La Tur was rich and creamy --- a treat as sexy and earthy as a young Sophia Loren cavorting barefoot in a thin cotton dress! I do love a good La Tur!

Next came the soup and salad courses. My husband had the French Onion Soup Gratinee. Absinthe's version is among the best I have ever tasted. The cheese is carefully melted over a wonderful slab of toasted sourdough, the underside of which is just beginning to dissolve into the hot, oniony broth. The cheese slithers down the throat on tiny rivers of liquid golden onion. It is a warm and hearty delight of texture, taste and chewy cheese coming together. Splendid. My daughter had a Chestnut Mushroom Soup, with walnut oil, crispy crimini mushrooms and micro celery in the broth. It was creamy, but not overly so, and the texture of the creamy mushrooms in the broth was a clever touch. My daughter loved it. My spoonful tasted lovely, with the mushroom melting into the walnut oil to make that great combination of flavor in the mouth, with the crunch of the crimini adding a surprise of texture. Well done.

I passed on soup and instead had a salad of Frisee, a marvelous surprise comprised of fluffy frisee lettuce, baby leeks, all tossed gently with a lemon vinaigrette, some bacon and herbs and topped with a perfectly cooked duck egg and some caviar. The lettuce was coated with just the right amount of dressing and the egg broke nicely when nudged with a fork, letting the yolk drizzle into the lettuce and mingle with the caviar. It was magnificent.

For my main I tried the Sausage-&-Cornbread Stuffed Mary's Chicken, which was a delightful blend of roasted white chicken breast stuffed with a savory stuffing set off by a parsnip puree. The dish was moist, rich and tasty. Even the brussel sprouts were delicious. The BH stuck with his favorite, which is pretty much any version of scallops Jamie puts on the menu. Today it was Pan Seared Scallops, accompanied by bacon, wild mushrooms, braising greens and caramelized onions. Each scallop was perfectly seared to form a golden top, with the underside left moist and delicious. They really know how to cook a scallop at this restaurant. Really they do.

For dessert we shared a Cookie Plate and a Pumpkin Custard. The cookies were lovely and the pumpkin custard was light as air. My sister-in-law didn't think she liked pumpkin but rapidly became a convert. We were all stuffed at the end of dinner, having taken the meal a little too slow and had to dash to make our show. Another perfect visit to this wonderful establishment.

Absinthe's Executive Chef is Jamie Lauren of Top Chef "fame" but we have been coming here long before the show. This young woman can really turn out a magnificent menu. I've never made a trip here and come away disappointed by the food. It's been pretty much one successful dining experience after another. Check it out for yourself. Bon Appetit!

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar

398 Hayes Street at Gough

San Francisco, CA 94102

415.551.1590

http://www.absinthe.com/

Table size: adequate

Noise Level: fine away from the bar. Dining near the bar, is very very loud.

Price: Expensive

Dining Time: They got us out in time for the show, but we did lose track of time and it was close.

CASCAL - Colorful Tapas Treats

Cascal is an amazingly colorful place. My BH and I stumbled (quite literally) upon it a little over a year and a half ago, when cruising his old neighborhood haunts for a place to grab a bite before heading to see a show at Theaterworks. We saw the place was close to the theater and so we went for it, without a clue what we were in for. But we're adventurous that way.

The first thing one is served is usually bread. At Cascal that offering is a foccacia-style carb with a really nice herb-blended olive oil. That first time we ordered the watermelon salad, and it was really really sweet melon, drizzled with a perfectly seasoned dressing and accompanied with goat cheese. It was one of the best salads I have ever ordered. We ordered it again on this last occasion, and the unfortunately the melon was not quite as seasonal, or not quite as perfectly ripe, and so the salad itself was not quite as mind-bogglingly good. But it was still a dish worth ordering. The blending of cheese, melon and savory dressing will remain among my favorites, though I imagine it is best at the height of the summer melon season.

