Bouchon Bakery - Yountville, CA

Nothing says "Happy Valentine's Day" like a heart shaped TKO and a macaroon.

AJ (and our friend Kelly) planned a lovely Valentine's Day weekend in Sonoma wine country. AJ and I spent the weekend with two other couples, sipping on wine and eating some lovely meals together. Kelly did an amazing job of planning our wine tours and dinners, so I got to sit back and enjoy the ride. However, I did have one request - a stop at Bouchon Bakery on our drive up.

Bouchon Bakery is the brainchild of Thomas Keller - the reknowned chef of the French Laundry and Bouchon Bistro. Bouchon Bakery was originally built to provide the fresh baked bread for Bouchon Bistro in Yountville. Chef Keller's wonderful pastries find inspiration from the exquisite bakeries of France. After experiencing great success with the original Bouchon Bakery in Yountville he opened up two more bakeries - in Las Vegas and New York City.

Treats galore.

We arrived in Yountville just around noon and found a line had already crept outside of the small bakery. As we stepped inside the sweet smells of fresh bread and sweet dough hit our noses. The plethora of treats that lined the glass cases was almost overwhelming. The bakery sells a couple of sandwiches, savory quiches, and some salads in addition to their sweets. I knew that I wanted to try a macaron and their namesake bouchons, but wasn't sure if that was sugar overkill.

Lucky for me, my friend David ended up buying a bag of bouchons to share (score!) I ended up ordering a turkey, brie, and cranberry sandwich on fresh bread and a pistachio macaron. AJ went with the mushroom and cheese sandwich and Thomas Keller Oreo (TKO).

Fresh baked bread - my weakness.

Joe Cool.

It was a beautiful day in Yountville and we were fortunate enough to snag a table in the sun. The bouchon was too enticing to wait to consume. Dessert before lunch? Don't mind if I do! The bouchons are named for their cork-like shape. They were almost the perfect brownie - moist, chocolatey, and a mix between fudgy and cakey. I stopped myself from filling up on brownies alone and moved on to my sandwich.

Turkey, brie, cranberry sandwich.

The bread on these sandwiches was freshly baked - nicely warm, with a slight crunch on the outside, and soft on the inside. The gooey cheese paired wonderfully with the slightly sweet, tart cranberry sauce, and the tender turkey. I only ate half to save room for my macaron.

Pistachio macaron.

The french macaron is quite different from its cousin - the coconut macaroon. The macaron is a meringue-based cookie consisting of egg whites, almond flour and confectioner's sugar. My pistachio macaron was a beautiful pastel green, but the pistachio flavor itself was much more subtle. The cookie was light and crisp, with a chewy interior. The creamy pistachio filling was delightful. AJ's TKO was delicious as well, especially if you are an Oreo fan. But if it were up to me, I would take a whole box of macarons to go!

All smiles at Bouchon Bakery.

Bouchon Bakery was the perfect place to start off our Valentine's Day weekend in Sonoma. This cozy bakery transported me to a French village. I certainly plan on coming back again soon!

Pancetta Mac and Cheese

Pancetta Mac 'n Cheese

There is something so comforting about warm, gooey cheese and pasta. I had a hankering for some mac n' cheese last week, and decided to whip up a batch. The idea of cheese and pasta is so simple, yet so delicious. What could possibly make it any better? How about some crispy pancetta?

Grating up some extra sharp and jalapeno cheddars.

But wait, haven't you been trying to eat less meat. Yes, I have. But, sometimes the appeal of crispy pork is just too good to turn down. I found this recipe for pancetta mac n' cheese in Bon Appetite magazine.

Frying up some pancetta.

I halved the recipe, and used two different kinds of cheddars (from Bravo Farms) we picked up from our farmer's market. These cheddars were hormone-free and locally sourced. If you're going to eat cheese, I think that is the best way to do it. The extra cost is worth it. The extra sharp cheddar was pungent, while the jalapeno added a slight kick. I thought these would pair well with the smoky pancetta.

Measuring out the milk for the cheese sauce.

