The Crunchiest fish taco EVER!!

A good friend and co worker. Nacho recomended a franchised taqueria named RUBIOS. He said he had tried it in San Diego and he couldn't stop talking about it and kept asking me if I had tried it yet.

Finally, the night before Risa,Freddie and I picnic at San we trekked to Palo Alto and indulged!!  Nacho was right I had their famous fish taco and it was like a Bomb that exploded in me mouth with incredible flavors. It tasted fresh, crunchy and delicious plus their assortments  of salsa, WOW!! And three of us agreed they that our dinner was well worth the trip .

To good to be a fast food chain you gotta try them..

The best "ALFAJORES" in the Universe. Mancora Cibecheria

And I would like to reiterate my Universe, of course.

 Alfajores,  a sweet cookie sandwich filled with Dulce de Leche between two soft and sweet cookies. The word Alfajor comes from the Arabic al-hasu =filled or stuffed.

Alfajores are popular in Argentina, Uruguay and Peru as well as the rest of the south America. Although they originated in the Iberian peninsula, the Spanish Alfajor is a bit different which consist of honey, flour and almonds. ( 411 source - www.eHowfood.com)

These sweet goodies are also a part of the Spanish-Filipino population and filipino foodies alike in my country, Philippines but not quite the popularity and availability they seem to have in  South American countries.

Lately, I have been noticing a surge of Peruvian restaurant in the Bay Area, as a matter of fact there are 3 or 4 Peruvian restaurants in my area. Mancora is one of them. Located along the west side of  El Camino in San Mateo, a few yards north of 25th street.This is where I found and go back to for  the "Best Alfajores in the Universe". They make their Alfajores onsite  fresh daily and the taste proves it. The cookie is soft, crumbly and light which sandwich just enough Dulce de leche that isn't too sweet nor too rich, then dusted with  confectioner sugar. It is sheer perfection of what I feel an Alfajores should be.

The best "Fish Taco" in the Universe!!!

Sometimes, you'll need a little gas to get to the good stuff. This is true for Mercado & Taquiera De Amigos and their FISH taco , Yes Fish Taco in Pescadero.

From the outside this place looks nothing like a taqueria  that will serve you  great Mexican food, it is camouflaged by a country road  no frills,and  unassuming gas station /convenient store , But inside is where you get "The best "FISH TACO in the Universe" amongst other yummy Mexican offerings . I mean, where else can you get gas, Tylenol and great food In one stop over . 

Before I turned Pescatarian I did try their lengua burrito and of course  their vegetarian  and shrimp burrito , all of which were really, really good but still, I clamor for their fish taco ,with the right amount of heat on the salsa that is poured over the lightly dusted  and  perfectly cooked snapper on a bed of 2 corn tortillas..They sure know how to fry their fish in  Pescadeto.. Yummmm. 

Direction;

https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&cid=13018622937571309004&q=Mercado+%26+Taqueria+De+Amigos&iwloc=A&gl=US&hl=en

"The best BREAKFAST BURRITO in the Universe!!!"

"MY UNIVERSE!"

I don't  know if I am alone in this, but when you go to a restaurant and ordered something  you end up liking so much, are you able to go back and order another dish?  Being a self admitted OCD, trying out another dish would fall into a very daring category or one big gamble for me. One, I want to re-live the experience, second, trying out another dish and be disappointed by it is a very scary thought or possibility. So, having only tried one or two dishes in a place will not qualify me to give a full on review, even if I were to go back multiple times, as I would only be tasting one or two dishes. ( the other would be my friend's meal) . Therefore, I have concluded to get started on a series of "THE BEST -------- IN THE UNIVERSE". As this is the ultimate phrase of how I feel and  how I would describe something that has elevated me to universal heights with massive endorphin rush after having consumed one fabulously delicious meal or a dish.!!!

The first one Best in the Universe would be the BREAKFAST BURRITO at BLUE SKY'S CAFE IN Half Moon bay. It seems so simple yet so yummy. Could be the salsa, the tortilla or the perfect combination or ratio of cheese to beans or something. It's just soo good and to me it is the BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO IN THE UNIVERSE. Buh-lieve you me.

REDWOOD SHORES' YUMMY SECRET- SEA LINK CAFE

One may not equate food with a library but with Sea Link Cafe of the Redwood Shores Library, it might just change your perspective.

Maria Elena, is a graduate of the Professional Culinary Institute, Campbell and CCA (California Culinary Institute) in San Francisco and that background shows in her gourmet sandwiches and choice of fantastic dripped South American coffee, my favorite "Colombian".Cozily tucked at the back right hand side of the library. The cafe opens up to a wooden deck with  a great view of the shore's reserves and hiking trail that surrounds the Redwood shores parameters. Right across is the Iconic mirrored  building of one of the Bay Area's Tech Giants, ORACLE.

If you happen to be in the area it is definitely worth stopping by for a gourmet sandwich and a hot cup of delicious Colombian coffee. Enjoy the view, look out to spot a Heron or an Egret, and perhaps rent a audio CD or a Movie for $ 1.00. Talk about hitting 2 or more birds with one stone (oopps well not literally this area is a reserve after all). That actually sounds so mean...;-)

MY FAVE "TORTA CUBANA"

CHEF P - Undoubtedly, the Calamari King !!!