When my BH and I returned about a week or so ago, we brought along our favorite couple to hang with. We were all out to spend some quality time together before a planned minor surgery I had scheduled for the following week that was going to make going out difficult for the near future. My BH and I hoped to introduce them to some of our favorite dishes while experiencing some new ones as well. We began with drinks. My Better Half and I really enjoy their Caipirinhas, a sort of muddled fruit mai-tai-ish concoction that is thicker with fruit, heavier with liquor and fresher in taste than what comes to mind when one thinks mai tai. They are strong drinks, and the taste is only as sweet as the fruit within, rather than containing any additional sugar. Or at least that's the way they taste to me. I like 'em.

One of our party ordered the Cuban Black Bean Soup with Sherry. I had skipped the soup in favor of a second Caipirinha and some Watermelon Salad (with goat cheese, watermelon radishes and a citrus mint vinagrette). By now, I was definitely feeling no pain. I tasted the soup and it was really good. Not as 'beany' or thick as bean soup usually is, and more complex with flavor. My BH and I shared a dish called Sizzling Shrimp which consisted of shrimp sauteed like escargot in a small skillet of garlic and butter. They were moist, garlicky (the other flavors were subtle, and while they complimented the garlic well, I would definitely say garlic overpowers this dish) and delicious. But I love my garlic. We also shared an order of Serrano Ham. The Serrano comes drizzled with olive oil over several slices of sourdough bread. What can I say? We are a huge fan of appis and tapas small plates.

So as we enjoyed our appetizers, and our drinks dwindled, we each began to realize a lot of time had passed. Where was our dinner? We were a little drunk, and it had been almost a half an hour since the last dish had been served. Our waitress walked by, looked at our table in horror and walked off without speaking to us. When we were finally able to get her to stop, she apologized and said that the kitchen was slammed. This was obviously a lie, and really ticked us off. I am the first person to forgive an overworked server who forgot to put in an order, but when he or she just makes stuff up, it really kinda ruins their cred. There had been empty tables all around us when we arrived, as we usually dine on the very early side of the dinner crowd. So we could not have been among more than maybe four or five other tables in a very large restaurant when we had placed our original order. She said she would check with the kitchen and didn't return for another fifteen minutes or so, at that point saying that she was sorry for the delay, and scurrying off. She didn't ask if we wanted anything, say like another drink, to pass the additional time. Basically, she handled it badly.

Eventually our meals came, (with yet an additional delay on the paella ordered by the other couple, which is a dififcult and lengthy dish to prepare, and which she had obviously placed with the kitchen really late in the game). In spite of the delay, we tried to enjoy the rest of our meals. My BH had the Lamb Chops, which are grilled and come served with a side dish of fried potatoes with chimi churri.

Given the long, long, long break between the apps and dinner, my notes fail me here, because I had a third Caipirinha. I know, right? Wow. So at some point the waitress (who had to know we knew she was lying about our orders, for a variety of reasons) said she had spoken to the manager and arranged for our desserts to be on the house. Way to save her tip! Seriously, it was appropriate, given the almost one-hour lapse between appetizers and main course. Not sure if she told the manager it was her bad or the kitchen's but we were just happy she made it right.

We ordered the Tres Leche Cake (coconut infused "three milk" cake with fresh fruit salsa and meringue topping), a Warm Chocolate Souffle and I believe Fried Plantains with house made Ice Cream. The Tres Leche Cake was out of this world. It's one of my favorite desserts, something about the creamy, stiff-pudding texture and the sweet, subtlety of coconut -- it just gets me every time. The chocolate souffle was a good, solid pretty standard souffle, leaning in consistency towards the molten chocolat cake variety, meaning that it was cakey on the outside and liquid in the middle. The plantains were just okay. They weren't light enough to carry off the deep-fry and the batter itself was unremarkable. But the ice cream served on the side was delicious.

The meal ended up taking over three hours, but generally service is prompt and one could get out in time for a show if one had to. I know. I did it. In spite of the service failure, they did the right thing in the end, so I would not hold this one lapse against a restaurant that has always proven to be first rate in the past. Go check it out. And definitely do it when you can stay for a drink (or three)!

Bon appetit!

