Michelle "foodie trying not to be a fattie" T.'s Profile
DateRedwood City, CA 94063
(650) 306-0238
Paradise Kabab House
Categories:
Middle Eastern,
Persian/Iranian
Before showing up at my very first CrossFit class, I was a jumble of nerves. It's not that I've never exercised in a group setting before; I've been to countless yoga and aerobics classes over the years, and for the past year or so, I've been showing up at weekend cardio-kickboxing classes at a nearby martial arts studio. But the prospect of starting CrossFit scared the hell out of me.
After mulling it over for months and months, I finally decided to bite the bullet, swallow my fear, and join CrossFit Palo Alto. February seemed like a good time to start; I'd heard that the gym was starting a "women's class" and figured it'd be a less intimidating environment in which to get my feet wet.
At my first class, I met the other women in my class and we all gathered around to make introductions. I was amazed -- I'd heard about the strong communities that develop around CrossFit, but I didn't really expect everyone to be so open, warm and friendly. These gals are genuinely nice people, I thought to myself. And how weird is it that we're even chatting?
The other four members who showed up for my first CrossFit class were more than willing to share their own experiences. A couple of them had been coming to CrossFit Palo Alto for a while, but the others were pretty much new to this stuff (like me). All of them were hugely inspiring -- not just because of what they can physically do, but because of their passion for CrossFit. It was infectious.
The small class size was perfect, too. It was big enough to get the energy going, but small enough to still maintain a comfortable environment in which we all got close attention and one-on-one instruction from Trish, our coach.
Did I mention how much I already love Trish?
It goes without saying that Trish is super-fit, and when she demonstrated strength skills, she made them look deceptively easy. (They're not actually easy, by the way.)
But even more important to me was the fact that she immediately put me -- the scared rookie -- at ease. Contrary to the stereotype (in my mind) of a hyper-competitive, whiteboard-obsessed CrossFit drill sergeant, Trish is incredibly nice and laid-back. When I inquired about getting a notebook to write down my WOD results, she shrugged and said, "Nah -- don't worry about it for today." Throughout the class, Trish was observant, encouraging and patient, taking the time to explain every last detail of the exercises and class format to me.
I've been coming to classes for 2 months now and I can't imagine getting my sweat on anywhere else. I highly recommend joining CFPA to anyone who wants to get strong and healthy. Just remember this simple fact: EVERYTHING CAN BE SCALED. Just do it!
1 Previous Review:
-
7/13/2010
First, a disclaimer: I'm not a member of CrossFit Palo Alto. I've never even visited it. But my husband started going a month ago, and is seriously digging this place. Really. He won't shut up about it. Today, he's been bugging me about Yelping about CrossFit Palo Alto, so here's a review based solely on secondhand information from my non-Yelping spouse.
A couple of years ago, when parenthood started getting in the way of our regular trips to the local gym, we set up some dumbbells and mats in our garage and started working out at home. And over the past year, both of us have cleaned up our eating habits substantially. (I still can't believe I'm eating Paleo now.) We've definitely gotten a lot healthier.
But my nutjob of a husband felt like it wasn't enough. He wanted a challenge, and now, he's definitely got one with CrossFit. He joined CrossFit Palo Alto last month, and has been waking up in the middle of the night, three days a week, to get ready to head out for his 5 a.m. classes. Afterwards, he pops back into the house a little after 6 in the morning, energized and excited about what he's already accomplished before most people have even rubbed the sleep out of their eyes.
Honestly, I'm amazed by what he's been doing. Since starting CrossFit four weeks ago, he's been learning Olympic weightlifting, swinging kettlebells, and jumping on everything all the time. And his lingo is now peppered with incomprehensible words like "met-con" and "kipping." Last week, he proudly announced that he'd finally completed a muscle-up. ("What's a muscle-up?" I asked, which hopefully reminded him that not everyone's had a sip of the Kool-Aid.)
Long story short: He's a big fan of CrossFit Palo Alto.
Guacamole Classico (organic avocados with lime, cilantro, onions, serrano chiles,and cherry tomatoes) with added bacon and shrimp.
Crudo Jarocho (yellow fin tuna with serrano chiles, persian cucumbers, red onion, and habanero salsa).
Nopalitos (roasted cactus with pico de gallo, lime, cilantro, and queso fresco).
1 lb carnitas (Vande Rose slow-cooked pork shoulder with organic tortillas, salsas, guacamole, and pickled onion).
Man, those carnitas are badass. The kids scarfed up the chips and tortillas, and hubs and I ate everything else. Yes, there was some dairy in our meal, and I'm sure there was sugar in some of the marinades and salsas, but I'm okay with it. And, yes, I know we ordered a shitload of food. I did that on purpose so we'd have a tasty box of leftover carnitas in the fridge.
See? You can eat Paleo at a Mexican restaurant!
