Nguyen-Nguyen Weekend

In celebrating of a NGUYEN-ing (yes WINNING) weekend I was able to check off some restaurants from my Thu-Eat list.

Toshi Sushi is an amazingly fresh and delicious as well as easy on the wallet! I've checked yelp and dinehere enough to know that I should expect a long lineup. There were 5 of us, started waiting at 6pm and sat at 7:30pm. But honestly it was worth the wait!! The Uni was really fresh. The horse mackerel was delicious. Sockeye salmon and tuna sashimi were so good too. With drinks and everyone full the bill was about $20/each which is well worth it.

Coincidentally, Taste of Yaletown started this weekend as well. There's been one restaurant that I've been dying to try. Glowbal happened to have a $35 menu and a table open at 7:30pm so off we went. We started off with a bottle of red wine which turned into 4 bottles - the house Merlot was pretty good and reasonably priced. What a great meal!!!! I was impressed from appetizer to dessert.


Appetizer: Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio with crispy potato, roast garlic and truffle salad
Wow - the beef was so tender, soft and melt in my mouth. the roasted garlic had a texture i've never tasted before.

2nd appetizer: Seven spice ahi tuna
They have these small apps for $2-3 so we all tried one. I couldn't tell the difference between this ahi tuna and others I've had in the past though. The others got a kobe beef meatball and a short rib where were also delicious.

I chose the Citrus and Fennel Dusted Queen Charlotte Halibut
Baby arugala salad, parmesan risotto and blood orange reduction for my main. The risotto was really creamy but it went well with the Halibut. The others chose the Lamb which was amazingly tender and full of flavour.


The dessert came out in a little hot skillet which was a good wrap to a good meal. I really enjoyed the quality of the food at Glowbal, the staff was super friendly too. I'd definitely come back here.

We also went to Afterglow, the lounge attached to Glowbal. Chad Kroeger from Nickelback was there along with his friends. I guess I've never been in a small lounge with someone famous before. The thing I noticed the most was everyone's hair was so perfectly dyed and styled. Other than that they seem like normal people having a good time.

A taste of my old life

This was the first week of tasting the bay area while catching up with old friends I might not see again in a long time. I'm not sure why everytime I reach I milestone I celebrate by gaining all the weight back.

This week was definitely a typical week in a past life of a year ago and makes me want to exercise and do a clense and never eat like this again :)

Sunday:
- Quizno Sammys Vegetarian Wrap for lunch.
- Chou Chou in the city.
The chef was super nice.
Awesome affordable french restaurant with FRIENDLY waiter and cook! Seriously, I've never been to a French restaurant without the French attitude and lack of service ;) They had a Pinot Noir called Moobuzz which was absolutely fabulous and I have yet to see it in stores. The french onion soup, escargo was sooo good. My main course was sole which was done perfectly. The others had lamb and beef and that was pretty good too. Oh and also we had an extra plate of the gruyere souffle to share (free because of an order screwup). The desserts were delicious: creme brule, a floating island (meringue), and a chocolate cake with gelato.

Monday:
- Home made falafel for lunch.
- Athena Grill for a seafood kebab. I didn't realize there was an authentic awesome greek restaurant so close to my house.

Tuesday:
- Amarin Thai for lunch - impressive extensive vegetarian menu. Got some rich curries and noodles.
- Chinese place in Cupertino plaza for dinner. Unfortunately I have no idea what the name is but its open late and had gigantic portions.

Wednesday:
- Com Tam Dat Thanh in San Jose plus a special coffee shop for lunch. This is my favourite rice place in the world, damn their portions are so big. The coffee shop had really unhealthy avocado milkshakes and stalkers but I've heard so much I had to check it out once.
- Salad for dinner at home.

Thursday:
- Loving Hut for lunch. Awesome vegetarian seafood platter.
- Rumors for Korean food (rice cake, seafood pancake, fries, chicken wings) and Yogurt Soju. Tons of fun and totally unhealthy.

Friday:
- Sushi Ran in Sausalito for dinner. A Michelin star restaurant wraps up the week :)

Now the order of the people I enjoyed these meals of the week:
Mike, Karena, Marvin, Derek, Gene, Tony, Joanna, Loc, May, All my coworkers, Karen, Jeff - I'm going to miss you dearly.

To all the new calories in my body at this time, I'm not going to miss you at all when you go :)

Lalime's

Ah, Berkeley and good food come hand in hand. It's no exception especially when you get to eat good food and meet up with some close friends and see how far we've all come. It's funny how things work out - we all came from the same university, lived a few minutes away from each other in Tee Dot, together we've traveled the world, ate and drank all throughout the world, done well doing whatever we do and still trying to continuously self improve and take over the world. And yes, somehow through various random unfolding of events, we're all in the bay area at the same time and having the time of our lives.