AJ helped grate the cheese, while I fried up the pancetta. While that was in the works, I boiled some whole-wheat rotini. The spirals allow for maximum cheese coating! Once the pancetta crisps up, I made a roux in the pan. The roux is what will make your sauce thick. Then you add the milk. When the milk-pancetta mixture has reduced some, you remove it from the heat and stir in the cheese. The pasta is stirred into the sauce and then poured into a casserole dish. Bake it in the oven for about 30 minutes, and dinner is ready.

Mixed greens salad with pancetta mac n' cheese.

The macaroni and cheese was wonderful. Once you have made your own, you will never go back to eating kraft from a box. The cheeses were strong, and paired well with the smoky pancetta. The pasta dish pairs well with a light mixed greens salad. Warm and gooey, this dish comforts the stomach and the soul.

Professional Baking is no Easy Bake Oven

My job search has not been going very well, so I have taken this opportunity to branch out. The other day I went around to local bakeries, inquiring if they would hire a novice home baker wanting to learn more about the industry. Most bakeries (at least in my neighborhood) were cutting hours, and were not taking on any new hires. One bakery, however, informed me that they take on interns who want to learn more about the business. One small catch - they don't pay them.

While I would definitely prefer something that pays, I thought I would take the opportunity to try out for an internship.  I would finally gain some insight into the feasibility of my dream - opening my own bakery. I showed up for work at 9am (not too bad, considering most bakers start at 5am). With no chef's clothes to my name, I made do with a long t-shirt, sweats, and a bandana. I felt like I was getting ready to play goalie on my high school field hockey team (a feat more similar to what I would experience than I could ever have imagined).

The owner and pastry chef conducts herself in an extremely professional manner. I could tell she was a no-nonsense kind of woman, yet she seemed willing to let me learn on the job. She assigned me to two tasks for the day - almond croissants and midnight cake. Easy right?

I quickly learned the difference in quantity between professional and home baking. A cup of flour, try 10 pounds! I lifted heavy objects, I hauled large trays into the oven, I used muscles I have never used before! But professional baking isn't just about massive amounts and heavy labor. It requires skill, precision, and speed. No easy task, especially for someone who just stepped into the bakery kitchen. 

By day's end I was exhausted - having stayed on my feet for 7 hrs with nothing to eat. I had baked 10 sheet cakes and made 80 almond croissants. But more than material products, I had gained experience in a professional kitchen - learning the equipment, the methods, and the focus one must have to accomplish each task. I also signed up to work for 2 days a week for 4 weeks. 

Let the baking (and the experiment) begin - stay tuned!

Fish Tacos - Wahoo!

Blackend fish tacos with brown rice and black beans.

As I mentioned earlier, Justin came to visit for the weekend. A San Diego native, Justin has a special relationship with fish tacos. With an abundance of fish taco options, he said he would often eat them once a day for weeks. We decided to check out the popular fish taco chain, Wahoos. Being a UVA grad, how could I resist a place with a name like that (a wahoo is a fish who can drink twice its weight)?

Close-up: blackened fish tacos with cheese, cabbage, and salsa.

Wahoos is known for its fish tacos, which can also be ordered blackened (aka "spicy"). In addition to fish tacos, they also offer chicken and shrimp options. Justin recommended the blackened fish tacos with black beans and rice. AJ and I both opted for the brown rice, a recent addition to the menu. The weather was beautiful (as it has been in California), so we decided to eat outside.

Do you think he fit the whole thing in his mouth?

Many fast food taquerias fry their fish, but Wahoos does not. I am a fan of the fresh unfried fish flavors. These fish tacos were flaky and moist, with a spicy kick. We debated as to what kind of fish they used - tilapia, snapper? We felt silly when a staff member informed us that it was Wahoo. DUH!

The rice and beans were tasty, but as AJ said, "I think I would rather get three fish tacos than the rice and beans." To which Justin replied: "Or get three fish tacos and rice and beans!" He had just finished his third taco.

Bottom Line: For cheap, fresh fish tacos Wahoos has this recipe down.

The Crepe Maker

Spinach, tomato, feta, and mushroom crepe.

