Wednesday, January 25, 2012

French Fries

When I want decent french fries, a few restaurants come to mind instead of fast food joints.  Pappo has delicious, thin cut fries that are crispy and flavorful. The Pappo fries are my favorite.  The Hob Nob has tasty truffle fries that have melted cheese and truffle oil on top with a two sauces on the side, one is ketchup and the other is mayo with truffle oil and other herbs. Yummy!  1400 has dutch cut fries that are huge!  They are basically wedge fries cut in halves or fourths.  1400 has a tendency to over cook them and they are hard to bite into once they get cool.  If you are in a hurry, Nation's Burgers has the best fries going.  The fries are soft and tender in the middle and mid-sized, not too skinny and not too thick.

Another trend that I found interesting that is coming back are the curly fries with a spicy coating.  Both Angela's and The Hob Nob have their pepper spiced curly fries.  The curly fry was made popular two decades ago by Jack in the Box.  I guess fashion and food can  always make a come back.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Weekend Brunch

Weekend breakfasts/brunches in Alameda is the only meal that is bountiful in supply.   The long lines in front of the diners are a signal that there is still life in this small town. Downtown Alameda favorites are: Jim's Place, Ole's Waffles, La Penca Azul and Pappo.  Central Alameda has Marti's Place and Blue Dot, whereas the West End has Wescafe, East Ocean, Pier 29, Rio's and 1400. Even though there are plenty of places to eat, my all time favorite is Mona's Table in Fernside.  The menu changes on a monthly basis and the dishes are creative, innovative and not your typical pancakes, eggs and waffles.  I am not sure if a lot of people know about Mona's because they don't have the long lines.   I have waited for 20 to 30 minutes for a table at Ole's or Jim's

Friday, January 13, 2012

The Hob Nob

My new late night hang out place is the Hob Nob.  I usually go there after a movie or hanging out on Park Street.  What I enjoy about this place is that you can order small plates or entrees - dependent upon my mood and appetite.  My favorites are the fish and chips, the truffle fries, the wedge salad, spaghetti and meatballs and their soups. The food is decent and I am happy that the chef actually cares about the food that comes out of her kitchen. 

My old default was the BBQ place from the Frog and the Fiddle, but the chef left the premise. I don't know what happened to him?

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Adios Barceluna

Again, the weak economy has struck another local restaurant.  This time it is Barceluna.  The sign is down and the building is sparse.  This is not a good sign for the city or for the citizens of Alameda.  The closing is the first of the year and I hope this is not a trend that will continue for 2012.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Open, Open, Open

Still waiting for Cafe Jolie on Webster Street to open.  The signs are up and the iron work is around the building, but I don't see any clear indication of when this place will open for business.  I was jazzed about having a specialty coffee house on the island.

The Thai Place down the street is transferring ownership.  I wonder if the cooks in the kitchen will change? 

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Happy New Year!

I was strolling down Park Street yesterday evening looking for a restaurant to eat at. Even though most offices were closed due to the holiday, I noticed most restaurants were also closed. Of course the Chinese restaurants and fast food joints were open, but I was not hungry for these types of foods.  After going back and forth two times along Park, the most decent place was Angela's and decided to have dinner there.  If you go between 4 pm to 6 pm on weekdays, the Early Bird Menu is a steal for $15 per person for a three course meal.  I had a Caesar salad, grilled salmon and chocolate mousse.  The courses were of decent portions and I was full by the time dessert came around. As always, the food at Angela's is palatable.  The food is simple and safe.