Thursday, July 12
Dinner
Calle Escudellers, 10, Barcelona, Spain
0034-93-301-7515
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Biblioteca
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Dinner
Biblioteca was a great find in Barcelona--upscale yet cozy with amazing food. A short walk off of La Rambla, the restaurant is very simply decorated with all sorts of culinary literature on white walls and low light. It is a bit cavernous and loud, especially for larger tables, but still comfortable.
They brought us a small watermelon gazpacho to start, really interesting and refreshing. I had a grilled vegetable appetizer and an excellent classic steak tartare. Lowell's tomato soup with fried olives and venison pastry with potato puree were both good, though I think Charles' slow-cooked lamb shank was my favorite. Meat just fell off the bone and melted in your mouth. Good buffalo mozzarella salad too.
*Biblioteca is open Tuesday-Saturday
*A review
C/Junta de Comerç 28, Barcelona, Spain
93-412-62-21
Dinner
Biblioteca was a great find in Barcelona--upscale yet cozy with amazing food. A short walk off of La Rambla, the restaurant is very simply decorated with all sorts of culinary literature on white walls and low light. It is a bit cavernous and loud, especially for larger tables, but still comfortable.
They brought us a small watermelon gazpacho to start, really interesting and refreshing. I had a grilled vegetable appetizer and an excellent classic steak tartare. Lowell's tomato soup with fried olives and venison pastry with potato puree were both good, though I think Charles' slow-cooked lamb shank was my favorite. Meat just fell off the bone and melted in your mouth. Good buffalo mozzarella salad too.
*Biblioteca is open Tuesday-Saturday
*A review
C/Junta de Comerç 28, Barcelona, Spain
93-412-62-21
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Chez Savy
Thursday, July 5, 2007 
Dinner with Lowell, Christine and Rai
The GSB crew enjoyed a fancy French dinner in Paris the night before Naoto's wedding. According to the reviews Christine sent us, Chez Savy is an old Paris bistro founded in 1923 with Auvergne cuisine. The group was seated at a cozy booth in the back where Rai ordered us a great bottle of wine.
I had an aubergine appetizer, an amazing confit du canard (duck cooked in its own fat basically, yum!) with scalloped potatoes, and a rich mousse. Rai and Lowell's lamb is also in the picture. It was a great meal, all for about €60 per person.
Closest metro stop is Franklin-D-Roosevelt.
23, rue Bayard, 8e, Paris, France
01-47-23-46-98
Dinner with Lowell, Christine and Rai
The GSB crew enjoyed a fancy French dinner in Paris the night before Naoto's wedding. According to the reviews Christine sent us, Chez Savy is an old Paris bistro founded in 1923 with Auvergne cuisine. The group was seated at a cozy booth in the back where Rai ordered us a great bottle of wine.
I had an aubergine appetizer, an amazing confit du canard (duck cooked in its own fat basically, yum!) with scalloped potatoes, and a rich mousse. Rai and Lowell's lamb is also in the picture. It was a great meal, all for about €60 per person.
Closest metro stop is Franklin-D-Roosevelt.
23, rue Bayard, 8e, Paris, France
01-47-23-46-98
Le Soleil
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Dinner with Lowell
I came across Soleil in a Food & Wine review on Parisian restaurants. Lowell and I went for dinner on our third night in Paris. It is a bit hard to find, partly because the street numbers in Paris don't necessarily match on the left and right side of the street, but it has a dark facade with a picture of the sun. Closest metro stop is La Tour-Maubourg.
We were a bit nervous because there was only one other table and they were in suits browsing a Sotheby's catalog. But the hostess was very
sweet with impeccable English (and had also talked me through directions to the place when we called that we were running late), and we got a cute table in the window alcove.
The waitress brought us great zucchini fries while we purused the menu (though we have decided anything fried is really good...) We had a beet au gratin starter (also anything with cheese is good) and then lamb chops for two with globe artichokes, olives and lots of garlic (another easy win). The lamb was as good as the description in the F&W blurb, including amazing tender artichokes. We had a cheese platter for dinner, yum.
The total was €105, including one bottle of wine, for a pretty good meal in a romantic Parisian restaurant.