The first time I ever had a crepe was probably at IHOP. Tis a sad thing, but at least there was nowhere to go but up. It was a trip to the downtown mall in Charlottesville, VA that made me rethink the crepe. It was more than just a pancake - it was an experience. A thin, light, tender butter-kissed pancake stuffed with strawberries and nutella. Oh the simple joys in life. It has been almost three years since that day, and I think I have probably eaten more crepes in the past year than in my entire life.

Crepe Maker - Los Altos, CA

There were a plethora of crepe options in Boston, and that solidified my love of the crepe. With Matt in town for the weekend, AJ looked into crepe places nearby, landing on the Crepe Maker. At 8am, AJ questioned whether this was a place that sold crepes or a place that sold crepe makers. With a chuckle, I encouraged him to call and ask. "Is this the crepe maker?" With a pause, "Are you guys open?" I am not sure what the guy on the other line was thinking, but AJ seemed satisfied that they indeed sold crepes.

Jamba and crepes - the perfect start to the day!

We headed to downtown Los Altos to get in on the crepe action. I am always torn between the savory and sweet choices. While a strawberry and nutella crepe never lets me down, I like to explore other options. The mushroom, spinach, tomato, feta combination has never let me down, so I went with that one. AJ chose a similar combo of spinach, sun dried tomatoes, pesto, and feta. Matt, went with the classic lemon and sugar crepe. While we waited, he hopped over to Jamba Juice to round out his breakfast.

That is one large crepe. It better be for $9.

The crepes were pretty pricey - $9 for the savories and $6 for the lemon and sugar. While you can get a huge stack of pancakes with eggs for around the same price or less, crepes require more skill. We were also getting some premium fillings. However, our expectations were raised.

Can you tell I'm still a little sleepy?

The crepes did not disappoint. The great thing about crepes is that they always come hot off the griddle. They were also huge! The combination of feta, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatos takes me away to a mediteranean villa. While the salty, tangy feta was delicious against the light, slightly sweet crepe, I would have used a lighter hand with the cheese.

Eating outside in the warm sun, with a breeze sweeping in, I didn't care that I wasn't in Paris - the experience was still lovely.

Crepe Maker

280 Main St

Los Altos, CA 94022

Gelato Classico

Outside on Castro St.

The weather has been warm and sunny, the perfect atmosphere for enjoying some gelato. Gelato Classico is locate on Castro St, and always seems to be busy. Long lines usually indicate that the product is worth the wait. Matt, AJ, and I decided to check it out. 

So many choices!

This little shop had a plethora of choices from pumpkin, to pistachio, to white chocolate raspberry. The long line gave us ample time to decide. After switching my choices a couple times, I finally landed on the small cup with strawberry and double espresso bean. AJ went with the jamocha almond fudge and pistachio, and Matt chose dark chocolate and cherry.

The owner does all of the scooping.

You can also order a medium (with 2-3 flavors) or a large (3-4 flavors).  Gelato is generally much richer and creamier than ice cream, so usually a small tides me over.  They also serve milkshakes and sorbet. A milkshake will cost you $7! I'm not sure who has that much to spend on treats these days.

Strawberry and Double Espresso Bean.

While I was unsure as to how well strawberry and espresso would go together - I was pleasantly surprised. The sweet, slightly fruit strawberry went well with the strong espresso flavor. The espresso bean was probably my favorite, with pieces of chocolate covered beans mixed into the espresso flavored gelato. AJ's nutty combo - chocolatey almonds and pistachios was a bit overwhelming, but tasty all the same. The simplicity of Matt's dark chocolate and cherries was a definite winner. 

Jamocha almond fudge and pistachio.

So you might be asking yourself, what is the difference between gelato and ice cream? I had heard that gelato actually has less fat than ice cream, so I was curious as to why it always seems creamier to me. I went to the internet to find some answers. As I had suspected gelato tends to contain less fat, using a higher ratio of whole milk to cream. This method allows the flavors to stand out. In addition gelato is churned at a much slower rate, which decreases the amount of air that is pumped into the mixture, leading to a creamier taste. As one site put it: gelato = less fat + less air = richer creamier taste. 

 

Gelato just makes people happy.

While I have never had gelato in Italy, I will be back for some more gelato in Mountain View, CA.

