Wayfare Tavern; Love in an Oyster Shell...

If I were to give one word for Wayfare Tavern, it would be "GREATNESS". And let me tell you...Wayfare Tavern's GREATNESS has NOTHING to do with it's beautiful 1920's decor (adorned with deer heads and antlers hanging over the walls and the "smoking room" doubled as a pool table library/cozy dining room), the amazing service, especially from Sam-our waiter (hands down, my favorite waiter thus far), the tantilizing and irresistable food and of course, it has NOTHING to do with Chef Florence (Who, sadly was not there). Wait...no.. IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH ALL THAT IS WAYFARE TAVERN!

I usually don't like tavern/saloon type decor, but walking into WT, we got an immediate feel of 1920's meets the socialites of San Francisco. The bar was packed, but we did not go unnoticed. The nostalgic drinks were served perfectly, packed with subtle, surprising flavors. Watch the bartender...The "scientist" is making a concoction that will knock your knickers off!

Once seated, our waiter, Sam (I heart Sam!) recommended a few dishes (who could resist his recommendations?) and was very patient while we teetered between choices. We finally set our hearts to a half dozen oysters, mac n cheese, steak and eggs and of course, the already famous fried chicken. The popovers were a nice touch, especially with the asiago (or parmesan?) baked in...I couldn't resist. I had two.

I'm not an oyster fan, but I have to admit, coupled with the vinegar and cocktail sauce, I wanted more...an afrodisiac, if you will...Was it all in my head?

And finally, the main dishes. Oh my, the fried chicken with the fried sage and thyme and roasted garlic were all to perfection. Moist pieces of chicken, delicately seasoned and lightly breaded with a hint of buttermilk. Now that is heaven. "Last meal on earth"? Organic Fried Chicken, please! (with a side of bacon...thanks!) The side of mac n cheese with the garlic breadcrumbs was a good compliment to the meal...yummy comfort in my tummy.

My love had the steak and eggs: soft eggs, dungeness crab atop succulent petite filet mignons with savory bearnaise drizzled to complete his idea of the ultimate "Last Meal on Earth". He needed a moment. Actually a few...

Two "last meals on earth" under one roof...what could be better than that? The Chocolate Story.

TCHO Cho-co-late pudding, fudge marble ice cream, cookie crumbs, caramel ganache and cho-co-late covered rice crispy bits...We were already full, but could not resist the goodness sitting in front of us. Easily the "Last Dessert on Earth".

I look forward to trying out the burger next time...in the running for the best burger in SF? I'm sure it will be! GREATNESS at Wayfare Tavern...I wanna experience it over and over again! That is definitely love...in an oyster shell...

Spork; I Heart Spork...

I definitely think this place is a MUST for comfort food with a twist. You won't be disappointed. Mike G said, "If you really like it, you can buy a Spork". I did like it...but maybe next time!

The service was great...our server was super cute, really nice, and very knowledgeable about the menu, especially about the beer selection! I loved that they had the Hitachino White Belgian. Yum! Easily my new favorite!

For starters, the pull-apart bread is YUM. I usually don't put butter on my bread, but butter truly enhances the taste of the already fresh, fluffy bread.

I ordered the Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta. The pasta was super fresh and perfectly al-dente and the sausage was amazing with the perfect amount of spice. My "sexy hombre" ordered the mussels and pork (the dish had a cute catchy name to it, but right now, my memory has failed me). The chunks of pork were really...succulent, all drenched in the savory juice. The mussels were huge, BTW.

And for dessert, the Humphrey Slocombe ice cream with chocolate covered chips sounded intriguing. Who am I to turn down Humphrey Slocomb? So we ordered it. Hmm...I liked it, but I wasn't super excited about it.

We closed down the restaurant (Sorry, guys...) but I loved the fact that they did not rush us out, even kept the music going for us...For that, I heart Spork

Perbacco; RIDICULOUS!

I don't know how Perbacco could get any better...My "sexy hombre" brought me here for my BDay dinner and I fell in love...with the food, the wine, the service and the desserts! "Yay"!

Upon arriving, we did have to wait a bit for our table, because the original table he requested was not yet available so we stood around the bar for a drink. Yum. I started off with the Prosecco with organic strawberries. What a perfect and bubbly way to begin a meal!