Lahaina, HI 96761
(808) 667-0908
Cool Cat Cafe
Categories:
Burgers,
American (Traditional),
Bars
We came here for dinner tonight and I ordered a Jailhouse Rock ("juicy" burger served with sauteed mushrooms, grilled onions, and jack cheese) with no bun and a side salad. So not worth it. My patty was overcooked and overpriced and the cheese wasn't fully melted on top. I hate that! Plus, you have to walk through all the touristy bullshit that is Lahaina Town to get here.
On another note, you do get served by cute and tatted Madden brothers lookalikes so I guess that's a small plus in its favor.
Lahaina, HI 96761
(808) 669-6286
Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Categories:
Japanese,
Sushi Bars
I wasn't looking forward to dinner at Sansei because our dinner there was really disappointing last year. We ordered all their "signature" dishes and it was a bunch of crazy-ass fried cream cheese filled sushi rolls or dishes topped with sickly sweet sauces. Icky.
Our friends really wanted to eat here this week so I relented and reluctantly agreed to go. I've been dictating where we've all been eating this vacay, so I suppose it was time I let someone else have a say. And boy, was I glad I did.
This time, we steered away from the stuff that was noted as crowd pleasers and simply chose items that looked delicious and not overly complicated. Here's what we had:
- Cajun seared white tuna sashimi with shaved Maui onion, red jalapeno and Yukke sauce
- Roasted Japanese eggplant with sweet miso-sake sauce.
- Grilled Upcountry shiitake mushrooms with tangy soy-ponzu sauce
- Ahi tataki salad
- "Kenny G": thinly sliced fresh sashimi grade shiromi with shiso, minced garlic, and masago in a tangy ponzu vinaigrette. Delicious but what's the deal with the name? How is this a homage to the easy listening smooth jazz King?
- Shichimi Seared Fresh Atlantic Salmon and Tiger Prawn served with asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, and soy butter sauce. The salmon (which wasn't local) was a tad over-cooked but the soy butter sauce was pretty amazing.
If any of you are interested in totally blowing your Paleo diet, order the tempura fried ice cream. It's vanilla ice cream wrapped in buttery pound cake, rolled in roasted macadamia nuts, flash-fried and served with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. This dessert is the sole reason our friend wanted to eat here. It was not cheat-worthy in my book so I abstained.
Our meal was great and it cost HALF of what we paid the night before at Mama's Fish House. The fish here is super fresh and I definitely preferred the raw preparations to the cooked ones. If you order before 6 pm, your bill is 25% off - so go be like an old lady and come in early!
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 327-0830
Cafe Borrone
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Breakfast & Brunch,
Sandwiches
The other morning I ordered Scramble #6 (eggs scrambled with bacon and Swiss chard) with a side of chicken apple sausage. Very tasty and we enjoyed it out in the sun by the fountain. Weekday mornings are my favorite time to come -- no lines and few(er) poseurs.
What did we eat? Our first taste was a freebie shot glass filled with tomato ginger bisque. Good first impression and the 5 year-old was clamoring for seconds. My appetizer was Ono marinated in coconut milk and lime, Tahitian style. Mmmmm mmmm! Hubby ordered the blue prawns in Tahitian vanilla beans and coconut milk sauce. These prawns were super tasty. Maybe because they were coconut-y.
I was going to order their signature dish, macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi stuffed with lobster, crab, and Maui onion, but the server informed me that it wasn't gluten free. Instead, she steered towards the Lehi fish that could be served gluten free. The Lehi fish was sautéed with tomatoes, white wine, garlic, and capers. I subbed out the lemongrass rice pilaf for some mixed vegetables. My dish was fine but not mind blowing and there were some bitter zucchini in my mixed veggies.
For hubby's main, he ordered the Mahi Mahi Hawaiian style which came with a coconut butter sauce, Kalua pig, grilled Hana banana, sweet potato, star fruit, and poi. Again, it was good but not $40+ good.
At the end of the meal, we got some free haupia (coconut jello) which was tasty but tiny. C'mon people -- we've already blown a crapload of money here. Can't you be a little more generous? Even Per Se throws in tons of free sweets and a baked good to take home.
What's my verdict? It's tasty and tiki-tastic but too damn expensive. I liked the Hawaiian theme, the friendly service,and the beautiful postcard views of the Pacific. However, it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over-priced, an hour drive from where we were staying, and maybe a little too kitschy. Plus, I like my food prepared more simply. If you have a super fresh fish caught within 24 hours, why is it necessary to drench it with a thick, heavy ass sauce?
Would we return? Hubby says "NO!" but I say maybe. It appeals to a wide swath of the population for a reason so it's a good place to take grandparents, picky eaters, kids, etc. if you're willing to pay through your nose. But you better be willing to treat them, or you'll be in the doghouse.
Lots of great shared plates. My faves are the ahi avo, roasted mushrooms, pohole salad, Brussels sprouts,and steamed pork buns (which I ate sans bun). The kids loved the skewered, piping hot malasadas with dipping sauces.
