Lets Eat

I love to cook and fortunately I have a husband who is willing to try anything I sit in front of him. I don't always make keepers (recipes that make it into my cookbook "Coast to Coast Collecting") but it's still fun to try something new. I try and make one new recipe or try one new cooking method a week. Some weeks are better than others.  For a list of websites I frequent for recipe ideas, click here.

During my life my pallet has changed.  As a kid I didn't like much and most vegetables I ate came out of a can.  Now I don't eat any veggies out of the can except for kernel corn when it's not corn season or I'm adding it into a recipe.  Canned peas are now to mushy and green beans are not my favorite, even fresh.  As for frozen vegetables if you can remember to eat them in a timely manor they can be good but I usually forget about them and they quickly become freezer burnt.  Frozen spinach can be a lifesaver since it takes so much to make so little, frozen peas are crispier, butternut squash eliminated the pealing process but if you can find it cubed at Costco it's better and frozen corn is also OK in recipes but as for the rest fresh is best.  It's also good to eat what is in season so eating fresh allows you to do this without thinking.
When I run across a keeper, a new cooking method or a new ingredient I'll be sure to blog.  Check out my posting under the labels "Let's Eat" or "Drink Up" for my most recent finds or all time favorites.

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area here is a link to the Brentwood Farms for the freshest local produce.  I haven't tried these yet but here are online farmers markets, Good Eggs and Your Farmstand.

If your kind of cooking is making reservations, here are some of my favorite places.  If I have ranked it, it's consistantly great and something I'm try everywhere to see where I can find the best dish.  Others were I just list something I like can be better on some days than others and is good. You can learn more about places I've been from my reviews on YELP or Examiner.com. 

I also have a post of Restaurants and Bars on my radar.  For places I want to try, click here.  For my favorite SF North Beach places click here and for the other SF areas click here.

For discounts on fast food restaurants check out eatdrinkdeals

Websites I frequently make reservations through is OpenTable, you get points when you complete the reservation.  Another site to search is Bite Hunter.  I have yet to use this one but I will.

These are my favorite places.  Places I frequent or think about often and when in the area I'm sure to return.

Italian:
  • Montecatini Ristorante:   Walnut Creek, CA (#1 Fettucini Carbonara, best Risotto in a Rosemary brown sauce -a special often served and Tomato Shrimp Salad)
  • Fuso Ristorante:  Vacaville, CA (#2 Fettucini Carbonara)
  • Pasta Primavera:  San Ramon, CA (cheese ravioli with hazlenuts)
  • Fior de Italia:  SF, CA (happy hour 4-7, tortellini in cream sauce)
  • Stelline:  Armatriana & Fra Diavalo sauce.  Hayes Valley:  330 Gough St
Mexican:  IN SEARCH OF A FAVORITE RESTAURANT
  • Chipolte:  San Ramon, CA (chicken burrito with quacamole on the side)
Chinese:
  • PF Changs:  Walnut Creek or Pleasanton, CA (orange peel shrimp, kung pao chicken)
  • Three Brothers from China, San Ramon, CA (eggplant)
  • China Delight:  Alcosta, San Ramon (BBQ pork chow mein, Honey Walnut Prawns, Broccoli beef but say no to the Kung Pao Chicken)
  • Panda Express:  Dublin, CA (orange chicken, broccoli beef and chow mein)  Cheap fast food
Steak & Seafood:
  • Flemings:  Walnut Creek, CA (#1 Filet and #1 Mac & Cheese)
  • Tadish Grill:  San Francisco, CA (#1 cioppino)
  • Outback Steakhouse: Dublin, CA (coconut shrimp, Alice Springs chicken and salads with honey mustard) Bad thing here you need to plan on a 2000 calorie meal.  Although this one slipped off my favorites for awhile my last visit brought back my favorite chicken and shrimp.

