Cinnaholic (Berkeley)

"GOURMET VEGAN ROLLS WITH ATTITUDE"
I have always known about Cinnaholic because my vegan friend Alexis showed me this place. She makes a special trip from the City just to get her fill of these cinnamon buns.

Cinnanolic is located right across from the  UC Berkeley campus. It is one of the many eclectic stores on Oxford St:  chic boutique, Starbucks, Afghan buffet restaurant, print shop, etc.

The store is spartan like a small ice cream shop with nothing but white walls and a counter. There is a huge menu board that features the frostings and the toppings. 3 garden tables are outside if you want to devour your rolls before leaving the store.

http://www.viewmenu.com/cinnaholic/menu?ref=google
The choices and combination were too daunting that I was staring at the board like Bambi caught in front of headlights.  They can customize the rolls according to your heart's desire like Elvis with his PB and Banana, Rocky Road, Pina Colada and Coconut, etc.

After ~ 3 minutes of being in catatonic state, I finally chose:
1. PUMPKIN SPICE WITH GINGERSNAP COOKIES for me.

2. BUTTERSCOTCH WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS for Enrique.

TOTAL: $10.50 for two cinnamon rolls

Cinnaholic rolls are gourmet VEGAN cinnamon rolls that are slightly different from the ones grandma bakes unless your granny is hip,  vegan and from Berkeley. The roll itself was a little bit denser than the melt in your mouth rolls like hot Pillsbury that's right out of the oven. (How dare I make such scandalous comparison?!!) It did taste like something was missing.

I did not tell Enrique that they were vegan. He devoured his butterscotch cinnamon rolls and told me that he they were good and rich. He liked them. I did reveal that they were vegan after he finished the roll. We both agree that the frostings were the best part while the bread itself was dry. However, Cinnaholics rolls were good nonetheless.

Despite the above observations and being on the pricey side of ~$5 a piece, I enjoyed my cinnamon roll so much that I licked the plate clean. Well, only my cat was my sole witness to such barbaric act.

Although I would have liked the bread to have been softer, the frosting was  bursting with the pumpkin and spices flavors of Fall although it was a blazing hot summer day in the Bay Area. The flavors were just plain lovely. The fact that they were vegan just sweeten the deal for me eventhough I devour animal products.

I usually wait until I have made at least a couple of visits before I write a review but since I have changed my lifestyle to eating "angel (good) carbs" only, it will be awhile before I would have the pleasure of enjoying a Cinnaholic again.

Not the best cinnamon rolls ever but on a beautiful quiet sunny day like today, over a hot cup of coffee, Cinnaholic is one of life's simple pleasures.
(And the staff were as equally lovely.)

*Dreaming of my next Cinnaholic........*

Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen

DATE NIGHT: June 9, 2012 @ 4:30 PM

As seen on  "Check, Please! Bay Area"  

Angeline's is BIGGER.

The last time we tried to have dinner at Angeline's in April, there was an hour wait. We tried again yesterday for date night and at 4:30 PM on a hot Saturday afternoon, Angeline's had plenty of space and no wait at all. By the time we finished dinner at 7:30 there were still plenty of tables. We secured a reservation just to be on the safe side.

Not only Angeline's has expanded its space through renovation, they are now open all day on weekends as well from 11:30 AM to 9 PM -10 PM.

DECOR/AMBIANCE:
Angeline's decor can be best appreciated at night where the chandeliers on the high ceilings, "antique" window grills on the brick walls, Mardi Gras artwork and tealight candles give Angeline's an exciting but eerie/gothic atmosphere. I try to imagine that the other customers as vampires having dinner. ;)

In the day time, it is a spacious and casual place to have lunch or early dinner. A long bar graces the back of the restaurant.

PAST EATS:
Enrique and I have been to Angeline's many times throughout the years and have almost eaten through their menu. My faves are the CREOLE-STYLE BARBECUE SHRIMP and VOODOO SHRIMP. He always comes back for the HONEY-BRAISED BARBECUE RIBS. They were always very tender and flavorful. 

WHAT WE ORDERED:
~OYSTER BORDELAISE $12.95
                      Cornmeal-crusted fried oysters w/ garlic butter

* The batter was crispy, perfectly fried and was so light without  the slightest hint of grease. However, it was also very bland. It almost tasted like the chef forgot to put in the seasonings!  Even Enrique who does not use hot sauce and salt doused his with Tabasco, salt and pepper. I drowned mine in Tabasco as well. The oysters were huge and tasted fresh but breading was very bland. The GARLIC BUTTER had no hint of garlic and did not compliment the oysters.

