Miika "piika chu*" m.'s Profile

Looking for positivity.

2011 was a sucker punch to my left temple.  Never have I had to deal with the inordinate amounts of BS that only the purely stupid or undiscerning sheltered teeny bopper would have put up with.  It truly is hard to describe a successful dating philosophy when one cannot let go of their exes.  I call that rather feeble.  Or mediocre, as such was my experience here.

Elevation 66 came up on a search since the weather had dropped suddenly and we were both freezing.  Nothing sounded better than something warm, soup or stew like.  So we bypassed most of my fave Korean Soft Tofu joints for the come hither call of Shepherds Pie from their online site.  

The interior of this establishment is fantastic and reflective of most of the gastropubs I've experienced: modern, dark wooden tables, chairs, long bar counter, and steel accents throughout.  The feel is warm and cozy, with most of the people packed into a limited amount of tables on one side and the counter on the other.  The cherry on top is definitely the service.  The staff, albeit seemingly understaffed on a busy Saturday evening, had no problems keeping up with the flow of dining patrons and made us feel quite at home.

Hence the disappointment.  We found out that their site was not up to date and that they were no longer offering the Shepherds Pie.  So, it was only as a second choice where my dining companion elected for their Wagyu Beef burger, prepared medium (I know, sacrilege) with a side of french fries.  It came topped with caramelized onions, tomatoes, and a side of lovely curry aioli.  The fries were fantastic, perfectly salted and not too crunchy.  He enjoyed the burger, but I found the lack of a warm pink center as slightly overdone and crumbly.  For those who do not know, Wagyu beef is usually utilized in sukiyaki and shabu shabu (how I've had it in Japan) and it is unique as reflected in the higher fat content, easily seen after sliced: the meat is beautifully marbled with ribbons of fat, which would also explain the tender and juicy nature of the meat.  

I did not want a $14 Wagyu Beef Hamburger or the $13 Fish & Chips, so I settled on the $14 Chicken Cassoulet/Confit which is usually a warm and filling peasant dish of duck leg served with a cassoulet of beans.  Imagine my surprise when the Chicken Confit showed up as a silly rendition of chicken breast tonkatsu, about 1/4 inches thick and the size of my 7 inches long hand, sliced in half.  Because it was a thin bland piece of meat, I had to swipe some of the curry aioli on it for taste.  However, the cassoulet, or mini hot kettle of beans casserole style was superbly flavored with bacon and pieces of slow cooked chicken that was extremely tender.  Unfortunately, the beans had soaked up most of the juices so I had to mash down the beans in order to soften the side dish.

As with most expectations, I've been sorely disappointed, from everything in the professional, personal, dating, and foodie world.  So I probably should not have ordered the confit/cassoulet in hopes that it would have reflected my previous amazing experiences at Epic Roasthouse, Chouchou, Le Petit Robert (closed, unfortunately), and at home.  For approximately $20 for all the ingredients, I could have made it with triple the portions and with leftovers to spare.

My 3-star rating reflects my experience with one item off their menu, but I rate Elevation 66  4-5 for their ambiance, fantastic staff, and great selection of beers.  The Blonde by Mendocino Brewing Co. was so good that my dining partner ordered two.

When out and about, leave the gun and take the list.

Yet another shop on our trot over to Japantown.  This time, my supper mate went in this store because of his current search for the perfect succulent.  Be it puffy, smooth, prickly......he had an idea of what he wanted but no idea in what to get.  

This is the store for those who are looking to learn more or add to their existing indoor brood of flora and fauna.  In addition to a great selection of orchids and succulent cuttings, they also offer hydroponics and lighting supplies for the ardent enthusiasts.  The people at the counter are very knowledgeable and are open to any questions, low or high level.

We looked at the cacti but ended up not purchasing anything since we were still mobile and he was not sure exactly what to get, but we knew we'd be back for quality product and services.

Slightly more expensive than your suburban neighborhood mega store but the quality in the prices reflect this.

Always have a list handy.

I've unfortunately begun to experience the setbacks that aging seemingly blesses us all with, sooner or later : loss of short-term memory.  So when I know that I have to pick up a certain household item or baking supplies, I have to commit it to a little piece of paper.

