Pate a Choux - Dessert, San Bruno

1150 El Camino Real, #205, San Bruno CA 94066
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am-8pm, Sun 11:30am-7pm
Parking: shopping center parking lot

Last Visited: June 6, 2024

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 4 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars

Price: $

So I've walked by Pate a Choux a number of times - whenever going to the Century Theaters at Tanforan mall, I go past this place.  It's often empty or has a short line, so I didn't think much of it, but after seeing a post on the Bay Area Eats facebook page, I thought I would give it a try and I'm glad I did.  

Keep in mind that this rating is for a one time visit, but I was pleased with it and hope that it's consistently solid.  While it won't be a life changing moment, the choux puff holds even after 15 to 20 minutes of being filled.  It still had a bit of a crunch, and as you can see from the photo, there is a lot of filling.

You choose from either a vanilla or chocolate choux and a choice of filling of matcha, vanilla, black sesame, hojicha, or chocolate.  These regular items are filled upon request and cost $4.75 each.  

I chose a chocolate choux with hojicha and found it to have a fairly light, but recognizable hojicha taste.  The chocolate could be stronger, but not bad.  The creme was slightly cool and had a nice texture - no grit, a little thick - just right.

You can also select from one of the six specialty puffs which include creme strawberry, mango mango, nutella roasted almond, double chocolate, sea salt oreo, and melted caramel.  These are filled with seemingly more cream and available in the adjacent refrigerated case.   It looks like these specialty items may be seasonal. 

Service was friendly and the shop is bright and clean.  Check it out next time you're in the area.

Amausaan - Dessert, San Francisco - CLOSED

CLOSED

354 Clement St, San Francisco CA 94118

(415) 691-0536

Parking: street parking

https://amausaan.us/

Last Visited: August 31, 2019

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: N/A

Service: 4 stars

Price: $$

This place closed before I got a chance to write about it, but since it's a chain, if this experience was any indication of what their other locations are like, then it's representative.

Uji matcha in a cone - The cone is crispy and is a nice color contrast with the refreshing matcha flavored ice cream.  Reasonably priced, its a good way to get your matcha fix.  If you prefer hojicha ice cream instead, that option is also available. 

Matcha crepe cake - While significantly less expensive than a Lady M crepe cake, the quality is also not quite as good.  If you haven't had any other crepe cake, this one is pretty good - strong matcha flavor, creamy filling, and lots of layers neatly stacked with clean cuts on the edge as you can see in the photo.  However, if you've had higher quality crepe cakes, it's lacking in its delicateness.  It's almost too much filling, but at least the crepes aren't too thick.  Okay. 

After this experience, if I'm craving matcha, I might consider going to Burlefer ingame where there is another franchise location, but it's not a destination for me. The after effects were odd in that you see green again later (sort of like when you see red after eating beets).  Personally, I preferred the Matcha Cafe Maiko store at Stonestown which offers similar menu items and won't leave you seeing green later. 

Gram Cafe & Pancakes - Japanese

3251 20th Ave, Suite 172
San Francisco CA 94132
(628) 256-6013 
Parking: mall parking lot

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 11am-7pm
gramcafeusa.com

Last Visited: December 8, 2021

Food: 2 stars (note I only tried the cool pancake)
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: $$ to $$$ 

While Gram is known for its start in Japan and for premium pancakes, especially the hot ones (their signature), note that this review is for cool premium pancakes only.  Gram offers a variety of the Asian version of cafe style food - regular sweet pancakes, savory pancakes, fried snacks, curry bento, rice and spaghetti dishes, and their signature souffle pancakes.   Instead of seeing giant stuffed animals, imagine seeing fluffy stuffed giant pancakes - almost like a pillow you could hug. 

