REVIEW: A pricey restaurant for average food

So about a week ago, I came here to eat with my family (because we had a groupon and it was about to expire). We wouldn't have came if we didn't have the coupon considering the overall price.

The place was quite fancy with a great environment. From where I sat, I was facing the Bay Bridge. How cool was that? 

For an appetizer, we ordered the crab and artichoke dip with pita chips. I'd have I say, the pita chip was so fresh, it had to be housemade. It was quite thick and it actually tasted like eating a piece of pita bread with a little crunch to it. The dip was just as great. The artichoke, crab, and cheese went really well together and it gave my mouth a burst of flavor. I'd probably say that this dish was the most special one yet. I've never tasted something like this before.

Next up, my mom ordered the seafood paella (pronounced pi-a-ya). I'm taking Spanish now so that's why I know. Haha. Overall, this dish didn't have as much seafood flavor as I expected. But they provided an adequate amount of seafoods such as scallops, mussels, and clams.

Here comes mine. My all time, favorite food in the whole wide world is salmon, or fish in particular. This was a very ordinary dish but it had some of my favorite ingredients in here. The fish was asked with quinoa, but I couldn't really taste the quinoa so that wasn't so great. And their roasted veggies were awesome because they were just the right amount of texture, not too hard and not too soft.

Of course my dad ordered the lamb rack. I personally love lamb also. Actually my whole family knows lamb except for my mom. It came with 4 pieces and a side of potatoes. The lamb was not as great as I expected (again!) because it did not have that gamy taste, which is my favorite part of eating lamb. 

You can kinda guess who's this one is for. It came from the kid's menu. It's my sister's. This dish was prepared with Alfredo sauce and there was nothing really special about it. But one thing I have to mention is that the French fries were extremely thin.

Also, complementary bread was served.

Of course, we had to finish off the meal with some dessert.  We ordered the chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream.  The inside of the cake was a bit melty which went great with the crumby cake texture.

REVIEW: Crepevine is the place for big portions

Hungry? Do you want something with great "quality" and at the same time, a burst of deliciousness in your mouth? Try Crepevine! Ok, I just sounded like I was doing a commercial right there.

First of all, I love their menu. I love the chalk board feeling, which gives the whole restaurant a old fashioned feel while keeping up with a fancy look.  

Their menu included sandwiches, pastas, salads, crepes (sweet and savory), omelettes, egg benedicts, scrambled eggs, and other breakfast items. You can actually taste the fresheness and quality of their food. Most to all the food is very nutritious. That's why I love it here so much. 

bangkok salad

Bangkok Salad- This is the only salad I've tried at Crepevine, but I know for sure its going to be my favorite.  The sauces and spices go together so well.  The chicken is marinated with a curry flavor.  On the bottom are chopped up peanuts and they add a special crunch to the salad.  The semi-sour vinaigrette is  already mixed within the greens which is convenient for me because when I mix the dressing from the top of the salad to the rest of the dish, I tend to make a big mess.  I love their presentation also.  The plate is huge, and it is filled up with no space wasted.  And not to mention, their sourdough bun is delicious.  

palermo fettuccine

Palermo Fettuccine- This pasta was very creamy and cheesy.  Pasta isn't my favorite so I didn't find anything much special in this dish.  The chicken was ordinary.  The sauce was standard.

smoked salmon benedict

Smoked Salmon Egg Benedict- I'm a huge fan of salmon.  Any kind of salmon-raw, smoked, baked, fried, anything.  I'm also a huge fan of eggs with spinach.  That's why this dish is perfect.  The eggs were perfectly cooked- the yolk was drooling out.   Potatoes were served on the side, and they were nothing to rage about. 

provence

Scrambled Eggs with Salmon (provence)-  This was sort of similar to the Benedict above, but the salmon is cooked with the eggs and spinach.  Personally, I love goat cheese which was added on this dish. It gave the scrambled eggs a creamier taste since the salmon and eggs were a bit on the drier side.  It was delicious.  Potatoes and toast were served on the side.  

Those were some dishes I tried at Crepevine! I know I didn't get to try many of them, but that means I get to go to Crepevine more often.  That's a good thing.

I would say this restaurant is more on the pricy side.  However, their portion sizes and the quality of their food is incredible, so their prices is reasonable.  You've gotta give this place a try.  And one more thing-this place isn't actually like a fancy classy restaurant.  You have to order at the front, carry a number sign to your table of your choice and then they will bring your food over to you.  

If you have tried Crepevine (yay!), what is your favorite dish?

Also, shout out to my mom for taking some of these photos.

REVIEW: Starting off new years with something a little sweet

Happy New Years! For this exciting holiday, my family and I decided to go get some dinner and dessert (mostly dessert) at a Hong Kong style restaurant called Creations.  I know, it's not all that fancy but eating what you love is already the best celebration.

THE ATMOSPHERE: You can't expect the same feeling as if you were in a higher class bubble milk tea shop.  It's pretty ordinary inside, and nothing really special.  There are long lights hanging down from the ceiling.  But overall, it's pretty dim inside.  There is also a TV playing Chinese music videos.  On the walls, there are many posters.  For the most part, it's pretty relaxing in there.  

