Starbread

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Starbread is the Filipino Krispy Kreme, except that instead of freshly made donuts its small sweet breads.  With locations sprouting all over the Bay Area (the original in South City/Daly City), they delight the masses with their famous seniorita bread.  They claim their are the original makers of the seniorita bread, but I fondly remember eating them a very long time ago at Banana Q in Vallejo before Starbread existed.  I have searched high and low for a replacement for Banana Q's version and only stumbled upon Starbread's version, which is good, but not a good enough substitute for a childhood memory of the most delectable buttery sweet bread. 

These cigar shaped rolls are made of sweet bread with a oozing melted butter and sugar filling.  Orders always come piping hot and fresh.  Buttery and delicious, these can be quite addicting and extreme willpower is needed when eating them.

Filled senoritas seem to be a new thing here.  There are three flavors:  strawberry, apple, and cream cheese.  The cream cheese was the best of the three and was similar to a cheese danish.  However, I still prefer the original made with butter and sugar.

Strawberry filled senioritas were my least favorite.  Filled with an artificial strawberry flavor, this seniorita was too sweet for my liking

Address:                 Starbread
                                5855 Jarvis Rd.
                                Newark, CA
 

Type:                       Filipino/bakery

Popular chomps:     senioritas

Chomp worthy:        senioritas  

Zachary's Chicago Pizza

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Zachary's is an East Bay institution.  Even after all these years, its still get crowded and you can barely fit though the door.  The trick is to order to go otherwise the wait for a table could take over a hour.

This pizzeria actually has thin crust, but the crowd favorite is the stuffed pizza (deep dish).  Zachary's special (sausage, green pepper, onion, and mushroom) and carne (Italian sausage, bacon, salami, pepperoni, and mozzarella) are popular choices, but my favorite is the spinach and mushroom.

The crust at Little Star (see post HERE) is definitely better.  Its ultra buttery and crispy.  Call it nostalgia, but I prefer the taste of Zachary's pizza, especially the spinach and mushroom.  The tomato sauce is on the sweeter, tangier side, but I love the juicy chunks of tomatoes.

      

Address:                      Zachary's Chicago Pizza
                                     5801 College Ave.
                                     Oakland, CA 
 

Type:                            pizza

Popular chomps:          spinach and mushroom
                                      carne
                                      zachary's special

Chomp worthy:             spinach and mushroom
                                       carne
                                       zachary's special   

Jojo's Cafe

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Actively searching out some HK cafe food led me to this part of the city.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jojo's cafe served some of my childhood Hong Kong favorites that are so bad for you, but so good to eat.

Minced beef with raw egg is probably my second favorite Hong Kong after baked pork chop rice.  Its hard to say whats so great about this dish.  A great comfort food dish.  Its a  pile of minced beef with vegetables and a raw egg to mix. 

I love baked pork chop fried rice.  Its probably the single most recognized Hong Kong cafe type food.  However, a good one is hard to find in the Bay Area.  Creamy tomato sauce is layered on top two thinly sliced pork chop and rice.  Not the best, but its satisfying enough to keep the craving contained for now.

Address:                     Jojo's Cafe
                                    1537 Ocean Ave.
                                    San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                           Chinese

Popular chomps:         baked pork chop
                                     minced beef with raw egg
                                     beef chow fun
                                     won ton soup
 

Chomp worthy:            baked pork chop
                                      minced beef with raw egg  

Pecan Pie Pringles

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Pringles has done it again with another sweet take on their snacky chips.  This time with Pecan Pie.  I got really lucky this time and didn't have to scour all over the Bay Area looking for these chips.  I was able to locate them in the first Target I walked into.  As for the taste, it was really sweet, but it reminded me more of waffles and syrup than pecan pie. 

Ajito

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I love izakayas.  I make it a personal mission to try to eat at all of them.  Back in the city, there are very few izakayas.  Most of them tend to be located either in the South Bay or the Peninsula area.  I had heard that Ajito was as good as my absolute favorite izakaya Sumika (see post HERE) so I had to try it out for myself.

I can always appreciate good fried chicken cartilage.  Two different types of crunchiness.  One from the deep fried batter and one from the actual cartilage.  Not bad, but I've had better.  Some of the pieces were extremely hard and inedible.   

The beef tongue was probably the best dish of the meal.  Thin slices of beef marinated with a sauce that reminded of a Chinese stir fry sauce.  The texture was more beef like than tongue like, but it was super tender and juicy.

Had I know that the black pig sausage looked like Vienna sausages I probably wouldn't have ordered it.  Not only did they look like them, but they sort of tasted like them too.  Rubbery.  It didn't have the deep porky, fatty flavor of black pork.

Normally, I don't order oyako don, but I've had it at Sumika and it is fantastic there.  Most of the dishes here were disappointing so this simple chicken, egg, and rice dish turned out to be another satisfactory item.

Many people seemed to have raved about this grilled squid dish.  Personally, I've had better.  The squid is too salty here and it doesn't have that tenderness when biting into the rings.