We had just finished dinner at Herbivore and decided to walk off the very-good-for-you platter of food by heading over to Japantown on foot.  Divisadero is one of my favorite streets in the city.  It is host to some of the best eateries in town, friendly people with their furry four footed friends, and metered parking that I've always had luck in procuring on a busy Saturday evening if Muni is just not going to cut it.

97 Cent Plus is exactly that : inexpensive items spanning several categories from household items to party stuff perfect for birthday and them parties.  I was looking specifically for drain sieves which catch everything from hair all the way to unthinkable known to man (who knows what people do in their bathrooms) and found a package with a set of three in different sizes for under $1!  My friend found a portable Chess set for the same price...perfect since he had been planning on learning how to play for a while.  We spent a good 20 minutes in there perusing....toothpaste, laundry soap, plastic tubs for water, shampoo, body lotion....make-up, hairspray...paper plates, cups, plastic butter containers...almost anything for everywhere.

The ladies at the register were funny and kept the conversation going, even as the register decided to take on a life of it's own.  We stepped back out into the cold, heading toward the destination at hand.

Trust is a fickle thing.

It can either comfort, denigrate, or break a person's resolve.  In my case, I've had to wrestle with the fact that being quite intuitive can visualize many purposely hidden characteristics under the skin, which of course can further chip away at such trust.  Since several levels of dating trust have been broken lately, I've had to apply such techniques when out on a food romp of sorts.

Cities are a veritable culinary playground when it comes to meal times.  The game is on, stemming from a few well placed coins down to several inches of plastic.  Since my dating experience spans a section of the taxpaying class, I've had my share of Michelin rated linen topped dining down to the old hole-in-the-wall counters that are lined thick with aging grease and character.  Nowadays, pomp and expensive restaurants deter rather than attract.  I'm happy at the cheesiest and cheapest Chinese restaurant on Clement: one entree dish is approximately $5 and comes appropriately fatting out the dish.  

What I've learned is that anything on Castro in Mountain View is expensive.  No thanks to the high rent and the thousands of tech/science inclined individuals that can afford to live in the area.  In addition, since my good eating citified arse has been spoiled in SF, I find it hard to justify paying anything over $7 in such said Ethnic cuisine.  I was a bit apprehensive about Fu Lam Mum, just by peering at the menu, but since I was visiting a very dear friend of mine, nothing mattered more than his company and sharing dating woes during the invaluable conversation of catch-up.

Fu Lam Mum is typical that of large dim sum houses: white walled, rowdy, lacking character, and flashy in accoutrements.  What makes one overlook a boring attitude was the fact that the tables were packed, despite the high prices.  In the end, since the menu is quite extensive and we were both not really packing much of an appetite, settled on Moo Shu Pork and the Singaporean style rice noodle dish.  The Moo Shu filling was great, with the right amount of savoriness as imparted by the shredded pieces of pork, mushrooms, onions, and cabbage.....but we were disappointed by the dry, crackly nature of the pancakes.  Most of the pancakes I've had were supple, moist, yet typical of the think character of the style in which they are served.  Our pancakes turned crunchy by the time we reached the 5th one and by then, it failed to hold any of the filling because it simply cracked apart.  The Singaporean noodle was anything but just reflective of the original noodles.  It lacked taste, despite the plentiful amounts of veggies, sliced ginger, and pork....so much so that we ended up spooning bit of the Moo Shu hoisin sauce into the noodles for more flavor.

I would definitely come back for the Moo Shu in the future and request personally that the pancakes not be as brittle, advise not to order the Singaporean rice noodle dish.  Stick with the traditional specialties, such as their Peking duck, braised fish (the flounder looked amazing) and chow fun dishes, and most importantly, hit this spot for their late dim sum hours of 9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. where the Chinese tapas style of serving tidbits is probably their saving shining star.  Good ambiance and the wait staff were attentive.

I would personally hit the dim sum markets on Clement and purchase my own Peking duck and appetizers for under $20......and have leftovers to spare.  Trust, fickle indeed.  The other type associated with dating?  He's still working on it.

Resolutions can knock off.

Instead, I usually compile a "No Tolerance" policy for the impending year.

