Prawn spring rolls – Siam Saigon

Posted on June 7, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 126

Only worked a half day today so I could go to the dentist and get my teeth cleaned. I’m kind of annoyed with them because they thought I was a different person and had pulled the wrong records and even greeted me as the other person. Shouldn’t they know who I am when I make the appointment!? Gonna have to keep my eye on them from now on!

Prawn spring rolls - Siam Saigon
Fresh wrap in rice paper with bean sprout, mint, carrot, cilantro, lettuce and vermicelli noodles served with peanut sauce and hoisin sauce. $7
Siam Saigon, San Francisco CA

Prawn spring rolls - Siam Saigon
This tasted great. The shrimp was good (not old or grainy) and the other ingredients were fresh and clean. There’s not much shrimp in the rolls, but the flavors were there. Their peanut sauce is on the thick, creamy side and I like that they also give you the hoisin sauce as an alternative.

Extra courses – The French Laundry

Posted on June 7, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 125

Another ho-hum day at work, not much to report. Had a good workout at the gym then grabbed an early dinner with CT at Barracuda. Wow, they have a pretty good happy hour. We didn’t have any drinks but their food specials were great and SUPER cheap! I think we got more than enough food for only $13.
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Omg, I highly recommend knowing an insider or anyone connected with the restaurant if you’re going to dine at The French Laundry. You’ll not only get the exceptional service and outstanding food that the restaurant is known for, but chances are the kitchen will also throw a few extra bites your way!

It was difficult remembering what everything was since they weren’t on the menu, but I’ve done my best in recollecting. Please correct me if I’ve gotten anything wrong.
The French Laundry, Yountville CA

Salmon tartare The French Laundry
Salmon tartare cone with seaweed sesame tuile, chives.

Gougere The French Laundry
Warm gougere. Choux pastry with cheese Mournay.

Soup with shaved truffle The French Laundry
Soup with shaved truffle and Oxalis(?) blossoms.

Truffled Guinea egg custard The French Laundry
Truffled Guinea egg custard with potato chive wafer.

Gaston Chiquet, Blanc de Blancs d’Ay Champagne. Also free, thanks to Olivia’s restaurant connections.

It was my friend Olivia’s (foodie insider friend) 30th birthday and she was able to secure this amazing reservation at The French Laundry. I was definitely honored to be one of her guests and overjoyed that the experience was as amazing as I imagined it would be. The dinner lasted 5 hours and we literally closed the place down! Thanks, Olivia!

Vanilla honey lavender ice cream – Fairfax Scoop

Posted on June 6, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 124

Ugh, so sad to be back at work today after such a great weekend. At least the weather is holding up. Heading to the gym after work and just gonna spend the night catching up on dvr.

Vanilla honey lavender ice cream Fairfax Scoop
Vanilla flavored ice cream made with local ingredients. Honey from Marshall CA and lavender from Wood Lane Gardens in Fairfax CA. Kids scoop $1.75
Fairfax Scoop, Fairfax CA

This had a softer texture than some of the other flavors at Fairfax Scoop, but it tasted amazing. The honey added a rich sweetness and the lavender wasn’t too overpowering.

Latin Jazz ice cream – Fairfax Scoop

Posted on June 6, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 123

Mmm, had a great dinner at LaSalette last night. It’s a Portuguese tapas restaurant and everything was really good. We ended up walking back to The Lodge from downtown, enjoying the warm evening weather and viewing the Super Moon!

This morning was amazing! We grabbed a quick breakfast snack from the Carneros Bistro counter and just had a lazy morning poolside. David read the newspaper and I jumped in and out of the pool. We had a relaxed, yummy brunch at The Girl + The Fig before wine tasting at Buena Vista Winery, Gundlach Bundschu, and Anaba Wines. Gundlach Bundschu was my favorite of the three! I definitely want to come back at a later date and have a picnic day here.

Now we’re back in The City, having cocktails and getting hungry again, lol! It’s been a great weekend.

Latin Jazz ice cream Fairfax Scoop
Bittersweet chocolate flavored ice cream with red chiles. Kids scoop $1.75
Fairfax Scoop, Fairfax CA

This was a very interesing scoop of ice cream with the red chiles. You could definitely taste the chiles and they added a little bit of “latin” heat. I liked it!

Ahi burger – Gott’s Roadside

Posted on June 3, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 122

Had an amazing day so far! David and I are having a Cinco de Sonoma weekend. We started the day with lunch at Farley Bar in Sausalito, then made it to Gloria Ferrer and Viansa before checking into The Lodge in Sonoma. Our room is cute and overlooks the pool area. Now we’re just relaxing before heading to LaSalette for a Portuguese tapas dinner. Life is good!

