Sunday, January 30, 2011

Already in Love

Some places I just can't imagine what my life would be like without and others are just the staples of my food pantry of life.  Here are some of those and my regular favorites.

Ferry Market Plaza San Francisco, CA:  This is my happy place.  Ya I am going to say it (sorry Ethan), I would rather go here than Disneyland.  Just leave me.  Here everyone and everything is at their finest.  If it is mushrooms, cheese, or salumi they sell, they know where they got it from, how it was made and of course how to turn it into the best you ever tasted.  Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays the farmers market is open and you get high end restaurant quality food set up under white tents, all full of equally passionate people.  Last time I was there I had a made that morning donut with fresh and rich custard cream inside that I swooned over and spoonfuls of salty cashew ice cream, I still think about.  I have been to markets all over the world and this is the one I am always coming back to.

Little Saigon. Ca:  Okay, okay I know this is a suburb, not a specific restaurant, but if you are on a quest to find the best, the most authentic and freshest Vietnamese cuisine, look no further than Little Saigon in Westminster Orange County in CA.  Although many have no idea of its existence, it is the home of the oldest and largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam.  And it is here you will find your Pho paradise.  Take your pick of all of the more popular dishes from Pho, Banh Mi, Com Tam and here you will find a multitude of places that claim their expertise in the dish.  If you are a coffee lover, you must not leave without trying a freshly brewed iced espresso with condensed milk (Cafe Sua Da).  It is the perfect compliment of bitterness and sweetness and will have you running all day long.  My aunt who lives there knows 5 places alone for the best loaf of french bread and the times that it is served hot by heart. If you want a food adventure go here, go now.

Volare Downtown Chicago, IL: Yes that's right, you had me at hand cut pappardelle pasta.  If you want authentic Italian then Chicago is a great place for that and of course so much more.  Many will have other suggestions, but I have yet to have a negative experience here.  Usually busy until the wee hours, get there and just relax with a glass of wine and a great friend to people watch.  My last dish of choice was the hand made fresh pasta with lots of tangy sweet sauce and fresh clams.  Ahhh pasta coma. 

ACME Oyster House & Cafe Du Monde New Orleans, LA:  Sometimes I can be a bit nervous when it comes to raw seafood, but here you can start out slow with their melt in your mouth chargrilled oysters with melted garlic butter. Ohhhh, try not to have like 2 plates of those and then move on to the succulent raw oysters.  Briny, fresh and well really just perfect little bites.  Have a beer and enjoy being in the liveliness and soul of New Orleans.  In the morning head over to yes very touristy, but a must do Cafe Du Monde because who can say no to fragant chicory roast coffee and sizzling powdered sugar covered beignets? If you are reading this, you can not resist!



Local AZ favorites:

AZ Pizza: Pizzeria Bianco, Cibo (have a dessert crepe please), Crust (crust sauce is drinkable- I have actually tried to just eat it like soup)

Cafe Boa, Tempe:  Romantic, great ambiance and a sentimental pick.  Plus its really close to the light rail if you just want to pop on over and make a night of it....

Dim Sum: Great Wall on Camelback Rd, Phoenix: weekends are the time to go, the steamed egg rolls are fantastic and I have had them just about everywhere and this is my favorite.

Vietnamese: Da Vang, Little Saigon in Tucson, my moms house.  Try mi kho at the 1st two places, don't come to my moms house.

Korean, Takamatsu on Dunlap:  Best bulgogi and recently fell in love with their spicy beef and vegetable soup.  Filling and sinus clearing at its best.  Add a green onion salad and enjoy!  A good pick every time.

Cornish Pasty Co in Tempe, When I have my chicken pot pie craving I get the pasty, even comes with gravy on the side, Their curry chicken pasty  is also a winner.

Lunch:  Berthas (chicken thai wrap and those lovely chocolate cookies that come with your meal), Thats a Wrap, Wildflower!!! Be still my forest mushroom soup heart.

BBQ: Big fan of Joes BBQ in Gilbert, the restaurant has such great ambiance and the bbq is fantastic.  Also have had Big Daddy's BBQ in Scottsdale and I have to tell you sides are a big part of the bbq game with me and their Mac & Cheese is the best I have had in a long time. Super rich and cheesy with a great crust.  They use big fat shells that hold up under the baking so they aren't mushy. Dense and they hold lots of the cheesy goodness inside each.  Its an eye closer!

