Ladies who Brunch

Today was our very first "Ladies who Brunch" gathering. Our requirement for the gathering was to wear a dress and eat breakfast. I thought this would be fun since nowadays no one really wears a dress anywhere. I suggested La Note as our place of choice because of their cute French vibe and tasty breakfast. It was actually supposed to happen last week for my birthday but we had to delay it due to schedule conflicts.

Dani & Marianna in the proper ‘Ladies who Brunch’ attire

Toasted Cinnamon Brioche with Lavender Honey

Hot Cocoa, and yes that is a bowl that it comes in.

My breakfast: Oeuf a la Coque
2 three minute boiled eggs served in their shell, served with thinly sliced toast for dipping, home fries, and Provencales tomatoes

Dani’s breakfast: La Note Pain Perdu
Three slices of semolina French bread soaked in orange-water batter, spindled with lavender honey

Marianna’s breakfast: Cote Nord
2 lightly scrambled eggs with cream cheese over wheat bread, topped with goat cheese and served with home fries and Provencales tomatoes

Ladies in Action

Break from the crazy

Today was the day that many Apple-ites had been waiting for. It was the launch of the new iPhone 5. Launches mean new products, overnight shifts, day long hours, and plenty of customer interactions. Personally, I have never been one to have the latest and greatest in technology so I honestly don't quite understand the hype. So on my lunch break I decided to leave the store and walk a few blocks down to one of my favorite cafes, Tomate Cafe. I decided to order breakfast because nothing calms crazy like a good plate of breakfast. :)

Harvest Plate
2 over-easy eggs, wheat toast, braised kale, cinnamon fried apples, housemade zucchini cheese cakes, and veggie sausage

Oh and fresh OJ. 

Flashback Friday: Park Day

Reaching back in our gallery of photos, I found a few snap shots of our sisters day in the park. Last month, Monique and I took advantage of beautiful blue skies, sizzling summer weather, and (most importantly) Monique's Saturday free of work and ventured out to San Francisco's Dolores Park. Located in the Mission District, Dolores Park is notorious for its large grassy fields filled to the brim with families, friends, and dogs on warm days. 

Before the crowds

Throughout the day we snacked on oranges, seaweed sheets, and Monique even found a vendor selling fresh vegan & gluten-free popsicles.  She enjoyed a kiwi, ginger, and lime popsicle (left) and I loved my strawberry lemonade (with giant strawberry chunks, may I add) on the right.

After a good soaking of vitamin D (read: severe shoulder sunburn), we ate at Elmwood's Troy. This was Monique's first time at the Greek spot and she was excited since I raved about its affordable wraps after lunch date with Josh months ago. We started off with calamari for an appetizer which, maybe it was it the sun-fatigue or the ravishing hunger talking, we found absolutely delicious.  

Good spicing, nice crisp, and a flavorful Marinara sauce make all the difference.

We both got souvlakis. I ordered the chicken while Monique opted for falafel (pictured below).

And last but not least were Greek fries (sprinkled with parmesan, garlic, and parsley).

What a great way to spend a Saturday off :)

Off the Grid

In the Bay Area there is a mobile food truck extravaganza called “ Off the Grid.” The event moves around to different locations in during the week and the trucks even rotate locations as well. Today I decided to give it a try and invited Michelle and Dani to join in. There was 10 trucks in total and we visited quite a few. We tried to capture as many pics as we could but sometimes the food was just too good to stop and take the picture.

Streatery 

Glorious Peasant Food

http://gostreatery.com/

Oxtails over Rice
braised beef oxtails, gravy over rice (per chef’s suggestion), topped with orange zest and chopped parsley

Littlegreencyclo
Vietnamese Street Food
http://littlegreencyclo.com/

Sweet Potato Tater Tots
Sweet potato tater tots tossed with mint, sea salt & fresh ground pepper. Served with spicy mango ketchup.

Beignets
Fried dough tossed with powdered sugar

3-SUM-EATS

Fresh & Unique Street Food

http://3-sumeats.com/

Deviled Eggs
topped with bacon, chives, and paprika


** items not pictured**

Kasa Indian
Homestyle Indian Food
http://www.kasaindian.com/
Kati Rolls
Saag Paneer- Spinach & Cheese
Lamb Curry- Lamb & Potatoes

The rolls were actually more of a wrap style and topped with hot sauce and served with yogurt sauce. They were delicious! Dani and I basically inhaled them.