Frankly, I experienced sticker shock when I arrived at Gram.  Those fluffy hot pancakes with 2 or 3 stacked on top of each other and some lovely cream have been showing up on my various social media feeds for a while.  I had every intention of getting a hot premium original souffle pancake (stack of 3), but it's a commitment.  First, it's the 30 minute wait; this dish is offered for dine-in only. Second, the price for this stack of 3 original style pancakes is $17.  I was thinking about whether I really wanted to do this considering I also had 2 mochi donuts awaiting me and how I wanted to spend my time since I had taken this day off from work, so instead, I went for a cool premium pancake.  

- Cool Premium Pancakes - Offered in original, matcha, oreo, salted egg, strawberry, and seasonal flavors, I figured that if it's good cold, it will be even better hot. Pictured here are the original and matcha.  While the pancake is not too sweet and it was delicate and soft, the mixture of the custard and the pancake both being refrigerated (versus one at room temperature or custard that might be like ice cream in coldness) meant that the contrast of temperature was missing.  As you can see here, the matcha, while flavored well, could have been presented better where the seam of the piping bag could have been on the inside of the pancake 'sandwich.'  You can upgrade the flavors by adding salted egg for $2 or sesame for $1. The texture of the filling is on the denser side which means that it holds up, but well, I just wasn't wowed by this experience.  I'm not sure I would go back for the hot ones based on this experience, and I'm unlikely to get the cold ones again.  $5 each or $20 for four

On the plus side, the guy working the front counter was completely patient with me and asked if he could answer any questions since I mentioned that I had never been there before.  He was certainly kind and that was greatly appreciated.  

Uji Time - Dessert, San Mateo

106 S B St, San Mateo CA 94401

(650) 235-9229

Parking: street parking

Hours: Sun-Thurs 12:30pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 12:30pm-10:30pm

http://ujitimedessert.com

Last Visited: October 28. 2018

Food: 3 to 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 to 4 stars

Price: $

Green tea and black sesame soft serve?  Who doesn't love the sounds of that?  Taiyaki cones and the scent of waffles wafting into the street?  

Uji time dessert is a welcome addition to the San Mateo Asian dessert scene.  Uji is a city on the southern outskirts of Kyoto, Japan and is known for producing green tea.  Inspired by this, the menu is pretty simple with a limited number of options - cup ($4.50), cone ($4.50), or taiyaki cone ($6.50); a limited number of flavors - matcha, black sesame, and tofu (which tastes plain), including a seasonal option (during my visit, it was peach), and several creative topping selections ($0.50 each) including Azuki red beans, poppy seeds, and Pocky sticks. You can also mix soft serve flavors.  If that's not interesting to you, there is also mochi ice cream ($2.50 each or 3 for $7).  The music playing is a bit loud and during this afternoon visit, there were a lot of people in the small area that contains several tables - think pastel colors and outdoor furniture like metal tables and chairs. 

I opted for a black sesame soft serve in a taiyaki cone and it was tasty, but remember that you're eating soft soft serve.  The black sesame soft serve was rich and creamy, and it also melted fast. The taiyaki cone is essentially a fish shaped waffle filled with red bean paste - as such, it does tend to take longer to make because they have a limited number of taiyaki irons.  Also, the cone will get soft quickly because it's a waffle after all and it already has filling in it.  While a tasty concept, note that it also leaks, so if you have small children, or even big kids/adults, or you plan to walk around, you may want to request a cup to hold it all.  Still, it's yummy.  Give it a try.

Aqua Club Dessert and Beverage - San Bruno

440 San Mateo Ave, Suite N1, San Bruno CA 94066 
(650) 382-2782
Parking: street parking
http://www.aquaclubus.com

Last Visited: October 5, 2017

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

Alice had recommended Aqua Club which is fairly new in San Bruno downtown. With menu items like a Smoked Salmon Waffle Cup as well as Green Tea Panna Cotta along with a variety of Boba Tea, you could see whom this cafe might appeal to.

This shop has a cute decor with it's baby blue wall and white chairs. A glass refrigerator case has options like panna cotta ready made.  There is a good amount of seating, but similar to other shops of this style, it gets loud with all of the blending going on in the background.