I splurged on dinner tonight and got the tasting menu.

• Beets with goat cheese
  
• Artichoke hearts, citrus, red onion, mint
  
• Grilled sardine, guindilla vinaigrette, olive toast
  
• Tagliolini with goat cheese pesto
  
• Baked poblano chile with summer squash, mushroom, chèvre

To be frank, my pesto tastes waaay better. :) I thought the hearts was bland but the orange and onion saved the day. The olive toast was delicious but the sardine was too fishy. The chile with cheesy sauce was too cheesy.

The pork chops that they're famous for - looked really good. And so did the duck! So I'd probably recommend this restaurant to the meat eaters out there. For vegetarians who want to spend $50 - I can think of way better places to go.

Food aside, its so great to spend quality time with such good friends. I'm excited to see how the next chapter plays out for all of us!!!

Which city do you think we'll sit down and have dinner in 2 years from now?

Biking in SF

After talking about it for what seems like months now, we finally went on a bike ride from SOMA across the golden gate bridge today and back. 19.9 miles! There's always been some excuse - waking up too late, rainy, windy, cloudy but we finally went !! It was a beautiful day in SF and for the 2.75 years I've been in the Bay Area, it's the first time I took this ride. Needless to say it was BEAUTIFUL after ditching the crowds from Fisherman's Wharf across to Fort Mason, Crissy Fields then finally Golden Gate bridge. Unfortunately I brought a camera without an SD card which essentially made it a paper weight so pictures are from Lobster/Karena's phone instead.

We stopped by Fort Mason at Green's. I've been meaning to check this place out since yelp seems to rave about it. The annoying part was the restaurant was completely empty and they told us it'd be a 20-30 min wait. When I took a walk to the restroom, there were at least 10 empty tables. Anyway, we had Greens-to-go instead. Instantly when the Goat Cheese sandwich with Watercress out in the sun at Fort Mason, I was a happy camper. I'd like to go back to try to sit in meal sometime.


I totally recommend this bike ride (4th&King along the waterfront across the Golden Gate bridge and back). We didn't end up making it in Sausalito but there'll definitely be a next time where I actually bring an SD card to take pictures.

I'm a little worried about my bike's gears - I need to get it tuned up this week. I basically can't get into the high or the low gears. Some of the hill climbs on the way to the bridge was tough, I had to get off and walk sometimes :( The way back was such a breeze. I just really hope that the Napa Tour De Cure course is reasonably not hilly - I've convinced myself I can do 20 miles and still feel my butt, arms and legs. I'll do a 25 mile ride next week.

Update: Doesn't seem like the trail will be too hilly:

Merit Vegetarian Restaurant

Can you believe I've been to this restaurant 3 times in the last week? Merit is my new favourite restaurant!

I have been looking for a vegetarian place on yelp around my area and this one had good reviews and is very close to work. Friday, I had fake fish which was essentially tofu wrapped in seaweed topped with ginger fish sauce. It was sooo good. Sunday, when my friend visited and lost to me in a weight challenge, I took him here. I had the Vietnamese hot and sour hot pot soup which was so yummy (pictured here).

Today I didn't pack lunch so we headed there and I got the Vietnamese crepe. Next time will definitely be the Vegetarian Pho.

It's nice inside, affordable and there's never been a lineup yet. I guess there's not that many Vietnamese Vegetarians in the area :) I'm definitely impressed with this place.

Menara Moroccan Restaurant

Two weeks ago we headed to Menara Moroccan restaurant for G-Lady's birthday. I've never had Moroccan cuisine or knew what to expect for the belly dancing entertainment. It was such a great time!! First, you're seating on comfy couches along the sides of the restaurant. The dancer had amazing energy and amazing stomach muscles! She danced for at least 45 min.

The food was a set course, family style. Everyone in your group has to agree on the same set course. However there's an exception for vegetarians! So I got the Vegetarian courses. Before eating, they make you wash your hands together at the table.

Gosh, the food was so good. The first course was the moroccan salad which included this tomato mixture (like salsa). It was awkward eating with just with our fingers and because we weren't managing that well, we opted for forks.

They had forgotten my vegetarian order so the next course was a chicken pastry pie. Cinnamon and chicken on a puff pastry, a strange combo but oh so good. (It's pictured above). The next course they finally remembered the vegetarian meal so I got some chick peas and potatoes while the others had a curry chicken ( I can't imagine them eating that with their bare hands!). Then the next meal for me was another vegetable dish while they got lamb. The end was couscous and chick peas and other veggies which was delicious! I'd like to try to make this!

To wrap it up we had the famous Moroccan mint tea and something that looked like baklava.

I highly recommend this place as a fun group outing and for its delicious healthy and tasty food.

