Ivy "The Best Part Of The Trip" R.'s Profile

Day two of coworker appreciation.  Another co worker, another revaluation of how understanding of our horrific work situation.  We bonded needless to say.  We bonded over Beef.  We bonded over such a thing that is called a "Cheese Skirt".

You've seen this place on Diners Drive Ins and Dives.  The place that piles on the Cheese, then Ice, then covers it to steam away and make this amazing crispy, lace like structure that juts out of the bun and surrounds the Beef.

My coworker ordered for me and he bought this time.  I would have bought with out a second thought if Id known how good this place was.  Well, I saw in on TV first. I am a Guy Fieri stalker if you didn't know.

We devoured our Squeeze Burgers with our side of Fries.  We were gluttons this afternoon.  We were fat sassy and happy and we were finally a team of understanding.  

I swear if you want to get a group to bond.  Forget the whole corporate team building experience just come here and put on some skirts.  Cheese skirts!

If you look above your head for a second you'll see the little picks in the ceiling.  The kind of little picks they put in a burger to hold it together.  How do they get up there?

We actually saw two dudes chucking them at the ceiling.  We saw how it was done finally.  I didn't attempt.  Knowing my luck, it would have shot back down into my eye or something.  I couldn't chance it.

Seriously greasy, seriously not on my diet, seriously Cheesy.  Seriously one of the best lunches ever and quite honestly the most unique burger you'll ever indulge in.

These past few months of work have been Hell.  I thought that I was alone with my inner turmoil until finally I opened up to a coworker and found that not only was I not alone but we had the same feelings about what was going on  around us.

To show my appreciation to him for the complete understanding and that my coworker showed me, I took him here for lunch.  On my dime.

I had been here in the past and was treated like royalty and I wanted to treat my co worker as such.

I had the Linguine alle Vongole.  Linguine Pasta, Fresh Clams in the Shell, Fine Herbs, Garlic and White Wine Sauce.  When the words fine are used they are not a lie.  This was one of the finest dishes Ive experienced.

He had the Ravioli alla Casalinga. House Made Meat Ravioli with Traditional Meat Sauce.  By the end of his dish he said that he was very impressed by the quality and the homemade taste.  Here! Here!

They serve warm bread that I would dare a Biggest Loser coach to deny.  So warm and gooey.  On a rainy Bay Area day, this bread is what you should be having to warm you up.

Service is unquestionably personable, friendly and on point.  The crowd here at lunch is on the older side and upper class business.  Its quiet  to say the least.  But very nice and you don't feel rushed and with out a doubt you know everyone here is enjoying themselves as well.

If you ever get the chance to come here, I dare you not to enjoy yourself.

Eating here was a total accident on my part.  I was searching for the German Deli across the street (later review to follow).  I could not for the life of me find it!  So I just decided to come here because I was starving.

I got the Turkey Cranberry with Cream Cheese on an Onion Roll, Lettuce & Tomato.  The Onion Roll looked deceivingly hard.  Surprisingly it was so incredibly soft.  I have been on a really good Roll run lately.  Ha ha, Roll Run!

The bad part of my sandwich was that I was covered with crumbs and flakes that fell off as I was eating in my car.  I had to get out and jump around to shake off the crumbs like I was dog.

I also grabbed a bag of day old Bagels for $2.50.  A dozen day olds for $2.50.  Those bagels were in my hands without even thinking twice.  Its was great mix of Parmesan, Jalapeno, Poppy Seed, Basil and Plains.  

Do I need to repeat $2.50?  No!

As a family we do not eat fast food very often if at all.  I however was raised by a teenage mother and I don't even give a second thought to fast food.  My husband has trained me to be different.

Except when he knows that we are going out on a week night and only have a few minutes to eat something.  This nights something was a 20 pack of Chicken Nuggets.  That was it I swear.

Now, this is a McDonalds.  I know, I know there might as well be a sign of the devil on the roof.  This McDonalds was one of the cleanest I have ever been in.  

The line for the drive thru was super long and you can see right through the window to the counter and there was not a soul in there.  Of course I walked in.  

Always analyze your surrounding people!

Our Nuggets were Nuggety?  What more can I say.  Now that my Lil guy is walking maybe when the weather is good we will venture out to the Play Place too.  Its not indoor so Summer will probably be the time to visit.

I'm going to rename my cellulite divots this month "Nuggets" instead.

If you're looking for a little accessory for your up do than look no further than Claires.  I'm not so young anymore and some of the stuff is beneath me.  When I need something unique I at least give this place a shot.

I bought a little black feather clip hair accessory that I later found out was supposed to have fake crystals  in the center but they managed to fall off.  So it was never worn.

My least favorite thing about is the employees trying to up sell me at the register.  Just let me buy my crap in peace and let me leave.  I don't need one more nail polish or one more earring.

I scour the clip on earring section and the ones I do walk up there with are the ones I'm going to buy and If I had to bet my life savings there isn't another pair there that I would want. Not even at 1/2 off or whatever sale you're pushing now.

I may not be a teeny bopper but my hair still thinks it is.

Bun Mi right in my work day back yard is pretty sweet.  I usually just walk in and wait the the guy greeting us is always so sweet and helpful.  