Definitely more I need to add to the list that I will remember as my food cravings hit... check back!

The first time... restaurants of 2010

Ahhh it has definitely been a long time coming.  It has been something I have been wanting to do for awhile and with the gentle last prodding of my best friend at our "2011 Goals Meeting" I have finally just jumped in.  This particular post does the quick year in review of my 2010 highlights (places I went to for the 1st time).  Great morsels of foodtastic yumminess all made easy by my boyfriend extraordinaire who has documented our culinary hi jinks for the last year.  Thank you honey! 

Mi Comida (Formerly Mi Cocina, Mi Pais) Phoenix, AZ:  An Ecuadorian jewel in the desert. This is absolutely the boy's find.  He's no stranger to this hole in the wall find and proudly proclaims the Shrimp Curry on the menu as his pick for his last meal.  Enough said right?  I love the cozy ambiance, warm family service and distinctly creative menu.

Original Pancake House in Old Town Scottsdale:  Dutch apple pancake as big as your head, fast cash only service and quality food.  Yummy!

Haus Murphys Glendale, Az:  My best friend gets the credit for this one and if someone I know can be an expert of meat and potatoes its her.  I was pleasantly surprised by this adorable restaurant in Old Town Glendale specifically because I am not personally a huge fan of German food.  The servers here are dressed up in traditional dress, but it does not come off cheesy, but more adds to the charm of the place.  Every dish I have had here is simple, but remarkably tasty and executed perfectly.  May it be the crispness of the schnitzel to the tanginess of their homemade sauerkraut.  Also with all of their entrees comes with a free cup of soup which is always really flavorful and comforting.  With their open beer garden with lovely twinkle lights, it's the place to take a group of friends on a warm afternoon or night.

Posh Scottsdale, Az:  The closest I have come to a culinary destination experience ala San Francisco, New York in our very own Scottsdale, AZ.  Yes one day I will have my 20 course, 5 hour dining nirvana at French Laundry but we all have to start somewhere.  I wasn't disappointed, although I don't have notes to all of our courses, highlights include the beef cheek, short rib and whimsical watermelon caviar.  Come prepared to try pretty much anything as they are free to sit any type of dish in front of you.  You pick the number of courses and what you won't eat and they do the rest.  Come with a free night ahead and an open mind.

Paradiso 37 Downtown Disney Orlando, FL:  A funny pick merely because when I was there I had the toothache of a lifetime (which later I had a root canal on), but when I look back I still really enjoyed this meal through all the pain, so I know it was good.  Authentic well done green chili enchiladas, fantastic skirt steak with grilled corn and a scrumptious lightly sweet fresh arepa. 

Frenchy's Clearwater, FL:  Come in your flip flops its right on the beach, the picturesque place for a Florida beach restaurant, simple grilled fish sandwiches and a pina colada= guaranteed happiness.

Wente Vineyards Restaurant, Livermore, CA:  At one of the loveliest weddings I have been to I also had one of my favorite meals of the year.  Smoked double cut pork chop...sounds intriguing yes?  I bet you have never had it either.  Get it here for your 1st time, perfectly smokey, succulent and delicious.  Sides of polenta and sweet and tart braised greens were wonderful, as well, but that chop is the definitive star.

The Market Downtown Denver, CO:  You see it from the street and assume its a small coffee shop.  We ducked in here to find a bfast bite and were surprised to step into a bit of a rabbit hole of a world of food.  Separate coffee bar, lunch station, gelato and dessert area.  If there was any free space it was filled with little aisles of homemade jams, jellies, dressings and anything else you could want.  Some sitting space allowed for great people watching as every walk of life had seemed to find this downtown staple.  You can tell they own and operate it with a lot of love.  Go eat anything there!

The Gibson Washington DC: Okay I had no food here.  There is this little bar behind a non descript black door next to Marvins in DC.  It's not labeled and there are not people milling outside to help you pick it out.  Behind the door is a person on a stool with a list.  A door is right next to him.  He knocks on the door and they check inside.  If you are lucky you get a space at the bar to watch the real show.  Classic hand made drinks are their specialty.  Everything added to the liquor is fresh and they usually have a bowl right at the bar filled with fresh fruits, herbs and peel.  The type of place you can spend hours in and lose track of time just figuring out what you want to try next.

I probably forgot a couple so check back later for updates~!