~ VOODOO SHRIMP $14.95
                      Signature barbecue shrimp over rice with beans



*I just love this comfort food of plump shrimp in tasty sauce that is not a traditional barbecue sauce (more like gravy) over rice. I end up always ordering this dish at Angeline's.

~ BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN $15.95
                    Boneless breast w/ mashed sweet potato, gravy & green beans



*Enrique who would rather eat and enjoy his food than describe it states "really good!"

~ MASHED SWEET POTATO WITH GINGER AND VANILLA $4.95
*Enrique does not like sweet potatoes in general and did not enjoy his but I love mashed sweet potatoes and I love Angeline's!!!! This mashed sweet potato so comforting good, sweet and lovely. The ginger and vanilla made this side dish more special than others that I've had in the past.

~ CAYENNE CHOCOLATE CAKE $ 6.95
                  Warm flourless chocolate cake with hint of cayenne and orange

*My first thoughts upon opening this cake that we took to go was, "this is too small." However, this cake was so dense and decadent that I could only eat a 1/4 each time. The cayenne pepper was pronounced but provided a nice naughty spicy bite to this cake that slowly sneaks into your palate.

~ BEIGNETS $4.95

*Just like what I had at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. I ate those fried delicious French pastries 7 days in a row every single day while vacationing! I found Angeline's beignets to be the closest in taste/texture to the ones I've had in New Orleans. Of course these fried French donuts came in a bowl of powdered sugar!

TOTAL: $80 including tip and 1 Iced Tea

VERDICT:
Angeline's is bigger and better. A solid New Orleans-style cuisine in the Bay Area. A place to indulge in a comfortable, interesting and non-pretentious venue. Great value and friendly service. This was not our first visit and it will not be our last. We love Angeline's!

Gosh, I just got myself hungry for everything we had at Angeline's just writing and re-reading this review! Darn!

La Rose Bistro (Berkeley)

DINNER DATE: 02.11.12 @ 6 PM

Not "Ooo-Laa-Laa!" great but  much better than okay.

La Rose is a lesser-known cute little bistro in Berkeley not far from more popular Berkeley eateries such as La Note, Venus and Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen. At close to 6PM,  these famous Berkeley restaurants had over an hour wait for dinner.

Enrique and I found ourselves wandering the streets of Berkeley looking for a restaurant that would feed us.

Enter La Rose--
La Rose is a small, unpretentious casual bistro with friendly warm and friendly staff.  Some of the staff are French and spoke French but far from th stereotype of the infamous French snootiness.

DECOR/AMBIANCE:
It was cozy and the signature red Parisian awning that was visible through the picture window makes one forget that they are in Berkeley. The decor was simple with French-themed faux prints that you will find sold at the Z Gallerie. La Rose is indeed a cute place to have a casual romantic dinner.
It seems to be popular among the older set.

DRINKS:
VUEVE DE VERNAY BRUT, LOIRE VALLEY (FRANCE) $7
*Bright with fine bubbles, fresh on the nose, vibrant floral and fruit driven with clean citrus finish.
- As described, it was a nice bubbly for the price.  It was cute that it was poured from the small bottle which was left on the table. I got 2 pours for $7.

APPETIZER:
FOIE GRAS WITH FRIED QUAIL EGG ON BRIOCHE AND APPLE $14
-Soon to be banned in CA and not willing to go into the politics of this delicacy, I took this opporutunity to eat it while I still can. I honestly had silkier and tastier foie gras. This was a little too firm for me but it was okay. The quail egg, apple and brioche complimented the foie gras.

SALADE DE CRAB $7
*Dungeness crab cake with lemon-caper tartar sauce & mixed green salad
-Enrique enjoyed his appetizer. There was a 50-50 crab and filler and he even got a little piece of crab shell. Good and reasonably priced.

MAINS:
MAGRET DE CANARD ROTI $22
*Duck Breast in honey-pepper sauce, asparagus, fried polenta & caramelized apple
-A very nice dish with well-structured sauce. The tender duck meats did not have even the slightest hint of gaminess and actually also very tasty. Overall a delicious meal except I wished the duck could have been "melt in your mouth" tender.

