my bay area restaurant tour
(artwork: aaron alvarez)
we are half way through our summer sojourn in california and i am proud to say that we have eaten at (almost) all of our favorite restaurants and even added a couple of new goodies. i try to be super organized about this, like a tactical general, because it just guts me to leave with unfinished business.
here is our gastronomic tour so far:
luca - the DELICIOUS italian place first night!
top order: spaghetti and meatballs with vodka sauce.
cheese board pizza - they only make one kind a day and we really lucked out on day two - feta and lemon and i don’t know what… super tasty.
CORNDOGS
(perfect corndogs)
(this ride was bananas!)
corn dogs at santa cruz beach boardwalk. they are fresh made - you can see them dipping them in the batter. i WILL say we had them right before going on the “fireball” which wasn’t the best idea… should have let lunch settle more before such a spinny, lurchy ride.
(this fish is dreamy)
(the dressing on the midori is tip top)
akemi - japanese for father’s day dinner.
top order for me and dad: miso black cod and midori salad… so GOOD!
china village for dim sum - lucy’s favorite!
top order: “jello shrimp” as lu calls them (steamed shrimp dumplings.)
KIRALA
kirala sushi - more yummy japanese.
top order: i like the simple “childlike” rolls… avocado, california… the kids get crazy things with sauces and eggs and many ingredients.
picante - fresh california mexican food.
top order: open faced tacos with lots of guac on the side.
(the exterior)
(the fried chicken salad - also amazing in the roasted (“flipped”) version!)
NEW - proposition chicken - lucy literally licked her plate!
top order - flipped chicken kale salad (and i don’t even like kale) with mint and lemon parm dressing.
NEW - caffenated coffee co - amazing brunch and BEAUTIFUL outdoor space.
top order: blue grits and pork belly with poached egg
(BEST feeling in this space)
(these guys are my FAVORITE!)
and of course, my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world - cesar. i am heartbroken that they are being pushed out of their space (that they have occupied for nearly THIRTY years) but so hopeful that they will have found a wonderful place to land by next summer. we have been eating here every thursday (only one more left!)
top order: fried potatoes, cucumber gazpacho, little gems salad, filet mignon.
PRAISE JESUS the bar method in berkeley (my favorite exercise class) is still up and running or i would really be in a pickle. it feels so GOOD to go back to class and i even tried THREE pound weights (i have only ever used two pounders) last class for the first time in ten years because i have been getting worried that i might give myself a black eye with my dinner lady arms flying around. i bruise pretty easily. i am hoping that my bar classes are neutralizing all of my bay area dinners! BON APPETIT! x0x