THE FOOD: For the savory part of the meal, some things we got were udon with fish dumplings,    

curry fish balls, a bowl of instant noodle with egg, sausages, and spam, and an another bowl of            instant noodle with curry fish balls and sausages(not placed in the pictures).  Actually, I did not think these dishes were all that great.  The udon was not chewy enough, and it was just average.  The curry fish balls were a bit better.  The sauce was a bit spicy which was perfect.  I really liked the little           sword picks it came with.  Lastly the two instant noodle soups were very ordinary.  But I liked the     

way they cut up the sausages.   But we weren't mainly here for this, we were here for my favorite        style dessert !                                                                                                                                            

udon with fish dumplings ($5.80)

curry fish balls ($2.95)

instant ramen with sausages, spam and egg (5.80)

the dessert menu (sorry about that bright spot down at the bottom)

THE DESSERT: I think the thing that makes all these desserts so similar is because they used a mango based puree in almost of them.  What I love about HK desserts is the freshness I can taste because of the use of fruits, and how ingredients make it refreshing. This is what we got:

Crystal snow on sago with pomelo and mixed fruits: On the left side of the dessert, I think the part of it that made the whole thing complete is the scoop of ice on top that looks like ice cream.  It's actually hard to explain, the ice isn't just regular ice, it's sweet and is really packed together.  The yellow stuff on the right side of the bowl is the mango puree with crystal snow.  First of all, the mango puree tastes really fresh and sweet.  The crystal snow doesn't have a huge taste but with the mango puree, it's a great combination.  On the left side of the bowl is the pomelo(kind of like grapefruit).  It's pretty sour so since the mango puree is sweet, it balances out the two flavors.  On the very bottom of the bowl is sago, which are tiny transparent balls that are really soft.  Make sure to mix the sago to the top before eating it or else you are going to be left with only the sago(like I did) and it won't have as much flavor.  And on the right side, there is a bowl of mixed fruits that include a strawberry cut up into tiny slices, mangoes, kiwis, cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew. The fruits aren't too sweet, but they also weren't too sour.

crystal snow on sago with pomelo and mixed fruits ($7.35)

crystal snow on sago with pomelo and mixed fruits ($7.35)

Glutinous rice balls with mixed fruits in mango juice: This dessert is pretty similar to the one         before.  On the left side of the dessert, it's a bit different.  There are glutinous rice balls (the title         explains it all) that are really chewy.  They are not huge but the texture is just perfect.  And with         mango juice/mango puree, the sweetness of it just blends very well together.                                       

glutinous rice balls with mixed fruits in mango juice ($5.55)

Glutinous rice balls in mango juice with extra mango: This dessert is basically the one before this, but with extra mango chunks and without the mixed fruits.     

glutinous rice balls in mango juice with extra mango ($5.55)

Aloe jelly in mango and coconut juice: Again, mango.  Mango, mango, mango. The last dessert is a drink that is made of mango juice, coconut juice and aloe jelly.  All the green stuff at the bottom is the aloe, so make sure you stir that all up before drinking it.  The aloe is very unique, it's not just like chunks you would normally eat elsewhere.  

aloe jelly in mango and coconut juice ($2.95)

I would definitely come here again, and again but only for the dessert.  And that's what they're known for mostly.  The music and desserts always reminds me of the feeling back in Hong Kong.  And I love that feeling.

This is probably the only place I know of that serves such authentic Hong Kong style desserts.  I really hope that this place will not close, because I will not be able to experience that feeling again.  If you're a asian dessert lover, particularly HK style desserts, this place is a must to try.

REVIEW: The Best Place to Get Some Ramen

My family and I had came across this place unexpectedly, because we were just trying to find a place good to eat.  We had checked yelp, and read the reviews; they'd seem pretty good so we decided to give this place a try.

 

This is probably the best bowl of ramen I've had.  The broth is full of flavor and you can taste all the rich ingredients inside a simple bowl of ramen.

I personally have a really hard time choosing what's on the menu but here at Ramen Dojo, it's quick and easy.  All you have to do is to choose between three broths: soy bean flavor, soy sauce flavor or garlic pork flavor.  You then choose the level of spiciness. And the each bowl of ramen comes with 2 pieces of roasted pork, a fried whole garlic, kikurage mushroom, fresh green chives, a quail egg, chicken gravy(cooked ground chicken, chopped ground chicken, chopped shiitake mushroom, chopped ginger), and shredded red pepper. Lastly, there is a whole list of extra toppings you can choose from but I usually just stick with what they give me, just to keep it even more simple.

soy sauce flavored ramen

We've arrived at Ramen Dojo at exactly 5:30 and there was already a long line waiting at the door.  I was so amazed.  The restaurant didn't even open their doors yet and there was already a huge line.  So we waited for about a good thirty minutes until we could finally be seated.  We were exhausted. 

