Saturday, June 19, 2010

Lan Fong Yuen - Cafe, Central, Hong Kong

Lan Fong Yuen - Cafe
G/F2 Gage Street, Central, Hong Kong
852-25443895

Last Visited: 2009

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Lan Fong Yuen has been featured on television and printed media for its famous silk-stocking tea. The taste of milk tea when run through a silk stocking is supposedly different from that made the regular way because all of the impurities have been filtered away. Some might even call milk tea making an art as you wait until the point of boiling, filter the tea, and do the process again and again until the impurities are gone. Just the right amount of evaporated milk is added to get the perfect sweetness and smooth taste.

The restaurant first began as a food stall and you can find the stall as well as the new restaurant behind it on the same street. Back in the day, food stalls were extremely popular and many people would find it more convenient and less expensive to get the best food at the 'dai pai dong.' My parents talked about going to these stalls as kids and ordering a small plate of noodles or some type of pastry for a mere dime. It was fresh, fun, and everyone loved eating there.

While the likelihood of you actually seeing the milk tea being made during your visit is low, you'll see lots of articles about it posted within the restaurant. It's definitely not a fancy place, but I think most people go just for the experience and ability to say that you've been.

We ordered a tea set - milk tea, available hot or cold, with a slice of thick toast which is buttered and topped with condensed milk. While prices are reasonable, you can find less expensive milk tea elsewhere, but the style of milk tea here is different. The tea flavor is itself very strong and there is a certain smoothness about the drink - it's rich in a way that you don't experience with all milk teas. I can't say I'm particularly accustomed to it or that it was better than other milk tea drinks I tried in other places, but it was fun to see all of the articles and it was a great snack.

Friday, June 11, 2010

W&F Washerette - Shave ice, Maui, Hawaii

125 S. Wakea Ave (between Ka’ahumanu and Kamehameha)
Kahului, Maui, HI 96732
(808) 877-0353
Parking: limited parking in front of laundromat

Last Visited: July 2003

Food: 5 star shave ice
Atmosphere: n/a
Service: n/a
Price: $

Yes, it’s true. This is a laundromat. How does this fit into the whole scheme of restaurant reviews? This is added here for the convenience for those visiting Maui.

W&F Washerette makes the best and what seemed like the most inexpensive shave ice. According to shave ice connoisseurs, the fineness of ice shavings is dependent on where the blade is in the sharpening cycle. W&F offers shave ice for under $2 (which seems to beat out all competition). It’s a bit out of the way, but if you’re already in Central Maui or needing to do your laundry anyway, it’s the place to go. It’s very close to Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center.

W&F offers a wide variety of flavors and gives a generous portion of shave ice. The basic one flavor shave ice without ice cream starts at $1.25. Larger sizes are also available. At the time of my visit, add ice cream for $0.50 and additional flavors for maybe another quarter or 50 cents more. Excellent value and taste!

Boat House - Seafood, Bodega Bay

1445 Highway 1
Bodega Bay CA 94923
(707) 875-3495
Parking: small parking lot with limited spaces

Last Visited: May 22, 2010

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Alice raved about how great the oysters at Boat House are, so with my mom loving deep fried seafood with a passion, we had to make a special trip.

Upon arriving, we looked at the green 7-up board above the kitchen area and checked out our options. While you can get sandwiches and burgers, we were pretty focused on fried seafood. It's also interesting to see burritos mixed into the menu selection.

The photos of kids on the cork board behind the counter and the wood fish decorations give the place that small town, family-owned shop feeling. Step up to the counter to order your food and select from a variety of drinks in the refrigerator behind the counter.

- Fried Oysters - Four fried oysters come in a basket over a serving of fries. The red and white checkered paper add to that feeling that you're about to dive into some good fried stuff. While the batter is crispy and brown, it's somewhat thicker than I like. Tartar sauce and cocktail sauce come with the oysters along with a wedge of lemon. The price is reasonable, but after having great fried oysters in Vancouver, this just didn't compare. I still give it three stars because it was fresh and the fries were good. $9.99

- Fried Calamari - A good amount of calamari is served over fries. I thought the batter on this one was just okay. Although it had good flavor, I prefer crispier batter. Tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, and a wedge of lemon also come with the calamari. $9.99

The staff is efficient and on this evening, it seemed that the owner had a number of her friends visiting. While there are a limited number of tables immediately inside, there are more in the covered area outside. You can also watch them barbecue your fresh oysters if you sit by the window. Overall, I had an okay experience, but probably would try some of the sandwiches if I came back.

Picante Cocina Mexicana - Mexican, Berkeley

1328 6th St #1
Berkeley CA 94710
(510) 525-3121
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: 2003

Food: 2 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

It's been a long time since I went to Picante Cocina Mexicana. I think it was all the hype that John gave it as he raved about the food. I was sadly disappointed. Since it's so long ago, I don't remember the specifics in detail, but I ordered some sort of combination dish and remember that I walked away disappointed. It doesn't mean I won't go back, but it doesn't mean I'll make the effort to stop in again.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Bernard's Inn - French, Ridgefield, CT

Best: French food

20 West Lane, Ridgefield, CT 06877
(203) 438-8282
Parking: in rear parking lot
http://www.bernardsridgefield.com/

Last Visited: September 23, 2004

Food: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 to 5 stars
Service: 4 to 5 stars
Price: $$$$ to $$$$$

Bernard Bouissou and his wife Sarah own this lovely restaurant. Bernard, raised in the South of France, has worked at Le Cirque in New York and other restaurants in the New York area. Sarah is also a renowned chef who heads her own catering company.

