A Spooky Night on Alcatraz

The island of Alcatraz. Formerly a prison (until 1963,) this abandoned edifice now hosts hundreds of visitors a day, seeking to relive the horror and isolation that the prisoners experienced. (I can't help but think of The Prisoner of Azkaban - major Harry Potter fan!)

The Ferry to Alcatraz

The best way to see Alcatraz is through the night tour. It is about five times more scary and cold than the day tour(!) but well worth it for the eery ambiance. 

As you watch the ferry abandon you, feeling isolated on the dreary island, you feel as though you will never again connect to the world away from Alcatraz. It is no surprise so many prisoners are famed for their desperate escape attempts. 

Bleak, abandoned buildings + fog

As you walk through the cell blocks, hearing, through the audio tour, about the insane inmates and of the isolation they endured, you become connected with the island, and it feels as though you, too, are its prisoner.

Lighthouse 

There are two ferries that take you back to San Francisco. One that leaves at 8:40 and one that leaves at 9:30. Words of wisdom from the tour guide: if you want to make the 8:40 ferry, don't be late. 

This can be problematic if you have dinner reservations at 9 for the most anticipated restaurant experience of your trip, at The Slanted Door, which, in our case, we had. We had also worked up quite a large appetite, wandering the mystic island.  

This can also be problematic when your dad and sister decide to abandon you and your mom among the dark premises of the island just moments before the 8:40 ferry departs. 

So we were waiting and waiting and waiting, as 8:40 was quickly approaching, and we called and called and called, and no one answered. Finally its 8:35 and we can't wait any longer, so we make a run for the ferry landing. Calling my dad's cell and hearing the ferry blow its horn to signify its final boarding call, we run down the dank hills to make it on time. As my mom and I arrive, flustered and out of breath, we find the two culprits comfortably settled into warm chairs. Really?... Really?  

Finally leaving isolation

A great dinner is exactly what we need to get over this cold, spooky experience on Alcatraz. We head to the Ferry Building to make it to our reservation on time. Let me just say, looking back, there could not have been a better end to the night.

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

First: the tea. The wonderful green peony tea, beautifully presented in wine glasses, each adorned with a pom-pom-shaped bundle of tea leaves. 

Second: the food. My choice, the Crab Cellophane Noodles, were a hit. Great balance of flavor and not too heavy. Another favorite was the Caramelized Wild Gulf Shrimp, which was slightly sweet, but balanced with a spicy kick. 

Cellophane Noodles, Broccoli with Tofu, and Brown Rice

Third: the dessert. Oh the dessert. I absolutely could not leave this restaurant without getting their famous cotton candy. The flavor - Bergamot Orange. The verdict - life-changing cotton candy. This is not your typical county fair sugary treat. In fact, it hardly tasted like sugar at all. While devouring gracefully eating this treat, occasionally, a burst of orange bergamot would grace my tongue, making for a very well balanced dessert, that was definitely not too sweet, but incredibly satisfying. 

Bergamot Orange Cotton Candy. Pure Bliss. 

Foreign Cinema: San Francisco

Trips to San Francisco are cold and wonderful. On our most recent trip, last week, we found relief from the hustle and bustle of the city in a serene day trip to Napa Valley. 

The vineyards, redolent of ripe grapes and rose petals, provided the most magnificent walkways to stroll down. While my parents tasted a few different wines, they let me and my sister steal a few sips. The red wine was very good, in my opinion.  

After touring a couple of vineyards, we were ready to get back to the faster-paced energy of San Francisco, and after purchasing a bottle of wine, olive oil, and salt spoons, we headed back to Fog City. 

Our next destination, courtesy of me (and opentable.com,)was the wonderful, little restaurant, Foreign Cinema. I found this gem last year while blog-surfing, and insisted that we must go on our trip to California last summer. Since then, it has become an esencial on every trip we make to the bay area. 

The ambiance is truly what makes the restaurant so compelling. Strings of lights billow across the high ceiling, as a weekly-changing foreign film is projected onto the brick wall throughout the duration of your dining experience. The reason why we keep coming back time after time, however, is for the restaurant's  exceptional food. 