They had already taken our order before we walked in but there was still a lengthy wait from when we were seated to when the food came.  

soy bean flavored ramen

All three broths were unique in their own way.  The flavors really stood out and I cannot pick which was my favorite.  However, one thing I really liked that most other ramen places don't have is the fried whole garlic.  It went really well with the broth and the noodles.  

garlic pork flavored ramen

I wouldn't consider this place to be too expensive because many ramen places out there are setting their prices higher than ever.  All three bowls were the same price, $9.75.  Although there isn't much in this typical bowl of ramen, I think that the flavor is already worth the price. 

I would really recommend this to whoever is like me, that likes to be simple yet likes to taste quality in their bowl of ramen.   

REVIEW: 85 Degree Bakery Cafe

When 85 Degree Bakery opened in Newark, I was so excited.  This bakery was originated from Taiwan and its business slowly spread to California.  They have a variety of breads, cakes, and drinks.  Their prices are more on the cheaper side, compared to many of the upper class bakeries.

The atmosphere is overall, very neat.  One thing I enjoy a lot about this bakery is the way they place everything; it is very consistent, meaning that the breads, cakes and drinks are placed in a way that when people step inside, they can differentiate this bakery from all the other bakeries. I would not consider it to be a small place, in fact, I would say it is huge.  Many of the bakeries, sell the same type foods but is a portion of the size.  Once you enter, you'll see what I mean.  It is very spacious, and comfortable to enjoy just simply, a cup of 85 degree coffee and bread or something more fancy, like their iced sea salt drinks and gourmet cakes.

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Ok, now let's get to the food and drinks:

BREADS

These are my favorites.  Of course, there are many more.

Marble Taro
This bread has a unique texture.  On the outside, there is a thin layer which I'm not sure what it's called.  In the inside, there is a sweet taro filling.  The bread texture is somewhat chewy which gives it more texture.  Overall, the bread is purple and is one of my favorites. You've gotta give this a try.

Multigrain
If you're a nut and seed lover, you'll love this bread.  Based on what I observe, I see that there are flaxseeds, white sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and raisins.  Personally, this is also one of my favorites.  It is not only healthy but tasty.

Coffee Bread
By just looking at the bread on the outside, it doesn't look as appealing but when you take a bite out of it, you'll become addicted.  Inside, there is red beans and mochi.  The combination is very unique but at the same time, very delicious.  The coffee taste really brings out the taste.

Maple Brick Toast
I personally really enjoy chewy breads, so this maple brick toast is perfect for me.  With the maple syrup on top, it's not just bread which is just plain boring.  It is the perfect combination, just like the coffee bread I mentioned above.  It is simple but super tasty.

CAKES

These are personally what I would choose.

Fruit Jelly Cup
If you want something light but tasty, this is probably the only one you are left with.  On the very bottom of this cup, there is a layer of yogurt and above that is some kind of jelly.  And inside the jelly is a variety of fruits, which makes it healthier.  And above that is some more jellies cut up into cubes.

French Fruit Tart
As a fruit lover, I'd love to have my desserts with them.  And if you're also a fruit lover, you'd love this.  It is stacked up with many thick cut fruits such as cantaloupe, apples, kiwis, and berries.  I think the ingredient that makes this dessert a winning is the taste of the cream.  It is not too sweet and it is given the right amount.  Other fruit tarts are filled with unnecessary amounts of cream and usually, their creams are either really bad quality or they're too sweet.  And not to mention, the tart/crust has a perfect texture and taste.  It is not too crumbly or soft.  Here at 85 degree, I think I have tried the best fruit tart ever.

Mango Panna Cotta
The texture of this dessert is like a pudding, but even creamier.  Again, the sweetness of this one is just like what I said about the other ones-it's just right.  With the fresh cut up mango on top, makes this dessert complete.

Egg Tart
This type of egg tart reminds me of a portuguese egg tart I've eaten many times.  They are indeed very good, especially when it's straight out of the oven.  It is smaller in size, compared to the other breads and cakes.

DRINKS

I haven't tried many of the drinks but these are the ones I would really recommend.

Iced Sea Salt Mountain Green Tea
This drink is by far my favorite drink I've ever had.  The flavor is very strong.  Even without the boba, this drink is great by itself.  They also have the iced sea salt jasmine green tea and the iced sea salt coffee, but after trying all three of them, I'd have to say the iced sea salt mountain green tea is my favorite.

Lemon Green Tea
This drink is very common among the other boba shops but here at 85, I can taste the tea and flavor come together and it's among the best.  Other places don't have such a strong tea flavor which is really disappointing because that's what most people are looking for in a classic tea drink.

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The quality of every item at 85 Degree Bakery Cafe is very fresh and full of flavor.  Every time they have more breads to put out, they yell "Fresh Bread".  It might annoy some customers but to me, it gives me a good feeling that all these breads they put out are actually fresh and is not saved for another day.

However, one thing that I don't like is that they don't have signs for every piece of bread.  Sometimes, they even have the wrong signs up.  Because of that, I get confused at which breads are which and I really hope they can fix that.  Also, their breads repeat several of times.  I like that idea because if there are many people in line for the bread section, and you miss one item that you really want, you can have another chance to put it on your tray again.  But the bad side about this is that it makes customers feel like there isn't a wide variety of breads, and that it only repeats so that it could fill up the spaces.

Despite the fact that their variety isn't too huge, the quality is only what matters.  This place is worth coming back.