I get the Chicken Bun Mi always. BBQ chicken, Crunchy Roll, Cucumber Slices, Tomato slices, Cilantro, Carrot shreds and Daikon shreds.

The veggies are always crisp.  Even though sometimes the Tomato can be a little flavorless.  I am one of those people that were blessed with loving the flavor of Cilantro and the more the merrier for me when it comes to this sandwich.

One of the rarities is that I also really like the crusty bread.  Its a very thin crust with a really soft center.

Some of the reviewers mentioned the low quality meat and yes sometimes the Chicken is some of the less than quality pieces for my sandwich.

The only real thing that keeps me from being a real regular is the smell of the place.  Its just smells old.  Smells conjure up memories and I remember going to old Chinese markets with my grandfather when I was really little and some of the markets had this same old mildew, mold smell.  

I cant explain it you'll have to smell it for yourself.  

I do occasionally enjoy my sandwich but not to often.

Because Walnut Creek is one of the medical hubs of the East Bay, there are like 40 CVS's in the area.  I'm exaggerating obviously.

Whenever I need meds ASAP I have them called into here.  It's always busy here. they have like 3 pharmacists on duty.

This time they were, you guessed it, busy as hell.  It was going to take 40 minted for my baby's antibiotics.  

I parked in a front spot right by the front door.  As I fed the baby in the car I was able to watch all the people coming in and out with their goods.  My observations are that no one ever walks out with more than one bag.  Most purchases I saw people with were one thing.  All kinds of things ranging from candy, milk, Kotex, vitamins.

Finally it was done.  The line wasn't to long and I was able to quickly get a consultation with the pharmacist.  They were very helpful.  

I've also noticed that the cashiers in the regular store are faster than most CVS employees.  Probably because this place is always busy.

So this is the go to emergency pharmacy and the go to place for that one item that you need.  Just one thing nothing else.

Is there some prerequisite that babies have that says they have to get sick at the most inappropriate times?  3 a.m, Friday at 5 p.m. right when the pediatrician closes, the day I have a huge presentation scheduled for a client at 2 in the afternoon.

This time it was the oh so convenient 5pm in Friday when I picked him up from the baby sitter with a fever of 101.

He had had a low grade fever off and on for three days.  The third day he had a 99 degree fever in the morning and didn't have one again.  Fourth day, fever back up again with a new case of wheezing.  

I had to call here.  They got me in right away with the first appointment of the night.

Fevers and baby wheezing is a clear VIP pass into the baby doctor.  

We got there with no one else waiting.  He still had a fever and the doctor could here some sounds in one of his lungs.

They checked his oxygen levels by putting a little thing on his little finger.  My son does this thing where if he is really thinking about something he holds his breath.  He has done it since the day he was born.  It's only for a few seconds but when you do it during an oxygen test it kind of effects the outcome.

So we had to wait a few minutes and tried it again. I distracted him so he was breathing normally.

His oxygen levels were normal at the second test.  The doctor was so calm and nice.  The office was pretty modern and clean as well.

We got a prescription for some antibiotics. The second we got home with our meds he took it and his fever was completely gone.  

Babies get sick without warning and get sick again all of the sudden after a day of you thinking they aren't sick anymore.  

For such instances we have Dr's like this to help us out.

The next dog I get is going to be named Reuben.  They are my almost favorite sandwich and if the dog I get is cute enough I'll just want to eat him up.

So if you couldn't tell I went with the Reuben.  Their version was pretty good.  They put it on a roll that wasn't to big but wasn't my favorite part of the sandwich.  The absolute best part was the Sauerkraut.  Yummy!  It was tangy and slightly crisp and didn't overpower the meat or sauce.

I also bought a big hunk of Red Velvet Cake for later.  They don't make it in house.  Their cakes come from a local bakery.  It wasn't a very memorable piece of cake.

They also have so many types of drinks it's hard to decide and quite the selection of chips.

I'll admit.  I usually come here after my post lunchtime gym workout and am ravenous with hunger.  They may have better sandwiches but I've stuck to the Reuben on a Roll.

Poor little Nique was left out in West Oakland to put out the fire.  The fire of the MACHINE!  She did a great job and you know thankfully it was a smaller event.  I seem to be going for more of the smaller Yelp Elite Events.  

While SF was hungover we were light'n the night up with some raucous vocals and smoke'n tunes.

Here are my Crucible tips:
1)  Dress warmly in the winter.  Even though there is flames in front of you that doesn't mean they keep you warm.
2)  Do not, I repeat, Do not wear heels.  The old bleachers you sit on are not very accommodating.
3)  It might be a good idea to bring a pillow to sit on.  My butt hurt so bad by the end of the show.  And trust me I have my own built in cushion and it didn't help.

I didn't partake of the wine but my sister remembered the winery from the Sunset Show Down and has bought their wine since then.  So they have a new customer thanks to yelp.

If I was drinking I would have went with Ale Industries.  My husband loves this brewery.  Good beers and really down to earth guys who serve it up to you.

I got to see one of my all time favorite Yelpers to read, Gabe F.  I wanted a picture with him but at the end he had disappeared and I didn't get one.  I made a new friend, Juana S.  That's always cool!

Great event and great excuse to get my husband babysitting practice.  Just so that I may be able to go to more events with my sister.

Thank you Yelp!