- Mango Sago - Fresh mango slush, sago, and coconut milk - This tall drink certainly had all of the ingredients listed, but the mango slush was only at the top and had not been thoroughly incorporated throughout the drink.  It's not put in a cup that allows you to turn it upside down, but even stirring didn't help that much.  The flavor is concentrated in the mango slush only.  In general, the coconut flavor was also present, but not intense enough.  $5.75

Overall, there is a good variety, but the flavor profile of this one drink wasn't particularly impressive.  Just ok.  I wouldn't say it's a destination, but if you're there and wanting boba, it's alright.

Benkyodo - Japanese mochi, San Francisco

1747 Buchanan St, San Francisco CA 94115
(415) 922-1244
Parking: street parking and pay parking lot
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am - 4pm, Closed Sundays and 1st & 3rd Mondays
http://www.benkyodocompany.com/

Last Visited: December 8, 2016

Food: 5 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $

If you love mochi and manju, this is the best place to go in San Francisco and probably northern California. Open since 1906, the shop has stayed within the family and is now operated by the third generation family members.

While it's easy to pass by this shop and not even notice it, once inside, the glass case holds many delights including fresh fruit mochi (during my visit, they offered blueberry mochi) along with their staples of red bean paste stuffed mochi with different mochi dough wrappers, lima bean stuffed mochi, and several manju too.  Pictured here are red bean paste stuffed mochi sprinkled with soybean powder and traditional white mochi with red bean paste.  These handmade treats are super fresh and the dough is soft and tender.  Most of the mochi is $1.20 each, but special items like season fruit vary in pricing.  Note that payment is cash only.

In case you're looking for Japanese treats, Benkyodo also offers rice crackers, both savory and sweet and the Japanese version of rice krispies treats - ever so delicious.

On the other side of the shop is a lunch counter.

Don't miss this piece of Japantown history!  Go early since once they run out for the day, they don't make more.

Screamin Mimi's - Ice cream, Sebastopol

6902 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol CA 95472
(707) 823-5902
Parking: street parking
Hours: Open daily from 11am to 10pm; open until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays
http://www.screaminmimisicecream.com/

Last Visited: December 30, 2016


Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $$

Voted #4 Best ice cream in the United States by USA Today and best ice cream in Sonoma County since 1995, this is a great place to stop in if you're in the area.

While it's not the very best ice cream I've ever had, I love the charm of Screamin' Mimi's and their variety of ice cream and sorbet, plus it's good to support local businesses.  When I'm up here, I always stop in no matter the weather or how close I am to my next meal.  The Christmas decorations are showing in this photo and you can see the colorful decor inside the shop. The ice cream cones, tables, and chairs are painted by a local artist.

Unlike other ice cream shops which offer ice cream by the scoop, at Screamin' Mimi's you pay by weight.

Shown in the photo here are:
- Peach coconut sorbet - The peach flavor came out more than the coconut, but it was still refreshing.

- Orange cardamom cream sorbet - This was wonderful!  The cardamom came across so well and the orange was light - I might try to make this one at home the next time I get out my ice cream maker.

Items like fudge, caramel, whipped cream, and waffle cones are made in house.  Other menu items include floats, shakes, and options from the espresso bar.

Service is friendly too, so stop in and try their multitude of flavors.

Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous - Ice Cream, San Francisco

Last Visited: July 29, 2016

Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $

Located in the Dogpatch, Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous has developed a reputation for high quality ice cream that rivals that of Bi-Rite and Humphry Slocombe.

I came in on a weekday afternoon and found that it wasn't too busy, although there was still a large table of folks and lots of moms with kiddos.  Offerings included standards like vanilla bean, chocolate, strawberry, and chocolate chips, but for something different, they also offered honey roasted peanut, kahlua and cream, and milk & cookies.  Toppings are also available as well as cookies in case you want a supplement to your ice cream.

- Buttermilk and Lemon - This was oh so creamy with distinct flavors of buttermilk with the additional tang of the lemon.  It was an unexpected pairing.  You can see that a single is quite sizable, but the triple is the best deal if you can stomach the serving size.