Vegetarian Fine Dining

An old classmate was in town for a conference. Since he can only eat gluten free and is also in the best shape of his life, he was a perfect candidate to come with me to check out a restaurant I've heard so much about - Millenium. I think I've passed this restaurant more than a dozen times but didn't realize how nice it is. I guess Geary and the Tenderloin kind of camouflages that fact.

(It was raining hard outside and I had forgotten my camera in the car unfortunately no pictures)

The complaint is that I read the menu and neither of us knew what we actually ordered until it came out. Then we had no idea what was what on the plate. But everything that was in our appetizers and main courses was delicious!!! I even got a menu so I could remember/try to replicate it at home. Here's what we had:

Black Eyed Pea Fritters - aji chile coconut cream, jicama & apple salsa
Chimichurri Grilled Portobello Mushroom - sunchoke & root vegetable hash, saffron scented IPA & French lentil brodo, escarole with carmelized onion & roasted apples, smoky orange-almond romesco sauce.
Pumpkin Seed Crusted Tempeh Brochettes - masa gnocchi, seared black chanterelle mushrooms & spigarello kale, roasted butternut squash, cascabel chile, espresso & pink bean puree, cumin scented cara cara orange mojo.

Come on, seriously - do you understand every word? Oh well it was great!

I like how they describe themselves though because it's beginning to become my dietary philosophy. "We are dedicated to the essential earthly concepts of organic food production, including sustainable agriculture, supporting small local farms...We cook with only the freshest, organically grown produce and are proud to state that our restaurant is completely free of genetically modified foods. We believe that a gourmet dining experience can be created out of vegetarian, healthy and environmentally friendly foods".

I can't wait to try more tasty bay area vegetarian restaurants. Anybody up for Ubuntu?

The best sashimi in california

Toro, Abalone, Lobster, Toro, ??

Ahh I absolutely love my visits to San Diego! This time I wanted to write this down before I forget. Scott took us to the best sushi place I've ever had outside of Japan. It's this tiny restaurant right by a 7-Eleven called Sushi Ota. Of course we ordered the premium stuff...the lobster, uni, toro and baby abalone were simply the freshest I've ever had. I wish something like this was available in the bay area. Although, I guess I would be tempted to go there all the time.
Salmon, Toro, and a whole tuna
Roppongi for half price happy hour was oh so good too. I'm going to try to make their Polynesian Crab Stack next week!!

No - eating is not the only thing I did this weekend. We squeezed in a bit of hiking...err well walking at Torrey Pines State Reserve and the Wild Animal Park.

Happy New Year!

Where to begin, 2009 has been great so far! After the delicious steak dinner at Ben and Jack's, we tried to head into Time Square to bring in the New Year - except the Police had blocked every street leading into Time Square. Crap! Apparently to get in, you had to show up in the early afternoon. At 11, we made a decision while almost reaching 59th St that we really weren't going to see Hilary Clinton. So we hopped in a cab and headed to The Park. No lineup, decently packed and $25 with a free drink. To my surprise, as we walked in, we saw Jia Fu! It happened that we all knew each other from San Diego. What a coincidence. So we brought in the new year (sans countdown) with his friends (and got my 20000 steps a day!)

Joe and I barely made it to the bus terminal the next day to take the megabus to Boston. Our round trip between NYC/Boston only came out to be $18/person on a clean bus. Not a bad deal. When we arrived in Boston, (#@&*!! it was so bone chilling bitterly cold. We spent 3 days touring MIT, downtown Boston's Freedom Trail and Harvard. Aside from packing along fruits, going to the gym at the Sheraton and getting my average of 20,000 steps a day - I didn't do anything else healthy :| I'm referring to the food I consumed - it was oh so tasty but I did break the no simple carbs rule multiple times.

1) Legal Seafood - oysters, lobster, clam chowder (The PEI oysters were delicious - The clams and mussels were DISGUSTING and full of sand.)
2) Starbucks oatmeal breakfast
3) SamraatTandoori Naan, Basmatic rice with spinach/chicken
4) Pomodoro - Antipasto appetizer and a seafood linguine (LOVED the food and decor here)
5) Leo's Place - egg white omlette and salad (soo good)
6) TeaLuxe - great selection of teas.
7) Shabu-Ya - tasty shabu shabu without the rice of course.

Pictures to come.

So, my 5 day trip in NYC/Boston resulted in over 100,000 steps on my pedometer!!! (And hopefully not an equal amount of calories!)

Currently, I'm waiting to go to the airport and finally go home to Santa Clara where I can get back to a somewhat normal healthy routine...until Vegas next weekend :|

Happy 2009!

NYE

Since 2009 will be the new healthy cooking Thu, the last day of 2008 will be the opposite :) Lunch will be at Gordon Ramsey's Maze and dinner at Ben&Jack's Steakhouse.I've been looking forward to today since I started my diet :) Other ppl have cheat days once a week, this will be my once a year cow eating day. Might as well make it the best porterhouse for me to remember for the next year.

