It's sad to be writing this post, but alas, I have encountered a recent increase in contaminants. Here is a run down of past and recent encounters (look for these under the label 'yikes') - a continuation of Foreign Objects in My Food:
Restaurant Peony, Oakland - Visited: 2001
- Clothespin in the Seafood Soup - dine in, found by the waiter as he served the soup
- How they handled it: The server took the clothespin out of the soup with his hand and placed it on the plate holding the serving bowl. Served the soup as though nothing happened. Horrible!
Silver Dragon, Oakland - Visited: 2004
- Bug in the shrimp appetizer - dine in
- Didn't notify them because it was a wedding banquet
John Ash, Santa Rosa - Visited: 2006
- Live Worm in the salad under a pork chop - dine in
- How they handled it: No apology. Busser whom we told about the problem brought the manager more than ten minutes later who started by saying 'heard you had a visitor' and told us the salad was organic and twice-washed. The waiter offered to give us free dessert which we declined. Did not remove anything from the bill. Horrible!
Zuzu, Napa - Visited: 2006
- Hair in the artichoke and mushroom salad - dine in
- How they handled it: Apologized and offered a replacement. When we declined, they took it off the bill. No further mention of it throughout the meal. Server and hostess saw us as we left, but had no goodbye greeting or further apology. Lack of customer service. Horrible!
Morimoto Napa - Visited: 2011
- Hair found in the Nigiri Sushi - dine in
- How they handled it: Server took the food away and apologized. Came back with a replacement nigiri. Did not remove anything from the bill and told us he hoped we had a nice meal at the end of the meal with no mention of the hair again. Talked to the manager as we left the restaurant and expressed disappointment that nothing was removed from the bill. Lack of customer service. Horrible!
Wild Fox, Novato - Visited: 2011
- Dead Bug in my salad - dine in
- Didn't notify them because it was a birthday celebration
Hung's Kitchen - Visited: January 2013
- Hair in the Braised Pork Rib Stew - dine in, found halfway through the dish
- How they handled it: Asked if we wanted to still eat the dish. Took off half of the cost of the item on the bill since we had eaten half. Okay, if the first comment had not been made. Room for improvement.
Ongpin, South San Francisco - Visited: January 2013
- Hair in the Pancit Miki-Bihon - take out
- How they handled it: Apologized. Offered to provide a replacement if I brought the dish back to their restaurant.
Cooking Papa, San Mateo - Visited: April 2013
- Hair in the Braised Tofu with Vegetables, dine in, found midway through the dish
- How they handled it: Apologized. Asked if we wanted a replacement and when we declined, they took it off the bill. They handled it okay.
Chang Puak, South San Francisco - Visited: April 2013
- Hair in the Beef Tendon Stew - dine in, found before I took a bite
- How they handled it: Apologized when it happened. Made a replacement and took the item off my bill and apologized again after. They handled it very well.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Addendum - California, Yountville
6476 Washington Street, Yountville CA 94599
(707) 944-2487
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Thursdays - Saturdays 11am-2pm
http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/addendum/
Last Visited: March 30, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Located behind Ad Hoc, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, you can grab a lunch box or 'hunger relief to go' at Addendum. Behind the parking lot is the path to Addendum and the little house where you can order a lunch box, dessert, and Ad Hoc goods like t-shirts or fried chicken mix. I've heard of Ad Hoc's friend chicken for a number of year's now and this was a perfect way to enjoy it while sitting at picnic tables in Ad Hoc's garden of raised beds. It's a scenic and peaceful location.
All lunch orders are $16.50 and come with a piece of cornbread, baked beans, and potato salad. You get a photo holder that holds a piece of paper with your name on it and when your order is ready, Ad Hoc staff walks it from the kitchen in the main building to the garden area. Orders of four or more can be placed ahead via email.
- BBQ Pork Ribs - You can select pork ribs or pulled pork. I went for the ribs and got three bones. The sauce has a prominent chili powder flavor and the meat is tender. It wasn't the best pork ribs I have had, but it was acceptable. I would have liked there to be some bark on the ribs and for the meat near the bone to be more infused with flavor.
