I was a little bit skeptical as this was my first foray into the dark world of charcoal. I first heard about this festival on Facebook. Cost for entry was about $12+ (including fees). These fees didn’t cover any food and drink costs. Many local vendors were offering their take on charcoal-activated goodies.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with all of the food I tried. Everything was tasty, and some of the products did have a distinct charcoal flavor, some more than others.

WOOD-FIRED CHARCOAL-CRUST PIZZA (from Firetrail Pizza

I tried the Margherita pizza option with a charcoal crust. This pizza was my favorite out of all the things I tried while at the festival. The pizza was thin, and the crust was really yummy. The coating did have a slightly earthy flavor than a traditional pizza crust would have. The overall taste and quality of the pizza were really delectable. The sauce wasn’t too sour or sweet, and the smatterings of basil and my addition of red pepper flakes (love!) were perfect.

BRAISED OCTOPUS PASTA (from Sip N’ Slurp)

The ingredients in this pasta included charcoal, garlic, and white wine cream sauce. The octopus was tender (as they should be), and the sauce was very creamy and had an excellent buttery taste. The noodles were cooked perfectly. You couldn’t really taste the charcoal in this dish, however. However, all the flavors and textures worked to make this a delicious choice.

CHARCOAL-ACTIVATED OJ (from Black Magic Beverage)

This orange juice was refreshing, but I couldn’t really taste the charcoal in this drink. The drink was just a fresh option on a hot day.

CHARCOAL DOLE WHIP (from Trader Jim’s)

This charcoal dole whip tasted like every other dole whip I’ve ever tried. Good pineapple flavor, but decided to add a little extra kick with some pepper flakes on top. I couldn’t really taste the charcoal flavor, but this treat was a great refreshing treat to stave off the heat at the moment. I probably would have added more of the spice, though, as I couldn’t taste the heat.

BLACK AND WHITE CHARCOAL PASTRY PUFFS (from Choux SF)

Unfortunately, these goodies melted before I could take an excellent picture of them. (insert sad face here)
I tried the following:
-Charcoal Earl-Grey Chocolate: a hint of earl-grey flavor.
-Vanilla Charcoal Marble: not too sweet and tasty cream cheese bit on top and nice light filling inside.
-Charcoal Brownie: you could really taste the charcoal included in this brownie. Out of all the foods I tried, this tasted most like charcoal. The brownie was really moist and not too sweet.
-Marble Black and White Cheesecake: not overly sweet and had a delicious cheesecake flavor.

The festival had tons of other food choices including charcoal dumplings & egg tarts, charcoal-activated lemonade & sangria, charcoal-battered corndogs, and charcoal-crusted quiches to name some other food items. All in all, I thought this festival was a cool stop to check-out the charcoal food craze.

BUSINESS INFO:
SoMa StrEat Food Park
428 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
http://www.somastreatfoodpark.com/

There are always some great upcoming events, so check out their upcoming schedule here.

To learn more about me, you can go here.

For another one of my great San Francisco recommendations, go here.

The post 50 Shades of Charcoal Food Festival appeared first on Consume and Devour.

Poké originated in Hawaii, and the definition is “to cut or slice.” Traditional ingredients typically comprise of tuna and octopus. There are many adaptations to this, however, and you’ll also find yellowfin tuna and other elements. Each restaurant’s offerings will vary from location.

One of my favorite spots to get Poké bowls are from Poke Koma in Alameda, California. You can taste the freshness of the ingredients used here, and if you love seafood, this is an excellent spot to check out. When you come to this spot, you order your bowl in a specific way:

-First, you choose what size dish you’d prefer: Regular (3 proteins) or Large (5 proteins). I like to stick with the option of 3. For me, 5 is a bit overkill, unless you’re starving.
-Second: you choose your base (sushi rice, spring mix, brown rice, crab chips).
-Third: Choose your proteins (Ahi tuna, yellowtail, salmon, shrimp, tofu, octopus, spicy tuna, crawfish, scallops).
-Fourth: Choose your flavor (mild, spicy).
-Fifth: Choose your toppings (Crab Salad, avocado, masago (fish roe), furikake(Japanese dry seasoning), wasabi, jalapenos, seaweed salad, green onions, pickled ginger, fried shallots, wonton strips, corn).
Sixth: Choose your sauce (spicy aioli, creamy wasabi, lemon ginger, jalapeno, teriyaki, roasted garlic, and miso).
You also have the option to choose extra add-in ingredients as well for an additional cost.