Sandwiches:
  • Ike's Place:  My new #1 spot, atmosphere not special (like Togos) but OMG the sandwiches are over the top delicious, messy, saucy and the combinations spectacular.  I had the Adam Richman (fried honey chicken, ham, swiss, pesto - who would have thought)
  • The Brass Door:  (#1 French dip) not my atmosphere & expensive at $26 but sharable
  • Rutherford Grill:  Rutherford, CA (#2 French dip, rotisserie chicken and fish of the day sandwich, best coleslaw ever both summer and winter versions and I never order coleslaw out)
  • Sunshine Saloon Sports bar & Grill:  Pleasanton, CA (#3 burger & #1 Chicken cheesesteak)
  • The Grill at Wente Golf Course:  Livermore, CA (portabella sandwich and artichoke dip)
  • Poppy Ridge Golf Course:  Livermore, CA (short rib sandwich and french dip)
  • Hydro Cafe:  Calistoga, CA (#3 burger) It was one of the award winners, the Winter burger with the carmelized onions and horseradish havarti.  YUM
  • Riata:  Livermore CA Excellent chicken and artichoke spread sandwich along with the pulled pork topped with slaw.  But if there don't pass on the Poppers, they are #!
  • Johnny Foleys: SF (steak sandwich)
  • Sandbar Bills bar and grill:  St. Petersburg, FL (#2 burger) - location didn't hurt
  • Bourbon Steak & Pub:  Santa Clara, 49er Stadium:  (#1 burger - the one with the carmelized onions and I substituted white cheddar for the blue cheese, simple, least inexpensive burger and oh so flavorful)
Pizza:
Breakfast:
  • Katy's Place:  Carmel, CA (#1 eggs benedict)
  • Katy's Kreek:  Walnut Creek, CA (#2 eggs benedict)
  • Zac's Café:  Dublin, CA (#3 eggs benedict and over all local's joint)
  • Deans:  Pleasanton, CA (chili omelet)
Drinks & Appetizers:
  • Tiki Toms:  Walnut Creek, CA:  Happy Hour prices on drinks and apps, 3-6pm
  • Dans Irish Sports Bar:  Friendly bartenders and great drinks.  Live music late.
  • Evies:  Drinks, friendly bartenders and locals.
  • Kezar Pub and Restrauant:  Love this place, every appetizer I've tried I've loved, wings, nachos, and best of all the sausage corn dogs.  I dream about them.
  • Main St. Brewey: Pleasanton, CA (drinks)
  • Redcoats:  Pleasanton, CA (calamari)
  • Skates on the Bay:  Berkeley, CA (#1 Mai tais & crab dip with foccacia)
  • The Daily Grill:  Union Square, SF (happy hour appetizers)
  • Johnny Foleys:  SF (smoked salmon pizza appetizer)
  • Vesuvio's bar:  SF (drinks and a friendly bartender at a beet nick bar)
  • Heinolds First and Last Chance Bar:  Oakland, CA (quirky bar)
  • Scott's Seafood:  Walnut Creek, CA (#1 spicy popcorn shrimp)
  • Sam's Chowder House:  Half Moon Bay, CA ( #1 mussels in a light red sauce, #1 ahi tuna appetizer, great location on the ocean so sit outside)
  • Hap's: Pleasanton, CA (#1 Lemon Drop Martini, #2 Calamari - recipe changed was #1)
  • 1515: Walnut Creek, CA (#1 Strawberry Basil Martini with Vodka)
  • Handles:  Pleasanton, CA (#1 Basil Bloody Mary)

Won't find anywhere else:
  • The Sycamore:  Pork belly doughnuts with a maple glaze.  Crowded dive but a must try.  Avoid the chicken and waffle unless you like to eat your booze.
Sadly this one is no longer with us but I have fond memories:
  • Shattuck Ave. Spats: Berkeley, CA (quirky bar)
  • Becketts Irish Pub: (#1 calamari)
  • Dublin Sports Bar:  Dublin, CA; my newest favorite, Chicken sandwich and chicken wrap
  • Netties Crab Shack:  SF, CA (#1 Crab Roll) expensive at $26 but soooo good!

Still don't know where to start, this website can provide you some help, theFeast, or go directly to SF if this is your area:  theFeastSF
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