When we were finally seated, they sat us in a cute little corner table, slightly away from everyone, but still in the midst of all the action. Very romantic. Nice alternative!

Once we were settled, the hostess presented a hand-written Happy Birthday Card, such a sweet touch! Then, our cute server came and introduced himself to us...Very sweet and very personable from the start! I looked at Sexy Hombre and said "Where are we? Are we still in San Francisco?"

Okay, onto the food.
-Pesce Crudo: Wonderful tastes of Albacore Tuna, Watermelon, Celery, Chili and Cherry Tomatoes. Squeezing everything into one spoon and devouring it whole, you get a variety of flavors, that pair surprising well together!
-Carne Cruda: Veal Tartare (I know...poor baby lamb!) quail egg (love quail eggs!) and truffle atop toasted bread. Oh lord...I think Sexy Hombre had a few moments...I know I did!
-Agnolotti: My Sexy Hombre may need to translate again what was in it, but I will say that it is A MUST! So much flavor coming out of such a little pocket of pasta!
-Parppardelle: With Quail Ragu and teeny tiny little mushrooms...It was good, but the Agnolotti shoved it aside and took first place on my palatte!

Now, on to my favorite! Dessert!
-Glass of Vin Santo: See the below description of how "Ridiculous" this wine is!
-Semifreddo: It's like a cross between a creme brulee, and an ice cream cake. Have a bite and take a sip of the Vin Santo. "Ridiculous". It's so ridiculous that Sexy Hombre was enticed to use profanities to describe how (again) "RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS" it was!
-Chocolate Gelato with a side of Toffee: This was on the house, which made it that much yummier! I don't know if I've ever had Chocolate Gelato THAT good! The cute server, originally from Boston (love him!), told us about the rarity of the chocolate...I can see why. Oh, don't let me forget to tell you about the Toffee. Be careful, it will stick to your teeth, but let it marinate in your mouth to form a caramel consistency. Take another sip of the Vin Santo and there goes my "RIDICULOUS MOMENT"! I literally had to pause for a moment and wonder if this was real. It was.

Thank you a million times, Sexy Hombre! Definitely a night to remember...I heart Bday dinners!

Candybar; Moment? No. Smile? Yes...

I came here recently on...dare I say it...Valentine's Day evening, and it was quite refreshing. Great vibe, a welcoming staff, conversational decor, an awesome menu of libations and of course, sweet desserts!

Vibe: Candlelight and some red light specials to create the mood, R&B Slow Jamz (yes, that's a "Z") to bring you back--waaaay back and pretty decor to keep you comfortable without being too comfortable.

Staff: The staff was awesome. Very welcoming, receptive to questions, nice and pleasant.

Decor: Pretty layout, urban art and...board games? Yes...they made the spot very "homey" and fun without being too loungy.

Libations: I'm a huge fan of red wines. The menu represented a nice variety to fit everyone's different tastes. The choice was easy for me...Malbec was my drink of choice of the night. The cocktail menu looked intriguing. I noticed a lot of champagne flowin'--Raspberry Delights and Strawberry Kisses seemed to be a commonality among patrons...perfect for Sex and the City Divas.

Desserts: Everything looked amazing on the menu. We opted for the Apple A La Mode: A nutty crust, cream cheese filling, baked apples topped with a scoop of Gingerbread ice cream. First bite? Warm but chilled, mushy but crunchy, sweet...and perfect.
Moment? No. Smile? Yes...

Farmerbrown; I Have Now Seen The Light...

If I were to base a rating on my overall experiences at Farmerbrown, I'd give this place an astounding 5 out of 5! But given the recent brunch buffet, I'd give it a mediocre 3...Wah Wah Waaaaaah...

The lunch and dinner menus are great. So coming for Sunday brunch, I would imagine that brunch goers were as confused as I was.

I was expecting chicken, waffles, scrambles...hearty. Instead, you get boring eggs and oily breakfast potatoes. But FEAR NOT! You are also blessed with bacon, fried chicken, grits and DRUM ROLL PLEASE....biscuits and gravy.

As a farmerbrown fan, I was a bit disappointed with the fried chicken, but put gravy over it and all is wonderful again.

I've never had grits, but I decided to try it anyway. It reminded me of plain chinese porriage and decided I liked it. Then...the lightbulb went off in my head...ADD BACON! GENIUS, JEN! GENIUS!!!!! *Applause* *Takes a bow...*

Oh, but don't forget the gravy over biscuits. I was never a fan...but I've been conformed.

