I don’t go to Vietnamese restaurants often and I don’t have a phin (the special metal coffee filter used to brew Vietnamese coffee), so I’ve learned to get creative when the craving strikes Continue reading 6 Creative Ways to Get Your Vietnamese-Style Coffee Fix
It’s like a Clafoutis, but instead of traditional cherries, I used apples and cranberries (to give it a touch of autumn, my favorite season) Continue reading I Made an Apple Cranberry Flaugnarde with Crème Fraîche
The Marin French Cheese Company is located on a dairy farm in Hicks Valley, near the city of Petaluma, California, about 40 miles/ 64 km north of San Francisco. Since they have been at this location since 1865, Marin French Cheese has earned the distinction of being the “longest continually operating cheese company in America.” If the circular red and black logo looks familiar, it’s because Marin French Cheese was the producer of a variety of premium, hand-crafted French cheeses sold under the brand, “Rouge et Noir” which means “red and black.” They started using the name, “Marin French Cheese” … Continue reading Picnic By the Pond at Marin French Cheese in Petaluma
In my blog post, “If You’re Going to San Francisco, Be Sure to Watch These Videos Filmed There,” I described how a blue house in San Francisco inspired Maxime Le Forestier to write a French song entitled, “San Francisco.” I recently got the chance to see the house on 18th Street made famous by the song: I happened to walk past la maison bleue en route from one French bakery to another French bakery! Quelle coïncidence! Tartine (600 Guerrero Street) Ever since my colleague told me about Tartine, a French bakery in the Castro District that he and his wife … Continue reading Two French Bakeries and the Blue House in San Francisco
Yes, yes! I found another macaron shop in the San Francisco Bay Area Continue reading Oui Oui! Macaron
I visited a Tous les Jours French-Korean bakery for the first time ever Continue reading Tous les Jours: French-Korean bakery in Dublin, California
Starving in Seattle? I recommend you grab a bite at the following places for burgers, phở, and mac and cheese. They’ve got good eggs and pancakes, too…with warm maple syrup, everything for you Continue reading Visiting Seattle: Where to Eat
Only 35 minutes away from Seattle by ferry, the island and city of Bainbridge Island is a charming place to visit. Take a leisurely stroll through the historic downtown area and check out these shops and restaurants along Winslow Way and Madrone Lane Continue reading Visiting Seattle: Ferry to Bainbridge Island
Did you know there are two originals in town? One is the first store that opened in 1971 and the other is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery that opened in 2014. I like one more than the other Continue reading Visiting Seattle: Original Starbucks
I heard Jewel’s 1996 hit song, “You Were Meant For Me” recently and its food lyrics made me think of my favorite meal of the day. Here are some pictures of breakfast foods I love Continue reading How Jewel Made Me Think of Breakfast
Hat tip to Carolyn of Hawkfeather Stories for inspiring this post! (I enjoy her blog and I’m sure you will, too. Check it out: Hawkfeather Stories) This week’s Wednesday Postcard was from the commune of Chambord, France. It had not occurred to me that Chambord could be related to the black raspberry liqueur of the same name. That is, until Carolyn asked the question! I did a little sleuthing and confirmed that, indeed, the Chambord liqueur originated in the same Loire Valley region where the famous castle is located. Go to the Chambord website and you will find simple, but … Continue reading You Need to Try These Black Raspberry Cocktail Recipes I Found
You don’t need to wait long for my review of brunch at La Note, the popular French restaurant in Berkeley. It’s ready to read now Continue reading Sunday Brunch at La Note Restaurant Provençal in Berkeley, California
First of all, I mean no disrespect to all of you diehard fans of “The Godfather” movies. I know the true quote is: “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” But it’s a bit too violent, wouldn’t you agree? So just for fun, I changed gun to gum! I took this picture at a Whole Foods Market in the San Francisco Bay Area. But the napkin holder, with its French message (“Save the planet and your smile, one napkin at a time”) along with an Italian chocolate chip cannoli made me think I was somewhere else, miles away from home… I … Continue reading Leave the Gum, Take the Cannoli
When I spotted Laundré in the Mission District in San Francisco, I was intrigued by the accent aigu (é) in its name. A closer look at the large blue building located on the corner of 20th and Mission Streets revealed that Laundré is a portmanteau, or a made-up word using the combination of the words, “laundromat” and “café” to name the hybrid establishment. However, it’s not the first to combine laundry and food and/or drink in the world, not even the first in San Francisco. A few years ago, BrainWash in San Francisco closed after having been open since 1989. … Continue reading Taking a Load Off at Laundré in San Francisco