Kapp's Pizza and Grill

Gibson Girl - mushroom, zucchini, pineapple, onion, bell pepper, tomato

There are a couple pizza joints on Castro St in downtown Mountain View. Seeing as AJ could eat pizza for every meal, we decided to check out Kapp's Pizza and Grill on Friday night. We were seated promptly and settled on some fried zucchini sticks and the Gibson Girl - a mix of veggies and pineapple. It was time to get back on the veggie track after the jerk chicken feast earlier. While I will eat meat on occasion, I still plan on eating mostly vegetarian.

Fried Zucchini sticks

The zucchini sticks came out first, and were perfectly cooked, nice and crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The breading was flavored with italian seasoning and was light and crispy. My only complaint with the sticks is that they were so skinny, sometimes the breading overpowered the sweet flavors of the zucchini. A thicker cut might solve that problem (I say this like the owners are going to read this).

Cheesy!

The pizza came out fairly quickly. I could tell right away that the pineapple was canned. I guess its hard to expect fresh pineapple from a pizza joint. The crust was thick and yeasty. While enjoyable, it was hardly the best crust I have ever had. Two slices of this pizza was extremely filling. The vegetables were very fresh, and there was tons of garlic. Matt felt it to be a bit overpowering, but if you love garlic like I do, this was a plus!

Another classic Ariel photo. Am I surprised? Am I scared? Am I just zoning out?

Puhlease pineapple!

The staff was very friendly, and our waters were constantly being refilled. The owner even came over to check on us. While I wouldn't say the pizza was amazing, it was decent and the staff certainly take care of you. Kapp's is a place to go for some beers, pizza, and to hang out with friends.

Kapp's Pizza and Grill

191 Castro St

Mountain View, CA

The meeting of the food bloggers! (AKA The first time I ate meat in 20 days).

Jerk chicken and pork with plantains, rice, and beans.

On Friday AJ and I met up with Matt, and his friends from Swathmore, Vernon and Cathy. Cathy is also the wonderful author of the food blog, Gastronomy. I am a huge fan of her blog, so I was very excited to be able to share a food experience with her. I am sure she will post about her perspective of the our meal, so be sure to check that out!

Cathy has family in Northern California, so she picked out a place in Menlo Park that had received good reviews. We met up at Back-A-Yard, a caribbean american grill. They are reknowned for their jerk chicken. AJ and I had gone 20 days without meat, until we looked at this menu. The vegetarian option of jerk tofu just didn't sound appealing. After much debating, we decided to share a jerk chicken and pork platter.

The restaurant

We placed our orders at the counter and sat down to wait for our meals. Back A Yard is a very casual eatery with maybe five tables clustered together in the small space. Scenes of Jamaica and the caribbean adorn the walls. Some evenings reggae music is played, adding to the ambiance.

I finally get to meet the "Gastronomer"!

Ginger beer and grape soda.

We sipped on some sodas while waiting for our meals to arrive. I got a Jamaican ginger beer, essentially a sweeter spicier gingerale. Matt got a champagne cola - another soda with some Jamaican influence. We were a little disappointed to find out that the sodas are manufactured in Canada. So much for authenticity. The ginger beer was really spicy, but a little too sweet. It went well with jerk chicken.

Sippin' on champagne...cola that is.

Festivals - fried corn dough.

Cathy and Vernon were generous enough to share some of the festivals they ordered. Festivals are a jamaican treat, similar to a funnel cake, but made with cornmeal. I don't think I've encountered a fried dough I don't like. These were quite tasty.

Cathy and Vernon deciding how to split up their plate of chicken and pork.

Our food arrived nice and warm. AJ and I ordered all white meat chicken, which was extremely moist and juicy. The pork was fatty and tender. I love fried plantains and was extremely pleased with the sweet, caramelized fruit. The rice and beans were served up in two big scoops. The rice and beans had a sweet yet salty taste. AJ and I were fans. The best part of the meal was the jerk sauce, which comes on top of the meat and in a small cup on the side. I wish they sold this stuff, cuz I would love to have taken it home with me. The sauce is super garlicky, with a subtle peppercorn flavor, tangy vinegar and a little sweetness round it out.

