Rachel A.'s Profile

Looks can be deceiving.

I touched a Torah and it felt smooth, almost like suede or velvet. It was thin and fuzzy. And who knew that it was actually made of parchment paper aka calfskin? Not I. From afar it looked like tree paper to me. I learned a good many things at the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Small and less impressive than I imagined it to be, I spent about an hour at CJM. It got old quick. I was amused with the Maurice Sendak exhibit (excellent timing for Where the Wild Things Are movie release) and enlightened by the As It Is Written: Project 304,805 on the second floor.

Did you know there are exactly 304,805 letters in the Torah? Everything about the Torah is precise and to create one is a work of art. I had the opportunity to see the Scribe at work. It's a serious business and definitely eye opening. I never knew it was all handmade and in ritual form.

As for There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak, that was a real treat to see the early works of Maurice Sendak (writing and illustrations). CJM did a comprehensive job on showcasing his library, timeline, step by step process from idea conception to print, and influences. There were even video installments. I had to stop and watch Chicken Soup with Rice. There was a field trip of about 30 elementary school children. I had to wait for them to clear out to enjoy the exhibition. For the kids it was like a trip to Disneyland. For adults it's a challenge to not be affected by the darker side of Sendak's past and deep undertones in his storytelling. I actually walked around twice to take it all in.

I was disappointed by the "Being Jewish": A Bay Area Portrait mural. It was a wall length collage but the images were repetitive at least three times. Come on CJM, there are way more Jewish people and Jewish activities in the Bay Area than that.

As for the building, I guess it's cool and all with the cube. I left feeling a little cold. With the few windows available, I thought CJM was prison like. It's not a compliment.

The pops was not happy when we told him that we were going to have chicken nuggets for dinner.

"You want fries with that?"

We were one order short of McDonalds. The pops was pist. He had made reservations at Limon and we stood Limon up in favor of adding another kiddie to the dinner table.

Mi Lindo Peru turned out to be an even better choice than Limon. Mi Lindo Peru combines Peruvian and Spanish cuisine. Brother and I wanted Peruvian and the pops and I have a slight obsession with Spanish food. What can I say? We love our tapas, meat and potatoes.

Dinner consisted of Chicharron Al Ajo, Yucca Frita, Platano Frito, and two orders of Lomo Saltado. Empanadas were no longer available so we gnawed on the complimentary bread. Yes we got butter but we also got spicy salsa. Salsa on bread? HELL YEA!

The Chicharron Al Ajo came out shortly. They were the chicken nuggets Brother was bragging about. Small pieces of fried chicken with the crispiest skin you could ever imagine. They were covered (covered was an understatement) in minced garlic and when you dipped the chicken in the lemon sauce oh my god. Barbecue sauce and honey mustard have nothing on it. And if you love garlic, chicharron, and anything fried, this was IT. The yucca fries were denser than potatoes and very filling. The fried plantains balanced out the salt on the table. They were so sweet I could eat them for dessert. Plantains are always mandatory.

The Lomo Saltado plate was huge. I wondered why we ordered two and Brother explained the pops said he wanted his own. We all shared anyway and we were able to pack away all those lean and tender strips of beef. The slivers of lightly cooked onions and tomatoes were like fresh salsa for the dish. The beef also came with a pile of papas fritas and tasty white rice. It had everything from A-Z.

Mi Lindo Peru is not trendy nor packed. It's at the top of Mission far enough that there was plenty of parking available. Mi Lindo Peru is like eating at home. It's comfort food in epic proportions. And you can kick back and relax.

The pops was even ready to say, "Oh sh*t son, this was hella good!" Because it was.  

The pops left happy and even let the kiddies go to Mitchell's for dessert afterwards.

The end.

ChikaLicious! It's so delicious!
I'd walk two miles in the rain
to have a piece of your nectarine terrine.
The white chocolate mousse eclair
is paired with sorbet and is pretty rare.
Parchment paper contains the vanilla-cinnamon baked figs
and you'll have to dig.
Do we mind? No because it's ChikaLicious and it's so delicious!

Chef Chika
Chika Chika boom boom
Chef Chika
Chika Chika boom boom

ChikaLicious! It's so delicious!
The plum tartare times two
is really a hullabaloo!
Who said the warm chocolate tart was hot?
With peppercorn ice cream it was not.
When you have a glass of Moscato
sometimes you'll want to scream arigato!
Do we mind? No because it's ChikaLicious and it's so delicious!

Chef Chika
Chika Chika boom boom
Chef Chika
Chika Chika boom boom

ChikaLicious! It's so delicious!
The best seats are at the bar
and if you sit at a table it becomes too far.
Learn the techniques of the trade.
It's only dessert don't be afraid.
Sometimes you'll have to wait an hour.
Consider it an act of patience and power.
Do we mind? No because it's Chikalicious and it's so delicious!

Chef Chika
Chika Chika boom boom
Chef Chika
Chika Chika boom boom

My out of town friend laughed at me as we walked out of Chocolatier Blue. I was holding my chocolate box out as if it contained a Rolex watch or diamond bracelet. The ribbon tied around it was tight. I couldn't wait to unravel it and try the little jewels. Christopher Blue's chocolate look like precious stones.