CASCAL

400 Castro Street

Mountain View, CA 94041

1-650-940-9500

http://www.cascalrestaurant.com/

Price: Moderate to Expensive

Dining time: ?? depends on your server! (seriously, every other time we were here, we could easily have gotten out in an hour if we'd wanted to)

Table size: Cramped to Adequate-ish. It's tapas! There's lots of plates. Note to owners everywhere: Spring for a little more table space so dining is more pleasant, People!

FLORA - An Upscale Fifties Diner in a revamped Old Oakland

It's been open awhile, so this isn't news to most of you, but this place is a wonderful addition to a thriving Oakland restaurant scene. Situated in the old Oakland FLORAl Depot (complete with revamped original sign) it is a tribute both to Oakland's past and its present. Inside the restaurant is tricked out with a slick and very Urban Chic decor. I'm a big fan of the giant Magic show poster on the righthand wall upon entering. Though the place is tiny, they make the most of the space they have.


If you're going to come, don't just bring an appetite. The bar is rocking and this is definitely the place to have a cocktail. Their mixologists are as good as any I've come across, and that includes the best in Vegas. The specialty cocktail menu includes quite a few treats, most imported from some of the best bars in the world. The Gin Daisy is my usual order, but today the BH and I ordered something call the Blackberry Cobbler, which is a fine concoction of Miller's gin, lemon, blackberry syrup, pineapple agave nectar, orange and curacao. It was basically a really good alcoholic slushie, but uber fresh and not as sugary. The addition of fresh ingredients and experimentation to the world of the mixed drink has been a delicious adventure. I generally don't drink much as a rule, but there are so many delightful concoctions available now that I've become a fan of the modern mixed drink. Never to excess (of course) but am always open to an experience of new tastes, whether alcoholic or merely gastronomical. Today's Blackberry Cobbler was no letdown. Fruity, fresh and fun.


We opted for their Beef Tataki as our appy, and when we ordered we were not quite sure what we would end up with. The description in the menu noted that the dish included garlic, ginger, scallions, and cucumber relish. When the dish arrived I found it a bit reminiscent of a beef carpaccio they serve at one of my favorite sushi restaurants. Lovely slices of mostly raw beef gently seared on the outside, accompanied with this gentle garlic-ginger sauce. The fresh-fried wonton chips were a nice accompaniment. All in all we found this dish really impressive.


BH had the Fried Chicken Fingers, which come with a side of potato salad and coleslaw. I believe they have a homemade Ranch dip as well. I tried the salads and thought they were both well done. He liked the fried chicken, said it was not greasy. I didn't try it myself.





I had the Scallop & Shrimp Louie which is a simple, light salad. They do it well, nothing spectacular, although I have to say they dress the lettuce perfectly. There is nothing I hate more than dry lettuce, or for that matter, soggy overdressed lettuce. The salads here must be hand-mixed, I imagine, because every leaf was coated in just the right amount of a light, airy blend of their champagne vinagrette. It provides a good moist layering on the lettuce which leaves it open to the flavors of the heavier Louie sauce on the seafood. Its a traditional basic done well. My daughter had their Burger & Fries, also a traditional, simple dish done very well.

For dessert we ordered the Apple Turnover with Huckleberry Jam, which was the flakiest, airiest concoction ever. This WAS something to write home about. I don't have a picture of it, because it was that good. By the time I returned from the restroom, my family had already dug in and while it was no longer pretty, it was still a "magically delicious" taste treat.

I've been to Flora maybe five or six times now. Every time the food was consistent, and every time there was at least one really standout dish. Today it was the Apple Turnover and the Beef Tataki. On a previous visit it was a wonderful rendering of Fois Gras over French Toast that was unbelievable. There were others, but then again, I did say I usually order a Gin Daisy (or two) so the names escape me. But it's a good thing.

Find the time to check it out, if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed. Bon Appetit.

Flora
1900 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94651
(510) 286-0100
http://www.floraoakland.com/

Price: Moderately Expensive - Expensive
Eating Time: Leisurely (not the place for a quick lunch break)
Table size: Cramped

ST. MICHAEL'S ALLEY - another delicious detour

Sorry not to have written for so long. It's not that I haven't been eating, I promise. In fact, I've been eating a lot, just haven't had as much time to tell you all about it. To make up for this lapse, I am writing tonight about a really swell place I tried several weeks ago.