Ebbett’s Classic Sandwiches
Tasty Sandwiches
http://www.ebbettsgoodtogo.com/

Hibiscus Limeade- fresh limeade made with hibiscus flowers
Homemade Salted Caramel Brownie
Both items were incredibly tasty and fresh. According to Michelle, the brownie was small but the rich flavor packed quite a powerful punch.
Cupkate’s Cupcake Truck
Creative Cupcakes
http://cupkatesbakery.com/
S’more Cupcake - gooey chocolate cake, sandwiched between a crunchy graham cracker crust bottom and hand-toasted marshmallow frosting.

Dani loved this cupcake. It is pretty rich but great way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you would like to learn more about Off the Grid and if it will be in your area,

check out their webpage: www.offthegridsf.com

Table slappin' good!

It was time for another dinner with our favorite foodie uncle! This time we took Monique's suggestion and dined at Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen in Downtown Berkeley. There were many memorable moments but here were my top 3:

1) Our neighbors:

The gentleman and the table next to ours enjoyed his fried chicken entree so much that he literally slapped the table after his first bite and "gave knucks" to his waiter (fist bumped him)... funny thing is that after our first bites we could see why!

2) Monique and Uncle Tee's exchange:

Uncle Tee: Just go ahead and lick the plate (the remainders of our crawfish etoufee appetizer she had been scrapping her spoon with)

Monique: I know...

Uncle Tee: You know you want to

Monique: I do! 

3)Uncle Tee's text message the next day:

"11am.... I'm still full... LOL!"

 

  

For Starters

Hushpuppies with honeybutter (we had 2 orders)

  

Crawfish etouffee with fried cheese grits

 

Uncle Tee's gumbo

The Main Event

The "table-slapping-good" fried chicken

Uncle Tee and I both ordered this and were simply amazed.

Voodoo shrimp

Danielle's order of sweet and tangy BBQ shrimp over rice.

 

Catfish po' boy

Monique got her favorite soul food sandwich. 

It also comes with potato salad.

 

Side of Mac N Cheese

Per my request, always tasty.

Round 3: Desserts

Sorry for the quality of these pictures, we stayed so long that the restaurant switched from bright natural light with overhead lights to dimmed interior lights with candles!

Pecan pie

Beignets

Always a classic!

Bananas foster bread pudding

Can you say Peru

Tonight we visited a local Peruvian spot in Berkeley with our uncle. None of us had ever tried this cuisine. I will say it was different but very very tasty. Here are some pics of the meal.

Our evening in a snapshot

Chica Morada

Fried Sweet Potato

Dipping Sauces for the Sweet Potato Chips

Plantains & Crema

Seafood Cerviche

Lomo Saltado

Seafood Paella

Pineapple and Coconut Ice Cream

Quick Lunch

I worked another busy weekend and decided to treat myself during my lunch break. My coworker suggested I try a torta from Monti Cristo, a local taqueria. Oh man, was it delicious! I ordered the Pollo Asado torta with their homemade tortilla chips. The whole thing was great but my absolute favorite was the bread on the sandwich. If you have never had a torta I would definitely suggest Monti Cristo because of their authenticity and great favors.

Fundraising with Friends

A week or so ago Michelle organized a fundraiser for her campus group, Global Medical Brigades. This January the group will be heading to Honduras to host medical and dental clinics in rural communities and provide public awareness and resources to the locals. The fundraiser was held at Platano, a previous blogged feature. This restaurant is one of my favorites in Berkeley so I was not only excited to eat there but I was also excited to raise money for a good cause. This was Michelle and Diana's (our friend who happens to be part Salvadoran) first time at the restaurant. Michelle ordered one Revuelta(pork and cheese) Pupusa and the Carne Asada plate. Diana kept things light and ordered two Revuelta Pupusas and Chicken Tamales. I ordered one Lorocco and one Vegetable Pupusa and the Pescado Frito plate. And it was safe to say that we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and can't wait to return.

Carne Asada Plate

Chicken Tamales

Lorocco & Vegetable Pupusa topped with Curtido and Salsa

Revuelta Pupusa

Pescado Frito plate

Our waiter & Nick the Manager
Super nice & great food. Thanks Guys!!!