Prices: Kids $4, Single (1 flavor) $5, Double (1-2 flavors) $7, Triple (1-3 flavors) $8

I will definitely be back to try more!

Sweet Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Sonoma

408 1st St East, Sonoma CA 95476
Parking: street parking
Hours: Sun-Thurs Noon-9pm, Fri-Sat Noon-10pm
http://www.sweetscoopsicecream.com/

Last Visited: December 17, 2016

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


This is my second visit to Sweet Scoops.  Known for their homemade ice cream (most of Sonoma's ice cream shops are chains or their ice cream isn't made in house), this shop has lasted longer than some of the other places on the Sonoma Plaza.  Prices have gone up 10 to 20% since my last visit a year ago.

- Butter brickle - One of their best known flavors is the butter brickle.  It's reminiscent of butter pecan, but with more crunch.  Nice and creamy.

- Coconut chip - Shredded coconut is mixed with chocolate chips.  I wouldn't have minded the coconut flavor to be even stronger because I love coconut.

Prices: Tiny $3, Single $3.95, Double $4.95, Triple $5.75, Flight (4 tiny) $6.75, Split scoop $0.30

They also offer sundaes, shakes, sodas, and floats. You'll also find a few extra flavors listed on the freezer door, but you need to peek around the side to see the list though.

Compared to other sweet shops, this one is a good find in Sonoma, but it doesn't reach the standards of the best ice cream shops in San Francisco.  Still worth a stop though.

Snozen - Shaved Snow, Mountain View - CLOSED

2101 Showers Dr, Mountain View, CA 94040

(650) 559-0241

Parking: street parking

Hours: Tues-Thurs 2-8pm, Fri-Sat Noon-9pm, Sun Noon - 7pm

http://www.snozenshavedsnow.com

Last Visited: December 20, 2014

Food: 4 stars

Service: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

Located near the Caltrain station, you'll find this corner shop with a line out the door on a day with nice weather.  It seems that many people are aware of Snozen as it draws young families, college students, and anyone looking for an alternative to traditional ice cream.

Shaved snow is a lot like shave ice, but the block that is being shaved typically has a flavor containing dairy - it's light, flaky, and creamy.  While some places offer shaved snow, Snozen does an excellent job with keep the texture creamy.  Flavors available include taro (pictured here with mochi and a black sesame drizzle), coconut (shown here), mango, strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla.  It's a great sweet treat to have this mound of deliciousness.  If you're lazy, they even have regular combinations you can select from (see menu below) so you don't have to think about flavor combos, but you're also welcome to customize combos on your own.  It's also interesting that they serve the snow with a fork - it holds together well and didn't melt nearly as quickly as I expected.

Small $3.75, Medium $4.85, Large $5.95
Drizzles $0.50
Toppings $0.50, Fresh Fruit $0.75

Seasonal flavors may also be available - look for them on the board.  During our visit, they had green tea (pictured with a black sesame drizzle here), Thai iced tea, and sweet milk to name a few.  Shave Ice is also available here.

Service is friendly and they accept credit cards.  Depending on the day (I visited twice), there may be music playing or not.  It tends to be a rather noisy place with all of the snow and ice being shaved, and it's a bus your own table type of environment. This is an excellent stop if you've never had this sweet treat.

CREAM - Dessert/Ice Cream, San Mateo

134 S B St, San Mateo CA 94401
(650) 344-2736
Parking: street parking
http://www.creamnation.com/

Last Visited: July 24, 2014

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $

CREAM stands for Cookies Rule Everything Around Me.  I was eating at a nearby restaurant for dinner and wanted to get some dessert.  CREAM was just around the corner.  The thought of a warm house made cookie with ice cream - how can you go wrong with that?

When I arrived at CREAM, the menu was pretty simple - choose your choice of cookie, pick your ice cream, and if you want toppings, you can add them.

On this evening, I ordered a White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookie and it came warm with my Coconut ice cream in between.  The only disappointment of the night was that they were out of the Matcha Green Tea ice cream - sadness.  In case you prefer a malt, milkshake, or float, those are available too.