Often izakayas either excel at the skewered dishes or the small dishes.  Since this one didn't seem to have the wow factor in the small dishes, I was really hoping that their skewers would win my tummy over.  The chicken breast was dry and flavorless.  Not even close to the juiciness and yumminess that Sumika's chicken has.

For some reason, chicken skin (kawa) was not on the menu, but upon asking the server, she said they had it available.  Winner!   Not!  The chicken skin was not cooked properly at all.  It didn't have any crispy, crackly bits.  No smokiness at all. 

I always like to eat yaki onigiri in my meals when available.  I just love the way the grilling of the rice makes a crispy crust.  At Ajito, its not bad.  It could be a little more crispy though.  The bottom of the rice ball was a bit soggy.  Overall, I have to say, this place is not at all like Sumika.  Its not even in the same league. 

     

Address:                   Ajito
                                  7335 Bollinger Rd.
                                   Ste A
                                   Cupertino, CA
 

Type:                          Japanese

Popular chomps:         black pork sausage
                                    squid
                                    chicken cartilage
                                    beef tongue

Chomp worthy:           beef tongue   

Vy's Coffee

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I'm always down to travel for food.  Pacifica has always been just a town that I drive pass to get home or just known as foggy place for me so I was sort of a fish out of water traveling here for food.  Overall, Pacific is a quaint seaside town and I wasn't surprised to see Vy's Coffee in a small discrete strip mall.

I'm pretty sure they make the pandan waffles to order, but the waffle was limpy with no crispy edges.  Especially after noshing on the pandan waffle from San Jose's Nuoc Mia Van Dong 2 (see post HERE), I was able to notice the too subtle flavor of the coconut.  I did like the small bits of coconut in the batter, but there wasn't enough.

The pork banh mi here has a lot of meat.  Possibly too much and the marinade here is quite strong.  Overall, its an okay sandwich, but not really banh mi esque.  The vegetables aren't really pickled and the bread just doesn't come close to the crackly, lightness I expect in a good banh mi.

Similar to the pork banh mi, the combo wasn't impressive either.  A lot of meat and pate, but I could barely taste the mayo or spiciness from the jalapenos.  At $4.50 a sandwich and a decent drive from the city, it wasn't worth it.

    

Address:                   Vy's Coffee
                                  1715 Palmetto
                                  Ste A
                                  Pacifica, CA
 

Type:                         Vietnamese

Popular chomps:       pandan waffle
                                   pork sandwich
                                   shrimp toast

Chomp worthy:          nothing   

Linea Caffe

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Excellent coffee and waffles are to be had at Linea Caffe.  Probably best to go there while the weather is still nice as they only have outside seating.  Not sure how they will manage when the weather get cold and rainy, which is a bummer because I think these waffles need to be enjoyed fresh.

Waffles are always for satisfying a sweet tooth.  Its a yeasted waffle topped with coconut jam, gianduja and sprinkled with chopped macadamia nuts.  I didn't taste much of the coconut flavor, but I did love the crunch of the macadamia nuts.  The waffle is so light that even though its a large its doesn't feel heavy in your stomach. 

Same goes for all the savory waffles.  Its light texture lets you indulge in a lot more waffles than you think you could (or should).  The smell of the potato waffle mixed with pastrami bits was amazing.  I could smell it cooking while I waited for it outside.  Served with some pickled cabbage and some mustard, it was so delicious.

At first I was a little unsure of salmon roe and creme fraiche as a topping on a buckwheat waffle, but, wow, the little hints of salt and crunch from the cucumbers was so well balanced.  The waffle was so fluffy and airy, it was hard not to like it.

    

Address:                   Linea Caffe
                                  3417 18th St.
                                  San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                         coffee

Popular chomps:       salmon roe waffle
                                   waffle with fresh fruits
                                   waffle with macadamia nuts
                                   potato waffle

Chomp worthy:          potato waffle
                                   salmon roe waffle
                                   waffle with macadamia nuts 

Nick's Pizza

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Nick's Pizza seems to be a well loved pizza place in the East Bay area.  Oddly, I've never seen it driving along Shattuck.

The slices here are more on the greasy side, which isn't a bad thing, but I found the flavors to just be a little better than the average chain pizza.  Especially compared to all the amazing pizza in the area, both the cheese and the pepperoni slice fell a little short of expectations.

The mushroom was probably the best of the three, but even so the taste of the crust here is nothing special.  Its probably a decent spot if you are in the area and needing of a slice, but other than that its not raveworthy.

 

Address:                 Nick's Pizza
                                6211 Shattuck Ave.
                                Oakland, CA
 

Type:                       pizza

Popular chomps:     dino kale pizza
                                 sopresetta
                                 mushroom
                                 pepperoni

Chomp worthy:        nothing       

Dessert Republic

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I've been searching out Hong Kong food lately because I've been missing some really good dessert items and cafe food.  Dessert Republic literally was hard for me to find.  Its hidden in a small alley in Downtown San Mateo.

The decor is sort of cute and kitchy, but the oddest thing was the push buttons on the table which actually ring out loud (yes, I tried).  It reminded me of the buttons at some Korean restaurants. This was a first I've seen from anything Chinese.

