Friday, April 20, 2012

Che Xoi Nuoc

Not lost in translation: Mochi dumplings in ginger syrup. 

Most of the time, my mother's new food concoctions turn out to be utter disasters (thank goodness she doesn't know what a blog is to read this). Then other times, she gets recipes from those who have really mastered it, and that it when I'm really at my happiest. 

On Sunday, she made this dessert for lunch. For LUNCH, people! 


Che xoi nuoc is a Vietnamese dessert. It is basically mochi with mung bean filling (the Japanese equivalent is more or less daifuku) that is cooked in a rock sugar based syrup infused with ginger. The difficulty in making this dessert lies in the texture of the mochi. The dough is easily overworked, so even when cooked in syrup, the consistency is harder than desired. 

Not pictured, che xoi nuoc is usually drizzled with a coconut reduction and sprinkled with toasted sesame. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Butter, My Love.

My love for butter is unequivocal, but I don't find it particularly ridiculous. My friends, on the other hand, think otherwise. 

I found these mini bars of butter in my parents' fridge the other day. 

Aren't they cute?!? They're practically pocketable! (I kid, I kid)



I was first turned on to butter while dining at Butler and the Chef Bistro in San Francisco. Their Belgian waffles and French toast are served with slices of organic butter. If you believe in the gift of the Gos(ling), then organic butter is also heaven-sent. 






Eataly, in NY, carries quite the impressive variety of butter, all organic. 



*This post I dedicate to my friends, because they find my love of butter so utterly disgusting. 

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

B2 Bellano Coffee

Studying tends to get a bit behind schedule when there's perfect weather like today.

Afternoon chai latte from B2 Bellano Coffee. I can't come to understand my chai addiction. When the barista asks for my order and I'm ambivalent on what to get, the words "chai latte, please" just naturally come out. 


Side Note: Not explicitly confirmed, but I hear there will be a grand opening party for Blush Raw Bar & Lounge either this evening or tomorrow. 

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Blast-Off Truck

Saturday mission: Find the Blast-Off truck!

Come lunch time, the Blast-Off truck was nowhere to be found. (Side note: Should I be following food trucks on Twitter?)

Fast forward to 10:21 pm. The Blast-Off truck is seen rolling down Winchester Blvd. Starts up orders at 10:40ish and then we arrived here...


K. ordered the Pulled Pork Grilled on Texas toast. The pork was a bit overly salted with a sweet aftertaste. Overall the pork was overshadowed by bad judgement in seasoning. 
I ordered the Soft Shell Crab. Shrimp and a full but hardly seasoned soft shell crab were stuffed in between a Hawaiian sweet bun.
We also shared an Asteroid (fried ball of mac n' cheese). I had really anticipated this but, like both of our sandwiches, it also failed me in the taste department. The best part of it was the bit of gruyere stuffed in the middle. Although when we quickly ate that part up, there wasn't much left to be desired. 

Without much more to say, the Blast-Off Truck was not a hit with K. and I. With the growing popularity of food truck culture, most food trucks that I have tried are mediocre at best. I hope they don't all skimp out on quality, relying on a trend to fuel their businesses. 

Saturday, April 14, 2012

San Pedro Square Farmers' Market

And so it begins! The weather truly makes for a lovely day to be out and about. 

Mom, K., and I stopped downtown for the farmers' market and grabbed some lunch as well. The market wasn't as crowded as I expected, even though it's been around for a while. The new building on the other hand, was jam-packed. It's a nice change. People are coming out of winter hibernation! 

So the San Pedro Square Market looks as if it's (almost) finally done. There are one or two spaces that are still under construction, but other than that, businesses are all up and running.

I tried the grilled pork banh mi from On A Roll, and it tasted like bun thit nuong (grilled meat with vermicelli) but on a bun! 


