Cicely's Profile
Candy Darling
I just had brunch at Canteen on Saturday with a friend from out of town and afterward we stopped by Candy Darling to pick up a sweet treat for her husband. The place looks new, although I see a post recommending it for peanut brittle from December (http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/751670). It looked like they hadn't fully moved in, though - cardboard boxes stacked here and there. The space is mostly dominated by the workspace behind the counter; the glass display itself has a modest array of truffles, peanut butter cups, English toffee and some luscious looking caramels - sea salt and vanilla. On the side are hard candies in bulk.
One or two older ladies there seemed to be running the show along with a couple more staff. My friend got some of the peanut butter cups for her husband, and treated me to some English toffee. The lady threw in a truffle for my son. I really wanted the caramel but didn't want to say so to my friend, so I stopped by on my way back to my car after we parted ways. They were closed! It was just before noon.
The English toffee was delicious, tender-brittle in that way it's supposed to be. I didn't try the truffle till the next day (saving half for my son, who doesn't need that much choco anyway). The ganache inside was creamy enough, but lacked that touch of bitterness that I look forward to in a dark chocolate truffle, and it clearly wasn't milk chocolate.
I definitely want to try some of those caramels, though.
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Candy Darling
798 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA
Good immersion blender for around $100?
OK, I *just* used my blender to puree some soup and realized I got something completely wrong! It's not the on/off button that's hard to use - it's the button that detaches the top that has the motor from the bottom, with the blade. My previous immersion blender was one piece, so I wasn't used to this. It's just a bit awkward, but not that big a deal.
Good immersion blender for around $100?
I picked this up at Costco as well. To be clear, it's $40 for one unit, which includes attachments like mini prep bowl ( warning - blades VERY sharp) and whisk. I like the prep bowl attachment; the immersion blender works very well but is loud (I think either Cooks' Illustrated or Consumer Reports where I read a review, mentioned this - it was ranked #2 but #1 was significantly more expensive) and the button is slightly awkward. I had a Krups or a Braun for years, and it had a big button that was very easy to press. This one is small and kind of difficult. Still, it was a great deal. Haven't used the whisk attachment yet but there doesn't seem to be much mystery to that.
Recent Visit to Taste Buds in Sunnyvale
On Grape opposite the car wash? No confusion - I tried to make it there for a late lunch last week, but just missed their lunch hours. Maybe they took brains off the menu.
Recent Visit to Taste Buds in Sunnyvale
Did you order off the menu or dine from the buffet? I've had the buffet several times and agree - the flavors are brighter and more interesting, with some unusual vegetable dishes, than most steam-table joints (and the bar in Sunnyvale is pretty high). But once I ordered takeout and was disappointed. At the time (a year or so ago) I assumed that what we ordered wasn't their specialty, but I think we might have gotten just what you did (I can never resist saag paneer, and I think my husband got chicken tikka masala as well).
I have wanted to go and eat in for dinner to try the masala brains.
Beer stores on the Peninsula
I was just researching where to get Pliny the Elder near me (San Jose/Campbell) and according to their brewery's website Whole Foods in Campbell has it, which I felt was a promising sign. Hopefully their selection hasn't been affected as well.
Ephesus (Mediterranean cuisine), Mtn View
Adana kebab is supposed to be a bit spicy. Was it?
Get ‘Em Before They’re Gone: Sfogliatelle at Cosentino’s in San Jose
Yep, I went today and was able to score one. However, I wasn't as enthusiastic about this as others. I found the pastry (and I got the large size; there was no other at midday) flaky, yet kind of tough, and the filling unappealingly dense. Re-reading Melanie's post, I'd agree with the description of "gummy, pudding-cake texture" ... but with a completely different reaction! However, I didn't follow her tip of re-heating in the oven.
Strangely, although I was under the impression that these were made in-house, the young woman at the bakery counter told me they were shipped out from "back East"!
Cosentinos Market, San Jose- Closing!
I heard the same at the story today. As a local resident, I'm relieved, but bargain hunters should note that this means the liquidation sale is over.
Get ‘Em Before They’re Gone: Sfogliatelle at Cosentino’s in San Jose
Sadly, I never got to try these - stopped by Friday afternoon, they were all out; made it back Monday mid-morning and didn't see them; when I didn't see them this morning at opening, I inquired and was told that they had run out of some of the ingredients, and since the store is closing, didn't bother to restock, so they won't be making them any more.
Moles on the Peninsula?
