What's Cooking: Orecchiette with Toasted Breadcrumbs

When it comes to cooking, you know I am ALL about easy recipes. So last night, we tried Giada's Orecchiette with Toasted Breadcrumbs. The dish requires very little in the way of ingredients, tools and, most importantly, culinary skills. Making it and cleaning up afterwards were both a cinch. (On a weeknight, who has time to wash a dozen pots and pans?)

Oh, but since my husband does not like prosciutto, we swapped it out for bacon. And you just can't go wrong with bacon!

Downtown Deadwood City

It's been a while since I've written any kind of update on the subject (previous posts are here and here). So this is the latest: Apparently all of the crappy weather has negatively impacted the revitalization efforts in downtown Redwood City. Not that the rain is totally at fault -- since this project was supposed to be completed in Summer 2005 -- and now it looks like they're shooting for a Summer 2006 launch.

The 20-screen movie theater will not be open until after July. BUT, anchor tenant Cost Plus World Markets says it's sticking to its May opening. (So you can stock up on wicker just in time for summer! I'm kidding -- I know Cost Plus has other cool stuff.)

Other occupants of the On Broadway complex are hoping to open their doors in June -- including Chipotle, Escape from NY Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab, Tacone, Tandoori's Oven and Beard Papa. (Cream puffs! I want some Beard Papa cream puffs already!)

The city has set up several webcams so you can check out the progress. I'm actually a bit skeptical about this summer opening for the theater, but I hope I'm wrong...

Bacon Love

Since last Friday was a work holiday for me (markets were closed, so our office was), I headed up to San Francisco. I had plans to lunch with a friend of mine who lives in the Mission, and she wisely suggested that we try Maverick.

Although I went with the Fried Oyster Po' Boy, my companion chose the English Cheddar, Apple and Bacon sandwich. Mine was good, but hers was great. So great, that I ran home that night and told Jon we HAD to try making our own for dinner.

We only had pears in the house, and figured they'd be a fine replacement for the apples. Our sandwiches weren't as greasy as Maverick's, so I actually preferred our home rendition. After Jon started grilling them, he realized that we totally should've used the panini press... Oh well. Next time!

(BTW, this is Martha's recipe for a Grilled Cheese with Apples and Bacon.)

Lulu's on the Alameda, Menlo Park: Redux

The other night -- as we waited for the driving range to clear out a bit -- Jon and I decided to give Lulu's another try. Our first visit, a pick-up on my way home, was fine. But we thought maybe the restaurant would be better if we dined in.

I was disappointed the first time around that they didn't have any fish tacos on the menu. But we were in luck: Fish tacos were the daily special the night we popped in last week. So Jon ordered that, and I went for the chicken enchiladas with red sauce.

Let's start with the red sauce. Sounds generic, right? And it tasted generic, too. It was totally bland. The trio of enchiladas were hidden beneath a pile of chopped veggies and sour cream, but there seemed to be too little cheese on the corn tortillas. I could not believe how lacking in flavor my dish was!

After a rather unsatisfying entree, I sought redemption in the form of a churro. Maybe it would be so phenomenal, I wouldn't care how bad my dinner was. But sadly, it was also a let-down. I'm guessing the churro was frozen and simply tossed in the oven for a little warmth. It was neither fresh nor deep-fried. No good in my book.

Although Jon's fish tacos were okay, we agreed that there are plenty of better (and cheaper!) Mexican restaurants just down the street on Woodside Road in Redwood City. I don't expect to eat at Lulu's again because I'm fairly certain a third time would not be a charm.

Lulu's on the Alameda
3539 Alameda de las Pulgas
Menlo Park, CA
(650) 854-8226

Draeger's

I am suddenly a big fan of Draeger's prepared foods. I find myself craving their stuffed potatoes (mmm -- cheese, chives, garlic). The sesame noodles are perfect when you're on the go (they can be consumed hot or cold). And the garlic butter has me making toast ALL the time now.

The San Mateo location also includes a restaurant (upstairs from the grocery store) and a cooking school. Jon took a knife skills class there a few months ago. He sliced his hand towards the end of the lesson and had to go straight to the ER... But don't let that deter you from enrolling in one of their many courses!