I usually order salmon, ahi tuna (my favorite!), and shrimp along with the brown rice base and ALL the fixings. For me, the spicier, the better, so I like to add-in the spicy aioli sauce. I especially love the creamy avocado, crab salad, and freshness of the fish. All the other ingredients are like cherries on a sundae. They complement the bowl terrifically.

REGULAR BOWL WITH ALL THE FIXINGS (SALMON, AHI TUNA, SHRIMP)

CLOSE-UP SHOT OF TUNA AND SALMON

I’ve tried some of the other protein options like the crawfish. This ingredient wasn’t my favorite because it was a bit too salty for my taste buds.

Poke Koma also offer snacks like spam musubi(grilled spam on top of rice and wrapped together), miso soup, and onigiri (Japanese rice ball) and dessert options including Hawaiian shaved ice and different types of beverages. Also, they just started serving alcohol.

The prices at this spot are very reasonable. Two regular bowls will set you back a little over 20 dollars.

Bottom line: if you’ve never tried Poké or love it and have never gone to this eatery, do yourself a favor and check it out if you’re in the area. This spot can get busy on the weekends, and there’s not much room for seating, so get there when they first open for the day if you plan on eating there.

BUSINESS INFORMATION:
Poke Koma
1354 Park Street, b/t Marti Rae Ct & Alameda Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501
Hours of Operation:
Daily: 11:00AM to 9:00PM
Phone# (510) 227-5519
info@poke-koma.com
You can view the restaurant menu here.

To learn more about me, please check out my about me page.

You can also read a previous post from another great restaurant in Alameda here.

The post Poké Bowl Deliciousness in the Bay Area appeared first on Consume and Devour.

If you’re from the San Francisco Bay area and haven’t tried HomeRoom in Oakland, go out and try it now. The restaurant is that awesome, and I’ve officially converted into a mac and cheese lover.

Homeroom is located in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland and is one of the city’s oldest. This neighborhood houses many other cool hipster places like Bakesale Betty, Cholita Linda, and more. The area is typically residential and has seen many changes in the last several years with new establishments cropping up.

Homeroom has thirteen different types of mac and cheese to satisfy your cheesy cravings. They also have various add-ins including breadcrumbs (which are a must!!!), veggies, bacon, scallions, to name a few. They also have a salad option (honestly who’s going to eat a salad?!) various desserts, and selection of different libations to wet your whistle.

I can honestly say if you order one of the mac options, you’ll be struggling to eat some dessert after. The portion sizes here are sizable and enough to feed two people.

Ok, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. The FOOD!!

SMOKY BACON MAC:

This dish is honestly my to die for mac and cheese option. I freaking love this dish. The description of this mac is: super smoky with lots of bacon, smoked cheddar, jack, and paprika. You need to top this off with the breadcrumbs to make this perfect!

Check out the bacon mac in action here with this little video I shot:

The taste throughout the dish resonates with bacon, bacon, and more bacon! I can’t come up with another proper adjective to describe this dish. The cheeses mesh so well together, and the macaroni’s cooked to perfection. The macaroni holds up to the barrage of cheese and bacon. You can also add in some hot sauce (like Siracha) to give the plate a little kick.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE MAC:

This visit was the first time trying this mac option, and I liked it! It includes pork-fennel sausage, gouda, pecorino, caramelized onions, cherry tomatoes, and black pepper.

Again, the cheeses melt so perfectly in this dish. The fennel flavor of the pork sausage comes through and is so flavorful. I also liked the addition of the cherry tomatoes (even though my boyfriend did not). They added a little bit of sweetness to the dish which I thought balanced all the ingredients.

I will be ordering this option on another visit.