153 rue de Grenelle, 7th Arr., Paris, France
+33-1-45-51-54-12
Dinner with Lowell
I came across Soleil in a Food & Wine review on Parisian restaurants. Lowell and I went for dinner on our third night in Paris. It is a bit hard to find, partly because the street numbers in Paris don't necessarily match on the left and right side of the street, but it has a dark facade with a picture of the sun. Closest metro stop is La Tour-Maubourg.
We were a bit nervous because there was only one other table and they were in suits browsing a Sotheby's catalog. But the hostess was very
sweet with impeccable English (and had also talked me through directions to the place when we called that we were running late), and we got a cute table in the window alcove.The waitress brought us great zucchini fries while we purused the menu (though we have decided anything fried is really good...) We had a beet au gratin starter (also anything with cheese is good) and then lamb chops for two with globe artichokes, olives and lots of garlic (another easy win). The lamb was as good as the description in the F&W blurb, including amazing tender artichokes. We had a cheese platter for dinner, yum.
The total was €105, including one bottle of wine, for a pretty good meal in a romantic Parisian restaurant.
153 rue de Grenelle, 7th Arr., Paris, France
+33-1-45-51-54-12
Les Grillades de Buenos Aires
Tuesday, July 3, 2007Dinner with Lowell
Wonderful steak with Argentine chimichurri and Malbec. Funny, we spoke no French and they spoke little English, so we ended up communicating in Spanish at this Parisian restaurant...
54, rue du Monparnasse, 75014 Paris, France
01-43-21-56-74
Chez Nenesse
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Lunch with Lowell
Lunch with Lowell
We found this restaurant in Food & Wine magazine. Fantastic French bistro.
17, rue de Saintonge, 3e, Paris, France 75003
01-42-78-46-49
17, rue de Saintonge, 3e, Paris, France 75003
01-42-78-46-49
El Giraldillo
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Dinner with Lowell
El Giraldillo has the prime real estate on Plaza del Triunfo facing Sevilla's beautiful Catedral. It seems totally touristy (and is) but it was worth splurging one night for a romantic last dinner in Andalucia.
The menu is traditional Andalucian, and they have English also. We had a huge selection of Iberian ham for starters and vino de la casa. My sole was ok, but Lowell didn't stop talking about his shoulder of lamb for the rest of the trip--I think it was his favorite dish of the trip.
El Giraldillo is pricey, was about €100 and we discovered on the bill that they up the prices when you sit outside. But it was a beautiful night and we dallied at our table as long as we could.
Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, 2, Barrio de Santa Cruz, Sevilla, Spain 41004
+34-95-421-45-25
Dinner with Lowell
El Giraldillo has the prime real estate on Plaza del Triunfo facing Sevilla's beautiful Catedral. It seems totally touristy (and is) but it was worth splurging one night for a romantic last dinner in Andalucia.
The menu is traditional Andalucian, and they have English also. We had a huge selection of Iberian ham for starters and vino de la casa. My sole was ok, but Lowell didn't stop talking about his shoulder of lamb for the rest of the trip--I think it was his favorite dish of the trip.
El Giraldillo is pricey, was about €100 and we discovered on the bill that they up the prices when you sit outside. But it was a beautiful night and we dallied at our table as long as we could.
Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, 2, Barrio de Santa Cruz, Sevilla, Spain 41004
+34-95-421-45-25
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Bodega Santa Cruz
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Pre-dinner with Lowell
Bodega Santa Cruz is a minute walk from Plaza del Truinfo where
the Sevilla Catedral and Alcazar are located. There are a handful of small bar tables on their porch and an old wooden bar the length of the inside where several bartenders/waiters serve drinks and run tapas from the kitchen window behind them. I also love that they keep your tab with a list in chalk on the bar in front of you.
We started with little sandwiches, a chorizo and an anchovy y queso. When we went to the bar, we met a friendly couple from Valencia who recommended a tortilla de camaron and a flamenquito (sp?) which were both excellent. We also ordered drinks per their recs and loved the tinto del verano, which was something like cold red wine with lemon squirt. Good summer drink (and later discovered unique to southern Spain).
Fun for a few tapas and drinks (we had a light dinner after this), and pretty cheap with the tapas roughly €2 and beers a little less.