Draeger's

222 East Fourth Avenue
San Mateo, CA
(650) 685-3700

1010 University Drive
Menlo Park, CA
(650) 324-7700

342 First Street
Los Altos, CA
(650) 948-4425

Woodside Bakery and Cafe, Woodside

We were looking for a convenient late-lunch yesterday, so we headed up the hill to the Woodside Bakery and Cafe. Although I have stopped in many times for a pastry or dessert, my previous dining experience here was limited to one dinner. (It was a fine dinner, but not that memorable to be honest. If only I had a food blog back then to record what I ate/thought!)

So anyway... We sat inside yesterday, as we thought the rain was going to come pouring down any minute. (On a sunny day, the patio in the back is a great spot to enjoy an iced beverage and a sweet snack.) There were very few tables left when we were seated, and the bakery side of the space had quite a line of people. The restaurant's cuisine is Italian -- with a good selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and pastas to choose from. I went with one of the daily specials: quiche with a cup of mushroom and spinach soup, as well as a side of Caesar salad, for about $11. Not a bad deal.

When the order arrived at the table, I was a little surprised by how small the wedge of quiche was, and how large the salad portion was. I immediately got started on the hot soup, which was awesome -- rich, creamy, chock-full of garlic and bits of mushroom. The quiche was okay (I wanted more crust!), as was the salad.

Jon ordered a sandwich, which was served on yummy housemade foccaccia. And our friend Josh opted for the asparagus soup (which he raved about) and a side of Caesar with grilled chicken.

After lunch, I checked out the cookies, pastries, cakes and pies. I finally decided on a slice of apricot pie, which I warmed up at home later in the evening. I put it in the oven for a few minutes (a microwave would have ruined the crust) and it was delicious.

Between the restaurant and the bakery, I think the latter is the stronger/better offering. Despite a lackluster lunch yesterday, the Woodside Bakery and Cafe still remains one of my favorite Peninsula places for breads and sweets... and now soups.

Woodside Bakery and Cafe
3052 Woodside Road
Woodside, CA
(650) 851-0812

Sickie

I've been sick for the past few days and unable to really enjoy food -- and thus, not eating much. The last meal I really remember tasting was at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday night. We watched the A's beat the Yankees in our excellent seats that included unlimited food and drinks. So, of course, we set out to eat as much as possible over the nine innings.

I started with the nachos -- no on the salsa, but yes on the cheese (of course) and jalapenos. They were actually better than most ballpark nachos, but I couldn't quite put my finger on the difference in the flavor of the cheese. It seemed to be a bit more buttery-tasting, maybe?

Next, I ordered the sliders (mini-burgers). They came with a slice of pickle and chopped onions already on the patty (ketchup and mustard were in accompanying packets), and were served with a side of Kettle Chips. It was pretty good.

I was getting full -- from the aforementioned food items, as well as the peanuts that we were snacking on -- but still managed to get a couple more orders in: popcorn that was billed as "fresh-popped and buttered" (yes, there was a buttery substance on the popcorn, but it definitely was not fresh-popped), and some sour candies (basically, Sour Patch Kids knock-offs). Neither was very satisfying, but I wasn't hungry anymore anyway.

Since it was chilly that night, I opted for hot chocolate the entire evening. It was water-based -- which was good and bad. Good because it meant the server could bring it out really quickly, but bad because... well, it's water-based hot chocolate. (The item that seemed to take the longest to make/serve was the mozzarella sticks. A friend of ours placed that order and it took about half an hour to arrive.)

Although I haven't been to an SF Giants' game yet this year, I think they still have the A's beat in terms of ballpark food.

Bay Area Michelin Guide

Hot off the newswire:

Michelin announced today the Michelin Guide San Francisco and the Bay Area 2007, arriving in stores in October 2006.

Michelin will expand its exclusive hotel and restaurant guide series in North America to include SanFrancisco and the Bay Area. The Michelin Guide San Francisco and the Bay Area 2007, the first-ever Michelin Guide for a West Coast city, is scheduled to arrive in stores October 2006. The Guide will cover hotels and restaurants in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Berkeley, as well as the Wine Country including Napa and Sonoma. The announcement was made todayby Jean-Luc Naret, worldwide director of the Michelin Guide.