My favorite thing besides the freshness of the dessert was their pricing model. Paying by cash means that the sandwich sells for $2.50.  Paying with credit means it costs $2.99.  What better way to change behavior than by pricing differently based upon the business' preference to receive cash?

CREAM -

 I will be back!

Two Ladies Kitchen - Mochi, Hilo, Big Island, Hawaii

Best: Strawberry Mochi
274 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-4766
Parking: street parking
Hours: Wed to Sat 11am -5pm

Last Visited: October 2012

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 3 stars
Price: $

Two Ladies Kitchen was highly recommended by Jay and Brent, and as someone whom has always loved Chinese style mochi, I was excited about trying something I enjoy so much in a new way. 

It's rather unassuming from the outside, and when I went into the small shop, there was nobody out front.  This family who owns this business can be seen hard at work in the kitchen.  The women who came to the register took our orders and let us know there would be a short wait - it was definitely made fresh for our order. 

I had recently tried a kaiseki style meal which is a multi-course traditional Japanese meal.  For dessert, they had a grape wrapped with mochi.  That was my first introduction to fresh fruit and mochi. 

- Strawberry Mochi - Jay had mentioned that I needed to go early to make sure that they didn't run out of their strawberry mochi, so I got there right before they opened.  A whole sweet fresh strawberry is covered with tsubashi-an (sweetened red bean paste) and wrapped in mochi.  If you have never eaten mochi before, it's made with sweet rice flour (aka sticky rice flour).  The glutinous texture is a little chewy and very soft - it makes for a delightful experience whether flavored or filled.  The addition of fresh fruit gives an amazing freshness and juiciness to each bite.  It's no wonder Two Ladies is known for this in particular.  Note that these don't last long because of the fruit, but once you've had a bite, it's hard not to be addicted.  $2.75 each

- Lilikoi Mochi - The same sweet rice flour as described above is flavored with lilikoi and cut into squares.  Lilikoi is similar to passion fruit in its flavor - they're from the same family.  The pulp of lilikoi is more tart than passion fruit.   Each square was super soft and delicate. 

Two Ladies has a very large variety of flavored mochi including sweet potato, peach, brownie, and much more.  If I were a local, I would definitely be back to try the other flavors.  If you're in the area, the strawberry mochi is a must try.

Kailua Candy Company - Candy, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Corner of Kamanu Street & Kauholo Street, Kailua Kona, HI 96745
(800) 622-2461
http://kailua-candy.com

Last Visited: October 2012

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 3 to 4 stars
Price: $ to $$$

While this isn't a cafe or restaurant, Jay recommended the Kailua Candy Company for handmade chocolates and cheesecake so it was easy to make it my first stop upon arriving to Kona. 

When we entered the store, we were a bit surprised to see that the setup was like a general store - there was a mail center (which explains why they can so easily ship their goods), tall shelves with somewhat random Asian items, a freezer full of cheesecake and some ice cream, and the back window that gives you a view of their kitchen.

Kathy came up to us and immediately began to offer us samples of the honus and swirls and of course, it worked - we were munching away as she sweetly described her products and how they are homemade. 

- Macadamia Nut Honus (Turtles) - All of the chocolates and candies are available for purchase by the pound or boxed.  The turtles are available in both dark or milk chocolate. While the macadamia nuts aren't super fancy, they still make the turtle taste really good - the caramel, chocolate, and macadamia nuts are a great combination - how could you go wrong?  Good. 

- Kona Coffee Swirls - Kathy describes these swirls as melting away in your mouth with a rich flavor and aftertaste of Kona coffee and great for after dinner, or breakfast.  I could definitely taste the coffee at the end even after it had melted away.  For me, these are better at the store than once at home.  I would choose the turtles over these because the milk solids appear very quickly, a testimony to their freshness, and since they're like half-domes, they easily fused together because they are packed stacked.  Okay.

