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.

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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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The restaurant is Avatar’s Punjabi Burritos and they have a couple of locations throughout Marin County.

The location we choose to go to was in the city of Larkspur. It’s a very cute and charming city with a lot of interesting local eateries and shops.

I got the “curried pumpkin rice place with chicken” and included garbanzo beans, basmati rice, fresh herb salsa, seasonal fruit chutney, carrot pickle, non-fat yogurt and tamarind sauce. Here’s a picture below of the food.

Pumpin Curry Rice Plate with Chicken

Overall, the dish was very tasty and not too overly spicy. The chicken was very tender and the one flavor element that really stood out was the chutney. I can’t put my finger on it, but it was sweet and had a hint of some type of floral element. I also didn’t feel too overly full after this dish.  If this is what Mexican + Indian fusion is like, I am sold!

Mexican and Indian Curry Chicken Goodness

As a fusion Mexican+Indian establishment, they do have a number of burrito and enchilada options. I would definitely try the burrito options because I’m curious about the fusion of flavors. 

Overall, I would come here again and try some of the other options here. The service was quick and food very tasty. The options here are also very reasonable for the Bay Area. So, if you’re looking for a non-expensive and unique place to check-out, this would be a good option.

Avatar’s Punjabi Burritos

574 Magnolia Ave.

Larkspur, CA 94939

To learn more about me, you can go here for more information.

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My boyfriend and I were craving Thai food and were wondering what new restaurant to try.

We happened upon a really cool and interesting restaurant in Oakland. It’s a pretty nondescript restaurant from the outside, but when you enter, you find that it’s really quite charming.

Coconut Curry Chicken with Vegetables

Pictured above is some coconut curry with chicken and veggies. Rich and with full-bodied flavor (and of course some kick!) This was definitely a very comforting dish that I would welcome again on a cold day.

The service at the restaurant was also very friendly and accommodating.

Business: Old Weang Ping

Address: 6217 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, CA 94605

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