I visited Bernard’s on a Thursday night, and they had two musicians playing live jazz. The setting is quaint and cozy, but the crowd is certainly different than the West Coast group. The patrons are definitely more dressed up than typical California style. The women wore their elegant black dresses, and the men were in full suits or at the least a suit jacket.

Upon entering, the piano is on your left at the entry of the main dining room. A large vase of flowers adorn the top of the piano. The walls are a warm yellow and the white crown molding accents the room. The burgundy carpet with the golden design on it follows the color scheme. Spring like colors are present in the pictures that hang on the wall. The tables are round and oval and the chairs have oval backs giving the room a soft feeling all around.

The host is formal, professional, and friendly, but I don’t think I saw him smile all evening. It’s a different culture than that of the West Coast. Upon arrival, after being seated, the servers offer still or sparkling water. The tables hold candles, fresh flower arrangements, and butter in small round ceramic containers. Once orders are taken, servers bring around warm rolls (we had a choice of sourdough or raisin) that are served to each individual. At each place setting, you’ll find large white plates with a large burgundy B so you’ll be sure not to forget where you’re dining.
The wine selection is extensive. There is a large selection of European wines, and interestingly enough, the others seem to be from the West Coast from wineries right in my neighborhood. All of the dishes are beautifully presented, and the food is served together so each person receives their dish at just about the same time.

The first starter was a bit of a surprise. I hadn’t expected it since we hadn’t ordered it.

- Smoked fish salad – A dollop of smoked white fish mixed with potatoes was placed in a small crisp shell with a base about the size of a quarter. This is laid on a fan of five green leaves that are drizzled with a light dressing. The fish was delicate and just the right amount of salt to bring out the flavor but not overpower it.

- Bernard’s Signature Foie Gras Trio: Grilled with Sour Cherry Sauce and Maple Syrup Glaze, Torchon with Sauterne Jelly, Smoked with Horseradish Aspic – Three pieces of foie gras are placed on a large oval plate. A salad of large alfalfa sprouts and other greens are tossed in a light dressing accompany the foie gras. Four triangles of brioche style toast are served on the side. The grilled foie gras with its cherry sauce and maple syrup glaze is soft, silky, and rich, melting in your mouth. The smoked and torchon style foie gras were very similar in texture – velvety, but firm. Although both were good, my appreciation of these latter two styles needs some honing since the two tasted about the same to me. To the veteran foie gras connoisseur, I’m sure the flavors would be more distinct. $19.50

- Sautéed Frog’s Legs Provençale, Roasted Garlic Flan, Sautéed Salsify, Chanterelles and Fava Beans, Salsify Twists – Frog’s legs are served around garlic flan which is placed in the center of the plate. The coloring from the fresh herbs and fava beans give this dish an element of freshness. I only tried a couple frog’s legs and a bit of the garlic flan. The flan is delicate, but the garlic is definitely infused in it. The frog’s legs are tender, reminding me of the same tenderness of fish without the flaky texture. The legs are nicely flavored. Although the texture was smooth, I found the flan a bit too rich, overwhelming the individual elements of the dish. $14.00

- Marinated Tuna Tartar and Avocado Roll, Tomatoes, Sherry Coulis, Baby Greens and Sprouts. Raw tuna is diced and covered with sliced avocado resulting in a presentation like a mound of green. I didn’t try the other items on the plate, but the pairing results in a melt in your mouth experience. The tuna is lightly seasoned and the avocado is smooth. Excellent. $15.00

- Grilled Lamb chops with herbed couscous and sautéed seasonal vegetables – For this special of the day, four lamb chops are grilled to perfection. A mound of couscous and sautéed zucchini, yellow squash, and other vegetables accompany the lamb. The lamb chops were tender and flavored nicely. The portion is more than adequate. After enjoying the numerous starters, the couscous seemed bland, though on its own, its flavor might have held its own. The lamb chops shine above the side dishes so much that I would have liked for the lamb chops to be available by themselves. Very good. $32

Pastry Chef Catherine Laughlin does a very nice job with the desserts. From crème brulee trios to napoleons, there is enough variety to satisfy just about anyone’s palate. Another surprise - to begin the dessert course, the table received stands of cookies with such a pleasant looking assortment. I call it pleasant looking because I only had enough room to try a part of a large lemon wafer which was light and crisp. The cookies were available in chocolate and nut varieties as well.

Summer Melon Sorbet, Fresh Diced Melon and Lemon Grass Sauce with Orange Meringue Crisps – Two triangles of orange meringue crisps sandwich three melon ball size scoops of sorbet. Two scoops were cantaloupe and one scoop was watermelon. The sorbet flavors are so clear and distinct, they would be refreshing enough to stand on their own without the meringue crisps. Diced melon and lemon grass sauce surround the crisp. I would have liked to have sorbet available on its own without the decorations. $9.00

The overall experience was enjoyable. If you’re like me and like to try a lot of different dishes, then you may find the portions to be a bit on the large side. If you like having your one entrée, then the portion is just right. I liked the special touches of the smoked fish salad and plate of cookies; both were nice surprises. The service at Bernard’s is attentive and it’s a great place to go to feel pampered. I highly recommend Bernard’s.