Officially leaving the Bay Area.

Ok. We're gonna do it. All in one go.

Let's wrap up the Berkeley foodventures and be done with it already!

Highlights from the rest of our trip, in reverse order of favoritism:

4. Chowdahs in the chill at Fisherman's Wharf.

Before our hike up the insanely steep and crooked Lombard Street in San Francisco, we needed proper sustenance. Fisherman's Wharf is a very touristy -- therefore, expensive -- spot, so we had to be a little creative:

First, we got an adorable sourdough turtle from Boudin. After promptly devouring its legs, tail and head, we headed over to the cluster of fresh seafood offerings where we purchased a cup each of crab chowder and clam chowder, each costing only a few dollars. Because it was biting cold and we didn't really feel like eating next to the pigeon poo, we headed back over to Boudin's heated outdoor patio to eat. (Wasn't that such a great idea?!)

The crab chowder was my favorite. It was the corn in it that sold me.

3. What is a Gypsy's? It is a delicious.

Spaghetti carbonara at Gypsy's Trattoria Italiano, located at none other than Asian Ghetto.

Man. I wish there were an Italian place like this at home. Gypsy's has a huge selection of pizzas, calzones and pastas (cooked perfectly al dente), which are prepared quickly, come in hefty portions, and cost you no more than a matinee movie. My carbonara was creamy and eggy, generously adorned with crispy pancetta.

As for the garlic bread? Instead of the usual garlic buttered-toast, Gypsy's dishes come with a slab of bread and a generous smear of real roasted garlic so soft and sweet, you'd think it was butter. But better. Better butter. Of garlic.

2. Hot/cold confusion, and the creamiest gelato ever.


The sun didn't peek out once during our trip, so it's a good thing I love eating ice cream in cold weather. Almare served up some of the most decadent gelato I've ever tasted (texture is always key). Pistachio was rich and nutty, kiwi-strawberry was true to its fruity flavors but not overly sweet, and both were perfectly creamy and thick.

Ici, on the other hand, is on a whole 'nother plane of ice cream existence. The flavors here, which change daily, are always unconventional: Earl Grey and cookies, Santa Rosa plum, gingersnap-honey, cardamom-rose... so many chances to try something you've never tasted before.

On this particular day, my cousin and I both opted for peach-habanero. Its searing heat was immediately soothed by sweet tanginess, which quickly turned back into spiciness. While sitting on a bench outdoors, we vocalized this strange, but wonderful sensation:

"I'm cold. But it's hot! But it's cold... I'm so confused!"

1. Diamond dogs.


From the hole-in-the-wall (literally) Top Dog, my sister got a chicken-lemon dog (left), I got the linguica, my cousin got the original Top Dog. Unfortunately, the one I got was my least favorite -- probably because I unwittingly slathered it with a very spicy horseradish mustard (I didn't know what "Russian mustard" was!). At least now I know that spicy, smoky sausage does NOT go with horseradish. The O.G. "New York-style" hot dog was classic and wonderful, and the chicken-lemon was surprisingly juicy and tender. I really, really wanted to go back to try the smoked chicken apple dog, but didn't get a chance to! Boo. I want to try each of the dozen or so flavors.

Phew! This post was long, but it included only highlights; I took way more food photos:


For my next visit, I've vowed to make it down to Berkeley's famed "Gourmet Ghetto" -- home to the likes of widely-praised Cheeseboard and Chez Panisse.

Let's go! Now?

They say goodbye, and I say hello.

Sigh. Blogging's a challenge when you're feeling uninspired -- especially after discovering that three of some of your favorite places to eat have recently closed up shop.

* * *
The first victim: TeaZone (often mistaken for a Lollicup) in Fullerton, located on State College and Chapman.

Yelpers apparently weren't fans, but I wholeheartedly stand by a statement I've made many-a-time: TeaZone had the best spicy chicken karaage combo meal out of any boba dive I've ever eaten at. Albeit MSG-ridden, no doubt, the chicken was the crispiest, tastiest around, and it was piled high on a bed of perfectly firm and sticky steamed rice (you can't imagine how hard this is to ask for at a boba joint). Additionally, the overstuffed box came with two mystery side items (which were always hit or miss for me) and what I like to call the "scene stealer" of the meal: a small offering of a wonderful spicy green relish thing embedded in the rice, buried under the chicken along with a few salted, roasted peanuts.

