LA

Coastal Drive - Monterey & Carmel

San Francisco Day 4: City Tour & Tommy's Joynt

Leisure last day in SF. Walked around the Japanese tea garden and saw these two neat displays outside de Young Museum before hopping back on the bus to Palace of Fine Arts and across the bridge again. Recommended by the tour guide, we went to Tommy's Joynt for dinner - as featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

San Francisco Day 3: Biked the Bridge & Fisherman's Wharf

Another beautiful sunny day for biking! We joined a bike tour by Blazing Saddles, which began at the Fisherman's Wharf area, biking past signature colorful SF houses, the waterfront, Palace of Fine Arts, and finally across the Golden Gate Bridge to the small town of Sausaulito, where we then took the ferry back (total about 3 hours). It was so much fun and the highlight of my trip - highly recommended to rent a bike! The views were amazing - the waterfront is quite like Vancouver - and for someone who does not exercise regularly, it was definitely an accomplishment.

Souffles Cafe (San Francisco)

Souffles Cafe is a Chinese-run dessert place with a large selection of desserts and teas. All the souffle flavors were so appealing! Takes 30 mins to make souffle and you can call ahead to reserve (just found out after we arrived)

Coffee Souffle

The souffles are really big. Very strong coffee taste

Almond Souffle

Very nice almond flavor but just personally didn't like too many slivered almonds inside 'cause I
prefer just the soft/moistness.

R&G Lounge 嶺南小館 (San Francisco)

R&G Lounge is a Michelin nominated Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Super packed but food is good. 

 Delicious chicken soup!

Smooth silky steamed egg with clams

Their famous salt & pepper deep fried crab - it wasn't oily but I also didn't taste much salt or pepper.

San Francisco Day 1 & 2: Union Square, Winery Tour, Chinatown

 

Oct 12-15, 2013. 

Day 1: It was sunny but extremely chilly when we arrived Saturday afternoon. Took a quick walk around Union Square and Westfield mall. No Superdry for me but bought a Uniqlo Ultra Light Down jacket to wear throughout the trip. Craving hot pot for the cold evening and stumbled upon a shabu shabu place near the hotel.. I was already very exhausted!

Day 2: Winery tour & Chinatown - R&G Lounge and Souffles Cafe

 

I was looking forward to visiting Napa Valley after hearing about the gorgeous views... but the winery tour actually comprised of two Sonoma Valley wineries and only one in Napa (Chandon) and even there I could not witness the views... -_-"  The wine wasn't that great either... but nonetheless an interesting experience learning about the whole winemaking process and touring the cellars, and I purchased a mini cheese board :D

Walking around the oldest/largest(?) Chinatown was like stepping back in time to 1960s... Everything was just so old.

We had dinner at R&G Lounge and then dessert at Souffles Cafe.

JaBistro

Birthday dinner #3 at JaBistro. It was definitely well worth it :) When I first walked in I was a bit taken aback - it was quiet and modern, like a cozy cave/underground exclusive bar... Food, ambiance, presentation and service were all great at this upscale Japanese restaurant by Guu owners.

Yukke - angus beef tartar, gochujang, quail egg, nori seaweed

Started off with beef tartare. (Of course I love wood serving boards!) This was a bit spicy with some Korean flavor, served with sprouts and seaweed. M & B loved it.

Next came the sashimi platter - love the artistic presentation on this slate(?) serving plate. Good variety of fish - my favorite was the amberjack. The tuna was very fatty & melty too. Some unique items - fish jerky (bottom right), deep fried fish bone (long piece holding up the amberjack and fish roe) and fish scales.

If I remember correctly: Blue Fin Tuna, Amberjack, Yellowtail, some Tuna, Pike fish (milder version mackerel), another part of Amberjack, Kobe Beef, Flounder, Tuna Otoro, Octopus, Squid, Uni

Now for some bright pictures taken with Canon by B...  I tried the pike and amberjack. All look super fresh and delicious! Server was very nice in introducing all the fish names; I tried my best to note it all down!