Ahi burger Gott's Roadside
5 ounces of fresh ahi tuna seared rare with ginger wasabi mayo and Asian slaw on a toasted egg bun. $14.99
Gott’s Roadside, San Francisco

Mmm, so good! This burger is pretty delicious. The ginger wasabi mayo and the slaw have so much flavor. The piece of tuna is quite large (which may account for the price), but it was a little too cold in the center to make this burger absolutely amazing. Again, I love that the egg bun soaks up all the yummy flavors.

7×7 Magazine’s The Big Eat San Francisco: 100 Things to Eat + Drink Before You Die – 2011

Ferry Building, San Francisco
Outside the beautiful Ferry Building at the end of Market Street. I love its Farmers’ Market with all the beautiful produce stands and yummy food vendors.

Taco al pastor – El Farolito

Posted on June 3, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 121

Omg, got an interesting message from Seattle today! Apparently, they have a job opening in our office up there and they wanted to know if I am interested in applying for it. Don’t know if I’m ready to move back there so I’ll have to think about it this weekend. I have to get back to them by the end of next week. What to do, what to do?

Taco al pastor El Farolito
Marinated pork with two soft corn tortillas, hot salsa, onions, and cilantro. $2.25
El Farolito, San Francisco

Another delicious taco from El Farolito! The pork is very flavorful, but maybe a little on the salty side. I can only imagine how tastier it becomes at 2 AM in the morning, lol!

Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands. Last month (May 2012), the Golden Gate celebrated it’s 75th birthday! The City celebrated with a festival complete with a large fireworks display. I opted out of the festivities since I was working that day and also had a birthday dinner that evening. It’s quite an amazing bridge though and it’s certainly the pride of our city!

Maki sushi combo – Osho Japanese Cuisine

Posted on June 2, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 120

Not much to report today, just work as usual and the gym. I’m glad to be back into a routine with scheduled meals and quailty gym time!

Maki sushi combo Osho Japanese Cuisine
6 pieces California roll (imitation crab and avocado), 3 pieces kappa maki (cucumber), 2 pieces inari (sushi rice wrapped in sweet tofu skin). Served with miso soup, wasabi, pickled ginger, and soy sauce. $9.50
Osho Japanese Cuisine, San Francisco (SFO)

Maki sushi combo Osho Japanese Cuisine
In terms of sushi at an airport, this was ok. Which means it didn’t suck like most airport sushi. I particularly liked the inari – it was sweet and moist. In fact, none of the items were particularly dry, a common theme to most airport sushi.

Miso soup Osho Japanese Cuisine
Complimentary miso soup.

Soy sauce Osho Japanese Cuisine
Soy sauce in a cute aluminum tray.

Shanghai pan fried noodles – Xiao Long Bao Kitchen

Posted on June 2, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 119

It was so weird being back at work today. I guess I wasn’t in Europe for very long, but I feel like I need a few days to get back into the groove. I tried out the new-ish restaurant The Dancing Pig tonight with David against advice from friends, and the reviews I’ve heard were correct – it’s not very good! The service was HORRENDOUS (it was super slow and sporadic and the server forgot our drink order) and the food was just ok. Don’t think I’ll go back.

Shanghai pan fried noodles Xiao Long Bao Kitchen
Fried egg noodles topped with beef, chicken, shrimp, scallops, bok choy, carrots, and mushrooms.
Xiao Long Bao Kitchen, South San Francisco CA

I read somewhere that using egg noodles in a dish like this actually makes it Cantonese instead of Shanghainese. I learned something new! You really need lots of sauce in this dish to help soften the fried noodles. This tasted pretty good and I’m glad they don’t skimp on the proteins.

Lamb keema omelet – Dosa

Posted on June 1, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 118

Wow, morning traffic in London is crazy! It took us a while to get to London Heathrow Airport with D driving. It seemed like got on 10 different highways and all of them crammed with cars. I was super tired so I kept falling in and out of sleep.

The direct flight back to San Francisco wasn’t too bad although Hubbs and I were in different rows. He sat directly in front of me. I had this annoying Russian girl beside me and a pleasant older couple on the other side. I ended up watching 3 movies and trying to nap a little bit.

Now I’m back in my sunny apartment and SO excited to be sleeping in my own bed tonight. I have to head into work tomorrow but that doesn’t seem to bad right now. David and I are having a Cinco de Sonoma weekend so I’ve got something to look forward to, yay!

Lamb keema omelet Dosa
South India omelet filled with minced lamb, peas and diced potatoes. Served with coconut and tomato chutney, sambar (a lentil dipping soup made with vegetables and spices), masala (a traditional filling of spiced mashed potatoes), and salad. $12
Dosa, San Francisco CA

I came here alone for brunch and totally over-ordered. I had this and a paper masala dosa – way too much food! This omelet was really good though! It had a soft texture and the filling was absolutely delicious. I also love all the extra sauces and toppings.