I was trying to focus my new camera when the gentleman making crepes said, "No pictures!" in a very serious tone. So I pointed my camera away and had to refocus when he was only kidding...-.- 

 There's this tinyyy grocery store located in the other building behind the Peralta Adobe. No frills, just the basics. Reminds me of New York. 
 The colors of rhubarb looked amazing. They would make for a very pretty pie. 


The Blast-off Truck was a no-go today. Turns out there is not a regular food truck event on Saratoga Avenue every Saturday, but they will be in Campbell later tonight. Next time!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Spring Weekends

Overcast with a hint of actual sun here and there. Bring on the sunshine already! 

This weekend my sister K. and I will be hitting up the new farmers' market held every Saturday from 11-2 pm at San Pedro Square Market. If all goes well (by that I mean they sell bread, pastries, veggies, AND Indian food), then I won't have to drive as far to get local goods anymore! 

Also, we're going to try to track down the Blast Off Truck. Soft-shelled crab po boy? Tri-tip grilled cheese? Pulled pork grilled cheese? Fried mac n' cheese with a gruyere center?!?


Yeah...we're in. Don't count on another post too soon though. Food coma always gets the best of us. 

MiniSeries: San Jose Downtown Dates

Somehow it's come to be that dates always revolve around Santana Row for one reason or another. You guys in San Jose know what I'm talking about. The convenience of having restaurants and bars in an area of picturesque scale makes for a tough contender. Although for those who want something a bit different...Let's head downtown!

Spring has just settled in and yet we're lucky to have sunny weekends that go into the 70's! With that in mind...picnic anyone?

One-stop shop: Zanotto's. This family market isn't as large as the chains, but boy does it pack a punch! I usually drop in for a sandwich (on Dutch Crunch, of course) but they have a pretty awesome selection as far as picnic foods go. Coldcuts, cheeses, wines, and TWO delis. How much better can it get right? Well...much better. Haha. Zanotto's also carries freshly baked goods from Greenlee's (which is a San Jose institution in its own right), Treat ice cream, and even chocolate from the Brooklyn Mast Brothers!  All that's missing is a picnic blanket!


Dia De Pesca If there's always a crowd, then you know they must be doing something right. There's no question why this place is always packed for lunch and dinner. Their seafood is extremely fresh to the taste. No fishy business whatsoever. Known for their fish tacos, I actually love the ceviche. I've craved it. I've dreamed of it. My mouth is watering right now thinking about it. 
The indoor dining area is quite charming, but if the outdoors is more of your thing, there's plenty of seating outside for when the weather is just right. Just order and they'll bring your food to you. No fuss, just fresh food to really make your summer days. 
Located in the old Burbank area, this place looks as if it belongs anywhere but here. In the evenings when the sun is setting, the food truck looks as if it just rolled into the desert and set up shop. Strung lights make for a festive feel. The restaurant, on the other hand, seems like it belongs more on the South Cali coast. 


San Pedro Square Market, the much anticipated new social hub has finally celebrated with a formal grand opening. With a vast outdoor space strung with lights and strewn with games of sandbag toss, this is a great place to bring a date when the weather is not to miss. There are plenty of new restaurants, bars, and the in-between. 
Pizza Bocca Lupo left an impression on me even when its surroundings were still under construction. Aside from serving delicious wood-fired Neapolitan style pizza, the owners are extremely friendly and attentive. The first time I came here, my friends and I had decided to take seats outside even though the fall breeze was a bit chilly towards the end of the nights. The owners came around to see if we were enjoying our pizzas and even went as far as offered personal heat lamps for our table. It was nice to see how much care and dedication the owners put into ensuring that guests were enjoying the fruits of their labor. 

