Fresca on Fillmore

DATE NIGHT: January 7, 2012 @ 5 PM

Someday I will go to Machu Picchu, bask in the Peruvian sun,and drink plenty of chicha morada and sangria. Before that happens, I will just have to satisfy myself with the Peruvian food in the Bay Area.

Fresca serves good homey Peruvian comfort food.
DECOR/AMBIANCE/SERVICE:
Fresca's decor is modern but simple. The restaurant is narrow, small and cramped. It is the right venue for cozy dining but not intimate.  An open kitchen is located in the back of the restaurant while  not so comfortable-looking bar type tables and chairs were available outside for al fresco dining. Service was friendly and efficient.

SANGRIA $8/glass or $22/pitcher
A good Sangria can set the mood for a delightful dining experience. (Or a weak one could ruin it.)  Fresca's Sangria did just that for me.  Strong yet well-balanced. The only fruit were the cubed apple pieces but the fruit were obviously well-soaked in the red wine before it was served chilled. Refreshing, very nice and easy to drink. It was worth the $8 price which I thought at a little too much at first.

CEVICHE TRIO $16
Fresca has a pretty extensive ceviche bar. They could be ordered a la carte or as tastings of 3 or 4. We opted for Cevice Trio.
1.Ceviche de Coco - ahi tuna, coconut leche, red jalapeño, ginger, scallion oil, honey cashews.
2. Ceviche Chino - ahi tuna, guacamole, ponzu sauce, lettuce cups, aji verde, wonton chips.
3. Ceviche ¡Pasion! - ahi tuna, salmon, passion fruit, red onion, aji amarillo, cilantro, purple corn.
*I really enjoyed the ceviche at Fresca. They were very  fresh and well-marinated. My fave was the coconut ceviche for its creaminess.

FRIED PLANTAIN CHIPS $5
We were asked if we wanted Plantain Chips. We thought it was like getting tortilla chips but they were not free. However, they were worth paying for. They were freshly cripsy fried savory banana chips. We used them to scoop out the ceviche resulting in multidimensional texture in our mouth.

PESCADO A LO MACHO $24
Crispy fried whole dorade, spicy tomato sofrito sauce, clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, calamari, white rice.
*Ginormous plate of whole fried fish--head and tail. The plate  was also a chockful of  yummy fresh clams, mussels, etc. This was a very generous meal. The highlight for me was the seafood which were plump, fresh and delicious! The fried fish was a disappointment. It was bland although fresh but far from crispy. It did not have a single crunch to it.

BISTEK A LO POBRE $27
Grilled rib-eye steak, caramelized onion, mashed potatoes, sweet plantains, fried egg.
*My man wanted roasted chicken but it was not available. This was a simple meal of steak au poivre but plentiful. He enjoyed his properly cooked medium-rare steak. 

PORTIONS:
I think we can take pride in being able to put our food away. However, we went home with half-finished meals. They were good but the portions were big.  We barely put a dent in our fish and steak dishes. I had 2 more meals with our leftovers.

CHECK: $106 w/ tax, tip, sangria and soda

NOTE:
*Fresca is the perfect pre-movie dinner/drinks venue in the Fillmore/J-Town area.
*Offers 1000 points on OpenTable.

Kokkari Estiatorio

BIRTHDAY DINNER: 12.26.11 @ 5:45 PM

The day after Christmas and the streets of Financial District were mesmerizing with dazzling holiday lights.  Enrique and I admired the holiday scene that surrounded us. The evening was cold, quiet and breathtaking, almost magical.

The nice stroll set the mood  for what was yet to come--an equally magnificent birthday dinner at Kokkari. His birthday, not mine; but I wanted to make him feel special. And Kokkari provided the perfect venue.

AMBIANCE/DECOR:
Kokkari was beautiful, old-world and rustic.  The interior was decorated in earth tones with thick wood, exposed wooden beams, high ceilings, copper pots and brick walls.  It was a nice treat to be seated with a full view of  the wood-fire oven where a whole lamb and  1/2 dozen chickens were slowly roasting in the open fireplace. The chairs were  luxuriously comfortable padded seats.
Kokkari was divided into 2 sections and bi-leveled. We sat in the dining room where the wood-fire oven and bar were located. It was cozier than the bigger  although equally handsome dining room. A private dining room is located in the lower level.

SERVICE:
While the venue was classy, the friendly service made one feel comfortable and relaxed. Service was very attentive, professional yet accompanied by genuine smiles.  Our glasses were never half empty, dishes were removed as if on cue and our server even helped us to our coats at the end of the meal.

