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.

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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

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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.

A quarter of this sandwich was roughly half the size of a normal sandwich. With so many ingredients, we were surprised that nothing really over powered one another. The chorizo was definitely the standout ingredient in the torta.

For $10.00, the torta was more than worth it. If you’re in or around the Mission District for whatever reason, and you’re close to the That’s It Market, do yourself a favor and grab a Cubana. You won’t regret it.

That’s It Market
2699 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

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“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.

If you’re in L.A. and see the line at Pink’s stretching around their stand and wonder if they’re good… Wonder no more.

Pink’s
709 N. La Brea Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
www.pinkshollywood.com

A Day at The California Academy of Sciences Why haven’t I visited this spot sooner? This was the...

Right when we reached the front of the line we were greeted by the beautiful sight of the Porchetta being prepared for sandwich orders.

The hasty slicing action of the roasted pork led to all of the juices drip onto the cutting board. The folks at RoliRoti know not to let the juices go to waste. A quick grab of a piece of bread to wipe down the cutting board to absorb all of what was left over ensured that you wouldn’t miss any of the flavors.

The sandwich had only a few ingredients. Tender seasoned slices of Porchetta, with sweet caramelized onions, all topped with fresh arugula. One bite will had me saying, “Wow.” The flavors of the roasted pork made me reminisce about Filipino roasted pork. It was almost like having lechon in a sandwich, but tastier, and more filling.

Keep in mind, RoliRoti isn’t a restaurant. They are a gourmet mobile rotisserie catering company which you can find at most farmers markets in the Bay Area. Our particular experience with RoliRoti was at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market. Even though they are mobile and operate out of the back of their trucks, the quality of their food isn’t sacrificed. I have to send a thank you out to Jo from Taking Over the World One Bite at a Time for the heads up on RoliRoti.

Deep Fried Twinkies and Pastrami Sandwiches at Your Gas Station Pastrami sandwiches, French dips, and deep fried Twinkies… at your...

After chowing down pizzas at Pizzeria Delfina, a quick stroll down 18th street for dessert at Bi-Rite Creamery was expected. Rose, my younger brother Lawrence, and I quickly walked down 18th Street with the chilly San Francisco cold biting. It’s funny to think that we were craving for ice cream during a cold night. Knowing how good the ice cream is at Bi-Rite Creamery, the cold weather would not stop us from enjoying their offerings.

Lawrence and I had the ice cream here with our cousin Romel a few months back. Lawrence was anxious to return back. We each indulged in the following flavors of goodness:

Cookies & Cream
Malted Vanilla With Peanut Brittle
Coconut

Sweet. Creamy. Satisfying. Those are the words I describe the ice cream here. Everything is made in small batches. This makes sure that the freshness and high quality is there.

Ice cream has always been a comfort food for me. It would always remind me of when I was a kid. To know that I can have that feeling with every scoop of ice cream feels good.

It’s a spot for dates because…
Bi-Rite Creamery prides itself by having fresh ingredients in its ice cream. They use organic and local ingredients whenever possible. This pride shows in the taste of their ice cream. Stopping by allows you to fully appreciate the experience. Also, with their changing menu, you are sure to discover a new favorite each time you go back.

I’ll have the Cubana, and That’s It. Last Saturday while driving around Mission Street looking for parking...

If you can’t grab a bite of Pat’s or Geno’s cheese steaks, you might have to settle for what’s in your area. The Cheese Steak shop has 28 locations in the Bay Area and just may be your answer to your cheese steak cravings. According to the company, they have been serving up cheese steaks in the Bay Area for the past 30 years.

I always thought that the Cheese Steak Shop was a great place to grab a quick bite. My favorite sandwich to grab is the mushroom cheese steak. Here you get delicious chopped sirloin steak mixed in with mushrooms and cheese piled inside an Italian roll. Sweet onions and peppers are served with your sandwich.

