Call Me a Traitor

Even though this blog is about eating establishments in Alameda, CA, I had a fabulous meal at Plum in Oakland that was magnificent. Plum is probably one of the best new restaurants in the East Bay. The owner is Daniel Patterson, who was once co-owner of Elizabeth Daniel Restaurant in San Francisco for those of you who have been living in San Francisco for a decade or so. That restaurant closed when the husband and wife team got divorced and went their separate ways. Mr. Patterson currently owns Coi Restaurant and now Plum is his newest and lower end restaurant. Plum is in close proximity to Alameda on Broadway, just across the street from Ozumo.

The food at Plum is creative, moderately priced and the kitchen uses the freshest ingredients. There is no bad dish at this restaurant. The ginger and pear soda was refreshing and tasty. Wine can be a bit pricey dependent upon the region and year. My friends and I ordered everything family style and had four appetizers of: cauliflower, carrots, red beets and chick pea fritters. All of the small plates were fantastic. Our main courses were: two pork dishes and one babbette steak. The steak was a classic meal, but the pork dish utilized interesting ingredients that at first did not appear to compliment the meat. However, when the pork came to the table, the food was great. The flavors worked and it enhanced the meal. At the end of the night, we all shared one dessert of a white chocolate parfait with fennel. The portion was a little small, however the bites were bursting with flavor.

Another great attraction about Plum is that the restaurant stops serving at 1 am. This restaurant is getting all the buzz, so getting a reservation may be a 10 pm dinner slot.

Christmas Eve - Soup Kitchen

Pappo once again for the third year will serve soup and bread to needy families on Christmas Eve day. The kitchen will serve food from 11 am to 2 pm. The restaurant is also seeking donations of jackets, blankets and clothes.

Later that evening, John the chef and owner will serve a prix fixe meal of $45 for a three-course meal.

What a Coincidence...

I wanted to try out The Frog and the Fiddle on a Friday night. I was curious to observe the crowd, atmosphere and re-worked space from Acquacotta. As I walked inside the restaurant, I noticed the BBQ guy, Ben, behind the kitchen counter. Ben was the food guy at the Rooster and then he moved into his own space by the ferry terminal on the West End, which is still in business. However, he is now moonlighting at The Frog and the Fiddle on certain nights.


The establishment is basically a pub. There is nothing fancy about it. You order food at the kitchen counter because there was no wait staff. There was a bar on the right side of the room and it was completely packed. Tables were located on the left side of the room where two tables were occupied. Noise was a definite problem throughout the space since there weren't any soft features in the room to absorb sound.

Because I know Ben's food and I am a huge fan of his pulled pork sandwich, I tried his BBQ Beef sandwich. The meat was thinly sliced and it was like butter. The meat was tender, juicy and flavorful. I only wished there was more beef inside the sandwich. This sandwich is better than Everett and Jones BBQ.

I have always recommended Ben's BBQ. He takes his time in ensuring a quality product.

Stocking Stuffers

Alameda residents received a coupon package from various local restaurants, businesses and service organizations. There were a small group of food coupons that would make great stocking stuffers, or utilize them for yourself during the holidays.

Angela's Bistro and Bar: 3 Course Meal for $14.00 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm every evening. Coupon expires 3/31/2011.

Cera Una Volta: 20% off lunch or brunch, or $25 towards a weeknight dinner with a minimum purchase of $50.00.

La Penca Azul: $5.00 off any purchase over $30.00.

Pappo: $5.00 off next visit. Not valid on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve or Valentine's Day. Coupon expires 3/31/2011. One coupon per table.

Speisekammer: one free small beer with any entree. Limit one beer per coupon. Coupon expires 2/1/2011.

Holiday Hangouts

With the the holiday season here and everyone is shopping till they drop, there are only a handful of hangouts in Alameda that are comfortable for families to relax and spend time with each other. Burgermeister and Tomatina's are decent places, but they offer basic, no fuss food. Asena, Angela's, Pappo, Gold Coast Grill and Cera Una Volta all serve higher quality food in a comfortable atmosphere.

For larger sized groups, Ortaez, Kamakura and La Penca Azul are decent restaurants to dine at.

Whether it's Italian, Japanese or American food, enjoying the holiday season makes it more pleasurable when you have a favorite place to go to.

Time to Give Thanks and Being Thankful

Thanksgiving is here once again. This is a great opportunity to reflect on what is really important in life and being thankful for being blessed. I don't believe a lot of restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving day, but the typical options will be Pier 29 and maybe Pappo. I know that Pappo is offering special meals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and not offering turkey.

What's Up in a Name

I heard rumors from the grapevine that the family who owned La Pinata Restaurant had a squabble, which resulted in a family divide and changed the name of the restaurant to La Penca Azul. The name changed for the two Alameda locations of Park Street and Bay Farm.

The literal translation of La Penca Azul is the leaf blue. The blue is coming from the blue agave plant that is mistaken for a cactus, but is actually a desert succulent.

The menu did not change, nor did the kitchen or wait staff. The only change was the name, which I'm sure brings a sigh of relief for those of you who have a favorite dish from La Pinata.