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Blame it on the Food in the SF Huffington Post

Friday, September 16th, 2011


The Huffington Post San Francisco asked San Francisco Food Bloggers about the Best Noodles In San Francisco? When they asked us, we had to mention Tantan-men from Halu Ramen.

Check out the Article: Food Bloggers Reveal Their Faves:

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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk • Top 3 Favorite Foods

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Can you tell we’re trying to hold onto summer … I thought I would mention our Top 3 Favorite Foods from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk so you don’t lose your chance to eat the goodness (hmmmm … badness).

Rides Open Only: 11am-7pm on Weekends now Weather Permitting

#1 – Cajun Corn Dog @ Surf City Grill … Homemade and delicious. They claim to have the best corn dogs and they may be right.

#2 – Tater Twist (Put hot sauce and some seasoning on it)

#3 – Chocolate Covered Bacon @ Marini’s Candies

Posted in Eating Out, Santa Cruz, Where the Locals Eat | 1 Response »
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Santa Cruz in the News: Our Favorite Santa Cruz Restaurants (to date)

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

36 Hours in Santa Cruz – from the NYTimes

Lots of Santa Cruz folks wrote-in comments on this article with their picks for their favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz.  One person said the NY Times list of restaurants was a bit outdated.  This got us thinking about our favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz and has also inspired us to try a couple of reader recommended spots that we haven’t been to yet.

Our Favorite Breakfast Spots in Santa Cruz:

  • Cafe Brasil - Banana Pancakes, Acai Bowl, & Feijoada (long waits on weekends).
  • Zachary’s - Best Burger in SC (Gourmet Burger w/ Avocado & Bacon), Mike’s Mess, Sourdough Pancakes, & Fresh Baked Goods.
  • Silver Spur – South of the Border Scramble (get their homemade salsa on the side) & Daily Special Baked Muffins (not Open Sundays).

Best Splurge in Santa Cruz:

  • Cellar Door Cafe – Awesome small plates (Smoked Fingerling Potatoes & Brussel Sprouts with smoked Chevre and Cider) & nightly Prix-Fixe Dinner – all local and daily changing seasonal menu.
  • Ristorante Avanti - Great California-Mediterranean inspired local and seasonal menu (such as Dungeness Crab Cakes OR Manchego Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms & Homemade Pappardelle and Baked Marin Sun Farms Meatballs).
  • Soif - Nice Wine Bar downtown with tasty small plates (Piquillo peppers stuffed w/ Manchego cheese).

Casual Spots:

  • Dynasty – Mandarin/Szechuan Cuisine in Capitola (not the village).  We order the Mushu Pork and Beef with Zilan and the complimentary peanut celery appetizer is good too.
  • El Palomar Taco Bar - Freshly cooked meat for tacos in Downtown. Check out Taco Tuesday.
  • Tortilla Flats Located in Soquel, is inspired by French and Mexican Cuisines, and has been a local favorite for over 25 years.
  • Smoqe – A BBQ and Wood Fired Pizza restaurant just off the freeway, south of Santa Cruz in Aptos.
  • I will add more spots onto this as I think of them!

Best Coffee:

  • Verve – Superb light roast coffee made by an award-winning Barista. Also try the Bowl of Soul Tea (Tea steeped in steamed soy milk and honey). Great vibe too.
  • Casalegno’s Coffee Bar w/ Ugly Mug Coffee – If Chris is working ask him to make you his coffee specialty!

Favorite Desserts & Bakeries:

  • Chocolate - Downtown Santa Cruz – LOVE their dark chocolate gelato hot fudge sundae – for Chocolate Lovers, you will LOVE it!
  • Penny Ice Creamery – Organic Ice Cream Shop with very unique flavors that change almost daily.  Many of the flavors are often reflective of Santa Cruz (Verve Coffee Flavor, SC Brewery, Organic/Local Fruits).
  • Marianne’s Ice Cream – This is a nostalgic, classic ice cream shop with lots of flavors on your way to or from the beach in Santa Cruz. I like the Macapuno, Creamy baby coconut ice cream which is not an ice cream I would have ever thought I would like (it’s not chocolate).
  • Gayle’s Bakery - Located in Capitola – Love their Princess Cake for Birthdays (Three layers of vanilla genoise cake ~ layers of pastry cream, raspberry jam & whipped cream inside ~ pastel marzipan shell outside ~ sprinkled with powdered sugar ~ topped with a fresh rose)!
  • Kelly’s French Bakery - Love their Macaroons.  Great area to hang out in over in Swift Street Courtyard.  There are wine tasting rooms, the Santa Cruz Brew Pub, Bonny Doon/Cellar Door Cafe, a Clothing Shop, Knitting Shop etc…)
  • The Buttery – Can’t forget the Buttery. They are packed with orders around every single holiday!