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Three pieces of fried chicken - a drumstick, a chicken breast, and a thigh are battered and fried. The skin is nice and crispy and sprinkled with some sea salt, but the color was a little darker than what I was expecting. The meat was very juicy - even the white meat. However, some of the chain restaurants offering fried chicken offer a slightly better product.
- Sides - The cornbread is moist and sweet. The baked beans are also on the sweet side and could be served hotter. The potato salad is a combination of purple and yukon gold fingerling potatoes coupled with caper berries and fresh herbs. I thought the potatoes were a little on the hard side. You can see that all of the ingrediences are of good quality, but I've had better potato salads.
Overall, if you happen to be in Yountville, it's a nice stop, but it doesn't make it on my list of food to drive for. There are definitely options in the Bay Area that offer better individual entrees. Service could be more friendly as the staff walks around and delivers your food - something definitely felt missing in terms of warmth of the servers - they're professional, but are much better during regular restaurant service.
(707) 944-2487
Parking: parking lot
Hours: Thursdays - Saturdays 11am-2pm
http://www.adhocrestaurant.com/addendum/
Last Visited: March 30, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
Located behind Ad Hoc, on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, you can grab a lunch box or 'hunger relief to go' at Addendum. Behind the parking lot is the path to Addendum and the little house where you can order a lunch box, dessert, and Ad Hoc goods like t-shirts or fried chicken mix. I've heard of Ad Hoc's friend chicken for a number of year's now and this was a perfect way to enjoy it while sitting at picnic tables in Ad Hoc's garden of raised beds. It's a scenic and peaceful location.
All lunch orders are $16.50 and come with a piece of cornbread, baked beans, and potato salad. You get a photo holder that holds a piece of paper with your name on it and when your order is ready, Ad Hoc staff walks it from the kitchen in the main building to the garden area. Orders of four or more can be placed ahead via email.
- BBQ Pork Ribs - You can select pork ribs or pulled pork. I went for the ribs and got three bones. The sauce has a prominent chili powder flavor and the meat is tender. It wasn't the best pork ribs I have had, but it was acceptable. I would have liked there to be some bark on the ribs and for the meat near the bone to be more infused with flavor. 
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken - Three pieces of fried chicken - a drumstick, a chicken breast, and a thigh are battered and fried. The skin is nice and crispy and sprinkled with some sea salt, but the color was a little darker than what I was expecting. The meat was very juicy - even the white meat. However, some of the chain restaurants offering fried chicken offer a slightly better product. 
- Sides - The cornbread is moist and sweet. The baked beans are also on the sweet side and could be served hotter. The potato salad is a combination of purple and yukon gold fingerling potatoes coupled with caper berries and fresh herbs. I thought the potatoes were a little on the hard side. You can see that all of the ingrediences are of good quality, but I've had better potato salads. Overall, if you happen to be in Yountville, it's a nice stop, but it doesn't make it on my list of food to drive for. There are definitely options in the Bay Area that offer better individual entrees. Service could be more friendly as the staff walks around and delivers your food - something definitely felt missing in terms of warmth of the servers - they're professional, but are much better during regular restaurant service.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Ristorante Buon Gusto - Italian, South San Francisco
224 Grand Ave, South San Francisco CA 94080
(650) 742-9777
Parking: street parking and pay parking lot next door
Hours: Mon-Fri Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, Dinner 5pm - 9:30pm; Sat 5pm-10pm; Sun 4:30pm - 9:30pm
http://www.buongustorestaurant.com
Last Visited: November 1, 2012
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
The owners were raised in Sicily and opened the restaurant in 1988. Walk into the restaurant and it is a bit reminiscent of 1980s/1990s decor. The lighting is a bit dark and the full bar in the back looks well-stocked. We had a party of about ten for lunch during our visit, and we were seated in the nook area near the window.
The host/owner was very friendly and we had let him know ahead of time that we had a limited time to eat lunch. He was very accommodating, but service from his servers could have been improved by more attention to detail. Things seemed disorganized as the water and bread arrived before we ordered. I had ordered appetizers ahead of time and it seemed like the execution of the delivery of these and the coffee after dessert could have been better.