The chocolates have precise shapes whether they are molded into hearts, hexagons, spirals, cubes or half globes. They glisten, are speckled with glitter, painted the most amazing shades of yellow, lime green, tangerine, etc. They're also the deepest shade of dark brown, almost black. And there's not a lot. There's just a few rows of each flavor. Individually wrapped in paper I think each chocolate is about $1.50. If you want them in a box, the price becomes $2. How is this a deal? It's not really but here's my logic. Chocolate wrapped in paper is a snack. Chocolate that comes in a box is an experience.

Christopher Blue had me at the chocolate mushrooms. They were far from those Japanese Meiji chocolates that have biscuits for stems. The chocolate mushrooms at Chocolatier Blue are shaped like basic truffles. They're dark chocolate and smooth. They have a woodsy taste and a very rich subtle hint. It really does taste like a mushroom. If there was anything weirder than bacon chocolate it's chocolate mushrooms. But it works and if I had known how good it was going to be, I would have gotten two. I completed my five piece chocolate box with the palet d'or, passion fruit caramel, sage honey and pear. I cranked up the AC in the car to keep my chocolates from melting on the ride back home.

Organic, fresh cream, raw butter, hand made... It doesn't get any better than this. There is no tour of the Chocolatier Blue factory because there is none. These chocolates are not mass produced. They're made fresh and if you're not local, you're out of luck.

Charles Chocolates on the other side of town fails in comparison. Chocolatier Blue is beauty in confection and exquisite in taste.

Imagine going to a pho restaurant and not ordering pho. I can understand going for a vermicelli bowl or a grilled plate instead but to order anything else? Why else would you go to a Vietnamese restaurant?

I introduce you to the Special Plate. It's so special that it's the only thing I get at Pho 32 & Shabu. I don't want anything else.

The Special Plate is a build your own version of summer rolls. Order the Special Plate and Pho 32 will bombard you with a feast that will have your eyes and mouth fighting for the title of who's more hungry. The Special Plate is a large plate of assorted raw vegetables (carrots, zucchini, lettuce), noodles, avocado, shrimp, bean sprouts, pineapple, green onions and jalapeno. It also comes with a sizzling platter of pork. Depending on how nice they are feeling you can switch it up and get 1/2 chicken, 1/2 pork or all chicken. A stack of dry rice papers is provided as well as a hot bowl of water which they refill from time to time.

How does this all come together? You take a rice paper, dip it in water to soften, and then fill the wrapper with whatever your heart desires. I like to put small scoops of noodles, lettuce, pineapple, avocado and pork in mine. I then alternate by dipping my homemade summer roll in the sweet and then spicy sauce. My combinations are different every time and the summer rolls are pretty fun to make.

Aside from the delicious flavors the Special Plate is also interactive and a fun way to share a meal. The tiny tables at Pho 32 are barely big enough to hold this dish but that doesn't take away from the novelty of it at all. In fact as soon as I am served my slaw salad I am ready for them to bring out the goods. Since this is a meal that you eat with your hands, its nice that you are also given complimentary towelettes.

I dedicate this review to my friend Cecille C. She promised me that Pho 32 would be her first review and she was the one who introduced me to this amazing dish. I have tried nothing else here but she also speaks highly of the seafood noodle. After a year of zero reviews, she finally has 3 up, none of which are of Pho 32. But that's okay. I forgive her. Forgiving is easy over the Special Plate.

The Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront is located in the downtown waterfront in close proximity to practically everything. If you are planning on not venturing past the downtown area, then this is a good location to be. The Dali Museum, Pier, University of South Florida, and Museum of Fine Arts is within walking distance. There is also a grocery store, CVS, shopping, countless bars and restaurants all just a few blocks away. Give yourself 10 minutes and you can get to where you need to be on foot. If you're not up for a leisurely stroll, then there is a shuttle that parades around downtown for just 25 cents. If you happen to drive a car, the hotel lot is $12/day but often times the gate was left open for people to park for free.

I stayed at the Hilton St. Petersburg to attend wedding festivities. We had a room block but I got a much cheaper rate through Travelocity. This is the second time I have found rates cheaper on the internet than the room block. If you shop well enough, you can get a discounted rate up to $80 less than the going rate. My room was also a King Access Alcove Suite, much larger than a regular king or double. I had a whole extra room with an extra 42" flat tv, couch and desk. It was more than enough space for one or two people, but since I got such a good deal, why not?

As for basic accommodations, the Hilton St. Petersburg passes with flying colors. If you are grading on decor, the Hilton gets a C. There was no full length mirror at all and the wall paper, colors and bathroom were looking drab and bland. This Hilton felt outdated. There was also no garbage can in the bedroom and when I wanted to watch a movie, there were none available except for the ones showing on TBS. The hallway noise filters into the rooms so close your ears around two or three AM. That's when the club kids get home. Other than that, the bed was comfy and I got two days worth of rest. It was a real vacation at the Hilton.

Shopping for underwear can either be fun or frustrating. It's fun when you don't need anything in specific and you just buy on a whim. It's frustrating when you need something in particular badly and just can't find it.