When you go and dine in a Filipino restaurant, most likely there will be salt and pepper calamari offered in the menu, and believe me I have tried all, if not most of them. Some mediocre, a few good ones but nothing  is as incredibly delicious as what my brother in law brought home from his cousin's party 2 years ago.

Since I have started my Hi protein diet, I have lost  a good 15 lbs. Living a low carb lifestyle can get challenging especially when you run out of ideas and food choices. For an OCD like me. I tend to "like" certain foods for like 2 weeks to a month or two then it's history until  maybe a few months after. When I say "like" that means I could eat it everyday or for breakfast, lunch and dinner, (hahahhaha). But after 3 months I was running out of ideas and the foods I "like" were one by one going into my "see you later" list.

Calamari meets my criteria for a low carb meal, although it has a dusting of I assume, cornstarch, it still falls within my allowable gram.per day of 0-50 grams.

Realizing this,  the cravings started. My brain seemed to have not forgotten that rush of endorphins when I first bit into a crisp salt and pepper Calamari of Chef P restaurant located both in San Jose and Milpitas. Problem is it's a 28 miles away, 56 miles round trip....well as they say if there is a will there is a way. Together with good buddy Anne Marie Achacoso. we dared trek this route at the peak of rush hour traffic, passing through Silicon valley and finally to our destination a very unassuming, humble, no frills restaurant, Yes, it's that good.

On the wall, by the order counter,  hand 3 big aluminum trays indicating party size orders of small . medium and large.  To give you an idea, a small is an overflowing 12 x 6 x 2" aluminum tray for $ 32.50 plus tax. Ce'st pas mal!! Although the CALAMARI has led me to this place, judging from the reviews on Yelp and other sites their other offerings  on their menu are all drive worthy. YUMMMMMM.

You may call in for advance orders Mondays to Sundays 10 AM to 9 PM

San Jose 408-729-4373

22 N. jackson St.

San Jose, CA 95118

Milpitas -

408-586-8389

1535 Landess Ave. Ste 162

Milpitas, CA 95035

ENJOY!!

This is a small "party size" tray

Dear Friend Annmarie about to take her first bite .... what do u think Annemarie?

LA PETITE CAMILLE, MILLBRAE

On a cold day, a bowl of hot and sour soup with prawns La Peitte Camille version with bean sprout, tomato,mint leaves, pepper flakes and pineapple for a hint of sweetness definitely will hit the spot. This unpretentious little nook of great Vietnamese goodness is  located in Millbrae along El Camino. A hidden treasure, inspite of their sign can be easily missed if you're not aware of it's exact location. But if you take time to stop and indulge, you will partake in a very reasonably priced and exceptional Vietnamese food. The service and interiors are not something to write home about  (not bad) but  the quality, flavors and freshness of their offerings are TAKE home yumminess...

My favorites are:

Hot and Sour Soup with Prawns
Imperial Rolls
Papaya Salad
Combination Fried Rice.
BBQ Chicken/Beef

 

La Petite Camille

170 El Camino Real, Millbrae, CA 94030-2606

(650) 692-4978

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THE ULTIMATE STILTON BLUE CHEESECAKE

It was to be my first Opera, Turandot at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco ,(as a young restless and rebellious adult, I said that opera was one I would never enjoy, but age caught up with me, with it a horizon broadened and an eagerness to experience forms of art personally uncharted.). While waiting for AC at Pia's ( remember my foodie extraordinaire friend from whom I get most of my tips of places to go for yummy finds) on her kitchen counter laid a seductive piece of dessert that has a perfect caramelized top that looked so enticingly delicious. When offered a to try it, I hesitantly accepted and said  "just a sliver please", well you see I am trying  to loose some poundage my dears.... Then I took a bite, and I tell you, the gates of culinary heaven opened up as my taste buds sent messages to my brain to release gazillion endorphins while the creamy salty sweetness melted in my mouth, ecstatic!!! you simply have to try this... 

Asked her for the recipe and she told me to look it up online and I believe this is it.

\

STILTON BLUE CHEESECAKE

• 2 packages cream cheese at room temperature
• 12 ounces crumbled Stilton blue cheese, at room temperature
• 3 eggs
• ¼ cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoon clover or orange blossom honey
• pinch of kosher salt
• pinch of fresh cracked pepper
• ½ cup caramel topping
• water crackers

Heat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spray an 8 inch spring form pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper and then spray again. This is for easy handling.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Measure out ¼ cup of the blue cheese and set aside. To the remaining blue cheese, add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape the mixture off the sides of the bowl. Add the sour cream, honey, salt and pepper. Beat until combined, pour into the pan.

Place a shallow pan of water on the bottom tack in the oven, and place the cheesecake on the rack about it. Steam from the water will help prevent cracks in the cheesecake. Bake for 40 minutes.

Remove the cheesecake from the oven. Sprinkle the reserved blue cheese over the top of the cheesecake and bake at 10 to 15 minutes more, until lightly browned. Cool in the pan, to room temperature.

