Archive for the ‘san francisco’ Category
This new, three-month-old Italian restaurant took over what used to be a French restaurant at Berjaya Hotel. The food served is supposed to be southern Italian cuisine. Still relatively undiscovered, I think Saraceno deserves better because the menu was relatively interesting and had more character in comparison to mainstream Italian restaurants. The food actually tasted pretty good too. The focus was not on fancy presentation or complex range of ingredients. Each dish was kept simple and unassuming. I loved the texture of the homemade pastas, but could be slightly too ‘undercooked’ for those who do not like their pasta al dente. Therefore, if you are one of those folks, be sure to request for more well-cooked pasta. Don’t worry about the restaurant looking chi-chi and stifling. The decor is a total mismatch to the very friendly and down-to-earth personalities of the Chef and the floor staff.
Complimentary breads with olives and its oil. There were three different types of bread. The spinach bread (on the top corner) was interesting to the eye but did nothing to elevate the taste (which was otherwise just fine) . The olives were great! Not too salty and totally addictive.
(Not your traditional) Eggplant Parmagiana, which comprised of thin layers of aubergine wrapping an interior filled with hot, gooey mozzerella. The bed of rocket was not an afterthought as its slight bitterness cut across the richness of the dish.
Fresh pasta from Naples with eggplants, cherry tomatoes and smoked mozzarella ($19.80). The pasta was slight too al dente as I found out that gave me quite a work out chewing. I would have preferred a heavier hand on the salt but to each his own.
The other fresh pasta was pappardelle with grillled peppers and olives. Again, very simple flavours. Both pastas reminded me of fresh pizza toppings against fresh pasta.
Dessert was the apple tartin with vanilla ice cream. I loved the dessert despite not a big fan of the caramel sauce. The chunky apples were nicely stewed until it was soft. Against the puff pastry and cold ice cream, it was rich and heavenly. The icecream did not look homemade but at least it was of good quality with specks of vanilla against a rich creamy base.
Saraceno Ristorante Italiano
Italian. G/F, Berjaya Hotel
83 Duxton Rd
Tel: 6438-9638
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Once in a while, the ladies who keep me sane at work would cast their boyfriends aside and indulge in a day of eating and shopping together. We went to Fiftythree for lunch, first time for all of us.
Fancy potato chips served on a platter of charcoal was our amuse bouche of sort.
Following shortly was a little gunny sack bag containing the exact number of mini bread rolls as there were folks on the table. There were heated ball bearings at the bottom of the sack, keeping the rolls warm. Now, I am all for the novel idea and presentation effects but the bun, oh do I think it sucked. It had a too hard crust, a too dense innard and too salty in general. No amounts of good butter could save it.
The appetizer was chilled cherry tomato and watermelon, with horseradish, and mozzarella foam. This dish, I’m guessing, was trying to get this interplay going between temperature, texture, and flavour. If so, I think the idea was a great one but the execution fell short. I found the horseradish too dominating and the dish could do better without. That, plus the heavy cream sauce lining the bottom of the plate was quite redundant too.
The main course was barramundi with pear and blackcurrent jam. This was more palatable and the fish was fresh. The sweet jams surprising went well with the fish and the bits of fried shallots added delicious enthic flavours.
Dessert was apple risotto with rosemary foam and struesel of sorts. There was no rice in this dessert. The apple was chopped and diced finely to resemble risotto. Served warm, the cinnamon notes harmonized with the scent of rosemary pretty well, if not unusual. My palate could not decide if I was having a savoury or sweet course. Interesting dish that was easy to eat but I would not order it again.
Fiftythree remains an interesting place to visit once in a blue moon because I truly was not really impressed enough to come back again anytime soon.
Fiftythree
53
Tel: 6334 5535
Lunch: Tues – Sat
Dinner: Mon – Sat
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Klee is this little bar located in the slightly off the beaten track location of Portsdown Road. A couple of colleagues swear by the fresh fruit cocktails there and recommended me to visit their favourite bar.
What makes Klee so special is its sushi-bar style setting. I loved the contrast between good and bad, the innocent pine wood counter top and the alcohol display right behind. The bar chairs are an eccentric mix of different chairs, adding to the charm.