It's not in Oakland, so it's a special treat, but it is in the Bay Area. Palo Alto, to be exact. The home town of my BH and a lovely place to dine. It was a special occasion of sorts, getting together with a pair of good friends, so we wanted to eat someplace really nice.

The restaurant has two locations, one larger site they just moved to located on Homer Avenue, and the previous location now called "The Annex" where they serve brunches. The brunches here are supposed to be amazing, but we haven't tried one yet, so I won't be filling you in on that as of yet.

We may not have had the brunch, but we did indeed have dinner at St. Michael's just a bit over a month ago. I found their standards to be delightful. They begin by serving this amazing warm herbed bread that I had trouble not spoiling my appetite with. Those kind of carbs are my idea of heaven. We also had a nice meat platter. The selections were nice, but I found the portions a bit skimpy for sharing. I like to be able to try a bit of everything without monopolizing the experience. It's only sliced meat people, so either put a few repeat varieties on the plate, or slice a few more of each for the patrons. We can't all try something if everyone's feeling tortured about taking the lone piece of mortadella. Other than that it was all pretty good.

They've got a bar, but in mentioning it, I would provide a caveat -- while they do have a great list of specialty cocktails, that is pretty much all they have. One type of vodka, one type of tequila. Whatever it is they use in their listed drinks. So this isn't the place to order your favorite specialty liquor, or other unusual spirits. They have not invested in fully stocking their bar, so it's likely that if what you crave isn't on the specialty menu, they don't have it. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my drink, which was a Passion Fruit Margarita. My BH had something called an Aviatrix. Mine was a sweet fresh-fruity Tequila goodness concoction, his was an unusually savory and really strong man drink. Which is odd considering the names, but I didn't name them.

I began by ordering the Thai Carrot Soup. It was a nice mix of the complex flavors of both a classic Thai soup and a hint of carrot, although it must have been mostly fresh carrots. My BH doesn't even like carrots and he liked this soup. Really tasty. Next I had their Seared Wild Sea Scallop, with a Wasabi Beurre Blanc and Pineapple Salsa. They definitely know how to prepare a scallop here. That lovely barely crusted golden brown top with the moist flaky center. Scallops have become one of my favorite things to eat, but only when they're done right. These were done right. The sauces were really unique and continued the slightly Asian fusion theme of the evening's menu. Just enough to enhance the flavors without obliterating the perfectly prepared scallop. A great dish.

BH had the lamb special and he loved it. Lamb was done properly, herbs all complimented the meat without hiding the flavor. We finished our meal with shared desserts, we ordered the Dark Chocolate Mousse Torte, the Profiteroles with Chocolate Chip Gelato, and we rounded out the dessert "buffet" with a Cassis Sorbet. The torte was thick chocolaty goodness, very tasty, moist in the middle. All the right consistencies and flavors for chocolate lovers. I love chocolate, but I can take it or leave it, my BH would insist on being be buried in a chocolate coffin.

The profiteroles were light and fluffy and filled with an excellent house-made gelato. I thought they were as good as profiteroles can be. My own favorite (maybe because by then I was stuffed) was the Cassis Sorbet. It was beautifully fresh black currants frozen and blended to perfection. Light, just sweet enough, but not so sweet as to overwhelm the tangy-ness of the currants. I just loved this stuff.

Our friends ordered some other items on the menu, including the Caprese Salad (which I tasted --- the tomatoes were heaven) and some rockin' house made raviolis. My bro-in-law was the only one among us who was unhappy with his meal. He thought his chicken was under done.

All in I thought the meal was outstanding. I found this place to be a definite repeater and will put it in rotation. There are simply too many great places to eat these days. What a problem to have! The service was attentive and extremely professional without being annoying. Our server had a real sense of personal pride in everything that was served, wanting our experience to be first rate. If that's not your thing, you might not appreciate it, but I really did.