Jerk chicken, plantains.

While I was feeling pretty full, I saw a sweet potato pudding on the menu. I absolutely love sweet potatoes and decided to give it a try. When my dessert got to the table, I was thoroughly disappointed by its pale appearance. Where was the bright orange hue. Also this pudding looked more like a pie. The flavor was extremely dull, starchy and a little sweet. The best part was the caramelized edges. Vernon finished this off for me. Cathy ordered the key lime pie. She made the right choice. It was tart, creamy, and sweet. The graham cracker crust added a little crunch. If you're looking for a tropical way to end your meal, choose the key lime pie.

"Sweet" potato pie.

Back A Yard is a great place to get a cheap, tasty meal. While I am not sure it was totally worth eating chicken instead of tofu, I would recommend this place for meat lovers with a hankering for something different. It's worth a trip just for the jerk sauce. Hey, maybe even the tofu would be good with this stuff.

Back A Yard Caribbean American Grill

1189 Willow Rd

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Wok it Out!

Stir Fry in my new Wok!

AJ got me a fabulous cast iron wok for my birthday from the Wok Shop in San Francisco. This traditional wok requires seasoning before use. I had to scour the pot with soapy water to remove the metallic coating, oil it, and bake it in the oven. Then repeat that process. After the second bake, the wok is seasoned and is ready to use. It is recommended that some aromatics like garlic, onion, and ginger be fried in the wok first, so as to remove any metallic tastes.

The first dish I made was a nice stir fry with some vegetables from our local farmer's market. We got some white trumpet and maitake mushrooms, eggplant, peppers, broccoli, carrots, garlic, and ginger and fried them up in a little oil. We added some teriyaki sauce and a little jalapeno.

The maitake and white trumpet mushrooms were new experiences for both me and AJ. The maitake have a very strong earthy flavor, a few go a long way. I personally preferred the milder and heartier texture of the trumpet mushrooms. It is certainly exciting to have a mushroom stand at the farmer's market that allows us to try new things.

The Wok Shop

http://www.wokshop.com/

Mountain View Farmer's Market

http://www.cafarmersmkts.com/

When in Rome...Eat lots of Vegetables

Mixed Greens salad with Balsamic vinagrette.

California is certainly known for its health conscious citizens, so it seemed fitting that a move to California could serve as an opportunity to adopt a healthier lifestyle. So AJ and I have decided to go vegetarian for a month, with the ulitmate goal of introducing more vegetables into our diet. After a month we are going to introduce fish into our diets, but aiming for a mostly vegetarian diet.

Being vegetarian doesn't have to feel like a punishment. I have been super excited about the great produce and farmers markets that California has to offer. AJ and I bought a delicious bag of mixed greens with edible flowers, that inspired a wonderful salad dinner our first night in our new apartment.

Cheers to good health and good eats!

We chose some strawberries, broccoli, yellow peppers, shredded carrots,  and green peppercorn goat cheese to add to our greens. I made a simple vinagrette with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, water, honey, salt, and pepper. The strawberries added a nice sweet yet tart vibe to our greens. The textural contrasts of the broccoli and peppers was nice. The goat cheese added a pungent, tangy, creaminess to the salad. 

PS We got our goat cheese for free at Whole Foods. Talk to your cheese guy, you might just get some free samples!

First Dinner in Mountain View, CA

Mango Chicken.

When AJ asked Jenny what kind of cuisine she wanted to eat for dinner, she made the right decision when she said "Asian". Mountain View has a ton of options when it comes to Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Indian, and Korean. We decided to stroll down Castro St and just pick a restaurant that looked good. This sort of method inevitably leads to either a great meal or a mediocre one.

While we passed many Thai restaurants, some looked quite barren. We finally stumbled upon one that looked quite crowded, usually a good sign. We were seated quite quickly, but then left with our menus for awhile.

Amarin Thai has some neat seating options, with cushion seating available on the floor or the traditional dining table with chairs. We were seated at a table that was smacked up against the large table next to us. Jenny and Malia could barely move their seats.

Scallops with stir fried veggies, and mango chicken.