- Mozzarella Caprese - Large pieces of mozzarella are topped with a leaf of fresh basil and both are placed on top of a fresh slice of tomato. Olive oil, salt, and pepper top the salad. The tomato was pretty bland, but the basil was fresh. I wasn't particularly excited about this dish because it seems like it should only be offered seasonally when the tomatoes are ripe and flavorful. $8.50
- Fried Calamari - The calamari was breaded lightly and tasted good. Half order $8.50
- Pork Osso Bucco (special of the day) - All lunch entrees are served with a choice of soup or salad. I selected the salad and found the vegetables (lettuce, carrots, a cherry tomato, and a jarred pepper) to be fresh, but very overdressed. Most of my dining companions had a noticeable amount of dressing still on their plates even after finishing the vegetables. Thankfully, the osso bucco was delicious. The marrow was super tender and the tomato based sauce had really mingled with the meat well. The broccolini and carrot were fresh and the polenta with tomato sauce was a rich side dish. f you have the chance to try the osso bucco, definitely don't miss out on it. The portion is also quite generous for lunch. This was definitely a four star dish.
In general, I found that the plating could be a bit better. You can see that the salad dressing has dripped onto the side of the plate and the presentation of this and other dishes could be a bit cleaner. The food at Ristorante Buon Gusto is good, and greater attention to detail as well as serving more seasonal items could easily move their ratings up a star. Overall, it's a convenient location for decent Italian in South San Francisco.
(650) 742-9777
Parking: street parking and pay parking lot next door
Hours: Mon-Fri Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm, Dinner 5pm - 9:30pm; Sat 5pm-10pm; Sun 4:30pm - 9:30pm
http://www.buongustorestaurant.com
Last Visited: November 1, 2012
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
The owners were raised in Sicily and opened the restaurant in 1988. Walk into the restaurant and it is a bit reminiscent of 1980s/1990s decor. The lighting is a bit dark and the full bar in the back looks well-stocked. We had a party of about ten for lunch during our visit, and we were seated in the nook area near the window.
The host/owner was very friendly and we had let him know ahead of time that we had a limited time to eat lunch. He was very accommodating, but service from his servers could have been improved by more attention to detail. Things seemed disorganized as the water and bread arrived before we ordered. I had ordered appetizers ahead of time and it seemed like the execution of the delivery of these and the coffee after dessert could have been better.
- Mozzarella Caprese - Large pieces of mozzarella are topped with a leaf of fresh basil and both are placed on top of a fresh slice of tomato. Olive oil, salt, and pepper top the salad. The tomato was pretty bland, but the basil was fresh. I wasn't particularly excited about this dish because it seems like it should only be offered seasonally when the tomatoes are ripe and flavorful. $8.50 - Fried Calamari - The calamari was breaded lightly and tasted good. Half order $8.50
- Pork Osso Bucco (special of the day) - All lunch entrees are served with a choice of soup or salad. I selected the salad and found the vegetables (lettuce, carrots, a cherry tomato, and a jarred pepper) to be fresh, but very overdressed. Most of my dining companions had a noticeable amount of dressing still on their plates even after finishing the vegetables. Thankfully, the osso bucco was delicious. The marrow was super tender and the tomato based sauce had really mingled with the meat well. The broccolini and carrot were fresh and the polenta with tomato sauce was a rich side dish. f you have the chance to try the osso bucco, definitely don't miss out on it. The portion is also quite generous for lunch. This was definitely a four star dish.
In general, I found that the plating could be a bit better. You can see that the salad dressing has dripped onto the side of the plate and the presentation of this and other dishes could be a bit cleaner. The food at Ristorante Buon Gusto is good, and greater attention to detail as well as serving more seasonal items could easily move their ratings up a star. Overall, it's a convenient location for decent Italian in South San Francisco.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Ecco - Mediterranean, Burlingame
322 Lorton Ave, Burlingame CA 94010
(650) 342-7355
http://www.eccorestaurant.com/
Parking: pay parking lot nearby
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, Sat-Sun 5:30-10pm
Last Visited: February 4, 2013
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
I went to Ecco for a business lunch and found them very accommodating. I had worked with Chef Tooraj to arrange vegetarian options ahead of time and found him to be very helpful. We arrived just past noon and had a change in the number of attendees. They reset the table and were able to accommodate our group at one table. Attention to detail was good, but not spectacular - for example, one of the place settings was missing a fork and another was missing a butter knife. With two primary waitstaff, they seemed to have a little difficulty with welcoming guests and serving at the same time. In general, they did a good job.