For this year, my first three is as follows:

1.  No tolerance for dates who coddle the straggling eX-factor
2.  No tolerance for consistently false and malicious info
3.  No tolerance for consistently stupid behavior

Unfortunately, my current No Tolerance list has grown in leaps and bounds, no thanks to the numerous simple (to me) yet apparently complex (to them) issues that have been thrown via involuntary methods.  I will detract from going into detail about such negativity by pointing out the following: nothing makes a dour day better than spending several hours with a good friend over a meal and perhaps a nice walk, from Geary down to Fell.

For my 1300th review, decided upon something positive: coffee!  Mojo Bicycle Cafe is located just a few blocks up Divis from Herbivore and since I was an hour early prior to the meeting, wandered in from the social sidewalk packed with people, chatter, pooches, and bicycles, to a cozy slice of wood floors and  warm lighting reminiscent of cafes in the Pacific Northwest (for those who have been to Seattle, you know exactly that of which I speak.)

As a big fan of Ritual, it makes me happy to see it served elsewhere in the city, so kudos to Mojo for the local support.  However, since I'm not much of an adventurous type when it comes to caffeine, breve lattes are my usual order in that they satisfy rev energy levels as well as warding off the sudden chill when the sun dips below the hill around 4:00.  The latte was smooth, creamy,  and strong enough to kick my overall trudging demeanor.  If I were not expecting to be elsewhere, would have taken a seat inside......and if I were a smoker, would have sat outside with the rest of the casual cheerful people crowding the tables out on the sidewalk, but can't due to my pitiful yet rebellious asthmatic lungs.

In addition to coffee and a menu that spans breakfast/lunch (salads and bagels), there is also a shop in the back that caters bicycle parts as well as other wheeled maintenance for the healthy lower/upper leg defined.  Great for a little laptop time and a pastry.  Perfect for afternoon dates.  If you stop in on Thursday evenings, have one of the Rice Paper Scissors Banh Mi to go with your salad......and then linger a bit outside to make new friends over their rides and possible dogs in tow.

Unfortunately, being a stickler for time, found my legs trotting off to Herbivore, fueled, in no doubt, by the aforementioned perfect latte.

I've decided to forgo every carnivorous instinct in my bones and write about one of the updated best vegetarian experiences ever.  No Niman Ranch beef burgers.  No steaks.  No platter of ribs.

An old vegan friend of mine from school was traveling through so we decided to meet at Herbivore, via his recommendations.  My first experience was slighted, so as any well conditioned human being, was not as convinced.  I was slightly apprehensive about brunch and warned my significant other that we would  be hitting a pizza spot right thereafter.  Was I ever so wrong.

Herbivore is known for their extensive vegan menu spanning breakfast into dinner, so for someone who orders their steaks bloody rare, I feared plates that were lacking in flavor, sprigged out with weeds, and boring to the palate.  Not so.  Navigating such unknown waters with the help of my friend, I decided upon the Savory Filled crepes with basil pesto scrambled tofu plate accompanied with a side of their house potatoes.  A platter with two large crepes bursting with flavor and textures arrived within 30 minutes of our conversation: talk about huge portions.  My greedy eyes could not believe it.

The scrambled tofu was amazingly soft and lacked any type of tough rubber that usually happens when overdone and the basil pesto added the right touch of savory.  Crepes were as ideal as the French who had composed them, perfectly risen and gave way to my impending forked attacks.  Fantastic conversation and delicious food gave way to a cleaned plate within a manner of minutes.
Additional side orders such as toast, tempeh bacon, and smoothies are available to round out even the heartiest of appetites.  We sat outside in the little covered space out front for amusing people observations, but inside where the temperatures are warmer, wooden seats invite amidst a palette of earth tones meant to soothe and relax.

For my second foray into vegan cuisine I left satisfied and stuffed, a feat that sometimes even a  1/2 pound burger has failed to meet.  The prices here are slightly expensive for something meatless but the ingredients were fresh and most things out of the ordinary usually justify the cost.  I therefore retract my first review and blame a boring date for the ignorant review and submit this for a future indulgence and forgiveness.  

I foresee brunch visits in the near future.......and look forward to introducing city newcomers to my new favorite vegan spot on Divisadero.

Bon Appétit!

I'm going to be honest and confess that the stereotypes surrounding Fruitvale have long kept my ignorant discriminatory arse from visiting the area.  So it was only by chance that a date earlier in the year introduced me to the neighborhood by taking me to a place known for the beignets.

