Category — Restaurant

Wow! As soon as I walked in, I felt instant energy in NOPA, a very popular restaurant in the North of the Panhandle (hence the name of the restaurant). My friend Merel met me at the communal table at the front and we were seated to our table. The ambiance was not too snobby, yet not too casual, and it had very much a neighborhood cozy yet classy feel. Our other guests were arriving late, so we decided to order a few appetizers to start.

My friend and I started with the Warm Goat Cheese, Crostini and Pickled Beets ($9.5) followed by the Arugula, Shaved Fennel, Radishes and Champagne Vinaigrette ($7). The warm goat cheese was wonderful and carefully blended with very fresh bright pink beats. The arugula salad contrasted nicely with the goat cheese.

Soon, Chris joined us and he tried the Pan Roasted Halibut, Zucchini, Fingerling Potatoes and Chard ($19). Since I’m vegetarian, I only tried the potatoes and chard, and my favorite dish by then was his side of chard, nicely cooked but not too soft with a warm buttery taste. I shared the Baked Pasta, Spinach, Carrots and Breadcrumbs ($18) and we ordered sides of polenta and baked cauliflower. Their menu indicates that most of their food is sustainable, local and organic.

By then, another friend, Kiyoung joined us and we shared a nice dessert together: Rhubarb Crostada and Vanilla Ice Cream ($8). The rhubarb was exceptionally fresh and blended perfectly with the vanilla ice cream. Another friend Jennie joined us towards the end who ordered the Warm Doughnut Holes and Rum Caramel ($7.5). This dessert was to die for! It was at a perfect temperature, warm enough to be eaten and not too hot with lightly sprinkled sugar.

I really had a fabulous time at this restaurant. The service was exceptional. It was unbelievable to see the entire place packed on a Monday night. Reservations are very difficult unless you like to eat very late (they close at 2AM) and I’d recommend contacting them in advance. Apparently the top chefs come to this restaurant from all over the city to eat after they are done working. I definitely am coming back! NOPA is located on 560 Divisadero @ Hayes in San Francisco.

To celebrate the end of a volunteer project, I went to Triptych with my team, a restaurant that opened in SOMA last year in San Francisco. Inside, was a funky vibe, with art strewn all over the walls, two record players playing actual record LPs at the front, and a disco style bathroom in the back.

The group ordered a lot of food, and being vegetarian, I mainly recalled the veggie selection since the restaurant didn’t post their updated menu on their website. We started with a tofu salad, an artichoke salad, a seafood salad. The salads were made fresh. Below is a picture of an entree, a vegan spring vegetable tagine with tofu, spinach, tahini & pita (~$13). I really enjoyed this dish, the chef cooked tofu in a different style that was unusual.
The rest of the team tried other meat dishes, and below was a popular paella dish mixed with mussels and roasted red peppers.

Here is a picture of the bar in the background, with the team very happy with the meal.
Kamael, Cynthia and Nancy happily devour the pear tart for dessert.
Overall, I was satisfied with the quality of the food and prompt service. Parking was very easy in SOMA. I was surprised that despite a long list of organic and biodynamic wines on the menu, the restaurant was out of the entire stock of organic wine. I settled for an organic looseleaf brown nettle tea. We were the only table left towards the end of our meal, but it made it a better place for conversation and high quality attention by their staff. Triptych is located on 1155 Folsom St (between 7th and 8th) in San Francisco.

My friend Jen had a baby shower which took place at the Samovar Tea Lounge in San Francisco. We sat in the table (above) and ordered teas. I ordered the organic “chill out” tea, a blend of blend of chamomile blossoms, peppermint, lemon myrtle, jasmine blossoms, lemongrass and lavender flowers. We also tried their curry egg salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches and ended the tea with the matcha brownie and green tea mousse and an assortment of cookies. I’ve been to both Samovar locations–one in SOMA and the other in the Castro. I definitely prefer the laid back, more welcoming atmosphere of the Castro location. The one in SOMA felt much like a sleek but sterile art museum. I wish the tea menu were better written; the teas were not labeled organic properly and I had ask the waiter which tea blend was certified organic. Also the service was so-so. All in all, I think Samovar is a nice place to host a small special occasion or date. Samovar is located on the corner of Sanchez and 18th in the Castro or in Yerba Buena Gardens in SOMA.

My sister got engaged a couple weeks ago in LA. To celebrate the occasion, we went to a beautiful restaurant, called Inn of The Seventh Ray, located near Malibu. It’s considered one of LA’s most romantic restaurant. Sitting outside next to a creek, we had a big selection of organic, local ingredients. It felt like a little fairy tale walking under the stung lights and beautiful outdoor surroundings.

We shared the portabella mushrooms, heirloom tomato salad (I recommend this dish!) and a vegan tapas dish for appetizers. For dinner, I split the summer corn risotto and the agave glazed vegan duck with my sister. To top it off,we shared a bottle of 2005 pinoit noir by Mendicino’s BARRA winery. This wine was probably the best I have drank that was organic.