Super nice wait staff who are very accomodating with the keiki. Definitely make reservations if your party has 5 or more. We'll definitely return (numerous times) on our next trip to Maui.
For example, I thought my days of eating at Redwood City's Old Port Lobster Shack were over once since I switched to eating Paleo. Not true -- just order a Shack Louie and you are good to go! I was a little skeptical about ordering a salad at a place known for its lobster rolls and fried seafood but if Gutenberg says that it's tasty, I believe him. Sure enough, the salad was fresh and delicious. Yes, it's kinda pricey but just use this coupon (http://gogocoupons.com...) when you spend $50. Very kid-friendly so bring the rugrats.
Now that the discount is even smaller (and the mark-up is pretty high), I'll only come for grocery emergencies on my way home from work.
2 Previous Reviews:
-
4/11/2010
Attention Stanford students and employees: 15% discount every Tuesday if you show your ID! I found out the hard way that you MUST show ID.
Picture this: A few weeks ago, I stop off here to pick up some groceries after getting off my sixth night shift in a row. I'm wearing scrubs, which is what I wear when I shop for groceries here once a week. Since I come in early in the morning, I'm normally one of the only shoppers so most of the employees recognize me and greet me with friendly smiles. As the checker is ringing up my order, I notice a red flyer on the counter that touts the new discount for Stanford affiliates. I realize I should qualify for the discount so I ask the checker if I can get it.
Side note: Wouldn't it have been nice if she had told me about their new promotion since I am dressed in scrubs and am a loyal customer?
She tells me I can get the discount if I show my work ID. No problem. I reach for it in my bag but then I realize I've left it in the glove compartment of my car. I look out the window and it's raining cats and dogs. Plus, I have no umbrella and I'm wearing my Vibram Fivefingers. Crap. I tell her my ID is in the car but she just smirks and tells me that just because I'm wearing scrubs, it doesn't mean I work at Stanford. Then, she adds that she just made another lady go to her car to get her ID, so I need to as well. Hmmmm...do I want the discount that bad? Hell yeah.
When I return with my ID, drenched and steaming, she shrugs and gives me a half-hearted apology about how it wouldn't be fair to other people if I didn't show my ID. Dude, I know this is your policy but couldn't you have hidden your delight at sending me out in the pouring rain to fetch my ID? I return the next Tuesday ('cause I'm not shopping any other day of the week anymore) but make sure I'm in another clerk's checkout line. I tell him I'm a Stanford employee and have my ID ready. He nods. When he gives me the total, there is no discount so I ask him if he took off the discount for Stanford employees. Exasperated, he tells me that I should've told him I was an employee when he first starting ringing up my order. I tell him (very nicely) that I did tell him about my Stanford affiliation when he starting ringing up my order but he must not have heard me. Initially, I was worried and felt bad that he'd have to void my order and re-scan everything but all he had to do was punch in a code and I got my discount. It didn't even take more than a few seconds. WTF?
The third time I came, my favorite clerk, Lauren, was working and I made sure I showed her my ID right away and said it audibly a few times. I think she thought it was odd of me to tell her repeatedly that I was a Stanford employee but I was sick of jumping through hoops to get what is essentially just a small discount (especially since things here ain't cheap).
Except for the two episodes I wrote about above, customer service here is normally great. I also love that I can buy Primavera salsa and Cowgirl Creamery cheese here without having to travel all the way to the San Francisco Ferry building. That being said, I am deducting a star because it's definitely not one of my favorite places to shop anymore. -
4/1/2009
Convenience, location, diverse selection, and good service make this a four star place for me.
I totally agree that their prices are pretty steep -- sometimes even higher than Whole Paycheck. And I have seen expired stuff on the shelves a little too frequently but I love that I can come here right after work at 7:30 am and do all my grocery shopping before going home to fall asleep. The people who work here are very helpful and cheery - even at the early hour I shop. The guys behind the meat counter will happily go in the back and get me whatever I want even though nothing is out yet. And the friendly guy stocking the milk in the morning always grabs me a carton with the latest expiration date even if it messes up his fastidiously assembled display.
They have a great selection of artisanal cheeses by local makers like Cowgirl Creamery and Belfiore and they have a huge variety of almost everything you could want. I do suspect that their big selection is the very reason they have expired products on the shelves because it is hard to rotate their enormous inventory.
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"I can't eat that -- it has grains in it!"
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San Francisco, CA
Yelping SinceOctober 2005
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm chasing after my kids, thinking of my next few meals, sleeping.
Why You Should Read My Reviews'cause I'm a maven, baby!
The Last Great Book I ReadGood Calories, Bad Calories
My First ConcertErasure
My Favorite MovieBreaking Away
My Last Meal On EarthSomething super carb-y.
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...my hobby as a teen was winning radio contests
Most Recent DiscoveryVibram FiveFingers, eating Paleo
Current Crushmy three guys
I'm a big fan of the koobideh, lamb kababs, and chicken thigh kababs. I just wish this place was closer to my house!