Now I just have to find the time to get there again.

Saint Michael's Alley

140 Homer Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94301

1-650-326-2530

email: stmikes910@aol.com

http://www.stmikes.com/

Price: Expensive

Dining time: dinner was leisurely, not sure of luncheon

Table size: Adequate

DONA TOMAS - a new kind of Mexican

I've had several people tell me I just had to eat at Dona Tomas. I resisted. I like Mexican well enough, but it's rich and I'm trying to watch what I eat. But, finally an occasion presented itself and the stars aligned. My sister was meeting my husband and I for dinner in Oakland, and so I made reservations.

We arrived a bit early and it wasn't really what I expected. It is open and light and fairly traditional looking inside. The restaurant is situated on Telegraph in Oakland in a neighborhood that still retains much of it's mid-century character. Meaning it's kinda shabby chic, but populated and safe enough.

We sat down and as we waited for our fourth, my daughter to join us, we ordered Margaritas. I had something called the "especial" which I noticed only after I ordered it is a $22 Margarita. Wow. I almost cancelled the order, but since I began writing this blog, I try to be open to new experiences, and it's not like I haven't had pricy drinks. Well, almost never that pricy, but what the heck, or so I told myself. It arrived and once I took a sip, I pretty much got it. It tasted like a glass of light orange air bubbles, laced with some sweet tequila. I had two drinks, but I confess I did have just the simpler house Margarita for my second. Unless it's solid gold, $22 is really a lot of money for a single cocktail. But it was a treat just the once. The second drink was pretty tasty too, so I must say I was content as I munched on my guacamole and chips.

We opened with some fairly standard mexican fare, beginning with guacamole and chips. The chips were good, and the guac was outstanding. I didn't think any place could compete with Tamarindo, but this was just as good, and completely different. More chunky, more pieces of ripened tomato, whatever they put in it, it's great guacamole. We also had some watermelon sticks (which were supposed to be accompanied by pineapple, but they were out) and jicama. Loved the watermelon, not fond of jicama. Would have preferred this dish with the pineapple. I should mention that they bring a complimentary bowl of chips when one is seated, and they have a nice tangy dipping sauce unlike anything I've had in the past.

By this time I'm feeling no pain and decided to order my own favorite Mexican dish, Chile Relleno. My BH had a Chicken Enchilada, and I believe my daughter the Tostada. Mexican is incredibly filling, so I didn't taste either, but they were both happy with their dishes. The BH especially, raved about his dinner.

My Chile Relleno were out of this world. I've never had anything quite like it. All the food in this place is served in large, fairly traditional sized servings, and plated simply. But it is absolutely delicious nonetheless. Really fresh and unusually complex flavors jump out at you from whatever you are served, all of which is delicious from cocktails to dessert.

Dessert was really good. We had a sort of chocolate-y pie thing, and a pile of bread pudding with caramel drizzled all over it. OMG. I kinda love anything with caramel and these were great desserts. The bread pudding tasted like dulce de leche and the chocolate had a hint of cinnamon. Delicious.

This is definitely an amazing restaurant. Everything is prepared with a very new point of view, for lack of a better way to describe it. The dishes are familiar and the flavors are pleasing, but even the refried beans are spectacularly unique. It's sister establishment, Flora to be reported on later, was one of the reasons we tried it and we were not disappointed. I will get back there as soon as my waistline and pocket book will permit. I suggest you do the same.

So do check it out, and Bon Appetit!

Dona Tomas

5004 Telegraph Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

510-450-0522

http://www.donatomas.com/

Price: Expensive

Dining Time: Only serves dinner, so not really an issue

Table size: Expansive

MOUNTAIN WINERY - a perfect meal of a Summer's evening

To be clear, one cannot simply dine here. One has to be attending a show to make a reservation. But if you live in the Bay Area, and you like outdoor venues for music, this is the perfect place for a date. So with the obligatory "you can't eat here just cause" warning out of the way, I enjoyed our dinner so much the other night that I thought I'd write it up for anyone who hasn't been here and who might be on the fence.