MEXICAN CHORIZO MAC:

The Mexican chorizo is also another great option to get at this restaurant. It includes pork chorizo, jack, chipotle adobo sauce, and topped with cilantro and lime.

This dish is also a little bit spicy, but nothing to knock your socks off. The combination of flavors here work well, and the chorizo is delicious. I love the cilantro and lime accompaniments. The accompaniments give this dish a freshness.

TIP: The restaurant gets packed on the weekends, so be sure to get there early around the time they’re about to open. Prices for the dishes here range from about $11-$30. Service is always friendly and welcoming (duh, that’s still a big plus in my book).

Even though the restaurant’s closed on Mondays, you can still get your fix by going to their pick-up spot called Homeroom to Go.

The bottom line is if you love this genuinely American comfort food, get your cravings satisfied and go to Homeroom; you won’t be disappointed.

BUSINESS INFORMATION:

Homeroom Restaurant

Hours of Operation:
Closed Mondays
Tues-Thurs 11A-10P
Fri+Sat: 11A-10P
Sun: 11A-10P

Homeroom to Go (Take-out)
Mon-Thurs 11A-10:30P
Fri+Sat: 11A-11P
Sun: 11A-10P
info@homeroom510.com
tel:1-510-597-0400

Check out their menu here.

To learn more about me, please check out my about me page.

You can also read my last post from another great restaurant in Oakland here.

The post Mac and Cheese of Your Dreams appeared first on Consume and Devour.

I recently tried Cambodian food for the first time at Phnom Penh restaurant in Oakland. The restaurant located off MacArthur Blvd and the area host many cool little stores and eateries. The restaurant initially was located in Oakland’s Chinatown, but now has a permanent fixture in Oakland. They also have another location situated in Alameda; however, I have only been to the Oakland location.

There aren’t a ton of Cambodian restaurants around this area, but this restaurant is a great find as the restaurant is very welcoming, family run, and the food is excellent. You will find some traditional Cambodian dishes here.

On my last visit, I ordered the deep fried calamari and Hamok Trei. Both dishes are equally delicious.

DEEP FRIED CALAMARI:

This dish consisted of deep fried calamari in butter mixed with black pepper and served with a sweet chili sauce (most likely Mae Ploy sauce). This sauce is an excellent accompaniment to fried foods like spring rolls, fried chicken, or other appetizers.

This appetizer is great. The batter is light, and the calamari is tender and not overly chewy. I’ve had calamari at other restaurants where the squid was horrendously non-edible. Once you bite into each piece, they’re very crispy, and the batter doesn’t fall off. (I hate it when that happens to my food!)

HAMOK TREI

Hamok trei (Amok trey) or Cambodian steamed fish is considered the national dish of Cambodia.

This dish is very flavorful and includes sliced fish cooked with coconut juice, lemongrass, then wrapped and steamed. The meal I had included catfish, but I believe different types of fish can be incorporated here.

The fish comes in a little pot that looks similar to a small clay pot used to retain the heat of the food. When you dig into this, the top layer has a nice “crust,” and when you dig even further, you find flaky and tender fish with a soup-like base and vegetables (I don’t recall what type of veggies, but they were delicious as well).

The dish has a robust flavor but is not overwhelming, and all the flavors incorporate richly. It’s filling, satisfying, and accompanied with rice makes for a very comforting dish.

The restaurant has many other great dishes including curries, seafood, and grilled meats, and vegetarian options. I’ve tried roasted pork or (Sach Chhrouk Ann Kreun) on a previous occasion, and the pork was outstanding. The meat has a great char-grilled flavor and is exceptionally tender and mouthwatering. The meat had the right amount of fat without going overboard.

Prices for each dish are very reasonable, and service is always friendly and welcoming. If you’re in the area and craving a cuisine you’ve never tried before, check this place out, you won’t regret it.

BUSINESS INFORMATION: (Two Locations)

Phnom Penh Restaurant

Laurel Business District

3912 MacArthur Boulevard Oakland, CA 94619

AND

Webster Business District

1514 Webster Street Alameda, CA 94501

To learn more about me, you can go here.

