janeyoc's Profile
Santa Barb to Cambria: Wine bar/shop & local cheeses & fruit
Driving from Santa Barbara to Cambria this weekend. Don't really have time to visit several wineries. I looking for a wine shop or bar to do tastings of some harder to find wines. We live in the OC and have great wine shops that carry the big central coast wineries.
Also looking for a good purveyor of local artisan cheeses, meats and breads to pick up some picnic foods.
Not if it is too late in the season to find a fruit stand that carries some blueberries or grapes.
Thanks for you help.
Jane
DOCG Enoteca (Cosmo) or Enoteca Otto (Venetian)?
Just got back from LV on Thursday and ate at DOCG on Monday. It was ok. I have eaten at Mozza in LA, Delfina in SF & Oenotri, Bovolo, Fatted Calf in Wine Country. I like to eat and read/research food. I love my pig.
We started with the cured meat and cheese plater. It was nothing impressive. I wanted to order the grilled filone but we brought our kids and they were demanding salumi. We also ordered two pizzas. The crusts were nice and chewy. But the topping didn't jump out on me. We also had the pici w/ the duck sauce. Very rich. But I didn't want to mop up the sauce with the bread.
If you had limited number of meals I wouldn't wasted them at DOCG.
Recommendation: Something similar to Mozza on Strip or any good Mediterranean/seafood
My husband and my two sons (7&9) looking for an recommendation for dinner. The kids can do upscale dinning. We have taken them to SF & Napa and they have done great at Italian/Mediterranean/seafood type places.
They love great bread, wood burning oven pizzas, salume and charcuterie plates. But also like fish and shellfish.
Somewhere not too stuffy. Something that we can 't find in LA/Orange County. On the strip.
Thanks
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Napa Restaurant
3700 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Birthday Dinner (Friday Night, Great Wine List)
I have a res on Sat for Wine Vault. How would you rate the food? I was debating going to WV or Cucina Urbana. Any thoughts?
Questions re: Prohibition
Not a lot of info on it's website and read through yelp reviews. I am going on Friday night and got my name on the list.
- Can anyone tell me what time the music usually starts?
- Do they serve food?
- Do they charge a cover after a certain time?
- I read that lines can form. What time does that usually happen?
Thanks!
2 nights in San Diego with wife; no kids
My husband and I try to escape the kids and OC at least twice a year and head down to SD. We like the following based based upon great atmosphere/view and good food:
- Fish Market - sit outside enjoy the view and order the smoked fish platter, oysters and some sushi
- Green Flash - again sit outside and enjoy the ocean. Great bloody mary's and pretty good breakfast (in PB)
- Noble Experiment - make reservation for tasty cocktails
- If you like beer, stop off at Ballast Pt right off the 5 fwy near USD to fill up a growler and do a few tastings
Have fun!
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Green Flash
701 Thomas Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Breakfast Recommendation in Wine Country
I need two breakfast recommendations - one for Healdsburg (Fri night) and another for Napa (Sat night).
We will be staying in downtown Napa and waking up on Easter Sunday. We are heading back down to So Cal and don't want to do a big Sunday brunch. Something casual and easy.
Also any good recommendations for ice cream or breads would also be appreciated.
From Healdsburg, we are heading to Santa Rosa->Sonoma->Napa.
Thanks!
visiting farms in SF Bay area
How about this ranch dinner hosted by a bakery?
http://www.dellafattoria.com/ranch/ranchDinners.html
Also I would check out the Cowgirl Cremery cheese tours.
Mom needs roadtrip help into the city
Thanks everyone for your help. I would like to stop in my car and eat before I head to the hotel. I know the boys (7&9) would like to eat the city.
I will check out your suggestions.
Ferry Plaza vs. Whole Food to buy local food
When I visit SF I usually go to the Ferry Plaza to buy bread, cheese and meats to take home. I was wondering if I was better off going to a Whole Foods in the city to pick up some local food supplies.
I live in OC and I know my local WF has Cowgirl and some N Cal cheeses. Are the WF in the city going to carry more of variety of locally produced meats and cheese? Also locally baked bread?
Let me know where I am better off shopping. Also how do prices compare?
Also is there a WF in the city that is bigger and better than others?
Are there any other gourmet markets that I should visit for fun?
Thanks
Mom needs roadtrip help into the city
I am Korean and we eats lots of Asian food since we live in OC near Irvine and Garden Grove. I was trying to steer away from Asian since we eat it so much. Aunt Mary's seems like a good choice but they are not open for dinner.
Any other recs similar would be great!
No kids at gastropub in SF? In OC, there are a couple that have good burgers, fried chicken & steaks that are kids friendly. None in SF that would be appropriate?