Calle Mateos Gago, Sevilla, Spain
954-21-32-46
Pre-dinner with Lowell
Bodega Santa Cruz is a minute walk from Plaza del Truinfo where
the Sevilla Catedral and Alcazar are located. There are a handful of small bar tables on their porch and an old wooden bar the length of the inside where several bartenders/waiters serve drinks and run tapas from the kitchen window behind them. I also love that they keep your tab with a list in chalk on the bar in front of you.We started with little sandwiches, a chorizo and an anchovy y queso. When we went to the bar, we met a friendly couple from Valencia who recommended a tortilla de camaron and a flamenquito (sp?) which were both excellent. We also ordered drinks per their recs and loved the tinto del verano, which was something like cold red wine with lemon squirt. Good summer drink (and later discovered unique to southern Spain).
Fun for a few tapas and drinks (we had a light dinner after this), and pretty cheap with the tapas roughly €2 and beers a little less.
Calle Mateos Gago, Sevilla, Spain
954-21-32-46
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Angele Restaurant & Bar
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family
Angele is a great Napa restaurant in downtown by the water. They have an amazing French menu (see site) and a nice outdoor patio to enjoy a sumptuous dinner after a long day of winetasting.
The French onion soup was good as was the gazpacho. I had a housemade fettucine with spring vegetables, which was pleasantly light. Aggressively had the macaroni gratin also that put me over normal eating volumes I think. Very good though. The lamb in my dad's stew was incredibly soft, just melted.
Angele has a corkage fee of $20, which they will waive with each bottle of theirs that you buy. Totally worth opening one of your own from the day I think.
540 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-8115
Napa with my family
Angele is a great Napa restaurant in downtown by the water. They have an amazing French menu (see site) and a nice outdoor patio to enjoy a sumptuous dinner after a long day of winetasting.
The French onion soup was good as was the gazpacho. I had a housemade fettucine with spring vegetables, which was pleasantly light. Aggressively had the macaroni gratin also that put me over normal eating volumes I think. Very good though. The lamb in my dad's stew was incredibly soft, just melted.Angele has a corkage fee of $20, which they will waive with each bottle of theirs that you buy. Totally worth opening one of your own from the day I think.
540 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 252-8115
Vine Cliff Winery
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family
Napa with my family
Vine Cliff is a beautiful winery off of Silverado Trail near Oakville. It has a really exclusive feel, 
as you roll through the black gates and ring in with your appointment. There are beautiful paths and gardens along the vineyards, not to mention the mansion at the top of the hills. Unfortunately the house belongs to the Sweeneys (of the Embassey Suites fortune) and we don't get to go there, but still pretty to look at from afar.
as you roll through the black gates and ring in with your appointment. There are beautiful paths and gardens along the vineyards, not to mention the mansion at the top of the hills. Unfortunately the house belongs to the Sweeneys (of the Embassey Suites fortune) and we don't get to go there, but still pretty to look at from afar.The tasting includes four wines and a tour of this amazing cave where they keep the barrels. Apparently it is available for private events, though I can't imagine the cost for it.
Definitely need an appointment for this one. There is a $25 tasting fee (which gets waived for every $100 of wine you buy). It is a beautiful place and worth taking the parents once (but only once).
(707) 944-2388
Elyse Winery
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Napa with my family
Elyse is my favorite winery and I had the pleasure to take my family there after graduation. The tasting room is housed in a small cottage with one bar that can host maybe a dozen guests
at a time. I think you need an appointment (see number below), but they were pretty flexible.
The tasting was 8 different wines this time. Their 2005 Chardonnay is amazing, super buttery but still a bit tart. Also a huge fan of their 2003 Cabernet Sauv from Morisoli Vineyard, a nice earthy cab though a bit pricey at $65. The 2005 Elyse Petite Sirah from Rutherford is also very nice, very dry and heavy and makes you crave steak. We also got to try some of their desserty wines, a great Petite Sirah Port which was an elegant chocalatey drink and also the 2006 La Peche which was a great white dessert wine (like ice wine).
Elyse is about 10 minutes from downtown Napa off of St Helena Hwy (Rt 29) on Hoffman Lane. The winery looks like just another residence, with a driveway where Otis, their dog, comes out to greet guests. Such a nice friendly place, with excellent wine!