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It’s said the sandwich is attributed to John Montagu, the 4^th Earl of Sandwich and believed he would ask his servants to bring him two slices of bread and some meat to put in-between while he was gambling. This guy is my absolute idol!!

We regularly use Yelp and sometimes Eater SF, to source out great places to eat. On one day, the boyfriend and I had a hankering for some good sandwiches. Lo and behold, the power of the internet! Poof, found a great sandwich spot to try.

Domenico’s Italian Deli is located in Alameda which is a wonderful little beach town in the San Francisco Bay Area. My love for Italian deli sandwiches have now been satisfied! I’ve been there exactly two times now and the sandwiches really rank in my top 5. (and I’ve eaten tons and tons of sandwiches in my lifetime). If you take a look at their website, it says they’ve been open for over 50 years!

The first time I came here, I ordered the pastrami sandwich on a wheat roll. Oh my god, it was really tasty! The pastrami wasn’t too salty (which I find can happen with a lot of other places), and the condiments meshed together well, to create great, fresh tasting sandwiches.

In my most recent experience at Domenico’s, the boyfriend and I ordered the Genoa Salami and Italian Combo sandwiches. We decided to eat half and half of each sandwich to get a taste of each other’s pick.

GENOA SALAMI SANDWICH:

This sandwich included: Dry salami with a flavor of wine on a sweet roll with Swiss cheese and all the fixings. The bread roll was fluffy and it had a bit of sweet. Just look at all the salami and oozing of mayo and mustard in the sandwich! The salami was delicious and not overly salty. You could really taste the hint of wine in the salami, which contributes to a wonderful flavor.

I’d say this sandwich would be my preference to the Italian Combo. The Genoa salami was the standout here. I just really loved the robust flavor of the meat and it created a wonderful explosion of flavor in my mouth.

ITALIAN COMBO:

The Italian combo sandwich included Molinari dry salami, ham, mortadella, cooked salami, bologna with Swiss cheese and all the fixings on a wheat roll. The wheat roll in this sandwich isn’t as fluffy or tasty as the sweet roll. The meats worked well together and didn’t overpower one or the other.

If you want very fresh and deliciously mouthwatering sandwiches, check out Domenico’s Italian Deli in Alameda, California. The service here is friendly and the town of Alameda is quaint and cute.

Domenico’s is open Monday-Friday (excluding Sunday) from 11:00AM-5:00PM.

Address: 1407 Webster St.

Alameda, CA 94501 (Between Taylor and Central Avenue)

To learn more about me, you can go here.

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As detailed in my most recent post, we similarly took the train from the town of Liege to Bruges. It took about under three hours to get there and it costs about 44 Euros roundtrip.

I really appreciated exploring this city and the cobbled streets to take-in the architecture. After exploring the city and the various shops, we decided to get a bite to eat. There are a lot of restaurants and café’s here, but I find it’s always good to try a place that includes some local dishes to see what the region offers.

We decided to check out the restaurant Maria Van Bourgoundie which had traditional Belgian fare.

CHICKEN WATERZOOI

I opted for a lighter dish of the chicken waterzooi which is a stew dish and was originally made with fish. Today, using chicken is much more common. The dish consisted of chicken, a thickened vegetable broth, cream, egg yolk, and vegetables. The vegetables included: carrots, onions, celery, leeks, and some potatoes along with many different types of herbs.

I really liked this dish and thought it was perfect for a somewhat breezy and chilly day. The stew was not overwhelmingly rich, but had the right balance of flavors and after I finished it, I felt satiated and not overly full. I also always love the combination of the vegetables in this dish, so this was a winner for me.

CARBONADE FLAMANDE

My boyfriend ordered the Carbonande flamande, a traditional dish offered in Belgium. It’s a hearty beef and onion stew made with beer and is often accompanied with frites (or fries) or potatoes. He also paired the dish with a Belgian beer (of course) Kasteel. I don’t drink beer, but I’ve always heard Belgian beers are quite rich and have some of the best beers in the world (per my boyfriend, lol).

