Progressive Dinner - San Mateo/Burlingame

Plan:

• Drinks - Grape and Grain, San Mateo
• Dinner - Stella Alpina Osteria, Burlingame
• Dessert - Delizie, San Carlos

Goal: Drink + Entree + Dessert for $50 per person (or less)

We started at Grape & Grain in San Mateo on a laid back Sunday evening. Most people were braving the crowds at the mall, trying to get their holiday shopping done, we were chilling at this really neat bar. Bar doesnt sufficiently describe it though, it is part lounge, part bar, with loads of character. They have a great collection of beers, and wines, and the olive and cheese platter we ordered were the perfect complement to the drinks we ordered. Its an ideal hangout for drinks after work, or to grab a few drinks before dinner.

Our drinks order:
Stillwater  'Existent' Dark  Saison - Baltimore
Stone 'Cali-Belgique' Belgian Style IPA - San Diego
Handley Gewurztraminer - Andersen Valley, CA

On to Stella Alpina -- I was told their white truffle gnocchi was legendary. The gnocchi was everything I was told, and more. Yummy pillows stuffed with white truffles served with crispy sage in brown butter -- only thing I would have added is perhaps some parsley for freshness, but other than that the dish was perfect! The added bonus, it comes as an appetizer size portion allowing you to enjoy another dish for your entree. 


Stella Alpina
(Entrees - Clockwise from Top Left: Scottadito di Agnello,
Filetto alla "Monferrina", Fish Piccata, Roasted Heirloom
Tomato Risotto with Scallops
Bottom Row - L to R: White Truffle Gnocchi,
Apple Tart with Ice Cream, Creme Brulee)


Our entrees were fantastic too. From the fish, to the risotto and the meats, everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The only complaint was that the vegetables served with the meats could have been steamed better.

As you can see above, dinner was a bit of a production, so we decided to order dessert at the same place. We ordered the apple tart, creme brulee and an affogato. Personally, I am not a fan of apple pie, but this tart came out on a flaky crisp crust, with perfectly baked apples. The creme brulee was good too, the sugar caramelized to perfection. My personal favorite, the affogato, with caramel ice cream was an absolute treat. The espresso, was excellent and added a lot to the affogato.

Bottom Line:

Price - $$
Ambience - Classy

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes

Success Measure:

FAIL: Unfortunately, we were unable to keep to our goal of spending under $50 per person, in part because we ended up getting a few drinks. Lesson learned!

La Note - Berkeley

La Note is an authentic is a cute little French restaurant in the heart of downtown Berkeley. The warm, inviting interiors are unfussy, and full of French charm. The menu is a mix of bistro fare, and rustic Provençal dishes.

Despite being with a vegetarian group, we found there were plenty of options on the menu. From a brie and Provençal tomato sandwich, to Ratatouille, to French style lasagna or ravioli -- there was something for everyone.

We quickly settled on the sandwich, and the ravioli. The restaurant was still pretty busy though we were there pretty late.

Our dinner arrived - the brie and tomato sandwich came on a perfectly crisped French roll, and a side of country potatoes. Carb overload, I know, but it was a rainy night... Don't judge! The melted brie, and the confit tomatoes added just the right amount of chewiness.

The ravioli was also very French. The sauce more like a ragout -- rustic, but with entirely unique flavors, and came with plenty of mushrooms.

We skipped dessert, and got espresso. French roast, of course. The coffee came with just the right amount of some really good chocolate.

We left with full stomachs, and completely satisfied. More than we expected for a quick dinner late at night. I would absolutely like to go back to try their pate, and the mussels.

If you are in the area, I highly recommend you check them out!

Bottom Line:

Price - $$
Ambience - Rustic
Vegetarian Friendly - Yes

My Canh - San Francisco

Set in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, on the fringe of China Town and North Beach, is My Canh (yelp link). A little Vietnamese restaurant that is holding its own against all the other food options in the area. Their USP -- crab udon, aka Banh Canh Cua!

Yes, udon, and yes, Vietnamese!

Banh Canh noodles, unlike udon, are typically made with rice or tapioca flour (or a mixture of both) instead of wheat flour. The thickness of the noodle however is similar to its Japanese counterpart. And though it is a "noodle soup", the flavors are completely different than Pho. 

The most popular version of this dish, needless to say is Banh Canh Cua (crab), other popular versions include and Banh Canh Gio Heo (pork ham hock).

The Banh Canh Cua at My Canh comes complete with plenty of crab meat -- a treat any time of the year, but especially now, with crab in season and cooler temperatures! The broth, thickened with cornstarch, is silky, and the chopped cilantro adds a freshness to this soup. The flavors so balanced, that you really don't need to add anything to it.

My Canh
(Banh Canh Cua)

Of course their menu goes beyond just Banh Canh, but this is the go to dish at My Canh. So good, and so filling in fact, that we didn't even order an appetizer!