This is one of those posts that is bound for disappointment, as Moles la Tia is exceptional even in Southern California - excellent traditional moles, plus creative modern ones. Don't expect to find anything like it here; I haven't even tried. I've been impressed by the fresh flavors at Tu Mero mole, in my neighborhood, but despite the name it's not a mole specialist and I haven't gotten around to trying their mole (poblano, I think) yet, although everything else has been good. I should really get over to Juquilita.
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Juquilita Restaurant
577 W Alma Ave, San Jose, CA 95125
Tu Mero Mole
2041 Woodard Rd, San Jose, CA 95124
Great Clean place for Mole, Cabrito and Yucatan food in West San Jose
Update: The "cochinita yucateca" is not the cooked-in-a-banana-leaf cochinita pibil. It's chunks of pork smothered in a distinctly tangy chile sauce - also delicious.
Napoletana Pizzeria, Mountain View
Oh, Cafe Mazeh! :-( I used to live in the neighborhood and it was such a nice mom and pop restaurant. Sad - but I do agree that MV is badly in need of good - or even decent! - pizza.
Bonchon chicken in Sunnyvale (Korean fried chicken)
so weird, our wings were huge like Frankenchickens.
Bonchon chicken in Sunnyvale (Korean fried chicken)
I've had 99 Chicken too but did not like it. I wish I could recall more clearly what turned me off. I think the spicy wings were a bit too vinegary (I found the same thing with Bonchon's hot wings in LA, so I avoided them here).
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99 Chicken
2781 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051
Bon Chon
572 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Bonchon chicken in Sunnyvale (Korean fried chicken)
I just refreshed my memory by glancing at the menu - they also have fries, sweet potato fries, zucchini fries and potstickers as apps; a variety of salads including Caesar, balsamic, and chicken/sesame ginger tofu salad; chicken/pork katsu (cutlets); and beer and soju (which you can also get mixed with peach yogurt??) as well as soda. For dessert, there's green tea or vanilla ice cream, or fudge brownies.
Bonchon chicken in Sunnyvale (Korean fried chicken)
I'm really surprised that no one else has mentioned this place, what with the craze over Korean fried chicken (or is that so 2009?). I discovered an outpost of Bonchon, one of the two Korean fried-chicken chains that have expanded to the U.S., when I caught sight of the sign while driving down El Camino Real a week ago. My boss in Sunnyvale says it's been there for a while, but I'm not sure how long that means and I forgot to ask our server.
Tried it a week or so ago with my husband. We've eaten at Bonchon in LA, although our usual favorite is Kyochon. Bonchon's fried chicken wings were about the same as LA Bonchon's, as far as I can remember, with that signature Korean-fried crispness. They say their basic flavor (the pieces are brushed with sauce) is soy garlic, but to my mind it tastes like neither - there's just a touch of sweetness, like from honey. The taste is definitely distinct from American-style fried chicken, but subtle. The only thing that threw me was that the wings were bizarrely large and kind of smooth rather than knobbly the way chicken wings usually are. I thought they might be battered, unlike most KFC, but that wasn't the case either.
The menu also has some rice-bowl combos and Korean tacos. We got an order of bulgogi rice for our kid. It's fine for someone who doesn't want to eat fried chicken.
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Bon Chon
572 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Crispy, Buttery Almond Croissants in Saratoga!
Wrong place is autolinked.
http://www.chow.com/restaurants/920298/bell-tower
GOOD Cuban or Jamaican Restaurants in SF/East Bay? Do they exist?
Hmm, I lived in LA for many years and I wouldn't call Cuban food a particular strength down there - most people gravitate to Versailles, a rather mediocre place that is NOT related to the Versailles in Miami. However, I did really like El Cochinito, in Silver Lake, for their lechon, and it's definitely worth it to stock up on Cuban bread/crackers at Porto's Bakery, which is located close to the Burbank airport.
snout-to-tail + michelin ranked burgers: on the peninsula
OK, I tried the Tootsie's burger and was seriously underwhelmed. Olives and oregano, duly noted, but the patty was relatively thin and on the dry side. Edible, but not compelling - I left about 30% of it behind. On the plus side, fries were delicious - thin and crispy, with a sprinkling of coarse salt.
Sourcing Smoked Turkey Thigh
it's kind of far out for you, but Dittmer's in Mountain View has tons of smoked meats, including turkey. Don't recall if I've seen the thigh alone, but ask.
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Dittmer's Gourmet Meats
400 San Antonio Rd Ste 4, Mountain View, CA 94040
snout-to-tail + michelin ranked burgers: on the peninsula
Interesting. I'm a big fan of Tootsie's but I've avoided the burger because I just assumed it was a concession to American tastes - the rest of the menu is Italian and very good. Focaccia is made in-house and about as good as Liguria Bakery's. Now I'm motivated to try it.