I was pressed for shopping time and struck out at Macy's. Off to Victoria's Secret I went. It seemed like my only logical choice at the time. VS is the land of lingerie, right? Well yeah, kind of. They have skimpy bikini's, neon slips, panties that say Bride to Be on em, dental floss, and a whole world of PINK. Bleh. After circling each floor twice, battling tourists, declining a shopping bag from the girl at the escalator twice (what a suck job), I finally caved and asked someone for help. Where were the bras for a plunging neckline?

They only had one style. Out of all the bras in VS, they only had one. And it was $50!!!!!!! What a rip off.

"Do you have anything that goes lower than this?"
"We have stickers... or maybe a V bra."
"I don't do stickers."
"How low does your dress plunge?"
"Very low."

I couldn't find the V bra after circling the second floor for a third time. I bought the $50 bra and walked over to JCPenney as a last resort. I found 3 different styles of plunging bras and they averaged about $30 each. The one I chose was made of much better material and was a better fit.

I'm going to return my VS purchase and save myself $20. There's only one item so far I think that was ever worth it from VS. The pear glace lotion. Too bad it's not as popular as the Very Sexy collection.

To call Garcon a bistro would be an insult. It's actually French fancy and it has two rooms to boast. The art in the backroom however is questionable. While the human body and labor of love is a beautiful thing, do you really want to stare at giant pictures of some nude pregnant woman while you eat? Luckily for me, I sat in the front room.

I'm so happy we ended up at Garcon. There was no parking around Goood Frikin Chicken and it was over an hour wait for Spork. We sat immediately at Garcon and the bread served was so good we ended up having four servings. The first two times the bread was served cold. The other times they were fresh out of the oven. Either way, it really hit the spot.

Garcon has a $29 chef special menu. It's a great deal for an appetizer, entree, and dessert. We opted instead for just entrees. With all the ice cream parlors in the Mission, dessert was just down the street and dollars cheaper. A typical entree costs about $18.

Everything we ordered was excellent. The soup of the day which was cream based was rich and filling. It was decorated with toasted pumpkin seeds and crispy mushrooms. I sneaked the first taste while my brother was in the bathroom. Don't tell him. The pork tenderloin with lentils was juicy and perfectly seasoned. The salmon was wrapped in puff pastry dough abd served with brussel sprouts. The fish was not overdone and the puff pastry made it extra special. The duck confit pretty much fell off the bone and if I hadn't gotten the butternut squash and scallion risotto, I would have gotten the duck. The risotto was equally as good and was one of the specials of the day. It looks like Garcon changes their menu periodically. You really can't go wrong here.

Service is a little slow and once the restaurant gets packed you're in for a long night at Garcon. We had to get moving but on any other night I'd love to settle in at Garcon. It's definitely not a junky Mission restaurant. It's got modern light fixtures, expensive wood, cute little parlor lamps on each table, a round bar with plenty of bar stools... This is the type of restaurant where it's easy to relax. Brasserie Les Halles suck it. Garcon! Garcon!

I don't giggle and gush when I'm surrounded by girly things. More often I hyperventilate and feel anxiety. To be ultra girly is just too high maintenance for me. Shopping at Tutu totally threw me off.

I walked out with my pink shopping bag feeling pretty happy. I bought a pink tank top (on sale for $12! - unheard of in Nolita) and Tutu wrapped it in pink tissue paper. That's a whole lotta pink.

I just tried on the tank top and with it's ruffled tiers it fit like a glove. I feel like a princess and by golly, I look like a girl. Lol.

I highly recommend shopping at Tutu for basic tees, graphic bags, soft scarves, accessories and travel items. They also have a pretty cool collection of hats. The store is small but definitely laid back and unpretentious. All sales final and Chicharu is just as sweet as Chika. Maybe they're related.

Homemade marshmallows are the next big thing. They've been neglected too long. Jacques Torres covers them in milk and dark chocolate. Chikalicious creates tiny squares feathered with coconut. Bittersweet Cafe recommends having them with their hot chocolate. Miette makes them plain and simple.

Shaped like baby hockey pucks, Miette offers three flavors (lavender, vanilla, and honey). I picked up a bag along with chocolate chip cookies and the obligatory macarons for a hostess gift I knew my bff would love.

The marshmallows were like pillows of sugar. They were fluffy, not sticky, lightly dusted and were infused with vanilla. At our dinner party, some of us chose to dunk them into our hot cocoa (where they bloomed but still stayed in tact) and some of us held them over candlelight (where they proceeded not to burn or toast). The marshmallows from Miette were strong and meant to be eaten just as is, plain and simple (unaltered). I think that is the best way to appreciate homemade marshmallows. Take a bite and pay attention to the soft texture. Let the marshmallow dance with your tastebuds.

I really hope marshmallows become the next big thing in 2010. Until then, I'll supplement my cravings with all of the other has beens. Miette offers an assortment of mini cookies, cupcakes, candies, and tiny cakes fit for princesses. I'd only buy a few items at Miette. Not everything interests me. But I am rooting for those marshmallows. They sure are good.