You Like Me, You Really Like Me!

Sometimes I feel like this old-school, invisible Yelper, writing in the dark unnoticed, trying to be "Useful", "Funny" and "Cool" in a vacuum, while the new kids enjoy their accolades with their shock-writing and tales of drunken escapades. Life lesson: Apparently, I am far more useful (2708 votes) and cool (2661) than I am funny (1457) - sigh.

This week I was reminded that someone out there is reading my stuff, as I had a mention for my review of Spruce in the weekly newsletter, and I just got ROTD (Review of the Day) in Oakland for La Borinquena.

This is especially relevant in light of the fact that I went to La Borinquena with Sean, who is running for District 3 City Council, and as I write this, is waiting for the votes to be tallied from tonight's election. Not only am I honored to have my work chosen by the powers-that-be, I am thrilled to have brought the fabulous Tina Tamale and her family restaurant some recognition (it's awesome). Tina wrote me a very nice compliment minutes after my review hit the main page, right after she returned from Sean's poll-counting party. And I love that Sean is in my review, for all to see on his special day.

And now I would like to thank all of the little people...

Here is the review du jour, East Bay style:

La Borinquena Mexi-catessen and Specialty Shop
582 7th St
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 444-9954

***** (5 stars!!)
This place really is a Mexi-catessen! On one side, a friendly, family-owned restaurant, featuring made-with-love tastes of grandma's (mexican) cooking that will leave you full and happy, with change to spare. On the other side, a store where you can buy all sorts of supplies and condiments, and a pinata selection like no other.

I enjoyed a weekday lunch there with man-about-town Sean S. and I was pleasantly surprised to see how many vegetarian options they offered, even vegetarian chips.

I stuffed myself silly with the combination plate - a pork tamale, a chicken soft taco, rice, and pinto beans. Oh, and chips, salsa, guacamole, and a refreshing horchata to wash it all down - I think all of that (which would have been a family dinner for most people) set me back around $11.00. If you don't want to walk away with that Tight Pants feeling, you can easily get full for around $7-8.00.

The food was delicious, flavorful, and fresh fresh fresh. The chicken in the taco felt like it had been pulled off of the bird mere minutes before making my dish - big chunks, not small shreds like at some places. The pork tamale was delicious and tender and savory - I wish I had gotten some to take home for later!

The best part of all was meeting Tina herself. She is as bright and cheerful as the colorful decorations that cover the restaurant.

I'll be back soon for some more comfort food, Mexican style - with a shopping bag in hand to stock up on some food for later!

Into the Woods

I often feel like Goldilocks in the woods of San Francisco, searching and searching for that perfect restaurant experience. Some are very good, many are just ok, while few get it "just right". Well, I was lucky enough to visit two "just right" places this week. Last night we went to Spruce, which was the best fine-dining experience I have had in this city. It was elegant, definitely high-end, but with a wonderful relaxed attitude. The food was divine. Price-wise, it is definitely special-occasion only. But for a more everyday location with great food, my hat goes off to Bar Jules.

This new restaurant quietly took up residence in hipper-than-thou Hayes Valley, right next door to Suppenkuche and across the street from Modern Tea. There is no signage, so you could definitely miss it. The inside is rich with color and warmth, with the daily menu printed on the chalkboard. I sipped a gorgeous rosebud tea while I waited for my Ken to arrive. Our waitress was totally adorable, with a great smile, and I chatted with her a bit about the place. She had this way of saying "Do it!" as an affirmation, which was so cute. As in, "I left my phone in the car, can I leave my jacket at the table while I go get it?" "Do it!" (smile)


The menu changes daily, and the offerings are concise. Like many restaurants in town, they use local suppliers and seasonal ingredients, but they seem to do this better, not caring if there are any staples or old-standby's on the menu. It's about what is fresh, what feels right, and that's what you are going to get.

I had the roasted red pepper and burrata sandwich, which was simple and really delicious. The roasted red pepper was soft and fleshy, and the burrata (a very soft mozzarella cheese, with a consistency in between cheese and yogurt) was creamy and silky and oh-so-fresh. The bread was grilled with just the right amount of olive oil, adding crunch to the soft textures. With it was a side dish of potatoes and artichokes, which was very light and of-the-season. I savored every bite.


For dessert, I had the Fennel Seed panna cotta. Normally, I don't like my classic desserts trifled with (Lavender Creme Brulee - ick!), but this flavor combination worked very well. The fennel flavor was very subtle, and the panna cotta was creamy-delicious. Unfortunately, the photo makes it look like tree-brain pudding, but trust me, the taste was wonderful.


I'm kind of baffled by the range of reviews on Yelp for this restaurant. They are all over the board, so I had no idea what to expect. Actually, the reviews for Spruce left me feeling the same way. It's sad, because I love writing for Yelp, but I find it hard to trust a lot of the reviewers - either they don't like the same kind of places I do, or they use their reviews as a place to dump their emotions. Mostly, they just don't "get it". Sigh. Kids these days! Anyway, I will be writing reviews of both of these places, and if I succeed, people will have an accurate view into what they can expect and why they would want to spend their pennies there.

It may require a repeat visit to Bar Jules, just in case, for accuracy you know....