We started with Lavender Baked Goat Cheese (the name alone makes me hungry,) Beet and Spinnach House Salad, Fried Chicken with White Snap Peas, and a couple of really amazing desserts: the Blueberry Crisp, and Chocolate Pot de Creme. Everything was phenomenal. I wish the Lavender Goat Cheese never have ended, the Chicken was cooked to absolute perfection - fully cooked, while still succulent, with an outer crisp that didn't seem heavy at all. I liked the blueberry crisp, but I LOVED the Chocolate Pot de Creme. It was rich, silky, and topped with unsweetened whipped cream for balance. Pure chocolate heaven. 

Very pretty vineyard in Napa Valley

Rosebushes mark the end of each row of grape vines 

The Napa Valley house from the Parent Trap, holla 

Foreign Cinema 

Lavender Baked Goat Cheese + Vintage Silverwear 

LA to San Francisco in Food: Intermission

The journey continues to Santa Barbara. This town is pretty much what you would think of as the most perfect beach town ever with perfect weather, the perfect hotel, perfect shopping, and the most wonderful food. We stayed at the charming hotel Oceana and couldn't have been more pleased. This small hotel offered a swimming pool and hot tub, free bike rentals, an outstanding complimentary breakfast, and was only a short walk to the heart of the town. Our first meal was eaten at Santa Barbara Fishing Company and although we had to write our name on a long list at the door and waited for nearly an hour before being seated at one of the six or seven tables, our patience was rewarded with an outstanding meal. 

Located at the very end of the pier, this restaurant is home to some of the freshest seafood around. I ordered the crab cakes, served with onion rings, caesar salad, and a wonderful slightly spicy aioli sauce. This restaurant is a must if you are in the area. 

The freezing mornings in California certainly take some getting used to - especially for a native Texan who is used to summer weather well through winter. A warm bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and raisins and some hot green tea sure help make the unbearable conditions more comforting. As does the steaming hot tub just outside our hotel room that we would sneak to early in the mornings before starting our days in this somewhat bipolar city. 

Next on our agenda was stopping by one of Martha Stewart and Oprah's favorite (and unique) shops. After witnessing a grand opening of an HnM store and thoroughly scavenging every foot of the shopping strip in the town square, we were in need of an afternoon pick-me-up. What better than an acai bowl? This ginormous bowl loaded with anti-oxidant oxidant rich acai berries, bananas, strawberries and topped with granola, honey, and bee pollen among other (healthful) things sure did the trick! It was unlike anything I've tasted before - you can definitely tell you are treating your body well with every spoonful. Overall, very satisfying and a compelling mixture of textures and flavors. Really a unique experience and definitely one worth trying! 

Our last meal in Santa Barbara was experienced at Julia Child's favorite taqueria. This tiny hole-in-the-wall prides itself in fresh, homemade, authentic mexican flavors. Quite a few vegetarian options, including a delicious poblano tomale. If tacos aren't really your thing, the salsas alone are worth the trip. Three to choose from, and each are homemade daily.

 

Our last stop before reaching San Fransisco is the Tickled Pink Inn at Big Sur. What a wonderful hotel with a beautiful view of the ocean. The drive alone is breath taking - the winding coastline along the edge of the mountains. The breakfast itself wasn't much but the view was incredible and the fact that it was an outdoors eating area was very chic. 

Almost to the end of the adventure: the next blog post will be San Fransisco! Stay tuned...

LA to San Francisco in Food: Part 1

My absolute favorite part about my trip to California this past summer was by far the food! The ingredients in California are so fresh and flavorful they put Texas produce to shame. Being a vegetarian, I was pleasantly surprised by the refreshing abundance of vegetarian and vegan options at every restaurant we visited - not to mention the dozens of bubble tea shops we found! My family, you see, is smitten with the current bubble tea craze, so any chance we get to buy this vietnamese drink is not wasted. 

Our first stop upon landing in LA was at a wonderful little family owned restaurant aptly named Vegan Glory. This small restaurant serves up some of the best vegan food in LA, all influenced by traditional Asian flavors. 

Each of us (me, my sister, my mom and my dad) ordered one of the lunch special curries in different colors: green, yellow or red. The yellow curry with vegan shrimp (yep! shrimp made of soy) was our favorite! Surprisingly the shrimp had both the texture and flavor of shrimp and its uniqueness made it a very memorable part of the meal! The lunch specials come with purple rice, a side salad, and an egg roll - a very generous amount of food, all of which were delicious. This remains our favorite vegan meal from the trip; Vegan Glory certainly lived up to its name. 