To serve, cut the cheesecake into wedges. Drizzle each plate with caramel, place the wedge on the plate. Serve with crackers if desired.

To be able to enjoy a Stilton cheesecake, this kind of dish is best paired with a great aged or a tawny Port Wine. It could also be taken with the king of sizzlers, because the cold and the fat content of the champagne just pairs very well with the cheesecake, and that’s a fact. On certain occasions though, a good Riesling is also recommended.

The recipe above can be served both ways, as a dessert with some fruit sauce as garnish or the caramel topping at the bottom as stated.. It can also be served as an appetizer accompanied with your favorite crackers or wafers.

But however you serve it, make sure to present it as appealing as possible. Because remember, you always eat with your eyes first. And most important, get your cheese from the best cheese shop, the Ideal Cheese Shop.


SOURCE OF ABOVE RECIPE/ARTICLE

GOOD BITES - A MOUTHFUL OF GOODNESS

We met Jeff (I so endearingly call Aling Jeff) when he had just recently bought the place from a Middle Eastern owner.  For a short time this place had an identity crisis, the former clientele slowly stopped coming because some of the dishes were not being offered or maybe it was weird for some to be buying their flat bread  from a Filipino ( but to this day former clients still come by for the flat bread, so good) That was when he decided to go Filipino and kept a few of the best from the former owner's menu.

A SHORT FUNNY STORY
One day, we were throwing around ideas for the a new name with Pia R , her husband Philippe who happens to be french and lived in Manila for some 7 years, he had suggested his new place to be renamed "Aling Jeff''s  "because he had seen so many sari sari stores and carenderia  whose name started with the word  "ALING" ( a term use to address a middle aged woman as a sign of respect) not knowing what it meant exactly. I almost choked on my adobo for laughing so hard... Although he had re named his place GOOD BITES , that lunch with Philippe,  Pia and "Aling Jeff" will forever be engraved in my memory.

Good Bites now has a defined eclectic offerings of  FILIPINO, AMERICAN and MIDDLE EASTERN   with it's  SILOGS, SI-nangag- garlic fried rice and it-LOG eggs ) Omelette's and a HUMMUS and FLAT BREADS  which are to die for. He has perfected the hummus, kebabs and flat bread which he takes orders for parties as cocktail appetizers and/or  dinner starters.

The food is great and the place small and cozy with (Aling) Jeff's welcoming and nurturing attention give  this place and it's food a home cooked meal dining experience each time you visit. YUMMM

1504 EL CAMINO REAL
BELMONT CA 94002
650-592-4837

Sun	Closed
Mon-Fri	9am–3pm
Sat	8am–3pm

LITTLE SKILLET SOMA- ONE OF THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN IN THE BAY AREA

FIRST TIME I TASTED THIS FAMOUS "FRIED CHICKEN" WAS WHEN MY FOODIE AND "FROM SCRATCH" COOK, HOME MAKER AND BAKER, PIA R, (WHOSE LOVE OF FOOD HAS HER COMBING THE BAY AREA FOR EXCEPTIONAL CULINARY FINDS.)  TOOK ME LAST YEAR. ,  I WAS INSTANTLY HOOKED. SINCE THEN IT HAS BECOME MY FAVORITE GO TO - 15 MINUTE DRIVE TO THE CITY LUNCH BREAK FOR ME AND MY EMPLOYEES AND FOR MY OUT OF TOWN GUESTS AS A WAY TO SHOE AND LET THEM  EXPERIENCE THE HIDDEN GEMS OF THE CITY BY THE BAY..

LITTLE SKILLET IS LITERALLY  A "HOLE IN THE WALL",  YES LITERALLY, RIGHT BELOW WHERE THEIR SIGN HANGS IS A BIG WINDOW THAT OPENS TO A COUNTER WHERE YOU CAN GIVE AND TAKE  YOUR ORDERS . THE ORDER IS THEN PASSED DIRECTLY BEHIND WHERE THE "FRYING DEN" IS LOCATED . I GUESS ONE CAN CALL THIS A "TO GO" OR  AS ONE SAYS IT IN MANILA,  MY HOME CITY "TAKE HOME" COUNTER. THEY HAVE A FEW ITEMS AND A LIMITED MENU,  WHICH IS VERY APPROPO IN  A SET UP LIKE THIS.

THE STAR IS OBVIOUSLY IS THE FRIED CHICKEN AND THEIR WAFFLES!!!. I PRETTY MUCH DON'T CARE FOR  BISCUITS. GRITS AND WAFFLES BUT I  DO COME FOR THE CHICKEN  WHICH ARE COOCOOROOKOOO - LICIOUS. THE BATTER IS PERFECTLY SEASONED AND FRIED TO A CRISP, THE  MEAT MOIST AND JUICY. YUMMMM....

ONE CAN EITHER TAKE IT TO GO OR ON A NICE DAY, ONE MAY  LUNCH AND BASK IN THE SUN ON A RAISED SIDEWALK ACROSS THE STREET. A VERY FUN D T E ( DOWN TO EARTH)  EXPERIENCE.