The Michelin Guide, whose rating system is internationally recognized as the height of culinary success, is already published in 12 editions covering 20 European countries, and additionally includes a Guide to New York City, which was introduced in November 2005. For its debut in the San Francisco area, the Guide will provide a selection and rating, in all categories of comfort and prices, of San Francisco and Bay Area restaurants and hotels, in a reader-friendly layout made especially for the American market and the region's distinctive culinary and hotel landscape.

"The diversity, breadth and depth of San Francisco's restaurant and hotel scene, coupled with its rich gastronomic history clearly mark the city and surrounding areas as the logical choice for the next North American title in the Michelin Guide series," commented Naret. "As with our recently published Guide to New York City, we are making every effort to produce a comprehensive selection that does full justice to the region's exciting restaurant and hotel culture and also meets our readers' expectations."

During the announcement, Naret described San Francisco as unique among American cities, citing its reputation as a world-class tourism destination and stressing the importance of its treasured culinary traditions, including the genesis of organic cooking, the foundation of California cuisine and the 'Slow Food' movement, as well as the production of renowned wines nearby.

"The Bay Area's food-conscious residents value innovative cuisine and are passionate about using fresh ingredients, including some of the country's highest quality organic ingredients that are produced here," said Naret. "We are eagerly anticipating the Michelin Guide's entry into this wonderful city known for its cuisine, culture, beauty and innovative spirit."

As part of its meticulous and highly confidential evaluation process, Michelin inspectors -- both European and American -- are currently conducting anonymous inspections in Bay Area restaurants and hotels. As with all Michelin Guide inspections, the process involves test meals or overnight stays at each establishment by Michelin inspectors, in order to assess the level and the consistency of the establishment. As with all of the Guides for all countries, inspectors pay all of their bills at restaurants and hotels.

"The Michelin inspectors are the eyes and ears of the customers, and thus the anonymity of our inspectors is key to ensure they are treated the same as any guest would be treated," commented Naret.

The Michelin Guide offers a broad selection of hotels and restaurants in each price and comfort category, taking into account each country's local environment. This rating is unique and consistent across all countries covered by the Michelin Guide. It is expressed in two ways:

• A comfort rating: levels of comfort are rated using one to five forks and spoons for restaurants and one to five pavilions for hotels. Those symbols only judge the comfort of the establishment. They are: the furnishings of the establishment, the service, the cleanliness and upkeep of the surroundings.
• Special distinctions for certain establishments: these include stars for the very best restaurants. Red forks and spoons or red pavilions are for especially pleasant establishments. The stars judge only "what's on the plate," meaning the quality of products, the mastering of flavors, the mastering of cooking, the "personality" of the cuisine, the value for money and the consistency of what it offers to its customers both throughout the menu and the year.

While every restaurant in the Guide is a recommendation from Michelin, certain restaurants deserve to be brought to the reader's attention for the particularity fine quality of their cooking. These establishments are identified by Michelin stars, which are awarded for the standard of meals served.

A general listing in the Guide indicates "a quality restaurant that stands out from others" in the same category of comfort, definitely worth trying. The star ratings are as follows:

• One star indicates "a very good restaurant in its category," a place offering cuisine prepared to a consistently high standard.
• Two stars denote "excellent cooking, worth a detour," skillfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality.
• Three stars reward "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey." One always eats extremely well here, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients.

The decision to award a star is a collective one, based on the consensus of all inspectors who have visited a particular establishment. A written description of each establishment and a variety of other symbols will give readers further insight into an establishment's ambiance, type of cuisine and specialties, and wine list, customized to American tastes and needs.