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Aunt Mary's Cafe
4307 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
Saigon Sandwich has re-opened
Can anyone tell me the hours? I am staying nearby and a late night sandwich would be great! Also do they sell egg rolls?
Mom needs roadtrip help into the city
I will be driving into the city on a Tuesday prob around 7-8 in the evening from So Cal. Driving up the 5 to the 580 toward SF. I would like a recommendation for dinner on that Tuesday evening for me and my two boys. We are staying in the Civic Center/Tenderloin area (Phoenix Hotel) which I heard isn't the best walking area.
We will have our car so a restaurant with easy parking would be great. In the city would be good or on the way is ok too. Brenda's French Soul Food is nearby the hotel but is closed for dinner on Tuesday. Maybe a fun diner with inventive food or gastropub or a Pizza Delfina (with out the wait).
We have reservations at Zero Zero on Wednesday once my husband flies into the city.
Thanks!
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Delfina Restaurant
3621 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Brenda's French Soul Food
652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Zero Zero
826 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94107
My Wife and I are staying at the Hyatt Embarcadero M-F 4/4-4/6. Seeking walking distance tips/.
We always stay the the Hyatt and upgrading to the Club level is definately worth the extra money. There is a good breakfast spread with lox and the happy hour was good. The best part is the view from the club lounge which is the top floor. One night we brought in a bottle of wine at happy hour and enjoyed the view. Also the rooms on the club level have been rennovated and much nicer than the reg rooms.
We had a really good meal at Bix and enjoyed the live jazz music. Very close by.
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Bix
56 Gold St., San Francisco, CA 94133
Need an Interesting/Fun Wine Tour
Also we are going to visit on Sat (not a great day) so having a tour that requires a reservation would be better. Also just read FL only has tours M-F so I don't have a default winery. Also I am not interested in Sterling (tram ride is too short for the money).
Need an Interesting/Fun Wine Tour
We are bringing our kids (7&9) to the wine country in April and I am looking for a wine tour that would be informative while interesting (nothing over 1 hr) for kids. I already have us scheduled for Coppola bottling tour and looking for another wine tour (one wine tour per day is our goal).
We are spending the night in Healdsburg after our Coppola tour and planning to head to Santa Rosa to visit Russian River brewery the next day. Our next night will be in Napa so any tour between these 3 points (Healdsburg-SR-Napa) would work.
I read that Cornerstone Gardens would be good. Also my husband and I have been on Frog's Leap which would be our default choice if nothing better gets suggested. Schramsberg would have been good since it visit the caves but it is 21 and over only.
Thanks for the help.
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Cornerstone Gardens
23570 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, CA
Casual Downtown Reccomendation
The place is really tiny, only seating 30, which is why it is hard to get res. We were on the waiting list and just sat at the bar in Neighborhood waiting. There were about 6 seats at the bar and 3 -4 for lounge chairs.
I don't really like the harsh taste of hard liquor but I like a good flavor combinations. I told the waitress what flavors I like cucumber, ginger and lime and I got a really different bourbon drink. It is fun place to try out if you can get in.
Casual Downtown Reccomendation
Must get res at Noble Experiment for cocktails. The entrance is in the Neighborhood. Text the phone to get a res. Great flavorful drinks.
foodie recommendations
We do this trip from OC about 2-3 times a year w/ our 7&9 yr old boys.
At the zoo we just bring some snacks and get some type of treat. We save our appetite for the MG truck off Grape St. The kids love the fish tacos and beware the tostadas are huge.
Also we always stop off at Ballast Pt/Home Brewery to fill up our growler with beers. If you can get there early (before 10:30am) and you can get a couple of tasters while the kids are playing there DS/Ipods. The Home Brewery is about a mile from the Sea World exit. You can purchase a growler to fill there. Nice fresh beer.
Pt Loma Seafood was ok. It was really crowded and didn't have any atmosphere. I would suggest SD Fish Market which is right next to the Midway which is a sight to see. They open at 11:00 and there is no wait if you get there then. We love to sit outside and kids love to watch the boats go by. They have a great smoked fish sampler and hot sourdough bread. Good sushi too. You have to ask to see the sushi menu from your server. If it is a long wait for outside try the outside bar area (kids can sit outside there.)
We've done Cafe Chloe with the kids too. Call before you go since it is a really small place.
If you are driving through Escondido (5 to the 78), stop by Stone Brewery if it is a nice day. They have a lovely garden area to walk around and for the kids to explore. It gets crowded on weekends so make sure you have a res and ask for a table outside if the weather is nice. The tour was kinda boring for the kids. You can get growlers here too.