2100 Hoffman Lane, Napa, CA 94558
(707) 944-2900
Napa with my family
Elyse is my favorite winery and I had the pleasure to take my family there after graduation. The tasting room is housed in a small cottage with one bar that can host maybe a dozen guests
at a time. I think you need an appointment (see number below), but they were pretty flexible.The tasting was 8 different wines this time. Their 2005 Chardonnay is amazing, super buttery but still a bit tart. Also a huge fan of their 2003 Cabernet Sauv from Morisoli Vineyard, a nice earthy cab though a bit pricey at $65. The 2005 Elyse Petite Sirah from Rutherford is also very nice, very dry and heavy and makes you crave steak. We also got to try some of their desserty wines, a great Petite Sirah Port which was an elegant chocalatey drink and also the 2006 La Peche which was a great white dessert wine (like ice wine).
Elyse is about 10 minutes from downtown Napa off of St Helena Hwy (Rt 29) on Hoffman Lane. The winery looks like just another residence, with a driveway where Otis, their dog, comes out to greet guests. Such a nice friendly place, with excellent wine!
2100 Hoffman Lane, Napa, CA 94558
(707) 944-2900
Monday, May 28, 2007
Peninsula Fountain & Grill
Monday, May 28, 2007
Lunch with Lizzie
Peninsula is our go-to diner in Palo Alto. Great for brunch or lunch, they have awesome breakfast foods like omelets and potatoes, and they also have the best milk shakes. You might need to be rolled out of the place after one, but the milk shakes are amazing. There can be a wait at prime brunch hours, but never too long. There are cute booths and counter seats in addition to the tables. Totally family friendly, there are always a ton of babies and kids running around. With an aggressive meal of cajun scramble, hashed browns, wheat toast and a cup of Texas chili, it was $16 with tax and tip.
566 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 323-3131
Lunch with Lizzie
Peninsula is our go-to diner in Palo Alto. Great for brunch or lunch, they have awesome breakfast foods like omelets and potatoes, and they also have the best milk shakes. You might need to be rolled out of the place after one, but the milk shakes are amazing. There can be a wait at prime brunch hours, but never too long. There are cute booths and counter seats in addition to the tables. Totally family friendly, there are always a ton of babies and kids running around. With an aggressive meal of cajun scramble, hashed browns, wheat toast and a cup of Texas chili, it was $16 with tax and tip.
566 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 323-3131
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Shiva's Indian Restaurant and Bar
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Dinner with Lowell
Shiva's is a great Indian place on the corner of Castro and California in Mountain View. We were happy to find that it was full, and with many Indians which is always a good sign. We had an OpenTable reservation which we needed. We sat at a bar for 5 minutes while they cleared a table and we got beer and Kir Royal ($8). At the seat, the waiter was super friendly and helpful.
We ordered a garlic naan (they will bring you more too), veggie platter with two each of Samosa, Aloo Tikki and Sami Dil Ruba (all fried potato type things, really good), Lamb Roganjosh (curry), and a Palak Paneer, which is one of my favorites. All of this with rice was pretty filling to say the least, though their dessert menu looked appetizing. It was also $40 per person including three drinks, tax and tip, which is great.
800 California #100, Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 960-3802
Dinner with Lowell
Shiva's is a great Indian place on the corner of Castro and California in Mountain View. We were happy to find that it was full, and with many Indians which is always a good sign. We had an OpenTable reservation which we needed. We sat at a bar for 5 minutes while they cleared a table and we got beer and Kir Royal ($8). At the seat, the waiter was super friendly and helpful.
We ordered a garlic naan (they will bring you more too), veggie platter with two each of Samosa, Aloo Tikki and Sami Dil Ruba (all fried potato type things, really good), Lamb Roganjosh (curry), and a Palak Paneer, which is one of my favorites. All of this with rice was pretty filling to say the least, though their dessert menu looked appetizing. It was also $40 per person including three drinks, tax and tip, which is great.
800 California #100, Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 960-3802
Pier 23 Cafe
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Drinks for Raf and Jenny
Lowell and I stopped by at Pier 23 for a beer with Raf and Jenny who get married tomorrow. I thought it was just a bar from my GSB pre-term scavenger hunt experience, but it turns out there is outdoor seating in the back and a pretty good bar menu. About $5 beers, and they have Blue Moon on tap, yum.