They were very kind in offering to give us single serving crab cakes rather than plating as they normally would. This attention to detail definitely helped them make the sale too.
- Dungeness Crab Cake (single serving) with greens, mango and avocado relish - The crab cake is definitely one of the top crab cakes that I've had. It's crispy on the outside and doesn't contain much filler. The mango and avocado relish was refreshing and paired well with the warm crab. The cake was served over a nice bed of lightly dressed greens.
- Wild King Salmon with roasted potatoes and winter vegetables - Another very nice dish. While the portions are on the petite side, the salmon was very nicely done. Crispy on the outside and just barely cooked through, the salmon was not dry and had a lot of great flavor. There aren't too many potatoes - in fact, I wouldn't have minded more. Each component was very nicely done.
Ecco is accustomed to hosting the business lunch crowd and has good food served in a simple, elegant presentation. Each element is fresh and while servings are petite in size, the quality of the food is good. I would definitely go back to Ecco.
(650) 342-7355
http://www.eccorestaurant.com/
Parking: pay parking lot nearby
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, Sat-Sun 5:30-10pm
Last Visited: February 4, 2013
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$
I went to Ecco for a business lunch and found them very accommodating. I had worked with Chef Tooraj to arrange vegetarian options ahead of time and found him to be very helpful. We arrived just past noon and had a change in the number of attendees. They reset the table and were able to accommodate our group at one table. Attention to detail was good, but not spectacular - for example, one of the place settings was missing a fork and another was missing a butter knife. With two primary waitstaff, they seemed to have a little difficulty with welcoming guests and serving at the same time. In general, they did a good job.
They were very kind in offering to give us single serving crab cakes rather than plating as they normally would. This attention to detail definitely helped them make the sale too.
- Dungeness Crab Cake (single serving) with greens, mango and avocado relish - The crab cake is definitely one of the top crab cakes that I've had. It's crispy on the outside and doesn't contain much filler. The mango and avocado relish was refreshing and paired well with the warm crab. The cake was served over a nice bed of lightly dressed greens.
- Wild King Salmon with roasted potatoes and winter vegetables - Another very nice dish. While the portions are on the petite side, the salmon was very nicely done. Crispy on the outside and just barely cooked through, the salmon was not dry and had a lot of great flavor. There aren't too many potatoes - in fact, I wouldn't have minded more. Each component was very nicely done.
Ecco is accustomed to hosting the business lunch crowd and has good food served in a simple, elegant presentation. Each element is fresh and while servings are petite in size, the quality of the food is good. I would definitely go back to Ecco.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Jiro Dreams of Sushi - A Must Watch Film
While I don't normally write about movies, I had to share a short blurb about Jiro Dreams of Sushi. This documentary is about Jiro, owner of a three-star Michelin restaurant located in a subway station, whom has dedicated his life to the art of making and perfecting sushi is pure delight for foodies and an inspiring story of hard work and dedication. Plus, you get the inside scoop on selecting tuna, massaging octopus (yes, you read that right - it's a method of tenderizing the meat), and making tamago - egg sushi.
Who knew that a 20 minute meal could be such an amazing experience? The only drawback to the film is that after watching, you will crave sushi, and not just any meal, but one that exhibits the perfection that only Jiro can provide. This is a must watch!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
You Make the Roll - Japanese, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
75-5725 Alii Dr, Ste D101, Kailua Kona, HI 96740
(808) 326-1322
Parking: parking lot
I read about this place online and thought it would be a good spot to have a snack. If you head to the back of the boutiques and shopping centers and then take a left and another left, you'll find Hayashi's You Make the Roll. It helps to look at the map before you wander through the shopping area. 