Of all the drinks I had that night, my favourites were the pear martini and the kiwi martini. A close third was the cantaloupe martini. It was interesting to see my drink being made from scratch too. The rest of the drinks were okay, but not particularly memorable. But I remember the two cute bartenders though 
Klee has a policy of not serving their cocktails outside on the veranda. Before you head there, be sure to make a reservation lest you get disappointed.
Klee
5B
#01-04
Closed Sundays
Tel: 6479 6911
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I love brunch. Having breakfast food in an al fresco setting, with natural lighting and warmth, glass of chilled white wine, good friends with endless chat and no busy schedule to follow, would be most brilliant and make me a very happy girl.
Recently, I went to Graze for brunch. The restaurant, set in a colonial bungalow house, made me feel like I was invited to someone’s house – cosy and comfortable. Besides, the service was good and nothing to complain about. Definitely a place to return again and again.
Baked omelette with smoked salmon, roasted tomato, mushrooms and fried potato (S$17)
Waffles with nutella icecream and strawberries ($13)
If you are not a breakfast fan, there is regular food served as well, starting from 12pm. Where is your favourite place for brunch?
Graze
4 Rochester Park
Tel: 6775-9000
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As you know, God is amazing. If you want something bad enough, he will give it to you. That was how I got to have a grand meal at The French Laundry anyway. Leading up to the dinner, I was just really excited, like a teenager going on her first date.
The food was excellent. Most of them I had read so much about, seen so many pictures on other blogs and reviews, that it actually felt so surreal when I saw them presented in front of me. The service was professional yet very warm and friendly. I loved the whole experience and it was nothing short of memorable.
warm cheese puffs
airy and gone in 3 seconds
airy and gone in 3 seconds
salmon conets
cute mini cones crunchy and savoury. perfect complement to the smokey salmon.
oysters and caviar
If I had to choose (reluctantly), this would be my favourite dish. generous amounts of caviar only to be eaten with a mother of pearl spoon of course, paired with the freshest little oysters and a thick, rich, custard. it was orgasmic.
butter roll
Somewhat like a blend between bread and brioche. nonetheless very good and very addictive. no additional butter was required but then I needed something to spread the Vermont Butter and Local Californian butter with.
Somewhat like a blend between bread and brioche. nonetheless very good and very addictive. no additional butter was required but then I needed something to spread the Vermont Butter and Local Californian butter with.
salad of French Laundry garden beets
sweet navel orange wedges and fresh greens that were very flavourful despite the lack of dressing or sauces.
sweet navel orange wedges and fresh greens that were very flavourful despite the lack of dressing or sauces.
hokkaido scallop tartare
the scallops were raw and sweet and the cream sauce went well with them. the vegetables were again, very fresh and tasty.
the scallops were raw and sweet and the cream sauce went well with them. the vegetables were again, very fresh and tasty.
sweet butter poached maine lobster “mitts”
beautiful dish. the lobster really was fresh and not overcooked. i loved the morels.
beautiful dish. the lobster really was fresh and not overcooked. i loved the morels.
wolfe ranch white quail
that my friends had and claimed was the most tender.
atlantic halibut “confit ala minute”
very tender and went well with the cauliflower puree, which was suprisingly the thing that binded the dish together.
very tender and went well with the cauliflower puree, which was suprisingly the thing that binded the dish together.
snake river farms prime beef
the beef looked so good doesn’t it?
the beef looked so good doesn’t it?
king trumpet mushrooms, sweet carrots and tarragon
the pastry crust could have been ‘puffier’. compared to the beef, this was not quite visually appetising so perhaps that was why i didn’t think much of this course.
the pastry crust could have been ‘puffier’. compared to the beef, this was not quite visually appetising so perhaps that was why i didn’t think much of this course.