After perusing the menu, our orders were taken. The food came out fairly quickly after that. Amarin Thai offers both brown rice and steamed white rice with dinner entrees, something I love. Sometimes I am just in the mood for some nutty brown rice. AJ and I split the green with tofu and the ka-ree pumpkin. Malia ordered the grilled scallops and Jenny got the mango chicken.

While the service may have been lacking a little, the food more than made up for it. I was in love with my ka-ree pumpkin, a thick curry with peppers, pan-fried tofu, celery, onion, pumpkin, carrots, and lots of cumin. AJ's green curry was very well done, with some nice heat, with a light coconut broth.

Green curry with tofu, eggplant, peas, peppers, and thai basil.

Jenny and Malia's dishes were beautifully presented and were extremely fresh. Sometimes, thai food can be oily and heavy. The food here is prepared with a light hand, with emphasis on the quality and flavor of the ingredients. I will definitely be back.

Amarin Thai Cuisine

174-176 Castro St

Mountain View, CA

2.5 out of 3 JAMs

Adventures in Northern California

Capitola Beach - surf competition.

AJ and I were lucky enough to take a trip to Northern California to visit his Uncle in Los Gatos (about an hour south of San Francisco). I could not have been happier with the weather, 70 degrees and sunny, a nice respite from the frigid East Coast. We took in the sights - surfing, mountain views, and sun.

75 degrees and sunny - could life be better?

DAY 1

Our first night in California we had the pleasure of watching the Golden State Warriors play from the 8th row back. (Thanks Uncle Peter!) These seats were perfect and we got to watch them win a game (a rarity this season). We headed toward the stadium early in order to avoid traffic, and decided to stop in Oakland/Berkley boarder for a bite to eat before the game. The downtown area is very cute, lots of restaurants and shops. We ended up eating at a chain, Pasta Pomodoro. For an italian chain restaurant we were very pleased with the quality and creativity of our dishes.

Pesto dipping sauce and foccacia bread.

Our server was very friendly and immediately brought us out some pesto and olive oil for our complimentary foccacia bread. The pesto was full of bright basil flavors. The bread was soft, but a little cold. But better than one would expect from this type of restaurant.

Farro and grilled vegetables with parmesan.

I ordered the farro with grilled vegetables and parmesan, while AJ ordered the pesto with whole wheat capatelli. I only vaguely remembered that farro was some sort of whole grain, and decided to order it out of curiosity.

Butternut squash ravioli with fried sage, crushed amaretti cookies, and parmesan.

Before our entrees arrived AJ and I split the butternut squash ravioli. This was definitely the hightlight of the meal. The ravioli were filled with sweet creamy squash and topped with fried sage, crushed amaretti cookies, and parmesan cheese. For those of you who think sage is too overpowering, this is the best way to eat it - the frying process mellows out the flavors and makes for a lovely crunchy topping. The amaretti adds to the liquorice flavors and the saltiness of the cheese cuts the sweetness of the squash. These raviolis could put some gourmet versions to shame.

DAY 2

We woke up bright and early the second day of our trip, and ended up visiting the charming "historic downtown" Campbell. Did you ever notice that "historic downtown" is a requirement on all signs even if a town was established 30 years ago? The "downtown" area only lasted a couple blocks, but there was a huge crowd swarming around one restaurant in particular - Stacks. It appears this is the place to eat breakfast on the weekends. Stacks offers all your breakfast favorites - omelettes, breakfast sandwiches, waffles, and their signature "stacks".

Coconut macademia banana pancakes.

After debating whether or not to get the lumberjack pancakes, a combination of wheat germ, blueberries, raisins, walnuts, and bananas, I decided to go with the more tropical themed coconut macademia banana pancakes. A full stack is listed as three pancakes, the short is two. AJ wanted to try some, so I went with the full stack. They initially brought out just one, which as is turns out would have been enough for me. These pancakes are the size of a plate. Surprisingly not too sweet, the coconut and nuts provided a nice crunch and texture. The warm sweet bananas were delightful. These pancakes are best served with a little butter and warm syrup.