- Shortbread - A bag of a dozen shortbread squares, some plain, some dipped in white chocolate, some in milk chocolate, and some in dark chocolate are good and super buttery, but not as crispy as some of their competition.  I would skip the shortbread unless it's your only option.  $4.50

- Cheesecake - Oh My Goodness - There are a number of options for cheesecake flavors available for purchase by the slice or whole.  These slices are marketed as good for two people.  I personally think they're closer to one and a half servings, but very good nonetheless.  Kathy says that they're not super sweet.  I found the chocolate covering to still be fairly sweet, but the tropical flavors added to the cheesecake are a nice balance.  The chocolate cookie crust is pretty thick, but holds up well.  If you want to enjoy your cheesecake right in the store, there are a couple of tables and chairs, and Kathy will put it in the microwave to soften it up for you. ~$4/slice

My favorite item was the honus, but be aware that prices are premium to match the handmade product.  Cheesecake was a close second in my book. 

Kathy is great at selling her product, but you may also notice that she has a sales voice and a regular voice. Either way, you'll find her very hospitable.  Look at the bottom of one of the shelves to find reduced prices for imperfect candies and chocolates.  These are typically at least 20% off and a great deal for candies and chocolates you plan to purchase for yourself.

Tropical Dreams - ice cream, Hawi, Hawaii

174 Kamehameha Ave
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-9109

Parking: street parking

 

Last Visited: October 2012

 

Food: 3 stars

Atmosphere: 3 stars

Service: 3 stars

Price: $ to $$

 

All of my tour books for the Big Island kept talking about Tropical Dreams.  The sense that it was available on a limited basis (only at their stores and certain stores or restaurants throughout the Big Island) somehow added to the exclusivity of the product.  How could you go wrong with locally made ice cream?  I was determined to get it at their shop rather than at another carrier. 

 

I thought it sounded familiar, and when I saw the flavors being offered, I realized that I get this stuff at home in the SF Bay Area fairly easily - just go to an Asian market.  Unfortunately, when I saw what was in the case, I didn't find the super exotic flavors that I was hoping for - there was green tea, strawberry, and tahitian vanilla, but I didn't see any macadamia nut or ginger flavors. 

Tropical Dreams is known for super premium ice cream.  I ended up trying the coconut cream and it was ok, but not as creamy or rich as I was hoping for.  If you happen to be driving through Hawi, it's worth a stop, but if you make it your destination, and you have access to tropical flavors elsewhere, you might not be as enamored by it.  Sizes available include Keiki, Single, and Double.

Service was ok - nothing too special and salads are other options are available in case you are hungry.  For me, it was just alright.  Having a scoop of Mitchell's or Magnolia at home or even a quart of Tropical Dreams from my local Asian market is sometimes more satisfying. 

Sunflower Caffe - California cuisine, Sonoma

421 First St West, Sonoma CA 95476
(707) 996-6645
Parking: street parking
http://www.sonomasunflower.com/

Last Visited: July 28, 2012

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$

I recently saw an episode of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and with this place being in my backyard, I knew I had to check it out.  The sound of housemade harissa and fresh chimichurri sounded interesting and I really enjoy lamb when it is made right.

Sunflower Caffe is located in Sonoma Plaza and is tucked away - one might easily walk by thinking it's just a coffee shop and never notice the quaint back patio which is a bit reminiscent of a tiki bar.  Straw decorates the area, and shady trees offer an escape.  Formerly the Coffee Garden, Sunflower Caffe has maintained the coffee bar offerings, but has added a variety of sandwiches with ethnic flare.  Order at the front counter off the paper menus and then head to the tables with your number. 