When one dines out before a show, unless you make a point of finding a nice "pre-event restaurant" off-site, one usually doesn't expect to find much in the way of fine-dining at a theatrical venue. There are a few welcome exceptions, but a concert usually means a sandwich of some sort, perhaps chased by a beer. What it almost never means is an amazing meal at the venue itself.

At Mountain Winery, the meal offered at their main restaurant is served "pris fix" and is the diners' choice of items from a three course meal at the lovely Chateau Deck overlooking the Saratoga valley. The dining area is on a large terrace/deck affair that affords one an absolutely a breath-taking view. The meal is your choice of several items, one appetizer (a variety of soups and salads), one main, and a dessert. The portions are exceedingly generous and the price is a flat $55 a person. The BH and I enjoyed our meals for all three times we dined there over the summer, and the concerts were just amazing.

So the meal I'm sharing in this blog was our last of the summer. We began with the starters, I had the ahi poke salad and my husband went with what they called a Seafood Gazpacho. I had it on the previous occasion and it was delicious, more of a gigantic seafood boulliabase than what I would call a gazpacho, but it was appropriately chilled and extremely refreshing in the oppressive summer heat.

The next course was for me a Dungeness Crab Cakes (I am a sucker for any kind of crab cake) over sweet corn and asparagus. I have to say that I will be heartbroken when the summer ends and we find ourselves only remembering the sweet corn days of August. Sweet corn forming a puddle of tasty flavor under my food. Sigh. My BH gorged himself on a dish called Sauteed Rock Shrimp. His dish was a complicated affair of mushroom and spinach saute over cheese tortellini with a lovely lobster sauce. Mine a light fluffy cake in an airy bed of sweet corn and summer-savory sauce.

We ended the evening's meal with our dessert choices. I had the basket of berries, my BH the chocolate mousse cake. My berries were fresh and sweet, and the basket is this really decadent concoction of caramel that is hardened, but soft enough to chew without losing a tooth.

The chocolate cake was a good mousse cake, soft, fresh and chocolaty. The desserts are remarkably tasty for being produced all at once. That's the amazing trick of the dining here. Something like a hundred tables all turned over at once. They manage it all and the food is still good. But between the view and the apres-dinner entertainment, this is one meal that can't be beat.

Reservations can be made on the website, once show tickets have been purchased.

http://www.mountainwinery.com/

Price: $55 prix fixe

Dining time: They are on a show deadline, so not an issue. They will get you out in time to see the show.

Table size: Cramped

HENRY'S BERKELEY - Upscale Bar Food

We needed to meet my youngest at school the other day (she's in her third year at Boalt School of Law, so you know she needed a break!) and Henry's was close to campus so we thought we'd give it a try. Neither my BH nor I had been there before, and so it's facelift was lost on us, but what the heck, the menu looked interesting.

Since Henry's is an actual bar, we ordered drinks. I have become a huge fan of mixology, and am most always game to try a new concoction. So I ordered the Hot Flash which was a blend of Heiradura Reposado with muddled cilantro, mint and lime juice. The rim of the glass was covered with a jalapeno sugar that made for a serious kick when mixed with the drink, which was itself a twist on a mojito, but much much better. My BH had the Gossip Girl (I know I know) a pleasant blending of Bacardi light & dark with coconut, cranberry, orange juice & pineapple. It was pretty good, but in my opinion not as incredibly unique as mine.

The waiter was really busy, seemed to be the only staff there for lunch. I was a tad annoyed that he failed to let me know in advance they were out of the quesadillas. I had my heart set on the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Quesadillas, and would have preferred not to get in that mindset only to be disappointed. That said, I soon settled on what seemed an even better choice, a dish called the Angry Mac & Cheese which was a macaroni and cheese, with sambal olek (which if you were completely in the dark as I was, is an Indonesian chile sauce) tomato, and scallions. When it came, the macaroni was covered in a spicy, creamy, tomato sauce that had a really well blended flavoring. It was hot, and even after the jalapeno drink, I loved this dish. I love my spices and this hit that hot-wanting-spot!