Where ya at, where ya at? (AJ is excited for breakfast)

AJ got the manly "Stacks breakfast sandwich" - scambled eggs, ham, bacon, cheese, tomato and avocado all piled high on an english muffin. Piping hot, this sandwich is more than filling. I enjoyed my first bite - the sweet tomato and avocado livened up this protein feast. A couple more bites and reality set in. There are a just a few too many flavors going on here. The english muffin was dry and bland. I would have prefered this on a toasted bagel or multigrain toast. Unfortunately, Stacks doesn't bake its own bread.

Stack's Big Breakfast sandwich - ham, bacon, tomato, avocado, eggs, and cheese.

After our breakfast we walked around Campbell and then to downtown Los Gatos to check out some shops. After burning off our breakfast we stopped into Icing on the Cake to fulfill our sugar cravings. AJ's uncle likes to say that he will never move from Los Gatos because of this bakery. He is that in love with their cake. We decided on a caramel cupcake and a chocolate chunk brownie cookie. We headed to Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company to compliment our goodies with a coffee.

Los Gatos Coffee Brewing Co. - Amaretto latte and mexican mocha.

The coffee was the perfect compliment to our sweet treats. The mexican mocha had a very strong espresso flavor with a subtle chocolate flavor. If you love a strong coffee with a hint of cocoa, this is the drink for you. AJ and I preferred the amaretto latte, with a hint of sweet almonds.

Caramel cupcake from Icing on the Cake!

The cupcake was the winner of this afternoon snack. The frosting was buttery, light, and full of rich caramel flavor. The chocolate chip cookie was cloyingly sweet. The chunks of brownie tasted too much like chocolate chips.

Chocolate chunk brownie cookie.

Buttery caramel cupcake.

That evening we met up with some old friends in Mountain View for some ramen noodles. I had never been to a noodle bar before, and the novelty was quite fun. The seating is communal style, around a U-shaped bar. You may have to wait a little while to be seated if your party is larger than 2. Our friend Austin has some experience visiting Japan, so we deferred to him to interpret the menu. All of the bowls come with a flavored broth and similar accoutrements - hard boiled egg, pork, seaweed, and scallions (FYI: you can order more vegetables or meat at an extra cost). At Austin's recommendation AJ and I ordered the sesame broth.

Ryowa Ramen - sesame broth with pork, egg, noodles, scallions, and seaweed.

The broth was extremely salty, full of pork flavor. I couldn't taste much sesame flavor, and to be honest couldn't tell the difference between this broth and the miso. The noodles were of good quality. I added hot chili paste to the broth, and that really made all the difference. If you're in the mood for some spicy noodles, this should do the trick. The noodles cost around $6, but could definitely fill you up for two meals. We also ordered some potstickers. These were crispy on the outside with a nice pork and scallion filling. These were my favorite of the evening.

We ended up in Palo Alto at Red Mango for dessert. For those of you who haven't experienced the yogurt craze sweeping the nation, jump on the bandwagon already. The yogurt is tangy and not too sweet. I highly recommend the tart pomegranate flavor loaded with fresh raspberries and blueberries.

DAY 3

The Big Sur.

AJ loves pizza. He could probably eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And while I don't quite share the same affinity, I cannot resist a chewy crust piled with cheese. Pizzza My Heart is a chain located in Northern California. They offer a number of award-winning pizzas. We ordered a slice of the hawaiian and the Big Sur. The Big sur is piled high with sausage, pepperoni, roasted garlic, portabellos, scallions, mozarella. The roasted garlic makes this pizza - it is sweet but still retains a nice bite.

After lunch, we hit up the Farmer's market in Los Gatos. I have been deprived of a good farmer's market this winter, so it was nice to see sweet strawberries, oranges, and dates in season.

I can't wait to head back to Northern California, and not just for the weather.

Pasta Pomodoro

5500 College Ave

Oakland, CA

Stacks Restaurant

139 E Campbell Ave

Campbell, CA

Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co

101 W Main St

Los Gatos, CA

Icing on the Cake

50 W Main St

Los Gatos, CA

Ryowa Ramen House

859 Villa St

Mountain View, CA

Pizza My Heart

1390 Lincoln Ave

San Jose, CA