For Fathers' day breakfast we headed over to Shaky Alibi. I know, sketchy name right?, but after reading about this little waffle shop in the airline magazine during the flight, we wanted to give it a try. Selling only Belgian waffles and a multitude of morning beverages, this quaint little eatery lets you customize your waffle with toppings ranging from fresh blueberries to a slather of speculoos. I opted for a more traditional variation with fresh berries and pecans, but you can create some pretty wild combinations with what is on the menu here. Keep in mind though, that all of their waffles come with a dusting of powdered sugar - even the savory ones (with eggs and sausage), so if sweet and savory isn't your thing, stick with fruity toppings. I would definitely recommend trying one of their hot teas, which pair perfectly with the waffles and are served on a little tray with an individual tea pot and mismatched ceramic tea cup. This cute breakfast shop is an instant favorite! 

After spending the morning exploring the gardens at the Huntington Library, we worked up a pretty big appetite, bringing us to our second vegan meal of the trip. Just inland of Santa Monica Pier lies RFD (Real Food Daily), a vegan hotspot in LA. Toby Macquire ate here just hours before us! This vegan restaurant is the type that creates a vegan spin on classic American dishes, like mac and cheese or pizza. The humongous burrito was fantastic - and big enough to feed four -  and while the food was pretty obviously vegan-ified, it was fun to try classic favorites in a new way. We loved the star factor that this restaurant ensued and the waiters assured us that Toby Macguire wasn't the first celebrity to drop by. 

After watching Mario Lopez filming Extra we debated leaving the Grove to make our reservation at Katsuya, but we ultimately decided not to pass up a good bento box - and we are very pleased we didn't! The meal started with miso soup and salad - both of which were better than any we've had before: both intensely flavorful while enticing our appetites for the meal to come - and then came the bento box. The very reasonably priced, 14 dollar bento box. I got the vegetarian version, which came with veggie sushi, mixed vegetable tempura, and tofu steamed and served with some sort of red chili pepper/  shitake mushroom sauce. Overall the meal was satisfying but light and very delicious. I preferred the california roll (that came with the salmon bento) to the veggie one, probably just because I am a crab lover, but you can definitely taste the fresh ingredients used here. The tempura was crispy and not greasy at all, and the iced green tea was strong and refreshing, perfect to wash down this classic Japanese meal. Fantastic lunch! Now back to the Grove...

Back at the Grove we found the first bubble tea on our California adventure inside the Farmers' Market. There was a tea stand set up with hundreds of tea tins filled with exotic dried leaves and flower petals. I selected a rose green tea with no milk and no sugar - I can't stand sweet tea. It was good, but I prefer the floral flavors of the tea at Momoko in Austin, TX - I find they have more floral flavor and less green tea flavor. Overall, not an outstanding tea. 

 P.S. if you are looking to try the best bubble tea around, Momoko in Austin makes the best. Select a light flowery tea with half sugar or else it is much too sweet to enjoy. 

Who can come to Los Angeles without going to Disneyland? Not this family of Disney lovers! Coming with slightly low expectations after enjoying Disney World so highly, we were not expecting to be wowed by the much smaller Sleeping Beauty castle, or the classic - albeit few- rides. We ended up spending the whole day here and wanted to spend another on the recently erected California Adventure. It was the most fun we'd had so far and didn't want it to end. Another plus to this "happy place" was the food! Micky Mouse everything: from pretzels to ice cream, everything tastes better in Disneyland! 

Our last meal in LA before heading out to Santa Barbara and on to San Fransisco, was enjoyed at Off Vine. A charming cafe style restaurant located in a small, yellow-painted house just outside the heart of Hollywood. Again, we found plenty of vegetarian options. Pictured above is the non-vegetarian chicken salad (really light and yummy!). I ordered the pistachio crusted vegan chicken breast served with green beans and mashed potatoes. I love the new vegan twists on classic foods and this was no exception! I couldn't even tell that I wasn't eating real chicken and I love that this meal was light but also very satisfying. 

At this restaurant, we also experienced perhaps the best chocolate souffle we ever will (outside of France). It was rich, airy, and not too sweet. Notice the cute individual ruffles of whipped cream - no worrying that you won't get your fair share. Also notice how someone dug in before the picture could be taken - it was just to inviting! 

That pretty much sums up our days in Los Angeles in food. Santa Barbara and San Fransisco are coming up in the next post, so stay tuned!