Favorite Spot for Cocktails:

  • 515 Kitchen & Cocktails – Love their Signature 515 Pomegranate Margarita (cazadores tequila, la pinta tequila, lime, pama liqueur, patron citronge liqueur, sugar rim)! 515 is kind of loungy and a great spot to enjoy cocktails with friends or lovers.

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These are favorite restaurants mentioned in the Comments about the NY Times Article: Click to continue »

Posted in Around California, Eating Out, Santa Cruz, Where the Locals Eat | No Comments »
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Santa Clara Native: A Local Eat & Special Treat

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Santa Clara Native: Where the Locals Eat

  • Name: DP “DareBear” – 3rd or 4th Generation Californian + First Gen. Chinese
  • Occupation: Bartender & Graphic Design Student
  • How long he’s lived in San Jose: More than 20 years!
  • Favorite Local Eat and Treat: Family Birthdays Celebrated @ Okayama Restaurant
  • Location: Japantown, San Jose

“DareBear” always takes girls for first dates to Okayama!  Then they fall in love, and with the way the story was told to me, with the restaurant anyways.  Okayama Restaurant, family owned and operated in Japantown since 1967 (one of last three historical Japantowns remaining in the US),  is also DP’s family’s favorite place to go for special occasions, particularly birthdays (they give special treatment for birthdays).  They always call ahead for reservations because it can be crowded.  DP and his sister both order the Beef Teppanyaki.  His mom gets the Soup with Tofu, his brother orders the Chicken katsu (Hawaiian Dish), and his father likes the Beef Teriyaki.  DP remembers as a kid being served otter pops on his birthday and says adults got green tea ice cream.  On their website I noticed that they offer a free birthday lunch or dinner with your ID for a party of 4 or more.

565 N 6th St Ste A
San Jose, CA 95112

(408) 289-9508

*free parking

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San Jose Native: A Local Eat & Special Treat

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

San Jose Native: What the locals drink!

  • Name: An
  • Occupation: Art Student with an Eye on the Time
  • How long she’s lived in San Jose: More than 20 years!
  • Favorite Local Eat: Mint Mojito Iced Coffee @ Philz Coffee
  • Location: San Jose, CA (Two Philz Locations in SF too)

An has lived in San Jose since she was one years old, so that counts as a native CA’er for sure!  She told me to go to Philz and order the Mint Mojito Iced Coffee and to get a large for a whopping $4.50!  She says you will want a large if you order a small and it is only .50 cents more than the small.   Philz even charges $3 for their drip cups of coffee and An claims it’s that good.  They make a mocha type of coffee drink with a frothy top and add fresh mint.  An discovered this drink in SF one afternoon and later found out they had a location in downtown San Jose where she now goes to get her fix while parked in a free, secret spot near the MLK Library. Thanks for the tip An!

Philz Coffee

118 Paseo de san Antonio
San Jose, CA 95112

Open Weekdays 6:30am-10pm; Sat 7am-10pm; Sun 7am-9pm

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Santa Clara Native: A Local Eat & Special Treat

Monday, November 15th, 2010

South Bay Native: Where the Locals Eat!

  • Name: Tammy
  • Occupation: Photo-Lab Manager
  • How Long You’ve Lived in the South Bay: More than 40 years!
  • Favorite Local Eat: Tossed Shredded Chicken Salad @ Tao Tao Cafe
  • Location: Sunnyvale, CA

Tao Tao opened in 1951 as a family style American-Chinese Restaurant but became the Chinese restaurant it is today after folks from Ming’s Restaurant in Palo Alto bought it in 1974.

Tammy told me that she has been frequenting Tao Tao Cafe in Sunnyvale, CA, a Cantonese Restaurant, since her kids were young (over twenty years now).  She can remember going to Tao Tao when they had their original place and loved the old atmosphere.  The Tossed Shredded Chicken Salad (crispy noodles, peanuts, cilantro) can be ordered for dining in or for carry-out. When she used to eat beef Tammy also loved their Tao Tao Beef which is the other really popular dish. Tao Tao’s two famous drinks are the Mai Tai and the Fog Cutter. Tammy has a good story about the time her mother, her sister, and she ordered the Fog Cutter, a Long Island Iced Tea type of drink (rum, brandy, gin, sweet sherry & juices). But you’ll have to ask her about it.  To read more about the history of Tao Tao check out this out.

175 South Murphy Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086-6113
(408) 736-3731

The Shadowbrook in Santa Cruz has been around forever, since 1947 to be exact. It is a special place that Tammy and her husband frequent for Anniversary milestones!  The Shadowbrook serves traditional fare such as steaks and seafood and you can ride on a tram-like operation to get down to the dining room.  For dinner you sit at tables that overlook the river that flows to the ocean near Capitola.

1750 Wharf Road • Capitola-by-the-Sea, California 95010
(800) 975-1511 or (831) 475-1511

Posted in Eating Out, Santa Cruz, South Bay - Silicon Valley, Where the Locals Eat | 1 Response »
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