I feel like I just came out of Sunday Service...I have now seen the light...

Bi-Rite Creamery; Enter: Nirvana...

Standing in line for ice cream in 50 degree weather at 10pm takes dedication. I always thought people were crazy to stand in line on a chilly night for ice cream, but at Bi-Rite Creamery, I understand why. Rain or shine, there is always a line at Bi-Rite. When I didn't think it could get any better, their new remodel includes a bakery next door! Yes! A BAKERY!!!!

What's even better about Bi-Rite is that they have the friendliest staff and are super patient about giving patrons tastes of the different flavors. The last time, however, I was being helped by this nice guy who just came back from a smoke break and I felt like could taste the remnants of his cigarrette with my Ricanelas sample as if he scooped it with his own hands. This, however, did not prevent me from getting two scoops and a pint of Burnt Caramel to go!

Side note: So...is it bad that I put spoon to pint and almost finished it by myself in one sitting?

My absolute favorites would have to be Burnt Caramel (of course...) and Roasted Banana. Scoop them in together and you get this oh-so-cream(er)y compostable (Yes, they're GREEN!!!) spoonful of goodness!

Buy a pack of chocolate cookes (or oatmeal) and eat them with your ice cream and...Enter: Nirvana.

Pizzeria Delfina; My Pizza Moment...

I never thought I'd have a "moment" with pizza...but was wrong. I had a moment at Pizzeria Delfina. I guess it's not surprising, since everyone raves about this place!

Service was awesome! The hostesses/servers we encountered were each super sweet! Even though we waited almost an hour (on a Monday night), they made sure to serve us beverages while waiting!

There were 5 of us, so what better way to experience Pizzeria Delfina for the first time than to order 5 pizzas! So, here are my thoughts:

Yes, the Margherita is good (Margherita with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms is better!) but I'm not sure it was worthy of a spot on 7x7's Big Eat. The Salsiccia (pie to the left) should have made it to the list. It's PERFECT! OMG. I think it was the fennel sausage and mozzarella that did it, coupled with the fact that it had a crispy thin crust that was to die for! The second it met my mouth, my mouth thanked me. *Moment of silence* Okay...moving on. I think I'll have to call it my favorite pizza so far.

Side note: I'm not a huge fan of sparkle(ing) water, but drop a slice of lemon in it...eat it with your pizza and you have a wonderfully balanced meal with a splash of "sparkle"! I'm sure it contributed to my Salsiccia "moment"!

The Purgatorio (pie to the right) was good too...the farm eggs were a bit distracting but paired perfectly with the spicy tomato sauce! I would have loved to see the thought process behind this one. It's such a unique combo!


The Prosciutto Pie was disappointing. I'd rather have a salad with all the arugula atop the pie (you see what I mean?). Don't get me wrong... the prosciutto was thin, salty, not too fat and oh so yummy! I pretty much raped the prosciutto off the pie, it was so good!. But it's definitely not a date night kind of pie, unless you like your date (or you) with greens sticking out of your mouth! I think it's cute...but that's just me :).

Phiz Coffee; "Wow" At First Sip...

There's finally a reason to get up (early) in the morning! I say early because I'm one of those people who usually gets up in the morning with just enough time to get to work on time. I have been inspired to get up a little early to take a detour to the amazing mecca that is PHILZ COFFEE.

Upon the very nice and informative barista's (barist-o?) recommendation, my first taste of Philz Coffee was Jacob's Wonderbar Brew. "Wow"...yes. WOW! This epic moment was followed up with "Wow's" after each sip. I couldn't help it.

Since my first experience, four days ago, I've gone back four times. Sad? Maybe. But to think of going back to regular coffee would be dreadful. I thought about going through the menu and trying each blend. So far, Jacob's Wonderbar is the best...First timer? Go with Jacob's.

With the exception of the cashier, service is excellent! The baristas are super friendly and PATIENT...which is what I love. They actually take the time to find out what you like and explain the various blends to help you find the perfect match and without a doubt, you'll find a winner. If only dating was this easy...

Dynamo Donuts and Coffee; Did Someone Say Bacon?