Naglee Park Garage Converted from an old garage as its name indicates, Naglee Park manages to serve up a mean burger in a very quaint and cozy atmosphere. The owners have strung the place with relics of its past. Once I first stepped in, I felt transported to another place, another time. 
Beer is served in Bell jars, a detail that only a family-owned institution would even consider. On warm evening, you can eat on the patio out back. Strung white lights make for the intimacy of sharing a meal between friends or lovers. Naglee Park is small and does get quite packed though, so I'd recommend dining with only small parties. 
Naglee Park is known for their Angus burgers, mac n' cheese, brussel sprouts (Yes, you read correctly), and French toast on the weekends. They make their own ketchup in-house and potato wedges are cut right in front of your eyes. Don't come too late, as the burgers sell out well before closing time. 
Even though it is a sit-down restaurant, you have to order first before grabbing a seat. The owners will shoo you out if you do it the other way around.

singlebarrel The best unkept secret in all of San Jose. The speakeasy theme doesn't manifest past the bar, but that's not the star of this show anyway! Dare I say that singlebarrel whisks up THE BEST cocktails in San Jose? Why, yes. Aside from the usuals, the bartenders here will ask for your individual preferences and shake up a cocktail for you, accordingly. They also have microbrewed fruit beers if you're into that. Whenever I visit singlebarrel, I'm sure to get the bramble which is pictured above. The sweetness hinders the strong taste of the alcohol, which tends to leave me a bittt happier than when I first stepped in. 
So why bring dates to singlebarrel? Oh sooo many reasons: the drinks, the atmosphere...Did I mention they have a choice of games? Just take your picking. I've had the best nights here and more to come!

Via. kitcat photography

Friday, April 6, 2012

MiniSeries: San Jose Bakeries & Cafes

With San Jose being the third-largest city in the U.S., it's often difficult to garner the small-town feel. Certainly, that doesn't mean that San Jose doesn't have a charm of its own. I've lived in San Jose my whole life, aside from moving away for university. I used to think that San Jose didn't have much to offer in terms of great food, but little ol' me has come a long way since. Granted it has taken quite a while for me to come upon these places, they're places I really miss when I'm away. So here goes!

Sweet Tooth. 

Peter's Bakery is the one and only place I'll go for burnt almond cake. My dad used to work at Reed's Sport Shop down the street, and so every special occasion was not without a burnt almond cake. I must admit, I hated it. As a kid, I just wanted a normal cake, that being one without nuts. These days when I walk into Peter's, I usually get a slice of burnt almond cake, a cream horn, a custard eclair, and some fruitcake squares. Once in a while, I'll opt for two slices of burnt almond because I'm craving it so much. Writing about it isn't doing me any good either. 

Margaret's French Bakery. For my parents' anniversary a few years back, I ordered an orange almond cake from Margaret's. It was, by far, the best decision pertaining to cake that I've made in my entire life. My mom still asks about it when a special occasion comes up. 
Margaret's operates out of an industrial space, so you can't just swing by to pick something up. They do, however, sell at many different farmers' markets throughout the Bay Area. They're a permanent feature at the Campbell Farmers' Market as well as the Mountain View Farmers' Market. 

Cafes.

Caffe Frascati. In the heart of Downtown sits an old-school cafe, the type you don't come across often in San Jose. Formerly known as Caffe Trieste (of San Francisco), Caffe Frascati boasts the best cappuccino outside of Rome. There's a lounge upstairs from which you can watch live music performances on certain days of the week. Caffe Frascati is a great place to stop in for a cup of joe, Italian pastries, and paninis while you're out and about during South First Fridays. 

Hannah. Three words: chai tea latte. So good that I often crave for it. I usually go to Hannah to study because it's quiet. The main attraction here really are the pastries, as Hannah (herself) is a pastry chef. Often people leave with that guilty smirk on their faces because while they came in for one cupcake, they left with two or even three!


Roy's Station. This place has long been an institution in Japantown. A neighborhood cafe, baristas know you by name and perhaps even your usual order if you come by enough. Roy's has a long list of teas from which to choose. They will ask if you want to save your tea leaves for another steeping. Especially in the summer, I like to come here to basque in the sun while enjoying my morning/afternoon coffee. Don't forget the almond croissant to go with! Heated and all!
Photos courtesy of HappySnapshots