- Persian chicken and herbed salad flatbread - Saffron marinated grilled chicken thigh and grilled tomato with a Persian herbed salad is served over a grilled turmeric and coriander flatbread.  The chicken was tender and flavorful, but the flatbread was too thick and was less enjoyable as the meal continued.  I'm not sure what made the salad Persian, but it had some mint in it which had a distinct flavor that paired well with the other seasoning.  I would have preferred this dish with naan or thinner flatbread.  A tortilla might have been a good substitution as well.  $13.95

- Lamb burger - Ground lamb is mixed with feta and rubbed with housemade harissa and black pepper.  A fresh chimichurri tops the burger which is served on a ciabatta roll. Harissa is typically made with piri piri chili peppers.  On Guy's show, the chef was featured making the dish with other peppers and adapting the typical recipe.  I liked the chimichurri, but would have wanted to have double the amount.  The lamb was gamey and the feta only seemed to accentuate the gamey flavor.  More chimichurri would have helped to offset that gaminess.  The shape of the meat patty was also too small for the bread and round shaped while the roll was square, leaving extra bread at the end of the meal.  Nothing comes with the burger except the lettuce, tomato, pickles, and a couple of rings of onion on the side.  For this price, I would have liked a small side or charge slightly more and offer a side.  $13.95

Smoked duckbreast sandwich and goat cheese filled piquillo peppers were also featured on the show, but I didn't get a chance to try them.

Sunflower Caffe offers a bit of spice to the Sonoma scene, and the flavors are interesting, but there is opportunity to improve each of the dishes I tried.  Prices are a bit high for lunch options and there is limited service - mostly young people bringing food to the tables, but nobody checking on you after you have received your food.  The prices seem high for the self-service environment.  Make your way through the hall to the back patio for a great place to enjoy drinks with friends or the nice weather - that's the real treasure here.

Cookies Quartet - Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Shop 1B G/F, Central Mansion, 8-14 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2382-2827

G/F Fuk Lo Tsun Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 2382-2817

Shop 1A, G/F, Shing Ping House, 62 Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, 2575-2282

Hours: 11am - 8pm
http://www.cookiesquartet.com/

Last Visited: November 2010

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

Eating is for Energy, Health, Beauty, and Pleasure. That's the motto at Cookies Quartet.

Cookies Quartet was opened up by a Chinese actress. Her palmiers (aka butterfly cookies) are known to be some of the best around.  We received a box of these from a friend and really enjoyed their buttery flakiness.

The packaging is fancy which makes for a great gift and certainly, their presentation such as smiley faces on the almond butter crisp and devil chocolate cookies are adorable.  Fancy glass jars house golden cookies and samples are also available in the store.  Their prices match in fanciness as well.

Their offerings show their creativity - hazelnut pepper cookies, five grain cookes, and coffee & walnut are just a few of their more unique offerings.  I would love to try their macadia cookies - yum! 

This is worth a stop if you're in the neighborhood!

Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream - San Francisco

1447 Taraval St, San Francisco CA 94116
(415) 731-2833
Parking: street parking

Last Visited: July 13, 2011

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 4 stars
Price: $ to $$

I had heard about Marco Polo some time back when I was looking for ice cream places in San Francisco, and one weekend recently, it was one of those 90 degree days where the weather was gorgeous.  It was the perfect setting for an ice cream treat, and our friends, the Tams, said we absolutely had to go try it.  With their high praise, we just had to go. 

Marco Polo is a small shop and despite the word Italian on the front, it offers a ton of gelato in Asian flavors.  Their menu includes lychee, mango, soursop, durian, jackfruit, sesame, chestnut, taro, cantaloupe, red bean, coconut, and more typical fare like vanilla bean, fresh strawberry, double chocolate, and mocha chip too. 

Small - 1 to 2 flavors $3.3.5

Medium - 1 to 3 flavors $5.25
Large - 1 to 4 flavors $5.85
Pints - starting at $9

The gelato is rich and creamy, but know that you're getting gelato and not ice cream.  During my first visit, I tried cantaloupe and lychee, and for my second visit, I tried pistachio and sesame.  The cantaloupe is an absolute delight - so refreshing and full of cantaloupe flavor - I didn't know it was going to be so incredible.  The lychee and sesame are just as you expect them to be - also very good.  I've made sesame ice cream at home and this flavor was just as wonderful.  The pistachio was my least favorite - maybe I just prefer this flavor in ice cream more than in gelato form.  