Eggettes, which the adopted English name, is one of my favorite Hong Kong snacks.  I've eaten a lot of these as a kid on many a trips to Hong Kong.  Usually, they have a crispy outside with a spongy inside.  Here, the flavor was bland and they were soggy.

Crepes are another popular thing here, but I found the crepe to be too thick and heavy. 

   

Address:                   Dessert Republic
                                  138 Main St.
                                  San Mateo, CA
 

Type:                         Asian/Dessert

Popular chomps:       sweet crepes
                                   mango jello

Chomp worthy:          nothing

Day trip - Pescadero

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Its Indian summer and everyone is off to Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, but I decided to check out Pescadero for a quick day trip outside the city.  Its less than an hour drive from the city and its not as crowded as Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay. 

Downtown Pescadero is quaint and spans a couple blocks, if that.  There are a couple shops, but I think the fruit stand is definitely worth a visit.

This small lot is a fruit and vegetable tasting treasure.  Filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and different types of honey, everything is so delicious and fun to try, you can't help but buy at least one thing.

Arcangeli Grocery Co. is right in the middle of the downtown area.  Most people stop here to pick up a quick snack or use it as a rest stop.  Its definitely worth a visit to check out their own jams, jellies, sauces, and other yummy goodies.

Right when you walk in, there is a stand of homemade pies (blueberry, cherry, boysenberry, and even strawberry).  I had my heart set on strawberry, but they were sold out for the day.  Next time.

Another couple steps into the store takes you to a cabinet filled with baked goodies.  The must get item is the artichoke garlic herb bread.  Its a cult favorite and most people that walk in here grab two of them.  Best thing about them is the breads are warm!

If you walk to the back there's a small sandwich counter where you can order custom made sandwiches.

They also sell deli pickles that you grab from a barrel.

Most people seem to eat their sandwiches in town, but I highly suggest driving to the lighthouse less than 10 minutes away and eating it there.  There's a couple picnic tables so you can enjoy your lunch and the ocean view.

The garlic artichoke bread is crusty with a nice fluffy inside.  The bread is mixed with chunks of artichoke and garlic.  So delicious. 

The artichoke is generously mixed through the loaf so you can get a piece of artichoke everytime you break off a piece.

While there is a custom sandwich option at Arcangeli Grocery Co, I went for the Godfather.  It doesn't look like much, but this meaty sandwich was a surprising favorite.  Thinly slices of salami, mortadella, proscuitto, provolone, lettuce, onion on pesto artichoke focaccia bread. Full of flavor with a spicy punch, even after the sandwich was devoured it still made you long for more.

The breathtaking view at the lighthouse.

  

Address:                  Arcangeli Grocery Co.
                                 287 Stage Rd.
                                 Pescadero, CA
 

Type:                        grocery/sandwich

Popular chomps:      godfather
                                  artichoke garlic bread     

Chomp worthy:         godfather
                                  artichoke garlic bread  

Huong Que

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I'm sort of a gỏi cuốn/nem cuốn (roll) feen.  Pork rolls, shrimp rolls, you name it and I love it.  Surprisingly, I didn't eat it when I was in Vietnam though, which only makes me want to go back.  In the Bay Area, its really hard to find places that serve these types of dishes.  Not only have a grown to love nem nuong (pork meatball) cuon, but also I've discovered ca nuong (roasted catfish).  More specifically in San Francisco's Tay Giang (see post HERE).  With the massive Vietnamese population in San Jose, I had high hopes for Huong Que.

Almost every table has the same dish - roll in yourself fried catfish - ca nuong so I felt pretty good about my decision.  Right restaurant, right dish, right?  Also, I remembered that one catfish easily serves two to three people so I was good about not ordering too much this time around.  Like nem nuon cuon, the fried catfish comes with rice papers to use as wrappers.  A couple dips in the bowl of hot water and you are good to go.

Some rice noodles to include in the wrapping.

The plate includes lots of fresh veggies: mint, basil, cilantro, Vietnamese mint (one of my favorite herbs), and lettuce.

Also, for your wrapping pleasure - beansprouts, pickled carrots and radish, and cucumber spears.

Similar to the fried catfish at Tay Giang, the catfish is deep fried and cut in half.  Its sprinkled with green onions and fried garlic.  Unfortunately, it was no where near as tasty as Tay Giang's.  The fish came out lukewarm and the skin did not have a light crisp, but more of a hard, chewy texture.  The actual flesh of the fish was so bland and the way the meat broke apart I'm pretty sure this fish was frozen.  Possibly one of the worse Asian fish dishes I've ever had.  I guess I'll have to stick to Tay Giang's for the fried catfish.

The fermented dipping sauce is a little pungent (as it should be) and overpowered the tasteless fish.

      

Address:                 Huong Que
                               3005 Silver Creek Rd.
                               San Jose, CA
 

Type:                       Vietnamese

Popular chomps:      ca nuong (fried catfish)
                                banh canh
                                bo nuong la lot (grilled beef wrapped in grape leaves)

Chomp worthy:         nothing