Let me first preface this review with this...When you say "Bacon", I say "Where"? When you say "Maple Glazed Bacon Apple Donut", I say "I'm There"! But when you say "Coffee", I say, "It better be good...".

You can probably tell that I'm a huge bacon fan (no...really?), so when I first bit into the magnificant Maple Glazed Bacon Apple Donut, I was FLOORED. No joke. FLOORED. The sweet and savory combination was perfect! But in the end...I did get the "Oy...that was too much donut for me" feeling. But totally worth it!

I also tried the Spiced Chocolate: A little on the dense side, but a great little mixture of cinnamon, sugar, chipotle and chocolate. Great with coffee, I'm sure...

The Monte Cristo is also a must, if they have it. Gruyere, Ham and Jelly? Yes. How does it taste? Exactly as it sounds. But somehow, Dynamo has managed to make it a great combination.

So. The downside? The coffee. Four Barrel was not as it was supposed to be (or how it was explained to me). It was kind of bland...sad. I'm hoping it was an off day for the french pressed coffee. Please? Nope...totally an off coffee, if you ask me. I went back again to give Four Barrel another shot and it failed me again. Oh well...Philz is a few blocks away...there's still hope!

Anthony's Cookies; Life Is Good Again...

Taking from 7X7's must eat list, I was lucky enough to have someone bring over a box of assorted cookies for me...um...us. Anthony's Cookies, where have you been all my life?
Next to cupcakes, homemade cookies are my favorite. Especially straight out of the oven! So, I was super excited to see the cookie box in the black plastic bag...I could smell the goodness as I untied the bag and life is good again!
Although there were so many different varieties, all I really wanted was the cookies and cream cookie. I spotted the cookie with dark speckles and I knew...it was the one I have been waiting for. There I was, revving up for a rebirth of an old obsession. Mmm...it was a warm combination of a chewy (without being too chewy) chocolate chip cookie and an Oreo. Wow. Who would've thunk...the marriage of a cookie and and cookie made for my indulgence. Wash it down with a few big gulps of milk and I feel like a kid again. Definitely a favorite!

Blue Bottle Coffee; Wonderfully Dangerous...

I love Blue Bottle. I loved Blue Bottle before it became a ginormous hit in the City. Blue Bottle is bold. Blue Bottle is rich. Blue Bottle is coffee at its best.
I will say that I can do without the attitude that several locations have, but for coffee like that, I'll let it slide.
My all time favorite is a simple Latte. I remember the exact day, years ago. I ventured into Velo Rouge and ordered a Latte. I thought it was weird that it only came in one size, but there was a pretty foamy leaf designed on top and the weirdness left me. Instead, a strong, rich and bold flavor was introduced to me: I don't know if I can go back to regular coffee again. Starbucks, who? Something wonderfully dangerous happened...I became a coffee snob. Ahhh...It was love at first sip!
You simply can't mistake the distinct taste of quality Organic Coffee at the measly price of $3.50 per cup. It's only "measly" if you love designer coffee :)
Today, I tried the recommended Gibralter according to 7X7 as the 27th must eat or drink before you die at the Ferry Building. Yes, it's worth having before you die...The two shots of the Hayes Valley Blend and milk gently poured over with a sweet heart-shaped design served in a Gibralter glass makes it a must to enjoy on Blue Bottle premises. To Go? No. It wouldn't be a Gibralter! Very good, a bit on the bitter side, but I loved it, nonetheless!
I had a vision of how awesome it would be to have a Gibralter served in bed, first thing in the morning...It would make definitely make my morning routine a lot more enjoyable!

Roadside BBQ; A BBQ Love Story...

I've been here several times, but I guess I never ordered the right thing. As an avid follower of 7X7's must eat, this time, I ordered the Pulled-Pork Sandwich, AKA: The Memphis Pulled Pork. Little did I know, a BBQ love story was brewing.
There's something about pulled pork and coleslaw that made my mouth water to no end. It's like wanting to kiss someone for the very first time. You hesitate, you don't know what to expect, but you know it's going to be GOOD. The sandwich was so juicy, so tender, just right. The perfect first kiss.
As in love, there are always obstacles to overcome...Enter: The Bread. Damn! I wish this bread didn't get in the way! I totally could've done without...the bread was almost like a third wheel...maybe in this case, a fourth wheel. There's only so much room in my tummy for the tender pulled pork love and coleslaw. So then, my Asian-ness started thinking...Hmm...this would be good with some rice! But without the bread, it wouldn't be a sandwich. Hmm..to change or not to change? Change.
In the end, the sandwich did not defeat me. Yes. The Memphis Pulled Pork didn't know what hit him. I'm even embarrassed to mention that I finished the side of fries...the BBQ sauce trio introduced a spicy sweetness that was unbelievable! Take it for all it's got! Whew! There it went. The empty plate indicated that it was time to toss in the paper towel!
Ahh love...You See, You Taste, You Conquer.