Pier 23 on the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 362-5125
Drinks for Raf and Jenny
Lowell and I stopped by at Pier 23 for a beer with Raf and Jenny who get married tomorrow. I thought it was just a bar from my GSB pre-term scavenger hunt experience, but it turns out there is outdoor seating in the back and a pretty good bar menu. About $5 beers, and they have Blue Moon on tap, yum.
Pier 23 on the Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 362-5125
The Grove Fillmore
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Brunch with Lowell and Charles
The Grove Cafe has outposts around the city apparently, and there is another one on Fillmore. Charles took me and Lowell for brunch. I had Crab a la Dave, which was a wonderful crab cakes Benedict, with two poaches eggs and several slices of avocado. Had a yummy "small" hot chocolate about the size of my head.
I held back on the Bloody Mary this morning, but the other Grove has amazing ones, so I am labelling the Grove here as well.
2016 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 474-1419
Brunch with Lowell and Charles
The Grove Cafe has outposts around the city apparently, and there is another one on Fillmore. Charles took me and Lowell for brunch. I had Crab a la Dave, which was a wonderful crab cakes Benedict, with two poaches eggs and several slices of avocado. Had a yummy "small" hot chocolate about the size of my head.
I held back on the Bloody Mary this morning, but the other Grove has amazing ones, so I am labelling the Grove here as well.
2016 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 474-1419
The Counter
Friday, May 25, 2007
Lunch with Masashi
The Counter is one of my favorite casual eats in Palo Alto, and my favorite burger place out here along with In-n-Out. They are a "custom burger" joint, where you get to build your own burger from a 5-step menu where you check the kind of meat, how much of it (1/3 lb is the smallest and still pretty hefty), up to four toppings, sauce, and bun. You can specify how your meat is cooked too.
I go for the "burger in a bowl," another option on the checklist. Shown in the picture, it is basically a open-faced burger on top of a salad. The one here is 1/3 lb beef, medium rare, on greens with black bean and corn salsa, grilled onions, jalapenos, guacamole, and southwest caesar dressing. The guac is a +$1 topping so this is $8.99.
Also a must-have is their fries (regular and sweet potato) and onion strings. I happen to not eat fries, but my friends rave about them. The onion strings are amazing, super light and yummy. If you can't decide between the great options, you can get a "fifty-fifty" (shown left) with two of them. Comes with BBQ sauce, ranch and southwest caesar sauce.
Per their site-- "Anti-Established in 2003, The Counter® is the 21st century’s bold answer to the classic burger joint. " Started in Santa Monica, the feel of the place is southern California diner-ish. They have another one open in San Jose, and it looks like there are plans for a ton more, which I am looking forward to!
369 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 321-3900
Lunch with Masashi
The Counter is one of my favorite casual eats in Palo Alto, and my favorite burger place out here along with In-n-Out. They are a "custom burger" joint, where you get to build your own burger from a 5-step menu where you check the kind of meat, how much of it (1/3 lb is the smallest and still pretty hefty), up to four toppings, sauce, and bun. You can specify how your meat is cooked too.
I go for the "burger in a bowl," another option on the checklist. Shown in the picture, it is basically a open-faced burger on top of a salad. The one here is 1/3 lb beef, medium rare, on greens with black bean and corn salsa, grilled onions, jalapenos, guacamole, and southwest caesar dressing. The guac is a +$1 topping so this is $8.99.Also a must-have is their fries (regular and sweet potato) and onion strings. I happen to not eat fries, but my friends rave about them. The onion strings are amazing, super light and yummy. If you can't decide between the great options, you can get a "fifty-fifty" (shown left) with two of them. Comes with BBQ sauce, ranch and southwest caesar sauce.
Per their site-- "Anti-Established in 2003, The Counter® is the 21st century’s bold answer to the classic burger joint. " Started in Santa Monica, the feel of the place is southern California diner-ish. They have another one open in San Jose, and it looks like there are plans for a ton more, which I am looking forward to!