This dish is quite rich, but very flavorful and you can most definitely taste the bold flavor of beer infused throughout the meat and sauce. Thyme, bay leaves, and mustard accompany the dish. The dish has a slightly sour and sweet flavor. After eating this dish, you might want to go for a walk to loosen the tightness in your belly : )

After grabbing lunch, we decided to walk around the town to visit the various shops and the Markt square. There are a ton of shops to choose from and there are a lot of cute little trinkets and other things to pick-up for your friends and loved ones. Items in the shops were also reasonably priced.

Bruges is also known for their water canals. It’s quite lovely to view the many boats passing by. You’ll also see people being taken by horse carriage around the town. Tremendously cute and quaint!

Also, we happened to stop by a little park area where there were so many swans! I’ve never seen so many swans in one place.

To sum up, if you happen to be or are traveling to Belgium, Bruges is a great place to explore. Even though there are tourists here, it’s not quite as touristy as bigger cities such as Brussels. The town also has a very calming atmosphere and was one of the highlights of my trip.

Restaurant details:

Maria van Bourgondie

Guido Gezelleplein 1, Bruges 8000, Belgium

To learn more about me, you can go here.

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It’s very worth indulging in the delicious Belgian waffles anywhere in Belgium, but I chose to do so in Brussels. (Sorry U.S., go to Belgium to get the real thing). There are so many flavors to choose from and whatever sugary notion tickles your fancy can and will be satisfied.

I took a trip from the city of Liège (where my boyfriend’s family lives) to Brussels by train. Liège is a charming city with friendly and welcoming locals. It’s nice to see people banter with each other and the familiarity amongst those who live in this quaint city.

The train is very efficient and it gets you to Brussels from Liege in around an hour. It’s also super comfortable and I found the time really flew and before I knew it, I was in Brussels. A trip from Liege costs about 30+ Euros roundtrip. They have ticket machines where you can purchase tickets or purchase directly from the ticket counter.

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and is like many urban cities. There’s a hubbub of many people and tourists alike and lots of commerce.

BELGIUM WAFFLE WITH STRAWBERRY SHAVINGS AND WHIPPED CREAM:

This Belgium waffle was very fluffy, just the right amount of sweet, and I absolutely loved the strawberry-flavored shavings. It gave the waffle some extra oomph. Throw in some airy and decadent whipped cream, and it’s a done deal. Delicious, delectable, and extremely satisfying. The smells emanating from each waffle shop invite you to go inside and indulge!

You can find waffle stands and businesses all throughout Belgium and of course many are in touristy spots in Brussels. We found this spot by walking just a bit outside of the touristy area of the Grand Place.

HIGHLIGHT VIDEO FROM ANOTHER WAFFLE STAND:

You can view the video snippet here.

This snippet includes another waffle stand’s offerings and as you can see, there is much to choose from: fruit toppings, chocolate (oh la la), and much, much more. It also includes a blown-up version of Mannekin Pis, the most well-known symbol of the people of Brussels. Look at all the yummy choices available! You’ll have a hard time making-up your mind which type of Belgian waffles to try.

Brussels Eight and Three

Rue du Marche aux Herbes 21, Brussels Belgium

To learn more about me, you can go here.

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Yojimbo is a Japanese restaurant located in a hidden spot. If you walk down the sidewalk and you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss where the restaurant is. When you walk inside the restaurant, you’re always warmly greeted and service is friendly and efficient.

PORK RAMEN

The boyfriend and I opted for the pork ramen with a miso +spicy soup base. The bowl consists of ramen, egg, assorted veggies, and a garnish of seaweed. The standout of the dish would have to be the pork (extremely flavorful, tender, and juicy). When they bring the bowl to you, you’re also astounded by how huge it is! This can feed two people without a doubt. For me, ramen bowls always tend to be a tad bit too salty, but I did like the overall flavor of this and whenever you add a soft-boiled and ooey-gooey egg, I’m sold.

They have a couple of other soup bases you can choose from and if you’re not into spicy foods, you can omit this option.

SUSHI COMBO A

We also got this sushi combo which includes California rolls, choice of Tekka Maki (tuna sushi roll). You can also opt for salmon. Also included are some assorted pieces of Nigiri (thin slices of raw fish pressed over vinegary rice).

