Park Chow

After walking around Union Square in the really cold weather, Car and her friend Mith brought me to have dinner at a nearby bistro, Park Chow.

Park Chow has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere so with me feeling a bit under the weather, it was a really great spot to have dinner in. The vibe of Park Chow is like a small county pub where everyone in that small town would just hang out in.

Sprinkles!

In my opinion, cupcakes can put a smile on anyone's face :D

That's why whenever I'm on vacation in San Francisco, its definitely a must to go to Stanford and drop by Sprinkles to have a couple of their cupcakes.

Creamy Tomato and Sausage Pasta

With such cool weather here in San Francisco, its fun just staying in and watching a few dvds. So while getting warm in the couch and watching my second dvd for the morning, hunger struck which meant it was just about time for lunch!

Instead of heading out for a bite to eat, I rummaged through my sister's pantry and was able to find a jar of tomato sauce, basil and garlic sausage, and a pack of spaghetti noodles.

Noah's New York Bagels

New York I Love You!

Especially when I can have a part of you right here in Fremont haha!

After our unsuccesful attempts on morning jogs together since its was either too cold or one of us wouldn't wake up on time, Car and I finally woke up at the same time. Since we had a lot of time to spare before she had to go to work, Car wanted to let me try her breakfast bagel place just within the neighborhood, Noah's New York Bagels!

There's nothing like the scent freshly baked goods from a bakery early in the morning with the sun just about to rise.

It was rush hour inside so we had to wait a while

The creative to-go boxes

Noah's wide selection of bagels ranged from savory to sweet

Instead of the usual cream cheese and jam, Car purchased Blueberry Shmear

We opted to have Raisin Cinammon (already shmeared) and Blueberry bagels

Nothing like a cup of Cafe Americano with White Mocha Syrup to awaken the senses!

Starbucks in Manila should really start using these lid sealers to avoid spilling rather than just putting tape across the entire lid.

I really liked the selection of bagels we had from Noah's. When it comes to bagels, some make it either just too darn tough, or sometimes too dense that its almost bread like. But with Noah's, the texture was perfect! It had the right amount a chewy-ness a bagel should truly have. I was surprised that the bagels were actually rather light in consistency compared to others so it was less heavy on the belly.

The Blueberry Shmear was also simply scrumptious. It had just the right hint of blueberries and actually had a very light and smooth consistency which regular cream cheese spreads aren't.

The day is off to a great start!

Miks

The Counter

I really like being able to go to a restaurant and be able to have total control on the dish I'm about to devour. It makes the whole dining experience seem more unique and somewhat personal since you are able to make your own creation (and not have to worry about cleaning the dishes hahaha)

So when my Car and I decided to hit Santana Row for some retail relaxation, she took me to this really cool burger joint called "The Counter". The place had a diner-esque setting but in a very modern and hip vibe.

Customization! Just as it says on their tagline

The order form. Just mark everything that your heart desires

(and hope it would all merry together and taste good haha)

We had Sweet Potato Fries for starters. Just can't get enough of these!

and for my order..

I selected a 2/3 lbs. burger with caramelized onions and ripened Brie

nestled on rustic ciabatta bread

I was really happy with my order. At first I was hesitant about the Brie because it might not have as strong flavors as Gruyère which was another option however the ripened Brie gave a subtle creamy and smooth cheese flavor that highlighted the flavors of the burger.

I can't wait to go back and whip up another ultimate burger!

Miks

Nutella Brownies

San Francisco Day 2 also means another potluck...

Luckily I arrived this week when my sister had several potlucks lined up for work so that I could help her prepare some things. This time however I decided to whip up something I was more familiar with which was dessert. Since its been a while since I baked something for my sister, I opted to bake a new recipe which has already become a favorite back home, Nutella Brownies.

Anything with chocolate immediately becomes a crowd pleaser. But what I really like about these brownies it that the added depth in flavor given by the Nutella adds another layer of flavor which truly leaves you wanting more.

I couldn't wait to cut a piece

Ready for potluck!

The Nutella helps in making the brownie really moist

Simple can't resist!

The subtle hazelnut flavor just keeps you intrigued and wanting to grab another slice!

Till the next potluck!

Miko

Kaenyama

Being just the second time that I've gone to Kaenyama, it has now become a favorite! Kaenyama's take on Japanese fusion cuisine is simply amazing. Another great thing about Kaenyama is that they offer different specials everyday. Since it was a Monday when we went, the special being offered was 50% of all of their Special Rolls. That's why we kinda went crazy picking which one we would order.

The place was very dim and intimate

I had the Pink Lady and the Phoenix

The Pink Lady was an assortments of raw seafood such as salmon, tuna, and squid rolled on rice. The roll didn't have any seaweed, avocado, or other vegetables which made the roll focus entirely on the flavor on the seafood. The hint of spice from the drizzled sauce gave just the right hint of spice which added a whole other dimension to the roll.

The Phoenix was a good combination of avocado and spicy tuna which was a good roll in itself as well as a pairing to the Pink Lady.

I can't wait to try the other rolls on my next visit. You should definitely go to Kaenyama on a Sunday where they have an eat-all-you-can special for only $20. I have yet to try it too!

Miks

Bacon and Asparagus

San Francisco Day 1 !

Sem break has officially begun! So after getting things settled in my sister's new place, I gave her a hand in preparing a dish for her potluck at work the next day. With asparagus and Artichoke hearts in hand, Car and I were determined to whip up a really refreshing tropical salad. 3 hours later though, we gave up since the salad just didn't taste right no matter what we did. Since it was already 2 a.m., we decided to call it a night and just see what we could make tomorrow morning before she goes to work.

So right after we woke up, we immediately headed to the store and decided on making bacon wrapped asparagus tapas since we already had bundles and bundles of asparagus at home. I opted to oven bake the bacon and asparagus instead of grilling them since it was faster and more convenient to just place them on a baking sheet and let the over do its work haha!

Fresh out of the oven

We couldn't resist that's why one's missing haha!

Plated. Looks scrumptious!

The asparagus was tender all over and the bacon had just the right amount of crisp to it.

Signed, sealed, and ready to go :D

It turned out to be a big hit during the potluck! Even if it was wrapped in bacon, the whole dish was still kinda healthy since the bacon was baked anyway. I guess it is true after all that bacon just makes everything taste better!

Miks