If you are ever in the area, do stop by, I am told they are also open really late. Midnight snack anyone?

Bottom Line:

Price - $
Ambience - Casual
Vegetarian Friendly - No

Zeni - San Jose

Tucked away in a little strip mall in San Jose, Zeni's is a shining example of Ethiopian food. Don't believe us? Try going for dinner after 7:30 PM -- you will have at least a 30 min wait.

If you have not tried Ethiopian food before, it is one of those cuisines that is rustic and immensely comforting. The food consists of many different types of stews or wot. Lentils seem to dominate the cuisinee ranging from those stewed just with turmeric, garlic and salt, to those seasoned with berbere.

Berbere is a complex spice blend, and usually includes chili peppers, garlic, ginger, dried basil, korarima, rue, white and black pepper and fenugreek, and is often used in both Ehiopian and Eritrean cuisines.

These wots are served on a bed of injera, a yeast-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture made with the grain teff. The sponginess is a great medium to soak up all the sauces, but be warned, it seems to have a way of expanding in your stomach. So, do the smart thing, eat like there is no tomorrow, so your brain doesnt have time to comprehend how full you are! Conversation can wait till later, afterall you wouldn't want to keep a meal waiting.

One of the more unusual things about how the meal is served, is that it comes on a huge platter, to be shared by all the diners at the table. Your fingers are your utensils as you tear little pieces of injera and use that to scoop up a bite of your favorite dish. One thing is for sure, it is not just a meal, it is an experience!

If you can't already tell, excessive eating is the name of the game. Our standard approach is to get the vegetarian combination, and then add on a few other a la carte dishes. The vegetarian combo comprises of Ye Miser Wot (Pureed split red lentil, simmered in a berbere sauce), Ye Kik Alitcha (Split yellow peas made with onion, garlic, ginger, and turmeric), Atakilt Wot (Boiled chopped cabbage, sliced carrots, and potato chunks, simmered with onions, garlic, and ginger), Ye Gomen Wot (Chopped collard greens simmered with onion and herbs), Ye Timatim Fitfit (injera tossed in blended fresh tomato, onions, green pepper and house dressing). Yep, all that, plus a really tasty salad with their signature house dressing, tangy & refreshing.

And yes, we do add on additional dishes, cos thats how we roll! So, listen up! The other recommendations are, one of my absolute favorites, Shuro Wot, a dish made with roasted, powdered chick peas, simmered in spicy sauce, a rich and flavorful dish.

If you are into lamb, the Ye Beg Tibs is great, the lamb is sauteed in butter seasoned with onions, green pepper, tomato and rosemary. A must get chicken dish is the Ye Doro Wot, a drumstick cooked to perfection in a hot & thick red pepper, onions, garlic, ginger & purified butter sauce, and served with a hard boiled egg and home made cheese. The onions are cooked really slowly, adding only very small quantities of water through the cooking process, this slow and painstaking process yeilds perfectly caramelized sweet onions, that contrast the spicy berbere perfectly. The Foule is great too, if you like fava beans.

Of course, you can always an option just to get a few dishes a la carte, but wheres the fun in that!?




Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant

As far as beverages go - if you like sweeter wines, try a glass of Tej, Ethiopian honey wine, which has a flavor similar to mead. If you like reds, the South African red wine is great. It is a fruity, medium bodied wine, and pairs well with the food.

Not in the mood for wine, try a cold bottle of Harar, or better yet their tea. The tea (black tea), is served with a steaming cup of water spiced with cloves and cinnamon.

I am sure you can tell how much I love this place, if you haven't been here, and more importantly if you have never eaten Ethiopian food, Zeni's is definitely the place to go.

Bottom Line:

Price - $
Ambience - Casual/Ethnic
Vegetarian Friendly - Yes

Sushi Kuni - Cupertino

I can't write this without gushing, Sushi Kuni is my absolute favorite sushi place in the south bay. Everything is really fresh, and prepared perfectly.

The restaurant itself is tiny, and only seats about 35 people. What I love is that it looks like a house that fell off the back of a truck in the middle of a strip mall.

The first time we went, we ordered the omakase sushi platter. Every roll was excellent, but the 2 that stood out were the Seared Scallop (Hotate) Roll, and the Octopus Roll. I have had octopus and squid at many places, but this was the first time ever it was tender, instead of rubbery and chewy.

There for dinner recently, we did kinda overdo it, but hey, there are worse things one can do... We had Futomaki Rolls, Chicken Skewers, Eel (Unagi), Octopus (Tako) Rolls, a cold Chawanmushi, with Sea Urchin (Uni), and Salmon Roe, Yellowtail (Hamachi) Sashimi, Hotate rolls, and Nabeyaki Soba. 

The sushi is always great, the fish is really fresh, and the flavors are a perfect balance. The Futomaki rolls were really yummy but on the large side -- nearly impossible to eat in one bite, and definitely impossible to eat elegantly.