My husband and I went to SD this weekend on our own and went to the happy hr at Nobu in the Hard Rock. There were kids in the lounge area. The oysters and hot items were fantastic. If you kids are well behave you should check it out also.
I love the age of technology. The DS and Ipod have enabled us to go so many fine dining places with the kids. Good luck and good eating!
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Cafe Chloe
721 9th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Nobu
207 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Restaurants in Laguna
If the weather is nice, take a walk in park in front of the Montage. You didn't mention the ages of your kids but there is a nice big grassy area great for running around/frisbee/tossing a football. If you can't make dinner at the Montage, have a drink in the lobby (bring ipods/DS for the kids).
Also a good walking trail is at Crystal Cove. The Beachcomer is right on the sand and is good for breakfast (call before since it might have a really long wait). Also ice cream at Ruby's Shake Shack is great too. Try the date shake.
Rooftop Bar is another good one for a nice day. They only serve lunch and have a kids menu.
Coyote is good but call before you go. There is a small patio and there is always a long wait if it is a nice day.
For a night out without the kids, I would recommend drinks during sunset at the patio at the Ritz Carlton (if the weather permits). If is a rainy evening, try Mastro's Ocean. They have a great singer in the lounge on Fri & Sat nights.
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Ruby's Shake Shack
7703 E Coast Hwy, Newport Coast, CA 92657
Mastros Restaurant
2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Long Stem Strawberries?
I just picked up some really big sweet strawberries at Costco. Not long stem. They were perfect size for dipping. Good luck!
Best Instant Mashed Potatoes?
Trader's Joes has some frozen mash potatoes made with potatoes, whole milk, butter, water, salt, malodextrin, spice, & dihydrogen pyrophosphate. 2 chem not too bad and only 2 grams of fat. I find the frozen potatoes better than dehydrated.
OC - Fresh Beer
Great to know and I will try out Bruery this weekend before the big game.
I have not been a big fan of any of the bigger beer places that have been around a long time in OC (BJs, Tustin Brewery & Steelhead). We have been in heaven having Haven so close by.
We did love Ballast Point in Loma Linda. It really helped that we were the only ones at the store at the time. The tasting were $1 for 1 oz and they had about 12 different beers on tap. The Stone location was over the top. Very beautiful atmosphere. It wasn't too bad when first opened at 11:00 am but by noon it was too crowded crazy.
Thanks again for all the info!
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The Bruery
715 Dunn Way, Placentia, CA 92870
OC - Fresh Beer
I have had the Saison from the Bruery but didn't know it was local. How great. Does the Bruery sell growlers? Also which location Placentia or Orange.
Never heard of Cismontane or Noble. Do they have growler to take home?
Thanks
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The Bruery
715 Dunn Way, Placentia, CA 92870
OC - Fresh Beer
Our family just back from a great vacation in SD. We brought back growlers of beer from Stone and Ballast Pt. Nothing beats the taste of fresh good beer.
Can anyone recommend where I can get some good fresh beer in OC?
I live in Tustin next to BJs and Tustin Brewery which the beer is ok. Pizza Port is way too far south. Any other recs that I don't know about?
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Pizza Port
301 N El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672
Perilla and Shiso Leaves
If you can't find it fresh, there is a Korean dish that the perilla leave are marinated/pickled in soy/sesame/red pepper flake that can be found in a can (kkaennip). If the market has a kimchee bar, you might it there too. The leave will be dark from the soy sauce marinade. Good luck.
Another option to go along with Korean bbq, it to buy green leaf lettuce and do a wrap with the lettuce/rice/ bbq and spicy red bean paste.
Unique Cocktails, Good Food and Music
My husband and I are in our early 40s and would like to find a restaurant/lounge in the downtown area (Financial / Nob Hill / nearby areas) that has unique cocktails, good food and live music (jazz/piano/contempory lounge music).
We are from the OC area and like to go to Mastro's Ocean Clue and eat in the bar area on the weekends. There is a guy playing the keyboard and great female singer crooning all types of music. It is fun people watching with the cougars on the prowl. Looking for something similar in SF.
Last time we were in SF we went to Cafe Claude which we enjoyed the music. Also Gitane which has good cocktails but kinda boring just sitting in the bar with no music.
Thanks for your help!
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Cafe Claude
7 Claude Lane, San Francisco, CA 94108
Gitane Restaurant & Bar
6 Claude Lane, San Francisco, CA 94108
Bazaar -- wait until Saam or go anyway?
I couldn't figure out from the website, what is the difference between Saam and Bazaar? If you are saying you are eating at Bazaar, are you really eating at Saam?
Thanks
