DATE WITH FOOD : Chronicles of a Single Gal: review

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Monday, June 18, 2012

SF Eats : Rocky Mountain, Ghirardelli at Ghirardelli Square

I have a sweet tooth and I'm a sucker for American candy. Anything with milk chocolate and caramel (marshmallows too) I will eat. That's why when my friend told me about the caramel apples in Rocky Mountain Chocolate factory, I just had to check it out.

So many choices, so little time (and tummy space)!

Cheesecake caramel apple is Rocky Mountain's bestseller.

True enough, the cheesecake caramel apple was delicious! No wonder my friend got one each time we passed by their store.

View of Ghirardelli Square from Fisherman's Wharf

One of the few entrances to Ghiradelli Shop/Cafe

Ghirardelli's Milk Chocolate shake looks a lot like my Nob Hill Chill

Order the Nob Hill Chill for a large dose of chocolatey goodness (best to share, it's quite sweet)

One sip and I was full - I intentionally did not ask how much calories my drink had.

We strolled around the Ghirardelli Square as we enjoyed (and tried to burn off the calories from our chocolate drinks) the cold San Francisco weather. There are quaint little shops in the area as well as seats that surround a bonfire.

I miss San Francisco already. I can't wait to go back next year.

Thanks to Mae and Kat for the photos.

-oOo-

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

SF Eats : Fisherman's Grotto

Walking along Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39, we had a hard time choosing where to eat (we forgot to research) so we just trusted our instincts and decided to go to the seafood restaurant that looked like a cross between The Little Mermaid and Pirates of the Caribbean - the Fisherman's Grotto.

Their Disney-like interiors had a family friendly ambiance, unlike the neighboring restaurants that were hardly inviting to the tourists around. They had great service and the wait staff was very polite and had a sense of humor.

Freshly baked sourdough bread

One of the best clam chowders I've ever had (I think it was better than Boudin's) - it was perfectly creamy. Scraping the inner walls of the sourdough bowl with leftover clam chowder was the best part.

They said the crab sandwich was their best seller - we thought it was just okay. And for those who don't eat as much - it's best to share. After the clam chowder, finishing my sandwich was an ordeal.

So when you get a chance, stop by the Fisherman's Grotto, asked to be seated outside (but watch out for any seagulls wanting a part of your meal!) so you can people watch while eating a generous serving of their clam chowder. When I come back next year, I'd definitely eat here again (minus the crab sandwich).

Thank you Mae and Kat for the photos.

-oOo-

Monday, June 11, 2012

SF Eats : Miette Patisserie at the Ferry Building

The last time I was in San Francisco was in 1997 and I don't know why, for the life of me, haven't visited this loveable city during my past trips to California over the last decade.

San Francisco was Disneyland for the food lover in me. Every corner there was something interesting and delicious to eat that took my taste buds on a roller coaster ride of yumminess.

Whether we ate fast food, fine dining or food truck cuisine, they were incredibly, well, I can't find the words to say. In SF, I hardly talked when I ate, which is rarely the case when I eat in Manila, and I think the food in our country is already delicious to begin with.

Miette Patisserie is one of San Francisco's most famous pastry shops. Located at the historic Ferry Building (they have a Farmer's market every Tuesdays and Thursdays here as well).

My friend Mae with her sister Jean choosing which ice cream sandwich to get

- everything looked so good!

A look at Miette's quaint little shop

Various cookies and treats in the store front - I'd like to have one of these on my birthday!

My friend Katrina chose Miette's bestseller, the Old Fashioned cupcake. Their boiled marshmallow icing was perfectly executed and the chocolate cupcake was by itself already good.

Katrina's take on her cupcake of choice

Ice cream sandwiches for $5 (around 210 pesos)? Worth it? Absolutely!

Miette's Valrhona Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwich was absolutely heavenly!

It had just the right amount of sweetness.
The sweetness of the chocolate cookie and the bitterness of the ice cream was a perfect combination.

Mae's first bite and reaction on her ice cream sandwich

Miette, simply put, was the right kind of pastry goodness. It wasn't too sweet, unlike most pastries and baked goods we get in Manila, which makes each bite both satisfying and refreshing - and this was just at the beginning of our trip. I couldn't wait to taste more of these as we explored SF.

Thank you Mae, Kat and KS for the photos.

-oOo-

Monday, March 12, 2012

FOOD DATE : Yabu: House of Katsu

We celebrated my nephew's 3rd birthday over dinner at Yabu : House of Katsu last night. I was curious on the variety of their menu since all the katsudons I know are either chicken or pork with a side of eggs.

When I dine in Japanese restaurants, I normally order my main course from their teppan menu because katsudons and tempuras to me are basically friend breaded food and being a bit more conscious of what I eat now, I try to veer away from anything deep fried (I really try).

Yabu's interiors embody modern Japanese design but with a cozier feel with their lighting and warm wood tones. The restaurants space seats 50-60 people and around 10-15 more outside, which makes their workspace busy and tight. If you want a quiet Japanese dinner where you can hear traditional Japanese music in the background, then you might want to save Yabu for another date (maybe the second or third date).

I ordered their bestseller, the Kurobuta Pork Set. Kurobuta is also known as the Black Berkshire pig and like Kobe beef, Kurobuta is known for its tenderness and flavor. Considering its their premium set, their price of PhP 515.00 ($12) isn't so bad. The servers will give each person roasted sesame seeds in a grooved bowl and a wooden mortar so you can grind them yourself. You're then instructed to pour 2 scoops of Tonkatsu sauce to mix. Their side of cabbage greens are refillable.

PREMIUM TONKATSU SET - KUROBUTA PORK SET (PhP 515.00 / $12)