If you're from the San Francisco Bay Area, I would say this place is on par with Tani's Kitchen in Daly City. You enter the little shop and it feels a bit cluttered. There is a refrigerator with drinks and lots of stuff going on behind the counter. Once you order, you then step outside to wait for the food. Plastic lawn chairs and tables are set outdoors for you to enjoy your food.
Known for its very reasonable prices, many locals frequent this place. As the name suggests, you have the option to choose the combinations that they have already put together or you can make rolls just the way you like it with a variety of components. Note that they accept cash only.
- Ahi roll - As you can see, the tuna is fresh and plentiful. The ends are a bit sloppy, but it's a great value. $3.50
- Ninja star roll - Spicy ahi, tempura shrimp, and avocado are centered in the roll. The sesame on top is plentiful on the top piece, but the picture shows that there is less on the other pieces. Good flavor and again, very fresh. The ends were a little sloppy and could have been neater. $5.45While I only had two items, I found the food to be filling and ideal for a snack. They closer fairly early, so you probably wouldn't be able to go for dinner, but it's a great place for a bite to eat. The outdoor seating faces the parking area, so it's definitely nothing fancy - very hole-in-the-wall in nature.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Cafe Pesto - Italian/Pizza, Hawaii
Best: Pizza61-3665 Hwy 270
Kawaihae, Big Island, HI 96743
(808) 882-1071
Parking: in parking lot
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am - 9pm, Fri-Sat 11am - 10pm
http://cafepesto.com/
Last Visited: October 2012
Food: 4 to 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 to 5 stars
Price: $$
Located in the Kawaihae Shopping center by the harbor on the South Kohala Coast (as well as at a locaiton in Hilo Bay), Cafe Pesto is an amazing find for great Italian food. If you talk to the locals, a good Italian restaurant is hard to find and buying premade pizza dough is also a struggle. At this location, it's a little easy to miss if you drive by the area too fast, but if you make an effort to find it, Cafe Pesto is a delight for its great food and outstanding service.
There are a variety of items on the menu including calzones, pizzas, pastas, soups, salads, and more. You'll find classic Italian dishes, Asian fusion dishes such as Thai Curry Shrimp, Seared Poke with Spinach, and what I would typically describe as Californian such as crab quesadillas.
We arrived just when Cafe Pesto opened for lunch and were promptly seated in their dining area. Black and white checkered floors, wood tables, and light yellow walls covered with local artists' works filled the restaurant. Each table also had a fresh rose on the table - what a nice touch.A lot of locals frequent the restaurant and I watched how the servers were super friendly with the elderly regulars whom were dining near us. The server of that table even gave the elderly women at the table a fresh flower for their hair - so sweet.
Nohea was our server and she was excellent. She memorized our order and since the pizza took more than 15 minutes to arrive, she brought us a few pieces of warm bread, probably the pizza crust, with herb butter which was a delicious combination.
Wood fired, hand tossed pizzas are available in 9 inch and 12 inch diameters. These are definitely some of the best pizzas that I've had in a while. The dough is lightly brown and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. While the dough is a little soft in the center, it still holds up fine to the toppings.
- Pepperoni Classico - Italian sausage, dry salami, pepperoni and red onion - The toppings were super fresh with the red onion shaved super thin and sweet. The sweetness paired well with the salty meat. Everything tasted super fresh and the fresh grated parmesan accented the pizza. $12.95 - 9 inches
- Pizza Luau - Kalua-style pork, local sweet onions and fresh Hawaiian pineapple - This is like pulled pork, super succulent in flavor and textures. The onions were also shaved thin and were sweet and this is probably the first time that I've had fresh pineapple on a pizza and it was wonderful. It would be hard to go back to canned pineapple which seems to be the only thing you can find on the mainland. If you like pineapple on pizza, you have to try this. $11.95 - 9 inches
The pizzas were delicious and so delicately balanced in flavor. The sauce paired well withthe toppings and each bite bursts with flavor. Wonderful. The service was also exceptional - I don't think I've had a server this good in a restaurant with this pricing level for some time. She had great timing for coming to check on us and provided amazing service. I also appreciated the paper comment card that accompanied the check. Cafe Pesto strives to give you the best food and service and they do a terrific job. Their Hilo location also has a great reputation. Must try.
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