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Liguria Bakery
1700 Stockton St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Foods that are better made in SF than NYC?
If you're going to be in San Jose you should go for Vietnamese food. Little Saigon is a great place to eat. I really like Nha Toi which is Central Vietnamese.
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Nha Toi Restaurant
460 E William St, San Jose, CA 95112
Great Clean place for Mole, Cabrito and Yucatan food in West San Jose
yeah, the epazote thing occurred to me as I saw in one of my cookbooks that it's often used in black beans (which are apparently more commonly used in the Yucatan than pintos), but I didn't think the beans tasted like epazote - maybe you're right and the amount was off, or it was overcooked or something.
Great Clean place for Mole, Cabrito and Yucatan food in West San Jose
Oh, I forgot to mention that I mentioned to the wife/co-owner that I was surprised that there was only one mole dish on the menu, considering the restaurant's name; she explained that "Tu mero mole" is an expression that loosely means "to your satisfaction" or "to your taste."
Great Clean place for Mole, Cabrito and Yucatan food in West San Jose
Wow, I live in the neighborhood and thought for once I'd have a scoop on Chowhound, but I was too slow! Actually, it turns out this restaurant has been open for a year, but it's totally hidden from the main streets in this area. Just a few weeks ago they put out a sign on Union, and that's what tipped me off.
I really feel the previous poster was not emphatic enough - this is really good, fresh, authentic Mexican food - in a neighborhood where the main competition is Chipotle. It's no hole in the wall, but a bright and charming small space run by a husband (chef) and wife ("front of house," meaning the cashier). The wife is particularly friendly and charming.
The menu is broad, with the usual tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, plus Tex-Mex fajitas. But notably, the specialties include a sort of Greatest Hits of Mexican regional cuisine: the Jalisco-style cabrito mentioned by the OP, cochinita pibil from the Yucatan, mole poblano from Puebla, and camarones a la veracruzana. The mole is remarkably good, indescribably complex as good moles are, bathing a tender boneless and skinless half breast of chicken. The Veracruz-style shrimp are smallish but perfectly cooked, in a piquant sauce of tomato, olives, capers and onions.
Tortillas are made in-house (you can see a little wooden press behind the counter), as are salsas (about half a dozen including the aforementioned peanut), and aguas frescas. Aguas frescas change daily - their horchata is wonderfully refreshing, slightly gritty from ground rice and won't give you a sugar headache like the kind from a mix; coconut is also delicious.
The one ding I'd give is that the black beans were a tad salty and tasted almost kind of musty - not spoiled, just odd. But the pinto beans were creamy and good.
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Tu Mero Mole
2041 Woodard Rd, San Jose, CA 95124
non stick hard anodized cookware
I got Calphalon hard anodized pans for my wedding 4 years ago and they are holding up great despite a lot of use. You definitely only need nonstick for pans, because that's when stuff sticks - when you're pan-frying. I use a small one for scrambled eggs for one or two people, and a larger one to fry fillets or other saute-type dishes.
Rocky's Frybread (Authentic Navajo Frybread), SF
funny, I had a "scone" while driving through Utah or Colorado. Yes, in a diner! Yummy.
Jang Su Jang (Korean restaurant), Santa Clara report w/ pics (Army base stew, yogurt drinks, acorn noodles)
Just tried this place this week with my husband, who was taken there recently by some Korean recruiters from Samsung who said it has the best Korean food in town.
This is actually quite a nice restaurant, suitable for a business lunch but not over-the-top fancy. Nice foyer with a rustic carved wooden bench and host/hostess stationed piled high with those buzzing coasters for wait-list patrons. Inside there are BBQ and non-BBQ tables.
My husband had dol sot bibimbap (rice with mixed toppings in a hot stone bowl) and I had mandu soontubu jjigae (soft tofu stew with dumplings). They were solidly good, although the mandu in my stew seemed like the mediocre store-bought kind.
Panchan (side dishes) are an important part of a Korean meal and theirs are good. We got 6-8. My favorite was the odeng, thin slices of fried fish cake in a sweet mirin-y sauce, with meltingly tender thin slices of carrot and hot pepper. My husband and I disagreed about the kimchi - he preferred the older, softer kind, which I found to be not very well seasoned. I like the crunch of new kimchi, and that dish was also more aggressively flavored.
My husband was excited by the mini yogurt drink for dessert, which he said reminded him of his childhood in Korea. It reminded me of my childhood, too - because it tastes like orange-flavored baby aspirin!
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Jang Su Jang
3561 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051