DRINKS:
I had a Cosmopolitan ($11) pre-dinner and a glass of Napa '08 Cabernet with my lamb. The Cosmo was well-made, not sweet and  strong  while the Cab was generously poured and silky.

FOOD:
MUSHROOM WITH FRIED KEFALOTIRI CHEESE $12: Sauteed fresh mushrooms served with fried Greek cheese.
*The tenderness of the mushroom was a nice compliment to the slighly chewy cubed cheeses. A nice 2 in 1 treat!

GRILLED ARTICHOKE AND EGGPLANT SKEWERS (AGINARES SOUVLAKI) $12: Served with Greek yogurt - $12
*Delicious in its simplicity. This dish celebrated the earthy tastes of the vegetables.

LAMB ROTISSERIE $32: Spiced lamb skewer grilled with roasted potatoes.
*Probably the best lamb dish that I have ever had. Simply grilled, big tender chunks of slow-roasted lamb cubes. Moist with the faintest hint of the natural gamey taste of the lamb. The potatoes were a meal in themselves. They were big chunks of crispy on the outside but tender on the inside roasted potatoes. I really enjoyed this meal.

DRY-AGED RIBEYE STEAK (MOSHARISIA) $42- charcoal-grilled, dry-aged rib-eye with braised greens and Kokkari potatoes.
*The Birthday Man's meal. His eyes turned big when he saw the big piece of steak and potatoes placed in front of him. He enjoyed every bite and had to take home the rest. I even got to try the steak when I turned them into a steak sandwich the next day. He enjoyed it the second time around. I gnawed on othe bone and fatty parts-- tender perfectly medium rare oozing with its natural juices and perfectly seasoned in subtle Greek spices. A perfect piece of Ribeye!

KOKKARI SUNDAE (COMPLIMENTARY)  - chocolate & vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream & toasted hazelnuts - $10
*Just a simple sundae but well-made and nicely presented with a blue candle on top.  This was the Birthday Man's requested birthday dessert.  Nothing exotic but a sweet way to end a perfect birthday meal!

VERDICT:
Since the important person in this review was the Birthday Man, his opinion was heavily solicited. He said it was a perfect meal and enjoyed every aspect of it--from the classy venue to the gracious service to the perfect piece of steak.

Kokkari does know how to make one feel special on their special day. They comped us the Kokkari Sundae and every staff who dropped by our table greeted  him "Happy Birthday." Thanks, Kokkari.

CHECK: $175 with 20% tip, 2 Pellegrino and hefty

Beretta

GIRLFRIENDS HOLIDAY DINNER 2011: 12.02 @ 6PM

The true art of Beretta's cuisine  was in its simplicity.  The chef was able to transform simple seasonal  items into delicate dishes that were harmonious and lovely on the tastebuds.

My girlfriends and I pigged out and splurged for our annual holiday party,   We started off with SEVEN cocktails (and finished off with 2 dessert wines.) Every cocktail we drank was well-made, strong and delicious! However, the NUESTRA PALOMA (tequila, elderflower, cointreau, grapefruit, bitters $10) was the favorite among the ones we have tried, and ordered a couple more! Cocktails were priced between $9 - $11 each.

For our dinner, we ordered a 6 small plates, 2 pizzas and a dessert.

Neapolitan Pizza with Burrata, Vegan Sausage Pizza and Squid Ink Risotto

SMALL PLATES/SALAD:
1. EGGPLANT CAPONATINA $6: This was a very impressive dish. The eggplant was very silky and very flavorful. This was a favorite among all of us.

2. GNOCCHI WITH PORCINI $9: Even without the smoked pancetta which I requested to be omitted, this dish was also delicious with  full of the earthy flavors of the mushrooms very pronounced in the palate. I've had more "pillow-like" gnocchi in the past but this dish was mouthwatering in its totality.

3. MONTEREY SARDINES EN SAOR $7: Fresh whole sardines in vinegar without the fishy taste. Even my non-seafood eating friend had a taste and  enjoyed it!

4. WINTER GREENS WITH PERSIMMON AND POMEGRANATE $7/$11: A very simple salad with vinaigrette dressing but the ingredients were so fresh that they were like flavor bombs in our mouth. The persimmon was sweet contrast to the tanginess of the pomegranate which was a good contrast to the bitterness of the greens. Divine!

5. ZUCCHINI PARMIGIANA WITH SCARMOZA & BASIL $6
I was not crazy about this one. A little too dense with tomatoes but good--like ratatouille.

6. SQUID INK RISOTTO: I was about to pop but I could not stop eating this creamy heavenly bowl of black risotto with tender squid rings. Really, really good!