The two founders, Andre and Edouard Michelin, first impacted the transportation world, and consequently the travel world, when their innovative ideas led to the first pneumatic automobile tires. Since this breakthrough in travel technology, the Michelin Group has been dedicated to providing unbiased, accurate, clear and easy-to-understand information for the traveling customer. The Michelin Guide, first published in 1900, was created to provide motorists with practical information about where they could service and repair their cars and find quality accommodations or a good meal. The Guide was provided free of charge until 1920, and the "star system" for outstanding restaurants was introduced in 1926, with the two-and three-star categories introduced in the early 1930s, clearly positioning Michelin as the most respected arbiter of fine dining. With their unparalleled commitment to quality, Michelin publishes close to 20 million maps, atlases, travel guides and hotel and restaurant guides in more than 70 countries worldwide every year.

The Michelin Guide San Francisco and the Bay Area 2007 will complement the existing catalog of Michelin maps and guides to the North American market, including the recently launched Guide to New York City. The Guide will be available in October 2006 at bookstores, boutiques and other participating retailers, including online retailers.

Hmmm... While the Peninsula area is not specifically mentioned, I'm guessing it will be covered as well.

Update on Restaurant James Randall, LG

Thinking of hitting Restaurant James Randall (see previous post) for lunch this week? Not so fast! It turns out, the Los Gatos eatery is now closed for a kitchen remodel. The work is expected to take most of the month, and no re-opening date has been determined.

So if you didn't try RJR while it was open these past few weeks, you'll have to wait a few more.

UPDATE: RJR re-opened in mid-June. (Read the re-opening post.)

New Restaurant in Los Gatos

Restaurant James Randall opened about three weeks ago in downtown Los Gatos, taking over the old La Maisson Du Croissant location. The small space seats 24; an additional 12 seats will be available outside (weather permitting, of course).

According to their web site, Restaurant James Randall offers "a fresh seasonal menu of delicious comfort food." It looks like the menu changes on a weekly basis. The restaurant is owned by Brenda Hammond, and her son is in charge of the kitchen. Ross Hanson is a Saratoga High School graduate who trained at the California Culinary Academy. Further family connections: The eatery is named after Hammond's late brother, and her daughter's artwork will grace the walls.

While Restaurant James Randall is only open for lunch right now, dinner -- as well as beer/wine service -- will commence soon.

Restaurant James Randall
303 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
Los Gatos, CA
(408) 395-4441

Stanford Grill, Stanford

After our visit to the driving range yesterday morning, I was famished. So I convinced Jon to make a stop at the Stanford Grill -- located on the world-renowned Stanford Golf Course.

Since the restaurant caters mainly to golfers and it's got the Stanford name attached to it, I was expecting a schmancy clubhouse-like experience. But not so. This place is one step above a dorm cafeteria in terms of ambiance. When we arrived, the place was fairly empty so we grabbed a table overlooking the putting green. (Orders are taken at the table.)

We noticed that the menu indicated that breakfast is only served until 11am. It was about 11:30 already, but we still had the option of choosing from the either the breakfast or lunch menu. (Maybe with the time change they were being more flexible about the breakfast/lunch thing?)

It worked out well because Jon opted for a breakfast item (fried egg sandwich), while I ordered a lunch dish (mushroom raviolis). Jon's sandwich was really, really good. He replaced the ham with bacon, which is ALWAYS a good move in my book. His meal came with a side of fresh fruit or hash browns and he went with the less healthy of the two (again, I support this decision -- you can't go wrong with fried potato items). The potatoes were nice and crispy. Delicious!

The handmade raviolis were also tasty. They were filled with porcini and topped with slices of crimini, portabello and porcino mushrooms. I was glad that the vermouth and cream reduction sauce wasn't too thick and overwhelming. I would have liked a little more sundried tomato in my bowl, but that's a minor gripe. I still scarfed down the pasta (did I mention that I was famished?).

The prices were reasonable, with our total -- including a drink each -- coming to about $20. On a sunny day, I imagine the patio overlooking the 18th hole would be a fantastic place to hang out and enjoy a good meal. But even on a chilly day, with the clouds warning of even more rain to come, the Stanford Grill was a solid dining choice.

(Note: Although the golf course is private, the Grill, putting green and pro shop are open to the public.)

Stanford Grill
198 Junipero Serra Boulevard
Stanford, CA
(650) 325-4427