Yoshida

My parents' favorite Japanese restaurant has now become my favorite Japanese restaurant. Yoshida is located at 10700 S. De Anza Blvd. in Cupertino.

 



 

How can you beat all this for $7.95?

 

 

California Roll.

 

 

Tempura--light and non-greasy. I especially liked the tempura kabocha.

 



Yu Tofu--tofu soup in a very clear and flavorful broth. Ponzu sauce was provided to dip the tofu.

Saba Shioyaki--grilled mackerel. It's an oily fishy but I love it.

 

 

 

2013 03 10

Bon Chon

I've always wanted to try Korean Fried Chicken and went to Bon Chon in Sunnyvale. The restaurant is located at 572 E. El Camino Real in a strip mall.

 

 

Sweet Potato Fries $4.89. The fries were crispy and the sweet & sour dipping sauce was good.

 



This was the small for $6.99. You had a choice of 6 wings, 3 drums, 1 drum + 4 wings or 6 pieces of white chicken. The drumstick was tough. The chicken are free range and I always think free range chicken is tougher than non-free range. I got mine with soy garlic sauce and had a side of sriracha to make it a little spicy. You could also have spicy hot garlic sauce but that was too spicy for me. You got a free side--coleslaw, kimchi coleslaw, rice or biscuit. I chose the kimchi coleslaw but this was not very good. It was not spicy and there wasn't enough vinegar flavor in the sauce. My sister, who eats here regularly, said the kimchi coleslaw usually tastes better. The white turnips were marinated in a nice sweet and vinegary sauce and the sauce when added to the coleslaw made it better.

 

 

 

2013 03 09

Thursday Night Dinner

Bruschetta con Asparagi--Topped with Herb Formaggio Bianco, Grilled Asparagus & Prosciutto Di Parma, paired with 2011 Whitehall Lane Winery Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

Ravioli D'Anatra--Filled with Duck Mousse Served with Roasted Mushroom-Endive Confit Topped with Crispy Herb Butter & Parmigiano-Reggiano, paired with 2011 Sonoma Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley

Bistecca Al Ferri--Grilled Marinated Flat Iron Garnished with Truffle Essence Potato Puree & Spring Vegetable Ragout Served in a Barolo Wine Sauce, paired with 2008 Benziger Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

Vol-Au-Vent Con Fragole--Puff Pastry Filled with Mascarpone Cream & Bittersweet Chocolate Topped with Fresh Strawberries, paired with 2011 Moscato D'Asti, Ceretto

 

 

 

2013 04 04

 

Los Dos Compadres Taqueria

We were in the south bay and saw a Mexican restaurant serving menudo. The restaurant is located at 100 W. Hamilton Ave.

Menudo for $11.99--this was a large bowl and could easily feed 2. It's only served on the weekends. The broth was very flavorful. The tripe was tender but the hominy could have been cooked longer.

 

Carnitas Platter--$11.99. It's served with a small salad, great rice and very flavorful beans. The carnitas were good but not the best I've ever had. It could use more seasoning.

 

 

 

2013 03 09

Mushroom Soup

After having the mushroom soup at Olive & Vine, I tried my own version.

This was creamy and tasted similar to the soup at Olive & Vine. Now, if I can only figure out how they made their Green Spring Garlic Jam.

Mushroom Soup

2 Tbs olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 shallot, chopped
16-oz crimini mushrooms
2 14 1/2 oz cans chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
ground white pepper
1 Tbs sherry

Saute onion and shallot in olive oil. Add mushrooms in batches. Add chicken broth, bay leaves, dried thyme. Heat to boil then lower heat and cover. Cook for 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves and blend with immersion blender until smooth. Add sherry.



2013 03 25

Fort Bragg Chowder Festival



March is Whale Season on the Mendocino coast. Mendocino, Little River and Fort Bragg take turns having a Whale Festival the first 3 weekends in March. Fort Bragg's was on the 3rd weekend. Part of the festival was a Chowder Tasting Contest.

 



 

Statue near the Town Hall in Fort Bragg

 

 

 

 

The Chowder Tasting--$10 admission, 9 chowders. Line up and get a very generous taste. Choose your favorite and give them your voting token. My favorite was the Cliff House--creamy, nice bacon flavor and not too thick. My second favorite was the Egghead's entry. It wasn't a classic clam chowder but had very flavorful herbs.

2013 03 16

California's Artisan Cheese Festival

The 7th Annual California's Artisan Cheese Festival was last weekend at the Sheraton Sonoma County in Petaluma. It was a 3-day event with Behind-the-Scenes Cheese Country Farm Tours & Lunches on Friday; Seminars, Cheesemaking Classes, Cooking and Pairing Demonstrations on Saturday and the Artisan Cheese Tasting and Marketplace on Sunday. We went to the Cheese Tasting and Marketplace on Sunday from noon to 4 pm for a $45 entry fee.

The event was under 2 tents in the parking lot of the Sheraton Sonoma County. There were 77 artisan producers of local cheese, wine, beer and other specialty foods. There were tons of samples and opportunity to purchase. For the price of admission, you got an insulated cheese bag and a wine glass.

It was a very crowded event but by 3:30 pm, there was hardly anyone there.

 

One of my favorite producers. I loved their goat cheese with truffle.

 



 

Point Reyes--they made a very smooth Toma cheese that melts easily.

There were 3 cooking demonstrations: 1:00, 2:00 & 3:00. Sign up at the Information booth because seating was limited. When we showed up, they were not checking the list and anyone could enter. We watched the 2:00 demonstration on Parisian Quiche then stayed for the 3:00 demonstration on Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese.

 





 We got a sample of the demonstration. This was loaded with crab and so creamy. The pasta was not overcooked. Delicious!

 

 

 

2013 03 24