The sushi here is fresh and I would highly recommend coming here for the many different options included in the menu. The spider rolls (deep-fried soft shell crab, with avocado and cucumber are really good).

Another recommendation would also be the bento boxes. The teriyaki bento box is humungous! This can literally feed 3-4 people. It’s super tasty and really filling.

In my opinion, I wouldn’t recommend the Tonkatsu dishes. For some reason, this lacks some flavor and is just blah.

Overall, if you’re looking for unassuming Japanese cuisine, check this place out if you’re in the East Bay or Alameda area.

Yojimbo is open Monday-Saturday from 11:00AM-9:00PM and closed on Sundays.

YOJIMBO

1221 PARK ST.

ALAMEDA, CA 94501

For more information about me, you can go here.

The post Unassuming Japanese Cuisine appeared first on Consume and Devour.

On this occasion, I along with the boyfriend,  went to Tay Ho in Oakland’s Chinatown. We’ve been here a couple of times and initially it wasn’t my favorite spot to go to. I thought the service was a bit lackluster and the food just ok. (also, the Yelp reviews are kind of meh, but I would give this place a chance. Yelp’s not always right) However, the last couple of times has been redeeming and we had a really good experience on our last visit.

VERMICELLI COMBO BOWL

I ordered the vermicelli combo bowl which included grilled prawns (forgot to include in pic!), crispy spring rolls, and grilled chicken plus the usual fixings: vermicelli, bean sprouts, fresh herbs, pickled carrot and daikon, scallion oil, crushed peanuts, and fried shallots.

I, of course, added the requisite house “nuk mam” or fish sauce and it’s just a great flavor explosion in your mouth. The fish sauce really complements all the ingredients in the dish and I love how fresh everything was. I also always love Vietnamese grilled meats and the chicken and shrimp was grilled to perfection. Service was also speedy and very attentive.

My boyfriend ordered the Tay Ho Rice Special. (It’s not pictured in this post). It includes skewered prawns, grilled pork, cage free fried egg, along with spicy pickled cabbage, carrots & daikon, and jasmine rice. He really enjoyed his dish and I can attest to the fact that the rice plates here are pretty tasty and satisfying.

The dishes here are reasonably priced and won’t break the bank. I would recommend this spot if you’re in the Oakland Chinatown area and are looking for a casual Vietnamese eatery that’s fulfilling and satisfying.

Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant and Bar

344 12^th Street, Ste. B

Oakland, CA 94607

To learn more about me, you can go here.

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I absolutely love Asian food and pork (of course, I’m Chinese).

I’ve expanded my eating repertoire to include many different types of Asian fare and it’s great to find such a multitude of dishes to please any palate.

I enjoy exploring new restaurants with my other half. We decided to check this place out as we were just in the area after playing a game of tennis.

I know, I know. You’re thinking she’s going to eat this after playing tennis??!! Well, I did and it was all delicious!

Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage and Roast Pork

This dish incorporates one of my favorite things: pork. If there’s pork in it, I’m totally there. This is totally “get in my belly Asian food” : )

I grew up eating both Chinese sausage and roast pork and they really are my two favorite dishes to eat (albeit not too healthy). Regardless, both delicious and when you incorporate them into a fried rice dish, well yum!

This fried rice dish incorporates both pork styles along with egg, green onions, and tomatoes topped with cilantro and cucumber.

Fresh Spring Rolls

We had this along with our main dishes and they were very delicious to say the least! Mint, cucumber, carrot, basil, vermicelli noodle, and cilantro served with the requisite peanut sauce and another sweet and spicy sauce.

Rolls were very fresh and the flavors really accompanied each other well.

The service here was fairly marginal. We were quick to be seated upon arrival and we received our food pretty quickly. However, it took a little longer to get drinks refreshed and our bill.

All in all a good experience here and I would return to try some of the different menu items.

You can learn more about me by clicking here.

Business: Thai Noodle House of Alameda

Address: 1700 Park Street, Ste 100, Alameda, CA 94501

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