PIZZA:
1.MARGHERITA BURRATA $15*It was like biting on a piece of soft heavenly clouds. The burrata was soft and delicate. A delicious well-made thin-crust pizza.

2. VEGAN SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE $15 (+extra anchovies)My first vegan pizza and if all vegan pizzas taste like this, I would not be so resentful being born a lactose intolerant.  I could not taste the difference between the vegan and the dairy version except for the sausage. Very good!

PORTIONS:Generously portioned and reasonably priced.. After the small plates we even had leftover pizza slices. We were rolling ourselves out of our seats!

DECOR/AMBIANCE/ATMOSPHERE:
Loud, lively and packed!! Small, narrow, dark with pretty chandeliers. Al fresco dining is possible on a freakishly warm night in December like the night we were there. Folks were enjoying dinner at the tables on the sidewalk. The servers were attentive, friendly and laid-back despite the very busy evening.

HOW TO GET A TABLE: Beretta does not accept reservations except for parties of 6. One of my girlfriends called at 5:15 pm and asked to be put on the list. She showed up at 5:50 PM, was the first one and they seated her while she waited for us.  Otherwise, try to wait for a very long time for a table!

OVERALL:
Beretta was able to retain the integrity of the ingredients by not overdoing it and by capitalizing on the natural flavors of the vegetables/fruit that are in season. One of the best dining I have had in a while considering Beretta's dishes are simple and not overly ambitious in their execution.

CHECK: $232 with tax and tip ($58 per happy tipsy gal)

Souley Vegan

October 22, 2011

Thanks to Living Social, Enrique and I were introduced to Souley Vegan at Jack London Square in Oakland.  I bought the deal thinking I would go by myself. I never thought that my carnivore foodie partner will ever eat vegan food. He surprised me by mentioning that he has heard good things about Souley Vegan and would love to try it.

Souley Vegan is very 70's -- from the oldies music, the Soul Train playing on the old-fashioned non-flat screen TV, B&W pictures and paintings of blues musicians. The tables are communal. And the place has no air-conditioning. It is homey, casual and  Southern with a diverse group of patrons. As we were finishing our early dinner at around 6pm, the DJ was setting up at the full bar and disco lights started swirling on the walls and the ceiling. 

SERVICE:
The staff was very friendly. You order and pay at the counter as soon as check in and your food will be brought to your table. 

FOOD:
Just like its namesake, Souley Vegan serves vegan soul food. It is possible to order a la carte but for first time diners, I would recommend the "everything plate" at $19 or $25. The only difference between the two was the $25 included a black bean/rice and fried okra.

EVERYTHING PLATE:
Here is the breakdown of what we had on our "EVERYTHING PLATES"

1. BARBECUE TOFU: Marinated tofu with garlic and spices topped with barbecue sauce. The barbecue sauce was delish that I did not care that I was not eating ribs. Very good!

2. POTATO SALAD: They were very proud of their salad. See the description on their menu and I can see why. It tasted pretty nice and was so creamy you would forget that it was non-dairy.

3. MAC AND CHEESE: You would not mistake this for dairy mac and cheese but pretty close. SV uses nutritional yeast-based cheese (still vegan) . The result is a creamy mac and cheese without the dairy. Also very good.

4. CORN BREAD: Sweet, soft, nicely textured without the milk and butter.

5. SOUTHERN FRIED TOFU: Instead of catfish, it's silky tofu. The crust was crispy, nice and well-seasoned but I felt like it was missing something.

6. YAMS: Sweet yams still sweetened by agave.

7. FRIED OKRA: Perfectly fried with crisp outside and soft inside but needed more seasonings.

8, 9, & 10 LENTILS, BLACK EYE PEAS, RED BEANS AND RICE: As much as I love any type of beans and really love red beans & rice, these were bland and just plain salty. Even after the next day, I thought the flavors might improve but did not.

11. KALE: The menu says fried kale but we just got steamed kale with the beans. Bland just like the above. Would have loved to try the fried kale on fresh baby spinach, fresh tomatoes and lemon dressing as stated on the menu.

DRINKS ($4 each)

- STRAWBERRY GINGER:  Refreshing spicy-sweet freshly made  drink. A "must get" for ginger lovers.

- LEMONADE: Also freshly squeezed. I did not try this but Enrique ordered another one to go so he really liked it as well.

CHECK: $58 including 2 Everthing Plates ($19 & $25), 3 non-alc drinks and tax before tip.

PORTIONS:
The best value in town. Each plate could easily feed 2-3 (except for Enrique who finished his plate in one sitting.) With my leftovers including the red beans/rice and fried okra, I had enough leftovers for 2 more meals.