We also ordered their sweet potato fries, which I found really well seasoned. I've tried this new "fry" varietal at several different restaurants and this one was the best I've had by far. Moist on the inside and crispy on the outside, they were a real treat.

My BH had the Seafood Corn Soup and a Burger, both were satisfactory, but nothing special. He's had better burgers elsewhere, but the patty was cooked properly and it wasn't drowned in bun. Our daughter had the Orriechiete Pasta which she enjoyed. I'd say the food is mostly good, but it is still a sports bar. I would definitely choose to eat here again, but I wouldn't go out of my way for the food. The drinks, however, were another story indeed....

Henry's Berkeley

2600 Durant Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94704

510-809-4132

http://www.henrysberkeley.com/

Price: Reasonable - Moderately Expensive

Dining time: probably could get out in an hour, service was overwhelmed when I was there last.

Table size: Adequate for food served

EVERETT & JONES - Classic BBQ in an Oakland Institution

Or maybe anwhere else. But you all already knew that. So I won't do the sell you on the BBQ speech. What I will do is let you know that I've discovered a nice little treat there. Something a bit healthier than straight BBQ ribs or chicken, with all the flavor and heat of the original.



The ribs are amazing, and so is the BBQ chicken, but with all the potato salad and the cornbread, they're not exactly diet food. But a friend of mine (our PFC) showed me a little trick. They've got something here they call the BBQ chicken salad and if one orders a bit of hot sauce, along with the standard bit of dressing (I like Ranch with the BBQ sauce) it's a hot, tasty, treat without the calories of a full plate of Bar-b-que. So that's my little tip. It's become a lunchtime staple.



However, if you would prefer the standard fare, E&J still serves up the most amazing, well-cooked and delicious ribs anywhere on the planet. They may not be the only style, and some prefer the dryer kind of ribs, but none are better, and their hot sauce is HOT!

As always, Bon Appetit!

Everett & Jones
126 Broadway (2nd Street)
Oakland, CA 94617
510-663-2350
http://www.eandjbbq.com/

Price: Inexpensive - Reasonable
Dining time: this totally depends on service, which while really friendly can be slow, probably because ribs take such a long time to prepare, and if they run out right after you arrive, the next batch can be awhile. Still a great place for lunch, so if you care, ask before being seated.
Table size: More than adequate for food served.

MADISON & FIFTH - fine Italian in Palo Alto

So we had planned to revisit a place we had really enjoyed the first time we went, just over a year ago. Madison & Fifth in Palo Alto. It took us two tries. The first time we went, we had no sooner ordered our drinks, than the firetrucks pulled up in front. After twenty minutes of climbing around the roof, they (the-brave-men-of-the-putting-out-of-the-fires) decided that maybe they should close the place down after all, just in case.

We never got our prosciutto & melon. Sad. We were so hungry (and we loved the food here so much on our previous visit) that we were actually weighing how crispy we'd let ourselves get before giving up the ghost. The PAFD decided for us. Curses!

But we were not to be deterred, so we made arrangements to reconvene our little party (with two additions) about a week later, giving Mad & Fifth time to regroup. We met last Tuesday and ordered to make up for lost time. We began the meal with more of their delicious cocktails. I have to say I am a huge fan of the new trend towards cocktail "mixology." When one's drinks are as thoughtfully prepared as the entrees, it can really enhance the dining experience. I had a repeat of the Peaches & Cream I had ordered on my previous visit. As chance would have it, our waitress was the drink's inventor. She whipped me up another serving of her delicious concoction, which tastes not so much like peaces, but a happy dose of citrusy sunshine in a glass. It's light and so drinkable I had another not so long after. She offered us an off-menu strawberry version, also her creation, which my sister-in-law enjoyed a great deal. My husband had the Midsummer Night's Dream. This is a dark fruity concoction that he found just to his liking.

Their house bread is this really delicious pizza-shaped bread that reminds me a bit of a cross between a biscuit and a scone. These breads are accompanied by a cheese and garlic spread that is so creamy it is easier to apply than room temperature butter. I find it absolutely delicious.

