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.

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

Last Saturday while driving around Mission Street looking for parking for the San Francisco’s Street Food Festival, I spotted a very familiar looking liquor store while we were at a red light.

Vaguely remembering the green signs and the art on the side of the building, I quickly said to Lando and Rose, “I think that’s where Bourdain got that giant sandwich.” Half an hour later, we found parking up the street from the liquor store.

After grabbing our passports, we decided that we’d come back to the festival in a few hours. While walking back to our car, we decided that to grab a torta. By now we were feeling the effects of hunger.

Once we stepped inside, we knew we were at the right place when we saw the “Cubana” Totra listed on the menu. A torta is a Mexican sandwich and this was my first time having one.

Without hesitation, we immediately ordered the Cubana with everything on it. We stood there watching as they tossed the components of the Cubana onto the flat top grill. The grill consisted of hot dogs, eggs, chorizo, breaded beef, bacon, ham. The torta bread is placed on the grill to be lightly toasted in a pool of melted butter.

After the bread was done toasting, they assembled the behemoth with mayonnaise, avocado, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and jalapeños. While we stood there intimidated by its sheer size, they transferred the Cubana onto a scale for weighing. We had it cut into quarters and then we were on our way to the Ferry Building for Saturday’s Farmers’ Market.

Once we arrived at Ferry Building, we were filled with eager anticipation. We found a seat and quickly unwrapped the torta.

Continue Reading » I’ll have the Cubana, and That’s It.

Our experience with Pink’s was pretty straight forward.

“Let’s grab a hot dog at Pink’s before dinner.”

“Sure.”

We hopped in the car and headed down to the corner of Melrose and La Brea, only see the line curve along Pink’s hot dog stand.

“That’s way too long of a line to wait in. Let’s check back later after dinner.”

About two hours later we backtracked to Pink’s only to see the same long line. Our dreams of biting into a Pink’s hot dog were shattered. We weren’t in the mood to stand that long of a line.

I woke up the next morning feeling lucky and still craving for a Pink’s hot dog.

“I want to try to see if there’s a line at Pink’s.”

Back to Pink’s and our eyes lit up in surprise. There wasn’t a major line. It was the perfect opportunity to finally grab a hot dog without waiting in line for too long.

Behold the ultimate breakfast to start any day…

The Mulholland Drive Dog. You can call it a hot dog-Philly cheesesteak hybrid. Imagine a Pink’s hot dog, topped with strips of bacon, mushrooms, and onions, all smothered in nacho cheese. This thing was loaded.

For something tamer, the Bacon Chili Cheese Dog can satisfy any appetite. You get a Pink’s hot dog topped with strips of bacon, cheese, tomatoes, and their famous chili to finish it.

Continue Reading » How Good Are Pink’s Hot Dogs?