OVERALL:
Some of Souley Vegan's dishes are really worth coming back for. Delicious healthier vegan food minus the lard. Even my carnivore foodie partner did not complain and was satisfied with his meal.

I often do a little soul-searching after eating soul food.  Although some of SV's dishes failed to touch my soul as much as I wanted them to, it is still a good dining adventure and experience that is highly recommended.

REMEMBER BEFORE YOU GO:
1. Bring plenty of quarters for difficult street parking or park at Jack London Square Garage.
2. If you go during peak dinner hours, the wait could be up to an hour. We left the first time and went back the following week at around 4:30 pm. No wait but the line started forming.

 

 

Samovar Tea Lounge (Zen Valley on Page Street)

A cozy nook at Samovar is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon either solo or with a good friend. The place is not manicured or staged to the point where you will be walking on egg shells. It is a combination of shabby, new agey and contemporary. The place is quiet enough but conversations and a slightly active kid are tolerated. Instead of pretentious, Samovar on Page is mytical and homey.

There are two levels:
The long tea bar with an ample display of various tea from all the the world is located on the first level. Bistro style tables and chairs are also plenty.

The second level is cozier. A long communal table with floor cushions is available for grazing if you are up for taking off your shoes. A couple of regular tables by the window are available for those who do not want to strip down to their "lucky socks."

TEA:
Armed with a $50 Living Social Deal, it was like Christmas for me and my foodie pal, Heather.   We ordered the following:

JAPANESE SERVICE $22: Tofu Maki Bowl, Soup, Seaweed Salad with Miso Dressing, Seasoned Brown Rice, Steamed Kale with Sesame Dressing, Toasted Nori.
TEA: Ryokucha (Brown Rice Tea)

RUSSIAN SERVICE $24: Smoked Fish, Tarragon Beets, Horseradish, Devilled Egg with Caviar, Crackers, Fresh Fruit, Brownies
TEA: Zavarka with milk and sugar

As if we still haven't had enough food, I ordered the HANDMADE SQUASH DUMPLINGS WITH SESAME-SOY DIPPING SAUCE $7.

THE TEA EXPERIENCE:
It was Zen! Not because it was quiet in a meditative kind of way but the food was nourishing. Each item satisfied the belly and touched the soul. Aside from the generous portions, the food tasted delicious. They were filling but light.

I was nervous about the Russian Tea Service but it turned out to be a plate of good quality meal. The smoked fish were thick, generously cut, fresh and not fishy. The beet salad was refreshing.

The soup in the Japanese service wowed us--very tasty! The brown rice, tofu, nori combo filled us guilt-free and made us feel healthy. I patted myself on the back for eating healthy.

And the Squash Dumplings were worth the extra $$ despite having more than enough food. Light and delicious!

I stuck with the Russian tea which tasted medicinal at first but Heather and I actually ended up really enjoying it. It was smokey and spicy at the same time. A small pot of cinammony sugar complimented the tea. A cozy pot of tea.

SERVICE:
We had the most awesome, most attentive and most friendly server who took care of us yet let us be. They checked on us without ever rushing us.

CHECK: $57 before Living Social, tax and tip.

Farmerbrown

September 9, 2011 @ 12:30 PM

Eating at Farmerbrown was like taking a trip to New Orleans.



Farmerbrown definitely has the Southern vibe. The place is decorated with urban arts and graffitis on the rusty corrugated walls.  It has the gritty urban look but definitely clean.   Both the ambiance and service are relaxed and friendly.  During brunch, Farmerbrown treats the brunchers to a lively jazz band. Farmerbrown's fried chicken and the works are worth trekking the dirty and coarse Tenderloin.

Live Jazz during brunch

When Enrique and I arrived at half past noon on a Saturday, the place was packed and there was a 40 minute wait for a table. We opted to sit at the comfortable long bar and got a very attentive and friendly service from the bartender.

Brunch is AYCE for $16.50 and quite a good deal! The buffet menu was short but each dish was done well. And unlike at many buffets where the food end up sitting under the heatlamp and become dry, there is high turnover of the buffet food at Farmerbrown.  The FRIED CHICKEN is the star of the show with the following:

*Stoneground grits
*Biscuits and gravy
*Pancakes and syrup
*Bacon, Scrambled eggs and Fried potatoes
*Yogurt and granola
*Melons and Banana Bread for dessert

FRIED CHICKEN:  Big chicken breast pieces along with occasional thighs and wings. They were piping hot. The skin was crispy while the meat was moist and tender without the greasiness. The best part, there was no trace of grease.  They were cooked welll and tasted really good but lacking in spices.