I've heard of them and of course, any self-respecting person from Louisiana may possibly berate me for this, but these delightful airy fried pastry bubbles dusted heavily with powdered sugar were a welcome.  In addition to crepes, frappes, smoothies, sandwiches, and coffee drinks, Powderface offers plenty of seating, inside/out, as well as wifi for those looking to crash for a bit on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

For this afternoon, since I was in the mood to shoot pics along infamous International, stopped in for a Roasted Turkey Breast with melted brie, cranberry sauce, and salad greens on toasted sweet French bread.  It was amazingly good.  Even decadent.  I could barely finish the other half.

Props more for the awesome jazz standards streaming in the background and for the truly courteous and nice staff behind the counter.  

Right across from Fruitvale Bart, so why not make a reason to stop by and try something?

I'm not much of a Pho person.

Actually, a good friend of mine is.  She's said it many times before that she can have Pho every day.  I personally am not as inclined.  I prefer a hamburger every day over a bowl of noodles in soup.  And for my Yelp friends who have taken their valuable time into reading about my Pho escapades, know very well how important the broth is. And as Darryl P. has pointed how, "When you eat Pho, it's all about the soup. If the soup is bad then the Pho is bad. No matter if all the the other ingredients are great.." Ditto.

So after doing a quick run around in Walnut Creek, we decided to make one last pit stop prior to hitting the 24 back to the city.  I did a search on Yelp for a cheap noodle place and Pho Lee Hoa Phat popped up.

Located in a strip mall next to a Korean BBQ joint and sushi bar, this enclosure was buzzing with the dinner crowd and the parking lot reflected this.  As a typical nondescript Pho spot, do not expect anything fancy.  This is where people come to eat, single or en masse, and then leave.  The wait staff is equally efficient at moving the numbers in and out, reminding me of the busy ramen houses in Japan.

I ordered the atypical Pho combination which included chicken, beef, shrimp, and the assortment of bean sprouts, basil, jalapenos, and lime wedges.  My friend ordered the no. 2, the standard at most Pho places: meatballs, rare flank steak, tripe, and tendon.  I have to confess, this place has so far outranked all spots I've been to regarding the broth.  Savory, strong, and hot enough to hold the temperature even after adding the cold bean sprouts.  In addition to Pho, we ordered the spring rolls, which are the fresh thicker version of friend egg rolls.  Nothing beats Spring Rolls on a hot summer day!  

Would I come back here again? Abso***inglutely!

Make it one of the warmest days since that chilly North wind blew in to bring out the scarves, and I find myself in leggings, a t-shirt, and sneakers..........parked way out on the other end of College and in the Rockridge area.

Meeting up with a good friend of mine after a baguette and bun purchase at La Farine, so I power walked my way back down College.  Cole Coffee is a small neighborhood joint that continues to stay aloft despite the changes in coffee attitudes over the years.  Little seating in the inside but the windows open to the sidewalk, lined with small tables and chairs inviting clients to take a respite from their busy schedules.

The breve latte was strong and smooth, and I could not help but purchase another morning bun here.  Basically, a light airy bread/biscuit dusted heavily with cinnamon sugar.  In addition to the continental style assortment of baked goods, they also serve sandwiches (more like snacks) for the lunch capacitated.

Comfortable neighborhood joint, perfect for on-the-go people, such as myself.  If you are looking for a place to crash and utilize the full extent of WiFi, then go farther down to Sacks (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) where there are more tables and spots to stretch out long legs.

A relative newbie to the food truck movement, but lately, ever since the economy took that horrid nosedive and suddenly, even leaving a decent tip has become somewhat of an issue.

Well, fear no more and welcome to the land of $1.25 tacos and open hours not even a whore house would keep.

I usually order the pollo asado and bear in mind that these are true tacos: two corn tortillas with a generous helping of the chosen meat, salsa, and accompanied with pickled carrots and peppers.  On top of that, they add fresh sliced radishes.  The perfect accompaniment to cool down the spiciness of the pickled carrots.

We usually order 3-4 and have been way more than satisfied.  However, our last experience delivered pretty stale corn tortillas that were harder to gnaw through than a hockey puck.  

Hopefully, it was just a day old stack, because our other experiences have been very good.  I would recommend the pollo asado because the carne asada was slightly on the dry end and lacked taste.  Next time, as Benjamin C. mentioned, I will try the carnitas  :)