For starters, we all shared the Gnocchi Bettola, (pictured above left) which was buttery and delicious. I like my gnocchi a bit chewier (this was a very soft consistency) but the sauce was really good. We also had a prosciutto and melon. Unfortunately, while the melon was ripe and summery sweet, the prosciutto was as tough as shoe-leather. It looked appetizing, but was almost inedible. I probably should have spoken up, because they sincerely seem to care about food and service here, but after the fire I just felt bad for them and we were with a large boisterious group, so I didn't let on. My advice to others is to politely point these things out so that establishments have the opportunity to rectify the situation. They can't fix what they don't know about and it's possible they just got a bad slab of ham. It happens.

We raced through our apps, as we were all starving, and were promptly served with our main dishes. My daughter had ordered the Pizza Prosciutto and the Spinach Ravioli w/goat cheese fondue (pictured above right). While the pizza suffered somewhat from the lack of decent prosciutto, the spinach ravioli was world class. The sauce may have been the best cheese sauce I've ever tasted. Creamy, melted and a perfect balance of spices, this was heaven in my mouth. Seriously. The kind of experience one has trouble forgetting --- in a good way!!

I had a lovely raw ahi dish, but I was so blown away by the ravioli, I found the flavors a bit of a let down. Like my mouth was too excited to appreciate anything else.

We ended with coffee and a nice triple chocolate cake, and the meal went much smoother than on our previous visit. I have to say that although most of the patrons got excited (and many were somewhat hostile to the management) there was never any danger. It was a garbage can fire in the back courtyard, and the restaurant's design is such that it would be all but impossible to evacuate everyone to safety with the fire behind us and open space in front. The firemen were completely unphased, so there was no reason to panic, but some seemed to want to use the event as an excuse to leave without paying. People can be so tacky these days.

Although this meal was a little uneven, the food here is usually consistently first rate. They do italian and sauces better than most, so if you're in doubt, order a pasta dish. Hopefully they'll have fresh prosciutto before we return.

Bon Appetit!

Madison & Fifth

367 University Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94301

(650) 323-3900

http://www.madandfifth.com/

Price: Moderately Expensive

Dining Time: Leisurely (have not had lunch here, but imagine they could get one out in an hour)

Table size: More than adequate

PACIFIC COAST BREWING CO. - simple food done well

As an Oakland native, I spent a lot of my formative years in what was the area adjacent to the old jail at 7th and Broadway. There was a pub there, known as Dahlke's, that my father long swore made the best French Dip sandwich on the planet. Well, Dahlke's has been a vacant building for years, our family business next to it, also no longer remains.

But that doesn't mean one can't find great pub food in downtown Oakland. Established in October of 1988, this modest establishment has long provided quality home-made beer (made in the basement of the brewery) and simple, delicious food.


My BH and I started the week off eating lunch at the pub. I ordered a new personal favorite, a dish the pub has titled the "Ploughman's Platter." It is a simple selection of two healthy slices of cheese sliced and accompanied by a choice of grilled sausage, add grilled onions and sliced apple and "voila." I like it because I'm trying to avoid a lot of starchy food, and the only carbs it offers are those found in the apple. The sausage I prefer is a spicy mango variety which is delicious. The onions are grilled perfectly in this dish, uniformly and consistently caramelized, yet still with some body and chew to them.

BH had the open-faced crab melt, which is also yummy. He ordered a side of fresh fruit, (rather than the fries pictured below) and the waiter accidentally brough fries instead, but was very speedy in rectifying the situation. (and very apologetic.) Pacific Coast offers a huge variety of beer, a warm and homey atmosphere and ---of a particularly hot summer day --- the indoor open courtyard is a welcoming place to eat.



The Pacific Coast Brewing Company also offers such treats as an authentic Shephard's Pie and a hot turkey lunch with all the trimmings on a regular basis.

If you are looking for comfort food in a nice environment, it can't be beat.

Pacific Coast Brewing Company
906 Washington Street
Oakland, CA 94607
510.836.2739

http://www.pacificcoastbrewing.com/

Price: Inexpensive
Dining Time: Easily lunchable
Table Size: More than adequate