The Plant Cafe Organic; A Semi-Sultry Delight...

I came here for a friend's birthday and I must say, what a pleasant surprise! I'm not a fanatic of vegetarian food, but The Plant Cafe definitely takes it easy on the meat lovers. Great choice, Gus!
Walking in, the first thing I noticed was how clean it was! The modern decor, live plant art and pristine bar were dirt free and clean as a whistle!
The pleasant service was also quite refreshing! Minus the bar service...a bit on the slow side, with a handful of patrons. BUT...their saving grace? They kept the drinks a-flowin' for the Birthday Boy...
So, onto the appetizers. I found it clever that they offered carrots, celery sticks, lettuce and radish with a pesto dip in place of the traditional starter, bread...It gave me the impression that we were in for quite a healthy meal!
-Grilled Flatbread: a wonderful starter accompanied with garlic hummus, cumin carrots, beets and yogurt as dips. Yum! Such a healthy combo!
-Duck Confit Pizza: the duck was a bit on the salty side, exactly how I like it...the bitter greens were a surprising twist. I'm not sure it was a good surprise or a not so good one...
-Shitake Spring Rolls: Light, Fresh, YUM. I love it when the rice wrapper is thin, but strong enough to hold the ingredients in.
Now, for the much talked about Plant Burger. I think everyone had some form of the Plant Burger...I found it ironic how the Plant Burger patty looks like red raw meat. I ordered the Wasabi Burger, against the waiter's advice of ordering the mushroom and cheese Plant Burger. The wasabi raspberry aioli sounded intriguing. Result: Intriguing, indeed! The aioli was sweet, with a hint of wasabi. Very different...but I could've done without the sauerkraut...Waiter--you were right...!
Personally, the Plant Burger patty alone was perfectly grilled, wonderful and fresh flavors and best of all--healthy.
The Spicy Green Curry was the most amazing dish of the evening. It was so rich in aroma and spices...mmm...I'm definitely getting that next time! Great choice, Uncle Mark!
Now on to my favorite part of dinner...Dessert!!!! One always makes room for Dessert!
Everything is wonderful and again, fresh!
My FAVORITE was the Lavender Coconut Rice Pudding. A-Ma-Zing! It made me an official fan of rice pudding! I'm always weary of Coconut...not a huge fan. But the lavender balanced it quite well! The citrusy fruit combination also added a yin/yang of sweet and sour flavors making this dish a semi-sultry tasting delight good enough to bring home to savor, if you know what I mean ;)!
Looking at the menu, the chocolate cake looked promising, only because of the Blue Bottle Coffee Ice Cream that accompanied it. I'm a sucker for anything Blue Bottle. But Coffee Ice Cream? No. Maybe it was French Vanilla? Whatever it was, I was not loving it too much. Ahh...what the Blue Bottle name will do to a dessert.
All in all, a great place to have a small intimate gathering or romantic vegetarian meal.

Asia SF; The Orange Lamb Takes the Runway...

I threw my very good friend, Rachel, a bachelorette party with the help of the Ladies of Asia SF and they did not disappoint! Food, Entertainment and BJ's...what more could a girl ask for?

First off, hats (or should I say "Stilettos") off to the gorgeous ladies who definitely made me feel physically incompetent as a natural woman. Mile-long legs, perfect buns, tight abs, sexy attire, beautiful make-up and to top it all off, FIERCE runway walks! HOT HOT HOT!!!!! What's also nice about these ladies is that they are sweethearts. I won't mention the show for those who have not experienced it yet...I don't want to spoil it for you!

I definitely recommend having a Birthday or Bachelorette party here. Everyone is so pleasant and easy to work with, it takes the burden out of planning and stressing over having a successful event!

