Cute Italian in Sausalito

(Picture courtesy of sfeater.com)

Just returned from this cute and elegant little restaurant in Sausalito, Marin County.  Sausalito itself was a discovery.  I didn't expect to have such a good view of the San Francisco skyline from its quaint little downtown promenade called Bridgeway.  Amidst tourist shops, jewelry stores and fine art galleries, one can find the Piccolo Teatro di Sausalito.

The interior is very enticing: a mahogany bar, hardwood floors, a fireplace, and soft recessed lighting. Smartly-uniformed waiters greet you graciously.  The food is very flavorful and the selections are refreshingly different from those found in a standard Italian restaurant.  The portions are not huge, however, and bread costs $2.5.  In spite of that, the delicious and finely cooked food is definitely worth it.  For two people, my recommendation would be to order three of the 'Small Bites' priced at $2.5, and three selections from the 'Primi' and 'Secondi'.  This was enough for the both of us.  With wine and a soft drink, the bill came to about $70.

Piccolo Teatro is located on 739 Bridgeway, Sausalito.  

 

Happy Xmas!

Wishing all a very Happy Xmas, and a truly memorable rest of the Holiday season.  This snap was taken at Union Square in San Francisco, just a couple of days before Xmas day 2008. People skating, singing carols, shopping, just taking in the atmosphere on a crisp night. Magical!

Whole foods delight

Thanksgiving came and went.  We went to a neighbor's potluck, which turned out to be one of the most delicious nights of the holiday season.  I made a 'Potato Savoyard' gratin (more about this delectable recipe later), which took hours of prep time, but was completely worth it.  The effort made by our other neighbors was equally commendable.  Apart from the staples of green beans, carrots, creamed corn, succulent ham and of course, turkey, there was stuffing souffle with pecans, gourmet sweet pumpkin pie, spiced apple cider, coffee, and Veuve Clicquot Champagne.  

My rate of consumption of such holiday treats is showing no signs of deceleration.  Having recently discovered the 'Whole Foods' deli section, we spend most Saturday lunchtimes at our local Whole Foods, mulling over the mouthwatering options. Lamb shanks with rosemary potatoes and shiitake mushrooms, or turkey quiche with mashed potatoes and herbs, teriyaki chicken, the choices just go on.  The food from the deli counter in my opinion is sublime, filling, and satiates you like grandma's hearty cooking.

Of course, the strategically placed cake and pastry counter next to the hot deli counter ensures that you are bound to come back.  We are absolutely hooked on the 'Mixed Berry Cake' that WF sell in three convenient sizes.  Just try it, and I guarantee you will never ever buy any other cake again.  Garnished with fresh berries and icing to kill for, this moist and stupendously delightful cake cheers your tongue up.  Try it! The only caveat that not all WF stores carry identical cakes to each other, so if you don't find it at your local one, get them to find out your nearest store which does stock it.  

Do you have any Whole Foods favorites? Especially for the holidays? Do you think that food there is overrated and too expensive? Or would you rather pay extra for the quality? Let us know...

Top Hot Dogs in Berkeley, CA

I found this photo on a blog called ZeroDivide, and this summed up Top Dog for me.

I first went to Top Dog as a summer school student at Berkeley in 2003.  A cheep and cheerful place with dogs to satisfy both poverty-stricken students and those with a bit more cash to spare. My second visit was in Oct 2008, and coincidentally, on a football game day at Berkeley (Cal v UCLA!).  Berkeley was buzzing, and although the Bears won, Top Dog was bursting at the seams with fans from both sides.

There is no line here.  There are two guys behind the grill, one minding all the meat, and one taking all the orders and miraculously remembering them in order.  There are even veggie and healthier meat options.  It's fast, economical, and delicious.  What more do you need?

Top Dog also have a branch in Oakland, CA.  Check out their website below.  Have you been to Top Dog? What's your experience been like?

Top Dog