“beermat”
pickled red endive, medjool dates, pistachios and black truffle
the sheep’s milk cheese was not so strong in smell and had a firmness of gelatine. you experience different tastes when you pair the cheese with the different condiments. it was good but i had enough after two pieces.
pickled red endive, medjool dates, pistachios and black truffle
the sheep’s milk cheese was not so strong in smell and had a firmness of gelatine. you experience different tastes when you pair the cheese with the different condiments. it was good but i had enough after two pieces.
palate cleanser
oatmeal cookie, yogurt sherbet and apricot jam
this dish had the combination that reminded me of breakfast muesli. clever and tasty too.
oatmeal cookie, yogurt sherbet and apricot jam
this dish had the combination that reminded me of breakfast muesli. clever and tasty too.
parfait au citron
candied buddha’s hand, lemon snow, biscotti tuile
a very refreshing and light tasting dessert. but was not overly exciting.
candied buddha’s hand, lemon snow, biscotti tuile
a very refreshing and light tasting dessert. but was not overly exciting.
chocolate cake with praline
petit four
shortbread cookies to bring home
became supper for me.
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#1: Untold Secrets of the Message Room
When darkness falls, everything turns into a picture of dead silence.
I stepped on the narrow staircase leading to the underground.
‘Shhh…be quiet…you don’t want to wake them up…let me show you the way.’
I saw this young boy when I stumbled upon this place. In fact, I saw him everywhere. From the main door, the message room to the combat officer room… He was there, everywhere.
I lost him soon after.
‘Tub…tub…tub…’
The floor is so thin that I can feel the tremble. I heard that coming from the back.
‘Dooom…’
When darkness falls, everything turns into a picture of silence … a dead silence.
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I didn’t dwell myself too long in that B-grade horror flick as I walk through the underground tunnel of the Reunification Palace.
Oh by the way, I was at Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) for 3 days. Thanks to the free air tickets from the lucky dip.
The first, second, third and fourth floor didn’t excite me. There were numbers of meeting rooms, conference rooms and dining rooms of different themes, a place previously resided by the presidents.
We were just wandering around the Palace and stumbled upon one eery staircase that leads to the dark underground. That really intrigued my interest.
There were secret rooms (or message rooms) with bulky and dusty switchboards, the very 60s phones and the good old typing machines.
Hairy attempted this shot ala Wong Kar Wai mode that inspired the series of dark tales.
The young boy is definitely not from our hallucination but he was really everywhere. Everywhere that we went. He loves blocking our way, interrupting at the background when we were shooting photos and looking at Hairy with a creepy smile.
‘Sekali you see him in one of the black & white pictures hung on the wall’ said Hairy with a blank look.
How interesting.
Obviously we didn’t spot him in any of the pictures, in fact the pictures shown were depressing and disheartening. Nuclear bombs, massacre and concentration camps. I just want to get out of that place.
Back to reality, we were caught in the middle of the junction with motorbikes coming from all 4 directions and with 58 bikes honking at us at the same time, as if we were blocking their ways *sweat*
Funny mode of transport in Vietnam
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I was literally distressed, I think a bowl of piping hot noodles would be a good cure.
We dropped by Ben Thanh Market (we call it the ‘Beh Tahan Market’) and zoomed straight into the food section.
Tell me about pracitising food hygiene, there were a few dead cockroaches lying under my seat.
To eat or not to eat? Gulp…There goes my first bowl of pork knuckle noodles in Vietnam and L-S (diarrhea) on the very next day.
At night, we strolled along the night market street and the dai chow stalls came into sight. Born to be gluttons, we settled for another round of food.
The return of the alcoholic.
Can you believe that a bottle of Saigon beer costs only 90 cents (10,000 dong)?
But that 90 cents can only give you a taste of gassy plain water. I stopped at one bottle.
Oh well, the journey didn’t end here. In fact it only started the next day – a five hours helluva extreme journey that can only be found in Vietnam.
To be continued.
Photo credit to the legendary Hairy from .
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When I found out I could not get a reservation at The French Laundry, I had to look for an alternative dining location around Napa and was utterly convinced to try Ubuntu, touted to be the best vegetarian restaurant ever. Honestly, I couldn’t wait! But I was secretly afraid my friend would protest. God bless her, she was so accommodating throughout my trip and with my foodie obsession.
Anyway, there was absolutely no regrets whatsoever because I tasted THE BEST PEAS IN MY LIFE. These jade green seeds popped in my mouth and they tasted so clean you can taste the natural juices and sweetness.
“Hmm, I want to bring a whole bowl home!” I remembered that thought running through my ahead. That followed by “No more frozen peas for me. No more canned mushy peas for me. No more, no more, no more!”