TO THIS DAY, I still have no idea what that was. And it pains me greatly to think that I may never find out.

Oh, and this seems rather insignificant after all that, but I also LOVED their chopsticks. They were the cylindrical kind that are tapered and have a good weight to them -- you know what I'm talking about -- not the cheapo boxy things that look like tiny pieces of lumber, which separate terribly unevenly and leave splinters in your grub.

* * *
Second: I nearly cried (no joke) when I drove by what used to be Main Street Pizza Pasta and found out that it's been replaced by some generic-looking Greek food place. I can't even remember the name of the new place. I'm too heartbroken.

No more plump homemade cheese raviolis in creamy tomato-ricotta sauce. No more fast fixes of linguine with clams. No more al dente pasta cheaper than the non-al dente pasta served at Olive Garden and the like.

I mean, seriously, how could you not want to cry?

* * *
Lastly, the Asiana Grill bid farewell to Tustin. This one I kind of saw coming -- not because the food was terrible. It was pretty great -- not the best, by far -- but certainly much better than the other Chinese lunch option I'd been going to. It was the really awkward location. Coming from a certain direction, I would have to make a u-turn quite a ways away to be able to get to it. It's not a place you stumble on easily.

Anyway, as a Chinese fast-food joint, they made everything fresh and to order. Orange chicken is so much better crispy and piping hot than it is soggy -- wouldn't you agree? And you could get cream cheese wontons as one of your combo items. Sa-weet. But alas, it's no more.

Luckily, I read about Chicken Bowl Express in OC Weekly last week and decided to give their kung-pao chicken a try this evening.


I think it will be a very satisfactory Chinese food replacement. And by satisfactory I mean excellently YUMMY.

* * *
Chicken Bowl Express
554 N. Tustin St.
Orange 92866
714.532.6858

P.S. This post officially concludes "international month," which was kind of a bust. Oh well.

Lent --> Best meal I've had at Wahoo's yet.

I take Lent as an opportunity (/excuse) to slightly curb my bad (but oh so good) eating habits for 40 days (when I don't slip) out of the year. My body's health shrieks, "THANK GOD," while my taste buds and love for all-things-food quip, "Dammit, is it this time of year again, already?"

But tasty foodventures can result from avoiding poultry and red meat on Fridays (and Ash Wednesday). One of the most obvious: more samplings of seafood. My dearest seafood. How I love thee.

Coming into Wahoo's Fish Taco today, I was expecting to order a standard blackened fish bowl, with rice and beans, pico de gallo -- you know, the usual Lenty food.

But hunger told me I had to get enchiladas. One fish enchilada and one shrimp enchilada, both swimming in "spicy green sauce," to be exact. And hunger get what hunger want. (Yes, I had to say it. And no, hunger didn't want a hot dog.)

By the way, for those of you who've never been to Wahoo's, the green sauce is a f-amazing creamy cilantro-lime dressing that's not really as hot as it claims, but it does have a little kick to it. I like to pour it on everything. And with enchiladas, melted cheddar floats on top for a bonus? HELLS YES.

As I mulled over the so-so black beans versus the so-so white beans, the cashier, in all his terrific genius, suggested all rice. Oh my gah! That's exactly what I wanted. DOUBLE hells yes.

All this resulted in what I believe to be my Wahoo's "recipe." Took me long enough (I found my Chipotle recipe on the third try). I wish I'd taken a photo; I didn't know this meal was going to be such a historic event.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, besides the whole "no-meat" rule on Fridays, I've given up soft drinks, chips and snacky things, and non-homemade confections.

And now, dinner.

After having my fill of Garden Salsa Sun Chips and a makeshift mango juice popsicle, I can no longer ignore the desperate pleas of my stomach for sustenance.

I've made my choice:


(Okay, I had one set of those. I'm not a complete pig!)