Enrique's "pretty" plate of biscuits and gravy, eggs and fried chicken.



My plate of fried chicken breast, pancake with syrup (lots) and a bowl of grits.

You can spice them up with Tabasco or Farmerbrown's Honey Jalapeno Sauce.

STONEGROUND GRITS: These grits at FB were creamy and so flavorful. I even tasted cheese but I was not sure.  I loved it and could eat a few bowls of these grits!

YOGURT AND GRANOLA: Served individually in mason jars. Nice healthy option.

Yogurt and granola, banana bread and another chicken wing for me!

BANANA BREAD: True to the Southern tradition,  these bread slices were  moist, full of nice spices and just tasted lovely! They were actually addicting. Enrique blurted out after our meal, "It's good! Let's go back again!" Unfortunately, I only had room for 2 mini-pancakes, yogurt-granola and banana bread after a big chicken breast and wing. I did not get to taste the biscuit and gravy and the rest of the buffet food. Enrique tried everything, except the yogurt.

Our tab was $41 including 1 non-alc drink before tip.

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

*Farmerbrown is  just a block away from the Powell station. It is best to take BART than drive
* Bring plenty of change for the meter and park as close as possible to FB.
* There is a parking lot behind FB for $15 which is almost as much as the cost of brunch per person.
* FB is located in the Tenderloin which can get quite intimidating for tourists or even locals. Best to not go alone at night.

Foodie Girl's Rating: 4  Stars

Key:
0 Star:  Never again!!! These people should not be in business.
1 Star: Chalk it to  bad experience. Live and learn.
2 Stars: Some are good. Some are okay. Some  are bad.
3 Stars: Like! I will return!
4 Stars: Love! I will be dreaming  of you at night!
5 Stars: Perfection (or close to!)

Gracias Madre

Gracias Madre is not for vegans only.  But even carnivores will find the non-meat and non-dairy dishes at Gracias Madre not only sufficiently good but bursting with flavors, refreshing, filling and delicious!

DECOR/AMBIANCE:
Gracias Madre's space is attractive. A colorful mural of Mother Earth who resembles the virgin mary greets diners at the entrance if they want to dine semi-alfresco style as an option. Her statue is also present inside the restaurant. Despite the hovering of Mother Earth the restaurant  is rustic and relaxed. The place is a little dark but the a long sunny open kitchen in the back provides light.

COMMUNAL STYLE EATING:
The heavy wooden chairs and tables are meant to be shared communal style but we did not have to. At 1:30 pm, the restaurant was busy but had plenty of space.

MEXICAN/LATIN AMERICAN VEGAN FOOD:
My gf H and I shared the following. We had the

ENSALADA DE HIGOS: Farm lettuce tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette, topped with toasted hazelnuts nuts and grilled figs, served with grilled Acme bread and queso blanco $9

**A very simple, fresh and well-made salad bursting with flavors. I honestly make this greens-fig at home almost every summer night minus the hazelnut. But I still enjoyed it for its simple but lovely flavors. The bread with queso blanco was the treat for me. The vegan cheese had a nice light nutty flavor to it.

 TAMAL: Stoneground heirloom masa steamed in the husk filled with sautéed zucchini and onions, served with beans and escabeche $ 11                      

**Really good and bursting with Spring flavors. The tamal was moist and the veggie filling, escabeche (functioned as the salsa) and beans all complimented each other. The result was a symphony of light flavors.

EMPANADA: Homemade pastry filled with grilled plantains, served on a bed of spicy mole sauce, topped with cashew cream $7

** For this alone, I would likely go back next week to order a couple more. This empanada is not the traditional fried or baked kind. The dough is soft and nestled on a bed of delicious mole sauce and vegan cream. Sweet plantains and savory sauce. Oh so good!!!!

DRINKS:
GREEN AGUA FRESCA: This was my gf H's order. It was very green, It is made with veggies including kale and celery. Too earthy for me. I tasted it but I am glad I did not get it. :) H finished it though. So she might have liked it. $8 for a large glass.

 VIRGIN MARGARITA: Refreshing drink that tasted like a real margarita w/o the alc. Nice! $5

Go now! And experience this bounty from Mother Earth done justice by the culinary skills of the folks at Gracias Madre. GM is a good alternative for lard-free Mexican food but the flavors are not compromised. I am happy to know that I can eat good Mexican food without having to suffer a heart attack later.

CHECK AND VALUE: $53 including 19% tip.
Pricey but I can understand why. Good quality ingredients made with lots of culinary talent and love. The 3 dishes got us pretty filled without making us feel overstuffed.