The options of plain, sugar, and waffle cone are also available.  I really enjoyed the fresh flavors and unique offerings of Marco Polo.  Service is friendly and they're very patient with kids.  The music can be interesting - Chinese pop, but it does seem fitting with the Asian flavors.  This is a great stop on any day.

Australian Dairy Company - Breakfast & Dessert, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Best: Steamed Milk

47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Hours: 7:30am-11pm

Last Visited: December 2009

Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

No matter what, when I'm in Hong Kong, I have to stop at the Australian Dairy Company. So that may sound bizarre, but Australian Dairy is popular in Hong Kong and this place is known for its steamed milk and eggs. One year, we went back to Hong Kong, and because it was Chinese New Year, I nearly missed out on my steamed milk! It was rough waiting out an entire week for the place to reopen (in Hong Kong, Chinese New Year is a bigger holiday than Christmas and it's typically the only time that you'll find restaurants and stores closed).

- Breakfast Set - While you can get scrambled eggs, eggs over easy, or made almost any way you want (I'm not sure I've seen an omelet in this place though), one of the most popular menu items is the breakfast set. You receive scrambled eggs, toast as thick as Texas toast slathered with butter, a bowl of macaroni with ham in broth (this is a popular Chinese style of making macaroni), and a cup of tea (lemon tea or milk tea). I usually select the milk tea served hot - it's rich and creamy with a great tea flavor. The drink is served hot, but if you prefer a cold version, you can enjoy it for a few HK dollars more. It's great stuff. An incredible bargain at $24 HKD (which translates to between $3 and $4 USD).

While you can get hot steamed egg, cold steamed egg, hot steamed milk, cold steamed milk, and other items, including a bottle of milk, my all time favorite must get item to get here is a Hot Steamed Milk.

- Hot Steamed Milk - Creamy and custard-like, this sweet

concoction is so smooth and delicious. The milk is so good - it's the ultimate in simple desserts and yet complex in that getting this perfect texture that just jiggles when you tap the bowl can be a challenge. It's also pretty healthy - egg whites, milk, sugar, and just a drop of vinegar - that's it. Yummy! I could eat this every day! $24 HKD (~$3 to 4 USD).

It's extremely fast turnaround though - you're immediately seated, given a cup of hot tea, and asked what you want to order. Minutes (sometimes seconds) later, the food arrives, and as soon as you're done, you're on the move. It's not a place to leisurely enjoy food (most HK places of this style aren't), but you can take it home if you prefer. Enjoy!

Yee Shun Milk Company - Hong Kong

519 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Tel: 2374 5460

Last Visited: January 2010

Food (dessert): 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

There are many locations where you can find Yee Shun Milk Company. I've heard of at least four around Hong Kong - two in Causeway Bay, Jordan, and Yau Ma Tei. Just look for the logo as you wander around.

They are probably most well known for their Steamed Milk in Two Films. Other popular items include Steamed Milk with Ginger Juice,
Steamed Egg, and Cold Milk with Papaya Juice.

From outside the cafe, you can see bowls of steamed milk and steamed egg, both offered cold or hot, stacked in the window. Typically at these places, you arrive and are served a hot tea in small plastic cups. The menus are placed under glass or clear hard plastic and you can select from the list of sweets, bowls of noodles, and whatever else may be included in their specials.

Most of the time, we go just for their dessert. Of course, we had to have the Steamed Milk in Two Films. While some establishments don't offer the films at all, the two films refer to the layer of skin that American recipes usually try to avoid. In Hong Kong, it's a welcomed item. That 'skin' is what makes Yee Shun famous.

- Steamed Milk in Two Films - Milk is steamed with egg whites to create a smooth custard. It's delicate in texture, yet rich in milk flavor, and gently sweet. Delicious! $3 (~$20 HKD)

While the booths are small and the pace of serving may feel rushed, you'll appreciate the fans on any humid day and Yee Shun does a great job with their steamed milk. If you don't like the 'skin,' there are ginger versions of the milk and other offerings available. Excellent.