We opted for the Gold Menu and was also able to take advantage of the Dine About Town price! But don't let that price fool ya...Once the drinks are flowin', it will cost a pretty penny! (Totally worth it!) Basically, everything is served family style based on the set menu of your choice (Gold, Platinum or Diamond). The Gold menu is plenty for a group of girls.

So much food, but I'll wind down to my favorites:

Porcupines: These crispy fried yummy pieces of heaven were delectable! Perfectly crisp with clear noodles on the outside and wonderful aromas of shrimp, scallops and water chestnuts on the inside. Dip these delectable cheese-stick shaped wonders into a special sauce and let it marinate in your mouth...

Orange Lamb: Wow...Wow...Wow...I usually don't like lamb that much, but the orange glaze and white rice balanced the dish perfectly. Others speak highly of the "Baby Got Back" Ribs, but I beg to differ...You can get Baby Back Ribs elsewhere...The Orange Lamb definitely takes the runway...

Finally, for dessert, we had little mini Ube, Macapuno and Coconut ice cream cones. What is it that makes mini desserts so much better than their regular-sized counterparts? Ahh, simple pleasures, less guilt!

Limon; Cheezin' Fish, Heebeegeebees...

I've heard many good things about Limon, but meh...it's okaaaaay, just not my favorite. I came here on a Friday night and boy, was it busy...there was not an empty table in sight with several parties still waiting for their table. Recession? Apparently not!

The decor was subtle, modern and simple. The hint of lime green and orange colors throughout the restaurant as well as in the food was a nice "red thread" touch.

The service overall was pleasant as well, although I have to say...sitting next to two tables who knew the chef and the waiter kind of made me feel unimportant. However, it didn't prevent them from paying their other patrons attention...But I'm just sayin'...

The menu was not extensive, but balanced and full of flavors. We started off with the Limon Cebiche. It had perfect portions of shrimp, calamari and tuna (at least I think that's what it was...). However, the squid was a bit chewy...bleh. I wish I tried the Cebiche shooters...they looked delish! The Empanadas de Carne was also good. A bit on the salty side, but it had a crispy pastry crust that made my mouth water.

Finally, our entrees came. I had the Pargo Rojo (Fried Whole Red Snapper) but I made the mistake of trying his Lomo Saltado first. Medium rare steak, fries and onions...Wow, a salty punch, but delicious! Therefore causing my snapper to taste pretty bland. I also didn't like how my fish was staring right at me, cheezin' his teeth at me. My date had to discard his head for me...he gave me the heebeegeebees. I was expecting the snapper to be a bit more salty, since everything else seemed to be drenched in it! Oh well...

Alas, Limon's saving grace: Dessert! I couldn't help but see phallic images when they arrived, so bear with me while I explain. The Mango Pie, light, fluffy and whipped was quite tasty. The phallic resemblance? See the picture above. So pretty. So precious. We also ordered the Cream Puffs, which were my personal favorite. Not too sweet, but oh so yummy! Be careful when eating...the cream tends to squirt out...need I say more? Was it a coincidence that we ordered porn-esce dessert? I don't think so...

Foreign Cinema; I Needed a Moment...

Foreign Cinema is always good for celebrating a birthday. Great, spacious layout, very open and lofty with an outdoor courtyard to catch a movie. Great for bigger parties and even better to take advantage of their Dine About Town menu!

I initially arrived already stuffed from a family dinner, so I was hoping to politely get by, being one of those girls just ordering a salad...But I opted for the Cauliflower Soup, because I saw Bacon in the description and couldn't resist. Light, cheesy and bacon-y...A bit filling, Gotta love it!

So, everyone else's dishes came out and lo and behold, my favorite dish returned into my life! Someone ordered the beloved Madras Curry Roast Chicken. I had this dish that was obviously sent from heaven before, so I had to steal a bite. Once in my mouth, I remembered it like it was yesterday...The crisp curry and sesame batter, the moist chicken meat...I needed a moment. My date took one look at me and said "I'm not jealous...It's just food". Oh me, oh my...He should be jealous...Sorry, dude! :) I decided that I should just order it as part of my Dine About Town meal and take it home to have my own private tasting of it. This dish is food porn at its best...!

Whew! For dessert, I chose the Pot de Creme. I can definitely say that I've had better. The Huckleberry Crisp was surprisingly an absolute winner! What is a huckleberry? Whatever it is, it was cooked to perfection with a nice, crisp edge accompanied with a fitting dollop of whipped cream on top. What a way to end a perfect second dinner! I'm stuffed!