369 California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 321-3900
Wahoo's Fish Taco
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Take-out dinner for me
Wahoo's is a new tex-mex place on El Camino right by Stanford. It is surfer-themed, and there are flat panels that play footage around the location. There are all sorts of burritos, enchiladas and the usual Mexican, with a Hawaiian and seafood twist. I am a huge fan of their shrimp quesadilla which comes with a side of guacamole for $7.99. They have good combo platters also.
There is sit down booths and tables inside, and they bring you food on real plates, so it feels a little better than fast food (though it is fast). Take out takes less than 5 minutes.
2305 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 330-1144
Take-out dinner for me
Wahoo's is a new tex-mex place on El Camino right by Stanford. It is surfer-themed, and there are flat panels that play footage around the location. There are all sorts of burritos, enchiladas and the usual Mexican, with a Hawaiian and seafood twist. I am a huge fan of their shrimp quesadilla which comes with a side of guacamole for $7.99. They have good combo platters also.
There is sit down booths and tables inside, and they bring you food on real plates, so it feels a little better than fast food (though it is fast). Take out takes less than 5 minutes.
2305 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 330-1144
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Coupa Cafe
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Tea and paper writing by myself
Coupa Cafe is my favorite Palo Alto coffeeshop. Their speciality is "finest mountain grown single estate coffees from Venezuela," but being a non-coffee drinker, I go there for the tea, dessert, and full menu of wonderful crepes, paninis and salads. Their herbal teas are great, they give you a full teapot and one of those gourmet tea bags for a few bucks. Mexican hot chocolate is another favorite of mine, I am not sure what the real name is but it is a spicy hot cocoa. Sounds weird, but really good kick.
Definitely worth going for food as well. They have great crepes of all kinds. Pesto chicken and the grilled eggplant ones are my favorites. I haven't had the dessert ones yet but those look yummy too. Breakfast foods are also great, as are the salads, paninis and pasta. I got warm pita and hummus to snack on while I wrote my paper. Beer and wine for the late night folks too, they are open 7 days from 7am-11pm.
One of the best things about this place is the free wi-fi. There is covered outdoor seating, small tables and booths inside, and to-go options. Totally a GSB hangout with people jamming away on their laptops. I also have done most of my Dartmouth alumni interviews here. Nice non-Starbucks atmosphere.
538 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-6872
Tea and paper writing by myself
Coupa Cafe is my favorite Palo Alto coffeeshop. Their speciality is "finest mountain grown single estate coffees from Venezuela," but being a non-coffee drinker, I go there for the tea, dessert, and full menu of wonderful crepes, paninis and salads. Their herbal teas are great, they give you a full teapot and one of those gourmet tea bags for a few bucks. Mexican hot chocolate is another favorite of mine, I am not sure what the real name is but it is a spicy hot cocoa. Sounds weird, but really good kick.
Definitely worth going for food as well. They have great crepes of all kinds. Pesto chicken and the grilled eggplant ones are my favorites. I haven't had the dessert ones yet but those look yummy too. Breakfast foods are also great, as are the salads, paninis and pasta. I got warm pita and hummus to snack on while I wrote my paper. Beer and wine for the late night folks too, they are open 7 days from 7am-11pm.
One of the best things about this place is the free wi-fi. There is covered outdoor seating, small tables and booths inside, and to-go options. Totally a GSB hangout with people jamming away on their laptops. I also have done most of my Dartmouth alumni interviews here. Nice non-Starbucks atmosphere.
538 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 322-6872
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Three Seasons
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Dinner with Tayo
Three Seasons is a trendy Vietnamese place tucked in between Bryant and Ramona off of University Ave. There is outdoor seating and a nice bar, as well as tables upstairs that overlook the bar area.
The food is on the more expensive side, but very good. They have a huge selection of fresh spring rolls and satays to start. We had the Summer Rolls, with Dungeness crab, avocado, cucumber and a ginger soy dipping sauce, quite good. It was cut up into six pieces (probably two bites per piece, so decent size). Their menu also has small and large plates -- we had the Happy Buns, which were four small buns with Peking Duck, cucmber and hoisin sauce, really good.
We were probably aggressive with dinner and got the "Shaking Beef", catfish, and rice. The Shaking Beef is cubes of sauteed (I think) beef with green onions and pepper on a bed of watercress. Catfish comes in a clay pot and is deeply marinated. It's good but pretty strong tasting, I needed some rice with that. Loved the Shaking Beef. Didn't finish it all though. Two appetizers and two large plates with rice was too much.