Located at 128 Old Topanga Canyon Road in Topangam about 15 minutes north of Los Angeles. 310.455.1311

One of my all time favorites in the Bay Area–the Rodin sculpture garden located at Stanford University. At the Cantor Arts Center, you can sip organic lemonade, have a nice organic salad at Cool Cafe, an outdoor cafe in the museum, while looking at Rodin’s famous Gates of Hell and his other works nearby. The menu is a little pricey for students, but worthwhile checking out at least once. The admission is free into the museum and there are guided tours as well. Don’t miss this place located at Stanford!

On Sunday, October 8, over 40 of the Bay Area’s most celebrated chefs will collaborate in preparing a spectacular five course meal using local, sustainable and seasonal ingredients from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. This is the fourth year for CUESA’s Sunday Supper gala and some of the restaurants include: Farallon, The Slanted Door, Fifth Floor and Zuni Cafe. Click here to register and learn more.

After kayaking in Point Reyes’ Drake’s Estero, an awesome bay full of hundreds of birds, wildlife, seals and more, my boyfriend and I tried some cool organic places on our way home from Marin.

Our first stop was at Point Reyes Station, a tiny cute village at the southern end of Tomales Bay, next to Point Reyes national seashore. We found a wonderful store called Toby’s Feed Barn, and inside were local and organic produce, honeys, grains, and even organic animal feed for ranchers in the area. Next to the barn was an organic coffee and tea shop and a yoga center. On Saturdays, this barn hosts the only all local, all certified organic produce market in the Bay Area sponsored by Marin Organic. Toby’s is located on Main Street in Point Reyes Station.

Our next stop going home was in Fairfax, another lovely town in Marin County, but much bigger than Point Reyes Station. We stopped downtown and passed a slew of yoga, alternative medicine, and funky clothing shops. But the best thing we found was Lydia’s Lovin Foods, an organic vegetarian restaurant with live and cooked foods. The decor was warm, the waitress very friendly and food was fast. We tried the Ocean Friendly Nori Roll, filled with sprouted almont pate, avocado, cucumber, lettuce wrapped in nori. Vivek got a detoxing special soup made out of cucumber, celery, and more. He also got a side of very Green Salad–this is the way a salad should be, not like the one in Flea Street Cafe. This salad was fresh, tasty, and had a great flavor (We tried the tahini ginger dressing). The cucumber soup and Nori roll really hit the spot. I’d definitely recommend this place; apparently other people have already, it’s won awards last year for best vegetarian and vegan cuisine and best caterer.

You’ve also probably seen Lydia’s sold at Whole Foods, Rainbow Grocery and other health food stores. They’re known for their raw and sprouted cookies and crackers. I definitely think this is worth trying. Lydia’s is in Fairfax, located at 31 Bolinas Road.

I always wanted to try Flea Street Cafe in Menlo Park. The owner, JZ Cool, had built a series of restaurants, including the Cool Cafe at one of my favorite museums in the Bay Area, the Cantor Center at Stanford with a beautiful outdoor Rodin sculpture garden, and JZCoolEatery in downtown Menlo Park.

With my boyfriend last Friday night, we decided to go to Flea Street. Once we stepped inside, the decor felt quite homey, and service quite fast and good. We were excited to see a variety of local and organic food, and Vivek ordered a heirloom tomato fettucine (see picture) while I tried the corn seasonal soup, baby lettuce salad, and red beat harley farms goat cheese ravioli.

Out of all of these, my red beat harley farms ravioli was the most original, beautifully presented and tasty. Unfortunately, the local baby lettuce salad was quite horrible. I definitely could have made a better salad at home. Inside the salad were leaves that reminded me of weeds, the least tasty and dry lettuce leaves I have tasted in awhile. In fact, it tasted like it came out of bag. Vivek’s fettucine was so-so, but felt like it wasn’t worth the price at $19. I also felt like they did not have a lot of vegetarian entree options, which made me opt for a series of appetizers.

I think I’d go back for lunch or brunch, but not back for dinner. Of note are special farmer dinner series where you can meet the local farm workers and eat their fresh produce. Otherwise, it was a mixed review–Greens Restaurant in SF makes salads that are definitely better than this. Located on 3607 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park.

Last Thursday I went back to an organic restaurant called Sirayvah Organic Thai in San Carlos. The food presentation and organic selection was not bad. Note not everything is organic, but they used organic tofu, rice, vegetables and had a good assortment of teas and wines. Since I’m vegetarian, I tried a veggie Pad See Ew and Penang Curry with a friend Amanda, who is trying to open healthy lifestyle restaurant herself. The food came out fast, the flavor good and service very nice. The only thing I have to complain about is the prices–definitely more expensive than the usual Thai. But if you’re willing to spend a little more, I’d say give this place a try. Located on 366 El Camino Real, San Carlos.

As a long time vegetarian, there are few places like Greens. The view of the Golden Gate bridge, a cool funky converted Fort Mason building, and organic food mainly from Marin’s Green Gulch Farm.

You can also take a nice hike in the Marin Headlands and walk through the farm, Green Gulch, where the organic produce from Greens comes from. There is a zen monastery, and a walk to the coastline, and a forest. Walking on the Green Gulch trail to the ocean and through a loop in Marin is one of the best in the area.

Pro: Great view, fresh local organic food, cool room, easy free parking lot in Fort Mason

Con: Not good for meat eaters, too pricey for dinner (brunch is reasonable)