Besides the mushroom cheese steak sandwich, The Cheese Steak Shop offers plenty of twists to the classic cheese steak. There’s bacon, spinach, pepperoni, and more. You can choose from a 7”, 10”, or 15” roll. Feel free to bring in your appetite. Don’t forget to order a side of curly fries to complete your meal.

It’s a spot for dates because…
Adding this quick bite spot to your list of places to grab food can help if you are craving something small to eat.

Deep Fried Twinkies and Pastrami Sandwiches at Your Gas Station Pastrami sandwiches, French dips, and deep fried Twinkies… at your...

After enjoying a delicious lunch at Sotto Mare, we walked around North Beach in San Francisco, CA. With the sun shining on a beautiful day, gelato would be the perfect complement. A large ice cream cone outside of this spot caught my attention and made me want to check out what was inside. Behold! Many selections of gelato flavors that range from lychee to tiramisu. Peering through the glass to see all of the flavors will make your sweet tooth go insane for a sugar rush.

I tried the tiramisu and was pleased with my choice. It was very rich and creamy. You can’t really go wrong with whatever you pick here. Cone or cup, it’s your call. Just by looking at their selections will make you want to try it all.

It’s a spot for dates because…
A hot sunny day in the middle of North Beach will make you want to cool off. A scoop of gelato is just what you need for that.

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A new trend has caught the attention of those with a sweet tooth. Frozen yogurt is here and various restaurateurs are taking advantage of the trend with many spots opening up lately. I have been hearing a lot of hype behind fro-yo, short for frozen yogurt. I was able to try frozen yogurt at a Pinkberry in San Diego, CA. Ever since then, I’ve been hooked.

Fortunately, there’s a local fro-yo spot close to where I stay in the Bay Area. It’s called Fro-ggie. They serve frozen yogurt along with various fruit and cereal toppings to go along with your order. If you are unfamiliar with fro-yo, think of it as non fat or low fat soft serve ice cream.

The flavors range from the usual original tart, which is my favorite, to fruit infused ones like pineapple or blueberry. Fro-ggie claims to change up their flavor offers regularly so you’ll have something new to try when they do.

In all, I’ve found it to be a spot that is best suited for an after dinner dessert spot or a change from your regular meet up coffee house. The ambience is simplistic with bright colored pillows on the side couch and photos of frozen yogurt on the wall. You can think of it as a modern ice cream parlor. Also, for those outside of Fremont, CA, just do a quick search for frozen yogurt spots near your area. They should give you the same experience.

It’s a spot for dates because…
Knowing that you can fulfill your sweet tooth cravings by taking a healthier route is good. Treat Fro-ggie as a date spot itself or a way to close your date with some dessert.

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When driving on the highway do you notice yellow bumper stickers on cars that say “Mystery Spot”? Have you ever wondered what a Mystery Spot is?

Located in Santa Cruz, CA, the Mystery Spot is something that puzzles and amazes many. You will find that when you reach the Mystery Spot, you have the opportunity to go on a guided walking tour that will explain it all. The tour guide will first explain the history of the Mystery Spot. Next, you will get to experience the powers of the Mystery Spot. The tour guide will ask for volunteers to demonstrate the first exhibit which involves standing on one of two level surfaces as you face your partner. You then will switch spots and face each other again. If you are shorter than your partner, will you believe me that you will be taller than them when you participate in the exhibit? You have to try it.

Next, the tour leads up into a cabin. Again, the tour guide will show you around the cabin. Note to those who get easily dizzy, be careful. After going through the cabin, you will get a chance to participate in more exhibits. It can get pretty crazy. You can take a look at the pictures. The last picture is an older photo taken that shows you what else can happen. I don’t want to spoil anything else. You really have to experience the Mystery Spot yourself. Plus, you get to take home a free bumper sticker to show off.

It’s a spot for dates because…
You have to bring someone with you for to fully experience the Mystery Spot. If you get a chance to participate in the exhibits, you’ll have plenty of laughs and memories to remember.

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