Three Seasons has a pretty extensive drink and wine list also, glasses in $8-$12 range I think. Dessert menu too, didn't have any but they had Inniskillin ice wine on it which is one of my favorites.
Trendier than your average Palo Alto joint, I think this is a nice date or parent spot.
518 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 93401
(650) 838-0358
Dinner with Tayo
Three Seasons is a trendy Vietnamese place tucked in between Bryant and Ramona off of University Ave. There is outdoor seating and a nice bar, as well as tables upstairs that overlook the bar area.
The food is on the more expensive side, but very good. They have a huge selection of fresh spring rolls and satays to start. We had the Summer Rolls, with Dungeness crab, avocado, cucumber and a ginger soy dipping sauce, quite good. It was cut up into six pieces (probably two bites per piece, so decent size). Their menu also has small and large plates -- we had the Happy Buns, which were four small buns with Peking Duck, cucmber and hoisin sauce, really good.
We were probably aggressive with dinner and got the "Shaking Beef", catfish, and rice. The Shaking Beef is cubes of sauteed (I think) beef with green onions and pepper on a bed of watercress. Catfish comes in a clay pot and is deeply marinated. It's good but pretty strong tasting, I needed some rice with that. Loved the Shaking Beef. Didn't finish it all though. Two appetizers and two large plates with rice was too much.
Three Seasons has a pretty extensive drink and wine list also, glasses in $8-$12 range I think. Dessert menu too, didn't have any but they had Inniskillin ice wine on it which is one of my favorites.
Trendier than your average Palo Alto joint, I think this is a nice date or parent spot.
518 Bryant Street, Palo Alto, CA 93401
(650) 838-0358
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Tofu House
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Dinner with Rosabel
I had dinner with Rosabel at one of my local favorites, the Tofu House on El Camino. Totally bare bones cafeteria with white walls and seemingly no decoration, but the Korean food is good and cheap.
The menu is really simple -- tofu bowls, cold noodle bowls, BBQ, or bibimbop (rice in stoneware with all sorts of stuff on it). There are several different kinds of each of them. From my few times there and what I've heard, the tofu bowls and bibimbop are the best, BBQ not that great. My current favorite is the dumpling tofu bowl, which has meat dumplings and mochi type rice cakes, along with the tofu soup. I go for the medium spice, and still end up pretty sweaty by the end of dinner. Rosabel had the mushroom tofu bowl which looked good as well, and she went for the spiciest.
No beer here btw, just soft drinks, tea and water.
The best thing about Tofu House (and maybe Korean restaurants in general) are the unending banchan, or side dishes of kimchee, cucumbers, bean sprouts, potatoes, spinach, etc etc. The service is not necessarily fast, but you can always ask for more refills of any or all of the side dishes (we went through three dishes of cucumbers tonight).
Final bill was $20 for the two of us, $24 with tip (they don't take Amex). Awesome, cheap Korean food.
4127 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 424-8805
Dinner with Rosabel
I had dinner with Rosabel at one of my local favorites, the Tofu House on El Camino. Totally bare bones cafeteria with white walls and seemingly no decoration, but the Korean food is good and cheap.
The menu is really simple -- tofu bowls, cold noodle bowls, BBQ, or bibimbop (rice in stoneware with all sorts of stuff on it). There are several different kinds of each of them. From my few times there and what I've heard, the tofu bowls and bibimbop are the best, BBQ not that great. My current favorite is the dumpling tofu bowl, which has meat dumplings and mochi type rice cakes, along with the tofu soup. I go for the medium spice, and still end up pretty sweaty by the end of dinner. Rosabel had the mushroom tofu bowl which looked good as well, and she went for the spiciest.
No beer here btw, just soft drinks, tea and water.
The best thing about Tofu House (and maybe Korean restaurants in general) are the unending banchan, or side dishes of kimchee, cucumbers, bean sprouts, potatoes, spinach, etc etc. The service is not necessarily fast, but you can always ask for more refills of any or all of the side dishes (we went through three dishes of cucumbers tonight).
Final bill was $20 for the two of us, $24 with tip (they don't take Amex). Awesome, cheap Korean food.
4127 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 424-8805
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