It’s been awhile since I was able to head out and dine at a restaurant that I hadn’t visited before. I’ve been mainly sticking to local restaurants around Fremont or cooking at home. I still had that strong urge to go out and eat somewhere new. I was out in San Francisco last Friday and I thought about checking out Delfina. It’s a restaurant that I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time. But, then I remembered my cousin talking about a superb dinner he had at Wood Tavern in Oakland. Wood Tavern also was a spot that I wanted to try after hearing all the positive feedback about it. I really wanted to do something new, and since I rarely check out restaurants in Oakland, it was an easy decision. It was also good to know that Wood Tavern continues to gain praise from local diners and critics, so I expected that I was not going to leave Wood Tavern disappointed.
It was a busy Friday night at the restaurant with tables available to those with reservations. The only option left was bar seating which I didn’t mind. I mainly was looking forward to the food.
Our meal started off with Seared Yellowtail Tuna on top of a salad of baby artichokes and olives drizzled with citrus oil and a balsamic glaze.
When I was browsing the menu earlier, I noticed they were offering a Crispy Pork Belly starter. It sounded too good to pass up, but they had a equally appetizing Pork Shoulder Confit entrée on the menu also. To avoid a pork overload, we chose to go with the Yellowtail Tuna starter and get our pork fix with the Pork Shoulder Confit.
The deliciously crispy outside and tender inside cut of pork shoulder sat on top of a serving of buttery polenta.
The other entrée we ordered was the Pan Roasted Chicken. This came on a whim. While waiting for a seat at the bar, we noticed that many diners were ordering the chicken. A server walked by us with someone’s order of the chicken and our eyes were glued to the passing plate. It smelled all too good. I often skip chicken dishes because of the thought of being served an overcooked, dry serving of chicken. That was not the case here. Moist and juicy are the words to describe this dish, which was served with spinach, fingerling potatoes, grilled radicchio, and a lemon-rosemary jus.
Throughout the dinner, I just felt a good vibe about Wood Tavern. Maybe it was because we sat at the bar. Seeing the faces of others cheering and chowing down over food and drinks really plays into that feeling of being in a favorite local neighborhood spot. My only wish is that Wood Tavern would be in my neighborhood.
I’ve always seen this city as being over shadowed by San Francisco’s restaurant offerings, but after this positive visit, I’m already wanting to see what other good restaurants there are to visit in Oakland.
Wood Tavern
6317 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-6607
www.woodtavern.net
Why haven’t I visited this spot sooner?
This was the first thought that entered my mind. I don’t consider myself a science or nature buff, but I have to say that a day spent at San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences is well worth it. Why? It’s an aquarium-planetarium-rainforest all in one.
Walking around and gawking at all of the exhibits can work up your appetite. I know firsthand. That lunch time hunger strike hit me right before my 3:00 planetarium show. Fortunately, there were two good dining choices, the Academy Café, a casual, quick service dining option, and the Moss Room, a more modern fine dining restaurant.
What I needed, was something quick.
I saw a line forming behind an Academy Café food stand in the piazza. A quick look at their menu and I saw that they had quick bites like Prather Ranch Beef Hotdogs available. Certified organic too. Perfect. It was just what I needed.
A hearty Chili Hotdog was just the thing to satisfy that hunger strike. I’ll admit, I didn’t expect that this place would have such a solid lineup of dining options. After going home, I tried to find out more about the restaurants here. I was surprised to find out that the Academy Café is backed by Charles Phan of The Slanted Door and The Moss Room was ran by Loretta Keller of COCO500.
I’m used to going to places where food stands would just serve ordinary selections. It was refreshing to discover that The California Academy of Sciences does things a little bit different by having some of San Francisco’s notable chefs behind their food.
With 2009 finally at a close, we want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. There were plenty of good memories to look back upon in 2009, so we’re already looking forward to what 2010 has in store. Cheers to good cooking, eating, and drinking to you all!
Just a sneak peak at what was going on in our kitchen last night. Plenty of food and cooking to bring in the New Year.
With 2010 nearing, San Francisco is preparing for Dine About Town once again. Dine About Town allows you to visit select restaurants in the city who are participating in the program. With 2 Course Lunches at $17.95 and 3 Course Dinners $34.95, this just might be that extra push for you to try out a new spot. Dine About Town 2010 will run from January 15th to the 31st.
I was excited to see that Luce was participating this year again. Earlier this year, we had Lunch at Luce during Dine About Town 2009 and was very satisfied. Several other favorite restaurants of mine are participating, which is going to make it hard for me to chose where to go.
For a list of restaurants and sample menus, visit the Dine About Town website.
Pastrami sandwiches, French dips, and deep fried Twinkies… at your local corner gas station? The Deep Fried Twinkie & Pastrami Shop is just that. Hidden inside a Fremont Valero gas station is a restaurant serving up standout sandwiches at reasonable prices. I stumbled across this place when I gassed up my car here one day. Photos of sandwiches and Twinkies were taped up right on the gas pumps, calling you to try out their stuff right inside the gas station. Ever since then, I’ve shared this spot with others, and the look on my friends’ faces is always the same puzzled, you can’t be serious, look.
I mean, who wouldn’t be thrown off? Gassing up and grubbing at the same time? A small restaurant inside a Valero that is putting other sandwich shops to shame? You better believe it. Just like Anthony Bourdain and his trip to San Francisco’s Mission District for a torta inside of a liquor store, you can find good food at the most unexpected places.
My default order here has always been the pastrami sandwiches. It’s advertised on the name of their restaurant for a reason – they are too good to pass up. A hearty pile of thinly sliced pastrami in between a roll for that ultimate sandwich fix. There aren’t that many delis in the Fremont area in the first place, so having The Deep Fried Twinkie & Pastrami Shop around is definitely a positive for the Fremont food scene.
The Deep Fried Twinkie & Pastrami Shop
(Inside the Valero Gas Station)
4004 Mowry Ave.
Fremont, CA 94538
During special holidays, we often cook Chicken Relleno. Just this last Thanksgiving, we roasted a total of three of these deliciously stuffed chickens. With Christmas and New Year’s Day nearing, we’re expecting to cook even more.
Chicken Relleno is a roasted chicken that has been deboned and stuffed with a mixture of ground pork, Filipino hot dogs, and eggs. The pork stuffing is the key component to the dish. I first learned how to make the pork stuffing recipe from my Dad. With Chicken Relleno, the hardest part is to debone the chicken. Once you’re able to do that, this recipe is fairly simple to follow.
Continue Reading » Cooking Chicken Relleno
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