PETONCHLES POELES $23
*Pan seared Scallops with sherry wine sauce, parsnip puree & snap peas
-A simple dish but delicious perfectly seared scallops according to Enrique.

DESSERT:
APPLE AND BLUEBERRY ROSSOLE (?) W/ HONEY AND ICE CREAM $6
- Ooooo-Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
2 darling little pies with apple and blueberry fillings, drizzled with honey and a side of vanilla ice cream. I almost licked the plate clean that Enrique asked if I wanted another one. I was tempted but I declined.

CHECK: $99 including tax and tip with 1 bubbly and 1 soda

VERDICT:
La Rose is a hidden gem in Berkeley. Solidly good French food with warm unpretentious service in a cozy venue. Prices are very reasonable and portions are filling.

GOOD TO KNOW:
*BART-able (Berkeley BART).
*Call for reservations before you go.
*Service was friendly, attentive but very slow. This is a meal that is meant to be savored. Just load up on the complimentary warm bread with delicious cilantro dip.

Cafe Casa aka Casa Vino: Berkeley Wine Bar

Saturday Night Date: October 2, 2010 @ 5:40 PM


Too lazy to drive to the City and armed with Groupon for Cafe Casa aka Casa Vino, Enrique and I decided to stay on our side of the bay for our date night. 

When we arrived at Casa Vino's parking lot, I was not prepared to find a homey-looking restaurant. The website mentions "casual" but I was not expecting a "country-ish"  square building that was more of  like a track home. 

The tables were unadorned simple square tables. No white linens here.  And "rent-a-chair" wooden chairs for seating. Despite its non-sophisticated image at first glance, its attempts to cozy-up the place were successful such as placing a wine bottle at each table for water instead of a pitcher.  The "wine barrel tables" were actually ingenous and added sophistication to the place.

Casa Vino is a more of a wine bar than a dining destination.  It is definitely serious about its wine. At the bar were patrons who seemed to be enjoying glasses after generous glasses of wine (about 6 or more oz per pour.)

Despite my not-so-encouraging description of Casa Vino, the place is cozy. We got there while the sun was still out but once it got dark, the place was charming and cozy with fairy lights. 

We were seated by the host who was also the bartender. After taking our order, he stayed at the bar and entertained a group of people who were into serious wine-tasting and drinking.  Our server was neither friendly nor rude, just appeared stressed and hurried. Service was slow and although not neglectful, was unattentive.

Despite the initial shock about the restaurant's appearance, I enjoyed my glass of California champagne ($6). Well-chilled, crisp, sweet and generously poured, I asked for a second glass which is pretty rare for me when dining out. 

For starters we had Fries with Rosemary, Garlic and Cheese ($6.50). The fries were garlicky and fragrant with rosemary. However, they were too overly done and crispy for my taste.

Enrique had the Choice cut Rib Eye Steak  Served with 4 Plump Prawns, Mushrooms, Grilled Onions and choice of Mashed Potatoes and Veggies ($25).   Although the steak was a little dry, according to him, it was good. The fact that he did not ask for steak sauce was a great sign that he liked the steak!  He gave me two of his prawns and said that he enjoyed the garlicky mashed potato.

I had the Wild Caught Grilled Mahi Mahi with Rice Pilaf and Asparagus ($17). The fish was crusted and flavorful with herbs and cooked just right.  The asparagus spears were still crunchy and not overcooked. I enjoyed my meal.

For dessert Enrique and I shared the Apple Cranberry Crisp ($6).  It was okay. The oats were undercooked but I liked the peanuts that were mixed in with the crisp.

Overall, Casa Vino aka Cafe Casa is a casual, homey, unpretentious neighborhood wine bar.  I thought that the food was something I could have made at home-- comforting, filling and  home-cooked. There was nothing fabulous about Casa Vino's decor or food.   However, Enrique and I left full, satisfied and feeling okay.

Tab: $59 after $25 Groupon, Diet Coke, tax and 20% tip.

Foodie Girl's Ratings:  3
Ambiance: 3
Food:         3
Wine:        4
Value:       4

Key:

0 Star: Never again!!! These people should not be in business.
1 Star: Chalk it to bad experience. Live and learn.
2 Stars: Very disappointing but there it has some good things to offer.
3 Stars: It is okay but do not expect much. I will still return.
4 Stars: I like it! I will be singing your praises!
5 Stars: I will be dreaming of you at night!
6 Stars: Perfection (or close to!)