The chawanmushi, something you don't see on a lot of menus, was silky smooth, and the salty roe and sea urchin provided contrast, and the daikon micro greens added the perfect bite.

The hotate rolls (not pictured) were one of the most unusual rolls I have ever eaten. It is seared scallop on rice with a spicy sauce. We ate this without the customary wasabi and soy sauce. It was one of the best rolls I have ever eaten. The scallops are silky soft, and the spicy sauce is a perfect contrast.

Sushi Kuni
(From Top Left - Futomaki Rolls, Chicken Skewers,
Unagi & Tako Rolls, Chawanmushi, with Uni Ikura,
Hamachi Sashimi, and Nabeyaki Soba)

If you are not into sushi, the nabeyaki soba is a comforting dish, the noodles are perfectly cooked and the broth is the very definition of umami.

Chef Kuni personally makes most of the rolls, and is always at the restaurant. Be sure to say hi to him when you make it there.

Bottom Line:

Price - $$
Ambience - Casual
Vegetarian Friendly - Yes

Sunflower Cafe - Sonoma

Our very first fan post! Thanks J&J for your review, can't wait to try out the sandwich, and the latte! OK, everything!

Monster Mimosa

The Sunflower Café is not a secret anymore – on the weekends you can find the tables filled with locals, regulars and the occasional tourist – yet most of my friends in San Francisco had never heard of it.

We discovered this lovely garden café quite accidentally on one of my trips to the Sonoma wine country. After just another tasting too much I felt the urgent need for caffeine and stopped at the Sonoma square in search for a cup. I saw the pretty yellow Sunflower sign and walked right in: A few bistro tables on the sidewalk, a big counter inside – and a line. Patiently, I cued up and got a number for my latte. While waiting I walked around the café and took the little hallway leading back instead of waiting by the counter – and I’m glad I did! Because there is a hidden and beautiful patio at the back of the café. Lots of tables of all sizes, set among lush vegetation, overgrown trellises and even a sparkling fountain. The quick coffee-to-go became a sit-down affair and after a quick glimpse at the menu we decided that we just had to have some food with the coffee. By the way, the latte was – and is – divine, lots of smooth foam and delicious coffee.

Smoked Duck Sandwich

A couple of years later ownership changed, and after getting used to the new menu and slightly higher prices I have to say the Sunflower Café has gotten even better! They also added a wine club and frequent art shows by local artists. From basic café food it now offers a wide range of breakfast and lunch items. Apart from fresh baked goodies, you can choose from a variety of omelets, egg sandwiches and waffles – the peppered bacon waffles being one of them. My breakfast favorite is the bagel with lox and cream cheese. It goes extremely well with the famous ‘Monster Mimosa’ (or so I heard). But what we usually come here for is lunch. Not really any lunch but specifically the Smoked Duck Sandwich. “No variations, don’t ask”, it says on the menu, and why would anyone want to break up this divine combo? Tender pieces of duck with caramelized onions melts together with Gruyere, fresh greens and dressings – amazing! There’s no way around this sandwich, we always order it and try other things around it.

Spanish Platter

The Chicken Salad Sandwich is fantastic, and all the appetizers are always extremely good. The Burrata melts in your mouth, the Spanish Board boasts a variety of cold cuts and delicious sides, and the Goat Cheese Filled Piquillo Peppers are a surprisingly refreshing mix of sweet and savory. All in all, you can’t really go wrong at the Sunflower Café. If you’re looking for a day filled with reading, relaxing and enjoying the sunshine you’ll feel right at home.

 

Bottom Line:Price - $$
Ambience - Casual
Vegetarian Friendly - Yes
Other - Dog-friendly

 

Spicy Empire - San Mateo

One of our first food finds in San Mateo area, we chanced upon this place on a cold winter afternoon. Hot, spicy food was just what we needed!

Spicy Empire (Yelp link), a Sichuan restaurant is definitely a find! The food is always yummy, and is especially comforting in colder weather.

Our favourite is the House Combination Mini Hot Pot - not for the faint of heart, but definitely yummy. The hot pot also includes Sichuan peppercorns. Sichuan peppercorn, for those that have never tried it, is one of the ingredients in five spice powder. Turns out, it isnt really a peppercorn at all! Instead it is a a berry of the prickly ash tree, and its main claim to fame is the powerful numbing sensation it causes around the mouth.

Anyway, about the food. If there are only 2 things you ever get here, make sure it is the fried fish filet - a really well seasoned crispy dish, and the mini hot pot - spicy, rich goodness in a bowl.

We get both every time!

Spicy Empire
(Clockwise from Top Right: Fried Filet of Sole,
Mini Hot Pot - House Combination, Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Dry Sauteed String Beans)

 

Bottom Line:
Price - $
Ambience - Casual

Vegetarian Friendly - Yes