The Mint Karaoke Lounge, Market Street. I love this karaoke bar! I’m not a big singer – CORRECTION: I love to sing but don’t have the most melodious voice (hehe). This is a great place to start or end an evening out with a group of friends. Beware of the professional karaoke folk, but I guess you’ll find some at every karaoke joint.

Eggs benedict – Jones

Posted on June 1, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 117

We ended up having Chinese food last night, then staying in and watching White Girls on TV, lol! I’d never seen the movie and it was ridiculous, in a good way.

Today was another full day of sightseeing and shopping: Green Park, changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace, Burlington Arcade, Piccadilly Circus, The Monument, London Bridge, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Covent Garden, and Oxford Circus. I bought some great tops at Topman and a cute decorative tile for David at Covent Garden Antiques Market. I still can’t believe how much we’ve fit into 2 days! D has been an amazing host and tour guide.

Tonight we’re going to eat in, then head out for drinks at The Black Cap in Camden with one of D’s roommates Dan. This will be our last night of an amazing London visit!

Eggs benedict Jones
Black forest ham, sauteed spinach, hollandaise, smashed/fried fingerling potatoes, and side salad. $12
Jones, San Francisco CA

A brunch standard, but very good. I liked the smashed and fried potatoes – so good with ketchup, hehe.

"Ring of Fire" annular solar eclipse 2012

“Ring of Fire” annular solar eclipse. On Sunday May 20, 2012 we experienced a rare solar eclipse. Of course, I was out drinking with friends but I was reminded by people outside the bar with black viewing films, ready for the occurrence. My iPhone camera wasn’t equipped to handle a glaring photo, but it did have a cool optical/lens effect. In the photo, the eclipse is actually projected back onto the sky (upside-down and backwards?).

Chicken enchiladas – La Tortilla

Posted on May 31, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 116

Oi vey, it was another difficult morning, lol! Last night, we had gone to my “cousin” Kris’ apartment to celebrate his birthday with some of his friends. Then we headed to Soho and went to several bars – I remember Ku Bar and Lo-Profile. 🙂 A couple of D’s friends met us out and we ended up at one of their apartments and doing more shots, ouch! It was a great night.

D went into full-on tour guide mode today and we walked around central London to see many of the touristy sites: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Margaret’s Church, Trafalgar Square, National Portrait Gallery, Hungerford Bridge, London Eye, Westminster Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. PHEW, that was a lot of walking and Tube riding! Even though it was rainy and dreary most of the day, I have to say that I LOVE London!

We also got to meet D’s boyfriend Alex who was really cool. Tonight we’re gonna head to a restaurant closer to D’s place. He lives in north London near Burnt Oak Station on the Northern Line.

Chicken enchiladas La Tortilla
Grilled chicken wrapped in corn tortillas, topped with cheese and enchilada sauce. Served with salad, sour cream and guacamole. A la carte $7.80
La Tortilla, San Francisco CA

Mmm, chicken enchiladas are my favorite! This one at La Tortilla is ok, but I do like their (limited) salsa bar so I can get more to put on top!

Chips and salsa La Tortilla
Chips and salsa. Complimentary.

Chicken enchiladas - La Tortilla
April 5, 2014. A la carte $7.80
Graffiti artwork, Market Street
Bright graffiti artwork in an alley off Market Street. The alley is located between Valencia and Gough Streets, next to Delessio Market. Very cool!

Turon – Baby’s Eatery and Palabok

Posted on May 31, 2012 by vicentesf

Project 365: Day 115

Last night was kind of a bust. The variety show at Pantibar had a lot of bad acts so it was hard to watch at times. We spent most of the night at The George but the majority of people didn’t show up until 1 or 2 am so we were tired by then. We still had fun though!

It was a pretty relaxed morning. We had breakfast then packed our bags before checking out. Kryan and David are switching to a 2-person room since they’re staying for a few more days. I guess they’re going to rent a car to explore the countryside. That’ll be fun!

Hubbs and I are at the Dublin Airport for our flight to London, yay! I’m super excited because I’ve never been there and we get to stay with Demetrius. He’s picking us up at Heathrow, and then our London adventure will commence!

Turon Baby's Eatery and Palabok
Deep fried lumpia wrapper filled with plantain and jackfruit.
Baby’s Eatery and Palabok, San Francisco CA

Turon Baby's Eatery and Palabok
I like to think of turon as a dessert lumpia – it’s sweet and delicious. I bought a tray of these for a party and they were a hit!

A beautiful San Francisco dawn from my balcony. I love the vibrant colors on the horizon.

Vittle Monster

Feed me!

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