But lots of walking will be happening before and after this mighty intake of food - a walk across the brooklyn bridge and towards Time Square after dinner! How exciting :)

I hope all of you have a happy healthy new year with your loved ones!

(We took pictures in Time Square a day early to beat the crowds!)

NYC for Vegetarians

This is my first vacation as a vegetarian (with fish + eggs + cheese ). And so far it has been a great success!! Joe's also a good sport about trying these restaurants with me. In return, I have to walk/run 100,000 steps in my 5 day trip here. It's been 20,000 steps each day so far :) Manhattan is the PERFECT place to make a pedometer happy.

1) Mana Organic Restaurant
Had dinner here after a 3 mile jog and it was really good! We shared the Tempeh-Tofu (sauteed in apple juice, ginger, garlic and tamari) and the Ginger-Tamari Salmon. Both dishes came with a good helping of brown rice and steamed vegetables. I think the prices and portions were reasonable as well.


2) Pink Berry
Eeks, so much for eating my low calorie natural frozen yogurt with mango, strawberries and pomegranate! Ever since Cat introduce Pinkberry to me, its been a NY tradition. Well until I read the article in the NYTimes. It has extracts of fructose from corn syrup!!! :(


3) Homemade breakfast
We went shopping for fruits and snacks last night and also picked up some Yogurt - the greek kind! And some almond granola and grape fruit for my breakfast. yummmmmy. I really recommend this yogurt - it tastes exactly like the fro-yo at pink berry...without the chemicals! :)



4) Good Health Burger
After a 3 hour stroll through Central Park and 5th Avenue, I headed here to have a Chicken Bacon and Cheeseburger (all Vegetarian of course). The "chicken" was soooo goood. I swear, I think it was really chicken. The whole wheat bun and non dairy mayo were good too. The "bacon" - well it was ok.


5. Red Bamboo
After my stroll through MoMA, we headed to Greenwich Village for some more imitation meat. I had Edamame for my appetizer while Joe had a Roti Prata. Then we ordered the Creole Chicken and the Ginger Beef. Why did the chicken taste way better than normal chicken nuggets? Or the IMITATION beef had the same fatty awesome texture of real beef? The meals came with ample steamed veggies which I really enjoyed! It was soo good...but portions were gigantic though. We feasted for $20 each :)


Have I told you that I HEART NY?

Last night we walked to Time Warner building and was asked to take pictures for these guys leaving Per Se - Thomas Keller's NYC restaurant. I've gone to French Laundry and I've heard that Per Se is better. Anyway these guys were nice enough to give us their take-home dessert. One of them turned out to be the chef at Le Cirque. Anyway I'm sure the treat was 2000 calories on its own. So I ate half ;) It was a 2 mile walk home to burn it off anyways! I can't say no to Thomas Keller food...shoot. Here's a picture of Joe enjoying the sweets:

Live - organic food bar.

Hung, my fellow healthy eating partner in crime, took me to this hippy trendy place called live - organic food bar. I was excited to read the menu online since it was all possible low glycemic index compliant and high in whole/all natural/raw foods.

We ordered:


Pecan Tempura Rolls as our appetizer. In the place of the sushi rice, there was a sunflower seed and pecan pate. Instead of deep fried sweet potato, it was dehydrated sweet potato and fresh carrots. I'd say more than 1 or 2 of these rolls is a good portion to not get tired of the bland taste. It was the novelty of the dehydrated sweet potatoes that kept my interest.


The Mish Mash Bowl with Quinoa, grilled tofu, sunflower seed hummus, steamed seasonal vegetables and avocado. I really enjoyed the firm grilled tofu - it looks like chicken and tasted like it too! Quinoa was suggested to me just a few days before as something low on the glycemic index to try - it's a finer/smaller version of couscous. I suppose I could use it as filler sushi rice too. The hummus and the veggies were just so-so. I finished a little more than half my dinner before I couldn't swallow anymore. Unfortunately, I felt like an animal grazing for grass eating this meal. The tofu was good but the rest I could probably make at home for much much less $ and way better taste.


Hung's entree choice was the Bacon Cheeseburger which was a walnut sunflower seed patty, topped with a creamy cashew “mozzarella cheese”, eggplant “bacon”, sundried tomato ketchup, and red onions sandwiched between two crisp lettuce leaves.

He was of the same opinion as me. Perhaps its our inner asian upbringing of salt (fish sauce, soy sauce) in food that we felt this stuff was extremely bland. He liked the eggplant.

All in all, I've never ever been to a whole foods/vegan/vegetarian trendy restaurant for food before so it was an interesting experience nonetheless. But perhaps next time I'd try a place with an asian twist.