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>The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

10 Aug

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The Good:

Frolicking in the rose gardens of Berkeley and smelling pretty flowers like Fragrant Rhododendrons. They smell like fresh melon! Mmm.



The Bad:
My camera broke. I have been borrowing cameras from friends. This stinks.

The Ugly:
My car got broken into. Parked in the EMPLOYEE parking lot of a successful Berkeley restaurant. Radio stolen. Air conditioning control system stolen. At least they had the decency to leave my bright pink sunglasses. Hmph!


The Good:
This cornbread. Yes, this is really the best ever cornbread! The secret? Browned butter—my new favorite ingredient in baked goods! I will post the recipe shortly.


The Bad:

Overeating- you know that feeling when you eat and then you just keep eating and then 30 minutes later you are so full that your stomach wants so badly to expand but is stuffed to the brim? Yah. Awful feeling. This is happening a lot lately. Come on, stomach. Toughen up, will ya?

The Ugly:
I have to move tomorrow. Just the thought of carrying heavy bags and living out of a suitcase makes me cringe.

The Good:
Fourth of July barbecues and special dinners with friends. There’s nothing like a good, hearty meal and some cheap alcohol!


More Good:
Weekend trips #1—SF mission district. Bi-rite ice creamery. Delfina pizzeria. Tartine bakery. Dolores park. Noe valley homes. Hipster shops. Dog-eared books.

Bite-Rite. Go there. Go there and wait in line. Do it. Drool over the menu. Sample the flavors—coffee toffee (really strong coffee flavor!), brown sugar with ginger caramel swirl, strawberry balsamic, burnt caramel, crème fraiche…It really is good to the last lick.


The cones are not as good as the ‘homemade with chocolate on the bottom’ cones from Ici ice cream in Berkeley. But hey, its summer and summer means ice cream shall be eaten. Go to Bi-rite. Eat your ice cream in Dolores Park. Read a story out load to friends. Flare your nostrils and smell the fresh “herb.” Lay on the grass and bask in the glory of San Francisco!


Tartine Bakery. Go for breakfast and order a cappuccino and a pastry–I recommend the morning bun or the famous bread pudding. Go for lunch and order the Croque Monsieur, an open faced sandwich consisting of thick country bread, layers of cheeses and herbs, topped off with seasonal veggies!

Weekend trips #2—Kayaking along the Russian river. Sunshine. Trees. River. Calm waters. Jumping off of large rocks into the water! Road tripping! Good friends. Right in the heart of Sonoma county…the Russian River is nestled in a quaint little town, surrounded by green trees, vineyards, and cute “mom and pop” shops! Rent a kayak and take the day to drift along the 5 mile river path.

Café Fanny: Start the Day Off Right!

28 Jul

Cafe Fanny Breakfast

Ah…poached eggs and café au lait in bowls!

The first time I ever tried a poached egg was at this quaint little café. Cooked on the outside, runny on the inside. Garnished with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Placed atop thick slices of toasted acme brand bread.


I have yet to poach an egg at home that tastes as good as the poached egg at Café Fanny.

There’s nothing like dining outside on wooden tables, with a big bowl of velvety coffee sitting next to me. I have a thing for holding a mug filled with hot liquid—it is just so comforting. The orange juice is pressed to order.

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The homemade granola is famous and will leave you satisfied for hours. And the buckwheat crepes? So perfect and simple, with plain yogurt and berries.

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The whole motto of this café is to evoke an ideal reality where life and work are inseparable and the daily pace leaves time for afternoon leisure. Eating together nourishes the spirit as well as the body.

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>Summertime Haikus

21 Jul

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Summer BBQ
Burgers on the grill
Fresh juicy watermelon
Heirloom tomatoes

FMF
Farmer’s market fun
Colors! Smells! Tickle my tongue!
Samples everywhere


Comfort
Bonfire at beach
Flaming skewered marshmallows
Sand between my toes

The Good Life
Wine and merriment
Sunny days and ice cream cones
Hats and sunglasses

Rainbow Salad
Lemon cucumber
Colorful crunchy salad
Mmm! Cranberry beans!


The Fig
Sensual and sweet
Moist, deep-red interior
Luscious, full, and plump

Cluck Cluck Munch Crunch…Bakesale Betty’s, Oakland, California

26 Jun

Fluff your feathers and go! Just go. Go to Bakesale Betty’s and order her fried chicken sandwich. It’s a sure pleaser for gourmets and fast-food gurus alike.

Even though the name of the bakery is not clearly labeled, you won’t miss this trendy corner shop located on the edge of Oakland in the town of Temescal.

During peak lunch hour, the line extends down the block and if you take a look around, everyone has got this sandwich in hand (well actually, in mouth). Children, friends, co-workers, and lovers young and wise: gather ‘round!

Pull up an ironing board—yellow, blue, pink, or white! Grab a seat, soak up some sun, and take a nice big bite out of that sandwich. Crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside, surrounded by crisp slaw salad and fresh bread. Spiced to perfection!

The owner often joins the crowds, passing out free cookies and good times. To those with small appetites: be warned—sharing is caring. The strawberry shortcakes are oozing out strawberries and the brownies taste moist and nutty.

Don’t freak out by the long line. The staff moves everyone through in a swift and steady manner. These guys and gals work hard to crank out the incredible chicken sandwich and mouth-watering spread of baked goods.

Now go treat yourself! It’s summertime; soak it all up while you can!