The second course was “raw, roasted, pureed”, or how Ubuntu glorified the boring white cauliflower. In the little Staub casserole laid cauliflower cooked three ways. At the bottom, almost 3/4 of the pan, was roasted cauliflower together with whole garlic. The roasting caramelized the vegetables and enhanced it with a deep, smokey flavour. That was followed by a pureed layer, creamy and rich because gruyere cheese was mixed into it. Then, whimsicle raw cauliflower trees decorated the top. Stab the spoon into the pot and smear the vegetables over buttered toast. Yums!
Dessert was a “vanilla bean cheesecake”. Full cream yogurt, thick and slightly sour lined the bottom of the container. Then, digestive cookie crumbs, and cooked sour cherries filled the middle. Whipped cream cheese topped the whole thing off. The honey tuile on the sides were also nice and crispy. We really enjoyed this light but satisfying dessert.
Is Ubuntu the greatest vegetarian restaurant ever? I don’t know if I can make that statement. There is absolutely nothing pretentious – no fancy presentations, foams or molecular cooking. Ubuntu is nothing but fresh vegetables cooked simply to bring out their natural flavours. I loved the food there and sure beats all the other veggie restaurants I have tried so far.
Ubuntu
1140 Main Street
Napa, California 94559
Seven days a week:
M-Th: 5:30pm – 9pm
Fr-Su: 11:30 – 2:30pm and
5:30pm – 10p (9p Sundays)
Tel: 707.251.5656
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In less than 30 minutes, one can take the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from SF to Berkeley, in the East Bay region. There, you can visit my alma mater and enjoy great food. There are many many good restaurants around but I only have one meal and I chose to go to Chez Panisse.
Opened by a lady, Alice Waters, who has always been an advocate for sound and sustainable agriculture, the restaurant still remains committed to that believe today. The restaurant started out serving only one fix prix menu that changes daily. That has not changed either, but a more casual cafe opened much later, to offer an alternative to the restaurant. Located upstairs, the cafe offers à la carte menu for both lunch and dinner.
Knoll Farm rocket with artichokes and black olives crostini (US$9)
I wasn’t expecting chopped olives on a thin toast. The olives were tasty, but it was far too much oil, good oil or not. But the greens, oh they were a revelation. I could taste each of the different leaves distinctly and they had little holes, a positive sign of organic farming methods.
Spicy Hog Island Clams cooked in the wood oven with pancetta, peas, garlic toast and saffron mayonnaise (US$18)
Tasty.
Tasty.
Marinated beets and carrots with ginger and Monterey Bay sardines (US$10)
If beets tasted this good all the time, I want to have beets everyday. Seriously. I never tasted beets like that before. They were earthy, yet tasted very clean and light, all at once. Loved it. The sardines were also very very good. I want to eat ten of them!
Crimson rhubarb tart with candied orange ice cream (US$9.75)
The tart on first sight, looked so rustic and homemade. I know it sounds strange, but it exuded warmth and love. The shell was very thin and partly soft, partly crunchy. I looked at the pinkish rhubarb and could not believe something so pretty could be oh-so-sour. Luckily we had the ice cream on the side. On its own, it was sweet and tasted like a big, frozen orange creamsicle. It complemented the rhubarb very nicely.
Chez Panisse Restaurant and Café
1517 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94709-1516
Reservations taken up to 1 month in advance.
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Right across the In-and-Out burger joint near the Fisherman’s Wharf is a dessert heaven. Ghirardelli Square is named after the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory that used to set up shop there. Today, the Square has many different restaurants but the namesake Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop has good ice cream and desserts. There is an original chocolate-making equipment in operation that can you can focus on for a few minutes while waiting for your dessert to arrive. This is also a must-do in SF for me.
Mint bliss.
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One must go to San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf, even though we know it is a tourist trap and yadda dada. But go for a walk down the piers near sundown – it makes a lovely way to relax after a long day.
I would not recommend eating at any of the seafood restaurants at Pier 39, because you pay a lot for gimmick and not so much for good food. Walk further down to a more casual Boudin Bakery, famous for their sourdough bread that is in itself ubiquitously SF. I usually get a clam chowder bread bowl and that fills me up nicely. Or, if that is not your thing, the only In-and-Out burger is also at the Wharf.
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