Mandalay-Palm Trees and "Puppy Seeds"? Poor Puppies...

I live near Mandalay and I think I may move in, especially if they keep the sexy dishes coming! I've passed this place many times, but it's easy to miss, especially if you're not looking for it. I ate here on a Tuesday night with a few girlfriends with a reservation for four. I reservation? Really? On a Tuesday night? Yes. There were plenty of patrons enjoying their food, while we still waited about a half an hour for a table to empty out. Apparently, this was an off night, as there usually is not a long wait. Oh well. I'll overlook it. It gave me a chance to observe the almost cheesy ambiance.

Walking in, you will see an elaborate altar set up with fresh fruit and a neon palm tree...classic! In the dining room, ornaments hang from the ceiling while random bouquets of fresh flowers adorn tables. It was quite...homey. Add the warm and friendly service from the what seemed to be a family-driven restaurant, you've got a classic Asian dining experience!

On to the taste buds...Oh, where do I begin? Thank God for my friends Veronica and Kim who ordered for us...I wouldn't have been able to decide, since all the pictures in the menu looked so yummy...funny how there were only pictures for the appetizers and desserts. Speaking of the menu...someone needs to run a spell check...I wasn't too keen on eating a dessert "Springkled with puppy seeds"...Springkled? With Puppy Seeds? Poor puppies...

-Ginger Lemonade: What a refreshing tall glass of goodness streaming down your throat after a long day...

-Tea Leaf Salad: My absolute favorite! It's so pretty when it comes out, with each ingredient displayed together, then mixed together by the server...Tea Leaves, Sesame Seeds, Ground Shrimp, and more...There was an explosion of such healthy flavors...a party in my mouth :)

-Balada: A crispy pancake accompanied by a curry dipping sauce. Can I please have more sauce? Thanks! Honestly, it's one of the best tasting curry sauces I've ever had...not too heavy, but just right. The dish itself is a bit oily, but oh so worth it!

-Mango Salad: It was okay...I definitely think the Tea Leaf Salad was a stage whore in this case!

-Pan Fried Okra and Prawns: Prawns are usually the main attraction when served with veggies, but I definitely think that the okra stole the limelight. I guess I'm used to overcooked okra...Mandalay's pan fried okra is crispy and really highlights the natural taste of it, without being bitter. Yum...

-Mango Chicken: I love mango chicken, but this was not any different from what I've had before. Still good...just not what I would expect it to be, since everything else was so amazing.

-Mandalay Special Noodle: This dish was pretty good as well, but after devouring everything else that came before it, it kind of took a back seat to our liking...Still interesting how it came out with each ingredient displayed together, then mixed...Just too bad that I didn't enjoy it on my full stomach!

-Dessert: Even if you do not order dessert, they still give you a small complimentary serving of it. They offered us a nice arrangement coconut jello that was cold and hard and a sweet potato...hmm...I'm not sure what it's called...but it was sweet soft and warm. Food Porn in it's truest form... :)

Thank you, girls, for yet another night of yummy food porn...Until next time!

That Takes The Cake; Icing on the Cupcake!

I absolutely loooooove this place! I was looking to order some mini cupcakes to serve at my birthday party, but I wanted something different and DELICIOUS and That Takes the Cake surpassed all expectations!
I initially searched all over the city to try different cupcakes, but was not too impressed with the lack of variety (not to mention the lack of service). One can only have so much of vanilla, chocolate or red velvet. I was thinking Kara's, but they were super expensive and not worth it.
Which led me to TTTC. I'm so glad I read about TTTC on Yelp! Each time I spoke with someone from this lovely little find, they were all personable and friendly!!! That was a HUGE plus for me!
Ok, on to the tasty cupcakes...my favorite, HANDS DOWN is the Prom Queen. I'm not sure if I can...hmm...ok, I'll just say this: I literally felt a wonderful tingly feeling all over my body (That's rated-PG, right?). I needed another moment in the other room. A close second runner up is the Green Tea with Lychee icing. Oooh....They were both a huge hit!
I highly recommend TTTC for those who have a love affair with cupcakes. The wonderful service is just...Icing on the Cupcake! Ha.